Angels in the Snow by Rexanne Becnel Page A

designer had intended, its new coziness was much more appealing. Rugs covered the gleaming wood floors almost entirely. The upholstered furniture was clustered tightly before the fire, with a low coffee table in the middle. Quilts and comforters from the bedrooms were folded over the backs of the couches and chairs so that anyone could easily snuggle up for warmth. The dinner table and chairs took up the corner near the now curtained-off dining room.
    Though it was still not toasty warm in the big room, the fire Joe had built earlier had settled down and now was exuding a steady, glowing heat. Josie was curled up in one of the big chairs, fast asleep with her thumb in her mouth. Judith sat in the chair next to her. Although her eyes were closed, Charles was certain she wasn’t asleep.
    Jennifer and the other girl were sitting cross-legged before the fire. The Monopoly board was set up on the coffee table. Paper money, dice, and yellow and orange cards were spread out, forgotten for the moment as they both leaned over to look into the rabbit’s box.
    â€œLeave the poor animal to rest,” Marilyn mildly rebuked the two as she bent forward, potholder in hand. She fiddled with several cast-iron rods attached to one side of the massive fireplace and finally managed to make them swing forward past the main heat of the fire. She looked up with a pleased expression on her face. When she saw Charles watching her, she smiled.
    â€œWhoever built this house did us an enormous favor by including these swivel pot hangers in their new fireplace.”
    â€œI’m sure it was done for its picturesque quality, not for any real cooking,” he replied.
    â€œWell, picturesque they may be, but they’re practical, too. Cooking will be much easier if we don’t have to set everything directly in the coals.”
    The fire flamed a bit, heralding the entrance of the woodcutters on a cold gust of air.
    â€œAhh, does it feel good in here,” Joe exclaimed. He put his stack of wood down in one corner, then crossed to Marilyn.
    â€œGood lord!” she squeaked when he gave her a hug, nuzzling his reddened nose against her neck. “You’re as frozen as a snowman!”
    She twisted in his arms and put her hands against his cheeks, then shook her head in mock exasperation. She glanced over at the two boys. “I hope you didn’t chop off any fingers or toes. Until you thaw out, you wouldn’t even feel their loss.”
    â€œMan, you should have seen Alex. He never chopped wood before today, but he did real good!”
    â€œDid you save a chip?” Marilyn asked as she pulled Joe’s hat off.
    â€œYeah, right here.” Alex produced the chip. “Robbie said I have to carve something out of it.”
    â€œIs that an old custom?” Charles stepped forward, nearer the circle that had formed in front of the fireplace.
    Joe shrugged out of his heavy coat. “I don’t know how old it is. My grandparents celebrated every ‘first.’ First tooth. First step. First word and every other first. Each of their kids had a little treasure box for all kinds of ‘first’ mementos. My folks did the same for us, and now we do the same for ours.” He reached down to tousle Lucy’s hair. “I thought we’d never get a lock from this one’s head.”
    Jennifer peered at Lucy. “You’ve never cut your hair?”
    â€œâ€‰â€™Course I have. Mom cut my bangs when I was eight.” She poked out her lower lip and blew a puff that lifted her bangs. She grinned when they fell back in a straight silky line. “They saved my first tooth, too. Gross, huh?”
    Jennifer switched her gaze to her mother. “Do you have my first tooth? Or hair from my first haircut?”
    Charles answered. “Of course we do. In your baby book. Don’t we, Jude?”
    Judith lifted her gaze to his. “Yes, we do.”
    â€œThat is gross,” Alex