SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty 0f Life Book 6)

by Laura Acton

  Yvonne could tell Dan worried about his father. This happened whenever William was gone for extended periods of time. “Yes, I believe he has a special angel.”

  Dan’s brows scrunched together trying to understand what his mother meant. “Aren’t all angels the same?”

  As she continued to stroke his hair, Yvonne said, “No. The special ones are guardian angels. They help guide and protect those they watch over.”

  “Oh, like the angel in It’s a Wonderful Life?”

  “Yes, like that.”

  Dan yawned as his eyelids fluttered closed. Sleepily he mumbled, “Do you think I’ll have a guardian angel when I become a soldier like Dad?”

  Yvonne leaned down and kissed Dan’s forehead. “I think you’ll have the very best one, sweetie.”

  Dan snuggled close and drifted off to sleep. Yvonne remained in place for over an hour, savoring the moment with Danny sleeping peacefully in her lap. Knowing tomorrow would be a long day, Yvonne shifted Danny to the side, rose, and picked him up. As she climbed the stairs, she noted how much he had grown recently. Soon he’ll be too big for me to carry. I’ll miss that.

  Yvonne laid Danny in bed, covered him, and kissed his cheek. “Sweet dreams little one. May the angels keep you safe.”

  She paused at the door before turning off the light. Her little boy was growing up too fast. Before long, William would bring up sending Dan to the military academy for boys which he had attended. Yvonne smiled as her iron-core stiffened. That is one battle William will lose. I refuse to send our son off all alone to a military school. As much as he looks like his father, Danny isn’t William. He’s more sensitive, and that must be nurtured.

  December 24

  Broderick Home – Kitchen – 1:30 p.m.

  Strolling into the kitchen after putting Becca down for a nap, peals of laughter reached Yvonne’s ears. She retrieved her coffee and stood by the frosty window to view the scene in the backyard. A smile grew seeing all the kids at play. Overnight there had been an unexpected snowstorm, dumping nearly two feet of snow. As the sun rose on a bright and beautiful day, it revealed a magical winter wonderland outside.

  She was delighted Scott, Adam, Jeff, Vicky, and Ashley came over. While their parents did last minute shopping and wrapping, Yvonne minded all the older Broderick kids, except for the fifteen-year-old twins Tiffany and Pamela who were with friends. The house was alive with so many kids, and she loved having them all here. The cousins, fourteen-year-old Scott and Adam, thirteen-year-old Ashely, twelve-year-old Vicky, and eleven-year-old Jeff, did a fantastic job of entertaining Dan and Sara.

  That is so sweet, Yvonne thought as Vicky and Ashely helped Sara make an angel in the fresh snow. She noted the finished snowman, wistfully remembering that Sara longed for it to come alive like Frosty, becoming a bit maudlin when it didn’t. So, Vicky and Ashley had distracted her with making snow angels.

  The boys, however, were having an all-out snowball war. Danny joined them after finishing the snowman with Sara, Vicky, and Ashley. At the moment, it appeared Scott and Danny had teamed up against Adam and Jeff.

  One might think Adam and Jeff had the advantage over Scott and Dan, because Dan was so much younger. But Yvonne knew Dan’s accuracy in throwing the snowballs and his speed at running and ducking more than made up for his smaller size. In fact, his size was also an advantage. Danny could hide better behind the trees and bushes.

  Yvonne watched a little longer, realizing when the children finally decided to come in, they would all be cold and in need of a warm drink and cookies. She had instant cocoa but decided today was special so went to the stove to start warming milk for homemade hot chocolate using her mother’s recipe.

  Broderick Home – Backyard – 1:30 p.m.

  Scott knelt down as he formed snowballs, dropping them into the plastic bucket as he refilled their arsenal. “Here’s our plan of attack. I’ll draw them out as you sneak in behind them. Once you’re close let ‘em have it rapid fire.”

  Dan nodded making another snowball as he snickered evilly, “They’ll never see me coming. I wish had a snowball rifle. With that kind of weapon, I could take them out without having to get close.”

  Chuckling, Scott said, “Snowball rifle? I like it. Yeah, wish we had one. Maybe we can rig something up later which might work.”

  “Hey, I bet the nerf rocket launcher could work. I wonder if Mom and Dad got one for me. I hope so.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted Santa to bring you?”

