A Season of Angels Page 0,90

her waist as they returned to the kitchen. When Timmy noticed Glen had arrived, he turned off the game.

"Hi, Glen."

"How's it going, scout?"

"All right, I guess. Mom said you were coming over for dinner."

"Yeah, you don't mind, do you?"

"Oh, no," Timmy said, "I think it's great, but she made spaghetti and she makes me eat it with a spoon. She'll probably make you do the same thing."

"I think I can live with that, if you can."

"Yeah, I guess so," Timmy said.

"Son, Glen and I would like to have a talk with you before dinner." Rubbing her palms together as if warding off a chill, Jody looked at Glen for assistance. They hadn't talked about when they'd break the news to Timmy, and Jody worried their dinner would be a disaster with this hanging over their heads.

"Sure," Timmy said.

The three of them sat down together in the family room. Glen was next to Jody and Timmy sat across from them. Glen reached for Jody's hand.

"Your mother and I talked this afternoon and decided that we like each other very much," Glen explained.

"I kind of guessed that you did," Timmy said. "I saw you kissing her once."

"Did that trouble you?" Jody asked, watching her son for any telltale signs of jealousy. Although Timmy yearned for a father, he may not have understood that it would mean having to share his mother's attention with someone else.

"I don't know why people kiss on the lips," Timmy said. "It's seems silly when you're always warning me about germs, but adults seem to like it and even some kids. Rich told me he kissed a girl and it wasn't too bad."

"But how do you feel about me and your mother kissing?" Glen pressed.

Timmy frowned as if he didn't know how to answer. "All right, I guess."

Glen's hand tightened around Jody's. She noticed for the first time that he was nervous, which was something she suspected happened only rarely. Her gaze met his and he smiled weakly.

"Glen and I want to talk to you about us getting married," Jody said, surprised by how shallow her voice sounded. Saying the words aloud for the first time caused her heart to pound at a fast rate, as if she were walking up a steep hill. In many ways she was, and the anticipation of this new path she'd chosen suddenly felt momentous.

"Does this mean we'd be a family?"

Jody nodded.

"I'd be your stepfather," Glen explained.

Timmy frowned at that. "But we'd still be a family?"

"Of course we would. Isn't that what you wanted?" Jody sensed Timmy's uncertainty and wanted to reassure him that there was nothing on this earth that would ever change her love for him.

"Would you have more babies like Rich's mom?"

Jody released her breath and looked at Glen. They hadn't discussed the prospect of having children.

"I'd like that very much," Glen answered for her. "But we'll leave the decision up to your mother."

"What do you think, Timmy, would you like it if Glen and I married?" Jody experienced the strongest need to break down and cry. It felt like a band around her chest that tightened more with each second.

"Sure, that would be great. Glen could help me be a better pitcher and then you wouldn't miss my dad so much. It'd be nice to be part of a real family."

Jody bit back the words that claimed they were already a real family, he and she together.

"It's settled, then," Glen said, "your mother and I are officially engaged. You know what this means now, don't you, Timmy? Another set of grandparents and aunts and uncles that you'll need to meet." He placed his arm around Jody's shoulder and squeezed gently.

The phone pealed just then and Jody knew in her heart that it was her mother-in-law. Bracing herself, she stood and reached for the phone.

Her guess was accurate.

"I want to apologize for our conversation the other night," Gloria said, sounding calm and collected. It was almost as if the fog in her mind had cleared.

"We both said things we regret," Jody assured her. "This is a difficult time for us."

"Oh, no," Gloria corrected, "you're wrong, my dear. Life couldn't be more beautiful. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, and more so now than ever before."

"Mine too. Remember the year you joined Timmy and me. We wish your health was better so you could travel more."

"Jeff always enjoyed the holidays," she said.

Discussing her dead husband just then, minutes after she'd announced her engagement to another man, was