~Chapter 9~ The Second Piece Connects And A Picture Forms.

   Chester's son, Jack, was always an uppity fellow. That is, he always has been as long as I've know him. Chester adopted him when Jack was five. He could afford to, of course. My brother definitely made the fortune that he wanted as a kid. By creating a computer game, no less. So five years ago, Jack became part of our family. From what Chester has told me, Jack Matthew Pfleegor's parent's died only a year previously, in a car accident. The father died immediately, but the mother died a week later in the hospital of incurable injuries. I don't know much more than that. Except- I froze in mid-thought and stride. 

   Jack's name, the one he had before, was Jack Matthew Carson! What did it mean? The answer wasn't  long in coming. 

   Sebastian had joined the boys upstairs, but now we could hear them stomping their way down the steps. A few seconds later the stampede of boys raced to the kitchen, shoving their way through us ladies. The adults naturally split into two groups, the men and the women. The women's group was now divided right in the middle. I was knocked into by two of the four boys. It took both Savannah and Hazel to keep me from falling onto Kenna, who was running behind me to meet the boys at the kitchen. 

   "Hey, hey!!" Said Heidi. The youngest of the brood didn't understand what she was talking about. They were just following the older kids. But when they tried to say so, the protests died unspoken, because her eyes lit in that fierce motherly way that it does when their child has said the very wrong thing. They all nodded, the twins because the others were doing it, and turned back to their excited chatter and monstrous eating. When Jack Matthew turned his back to me, I nearly choked on my coffee. The back of his shirt said something to me that if I hadn't had my dream, it would have been nothing more then a logo on a t-shirt. But I did have the dream, and it did mean more that a t-shirt logo. Jack Matthew's shirt said: I'm the one you're looking for. 

   The next few hours passed like a breeze. As the night began to wind down I couldn't help but bump into walls when I was going to the kitchen and Jack Matthew was passing me. I'd catch myself staring at him, and once I spilled my coffee as I jumped off the couch when he would ask me a question. I guess he thought I was a freaked-out lady, and the thought of staying with me for the next six months suddenly was less than appealing. Actually, he didn't think that at all. He was thinking up ways to take this opportunity for himself. That's how ten-year-old boys are I guess. Nobody noticed me in my trance until later that night when Heidi came from tucking her kids into bed. She gave me a glass of wine she just poured and we talked like old times. She was about to say something more when my twin sisters came into the room. Then, just like childhood, they dominated the conversation. They talked of my B&B, of their lives, of stuff. They asked me about my life and I answered that my life so far has been circling around my dream. I explained my dream to them. I explained Matthew Carson. I explained all of it and when I was finished, everyone was silent. 

    Heidi broke the silence by asking, "So is that why you've been in another world tonight?"   

   "Did I seriously look that way?" I asked, hoping the answer wasn't what I knew it was.              

   "Yeah, pretty much," replied Destiny. I turned the conversation back to it's original heading,   

   "Anyway, yes, that is why I have been out of this world, but that isn't all." That's when I explained about Jack Matthew. Again, when I was done, there was an eery silence. 

   "Wow," was all I could get out of them. 
   It was later that night (very much later) when Jack Matthew came downstairs to where I was on the couch thinking. As soon I heard footsteps I checked the time on the clock that hung over the fireplace. Just now I had put a little more wood into it to keep it from going out. As I turned my head to look at the clock I heard Jack say he couldn't sleep. I looked at him and asked him comfortingly, "Why?"       

   "I had a bad dream," he said with a little quiver in his voice. I patted the cushion next to me, and he came over and sat down. I put my arm around him and said, "Tell your Aunt Avé all about it."   

   "I dreamt about the night when Mom and Dad died. We were coming back from watching a movie at the movie theaters and as dad drove through a yellow light a big truck ran into us. Then I'm in a graveyard and I see two gravestones. On one it said my dad's name and on the other it says my mom's name," I felt sorry for him. He was so young when his parent's died. Come to think of it I didn't know how he could remember so much.       

   "You know what I think," I said. He shook his head. "I think that your mom and dad are up in heaven right now looking down on you and I think that they sent Chester to look after you." 

   "But my mom and dad are in the ground. I saw them go in."

   "Did your parents love God?" He nodded his head, "Then they are in heaven. Because if you love God when you die, your spirit goes to heaven."

   "What's a spirit?"

   "A spirit is what is in your body. A body is only flesh and bones and if we didn't have spirits we would only be flesh and bones. A spirit is the part of us that you can't see but you know it's there, because if I didn't have spirit, I would not love you as much as I do now," I gave him a hug. "What were your mom and dad's names?"

