Christmas Angels

Chapter 25 & 26

 Chapter 25:

DECEMBER 26, 2011

The following day found David on the road once more, this time headed for New York. He regretted leaving Mount Bethel, but he had already shortened his visit with his parents once in order to spend Christmas with Angela and her family, so he knew he had no choice now. His head was filled with thoughts of this simple, unassuming small town girl. Even though he had known her for such a short time, she had captured his heart like no girl had ever done before. Angela was so different from the other girls he had dated. She was beautiful and intelligent, yet so thoughtful and giving. It was amazing how devoted she was to her parents, especially her mother, who she worried about constantly. All week long she had given him her full attention, making him feel special and important, yet never at the expense of her mother. It was obvious to David that the last person this beautiful girl ever thought about was herself. He wished he could find it within himself to be half so attentive towards his own parents.

Thinking of his parents made him uneasy. What would they think if they knew he was falling in love with a girl whose father is a clerk at a trucking company? What would they say about Angela's plans of becoming a nurse, a profession that they undoubtedly believe to be every bit as demeaning as his own decision to become a doctor? He knew his father would see Angela as 'beneath him' and probably a gold digger to boot. Both his father and his mother expected him to marry into New York's elite society some day and they would only see Angela as a threat to their plans. He decided the best course of action was to not even mention her to them and wait for a better time. He would have to figure out a way to make them accept her, but right now he just didn't have any idea how he was going to accomplish that.

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DECEMBER 26, 2011

"I can see that David means a lot to you," Marianne said. David had left for New York early in the morning and Josh was sitting in the family room reading a book and listening to a blues CD that Angela had given him for Christmas. The two women sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and enjoying each other's company.

"I have never met anyone like David," Angela said dreamily. Her eyes seemed to be focused on something far away as she held her coffee mug in one hand and absently massaged it with the other. "I'm in love with him, Mom."

"David seems like a very nice young man, Sweetheart. Josh and I are impressed by his level of maturity and good manners. He certainly seems to be very taken with you, too, Angela. We like David a lot and we think you have shown very good taste in your attraction to him. Please take it slow, though, Angel. I know it is hard, but you are very young and I don't want to see your heart broken. Give it time and both of you will come to know each other very well. Then you will be sure about giving your heart away."

"I am afraid you are a little late, Mom. I've already given my heart away. I think David feels the same way, too."

"Oh Sweetheart, please understand that I completely approve of David. I just want you to give it plenty of time. I want you to be happy and I hope that David can provide that happiness for you," Marianne said, taking Angela's hands in hers. "I have never told you this, but before you were born, I almost left your father."

The words hung in the air between them for an endless moment.

"You must be kidding, right?" Angela's mouth dropped open and her grip tightened.

"It's true. I never thought it was important for you to know about that, but now I do. At first, we were very happy after we married. We always wanted a family but there was no rush. We were both busy with our work and we were young. Eventually we decided the time was right and we decided to have a baby. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and I was diagnosed as unable to bear children. Over time, Josh became bitter about it and began to drink and to avoid me as much as possible. Finally, I just couldn't take it anymore and I told him that I was leaving."