Twilight Christmas: A Carolina Coast Novella (Carolina Coast Novels Book 3)

by Normandie Fischer

  The child turned with a smile so radiant it took Annie Mac a minute to register that she had Down Syndrome. “Hey there. Would you like to come inside to see better?” Annie Mac asked. “It’s warm in there.”

  “Twee.” And the child pointed inside.

  “Do you want to go see it?”

  The girl nodded vehemently. “Luce?”

  Annie Mac looked over at Clay. He shrugged.

  “Luce come.”

  “Who is Luce, honey?” Annie Mac asked.

  “Mine.” She patted her chest. Her poor hands must be frozen.

  Clay squatted on his haunches. “Is your mama near? Are you lost?”

  “Mama cold. Luce come.” Her enunciation was slightly off.

  Clay touched Annie Mac’s arm. “I wonder if Luce is her name for Louis, and she’s one of the two missing children. One had Down Syndrome.” He directed his question to the girl. “Honey, is your name Linney?”

  She smiled and thumped her chest. “I Linney.”

  “And Luce is your brother Louis?”

  “Luce!”

  “We need to get this child inside,” Annie Mac said. “She has to be freezing.”

  “Okay,” Clay said. “I’m going to my truck to get a flashlight. I’ll follow her tracks in the snow. See if I can find where she came from. And where her brother might be.”

  “That’s good.” Annie Mac took the child’s cold hand. “Honey, let’s go in.”

  She started to go with Annie Mac and then stopped. “Luce. Luce come.”

  “Mr. Clay is going to find your brother. You can come inside and wait with me, okay? I’m getting cold, and I bet you are, too.”

  Linney tilted her head to one side. Then, clinging to Annie Mac’s hand, she put one foot in front of the other as they walked into the sanctuary. Voices were raised in singing “What Child Is This.”

  Annie Mac tried to nudge the girl to the seats next to Rita, but Linney tugged her awkwardly down the center aisle, all the way to the front. Only then did Linney stop.

  She dropped Annie Mac’s hand and reached up toward the tree. As the music soared from one song to another, the child’s words were lost to all but those nearest her. “Twee. Linney’s twee.” And then she began to sing a few words, a little off key and slightly after the congregation.

  Annie Mac had no idea what to do next.

  Katie wasn’t hampered by any of her mother’s concerns. She pushed past the other children and between the shepherds to march right up to Linney. Reaching out to take the taller girl’s free hand, she beamed. And then she sang the words she’d learned, “Joy to the World.”

  As the song ended, Katie spoke into the hush of the church, loudly enough to be heard all the way to the back. “I’m an angel. I’m supposed to take care of you.”

  Annie Mac looked from her girl to Linney and then up to the big cross hanging over the altar, and her eyes filled. She did nothing to stop their flow.

  21

  Clay

  Clay had no idea what he’d find or where the girl’s footprints would take him. Snow had begun obscuring her trail, but his light picked out enough that he knew she’d come from the woods. If she’d gotten lost in there, it might take a while to find her brother because the woods wouldn’t have very many footprints visible to a flashlight, not where the trees had caught the snow and kept it from the ground.

  Something flickered in the darkness and then disappeared. Clay stopped, waiting for it to reappear. And then it did. A light, another flashlight.

  He kept his own shining in that direction. The other light moved erratically as it came closer. Someone was running. Calling now, something unintelligible, but the voice sounded young, frantic.

  Clay’s light caught the figure of a boy lunging out of the woods, shielding his eyes, crying breathlessly, “Lin . . . ney, what . . . have you done with Linney?”

  Clay approached the wheezing boy. “I assume you’re Louis?”

  The boy bent forward, gasping still. “Do you have Linney? Please don’t hurt her.”

  “She’s in the church. No one’s going to hurt her. She’s safe.”

  Louis looked ready to collapse. Clay reached out to steady him.

  “I came back. She’d gone. And I saw footprints. A man’s.”

  “Calm down. She’s fine. Your sister’s inside, and it’s a whole lot warmer there than out here.”

