by Slimpoet
Chapter Nineteen
The Henley kitchen was awash in the smells of cooking sugar, butter and cinnamon. Michelle was at the table drinking coffee. Mark was washing cookware. Mary had recently arrived and was questioning her dad and brother about Angie. She had just heard the news about Matt and Stella,
“Do you think they will get married again just like Matt and Stella are getting married?”
Herman’s movements still showed he was stiff and a deep ‘Ah’ came as he lowered himself into a chair at the table across from Michelle and replied,
“I hope so. A man needs a woman and ‘that’ one sure needs one. Angie has life in her that could ignite some in Luke.”
Michelle looked at Herman,
“Well thank you honey. You need me then?”
“Sure do.”
Mark turned around on the stool he was using to reach the sink,
“I don’t need a girl.”
Mary stuck her tongue out at Mark. “What girl would want you?”
Herman gave then stern looks, “O.K. I think that is enough. Maybe we will be invited to two weddings this next year. Wonder where my old tuxedo is.”
Michelle smiled, “Relax Herman.”
The phone rang. Mary rushed over to the wall phone, reached up grabbed the it and spoke,
“Henley’s house. Mary Henley speaking.” She stood listening and then turned to her father,
“Dad. Mr. Foster said we should pick a date for a two-family dinner at their place.”
Herman went to the phone and the two fathers talked and laughed.
Chapter Twenty
The next morning, Angie and Luke were outside the Henley’s house with Matt, Michelle and Herman. It was time to return to the city and their jobs. They all talked about the past week’s events and possible future meetings. As they all hugged and shook hands, Herman stopped and looked around,
“Now where are the little ones? I thought they were anxious to say good-bye. Matt, please go inside and see what’s holding them up.”
Matt took a few steps and turned around,
“No one leave before I return.”
He resumed the trip to the house.
Angie frowned,
“Mary was very affected by the loss of the tree and our leaving. I seemed to have made some sort of bond with Mary. Maybe she is hiding. Have any ideas about Luke, do you have any idea?”
“No. But you and Mary seemed to have a sisterly connection.”
Angie volunteered,
“I’m going inside and look for my little ‘sister’”
Luke, Herman and Michelle stayed outside discussing the wedding for Stella and Matt. Then Herman switched topics,
“So, are you and Angie going to invite us to your wedding?”
“Herman. She and I have a good deal of talking to do before that. I guess it sounds like a good idea to me, but I better be sure.”
From the porch came Angie’s voice,
“You all have got to come inside. You’ll never believe what’s going on.”
Herman laughed as they started for the house,
“I’m open to just about anything now. Gee, maybe Angie has seen the tree.”
They followed Angie into the living room where there was quite a scene.
The little ones and Matt were on the floor staring at the ceiling. Matt let out an exuberant,
“Truly excellent man”, and then got up as he heard the others arrive.
“Dad, wish Stella was here. She thinks we’re a bit crazy, but tries to be nice about it. She says some neighbors also think so. Where’s the video camera? What an opportunity.”
“Son. I left it at the repair shop. Why do you want it now?”
Angie took her cellphone out of a pocket and aimed it to the ceiling.
“Well Dad. Look up at the ceiling. It’s Mom’s painting and it’s sure more than I bet she expected it to be.”
They looked up and there in the scene of clouds, stars, moon and forest was a painting of the tree. Its star was glowing, along with the three red lights. A chorus of ‘wow’ arose as they looked. Herman turned to Michelle,
“How’d you do that, honey? Or did Angie have some special paints? Did the tree do this part? And, there are some dried pine needles are lying around the tubes of paint.”
Angie reclined onto the sofa,
“Luke. I guess I was like those neighbors Matt mentioned. Trying to be nice but wondering what kind of family this was. Maybe that tree is real.”
Luke smiled and seemed relieved,
“It is true. Wait till next Christmas. Then you may see it. Where do you think those gifts came from?”
And so, the tree lived in them and the next holiday it did return; or at least, some tree did. And they lived as happily as most of us can. And each holiday they would say, in their own way,
“It’s that time again.”
The End
