And she still didn’t know where she would be spending Christmas Day, here at the inn or in the village, with her family. Sam and Jessica had put off their Christmas Eve party, and everyone was gathering at their house today. Everyone except Joe and Marie.
Of course they wanted Adele to join them, but she was expecting Kevin, and if Joe decided to go to Sam’s at the last minute . . . Well, no one wanted a repeat of the meeting at Molly’s house. Adele had decided that if Kevin and his family were willing to come down today, they would just spend a quiet day on their own at the inn.
The various complications made her head spin. She squinted down at the buttons on her wool cardigan, closing it up to her chin. She already knew that Christmas this year was not going to be the usual. But she had hardly expected it to be this mixed up—or challenging. She made up her mind to be thankful. Thankful for what she had, instead of feeling sad and disappointed about how she had hoped things would be.
* * *
The ride of a few miles, from the inn to the bridge, had been a challenge. Adele rode in Liza’s SUV along with Claire, while Daniel followed slowly behind in his truck. Jonathan, who had helped with all the shoveling, jumped into the truck at the last minute and had come along to church, too. Adele knew he wasn’t a churchgoer but felt glad he had come with them. The idea of leaving him alone at the inn didn’t seem right somehow.
Snowplows had been out all night, and village crews were dispatched in the morning. The village streets were narrowed by piles of snow but were mainly clear. The church parking lot had been plowed and shoveled, too, but high piles of snow made parking spaces rare, and it was the day that everyone turned out for the service. Adele wondered if they would even find seats inside. Liza dropped Adele and Claire off at the door, so that Adele didn’t have to walk too far.
The sanctuary was just as crowded as she had expected, though it did look lovely, decorated with candles and pine and a big display of red and white poinsettias around the altar table.
The choir was singing the opening hymn, “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Adele looked around for a seat and Sam suddenly appeared, looking very handsome in a navy blue suit and red silk tie. “Merry Christmas, Grandma,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I have a seat for you.” He quickly showed Claire and Adele to two seats in the side section, in the row behind his family, and handed them programs for the service.
Adele settled into her seat and found her hymnal. Claire was already singing in a rich, full voice and showed her the page. Adele sang, too. She couldn’t help looking around the church for the rest of her family. She spotted Molly on the other side of the church with her husband, Matt, and all four of their girls. She saw Liza slip up the side row with Daniel and Jonathan. They found seats, too, before the hymn was over.
Finally, she saw Joe and Marie sitting up toward the front in the middle section. She sighed, thinking of how the scattered pattern of her family in church mirrored real life so well. They were all present and accounted for . . . but all very distant.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Reverend Ben greeted the congregation. “I’m so pleased you could all make it here today, despite the weather. Let us come together now to worship, to share in the joy of Christmas and the gift of our blessed Savior, born this day.”
The reverend led the congregation in the opening prayers and then Sophie Potter stepped forward from the choir to read the first scripture from the Old Testament. Then Reverend Ben stood at the pulpit and read the second passage, from the second chapter of Luke in the New Testament, which described how the angel visited the shepherds guarding their flocks and told them of the birth of Jesus.
“—And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
If only that angel would appear to my family and give that same decree, Adele thought. But at least I tried my best to bring them all together. I did try to make peace.
She glanced at Joe, wondering if the passage had touched him at all. It was impossible to tell. He sat facing forward, eyes straight ahead. She wondered if he had even noticed her sitting here. It was impossible to tell that, too.
She brought her wandering thoughts back to the service. Reverend Ben had begun his sermon and was talking about the storm.
“Well, we finally got that snow they’ve been talking about,” he said, eliciting some laughs. “I had my sermon all planned for today. But when I woke up this morning and looked outside, a new idea came to me. Perhaps I should say, a new realization.”
He paused and everyone waited. The sanctuary was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“God’s love is like a snowstorm. A blinding blizzard, in fact. We are up to our necks in His love and mercy . . . but we don’t even realize it. And what better sign of His love than the birth of Jesus? The precious gift God gave us, forgiving all our past missteps, wiping the slate clean. Making us brand-new, too. Pure as the driven snow, as they say. Pure as a newborn child. So that we may live in His eternal peace and love forever.”
Reverend Ben paused again and gazed around the sanctuary.
“What a magnificent and beautiful sign of God’s love the snow is. What a miracle when you think of it . . . billions of minuscule bits of ice, each uniquely patterned, literally falling down from heaven to cover us. An amazing white blanket tucked all around us, the way a loving mother covers her infant while they sleep. How blessed we are this day, to see the snow and understand it this way, as the gift of God’s love and the gift of His forgiveness.
“Isn’t that what Christmas is about? Aside from all the gifts and parties and general hoopla. It’s about the way God has forgiven us and wiped the slate clean, by sending His Son, our Savior. And how we must extend this kind of love ourselves in our own lives, every day. Forgiving each other for our angry outbursts or our hurt feelings. Forgiving each other for our mistakes. We are, after all, only human. But we are also created in God’s image. This is how each one of us can directly experience the message of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the very meaning of His birth on this day. By practicing love and forgiveness, as God has forgiven us. By sharing it and showing it to each other.
