Page 16 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Uh huh. I have until Christmas to prove Dad and Harry are innocent.”
Chapter Twenty-one
The next week passed quickly for everyone, especially Noel. Maddy and Rory stayed busy making arrangements for their restaurant, and when they weren’t occupied there, they spent time around the Home, helping with the influx of needy kids and all the chores that popped up. Maddy prepared special dinners that everyone loved, especially Noel after he’d put in long days at the plant.
Josie and Steve called every day, insisting they should be there to help but Noel, worried that Ralph would find out and start harassing the teen again, asked them to hold off.
As it was, he’d been careful not to make eye contact when the Jones brothers came around during the day, and he worried if Ralph happened to run into him at the Home because he’d found out that Josie had returned, he’d be recognized.
As suspected, Sheriff Lock was told by at least five different people that both Ralph and Duggan were with them the night of the fire. It was arson; experts from the Fire Department hadthe proof from the Molotov cocktail remains thrown through the window. But the case remained unsolved and from the low priority Lock placed on finding suspects, everyone agreed the crime would most likely be left to wither.
Steve had found discrepancies in the books that Noel had passed on and was now working with Bill Harrison’s office to try and get to the bottom of the mysteries. The financial incongruities were blatant, but more proof was needed. The missing link between those bogus accounts where the money had been targeted and where it eventually ended up would help. But… the ingenious bookkeeping through various companies led them on trails that filtered out every time.
More and more, it looked like his family had been framed, but without the proof necessary to bring charges, his hands were tied. Frustrated and worried at how quickly the time was moving on, he went walking along the river before returning to the house and ended up on the same bridge the night his life had changed. It still boggled his mind, meeting Clarence in his dreams, dreams that still seemed so real.
In a particularly low mood, he didn’t want to worry Mary or the rest of them who tried so hard to be positive. Time was running out and he felt squeezed between optimism and depression.
He needed help… divine help. And so, he asked, in the same way he had another time in his life. “If you’re listening, Clarence, and if you really do exist - please - you must help me stop this madness. Those horrible people are ruining so many lives. And the town will die if I don’t find the proof soon. Show me the way, help me.” He lowered his head onto his arms, the clarity of his request pounding in his head.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a bell, like the same sound he’d heard periodically over the last while and a gentle peacefulsensation overcame him. In his heart he knew, something was going to happen.
And it would be good.
Chapter Twenty-two
Mary floated through the next day with her head in the clouds and her feet barely touching the floor. Last night with Noel, they’d made tentative, wonderful plans for their future together. Before he’d discuss anything, he’d shocked her into tears and silence with his confession of the indescribable weakness he’d conquered on the night they’d met.
About how he’d stood at the bridge in town, his life in tatters, his mind in such turmoil, that exhaustion and hideous pain from losing his family had led him to a point where he’d contemplated ending his own life.
Seeing her horror, he’d quickly explained how he’d forfeited his plans to instead rescue another. Not willing to delve into the faint memory of an angel named Clarence; he kept the story to that of an old man who he never saw again.
Heartbroken for Noel, a man she’d only known as a strong protector, she’d held him and made a promise. “You’ll neverbe alone again, Noel. We’ll be together, a couple, and whatever battles the world sends our way, we’ll meet them together.”
Seemingly comforted by her tender ministrations, he’d begun speaking of his vision for their future. “I want us to be together, Mary. Live in Bedford Falls and make a good life helping others. I’ve seen the work you do here with the young people, the poor kids who need your brand of kindness, and I want to be a part of that.”
She knew he’d taken leave from a high-powered position as a partner in a growing law firm in the city. That he managed huge cases and made multi-million-dollar settlements. She suspected he was rich, not that money equalled happiness, but the penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue didn’t come cheap. And yet he was willing to give that all up to live the small-town life with her. She felt honored, humbled by his generosity, and head-over-heels in love with the gentle giant.
For him to be willing to give up such a powerful position, move to Bedford Falls and open a small law office, and help her in the Home was mind-bogglingly crazy-talk, but that was exactly what he’d proposed.
Two dark clouds hanging over their plans kept them humbled. He had to find proof of his family’s innocence with only a few days left.
And weather permitting; they had to deal with the horror of the rescue crews recovering his family’s bodies from the killer snowstorms and rockslides that had taken their lives.
Christmas would be a strange mixture of happiness and sorrow. Thankfulness for finding each other would be overwhelmed by heartrending grief for those who were missing.
Chapter Twenty-three
That afternoon, while working close to the stairs that led to the offices above, Noel saw the Jones brothers heading his way. He kept his head lowered; hoping his scruffy face, bald head and glasses would deter recognition.
They strutted past him and took the stairs with Bart, heading for the office he’d been warned to stay away from. After they’d spent a short period behind closed doors, one of the forklift drivers near where he worked stepped off his machine and walked away.
Shockingly, either he’d forgotten to turn it off or it malfunctioned because it started driving by itself.
Noel watched in silent horror as the crazed machine began spinning uncontrollably. As if a mist cleared, the vision of an old man appeared behind the controls, his bearded face lit with glee, laughing out loud and having a whale of a time scaring the dickens out of anyone who came near.
Clarence!
Noel recognized the angel and a laugh spilled over when his friend threw him a wink, clapped his hands and pointed him in the direction he’d been yearning to go. Regaining possession of the pumping levers, Clarence played with them like a small child trying this, that, and the other with no idea what he was doing.
