Michael and Jennifer relaxed, glanced at each other, then back to Mother. ‘The child?’ asked Jennifer. ‘Nancy said it was Billy.’
‘That’s right, little Billy Miller. It was a sad story. He, too, arrived just before Christmas and was grieving for his parents so badly he wouldn’t speak. It was due to Oliver and Nancy’s love and care that he finally began to heal. He will miss Oliver very much indeed. Perhaps you could visit and let him see the dog. You would both be most welcome.’
Mother was trying to imagine telling Nancy and the children, especially Billy, that Oliver would be leaving them. Then there was Mr Bell.
Jennifer looked up once more at the Madonna and Child, and smiled. ‘Oh, Mother Superior, it was those eyes. I looked into them and it just happened.’
‘Eyes, my child?’
‘Yes! Big eyes that said, “Take me and love me,” and, oh, Mother, at that moment all I wanted to do was pick him up and run.’
‘Well, of course he is yours to take.’
Michael began to laugh. ‘Jennifer, we had this conversation ourselves. Don’t you remember what happened then?’
‘Oh, yes. I’m not being clear. It’s Billy Miller. I saw him running around with Oliver and I saw my life mapped out in front of me, with that little boy at my feet, sitting on my knee, growing up. I saw myself tucking him into bed, reading him stories …’ Jennifer was breathing rapidly and her hands were shaking.
‘Ah, now I think I understand,’ Mother said. ‘Do you wish to apply for adoption?’
‘Yes, Mother! Can we do that? Please tell me we can.’
‘Well, the correct procedures must be followed. I can certainly put you in touch with the people who can arrange it for you but they are not available today. I believe they have Christmas Day off,’ she said, smiling.
Michael and Jennifer laughed. ‘We won’t take up any more of your day,’ Michael said, and Mother took some details, promising they would be contacted after the holiday by the relevant people, who would discuss the procedures with them.
As they stood at the front door, Mother Superior looked towards the wood. ‘I believe if you walk into the trees you will find Billy there with Nancy. You may go and walk with them, if you wish. However, I must ask that you tread carefully with Billy. He has dealt with far too much grief and disappointment already in his young life and you must be patient. I don’t want either yourselves or Billy to have any false hope.’
They said goodbye, wished each other a happy Christmas, and when Mother had closed the door, Jennifer grabbed Michael’s hand. She almost dragged him towards the wood. Michael had to tell her to slow down.
‘What’s wrong?’ she said, wondering why he wasn’t jumping for joy as she was.
‘I’m scared,’ he said. ‘Remember, we haven’t to give him false hope and, anyway, he may not like us.’
Jennifer was having none of it. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, Christmas is a time for miracles and it’s most definitely our turn for one.’ She saw Nancy and waved.
Nancy waved back and shivered, then sent Josephine, who was all smiles today, into the cottage. They were obviously here to take Oliver, and the prospect of losing him terrified her. Jennifer introduced her husband.
‘This is Michael and Jennifer, Billy,’ Nancy said. ‘They’re my – my friends.’
‘Can we just walk with you a little while, Nancy?’ Jennifer asked. Oliver was sniffing Jennifer’s hand, then moved to Michael’s. Moments later he was running around in circles. Billy laughed and it was the most beautiful sound Jennifer had ever heard. ‘He likes you,’ he said.
Michael picked up a stick and threw it for Oliver, who tore after it. ‘You next,’ he said, and there began a competition between him and Billy to see who could throw the stick the furthest. They were not supposed to get too close to the child but it was hard to stop themselves stroking his hair or putting an arm round him. Jennifer ached to do both but Michael gave her a look that said, ‘Just don’t.’
Nothing wrong with chatting, though, and getting to know him a little. Jennifer bent down to him. ‘What’s your favourite game, Billy?’
‘Trains.’
Michael seemed frozen to the spot until he, too, bent down to Billy. ‘Do you mean trains are your favourite toys?’
‘No, it’s my favourite game.’
‘How does it go then, this game of yours?’