“That is what this magnificent snow—what a white Christmas—means to me. A blanket of love. Faith. And forgiveness.
“So while we’re shoveling and plowing . . . and complaining about traveling to our Christmas parties, let’s pause and be silent a moment and give God His due for creating such a masterpiece. Such a miracle. No less amazing or divine than a baby’s new life, or the peace and promise that a child brings into our world . . . if we open our hearts to Him.”
He paused, smiling gently. “Let us go forward this Christmas Day, thankful for this storm that can remind us that we are forgiven and made pure today, too. A new page has been turned in our lives. We have all been born brand-new today, in God’s love and the birth of His son. And this magnificent love and mercy and forgiveness are all around us, truly a divine miracle.
“May God bless us all. Merry Christmas.”
The choir began to sing, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Adele sat back and let the joyful notes wash over her. She had always thought Reverend Ben gave sermons that helped his congregation see their experience in this world in a more divine light. His words today had done just that, giving her much to ponder and bringing some peace to her heart.
When the service ended, the aisles were so crowded that Claire and Adele decided to wait a few minutes. Adele was soon greeted by Jessica and Sam, who had been seated in the row in front of them.
“Are you coming to our Christmas party today, Grandma?” Jessica asked after they exchanged greetings. “You can come home with us right now,” she added. “Sam will drive
you back to the inn tonight.”
“I’d love to, Jessica, but Kevin is coming down from Vermont with his family to visit me today.”
“Oh . . . well, they can all come to our place,” Jessica replied. She glanced at Sam, who answered with a tight smile.
Adele could see he didn’t know what to say. Especially since Joe and Marie were now walking toward them.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Marie said in a cheerful but firm tone. Then she leaned over and singled out Adele for a hug. “Merry Christmas, Mom. It’s good to see you. I’m glad you were able to get to church today.”
“Thank you, dear. I am, too. It wouldn’t seem like Christmas without going to a service.”
“Merry Christmas, Dad,” Sam said loudly.
His father met his eye and nodded. “Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, everyone,” he added, taking in Jessica and even Adele with a sweeping glance.
“Merry Christmas, Joe,” Adele answered. She paused, considering the question that popped into her mind. Then she couldn’t resist. “How did you like Reverend Ben’s sermon?”
She was prodding him, no question. But sometimes mothers couldn’t resist.
“A little off the cuff, I thought. I wonder what the sermon was like that he first planned to say.”
“Oh, Joe . . .” Marie shook her head. “I thought it was wonderful. Very thoughtful, original, too.” She seemed about to say more, when Joe interrupted her.
“Marie, we’d better go. I think our car is in a bad space. We might be blocking people.”
Marie glanced at her husband, looking surprised. Then she looked resigned. “Just a minute, Joe. I’ll be right there.” She took Adele’s hand. “Are you coming to Sam’s house today, Mom? I hope so.”
“Oh, I’d love to, but Kevin is coming down from Vermont with his family. He called before I left for church. He says the roads are clear enough and he’s on his way.”
“Oh . . . well, I’ll be at Sam’s. Maybe you should all come there. I’m not sure about Joe . . .” She turned her head, looking for her husband, but he had already walked away. “I guess I’ll ask him at home.” Marie shrugged and hugged Adele again. “I’ll be there. Maybe I’ll see you.”
“Maybe,” Adele said, though she doubted it. Joe or no Joe, she just didn’t want to risk upsetting everyone’s Christmas.
After Joe and Marie left, Adele turned to Sam. “It’s good of you and Jessica to offer, but I don’t think I’ll bring Uncle Kevin to your house today. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Your mother might persuade your father to come, after all. And frankly, I couldn’t take another scene like the last time.”
Sam looked sad but slowly nodded. Neither could anyone else, she could almost hear him say.
“I understand, Grandma. I’ll come by tomorrow morning, before you all leave, and say good-bye.”
“Oh, Sam, you don’t need to go out of your way like that.”
“It’s no trouble. I’d like to see Uncle Kevin, too,” he insisted. “You have a good Christmas, okay?”
“You, too, dear. Wish everyone a Merry Christmas for me.”
Adele walked to the front of the church with Sam and Jessica. She had hoped to see Molly, but the church was so crowded and Molly and her family were so far away, all she could do was wave from a distance. She stopped on the front steps of the church and looked around, but didn’t see them come out. Then Liza’s SUV swooped by, and Claire appeared and helped her into the vehicle.
Adele was soon on her way back to the island. She tried to turn her thoughts to the day she would have there, with Kevin and his family and all her good friends. She was looking forward to that, truly she was, though a piece of her heart felt torn away, yearning to spend Christmas Day in the village with the rest of her family.
* * *
When they returned home from church, Marie followed Joe into the kitchen. He always made himself a big sandwich or an omelet after church, and today was no different, even though it was Christmas. Confronting the family after church had made him nervous and when Joe was nervous, he ate.
