Part 18 (1/2)
”Hold out your hand,” he instructed.
To her amazement, Ransom proceeded to tie it around her finger in a big, floppy bow. ”What's that supposed to do?”
”I hear it helps.” Giving his handiwork a pleased look, he said, ”Worth a try, right?”
”That's just silly!”
”No sillier than the other stuff you seem so willing to rely on,” he defended.
”Like what?”
”Prayer,” Ransom calmly replied. ”Don't you think it sounds weird to believe that talking to someone you can't see will change things?”
”There are things we can't see,” she retorted.
”How do you know if you haven't seen them?” he reasoned. ”Do you pray?”
”Of course,” Prissie huffed.
”And does it change things?”
”Things have changed,” she replied moodily, refusing to meet his eyes.
”Well, then, Miss Priss,” Ransom said, a challenge in his tone. ”Maybe you should practice what you preach.”
14.
THE.
EARLY GIFT.
Jedrick dipped toward Harken's store, but banked sharply when he realized that his apprentice was perched on a neighboring building. Spiraling lower, he landed lightly on the roof of West Edinton's newspaper office and strode over to Marcus. The younger angel had been especially preoccupied over the last few days, and the tension radiating from him was worrisome. ”Why so downcast?” Jedrick asked lightly.
Marcus's drooping wings twitched up and out in belated defense, but quickly sagged again. Golden eyes glanced guiltily at Jedrick. ”M'not.”
”What then?” Jedrick inquired, taking a seat next to the youth.
”Can't you feel it?” Marcus asked in a low voice. A s.h.i.+ver rustled through his wings, and his gaze swerved back to the bakery across the street. ”Something's about to happen.”
Startled, the Flight captain scanned Main Street for signs of trouble. Despite the steady drift of snowflakes, the roads and sidewalks were busy, but the angelic contingent was unusually quiet. There was a heaviness to the hush, as if the unseen world held its breath in expectation. ”I would not be surprised if there is another attack,” Jedrick mused aloud.
”That's not what I meant,” Marcus corrected. ”This time, it's gonna be something good.”
By midday on Christmas Eve, Loafing Around's shelves were cleared and the doors were locked. Only Jayce and Ransom remained to close down the bakery for the rest of the year. ”Everyone and their uncle will be on a diet starting next week,” Mr. Pomeroy announced prosaically. ”So the key to our survival is healthy breads. We'll be running specials on all things whole grain and multi-grain ... or what my wife likes to call birdseed breads.”
”Sounds rough.”
”More like roughage!” quipped Jayce. ”I'll mess with some gluten-free recipes at home just to see what's what, but we're usually right back in the cupcake business by Valentine's Day.”
”Chocolate season?” Ransom asked.
”Sure, sure,” his boss agreed. ”We'll have a whole line of chocolate desserts in February.”
Once he finished wiping down the ovens, the teen stretched. ”Not sure what I'll do with a whole week off. Sleep I guess.”
”It's good to take a break once in a while,” Jayce declared. ”This is my annual vacation. I like spending the week with my lot while they're off from school. It's a good way to end the year. Together.”
”I get that. Sounds nice.”
”Do you have plans with your family?” Mr. Pomeroy asked.
”I don't think you can call them plans,” Ransom admitted carelessly. ”My dad isn't much for celebrations, but this year, I thought I'd take over the cooking. It'll be better than ordering pizza.” Jayce's expression didn't really change, but Ransom saw concern reflected in his blue eyes. Shaking his head, he said, ”Don't worry about it, sir. We get by.”
”What about your mother?”
”Not sure,” he admitted. ”She took off back when I was a kid, and she doesn't call.”
Jayce sighed. ”I see.”
Ransom appreciated that. No false apologies, just acceptance of this newest tidbit of information.
”So it'll be the two of you?”
”That's right ... unless he works overtime.” Ransom reached for the disinfectant as he explained, ”Sometimes he grabs extra hours 'cause of the pay.”
”I can understand that.”
”We've never really made a big deal of the holidays, but this year's been pretty festive,” Ransom shared. ”I've been baking Christmas cookies all month. Went caroling. Shoot, I even played Joseph in that nativity deal.” Pausing thoughtfully, he added, ”It was fun and all, but this is also the first year I actually understand what all the fuss is about.”
Jayce glanced over his shoulder. ”I know you've read the Gospel accounts.”
”Yeah. More than once,” Ransom readily admitted. ”I finished the New Testament, reread some parts, and I'm making some headway in the Old Testament. It's sorta all fitting together.”
”What are you going to do about all this new information?”
Ransom leaned against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. ”Prissie says I know enough to make a decision.”
Jayce straightened. ”She said that?”
”Yeah. I sorta cornered her with some questions a few weeks ago, and that was her opinion.”