  The boy shook his head. “Some man’s in the woods. He took her. He might come after her. I looked and looked and lost their tracks.”

  “But she got away. That means she’s safe. And she doesn’t look as if anyone hurt her.”

  “He could come back.” Louis was standing now. Steadier. But obviously still frightened.

  “I’ll put in a call to the sheriff’s department as soon as we go in. And here’s the thing,” Clay said, hoping his words would calm the boy. “There are a lot of people inside that church, including me, so that’s a lot of people to protect you and your sister.”

  Louis looked from the church back to the woods and then up to Clay. “I’d like to see her.”

  “Come on then.”

  Once they entered the sanctuary, Clay stopped behind the boy who hesitated. Must have spotted Annie Mac and Linney on the floor near the tree. And wasn’t that Katie in the angel costume on Linney’s other side?

  Clay nudged the boy into two seats next to Rita. She smiled over at him. The congregation then stood, obscuring Linney from view.

  “I’ll be right back,” Clay whispered and held up his phone.

  Back in the narthex, he placed the call to the sheriff’s office. The nearest deputy was fifteen minutes out. They’d alert State Patrol.

  “I’m inside the church. The suspect is possibly in the woods back of here. Tell whoever responds to pull into the area near the storage barn, not in the church’s lot. We don’t need folk in a panic as service ends. I’ll await word.” He paused, listening to the dispatcher. “Also, please get word to Sheriff Bright. Ask him to give me a call.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Clay slid in next to Louis and smiled down at the boy, hoping to reassure him. “Help’s on the way.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  He’d wait to talk to the sheriff before he mentioned finding the missing children. It was Christmas Eve. Rita would fix things to make sure they stayed safe.

  The recessional began with “Silent Night.” As people filed out, Clay spoke to Louis. “While we wait for the way to clear, I think we need to talk.”

  Rita, sitting next to Louis, turned toward them, but she remained silent.

  Louis shook his head. “We need to find the bad man. And I need to know Linney’s okay.”

  “I saw her when she came in and went to see the tree.” Rita held out her hand. “She’s fine. And my name’s Rita Levinson. My job is to help women and children.”

  “You’re not a social worker, are you?” Louis shifted away from her. He didn’t shake her hand.

  She dropped it and smiled. “No, I’m a lawyer.”

  “Oh.”

  “Rita,” Clay said, “this is Louis. His sister’s name is Linney. We need to reassure Louis that they’re both safe.”

  “Completely safe. There’s no safer place to be than in this church.”

  Clay’s phone pinged with a text. He read it. “I need to speak to the deputy outside. Do you want to come with me?”

  “N-no sir.” He bit his lip, but he couldn’t hide his sudden panic. “Please. You tell them?”

  “I will. You stay here with Miss Rita, and I’ll be right back.”

  Rita nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

  “And as soon as the crowd thins, she’ll take you to see your sister.”

  The boy’s squint turned Clay’s way. The kid would be seriously cute if he weren’t so skinny and scared. “You’re just going to turn us over to the social services people. I know. And then they’ll take Linney away from me and put her in an institution or something. And they’ll put m
e in a home with bullies who’ll try to kill me.” Louis crossed his arms and glared.

  Clay coughed to hide a totally inappropriate grin. “I take it you’ve had some experience with the system.”

  Louis didn’t respond.

  “As Miss Rita said, she’s a lawyer and works with kids and their mamas. So why don’t we trust her to see you’re safe?”

  “I won’t let you be hauled off tonight.” Rita said. “Trust me.”

  Louis didn’t look like he trusted anyone, but he didn’t say anything else.

  “The deputy may need to talk to your sister. You think you could find out something more from her?”

  “She’ll talk to me. But I gotta protect her. She won’t talk to a policeman.”

  Clay didn’t have jurisdiction as he’d had when Hannah wanted to keep Ty and Katie out of the system. But Sheriff Bright was a reasonable man, a family man. Surely, he’d have compassion.

