A Mrs. Miracle Christmas - Debbie Macomber Page 0,12

liked Britta. Everyone did. She was a favorite not only with the staff, but also with the students and their parents. She had two children, one in junior high, and the other was a freshman in high school.

“Well, tell me,” Laurel said, encouraging her friend to share.

The room went silent again, like everyone was waiting for a bombshell to drop.

“It’s completely unexpected…I mean, it’s almost a joke.” Her friend was clearly nervous.

“What is?” Laurel asked.

“Wade, my husband, didn’t even know what to think. It took us some time to let it sink in that this could happen at our age.”

“What happened?” Laurel pressed, not understanding the worried looks of her coworkers.

“I’m pregnant,” Britta said, not meeting Laurel’s eyes. “I never thought I’d be having a baby at my age.”

Laurel’s heart felt like it had stopped beating. Somehow, from some internal strength, she was able to dredge up a smile. “Congratulations, Britta. That’s wonderful news.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Mrs. Miracle arrived ten minutes before Laurel left for school the following day. Helen watched as her granddaughter pulled the caretaker aside. She could hear the two whispering in the kitchen and smiled to herself. She might be losing her memory and becoming more forgetful, but Helen was bright enough to know the subject of their conversation.

The whispering was sure to be about Helen’s claim that Mrs. Miracle was an authentic, genuine angel. Laurel looked guilty after the talk, avoiding eye contact with her grandmother as she rushed out the door, making an excuse that she was running late for school.

Mrs. Miracle joined Helen, taking a seat on the sofa. She brought out her knitting.

Reaching for her own pair of knitting needles, Helen said, “They didn’t believe me.”

“I didn’t expect they would, and neither should you.”

Helen wished her granddaughter would have been more trusting. Then again, after the events of the last eighteen months, she couldn’t really blame Laurel.

“She thinks I’m losing even more of my mind, doesn’t she?”

Mrs. Miracle contemplated her reply as she wove the yarn through her fingers with the expertise of an accomplished knitter. “She is concerned, but that’s only natural.” She paused, resting the needles on her lap. “If anyone should be blamed for this, it falls squarely on me. It would’ve been better if I’d kept it a secret, as I often do. But by sharing it with you, and you passing it along to Laurel, it confirmed to her that your mental capabilities are failing at an increasing speed. That’s far from the truth, as you and I both know.”

“I should’ve been quiet about it,” Helen said, regretting the impulse. If only she had thought matters through more carefully. “Are you upset with me? Was I wrong to tell them?” Helen hoped she hadn’t alienated this angel who had come into her life, this caregiver whose companionship she’d come to treasure in such a short time.

“Not at all,” Mrs. Miracle reassured her.

“You didn’t tell me not to tell anyone. If you had, I would’ve kept the secret to myself.”

“It’s fine, Helen. Your granddaughter’s faith is fragile at best. I’ve come for her and for Zach as much as I have for you.” Finishing her row, she set the knitting on her lap. “It’s such a lovely day. Do you feel up for a walk a bit later? It will do your heart good and take your thoughts off Laurel.”

A walk was the perfect way to break Helen’s melancholy mood, and she quickly agreed. The rain of the last few days had stopped, and the weather forecast was for intermittent clouds and sunshine. Helen welcomed the opportunity to breathe in the fresh air. Getting lost and confused in her own neighborhood had badly shaken her. Since that fateful day, she hadn’t traveled outside for more than to collect the mail.

The two women knitted side by side for the next hour, chatting now and again, with the television keeping them company. Without asking, Mrs. Miracle turned the channel to the morning game show that Helen routinely enjoyed. She found it entertaining to watch the crazy things people were willing to do in order to participate in these silly games.

When the sun finally peeked out of the clouds and through the living room window, Mrs. Miracle stood and gathered their coats and scarves. “Let’s venture out while we have sunshine.”

“That would be lovely.”

As they readied for their walk, Helen noticed the colorful Fair Isle scarf her home companion had around the collar of her gray wool coat. “Did you

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