Free Sleeping through the Beauty by Regina Puckett Page B

stopped him from deserting her, so he went in and sat on the sofa with his host. “Please leave it on. I would like to watch this with you, if you don’t mind.” He wanted to see more of the fallen angel. Who was she and why did she tug at his heart in ways no one had touched him before?
    After a moment, Mrs. Briar nodded and then refocused her attention on the television screen. “Thank you. Donna doesn’t like watching them. She says it just reminds her of how much we have lost. You see, last year, we didn’t just lose my husband. In a way, we also lost my oldest daughter, Rose. She was with my husband that night. She suffered serious head trauma and is still in a coma. The doctors don’t know if she’ll ever come out of it. Donna won’t even go with me to the nursing home anymore.” She turned back to face the screen.
    Phillip hadn’t missed the tears, even though she had lowered her lashes in an attempt to hide them. He didn’t say anything, but he sat and watched the sweet family scene unfold. It was everything he and Roger had never had growing up. It made him think about whether it was better never to have such love or to have it, but then lose it without warning.
    “You have two very beautiful daughters, Mrs. Briar. Do you mind talking about Rose? I would like hearing about her.”
    For the first time that evening, Mrs. Briar’s face brightened. “I would love to. I don’t get many opportunities to talk about her anymore. It doesn’t take long for friends and family to lose interest in another person’s grief. Rose was a beautiful child, who grew into a beautiful woman, but she’s not just that way on the outside, she’s so beautiful on the inside too.” She leaned in to be closer as if to tell an important secret. “Do you know what Rose was going to do after graduating from the university? She wanted to build a place where children who were too old to live any longer in foster homes to stay until they received their higher education.”
    Sadness settled back onto her face. “That’s my biggest regret, that I talked Rose out of going ahead with the project. She wanted to begin three years ago, but her father and I told her there was plenty of time to do it after she completed her education. Now she might never have the chance.”
    Phillip covered her hand. “She still can. You mustn’t give up hope.” He leaned closer to her and smiled. “Why don’t I drive you over to see Rose tonight? That would make a lovely Christmas Eve surprise for her.”
    It was heartbreaking to see such hope fill Mrs. Briar’s face, but then, without warning, it vanished.
    “I can’t ask you to spend Christmas Eve with an old lady. You must have better things to do tonight than drive me to the nursing home.” She smiled, but it was tainted with a hint of sadness. “I appreciate the kind thought, though. You and Roger have the best manners. Your parents must be so proud of the two of you.”
    Phillip didn’t bother contradicting her. “I would love to meet Rose.” He leaned closer and whispered conspiringly. “Don’t say anything before Roger and Donna come back in with the happy news, but I think we’re soon going to be family. You might as well get used to seeing me.”
    It took Mrs. Briar a moment, but then a look of understanding and a smile lit her face. “You mean?”
    Phillip nodded.
    She stood and waved for him to do the same. “Let’s go tell Rose.”
    He found himself answering her bright smile with one of his own. He stood and offered her his hand. “What a wonderful idea.”
     
     

To sleep and not dream of love is the saddest thing of all.
    Phillip stood out of the way while Mrs. Briar fluttered around Rose’s bedside. The older woman tucked in covers, and then, without anything left to do, she combed her daughter’s short, blonde hair.
    After the tender grooming, Mrs. Briar slipped the comb into her purse. “Rose is going to hate how short her hair is. They had to remove a section