Free Angels in the Snow by Rexanne Becnel

silly idea, sugar? Your fingers aren’t going anywhere. You’re going to be just fine.”
    â€œBut he said—”
    â€œYou see what you’ve done?”
    Everyone’s eyes turned to Robbie, then followed his angry glare to Alex.
    â€œHey, I was only joking.”
    â€œShe’s just a little kid. You can’t joke with her the same way you do with your sister.”
    â€œAlex, what is this all about?” Charles demanded.
    A slow flush crept up Alex’s face and he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “It was just a joke. She got her hands wet yesterday. At that store. And I told her . . . I told her she better dry them or her fingers . . . well, I told her they might fall off. But I was just joking,” he finished defensively.
    â€œHe made it look like his fingers fell off,” Josie told her father. “Make him show you.”
    â€œAlex,” Judith said, embarrassed by the whole situation. “Show her you were joking.”
    Alex raised his hands and wiggled his fingers. “I was joking,” he repeated, scowling at the child. Then he stalked out of the room.
    There was an awkward silence. Judith wanted to run after Alex, yet that seemed inappropriate. Jennifer edged next to her, and she put an arm around her daughter’s shoulder instead. Only when Lucy crossed to Josie did the atmosphere change.
    â€œLook, Josie. I know an even better trick than Alex did. See?” She held her two hands up together, then folded one thumb back while circling it with a forefinger. “See?” She pulled her hands apart so that it appeared she had pulled off the end of one of her thumbs. “Look, I’ll show you how to do it too.”
    Under Lucy’s playful instructions, Josie began to smile. When the little girl had perfected the hand trick, she laughed out loud. “I’m going to trick Alex. Don’t let anybody tell him. Let me fool him this time.”
    â€œOkay, pumpkin. But right now you need to rest.” Joe carried her to the bed fixed for her in one of the overstuffed chairs. “Close your eyes and take a nap.”
    The child yawned as he tucked a comforter around her. “Will you sing me a song?”
    â€œSure, pumpkin.” He sat down on the rug in front of her and began to rub her feet.
    As he began to sing a slow Christmas song, Judith found herself sliding her hand up and down Jennifer’s arm in sync with the melody. His voice was deep and rich and the familiar carol was mesmerizing. Calming. Jennifer glanced up at her mother with a small smile on her face.
    When Lucy sat down beside her father, Josie asked, “Where’s Fluffy? Is he okay? Did you feed him, Lucy?”
    â€œNot yet, but I will.”
    â€œLet me.” Jennifer jumped up. “I’ll get him something really good to eat, Josie. Then I’ll move his box right next to you.”
    As Jennifer departed for the ice-cold kitchen, Judith noticed Charles standing before the fire. He had one foot propped on the wide brick hearth. His hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions. His sweater was buttoned crookedly and his shirt collar was bunched up. And the troubled expression on his face was equally uncharacteristic.
    She was accustomed to his “trouble at the office” expression. It generally had an edge of anger, and of determination. His “trouble at home” expression was generally more frustrated. But his face now seemed more that of a lost little boy’s. She started to go to him, but before she could, he scowled.
    â€œDamn cell system!” He looked over at her. “I should have gotten a satellite phone a long time ago. We wouldn’t be cut off like this now. That’s the first thing I’m going to do when we get home.”
    Judith stared at him. “This storm’s probably stopped construction everywhere. There can’t be anything going on at the