‘Well, Aunty Nancy gets all the chairs and puts them in a line and I get the whistle and blow it very loud and we can go wherever we want.’
‘Where’s your favourite place to go?’ Michael asked, wondering not only about the child but about the woman who brought magic into his and the other children’s lives.
Billy pointed to the sky. ‘To the stars.’
‘The stars?’
‘It’s where my mummy and daddy are. They’re stars in the sky.’
Jennifer’s hand flew to her mouth too late to stop a sob escaping, and Michael had to squeeze his eyes shut.
‘Daddy took me to see the big trains once and I heard the steam hissing. He was going to take me again but he can’t now.’
It was too much and, as it turned out, it was Michael, not Jennifer, who threw caution to the wind. He swung little Billy up onto his shoulders.
Nancy was cold as she stood and watched them, pulling her coat tighter around her. However, there was a warmth in her heart. She had played her part and now it was in God’s hands. She turned, and saw Mr Bell and Josephine watching from the window and there was a spark of sadness in her heart. Oh, goodness, how they were all going to miss Oliver.
Jennifer and Michael walked home hand in hand, neither of them speaking, both lost in their own thoughts. Jennifer was remembering all the things Billy had told her and her heart broke for him. She could mend that heart, and she hadn’t missed the look in Michael’s eyes when Billy had told him about the trains.
But how did Michael really feel about all this? Would he want to go ahead with it? Jennifer wanted to ask him but couldn’t come up with the right words.
In the end she didn’t need to say anything. Michael suddenly stopped, took her in his arms and held her there for a moment. Jennifer thought her heart would burst because the next words Michael said were about to change both of their lives for ever.
‘Jenny?’
‘Yes, Michael?’
‘I want that boy to be our son so much it hurts.’
‘Me too, more than anything in the world.’
‘Happy Christmas, Jenny.’
‘Happy Christmas, Michael.’
They walked to the top of the driveway, hand in hand. At the gates, Michael stopped again. ‘Trains indeed,’ he said. ‘I simply can’t believe it.’
A New Mummy and Daddy
Nancy felt out of sorts for weeks, wondering how on earth paperwork could take so long. If this was God’s will, she wished He could hurry it up somehow. Yesterday Michael and Jennifer had officially been accepted as adoptive parents for Billy, and Nancy had had to sit down she was so relieved. ‘Thank Heaven for that,’ she said.
She hurried along the corridor to get little Billy ready to meet his new parents, who had asked if they could tell him themselves. It had all been agreed, although Mother and Nancy had to be present. Nancy didn’t know why she was so nervous: she had done this hundreds of times before. Billy sat on the edge of the bed as Nancy put on his best shoes and made sure he was clean and perfectly tidy. The other children were in the playroom and he kept asking if he could go and play, but Nancy said this was a special day and he was to be patient. She combed his hair and Billy complained that it had already been combed. Nancy continued fussing about, waiting for ten o’clock. Finally, she took Billy’s hand and smiled.
‘Come along, darling. Let’s see who’s waiting downstairs to take you out for a little while.’
‘Aunty Nancy, do you think it’s those nice people who played with me and Oliver in the wood? I liked them.
‘Well, they are very nice indeed,
Billy.’
‘And they liked Oliver too. The lady didn’t shout when he was sniffing her.’
‘Well, that settles it,’ Nancy said, laughing.
She paused at the top of the stairs for a moment. Today this little boy’s life would change, and she prayed with all her heart that it would be a story with a happy ending. Billy tugged at her hand. ‘Can we go now, Aunty Nancy?’
Slowly Nancy walked down the stairs, with the beautiful iron railings, looking towards Mother Superior’s room where Michael and Jennifer would be waiting. There was a lump in her throat. This will never do, she thought, but it doesn’t get any easier. Alongside the thrill of a happy ending there was always the pain of knowing she might never see the child again. It was her job to love and take care of them until new parents were found. That was God’s will, she had to remind herself over and over.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs Nancy took a deep breath. She walked straight to Mother Superior’s door and knocked.