   "My dad's was Matthew and my mom's was Marie." In the light of the soft glowing lamb, I could see a wet sparkle in his eyes.

   "You know what time it is?" I asked,

    "No,"

   "It's 2:49 in the morning," I felt his hand, it was shaking. "But I don't think you need to go to bed just yet," I held him in absolute silence. Only the crackle of the fire was heard. After a little while Jack Matthew said sleepily,

   "Could you sing 'hush little baby' to me? My mom always used to, but Dad's not a good singer,"

   "Of course I will," so, I sang. 
    When I got to the part about the diamond ring he said, "You have a pretty voice," his own voice sounded like he was half asleep.

   "Thank-you," I said, then continued. 

~Chapter 8~ All Gathering Under One Roof

Even at seventeen, Hazel still gets excited to the point of just before she jumps off walls at the sound of the doorbell on Christmas Eve. Practically jumping down the stairs, her voice carried a jerky tone when she called out, "I'll get it!"
   She opened the door to alight her gaze on the faces of Savannah and her boyfriend, Timothy Blancherd. As I came out from the living room into the hallway, that at one end bore the door and to the other were the stairs, I greeted my sister warmly. 
   "Hi Tim!" I said as I shook his hand.
   "Well, hello! I'm so glad you invited me."
  "Absolutely, no problem. Were so glad you could join us!" As Hazel greeted them with hugs all around, I glanced around for Shiloh. She was nowhere to be seen. I politely excused myself and headed up the staircase to check if she was in one of the rooms. And, just as I suspected she was tidying up an already tidied room. I let her know the guests were arriving and when I did so she straightened up from bending to fix the covers of the bed, and rushed down the stairs. But not before informing me that I had some changing to do. As she skipped downstairs I looked down at myself. I was still dressed in the sweatshirt and slacks I put on this morning. I hurried to my own bedroom, which was up another flight of stairs and at the end of the hall, and pulled off my more comfortable clothes and replaced them for slightly less comfortable clothes that I laid out that morning. Since tomorrow was Christmas Eve, I picked a sparkling green long-sleeved shirt that fit my torso nicely, and a slender, black, boot-cut pant that fit wonderfully over my red three-inch high boots. As I pulled the boots on my eyes glazed over my jewelry box. My favorite necklace lay hidden in the far corner of it. I stood up and pulled it out, taking care not to entangle the others.
   The clip-clip-clip of my heels were deafening in the quiet room as I walked out of my bedroom. I went down the hall to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. At the sight of my reflection, I nearly let out an involuntary cry. After countless times of unconsciously brushing the hair out of my face, I created what looked like a birds nest. I combed it until the front swept gracefully over the side of my face, like it was supposed to. I was in a hurry to return downstairs so I just put some make-up on, the lipstain, mascara and eyeshadow. I picked up my necklace that I had set on the sink counter when I came into the bathroom, then clasped the band around my neck and judged the appearance in the mirror. I liked what I saw. I saw a women who's determination lead her this far. I gazed at my eyes, a blue-green-grey shade, framed with black glasses. I gazed at my necklace, black beads that sparkled with crystals weaved in. I gazed at myself, a woman who God blessed with the love of many. And that many were about to be disappointed if I didn't show up soon, I told myself. With one last look toward the mirror, I opened the bathroom door and walked out. Clip-clip-clip could be heard all the way.
   The party was in full swing when I stepped off the last stair. Gay Christmas music could be heard amidst the people's chatter. Along with Savannah and Timothy, Destiny was in the party, as well as her sons. I turned my head toward the general direction of the kitchen, just in time to see Jack give Xavier a piece of chocolate. I would've have found that funny, except for they were hiding behind the island in such a way, so that I could see them, but their mother couldn't. I started to walk toward the Knorell boys, but was stopped by Savannah.
   "We were wondering where you ran off to." She stepped back to bring my full body into view. "Getting dolled up I see." I smiled at her. At that moment our cousin Heidi Rodriques came into the living room with her husband, Juliano. Each of them were carrying gifts and Hazel stepped past to show them where they could set the packages, which seemed obvious to me. All the gifts were under the tree, and nobody could not see the Christmas Tree. As I looked for them, Sebastian and Kenna both crashed into my legs and pushed me back a few steps causing me to fall onto the couch. It became a cheerful embrace, all three of us laughing.
   "Hey! I thought I was the favorite aunt!" My niece and nephew turned guiltily to see Savannah looming over them with a supposedly stern face. I knew better. I also knew that the twins were easily fooled, and that Savannah should've been a little less serious when she joked around with people. Especially when they're only five.
   I gave Savannah the 'They're five' look.
   "I'm just kidding! Get over here!" The twins ran to her with smiling faces. I pushed myself off the couch, and, the boys totally forgotten, made my way to the Christmas Tree where Heidi was hugging another of my sisters.
   "You staying overnight?" I heard Shiloh say. Since both Savannah and the Rodriqueses lived a good two hours away, we made our party extended, and Christmas Eve. That way they wouldn't have to drive four hours total that day.
   "Yeah, actually! We weren't going to, but the twins begged and begged. So we let then have their way."
   "And I'm glad you did!" I put in. "Those boys need someone to keep them in line."
   "And Kenna will do just that." Heidi said. Just then Sebastian came through and said, "Jack and Zaver got in trouble." Poor boy, I thought. He can't pronounce his own cousin's name. I turned to see Destiny grabbing both her boys at the forearms and taking them into the hall.
   "They weren't supposed to eat any sweets until after supper." Hazel explained.
   "Really? It's hardly past lunch." Timothy declared. Hazel shrugged.
   "That's what she told me. Now, who want's a drink? We have hot chocolate, juice and water for the kids. And beer, wine and..." She continued naming drinks, but I wasn't listening. 

