Sarah and the Widow's Mate (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)

by Gay N. Lewis

  When she entered, Bryan stood and gave a low whistle. “I will never grow tired of seeing you enter a room. You do it with such style and beauty.”

  Offering her hand and a smile to Bryan, Beth led him to the sofa. “Thank you. Tea or coffee?”

  “How does the coffee from your kitchen taste today?” Bryan grinned and his tone held a tease to it.

  Sarah scrunched her nose at Bryan. Would they ever forget that beverage debacle she’d made the first day of this assignment?

  Beth laughed. “No problems. Maria is quite convinced a gremlin got into the coffeemaker just that one time.”

  “Whoever or whatever it was, it sure didn’t know how to brew coffee.”

  Sarah performed an elaborate eye roll.

  Beth stood and motioned for Bryan to follow. “Coffee would be a welcome addition on this cold day, and I’d like to have it in the breakfast room. Let’s sit at the table and go over my notes for the party.”

  As they walked to the table, Sarah decided to leave the roof and come down to the interior of the house. The inside gave her a chance to admire the Christmas decor with the nativity scenes and angels from a closer perspective.

  While Bryan and Beth discussed the party, Sarah ambled up to each crèche. Stooping to gaze at a miniature ceramic set, she felt tears automatically spring to her eyes. Baby Jesus looked so sweet and precious, and after leaving Heaven’s glory, he spent his first night on Earth in an animal’s feed trough. Such an amazing thing for God’s Son to do.

  After examining each figurine, she thanked the Father for His goodness to the mortals and then wandered into the breakfast room to listen to the humans.

  “Beth, this is a fine thing you are doing for me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. My entire office is excited about coming to your house.”

  Yeah, like Shorty Sheila who plans to wear her slinky red dress? If Sarah’s eyes could shoot darts, Bryan would keel over.

  An almost inaudible rumble of thunder reached Sarah’s ears. Okay, okay, I know I just whispered a prayer, and now, a few earth minutes later, I’m thinking ugly thoughts and being unkind. Sorry. She mouthed the confession as she gazed upward. Clutching her hands in front of her, she once more focused on Beth and Bryan.

  Beth snapped the top onto a fancy writing pen and closed her notepad. “I think you’ve done me a favor by allowing me to give this event. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed entertaining until I planned this party. Now that we’ve decided on the food, let me show you how pretty the ballroom turned out. We’ll have to take the stairs. Carlos is having a repair man examine the elevator. It’s been acting strangely lately. The thing keeps moving up and down for no reason.”

  Biting her lip, Sarah grimaced. Could she help it if monotony overtook her at times? Didn’t she need to do something during those long dry spells? And that new gadget had provided a lot of diversion. Wonder of wonders—the small device contained three buttons. When she pressed one, the elevator moved to the next floor! A free ride, and oh, so much fun. My word, she didn’t need to use any supernatural abilities—just punch another button and go again. But then, Carlos jumped on board to find out why the ride went up and down on its own. Poopty doopty! Someone always spoiled her harmless pleasure.

  Sarah followed the two up the staircase. When they entered the gigantic room on the third floor, Beth flipped a wall switch and each of the four trees shimmered with miniature fairy lights. She flicked another control and miniscule lights appeared in garlands about the room. Once more, she touched a mechanism and music filtered into the room.

  “This is beautiful.” Bryan’s voice held a trace of awe.

  Sarah nodded. The dude spoke the truth on that accord.

  “I’d forgotten how this house could come alive with special activates and appropriate decorations.”

  “Are you having second thoughts about selling this place and downsizing? I understand if you are. This is a stunning room.”

  “No, I need to make changes. If it weren’t for your party, I wouldn’t be doing this. I have no reason to entertain on a large scale. The bank is having their party at Scott’s Steak House.” She glanced around. “But it’s nice to do this one more time.”

  A waltz featuring violins came through speakers.

  Bryan slipped her arm around Beth’s waist and assumed the dance position. With a grace that surprised Sarah, he waltzed Beth around the floor. When the music turned to a livelier tune, he stopped the dance but continued to hold Beth in his arms. He gazed at her lips.

