Chapter 3

© Copyright 2005 by Elizabeth Delayne

ecca climbed back in the car and shut the door. She huddled toward the heater that was blowing full blast. “She wasn’t home.”

Carter sighed. He’d been so sure when he saw her car parked in front of her apartment that she would be home, that the whole plan would work out. He pulled out of the parking space to drive around to the backside of the apartment and parked so that they could watch for her to come home.

“Then we’ll wait. She has to be home soon.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

“She has to,” he looked up and said another prayer.

This has to work. You know it does.

Funny that prayer had been so far from him for months and now he was suddenly desperate for it. He needed God to answer this prayer. He needed it.

He shook himself and looked at his sister. “You’re sure you have a plan?”

“You’ve asked me that twelve times.”

“But you have a plan?”

“Yes! This is just as important to me. I like Noel. I like that she lets me come over so I can stay up late with her, and that she talks to me. I like that she knows how to fix spaghetti the way mom did and that she can smile. She really knows how to smile to make you feel special.”

“Yeah, she does.”

“Look,” Becca pointed. “She’s getting out of that car. Isn’t that Pastor Dan’s car?”

Carter watched as Noel turned and waved at their pastor, then huddled into her coat against the wind and hurried up the stairs to her second floor apartment.

He shifted the car out of park and lifted another prayer as he drove around.

“Showtime.”



Becca said her own prayer as she rang the doorbell. Noel had always treated her like she was special, even before she started dating Dave, but Becca had never shown up unannounced at her doorstep.

Besides, what kind of girl wanted a younger one hanging around when her heart was broken? Wouldn’t Noel want to curl up in the bed and cry?

After a few seconds, Becca began to worry. Maybe that’s exactly what Noel intended to do. And Carter had already pulled away, more concerned with his plan working, and being out of the way before Noel decided to send her back home then with his sister’s safety.

She was going to give him a few words of encouragement the next time she saw him. Carter and his plans she thought, as she ventured to ring the doorbell again.

Please answer.

She heard the lock turn and took in a deep breath.

And please don’t be mad at me. It’s all Carter’s fault. He looked in the box. He wants you and Dave back together. We all do.

But when Noel appeared at the door, she didn’t look mad at all. Maybe a little tired and sad, but not mad. In fact, she smiled in a greeting that was so normal that Becca would have doubted Carter if she hadn’t see the box herself.

“Becca! Come in out of the cold. What are you doing here?”

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t...that you would be in bed.”

“Who goes to bed early the day before Christmas Eve?” she asked as she shut the door.

“And the day before your birthday.”

Noel grinned. “That too. So … what’s up?”

“I needed,” she frowned over the words and tried not to shift back and forth on her feet. She reminded herself that it wasn’t a lie. “I needed your help. I wanted to write poems for everyone but I...I can’t get them finished. I have everyone’s finished but Carter’s and Dave’s.”

Noel laughed, but not as if she thought Becca was crazy for writing poetry.

“And you want my help? You’re the one with the talent.”

“But you know Dave best. I know he’s my brother, but he hasn’t lived at home in a long time and he doesn’t always talk to me. So you must know him best. Maybe besides Gracie but she was busy and I can’t ask her, because I’ve made one for her ...”

And her mom was gone. It wasn’t a reason, not really, but it was suddenly there. Her eyes trembled as she fought back the tears.

“I guess maybe I do.”

“Then you’ll help me?”

“I...I’ll try,” she motioned toward her small dining room and Becca looked around for the first time. There were a few boxes stacked against the wall and a single, three foot Christmas tree by the fireplace.

“You’re not moving are you?” she couldn’t help but stare at the mantle where Noel usually kept a dozen frames. There were only three or four–but none of Dave–and none of his family.

“Ah–just cleaning and packing things away to move around. That’s all.”

“You’d tell me if you were going to go away?”

Noel smiled even as tears filled her eyes. She reached out and pulled Becca close. “I’d tell you.”


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