Free Tidings of Comfort and Joy by T. Davis Bunn Page A

back." As she turned toward the door, she smiled down at her granddaughter and said, "Do you think we deserve an extra marshmallow tonight?"
    GRAN'S STORY
    The next morning, I knocked on Rachel's door. She opened it so swiftly I stepped back in surprise, only to find she was slipping on her coat and gloves. Her face showed fleeting disappointment when she recognized me, then she gave her already familiar smile. "Oh, good morning, my dear. I thought you were Fred."
    "The taxi driver? That's why I came over, I needed to ask him to take me somewhere."
    "Come in, come in. There's no telling how long Fred will be. He was leaving for another job when I rang, and with all this snow the roads must be simply dreadful.Would you care for a tea?"
    "That would be nice, thank you." I followed her back inside. "But you're all ready to go."
    She set the cane down in the corner by the door, and started up the stairs, leaning heavily upon the railing."Yes, well, I am impatient to get about my work."
    Rachel's house was a mirror image of my own, with a central kitchen and a long hallway connecting to the front room and a balcony overlooking the river. "What work is that?"
    "Oh, I'm volunteering up at the War College. Do you know, I believe I'll join you for a cup. How do you take your tea, my dear?"
    "A little sugar, please. I'm sorry, where did you say—"
    "Oh, just listen to me." Rachel's laugh had a gay ring, and she bustled about the kitchen in an excited manner. "The War College is what it's been called for the past five years, and such names die hard. The Ministry of Defense took over a large manor just outside of town and turned it into an academy for senior officers. They came in for courses on everything from strategy to language to map reading." She poured steaming water into the old teapot. "We had one of these officers stay in your place for a time. Charming fellow.Didn't make it back, I'm afraid. I still talk to his wife from time to time. She came down and joined him while he was here. Took the loss rather hard, poor dear."
    I accepted my cup. "It sounds like you can't mention anybody without talking about them losing someone."
    "Yes, I suppose it does. There are so many." She sipped at her cup. "Mind you, it hasn't been a bed of roses for those left behind. There are quite a number of grieving ghosts wandering our streets."
    I started to ask what she did at the former War College, when the doorbell rang. Her face lit up with renewed excitement. "Oh, that must be Fred!"
    I followed her back downstairs, and watched as she flung back the door and said in mock severity. "Shame on you, Fred. I thought for certain you had forgotten me."
    Fred doffed his cap and held open the cab door. "Not you, Miss Rachel. Just held up a bit by the snow, is all."
    Rachel started to enter, then straightened. "Oh, wait, Emily wanted to ask you something."
    I stepped up beside her. "I was wondering if you could take me over to the airfield."
    Rachel's face fell. "Oh, my dear. Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
    Fred clearly misunderstood, for he said, "Not a hope, Miss Emily. Not today."
    To Rachel, I said, "I need to see about a way back to America, and there's no berth available on a ship." To Fred, "Why not?"
    "Because the hills are chock full of snow, is why." Fred turned and pointed toward the hills rising behind us. "The airfield's only five miles away, but it's straight up and straight down. All roads over the Chilterns are closed up tight."
    I had not thought of that. "What about this afternoon?"
    "Not likely. They do all the roads around town first. Leave it till tomorrow, I say." He glanced up at the heavily laden clouds. "That is, unless we get more snow, which by the look of things could well happen."
    "Never mind, my dear." Rachel patted my arm. "You might be better off leaving that for a day or two. And you are welcome to stay here just as long as you like."
    "'Course, some of the boys might try to make it in to the local tonight," Fred