Page 46 of Garr

“Come along, darling. It’s time for us to go. We’re going to be Mr. and Mrs. Claus and give the people what they need.”

“Shouldn’t we give them what they want?” she asked innocently.

“They don’t know what they want or what they need. Only we know that. Here’s a secret. It really doesn’t matter. I’m going to give them something they will never forget. Then, you and I will go somewhere warm with a lot of money and new business associates that will keep us happy for our entire lives.”

She stared at him, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“What about your duty?” she asked him. He was shocked that she even remembered he served in the military as well. Sometimes, she didn’t understand anything other than what was right in front of her.

“My duty? Marilu, you’re my duty. You’re my sister, and I’m going to take care of you,” he said calmly.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No. You’re an officer, and you have to take care of the country and your men. Isaac always said duty and honor. Duty and honor. Duty and honor.”

“Honey, I need for you to focus. Isaac isn’t here any longer.”

“Where is he?” He let out a long, slow sigh, hoping it would help his patience level, but it was not.

“Marilu, we don’t have time for this. We have to go. Isaac is dead. You know that.”

“Dead?” she frowned. “Did I kill him?”

“No. No, you didn’t kill him.” He held his breath, waiting for her to decide whether or not she would move forward or turn back. She could be highly unpredictable at times. He didn’t want to give her more medication, but he would if it meant getting to the boats on time.

She stood from the sofa, straightening her coat and pushing back her wild hair. Staring at him, she smiled and nodded.

“Okay, Brad. I’m ready.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Matthew stood on the grass in front of the old mobile home. The porch was falling apart, boards rotted and broken. The overhang that once provided shade for the family in the heat of the summer was torn, shredded by the wind.

“Well, this is awful,” frowned Grip.

“It is son. But we’re going to make it less awful.”

“How do we do that?” asked Jonathon.

“You both have special abilities at this time of year,” said Matthew. “Abilities that will help us give this family something they desperately need. Pride. We’re going to replace this front porch, leave the children some much-needed items, and their parents a little helping hand.”

“Won’t they hear us, Matthew?” asked Grip.

“No, son. They won’t hear us,” smiled the older man. “I cannot explain the gifts given to me and this night, to both of you. I don’t understand it all myself, but I know that this family deserves the help we are about to give them.”

“Why this family?” asked Jonathon.

“They’ve been dealt bad luck time and time again. Married faithfully for almost twenty-five years, he served his country for nearly ten years and then came home to raise their children together. Their oldest daughter died from a rare bone cancer. The mother lost her job while caring for her. The father took on a second job to pay the bills but even that didn’t help. Then, the twin teenagers got jobs, hoping to help their parents.”

“They sound like a wonderful family,” said Grip.

“They are the best. They attend church every week, praying not for themselves but for others around them. Yesterday, while the teenagers, Clark and Clara, were serving food to the homeless, they noticed two people without coats and gave them their own. They weren’t even good coats. They were tattered and torn but better than what the homeless couple had.”

“Remarkable,” said Jonathon.

“Indeed,” nodded Matthew. “We need them in our community.”

“What do we do?” asked Grip. Matthew touched the shoulders of both men, smiling at them. The twinkle in those whiskey-colored eyes made the men smile, nodding at him. It seemed only moments later, they were standing on the road looking at their handy work.

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