The Best Christmas Ever by Cheryl Wolverton Page B

explained. “I’ve been late to pick her up myself, due to traffic or whatever only to find she’s gone off with a friend.”
    Justin shook his head. “So far, no harm has been done. We’ve had long talks about her actions and she always promises not to go off again unless it was a real emergency.”
    “A real emergency?”
    “I explained that if it was a real emergency—and her ride didn’t come for say, an hour—she could go to her teacher, or find a policeman. Or even walk by herself to her friend’s house who lives across from the school.”
    “Ah…” Sarah said. “That explains it I guess, but it still doesn’t excuse me for forgetting to pick her up.”
    Justin shook his head. “How about if I just say I think Mickie takes after her aunt?”
    Sarah thought about that. Her heartbeat increased as she wondered exactly. what he could mean. He loved his daughter. Did that mean he saw something good in her, Sarah? “I’m not exactly sure how to take that.”
    “Take it easy, Sarah. What I’m trying to say is I don’t eat baby-sitters for lunch over minor mistakes.”
    “This wasn’t minor.”
    “Yes, it was. Stephanie picked up Mickie from school, probably with some persuasion from Mickie,” he added darkly. “I’ll have a talk with Mickie again about waiting and taking rides from strangers. I’m sureyou’ll never forget her again, but if you are a little late, call the school.”
    She nodded. And trust God to keep Mickie safe. Boy, had she prayed while searching for Mickie and God had once again answered prayers by keeping her safe. “I’ll finish dinner and get it on the table,” she said, backing toward the door. “Thanks.”
    Justin nodded.
    She couldn’t understand why Justin had been so calm. She’d just known he was going to fire her and she’d once again lose the chance at the only family she would ever have. Longingly, she touched her stomach. For a moment a deep regret at what she couldn’t have touched her soul. But then she was able to thank God. Because of that minor affliction she had woken up to what she already possessed and had neglected over the past two years. She had a wonderful niece and, she was beginning to see, an equally wonderful brother-in-law.
    It would be enough. She had family, though she would never have her own family. She could surely forget that detail and go on with life, couldn’t she?

Chapter Eight
    J ustin opened his eyes.
    It was dark, the curtains pulled. Glancing at the bedside clock he saw it was two-thirty in the morning.
    What had wakened him? Mickie hadn’t crawled into bed with him. He listened but heard no noise in his room to account for the reason he’d awakened.
    A whisper of noise reached him.
    He sat up in bed, the crisp cotton sheet sliding down his chest. Listening again, he couldn’t tell what it was he’d heard.
    It hadn’t come from downstairs. The alarm was on for the night and hadn’t been triggered.
    What could it have been? Maybe Mickie was having her nightmares again. She’d had nightmares right after Amy had died. But it had been at least six months since the last one.
    He swung his long legs out of bed. After grabbing a sweatshirt and jeans from the end of the bed, he slipped them on.
    He padded barefoot to the door, running a tired hand through his disheveled hair, then made his way down the hallway. He paused outside Mickie’s door, then pushed it wide and peeked in to where he could see her silhouette form in bed. She lay still, curled up in a ball, one hand tucked under her chin, the other under the side of her face. She looked peaceful.
    Frowning, he went over and tucked the sheet more securely about her. Had she gone back to sleep so quickly? he wondered.
    He left Mickie’s room. Just as he started down the hall, thinking he must have heard something downstairs such as the heating system, the sound came again. A whimpering moan, barely audible, sounding so forlorn that the hairs on the back of his neck stood