“Gee, I’m hungry. What time is it?” He stared into the refrigerator, then took out an array of leftovers from the dinner he prepared for them the night before. He took out dishes of olives and bits of gourmet cheese, a seafood salad, and a plastic bag of pepperoni slices.
“You want a snack, Marie?” he asked, adding a box of crackers to his bounty.
“No thanks. I’m going to Sam’s house. I’m sure they’ll have plenty of food there.”
He looked up and frowned at her, but didn’t say anything. Then he took out a plate and set one place at the table. “You’re really going over there without me?”
“Yes, Joe. I’m going. You can come if you want. I’m sure they would love to see you there, too.”
He sat down but didn’t take any wrapping off the dishes. “Are you really going to leave me here alone? It’s Christmas.”
“That’s right. It’s Christmas. I want to see my family . . . my children and my grandchildren. I want to watch them unwrap all the presents I bought for them. Now, if you don’t want to go, that’s your choice. Suit yourself.”
She saw his shoulders sag. He let out a long, slow sigh, then pushed his empty plate away. “Okay . . . I’ll go. But what about my mother?”
“She’s staying at the inn. You don’t have to worry about seeing her.”
Joe didn’t answer for a moment. Then he looked up at her. She could see he was upset, his eyes wide and glassy. “I didn’t mean it that way . . . I meant, I should see her, too. It’s Christmas and . . . I was thinking about what you said to me last night . . . and what Reverend Ben said in his sermon.” He turned to the window and gestured with his hand. “Look at all the snow out there, Marie. I feel like it’s mocking me or something. Like it’s a big, fat white sign. With invisible writing.”
Marie had to smile at her husband’s description. Though she could tell he was perfectly serious, even upset by his revelation.
“What does the sign say?” she asked quietly.
Her husband shook his head. “It says a lot of things. Mostly, ‘Joe Morgan, clean up your act.’ I have to be a bigger man. I have to be a better son to my mother . . . and a better brother. Like you said last night, I’ve got to make up my mind to forgive and bring peace to the family. Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Including brothers.” He stood up and gazed at her. “I have to wipe the slate clean, Marie. Today is a good day for it.”
Marie was so surprised that for a moment she felt breathless. She answered him carefully, wondering if she had misunderstood. “So . . . now you want to be with the family today and your mother, too?”
He nodded, looking about as contrite as Joe Morgan ever did. “That’s right.”
“That’s good, Joe. That’s very good but Kevin is coming down from Vermont today to spend Christmas at the inn. Didn’t you hear your mother say that? Oh . . . I guess you had left us by then,” she recalled.
“Is he really?” Joe looked surprised. It was a setback, she thought sadly.
“Maybe you could see her tomorrow. Before she goes back.”
Joe didn’t answer. He spread a cracker with cheese and chewed noisily. He thought for a moment, then took out his cell phone and began punching in a number.
“Who are you calling?” Marie asked.
“Sam and Jessica . . . then I’m going to call Molly.” He glanced at her. “I think it’s my turn to plan a party. I think we should all go over to the inn and—”
Before he finished the sentence, Sam came on the line.
“Sam? It’s your father,” Joe announced, as if Sam could possibly not recognize him. “I know you’ve done a lot of preparing for the family coming over today. But I was thinking of Grandma, alone at the inn, and I had an idea. What if we all w
ent up there and surprised her?”
Joe paused and Marie wondered what Sam would say.
“Yeah . . . I know Kevin is coming. It’s . . . it’s okay with me. I want to see him, too,” Joe finally managed to say. “I’m thinking this could be like a do-over of Molly’s house. The party I screwed up for everybody,” he added, avoiding Marie’s surprised look.
Marie could tell from Joe’s expression that Sam was in favor of the plan.
“All right, you call the inn and I’ll call Molly. We’ll meet you over there in say . . . an hour or so? Your mother bought out the mall this year. We have a lot of presents to pack up. I might need two cars.”
He glanced at Marie and rolled his eyes. She just smiled back in answer.
When he hung up, she walked over and put her arms around his big shoulders. “I’m proud of you, Joe. I know how hard this is for you. But you’re doing the right thing.”
He rested his hand on hers. “I hope my brother isn’t mad at me now. I was pretty rough on him,” he admitted.
“Well . . . if he is, you’ll just have to apologize for that, too. The main thing is that you’re making the effort. He’s got to give you credit for that. And your mother will, too. I think Adele will be thrilled.”
Joe nodded, looking glassy-eyed again. “I think she will be happy. But it makes me ashamed now to think how stubborn I’ve been and so willing to make her unhappy.” He sighed. “Why do we hurt people that we love, Marie? You would think God would make it so that we just couldn’t do that.”
Marie was surprised by the question and her husband’s philosophical turn of mind. “I don’t know, Joe. They say it’s human to err, but divine to forgive. Maybe God is giving us a chance to be more like Him?”
Season of Angels (9781101612170) Page 27