  Sarah inhaled sharply. Was the dude be planning to kiss her charge? No Beth, don’t let the weasel plant one on you!

  Beth stepped away from his embrace. “You dance well. I’d forgotten how much I loved to waltz.”

  “It’s a pleasure to dance with you. I haven’t had such a beautiful partner in years.” Bryan almost whispered his words.

  “You should find someone to marry.” Beth turned away, walked to a tree, and adjusted a red ornament hanging from a branch.

  Bryan followed and stood behind her. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Sarah grimaced. How cheesy could this guy be? She put a finger down her throat and pretended to gag.

  Beth turned to stare up at Bryan. “I miss the pleasures of a husband at my side. There were evenings when we came up here—just the two of us—and danced together. We had dinner parties and went to the movies.” She sighed. “Grant and I were happy together.”

  Bryan reached for her hand. “If you’d marry me, we could live here, and I would do everything possible to make you happy. I could never take the place of Grant, but we could build a life of our own.” He drew her close to him and gazed down at her.

  Beth drew back and tittered. A nervous response for sure. “Oh, you and your talk of marriage. Stop teasing.”

  “Who said I’m kidding?”

  “We don’t love each other.”

  Bryan released her hand and placed both of his on her arms. “Many unions begin with a mutual interest.”

  “And what is our mutual interest?”

  “The need for companionship.”

  “We have that now with our friendship.”

  “True, but we don’t cuddle together in the same bed each night.”

  A sound resembling a squawking parrot escaped from Sarah’s lips. She clamped her hand to her mouth.

  Both Bryan and Beth glanced in her direction. Of course, they saw nothing.

  “That was an odd sound—sort of similar to a newborn puppy yelp.” Bryan walked to the spot and stooped to inspect the floor, as if something in the hardwoods had caused a squeak.

  Sarah quickly flitted to a tree and touched an ornament featuring a choir boy dressed in a robe and shawl collar. A recorded song came on, and the short ditty ended with a squeal.

  Beth frowned. “I don’t remember that decoration making a sound like that.”

  Bryan grinned. “That poor choir boy sings as badly as I do.”

  At the tree, Beth removed the ornament from the branch and turned it upside down. “Here’s the button that turns the thing on. Wonder why it started singing?”

  “Maria would say there’s a gremlin in here.” Bryan laughed. “Those things aren’t made too well. The recording probably wasn’t set properly when it was manufactured.”

  Beth returned the ornament to a branch. “I suppose so.”

  Whew! At least the noise averted the subject of beds and intimacy. Poor Beth. Why did this jerk have to be so pushy? He might be the real deal, but his approach didn’t set well with her charge. Sarah stood by the tree and watched.

  Beth gestured about the room. “The buffet tables will be here, and I’ll place chairs and small tables in various places so your guests can eat at their leisure.”

  “Sounds perfect to me. And since we’re back on the subject of the party, let me ask you something. Would you like to invite your son and daughter, along with her husband, to come?”

  Beth raised her brows. “They
don’t know you or anyone at your office. Why do you want them here?”

  “I’d love to have an opportunity to meet them. I want them to see me in a relaxed atmosphere. Having their approval is important to me. When we get to that marriage stage I’m planning, I want them to accept me. This occasion is an opportunity to show our family and our world how suitable we are together.”

  “I’ll ask them to come, but please, no more talk of marriage. It’s flattering, but it makes me a little uncomfortable.”

  Yeah, Bryan, get off that marriage kick, you scheming weirdo.

  Beth switched off the lights and Bryan, along with invisible Sarah, followed her down the stairs.

  * * *

  After Bryan left, Sarah perched on the Christmas tree in the entry. Surely Maria and Beth wouldn’t notice an additional angel among the many positioned there. The countless miniature angels with their various colorful robes gave her the feeling of home in The Heavenlies. The location of the tree provided a good place to hear their voices from the kitchen, and she could see into the area by looking through walls.

