Living the Promise: Chapter Eleven

With a patience beyond his few years and bounding temperament,Jacob carefully finished filling in the skirt of the last shortbreadangel with colored egg-wash paint. He tucked his little hand into thesmall pile of sugar on the edge of a saucer and deliberatelysprinkled some of the crystals over his creation. Then he turned hisbeeming face up to his mother across the table. "I'm all finishednow, Mama. They're ready to be baked."

Diana looked over to the tray of decorated cookies with wonder.She couldn't believe the little boy had been so meticulous with thisjob -- the angels' skirts were neatly painted in various pastel hues,the wings were sunny yellow, small dots of blushing pink graced thecheeks, and drifts of hair were alternately cinnamon sugar brown anda bright auburn mixture of nutmeg and ginger he'd carefullyproportioned until it was just right -- Mama's hair color.

"Jacob, those angels will be too beautiful to be eaten," came hismother's proud comment. The little boy pondered an unexpecteddilemma, then, with her words. He hadn't really thought about that.But, the angels were shortbread, and his father's favorite. Whatcould be done?

"Could we save some?" a hopeful little voice asked.

"Why don't you use some as decorations for your tree?" Maureenleft her place at the kitchen sink and joined the conversation.

"Yes, we've done that before," Samantha replied. "We need to leavea little hole at the top and then we will tie a ribbon through itafter the cookie is baked."

"Should we do that to some of the angels?" Diana asked.

"Oh, yes! That would be perfect. We'll have some to eat and someto save."

"I'll help you poke the holes, Jacob. Here, you do it like this,"Alex instructed after Laura had handed her a small drinking straw. Ina few moments, the cookies were indeed ready to be baked.

Diana got to her feet to shuttle the tray over to the oven, easingher back out of the kinks it had fallen into from several hourshunched over a flour-strewn counter top. The fact she'd been placedon a stool to keep her off her feet apparently didn't do much to makeher spine more comfortable. No matter. She hadn't felt this wonderfulin days!

Now relieved of their decorating and cookie creating duties, Jacoband his seven year old cousin Alex were ready to make a bounding runout of their work area. "C'mon, Jacob. Let's read through one of mybooks," the bubbly, bright-eyed young lady called. But, before heryounger companion could quit his place, Diana had set a retrievinghand onto his shoulder.

"Just a moment, young man," she admonished seriously, thenproceeded to flick off some flour that had dusted the front of thelittle boy's sweater. "We don't need to carry all that about Laura'shouse now, do we?"

"Sorry, Mama," came the automatic contrition. Jacob brushed theremaining flour off himself as his cousin did the same.

"All that hard work deserves some reward, though, I'd say. Cookiesare made to look pretty and made to be enjoyed, too. So, here aresome for you both." Diana reached into the several storage containersof the day's bakery bounty and settled a half dozen varieties onto asmall plate which she handed to Alex.

With easy mastery, Jacob turned to Laura, who was seated at one ofthe kitchen chairs, finishing up washing a cheery, dark-eyed facefree of its obvious tussle with a mid-afternoon snack, and begansigning as he spoke. "May we eat these there, Laura?" He pointed to asmall table, child-sized, that was set up against the wall under thewindows.

Laura smiled and nodded to the children, then signed in return,"How about some milk?"

Alex carefully set the plate of cookies down onto the stillcrowded kitchen table, then began to slowly sign also, "Yes,please."

Maureen looked over to her younger sister with a gentle pride."She's learning quickly," Diana noted. The older woman silentlythanked heaven that her child had been blessed by the nuturing andempowering presence of the others there in the room with her. Shethanked Providence, too, that her sibling's face radiated only tenderpeace as she contemplated the children a moment. She'd seen thebeauty of that face ravaged too often by unspeakable, silent anguishin the past.

With the children settled at their own small table, the womenbegan to reclaim the kitchen from the effects of their marathonbaking session. Samantha insisted Maureen leave her the dishes. Dianatook to tackling the floury, tacky counter tops, and Laura, reassuredher own little boy, Michael, was somewhat cleaned up, set the childto his array of stacking blocks so that she could put cooling racksand cookie pans away in their proper places in the airy kitchen. Thatleft the visitor from Boston the highly involved task of dividing andpackaging cookies up for transport.

"Laura, I must thank you again for sharing your home with ustoday," Maureen offered with sincere gratitude. The young deaf womansmiled, a gentle color warming her cheeks. She looked to Diana for along moment, then began signing a response which Maureen was unableto follow enough. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Alex has become muchbetter at signing that I."

With a patient smile, Laura then directed her attentionunexpectedly to Samantha, asking her to translate, because, shesigned, she knew "Diana would not feel it necessary." Turning back toMaureen with her continued reply, which could be followed within evenonly the soft, cherishing gratitude on her young face, Lauraexplained, "My family has a home because of Diana. The doors willalways be open to her and those she loves."

The expectant mother-to-be paused in her assault on theflour-bedeviled surface before her to offer a modest smile. "Laura, Icould think of no one else I would rather have living in this placethan you and Jerry and Michael," she both replied verbally, andgestured.

