Free The Christmas Angel by Jim Cangany

The Christmas Angel
    Today was going to be tough for Kaitlin Summers. If she was honest with herself, she'd
admit she was dreading it. Fussing with her long, brown hair in the bathroom wasn't going to help,
either. It was December Ninth, her birthday. It was also the day of the annual Christmas Parade, and
her roommate, Dani, was intent on making sure Kaitlin had fun.
    Especially this year.
    The inevitable knock came as Kaitlin was in mid-brush.
    "Come on, honey. I want to find a place to park close to the parade route, so we don't
have far to walk."
    Kaitlin stifled a bitchy comeback about how it was always about what Dani wanted. She
pulled her hair back into a pony tail and fastened it with a red and green bow. Red and green--the
colors of Christmas. Her mother had given her the bow a few years back for her birthday.
    The memory nearly brought her to tears, yet again.
    "Almost ready." She added a touch of makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes
and pulled the door open.
    Dani gave her a once-over. "Well, don't you look adorable?" Isn't that sweater a little
bulky though, if you know what I mean?"
    Kaitlin glanced down at her ruby red sweater. Made in Ireland of Shetland wool, it had
been another gift from her mom. The last thing I got from her. Well, almost...
    "I love this sweater, and this way I don't have to worry about getting cold. As opposed to
some people I know."
    "Please, honey." Dani did a little dance move. The tall blonde looked like a Nordic
goddess in her form-fitting white sweater dress with matching red leggings, knee-high boots and
belt. On any other woman, the outfit would have looked trashy, or worse. But on Dani, it looked
stylish and almost regal. "Once I find one of Santa's little helpers to my liking, I'll let him keep me
warm."
    Kaitlin spread her arms wide. "Yeah, and standing next to you, nobody'll even notice
me."
    With a click of her tongue, Dani took Kaitlin in her arms and held her tight. "Stop that.
You're a talented, vivacious woman who deserves to have some fun on her birthday. We've gone to
this parade together since what, junior high, and we're not missing it this year. Especially not
this year, okay?"
    Kaitlin took a deep breath and nodded. Underneath the runway fashion and the
     high-end salon styling, Dani had a heart of gold. The unwavering support she'd shown since Kaitlin's
parents had been killed in an auto accident ten months before had proven it a million times
over.
    "That's my girl." Dani took a step back and held Kaitlin at arm's length, smiling. When
she noticed the pin on Kaitlin's sweater, her smile grew wider. "Nice touch with the angel brooch.
It'll be good to have your mom with us in spirit."
    As if her hand had a mind of its own, Kaitlin touched the pin above her right breast. The
golden angel was a family heirloom, passed down from her grandmother, to her mother, and now to
her. She fought back tears as she was flooded with memories of her dad calling her Mommy's Little
Angel in preschool. When she'd gotten to middle school, Dad had shortened it to Little Angel, and in
high school to Angel.
    Her older brother had insisted the pin go to Kaitlin and she'd treasured it every day
since receiving it. Today was the first day she'd worn it, though.
    Kaitlin gave her best friend a light pat on the arm and grabbed her purse. "I'll drive. The
supplies are already in my car. Besides, I doubt there's any place you could stash a key in that outfit
of yours." She opened the door to their apartment and waved Dani through.
    "Wanna bet?" Dani winked and sauntered down the hall.
    Kaitlin grinned and rolled her eyes. Ah, Dani my dear, always the perfect
comeback. She pulled the door closed and hurried after her bestie as fast as her hiking boots
could carry her.
    The late morning sun warmed the leather interior of Kaitlin's new Subaru Outback
during the drive to the parade. It was the one thing she'd spent some of her inheritance on, and
would come in handy during the long, snowy