Chapter 1

© Copyright 2006 by Elizabeth Delayne

"Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11

arter stared at the Christmas tree and watched the lights blink in a continual pattern that had no real start or finish. Their tree was decked out in homemade Christmas ornaments, store bought favorites, and a few precious heirlooms that had come down through three sets of grandparents.

This had been his mother’s favorite holiday. She’d turned the house over with decorations and scents–pine, cinnamon. She cooked or baked, as if she hadn’t baked all year.

The tree would be up and the house decorated the weekend after Thanksgiving. It was a family affair…a family celebration.

They hadn’t gotten the tree up until his grandparents arrived on Saturday, a little surprised at there not being any decorations. It had been his fault. Any time Dave asked him to get the ornaments down from the attic, he’d found other things to do. He hadn’t wanted to face Christmas without his mom and dad.

But Dave could have gotten the ornaments down himself. Maybe he’d been avoiding it too.

He frowned at the tree and rolled over on the sofa to stare up at the ceiling. The popcorn finish reflected the change of light as the Christmas tree continued to blink. It was easier to watch it on the ceiling.

He missed his mom and dad–so much more today then yesterday, and more yesterday then the day before. The grief just seemed to well up inside.

It had been over three months. Why was it eating at him now?

He turned as he heard the key in the lock and frowned. He’d hoped the shopping expedition would take all day. He was tired of family–as tired as a seventeen-year-old boy could be of his family.

The sight of Noel, shouldering a box as she shut the door behind her lifted his spirits. She was beautiful, in that...well, that Noel sort of way. He’d always thought of her as beautiful. She would always smile at him; laugh at his jokes in a way no one else would. And she had the most beautiful eyes when she looked at you.

Really looked at you.

But he’d always known she was for Dave. Even six years ago, he’d known she was for Dave, even though it had taken more then half of those years for his brother to work up the gumption to ask her out. And now–soon she would be Mrs. Dave Armstrong. His brother had bought a ring. He had it back in July–had shown it to Carter.

But the sudden death of his father must have blown his schedule off.

And Dave liked his schedules.

Carter pushed off the sofa. “What’s in the box?”

Noel jumped and turned to look wearily at him. Something was really wrong. Noel rarely looked anything but happy.

“Ah … nothing. I just needed to drop this off.”

“Let me help you.”

Se held the box away even as he reached for it. “That’s okay.”

“Oh, a secret. Can I see?”

“No.”

He grinned at the instant response. “Is it for me?”

Noel stopped and finally looked at him–nearly eye to eye, though he had inched just taller then her in the last year.

“No,” her brow wrinkled as she stared at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

“We’re on Christmas break,” Carter chastised. “You know this Saturday is Christmas, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. I just forgot. I thought … or I was just thinking you would be in school.” She shrugged. “I have to work, you know. I don’t get a break.”

“Well, you’ve missed the rest of the herd. Gran and Pop took everyone shopping.”

“And why aren’t you with them?”

“I can shop by myself.”

“That’s right. You have your driver’s license now. I forgot.”

“Ha, ha,” he rolled his eyes at her smile, but he was grateful to see it back and to hear that tone. He’d all but talked her ear off the summer before last about getting his license–then she’d let him take her out for a Sundae to celebrate, even though she’d only been dating Dave a few months. There was no way she would have forgotten.

She turned on her heel and lugged the box through the living room and up the stairs. He followed, curious as always.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take it for you?”

“I’m sure.”

She walked right up to his parent’s room–Dave’s room, now–and turned the knob. Carter winced. Dave wasn’t exactly known for cleanliness. They’d shared a room together, after all, until Dave had moved out.

Carter frowned. Dave only moved back after...

He glanced at the room over Noel’s shoulder. It was spotless. Something was definitely wrong if his brother bothered to clean up. He only went on cleaning frenzies when he was agitated ... or half mad.

Noel walked right in and dropped the box on the bed. “Merry Christmas, David Armstrong,” she muttered and after a short pause, she turned on her heal.

As she stepped out, she closed the door pointedly behind her. She looked at him for a moment and forced a smile, “Merry Christmas Carter.”

She reached up and brushed his bangs away from his forehead, then turned to head down the stairs.

He stared woefully at the door as if he could see through, but as curious as he was, he followed her back down and saw her to the door. He caught it as she started to slip out, and hoped that he could see something–see the old light back in her eyes. He didn’t.

He would have to see for himself what was in the box.

So he smiled, and hoped she wouldn’t guess what he would do as soon as she was gone, “Merry Christmas, Noel.”

And as she walked down the steps toward her car, he serenaded her with the old refrain.

“ Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel...”

Then as she reached her car, turned for a quick wave, he finally shut the door. He watched through the window as she shut herself up in the car and sobbed.

E-mail me if you have a comment!


lizdelayne@hotmail.com


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