The Red Gloves Collection Read Online Free PDF Page B

reached almost to the ceiling, with twinkly lights and a star that lit up the room. And a fire truck for my brother, Dustin, and a brand-new doll with golden hair and a lacey dress … for me.” She drummed her fingers lightly along the edge of the table, completely at ease. “How ‘bout you, Earl? What’s your perfect Christmas?”
    The girl’s question did unexpected things to his heart. His throat grew thick. He had to set his roll down and take a swig of water. The perfect Christmas … For the briefest instant he could see it all the way it had been, year after year after year. Him and his family around the Christmas tree, celebrating and—
    A burning anger rose up and stopped the memory short. Earl stared at the girl one more time. Who was she, anyway, and what right did she have asking him questions? “Get lost, kid.”
    The child blinked, but her eyes remained the same. Deeper than the river that ran through downtown.
    “Daddy and I prayed for a Christmas miracle. My teacher says Christmas miracles happen to those who believe. If I can’t have a new dolly, a miracle would be pretty good, don’t you think?”
    “Listen.” A stale sigh eased between Earl’s weathered lips. “I eat my meals alone.”
    “Oh.” The child pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll leave.” There was a sorrow in her expression that hadn’t been there before. Something about it gave Earl a pinprick of guilt. Like he owed the child an apology.
    The feeling passed as quickly as it came.
    As she turned to leave, the girl tried one last time. “Maybe if you believed, God would give you a Christmas miracle, too.”
    This time Earl raised his voice. “I don’t believe in anything.” He slammed his cup down. “Now leave me alone.”
    F rom across the mission mess hall, Brian Mercer worked the food line and kept an eye on Gideon. She had lived up to her promise, finding ways to make the tired, weary street people smile as she moved from one table to the next.
    But not the old man.
    Brian had watched Gideon as she got the man a few dinner rolls and then as she sat down across from him. Clearly the man didn’t want Gideon’s company. But how dare he shout at her? Brian had to fight back his own anger.
What type of miserable man could do that to a child? A. child who’s only trying to help?
    Brian was about to go find out when D.J. came up beside him. The two of them had gone to high school together and been friends as far back as Brian could remember.
    D.J. pointed in the old man’s direction. “That’s Earl.”
    “Oh, yeah?” The frustration in his friend’s voice told Brian everything he needed to know about the man. “He yelled at Gideon.”
    “I know.” D.J. frowned. “I saw it.”
    Brian shifted his attention to his daughter. She had crossed the room and was working beside Tish. Her energy seemed half what it had been before. “She wanted to make him smile.”
    D.J. pursed his lips and exhaled hard. “No one ever reaches old Earl.”
    “If he can yell at a kid like Gideon, no one ever will.”
    Gideon crossed the room and came toward them. Brian wanted to shake the old man for taking the bounce out of her step.
    “I tried, Daddy.” She pointed at the man in the corner. He was hunched over his food, shoveling it in as though the table had a time limit. “But I can’t make Earl smile.”
    Brian clenched his jaw and waited until his anger subsided. “Forget about him, Gideon. Look at all the people who did smile.” He lowered himself to her level. “You were great out there. Those people came for a plate of food and instead they got a cup of happiness.”
    Gideon’s dimples deepened and her sorrow lifted somewhat. “Earl needs a whole bucketful.”
    D.J. took a step closer. “Don’t worry about him, Gideon. We’ve all tried to reach old Earl. He’s not a happy man, honey. Believe me, it would take a miracle to make him smile.”
    Gideon’s mouth hung open for a moment, her eyes wider than before.