  Dan scanned around to locate Sara. She was all the way on the other side of the yard with Vicky and Ashely. He whispered, “I know Santa Claus isn’t real, but the Santa spirit is in all of us. Mom told me.”

  A small pang raced through Scott’s heart. Danny’s the younger brother I always wanted, but he isn’t so little anymore. Sure, Vicky and my baby sister Amelia are neat, but I like having Danny to do boy stuff and to teach him all kinds of things. Though soon, Kyle will be born I’ll have a real brother too.

  Scott guessed it was okay Danny was growing up. He grinned. “Aunt Yvonne is right. So let’s go spread some cold, wet joy among our cousins.”

  Dan laughed. He liked Scott so much. He wished Scott was his big brother and lived here so they could do cool stuff every day. He packed one more snowball to fill his bucket. “I’m full of ammo.”

  “Same here.” Scott hefted snowballs in each hand. “Ready?”

  Getting set to run from the cover near his tree fort towards Adam’s and Jeff’s hideout, Dan nodded. “Yeah.”

  To create a distraction, Scott stood and yelled, “You’re going down.” He lobbed snowball after snowball at their base.

  Busy making their plans, Jeff was hit in the back by one of Scott’s snow grenades. Both he and Adam grabbed their ammo and began lobbing their icy missiles towards Scott attempting to protect their turf.

  Dan raced the long way around the yard in the opposite direction Scott moved and without his cousins detecting him. He snuck up silently. Well, almost, he couldn’t stop the soft, playful snickers from erupting as he moved in closer. They’re never gonna know what hit them.

  As he flung snowballs at Scott, Adam loudly goaded, “Did Danny give up? Was this too much for him?”

  Jeff joined in and taunted, “Come out from hiding, Runt. Face us like a Broderick. Don’t leave your unit mate hanging. Are you chicken?”

  Dan stood behind them and threw a snowball at Jeff’s butt—bullseye!

  Rubbing his backside, Jeff spun to find the Runt. “Where are you?”

  “What?” Adam asked, but was thumped in the back with two snowballs.

  Standing, Dan crowed, “Brodericks fear no one! Just implementing a better strategy. Stealth. Two-pronged assault.” Dan threw snowballs rapid fire at Adam and Jeff as both tried to duck out of the path of the barrage.

  Scott raced forward with his ammo, laughing heartily as he and Danny pummeled their cousins into submission.

  Too busy ducking, covering, and laughing as they were pelted, neither Jeff or Adam bothered throwing any back—bested by a six-year-old. When Dan and Scott ran out of ammo, they waited for the others to surrender.

  Adam stood, brushing off the snow as he studied Scott. “Worthy plan. Never saw it coming.”

  Shivering as he shook snow out of his shirt where it had gotten into his jacket, Jeff said, “Runt, you got stealth down and your aim, criminy, you’re good. You’re on my team next. We can take out the old guys no problem.”

  Dan grinned having the time of his life. “Yep, Mudbucket.”

  “How many times do I haveta tell you. Rock or Jeff, not Mudbucket.”

  Scott snickered. “Mudbucket still suits you, Jeffy.”

  “You’re gonna wish you hadn’t called me Jeffy. Come on, Runt, let’s go.”

  Mudbucket and Runt won the next round when Jeff lured their opponents to a location under one of the trees. Dan had scurried up the evergreen tree beforehand and rained down snowballs on them. Scott laughed and said
he never thought to look up in the tree.

  Next up was Danny and Adam against Scott and Jeff. Adam brought his slingshot, and they rigged it up so Dan could send snowballs flinging into Scott’s and Jeff’s base but still be out of their throwing range. Dan kept them so busy dodging snowballs to the head, that they never caught sight of Adam sneaking up on their flank and behind them with a secret weapon.

  Once Adam acquired his position, Dan started a faster blitz hurling one after another. Adam hefted a snowball about the size of snowman’s head and threw it at their backs. The snow bomb hit with a thud which sent Scott and Jeff face first into the snowbank.

  As Scott rolled over, spitting snow from his mouth, he heard Dan’s cackling along with Adam’s more sedate snickering. He stared at Adam. “What the heck was that?”

  Jeff got to his knees as Dan raced up, holding the slingshot. Wiping snow out of his eyes, Jeff said, “Feels like I got bowled over by a snowman.”