And, it was true.

When Diana had accepted Vincent's pledge of marriage, she'd beenfaced with the highly complicated process of disposing of most of herworldly belongings in favor of the frugal simplicity of the tunnelworld. Anything that could even remotely be of use to anyone Belowshe had happily consigned to community property with an ease thatspoke so much of her formidible sense of self, given freedom at last.What could not be used she had had sold, the proceeds earmarked forthe trust fund that was administered by Peter on the community'sbehalf. Her few most precious and personal articles had long sincefound their new home in the inviting, candlelit chamber that was hersanctuary now.

All that had been left was her loft, and it quickly became evidentthat the spacious apartment was a truly valuable asset in ahousing-starved city. Yet, there was so much emotion that wasunexpectedly attached to her life within that apartment, so manyoverwhelmingly . . . personal . . . memories created within itswalls, that she had been startled to find the thought of simplysubletting the place to a total stranger would be too heartbreaking areality to her. Besides, she also reasoned practically, it wassomething of real value that she had a stake in, and her unshakablegenerosity urged her to use it somehow, also, to benefit those thathad become her family.

The perfect answer presented itself in Laura and Jerry.

The young couple had long been attempting to find a place of theirown that was suitable to raise their little boy. Laura had only beenliving with an elderly Helper in spartan quarters since coming Above.When she married Jerry, they moved into his own tiny studio apartmentthat was too near the deteriorizing neighborhoods that the youngundercover police officer had to frequent for his work.

Six months before their baby was born, Jerry had taken on atransfer back into uniform in a precinct, citing the dangers of hisclandestine work as too great a risk for a man with a young family tobe constantly taking. When the baby came, Diana knew then that herloft would be a perfect place for the couple to move into.

Settling back down to her stool once her scrubbing had beencompleted, Diana momentarily took in what used to be her ownapartment appreciatively, and without second thought. Though she hadleft Laura most of the furnishings which were still pretty much inthe same arrangements as she had had them, Diana took note of thesubtle transformations the space had undergone, transformations thatwere welcoming, and mirrored a gentle, happy family life far removedfrom the quiet anguish that had so often filled the space.

One addition to the home had been the child-sized bits offurniture scattered about -- the toy box and bookshelf set againstthe wall, the small table beneath the windows where Jacob and Alexnow sat. Laura also had adopted those plants of Diana's that neededmore light than the river chasm could offer. With steady, carefulnurturing, those plants were now a riot of green hanging from basketsagainst the windows.

Recalling, with a pang of guilt, how often her distracted stateand conflicted lifestyle and taken their toll on those poor plants,Diana was continually amazed that she'd been the one who hadresurrected Catherine's rosebush from floral oblivion, consideringhow many times her own plants had been left to languish without wateror care for days on end during her especially trying times.

The most welcome change to the apartment, however, from Diana'spoint of view, was the expanse of her former working board, taking upa large space against the brick wall across the room where her officearea had been.

The blue board surface had so frequently been covered withforensics photos, newspaper clippings, pencil sketches of crimescenes and tagged bits of evidence that mirrored the details of theharrowing cases she'd submerged herself into for weeks, months, at atime. The expanse of that board, once filled with the trailings ofthe investigations she was involved in, had been spirit-crushing toher, all too often. She'd actually affixed pull-curtains across it tocover everything up on those rare occasions when she simply had tobreak free from the burdening load, when she had to look at, thinkabout, dream about, something else, or risk her soul and hersanity.

Laura had taken the curtains down, and had instead framed theboard's edges with a bright fabric trim that complemented the neutralcolors of the apartment's decor. Now the board was filled withdifferent bits of evidence -- the details of a cherished and giftingfamily life, happily shared by anyone entering the living space.

There were photos of Laura and Jerry and Michael, postcards oflocal attractions and places visited on day trips, also severalpieces of paper covered with crayon squiggles that Diana recognizedas two and a half year old Michael's first artistic attempts.Schedules of children's events in the park, a stray recipe orparenting article clipped from magazines, and a year's array ofholiday greeting cards interspersed among all left a happy call tocelebrate life no matter what notable or mundane date it happened tobe.

Finally, the board also held a poster, of a beautiful, dark-eyedlittle girl, about four, in an attic surrounded by dusty treasuresframed in golden sunlight pouring through a small eave window. Thearticles included old garments and costumes, and the child stoodadmiring herself in a cloudy cheval mirror as she tried on anold-fashioned formal gown that was so obviously large on her tinyframe, a cascade of pink, white, chiffon and lace that spoke of aspecial moment in someone's cherished past.

No matter that the gown didn't fit. The child's ecstaticexpression, as she beheld her reflection, mirrored the poster's moralso eloquently: "God gives us dreams a size too big so we can growinto them."

It was so very much the truth, Diana had found out.

A moment later she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. It wasMaureen, who'd pulled up a bench beside her, having divided up theirbaked goods satisfactorily. She took in the sight of her youngersister with a sigh of unburdened joy. "I'm glad we were still able todo this."

