Free The Christmas Children by Irene Brand Page B

with her.”
    Paul wore a parka over his pajamas, and his feet were in slippers. He shivered and pulled the parka closer to his body.
    â€œYou’ll freeze out here with so few clothes on. I’m ready to go in, anyway. Sorry I disturbed your rest. I just had to deal with some of my frustrations,” she said.
    â€œDo you think you’ll sleep now?”
    â€œI should be able to,” she said, but Paul was aware of the concern in her eyes. He opened the door and stood aside to let Carissa into the room.
    Paul figured she’d take her worries to bed with her. But there was a limit to what he could do, so hereturned to the bedroom and closed the door, as Carissa headed toward the stairs.
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    Carissa and Paul were lingering over their coffee when Justin and Belva came the next morning. The children were still sleeping, so Carissa invited the couple to join them for coffee. Paul got cups while Carissa poured the hot beverage.
    Justin said, “I can’t turn up a thing on those kids. It’s inconceivable in this day of mass communication that three kids can disappear without somebody looking for them.”
    â€œYou could put their pictures on the Internet and you’d soon find out who they are and where they came from,” Paul said.
    â€œI know, and I’ll probably do that, but we have complications.” He darted a look at his wife, and Carissa had the feeling that Justin was a mite henpecked.
    â€œAs you know, Paul,” Justin continued, “Yuletide is a small town and news travels fast. By now, everyone in town knows about these three kids. I’ve had a half dozen phone calls or so asking me not to relocate the children until after Christmas.”
    â€œYuletide’s citizens are deluding themselves into believing that these children have been sent to us to give us an opportunity to redeem ourselves,” said Belva.
    â€œMaybe it isn’t a delusion,” Paul said.
    Half annoyed that she couldn’t follow the gist oftheir conversation, Carissa remembered what Paul had told her two nights ago. “Oh, now I understand. They’re tying the present situation to the Christmas Eve tragedy of the past.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Justin said. “People are begging me not to do anything until after Christmas. The mayor wants the town to adopt them as our special guests for the next few weeks. Even the pastor of Bethel Church stopped by the office last night, suggesting that the children might give us a second chance to show our generosity and faith.”
    â€œBut can’t you get into a lot of trouble by not trying to find out whose children they are?” Paul asked.
    Justin slanted an uneasy look toward his wife, who took a sip of coffee, seemingly oblivious to his gaze.
    â€œBut I might get into a lot more trouble if I don’t do what the Yuletide citizens want me to do. Besides, I am trying to find out who the kids are.”
    When Belva didn’t comment, Justin asked, “What do the two of you think about it? You’re more involved than anyone else.”
    Paul’s eyes registered concern when he looked at Carissa. He hadn’t anticipated spending his vacation in this manner, but he was willing to help out. And what about his visit with Naomi? He wouldn’t go to Florida and leave Carissa with the responsibility.
    â€œYou’d expect us to be the children’s guardians until after Christmas?” he asked Justin.
    â€œOthers in town would be willing to give them ahome,” Belva said, “but I’m not sure anyone can take all three of them.”
    â€œThen they’d be separated!” Carissa said. “That’s what they were trying to avoid when they ran away.”
    She moved from the table to stand in front of the window. Hoarfrost decorated the windowpane in lacy, geometric patterns. Ice fishermen already huddled over holes in the lake. As she watched, one man pulled a foot-long