As soon as they were inside the room, Nancy saw Jennifer and Michael standing together holding hands tightly. There was a moment’s hesitation, then Billy ran over to them. Michael swung him up into his arms and Jennifer reached for his hand.
‘Have you come to take me for a walk?’
Michael looked at Mother Superior, who nodded. He put Billy down and took his hand. He opened his mouth to speak and nothing came out. He looked at Nancy, who smiled, so he tried again. ‘Well, you see, we’d like to see more of you. In fact, lots more. Like every day and …’
Billy was clearly confused and Jennifer laughed. She knelt in front of Billy, taking his hands. ‘Billy, darling, I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you, and we would love to be your new mummy and daddy. What do you say, sweetheart?’
Billy Miller stood silently as the people in the room remained perfectly still, like statues, nobody saying anything. He thought Aunty Nancy looked very strange, not smiling like she usually did. Adults could be very strange indeed. When he eventually spoke everyone jumped. ‘Like a real mummy and daddy every day?’
‘Just like a really mummy and daddy,’ Jennifer said.
More silence. Then Billy looked up at Nancy with tears in his eyes.
‘Is something worrying you, Billy?’ Nancy asked. This wasn’t at all how it was supposed to go.
Billy’s voice shook as he said, ‘You told me it was hard when we had to leave people behind we love and it’s just hurting a bit.’
‘Oh, Billy, darling,’ Nancy said, ‘you can come back and see me any time you want.
Jennifer and Michael chipped in: ‘Yes, Billy, whenever you like.’
‘I didn’t mean you, Aunty Nancy,’ Billy said. ‘I meant Oliver.’
There was only a moment’s pause before everyone in the room burst into laughter.
‘Well I never,’ said Nancy, wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron.
‘As if we’d leave without Oliver,’ Michael said. ‘Let’s go and find him, shall we?’
Nancy and Mother watched Billy, who was practically squealing with delight, skipping between his new-mummy-and-daddy-to-be as they walked up the driveway to the caretaker’s cottage.
‘Cup of tea, Nancy?’ Mother said.
‘Oh, yes please,’ Nancy replied. ‘Don’t you just love a happy ending, Mother?’
It had been a big day for Billy and, with all the excitement, he had fallen asleep late in the afternoon, which Nancy never usually allowed because it interfered with bedtime. Today, though, she laid him on his bed for a little nap. Once wouldn’t do any harm. As he slept she walked over to the window and looked out. Was it only just over a year ago that his little heart had been so laden with grief he couldn’t even talk? He had constantly looked up at the stars in the sky from here. Nancy smiled, remembering the first time she had been convinced she thought she heard a dog barking from this very window. Michael and Jennifer’s lives were about to change for ever. She prayed with all her heart that life would be good to Billy, Jennifer and Michael. She turned to look at Billy. It was no good, she would have to wake him or he’d never sleep tonight.
It took her some time to rouse him but eventually, with the promise of seeing Oliver, Nancy got him into his hat and coat and they made their way over to the caretaker’s cottage. Smoke was billowing out of the chimney so there would be a fire to sit beside. Suddenly Billy shook Aunty Nancy’s hand. ‘Has anybody told Oliver about my new mummy and daddy?’
‘Well, actually, no,’ she told him. ‘I think that’s your job, don’t you? It is, after all, a very important one.’
Billy nodded and smiled, very pleased indeed.
Mr Bell was always glad to see them and called for them to come inside. Oliver was standing at the door, whining in welcome. Nancy followed Mr Bell into the kitchen and began helping to make tea. Billy sat in front of the fire and Oliver settled beside him.
‘I’ve got something to tell you, Oliver, and it’s very special.’ Oliver’s tail was wagging furiously. ‘I’m going to live with my new mummy and daddy and you’re coming too. I could never have left you behind. Mummy is so pretty and Daddy is so strong he can lift me up on his shoulders and run. We can come back here as much as we like, Mummy said, and see all of our friends. What do you think of that then?’ Oliver barked, then settled down beside Billy, happily content. He thought it sounded like a marvellous plan.
There had always been a special bond between the child and the dog who had brought him unconditional love, understanding and a friendship that would never be forgotten.
