Christmas Angels

Chapter 39 & 40:

Chapter 39:

DECEMBER 16, 2016

Carley sat on the sofa in the Cromwell family room, watching little Christie, who sprawled on the carpet, scribbling over a picture of a princess with a red crayon. The little girl was the spitting image of her mother, she marvelled. She smiled to see how seriously Christie took her work. The crayon was clutched firmly in her tiny hand and she ran it back and forth over the surface of the picture, trying to fill every spot with colour. Her little pink tongue protruded from the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on her work.

Carley's thoughts drifted back to a week before, when she had received the dreaded call from Angela. "Hello", she had spoken into the receiver.

"Carley! It's Angela. Thank goodness your home! I don't know what to do. I just got a call from dad. He's at the hospital. Mom's taken a bad turn and they have her in a coma. Please say you'll watch Christie for me! I've got to get to Mom."

"Oh, Angela. I hope Marianne is ok! Of course I'll watch Christie for you. I'm on my way. Be there in five minutes!" She did not wait for a reply, but hung up the receiver and raced out to her car. Why did such terrible things have to happen to such wonderful people, she thought. Life could be so very cruel.

Within a few minutes, she turned quickly into the driveway of the house where Josh and Marianne had lived for so many years. How she missed those happy days! Things always changed, no matter how much you wanted them to stay the same. Now this place was home to Angela and Christie; Josh and Marianne had moved into an apartment with fewer responsibilities, now that they were older.

Angela had raced to Mt. Bethel Hospital, the moment Carley had arrived, and Christie was still asleep in her room. Now, all Carley could do, was to wait for more news of Marianne's condition and of course, to pray. Marianne, Josh, Angela and little Christie had become like family to her.

A plaintive wail suddenly rose from the bedrooms and Carley hurried to retrieve the child who had been sleeping so quietly there. She found Christy standing clutching the bars of her crib, hoping that her mother would come. Upon seeing Carley she ceased her wailing, then put her arms out in the hopes of being picked up. Carley could never resist the little girl at the best of times, and now it seemed to be the perfect opportunity for some mutual comfort. She scooped Christie up in her arms and hugged her to her.

"Where's mommy?"

"She had to go to the hospital and see gramma. She will be back later."

"Christie wants mommy."

"I know, honey, but you and Aunt Carley are going to hang out by ourselves for a bit. It won't be too long. I promise." Charity relaxed a bit in Carley's arms, patiently awaiting Angela's return. Christie held her close, loving her as much as if she were her own.

When Angela finally did return, the child was asleep again. Carley met her at the door, anxiously awaiting an update on Marianne's condition.

"There isn't much to tell you," Angela sighed dejectedly. "Mom is still in the coma. At least she is stable, for now."

"Well, there is nothing I can do to help your mom, but I will help you the best I can, Angie. If I am home, just call. I will always look after Christie for you, any time, so that you can spend more time with Marianne," Carley assured her.

It was comforting to Angela to realize how much she had come to rely on her friend. Always there, always willing to lend a hand. She thanked God that Carley had come into her life.

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It was several days later, and Carley was again staying with her godchild at the Cromwell home. Angela should be home soon, she suddenly realized, as her thoughts returned to the present moment. She hoped that Marianne had been conscious during her visit today, and the two of them enjoyed their time together. Marianne's condition was very bad this time and Carley knew that the sooner they found a suitable heart for her, the better. She had been working in the paediatric wing at Mount Bethel hospital for more than a year now and she visited Marianne as often as she could when she was at work. It was alarming to see how much Marianne had declined since the heart attack that had put her in the hospital, maybe for the last time. She felt sorry for both Angela and her mother. She loved them both as dearly; as if they were her own family.