   I heard the door open and went from the living room to investigate.  As I entered the hall, Jack nearly ran me over in his headlong rush to join his cousins in mischief. When he caught sight of Jack and Xavier, he stopped short, skidding a few inches. He looked from them, to his aunt Destiny, then back again, an unspoken massage clear. Xavier looked at his mother.
   "Can we go play?"
   With the pleading look from both her boys and from her nephew, she couldn't say anything else.
   "I suppose so. But-" She couldn't go further. All three were already clambering up the staircase, yelling all the way.
   "I can never get him entertained for more then two seconds at home," came a familiar voice from behind the two of us. "I'm so glad you agreed to this. This big house has more than enough nooks and crannies to get himself into." I turned to see Chester Pfleegor, carrying many gift bags and a big wrapped box, shut the door with his foot. He scowled at it. 
    "He never shuts any of the doors he opens."
   "So I've noticed," said Destiny, bringing her sweater closer around her. I grabbed a few of the bags my brother was carrying and gestured with filled arms into the living room. Not a crumb could fit under the Christmas Tree, with all the wrapped goodies under it, so I put the bags between it and the fireplace and told Chester to follow suit. After arranging the bags in a more or less orderly fashion, I straightened. When I looked around myself, I saw Chester already in deep conversation with the other two men.
   But for the first time since the party started, I noticed Destiny's husband, Josh, wasn't here. When I asked her about it, she just replied that he had work business.
   "On Christmas?!" I couldn't think of anything more wrong. She nodded, but didn't say anything more. And I didn't press her. What could be worse than not having your family with you on Christmas? That was the reason we were hosting this party, wasn't it? I shook my head and realized that Destiny had walked on to the snack bar. Oh well, I thought. But I could not think of anything to even think to myself to lighten the moment. Luckily, the kids fixed that problem.

~Chapter 7~ A Confusing Start To The Holiday

   My troubled dreams kept me from sleeping well that cold, lonely, December night. Sweat wet my sheets. My hair lay wild on the pillow. My brow furrowed with fear and worry. I could not break my unconscious mind into reality. In disturbed sleep I traveled a garden of which the like is to nothing I have ever known or will ever know. Out of nothing, a man dressed in a white shirt and black pants,  appeared suddenly, and stood beside my frightened self. He said to me, "You are needed to save a precious soul. A soul, that if not saved, will be corrupted and will destroy other's faith." Well, this got me confused. I was supposed to save a soul. Who was I needed by? It was too much to take in. And I said so. He laughed when I explained my thoughts. "You have great faith and will do many things."  I took a deep breath. I knew I couldn't do it. I didn't have a drop of self confidence. 

   "I can't have that responsibility. It's just to much." The man nodded. 

   "Maybe you will change your mind when you see who I mean." With a wave of his hand I was transported back to the Bed & Breakfast living room. I looked around, and when my eyes caught sight of the kitchen, I gasped. Sitting next to the island was Matthew Carson. And, her back turned to me, was me! When, beside me, the man started speaking, I jumped. I was alone a minute ago, besides my other self and the Matthew Carson.

   "I'm sorry to frighten you. As you can probably see we are watching time go by again." He gestured toward the other two, who were totally oblivious of us in the room. 

   "Can't they see us, or hear us even?" I asked the man who wouldn't give me his name. All I knew from recent discussion was that he was my guardian, whatever that meant. 

   "No," he said simply. "Matthew Carson is in desperate need of your help." He looked from Matthew Carson to me, then back again. There was one question that bothered me, "What injured his faith so badly?"

   My 'guardian' pointed the Matthew Carson. "That's for him to tell you."