  Dan hooted. “No that was a snow bomb! I win again. I win. I win.”

  Scott sat up, brushing snow off his jacket, and glanced at Jeff and Adam. Dan had been on the winning team each time and not been hit by any snowballs. Scott smiled mischievously. “Let’s get him!”

  Eyes widened in glee as Dan realized he required a hasty escape. He turned and ran as his three cousins chased after him throwing snowballs. He swerved and bobbed as he ran, chortling the entire time. Dan scurried up a tree and out of the reach of their ammo. Peering down at them, he boasted, “You can’t get me.” To taunt them further, Dan began shaking the pine tree sending snow down on them.

  Adam grumbled, “If he didn’t still hold my slingshot we could get him.”

  Scott chuckled. “Gotta come down sometime, Doppelganger. We’ll wait.”

  Jeff sat down and started making more snowballs. “Runt, you forgot to plan an exit strategy.”

  Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Dan retorted, “Nu uh. Got the perfect one.”

  “Yeah, like what? Freezin’ to death?” Jeff teased.

  “Nah.” Dan laughed as he spotted Sara, Ashley, and Vicky, loaded for bear and sneaking up behind his unsuspecting cousins. All he needed to do was wait until they launched their attack.

  Sara glanced at Dan, her lips turned up in a sunny smile and eyes shining with mischief. She had seen the boys gang up on her Danny. She giggled when he climbed to safety, but realizing he was trapped Sara whispered to her cousins. They quickly made a snowball arsenal to save her brother.

  Dan gave Sara a lopsided grin. Little sister to the rescue. He shook the branches again, sending more snow down to distract his male cousins.

  Sara shrieked, “Now!”

  The three girls let loose their hail of snow, catching three boys off guard. They scrambled to take cover before beginning to lob snowballs back.

  After scampering down, Dan joined his sister. When they were out of ammo, Dan grabbed Sara’s hand. Moving as one, they, Ashley, and Vicky beat a quick retreat to the house with Jeff, Scott, and Adam hot on their heels.

  Broderick Home – Inside – 4:00 pm

  Dan pushed open the back door and skidded to a halt inside as Sara came crashing in after him. Within moments a motley crew of seven cold, wet kids stood dripping melting snow on the kitchen floor.

  Yvonne asked, “Who wants hot cocoa and cookies?”

  Seven kids all shouted, “Me!”

  “Alright. Go take off your outerwear and hang it in the mudroom. I’ll have your snack waiting when you are done,” Yvonne instructed.

  Laughing and joking about the last epic snow battle, they all rushed to comply. Returning in stocking feet, minus coats and gloves, they settled at the table and hungrily devoured cookies as they drank hot chocolate.

  Yvonne sat down after wiping up all the water on the floor and sipped her coffee. She listened to the cheerful chatter as the kids recounted their war stories. As conversation died down, she asked, “So who won the war?”

  Dan beamed. “I did. I was on the winning team each time.”

  Scott, Adam, and Jeff all tossed their hats at Dan.

  He ducked, and none hit him. “See I even win at hat battles.” Dan chortled with a WOW smile on his face.

  Scott groaned. “Just wait until this summer. Dad said you could play paintball with us this year because you’re old enough. We’ll make you pay!”

  Dan shrugged and said cockily and with pride, “You can try, but remember my dad is the best sniper in the whole world and he’s teaching me to shoot. You’ll never see me, and I won’t miss.”

  Everyone laughed except Yvonne.

  Yvonne only smiled. William would be happy to hear Dan had such confidence. She was so pleased Will’s training method had not driven a wedge between them and hoped it would remain so, but she had serious doubts.

  All I Want is My Dad

  22

  December 24

  Broderick Home – Garage – 10:30 p.m.

  Yvonne pulled her shawl tighter with one hand as she stepped out into the garage to check on William and bring him a cup of coffee. He arrived home a half hour ago and after a quick kiss and stealthy peek in at the kids, he hurried out here to put together the bicycle for Sara. The box had been hidden in the garage for two weeks and luckily neither Danny nor Sara found it. Erik offered to assemble the two-wheeler this afternoon when he picked up the kids, but William insisted he would be home in time and wanted to build it himself.