  Deputy Harris waited for him just outside. Clay followed him back to where two state cars and the deputy’s had parked in front of the barn.

  “Here’s what I know so far,” Clay said and began to explain the situation.

  22

  Annie Mac

  As the main aisle cleared, Rita ushered a young boy forward and up to Annie Mac and her charges. Hannah and crew followed close on their heels.

  “This is Louis,” Rita said. “Clay’s outside meeting with a deputy.”

  “Linney?” the boy said.

  “My twee.” Linney threw her arms around her brother. “My birfday twee!” Although the words came out oddly, Annie Mac understood their gist

  Louis extricated himself from his sister’s embrace. “She wanted a tree. That’s all Linney wanted for her birthday, and I couldn’t get her one.”

  Annie Mac nodded. “But you did get your sister a doll, didn’t you?”

  Louis bent his head. “Yes, ma’am, I did. I’m real sorry about that. I’ll pay for the damage when I can get some money.”

  “Good,” Annie Mac said. The boy had spunk and character.

  Rita spoke up. “Clay wants Louis to ask his sister exactly what happened. I think so he can tell the deputy. Clay and I also assured Louis we’ll all protect the two of them.”

  “I’m scared someone will send Linney to foster care. Or someplace worse.” Louis crossed his arms again. “The last people hurt her because she has accidents. She can’t help it.”

  “Oh, you poor dears.” Hannah pressed forward in full rescuer mode. “We won’t let that happen to you. We just won’t.”

  Rita bent down to Louis’s eye level and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I told you I help mothers and children in trouble, Louis. Does your mama need help?”

  “We don’t have a mama any more.”

  Linney touched Annie Mac’s cheek. “You warm. Nice. Mama wath cold.”

  Annie Mac explained. “Clay told us Louis and Linney lost their mama recently. Isn’t that right, Louis?”

  The boy bit his lower lip. Finally, eventually, he nodded.

  “Do you have any other relatives?” Rita asked.

  Louis shook his head, but he looked up as Father John approached. Now out of his vestments and in slacks and shirt, John said, “Clay brought me up to speed on what he’s doing, but you, young man, where’ve you and your sister been staying?”

  “We’ve been using your barn, sir.”

  The priest smiled and rested his hand on Louis’s head. “I’m so glad you found a safe place. I’m Father John Ames. What’s your name, son?”

  “Louis Lathrop. That’s my sister, Linney.”

  “I’m very pleased to meet you. Did you know that it’s the church’s job to help the homeless and take care of orphans?”

  “No, sir.”

  “I take it you and your sister are both homeless and orphaned?”

  “Mama died. Yes, sir.”

  “Then you’ve come to the right place.”

  “I’m real sorry I broke into your office, sir. I needed a few things, and I couldn’t go far to get them, not and take care of Linney because she’d had a bad day and was very scared. And she’d lost her dolly. She was crying every night because her lion wasn’t good enough. And when she wet both blankets and I knew the bathroom out in the field wasn’t big enough to wash them, I had to find something to take their place. So we could stay warm.”

  “Of course you did.”

  The boy slid his glasses back up his nose, and the words tumbled out. He seemed relieved to be telling it. “But I don’t know who came after Linney tonight when I went back to the store. I had to go. I made sure she was asleep before I went so she wouldn’t get scared again, but the flashlight was about out of batteries, and we needed more diapers and some food. I’ve been trying to take real good care of her, but I was about out of ideas. We couldn’t stay there forever.” He paused but only for a moment. “I prayed God would send a miracle. On account of tomorrow being Linney’s birthday. And it’s Christmas. Even if Mama didn’t believe in miracles, I kinda thought we needed one and maybe God would listen. On account of the day.”

  Father John sat on one of the steps leading to the altar and pulled Louis onto his ample lap. “I think, Louis, you may be the bravest boy I’ve ever met.”

  Annie Mac wasn’t the only one swiping at tears. Hannah sniffled as she pulled her husband aside.