  Glancing at a nearby angel, Sarah sighed. The doll sported a long dress of splendor—red velvet with a center panel of gold sparkly brocade. Wrist-length sleeves featured a trim of white fur, and the same fur highlighted the doll’s hair. No halo, but fur emphasized the gossamer wings. No angel in The Heavenlies wore this kind of finery, but Sarah hoped one day to wear such things—and if not as an angel, how about in disguise as a mortal? That gown should make a fine ball gown for some luxurious occasion. Maybe the Commander would assign a project for this attire. Well, she could hope anyway.

  “Señor Wingate like dance room?”

  “Yes, he seemed genuinely pleased with the plans and decorations.” Beth poured a mug of coffee and sat in a bar stool at the kitchen island. “He made a strange request.”

  Maria stopped stirring the cake batter and gave her full attention to Beth. “What he ask?”

  “He wants me to invite Gary and Kimberly to his Christmas party. He hopes to meet them and then show them how well we work together.”

  Maria frowned. “Odd. Party not good time to meet family.”

  “My thoughts too, but the more I think about it, the more I’d like to have Gary’s opinion of the man. My son is an excellent judge of character, and although I enjoy Bryan most of the time, I’m not sure of his motives.”

  “Good idea. Señor Gary good hijo. He want to help you.”

  “Yes, he is a noble son. He and I have always had a special bond. We share our feelings with each other without fear of reprisal. I’ll call him right now. I know he has a lot going on during the holidays with Marsh Enterprises—we all do at this time of the year—but he’ll make arrangements to come. I’m not going to invite Kimberly. She can meet Bryan another time.”

  Sarah touched the ceramic angel’s dress and whispered to her pretend friend. “I’m so pleased Beth will invite Gary. He’ll be a big help to his mom—and maybe to me too.”

  The angel nodded her fur-trimmed head and winked at Sarah.

  Sarah’s heart felt as if it lurched to her throat. She lost balance and fell through the tree branches to the floor.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “What in the world?” Sarah quietly spoke the words aloud when she landed on her bottom at the base of the tree. She barely missed falling into a gaily wrapped red package tied with an enormous bow.

  The angel dressed in the beautiful costume floated to her side. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have startled you. Are you hurt?”

  Sarah shook her head. “You’re one of us! I thought you were one of the fake angels.”

  “Yes, Sarah, my name is Gabriella. I guess I stood so still you thought of me as one of the ceramics. I’m Maria’s guardian. The Commander sent me here to protect that sweet friend of Beth’s, and I usually stay close to Maria’s side.” She gestured up at the tree. “This dressed-up tree is exquisite, and while my eye is on Maria, I decided to become one of the adornments. A change of pace is nice now and then, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, I do, but you’re dressed in finery!”

  Gabriella smoothed her elegant gown. “Isn’t it lovely?” She pointed to another angel on the tree. “I copied her dress.”

  “Do you usually wear muslin, like me?”

  “I did when I started out, but the Powers That Be allow me to wear linen and a little silk and satin from time to time. When you graduate from novice status, you too will be allowed other attire. I’ve had many duties since my graduation, but when I’m on sentinel assignment I choose muslin. It’s a better fabric for a working angel.” Glancing at the finery, Gabriella touched the garment. “This dress was just so pretty, I couldn’t resist.”

  Sarah nodded. “I felt myself wishing to wear the same ball gown. Are we the only two real angels here?” Sarah felt her eyes grown wide as she surveyed the tree.

  Gabriella laughed. “As far as I know. You know the Superiors allow us to see only who they want us to. Even with our x-ray vision, we are limited.”

  “Yeah, and we have our super-vision to employ for long distances. We can use it to see for miles, but it doesn’t help us see each other either.” Sarah stood and rubbed her tailbone. “That fall certainly hurt me in places I didn’t expect to offend. Why didn’t they tell me you were here?”

  “Don’t know. We aren’t to understand the methods of the Superiors.”

  Sarah scrunched her face. “I find that out all too often. Why didn’t you let me know you were real up there?”