  Biting her lower lip, to stave off laughter, Yvonne found something she never expected. She shouldn’t laugh, but William looked so comical with his face screwed up as he flipped the instructions this way and that as if reading upside down would work. Unable to keep quiet, her soft voice said, “Brigadier General Badass is defeated by nebulous instructions. Never thought I’d see the day anything stumped you.”

  William peered up at Yvonne. His frustration evaporated with the vision before him. The love of his life shone with light and humor. With a chuckle, William said, “Some Santa Claus I am. I can’t even figure out how to put together a bicycle.”

  “Well, I think Santa has elves who help. One of them is named Erik, and he offered earlier.” Yvonne let out a small chuckle and handed him the coffee.

  “Yes, dear. I should’ve let my brother do it as he did for Daniel’s bike, but I want to do this. Sara’s been begging for a yellow bike, and I don’t know why, but it just seems important I be the one to build it.”

  Draping her arms over William’s shoulders, snuggling close to his back for warmth, she glanced at the instructions which now lie on the floor. An idea sparked in her mind. “Why don’t you try reading the Chinese directions? Perhaps something was lost in translation.”

  William’s eyes rounded, his brows raised, and his jaw dropped. “Why didn’t I think of that!” He grabbed the other set of instructions and began scanning them. His love of languages had some very practical uses. The light bulb went on as he read. Whoever translated these has no grasp of English.

  He stood and turned to Yvonne, pulling her into a hug and kissing her ardently. After several minutes, he leaned back and gazed into her beautiful eyes. “Mrs. Claus to the rescue again. How can I ever thank you?”

  Yvonne gave William a come-hither look, and her tone became seductive, “I can think of many ways. Finish up, Santa, and I’ll be waiting upstairs.”

  “You tease. I’ll be up as fast as I can,” William said as he continued to gaze keenly at his lovely wife. Their long separation drove him wild, and he wanted to take Yvonne to bed and make passionate love to her. Another reason I should’ve taken Erik up on his offer to put Sara’s bicycle together. Damn, I wasn’t thinking.

  Yvonne kissed him back, but realizing she needed to cool his jets a bit so he could finish the bike she said, “Do you want to know what Danny asked Santa for yesterday?”

  Reluctantly releasing Yvonne, William turned, set down the coffee, and went to the pile of parts, picking up the one he needed. “The nerf thingy, right?”

&nb
sp; “No, not that. He didn’t ask for a toy.”

  “What then?” William thought about the time he spent on the range with Daniel. Perhaps Danny wants something useful like more targets or ammo. I can only imagine how Santa would react to a six-year-old asking for ammo. A small smile edged at the corners of his mouth wishing he could’ve witnessed that. He fitted two parts together successfully, waiting for Yvonne to speak.

  “The only thing Danny asked for was you. He wants you home.”

  Dumbfounded, he turned to Yvonne. “Daniel actually asked Santa to bring me home?”

  Yvonne’s head bobbed slowly. “Yes, William. Danny loves you, and he misses you. You should’ve heard him this afternoon. He spoke with such pride as he said you were the best sniper in the world. Our boy idolizes you and craves spending time with you.”

  An authentic smile broke out on William’s face, but his words contradicted it, “But he withdraws from me. I come into a room and his smile disappears.”

  Yvonne sighed. “If you lighten up on your rules for him, Danny would respond differently. I fear what you expect of him is too much for someone his age. You treat him like he’s an adult with grown-up responsibilities. But, Will, he’s only a little boy. He shouldn’t be burdened with all those rules. Not yet, at least.” Yvonne pleaded her case hoping William would yield or at least recognize the danger of continuing down the path he chose.

  “Not you too? Tom gave me the same lecture yesterday. I grew up fine, and my father was ten times stricter with me than I am with Daniel. Yvonne, he needs to learn. Brodericks are military men, and it’s my duty to prepare him for that life. It might save his life one day,” William explained away his actions, believing deeply he was right and this was necessary.

  Sighing again, Yvonne said, “Yes, you are fine, honey, but you aren’t Danny. His heart is tender and fragile. He tries so hard to be what you want him to be, but he isn’t the same as you. You don’t see what I do. Yes, there is a protective streak in him which is core deep, but if you push too hard, you may end up breaking his spirit. I fear you will drive a wedge between you two.