Christmas Eve dawned gray and
cold. The forecast called for rain, not
snow, and the low clouds held the promise of a gloomy day. But Emily refused to be discouraged. She made up her mind to be brutally cheerful,
no matter how much the pain under her ribs reminded her of Stani's
absence. She had plenty to keep her
busy, and the time would pass, whether she chose to be happy or sad. As music blared through the speakers, filling
the house, she hummed along, even danced a few steps across the kitchen floor,
reminding herself of all she had to be happy about. If everything else paled in comparison to the
sight of his face, the touch of his hand, so be it. Blessings were blessings weren't they, none
of them to be counted as anything less.
At six she ate her supper and
dressed for church. She had been to
Martha Jean's and, as a gift to herself, purchased a ridiculously expensive new
blouse. White silk, with an open collar
and flowing sleeves caught at the wrist in lace cuffs, it was the perfect
complement to the camel skirt and dark green vest she’d bought in the
fall. She loved the elegant length of
the skirt, falling just above her ankles.
It would be appropriately graceful as she sat on the floor with her
little ones during the service. She
wasn’t often overly concerned with her appearance, but tonight she took special
pains. In honor of the occasion, she
wanted to look her best. Before she left, she moved Joseph and Mary into the stable, with the noble donkey grazing on the hearth nearby. The shepherds she placed on a table not far away, where the heralding angel's message could reach them. Finally, she set the angel directly beneath the star hanging above the mantel. Leaving the lamp shining in the window, she started out for church just as rain began to fall in earnest.
The little stone church was packed, buzzing with excitement as families gathered and friends greeted one another as if they hadn’t been together in months, rather than days. Her cherubs, with their shining clean faces and carefully brushed hair, seemed suitably impressed with the importance of their roles in the service, even a little subdued. Emily could only hope that attitude lasted through the hour they spent in full view of the congregation.
But as the music began, and she led them to their places, all her anxiety melted away. It was a sacred night and even if the children were restless or sang a little off key, nothing could cast a shadow over the beauty of this, her favorite night of the year.
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