  “Against my orders. I’m probably in trouble. My assignment is with Maria. I’m not supposed to help or hinder you in any way. You weren’t even to know about my presence. I’ve goofed by letting you see me, and I’ll probably receive a reprimand.”

  “Welcome to my world, friend.”

  Gabriella laughed. “Thanks. It’s time for me to go to work.” The red gown disappeared and white muslin replaced it. Dressed in working garb, Gabriella glanced toward the kitchen. “I can see Maria with a knife, and I fear she may slice her hand if I don’t intervene.” She disappeared from Sarah’s view.

  Floating into the kitchen in her infinitesimal size, Sarah gazed at Maria. She knew Gabriella lingered in the vicinity even though she couldn’t see her.

  Maria picked up an apple. As she began to peel the fruit, the knife fell to the counter top.

  The sound captured Beth’s attention. “What happened?”

  “Hands wet. Clumsy today.”

  Sarah wrinkled her nose. If she caused a freak accident, Maria attributed it to a gremlin or evil spirit. But invisible Gabriella prevented a cut, and Maria attributed it to wet hands.

  Go figure.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  After the incident with her new friend, Gabriella, Sarah searched the house with her x-ray vision in hopes of seeing other angels, or at least finding Gabriella again.

  Spotting no one, she sighed. So lonely up here without a similar spiritual being to talk to. In The Heavenlies, residents knew her as a chatterbox. Up there, she enjoyed a social life as she visited with various friends and attended praise gatherings.

  Of course, down here, she spoke to the Father, and Mother Goodness came when she needed her, but a friend close at hand would be a welcome addition. On her last mission, Tomas often dropped in to chat, explain something, make a request, or issue an order. She reminded herself that blessings existed. After all, on this trip, her former classmate, Christian, eased the loneliness when she inadvertently met him at the worship center. And now she knew Gabriella breathed somewhere in the house.

  As she sat cross-legged on the roof, she whispered, “Okay, Sarah, listen up. Giving in to wretched thoughts won’t help. Remember the angels at Sunday church? They always make you feel comfortable, and their presence assures you others of your nature exist down here.”

  With a few more positive reflections and affirmative self-talk, she felt better. No use in feeling sorry for oneself. That only p
revented actual work and emotional well-being. Besides, the Holy One didn’t approve of self-pity.

  Dusting her hands as though finished with unhealthy mental outlooks, she focused on the task at hand.

  A ray of sunshine beamed around her and enveloped her with warmth. Glancing up, she smiled. The Creator gave such beautiful signs of His pleasure toward her when she adjusted her faulty thinking.

  Maria removed several loaves filled with dates and pecans. The fragrant aroma drifted up to Sarah, and she rubbed her tummy. Put some butter on a slice of that luscious bread, and hunger would go away, but of course, such an action could only remain a wish.

  A truck drove into the driveway. Men jumped from the vehicle and began to unload tables and chairs. When a guy rang the bell, Beth answered.

  “Ma’am, we’re here with the furniture you rented. Where do you want these items?”

  Beth directed the crew to the ballroom on the third floor.

  By the time the furniture-rental men finished, a florist guided his van to the entrance. Beth held the door as he brought several large floral arrangements and a multitude of smaller ones.

  Beth carried one to the kitchen. “These two identical arrangements will look beautiful on the buffet table.” She adjusted the three red candles in the center of a pile of red roses, miniature white carnations, and greenery.

  “Leave room for food on table.” Maria broke eggs into a bowl as she watched Beth.

  Beth chuckled. “Your three-layer cake on a tall pedestal will look perfect between these two flower displays. There will be plenty of room for that exquisite cake. When the caterer arrives, he’ll bring out dishes as we need them. Did you make room in the ovens and refrigerators for the platters?”

  “Carlos clear refrigerator and move our food to carriage house cooler.”

  “Good. We’ll set up a second table for thirst-quenchers—I’m serving only coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks. If Bryan’s employees expect liquor, they’ll have to go elsewhere. I ordered enough food from the catering company to feed twice as many people as we expect.”