A Mrs. Miracle Christmas(42)

“I don’t want to live if it isn’t with you. Please, Laurel. Don’t let my mistakes destroy us. I couldn’t bear it. Please forgive me. We can make this work.”

Laurel, in all honesty, wasn’t sure she could bear life without him, either. Tears flooded her eyes and rained down her cheeks.

“Baby, please don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this. If you can’t forgive me…”

“Are you absolutely sure, Zach? I can’t go through another night like that again.”

“I’m one hundred percent sure.” He stood so fast that he nearly toppled his chair over. He reached for her, pulling her off the seat and into his arms. Laurel was immediately wrapped in his embrace. His hug was tight enough to cut off her breath.

Standing in Starbucks, they clung to each other. “I’m sure, too,” she managed to choke out from behind the tears that had begun to flow again.

“We’re a team, Laurel. We’re a family—you and me. Not having a baby won’t change what we have between us. We were meant to be together and I won’t let you send me away.”

    That was what she needed to know. It was enough. It was more than enough.

“Excuse me.” A woman’s voice broke through the fog of their reunion. “Are you finished with this table?”

“It’s all yours.” And with his arm tucked around Laurel’s waist, he added, “My wife and I are heading home.”



* * *



—

“You’ll come to the Christmas Eve service with us, won’t you?” Helen asked Mrs. Miracle as they said their good-byes. This was Mrs. Miracle’s last day before Christmas. She would miss the woman who had become a dear friend, but it would be hard to justify the expense of a paid companion when it wasn’t necessary. As compensation, two uninterrupted weeks with Laurel would be exactly what her heart needed to prepare her for the holidays.

“I’ll meet you at the church with bells on,” Mrs. Miracle assured, and in a low voice only Helen could hear, she added, “And I mean literally. You’ll hear me before you see me. Listen for the bells.”

Laurel had gone into the other room, so Helen felt free to speak, although quietly. “I’ll keep my ears open. Can you tell me when to expect the baby’s arrival?”

    The angel’s smile was huge. “Soon.”

“Before Christmas?”

“I can’t be sure, but if not before, then shortly thereafter.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Helen was relieved. As tempting as it was, she hadn’t said anything to Laurel or Zach. Something had changed between the young couple. Helen didn’t fully understand what had transpired the day of the school production, but soon after the performance, Laurel had returned to the house with Zach. Helen had wept quiet tears of joy to see the two reunited. She decided she didn’t need an explanation, as long as they were back together again.

After that point, the two seemed more in love than ever, exchanging tender looks and kisses. Helen noticed the way they made excuses to be close to each other, to hold hands, and to give each other tender, loving touches. Whatever had happened between Laurel and Zach had united them in a way she hadn’t noticed since the early years of their courtship and marriage.

“So, it’s a date. I’ll meet you at the church for the Christmas Eve service,” Mrs. Miracle confirmed. She looked over her shoulder to make sure Laurel remained in the kitchen. “And, Helen? I just wanted you to know that Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy will be joining me.”

    “That’s wonderful.” Helen couldn’t be more pleased, but then again, she wasn’t sure she’d recognize them. She almost felt she knew the trio of angels, from everything her friend had shared about her special friends. “Will they be arriving in human form…you know, like normal people?”

“Not all of them.”

This was a puzzling statement. “How will I know who they are?”

“Let me clarify,” Mrs. Miracle added indulgently. “You may not see all of them with your eyes, but you’ll hear them.”

“I’ll hear them?” Again, Helen found that perplexing, wondering if they would have bells on, too. “Will they jingle?”

Mrs. Miracle laughed loud enough for Laurel to stick her head out of the kitchen to see what was going on. “What’s so funny, you two?” she asked.

“Your grandmother.”

“Mrs. Miracle,” Helen exclaimed at the same time.

Laurel grinned and returned to preparing lunch.

Her companion waited until Laurel was out of sight again before adding, “They’ll be singing with the choir, but only one will be visible to the human eye. They love helping choirs out, especially during this time of the year. Afterward, I enjoy listening to the congregation’s comments on the way out of the church. It amuses me every time. People say the craziest things.”

    “Oh?”

“Things like ‘The choir has never sounded so good.’ Well, it’s no wonder, right?”

“Right,” Helen agreed.

“Another of my favorites is when someone declares that the choir sounded like it was made up of angels. And then there’s the pessimist, who always finds fault, no matter what. You’ll hear that person saying, ‘It’s a shame the choir doesn’t sound that good every week.’?”