  Linney stared again at the tree, Katie by her side. Annie Mac drew Ty close. Her son had been silently watching. “Take your sister to get changed, will you please.”

  “Now?” Ty spoke quietly.

  “Please. I need to stay here with Louis and Linney, and I need you two ready to go when we’ve finished. Please?”

  Ty didn’t look happy, but he said, “Come on, Katie.”

  When Katie balked, Annie Mac promised she’d be right there. “Linney, too. Now you go on. Let your brother help you.”

  And then Clay was there, his nose red from the cold. “There’s a team getting ready to search the woods, and it would help if they had more information. Louis, do you think you could get your sister to give you any details about the person who abducted her? It would help to know where he was when she got away—and how she escaped him.”

  Louis climbed off Father John’s lap and pulled his sister away from the group. As Louis spoke, tears welled in Linney’s eyes and spilled to her cheeks. She nodded. Pointed toward the woods. And then threw her arms around her brother again.

  When she let go, he held her hand and brought her back into the circle. “Sometimes she’s hard to understand. But I’m pretty sure she said a big man took her out of the barn and pulled her with him. She said she went until he fell and hit something and let go of her. She ran toward the lights. She could only say he was big.”

  “If that’s all she can say, then we’ll work with it,” Clay said. “Thank you, Louis.”

  Hannah came forward, looking first at Father John, then around at the rest of them. “We’ll take the children home with us tonight. And after Christmas, you, Clay, or you, Rita,” she said, pointing to emphasize the words, “can figure out how to get us approved to foster them for a while. Until we see how it works.”

  “Foster?” Louis looked worried at her use of the word.

  Annie Mac explained. “She just means she’ll help out for a little while to give you a place to stay. My two children—you saw them, Ty and Katie, the little girl who was holding your sister’s hand? They lived with Miss Hannah and Mr. Matt while I was in the hospital last year. They loved staying there and playing with their dog.”

  Hannah bent to speak directly to Louis. “We have a big house, and we have Harvey. Do you like dogs?”

  “I’ve never had one. I don’t really know.”

  “What about your sister? Is she afraid of animals?”

  “Oh, no, she likes everything that breathes.”

  “We also have a big Christmas tree.”

  “I spoke to Sheriff Bright,” Clay said to Louis. “He’s going to hold off getti
ng Social Services involved because I told him we’d take care of you two for the holidays.”

  “I think Hannah has the perfect solution for the holidays,” Rita said. “After New Year’s, we’ll talk again.”

  “Father John?” Matt asked. “Do you have anything to add? Or to suggest?”

  “No. I think you all have come up with the perfect solution. I’ll pray that God will continue to lead you to know his purposes and plans.”

  “Then, Martin, would you mind chatting with me for a few minutes?” Matt said to Rita’s husband. “I’d like to pick your brain about medical matters. It’s always a plus to have all the bases covered.”

  Martin, a pediatrician, grinned. “I wondered if I’d be needed.”

  “When you two have finished,” Clay said to the two men, “why don’t we head out to the barn and let Louis show us what he needs from there?”

  “Louis? Would you like to go home with Miss Hannah and Mr. Matt for Christmas?”

  Biting his lip, Louis looked over at his sister. Tears filled his eyes, and he nodded. “Christmas.”

  23

  Annie Mac

  The phone call came just after nine Christmas morning. The Morgans were inviting everyone to help make the day festive for Louis and Linney.

  “We’ll be there with bells on our toes!” Annie Mac said. Then she turned to her two. “Okay, kids, let’s take a look through our things and see if we can come up with something special to wrap for the two children Miss Hannah took to her house last night. They’ve invited us to come help them celebrate. I have the cakes I’ve made for everyone, but what about you two?”

  They dashed into their rooms and started rummaging. Annie Mac followed Katie and watched from the doorway as her sweet girl talked to Agatha about toys to give away. It had to be hard when you were five to let go of any special item. Annie Mac looked around. “What about one of your books? You have a lot, and maybe Linney would like one of them. It would have to be one with lots of pictures.”