The Special Star
The nativity play for the lady mayor and the dignitaries was eventually taking place. It usually happened just after Christmas but she had been ill and it had been postponed. Nancy had hoped it would be cancelled altogether, but Mother had received a call during the last week in January to say that the lady mayor would like the service to go ahead. ‘How completely and utterly pointless,’ Nancy had complained. ‘You have a Christmas service at Christmas or not at all,’ she told everyone.
However, two days before the service was due to take place, Billy’s adoption was finalised. Nancy was bubbling with excitement. I should have known there was a good reason for the delay, Lord, she prayed. Mr Bell had been invited to come along and watch. Josephine was going to be an angel this time as another little girl would be Mary, and Nancy’s heart had melted when she saw her dressed to play her part: those beautiful ringlets with the pale blue ribbons, a white sheet tied in the middle with a piece of tinsel and a halo on her head. Wings had been made using up all the glitter she had scraped from the Christmas cards. Josephine would steal the show.
Earlier that morning, on spotting Mother, Nancy had called down the stairs, ‘Need any polish, Mother?’ then burst out laughing. Mother had simply shaken her head and asked Nancy not to shout down the stairs, but when she turned away she was suppressing a smile. There was a thrill in the air this year and Mother could not have been happier.
Everything was in place when the lady mayor arrived and Mother led the guests to chapel with the nuns following. Sister Mary Joseph and Sister Lucy stepped forward and opened the oak doors and the lady mayor gasped.
There they stood on the altar steps, the children of Nazareth House Orphanage. There was the sweetest stable, full of straw, with Mary and Joseph standing at either side. There were shepherds and wise men alongside angels, and a huge Christmas tree to the left of the altar. The Archangel Gabriel stood in front of the tree with a small bouquet in her hand. Very slowly she made her way down the aisle towards the lady mayor.
Everyone held their breath. Josephine had done wonderfully well in a year yet she still walked with a slight limp. The children began to sing ‘Away in a Manger’ as Josephine continued, eventually stopping in front of the lady mayor. Nancy almost held her breath as the little girl tried to curtsy. A sob escaped the lady mayor, who usually didn’t show such emotion.
Josephine handed the bouquet to her, then turned round an
d placed her hands in the prayer position. They all began to follow her down the aisle to their pews. Josephine took her place at the altar beside the stable. Nancy looked at her and nodded, mouthing, ‘Well done, Josephine.’
Michael and Jennifer sat at the back, thinking their hearts would burst at any moment. They waved at Billy, who beamed back at them.
Just before the end of the service the children went to the back of the chapel to take something out of a basket. Everyone tried to see what it was but nobody knew: this was a secret Nancy had kept to herself. As the children got back into line everyone strained their eyes to see.
The children made their way down the aisle each with a silver star in their hands, which they had spent all week making. Each star bore the words ‘God bless Mummy and Daddy’. It was too much for the lady mayor, who now had tears trickling down her cheeks as each child hung their star on the tree.
Little Billy remained standing at the back of the chapel, wearing a huge grin.
‘Surely our Billy should be doing that,’ Jennifer whispered. ‘He was the one who told them all about the stars in the sky after all.’
‘Look at you,’ Michael murmured, ‘getting all protective. I don’t think you need worry …’
Billy lifted the final star out of the box. This was no ordinary star: this was the Star of Bethlehem. Very carefully, he held it up, then walked to Michael and Jennifer and waited. They looked at Nancy, who nodded at them. With fast-beating hearts, they stepped out of the pew and stood at either side of Billy. He looked up at Jennifer, then Michael, and beamed. The children began to sing ‘Silent Night’ as they all walked down the aisle to the altar and Billy placed the Star of Bethlehem above the stable. Michael patted Billy’s shoulder and Jennifer leaned over to kiss him. Then he returned to his place with the other children, ready to sing the final carol.
‘Dear God, thank you for my new mummy and daddy,’ Billy whispered.
God looked down on him and smiled. He still had one more surprise for little Billy Miller.
The Puppy and the Orphan Page 23