Page 59 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
“Where is their mama?” John-John wanted to know.
“We just don’t know,” Nora told him truthfully. “River put some nice, smelly tuna fish out on the back stepstonight. If she’s nearby, we’re hoping she comes to investigate and realizes her babies are here.”
“She might be dead,” Pixie said quietly.
And there it was.
John-John’s hand latched onto Nora’s knee, and she hugged both kids close. They held each other for a long time, not saying a word.
They’re so young to have these deep feelings.
One day, this earth-shattering experience might make them more compassionate, thoughtful adults than most. But right now, that seemed like a thin reward. No child should have to experience the loss of their only parent.
And the fact that they worried out loud about whether the kittens would be taken care of told her everything she needed to know about how vulnerable they felt for themselves.
Nora tried every day to make sure they knew how much she loved and treasured them. But only time would give them the real assurance every child deserved.
“I’m ready to choose my book now,” John-John said suddenly, letting go of his iron grip on Nora’s leg to grabFarmer Bear’s Christmas.
As she read the beloved book aloud, Nora reminded herself that she was doing the most important work in the world by providing these children with a stable, loving home.
It made her think again about River, and that look in his eyes.
I can’t even entertain the idea.They can’t have people in and out of their lives. Better to keep it a friendship.
As the kids exclaimed over Farmer Bear’s tree, shefocused her heart on their smiles and vowed not to let anything put their fragile hearts at risk.
They finished their story with smiles and laughter, and because John-John was still awake, they whispered for a long time about the last two things on their list.
“We can make a snow bear anytime,” Pixie said.
“Maybe tomorrow, then,” Nora told her.
“What about singing Christmas carols to the neighbors?” John-John asked.
“I’ll ask River about it tonight,” she told them.
She left the two of them whispering to each other about which carol they wanted to sing first.
Heading downstairs, she reminded herself that she wasn’t going to lose herself in River’s dark eyes anymore, or wonder what he was thinking when his handsome face took on that strange expression.
“Hi,” she said, as she headed into the kitchen.
“Hey,” he said, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet.
“I… think I need to make an early night of it tonight,” she told him softly.
He paused, and she couldfeelhis disappointment like it was a living thing between them.
I’ll miss it too,she wished she could tell him.I wish things were different.
But being with River would be complicated no matter the circumstances. And risking the kids’ delicate sense of equilibrium couldn’t even be on the table.
“Sounds like a good idea,” he said, turning to her with a gentle smile that didn’t match the intense flash of his eyes. “Any ideas on what everyone would like to do tomorrow?”
“Well, we’ll spend lots of time with our new little friends, of course,” she said, moving to the crate where the kittens slept in a pile, looking content, thank goodness. “And they were hoping to sing Christmas carols to the neighbors.”
“The Troyers are away for the winter,” River said thoughtfully. “But you know what? I can do the kids one better. Why don’t we take them into town, and they can sing to the folks at the veterans center and Carla’s Place?”