Diana turned a genuinely happy smile to her sibling. "Oh, so am I!Except I know for a fact that Vincent is Below aging ten yearsbecause of it."

Maureen nodded in sympathetic understanding. Even though she'dnever met her sister's husband face to face, she somehow felt asthough she already knew him -- from Diana's words, from notes andletters they'd shared over the last few months, but most tellingly,from the radiant peace she perceived surrounding her sister'spresence at last. "He worries about you," came the matter-of-factobservation.

"I know," Diana agreed with sudden blushing shyness. "It's been along time since I've let anyone do that -- worry about me."

Maureen raised a practiced, motherly hand to the younger woman'sbraided hair. "You don't have to tell me," she scolded, bringing alook of contrite mischief into her sister's face. "But let me make abig sister-like observation, if I may: It agrees with you."

"Having someone worry about me?" The angelic face brightened witheasy humor.

"Letting someone love you."

Diana swallowed hard at that, her eyes misting a moment as shesettled her gaze over to Jacob now deeply involved in a game ofChinese checkers on the floor with Alex and Samantha. "That is thereality, the only answer to surviving life, isn't it? . . . Love . .. not being afraid to let someone into your heart . . . pain,terrors, secrets, shortcomings and all."

The elder sister held her sibling's face with gentle reassurace.How beautiful she'd become, Maureen thought once again, trulybeautiful, beyond her fire and porcelain attractiveness -- the hardedges and distant attitudes of the past had been polished intosomething else altogether, something glowing with a gifting shimmer.Yes, there were a few lines of caring around the eyes, she was sad torecognize in Diana's face, no doubt the product of the past weeks'turmoil and pain, but the crystaline emerald depths were so true and. . . open . . . her face so honestly expectant and . . . serene.Maureen blessed the man that had been responsible for such a wondrousepiphany within her beloved sister's spirit.

"Oh, Dee, I've been watching you struggle since you and I werejust kids. You were always so damn independent, fiercely so, swearingthat you'd never need anything from anyone, that you'd take on theworld on your own terms, come hell or high water! I envied you. Youwere so strong, so capable of taking on anyone and anything lifethrew at you. You could see people so clearly."

"And I was so scared to let anyone know how really . . . alone . .. I was, in everything," Diana confessed quietly.

Reaching around her sister's shoulders, Maureen hugged her, asDiana rested her head against her. This, too, was a gifting beauty ofrecent evidence within her sister's spirit. Diana never opened herinner turmoil to anyone easily. And with her compassionate sense ofjustice so deeply ingrained within her, that turmoil had so oftenbeen a staggering load for her heart to bear.

"I've come to see that there was so much that was fragile in youtoo, Sis. You'd never let anyone, not even me, get close enough tofind that out, though. Not until you were in such pain you had to cryout for help out of sheer desperation, in spite of yourself. I don'tthink anyone could really see through you, you'd never let anyone seethrough you, except maybe, Dad."

"Until Vincent."

Diana's revealing admission shone through her eyes, soundedthrough the caress as she spoke his name. Maureen smiled. "And youapparently were able to see through him, too, from what you've toldme."

Looking back over the past three and a half years, Diana had toadmit that she and her beloved had shared at least as many moments ofturmoil between them as they had gifting instances of communion.She'd always believed it was because they were so different intemperament and experience. Vincent was so accepting, stoic, even, inlight of his dimishing boundaries of existence. He was always capableof submerging his own hopes and dreams beneath the needs of those heloved. His sensitive heart was open to anyone in need, in pain, yethe'd long feared his own responses to another such heart seeking totouch his own anguishes.

She'd always been outspoken, to the point of bluntness, with a"take it or leave it" truthfulness that might have been consideredbrutal, but that passionate honesty was ever fueled by her caringheart that refused to stand apart from another's pain. Though sheached deeply to respond to those around her in their need, she'dalways kept herself, and her own yearning heart, at arms length,fearing God knew what calamity, if she let her guard down to revealtoo much of herself too openly. How she and Vincent had ever managedto forge a fulfilling relationship and profoundly gifting marriagecould seem beyond reasonable explanation to most uninitiatedobservers.

Diana, though, knew the true answer to that enigmatic puzzle . . .love . . . existing far beyond boundaries, limits, or fears.

"I guess we're more alike than either one of us will own up to,"she responded, with almost incredulous wonder coloring her porcelainskin delicately. How often had she thought that, come to believe thereality -- that the compelling soul who had become her husband was,actually, the deepest, most profoundly intimate and true portion ofher own essence she'd somehow been destined to exist bereft ofwithout even knowing it. He . . . completed . . . her, and she,him.

"We've stood face to face and called each other to task withouteven considering the risks to either of our hearts. We're not afraidof each other; we've seen each other at our most needful moments aswell as in our most uplifting ones." A quiet awe descended over thesoft features. "Maybe that's why it all feels so -- right -- like itsalways been, we've always been."

Maureen took her sister's hand in hers and squeezed it softly."Grandma Annie would have said that the two of you had been 'touched'in another life. But fairy magic, destiny, or providence, whatever itis that brought the two of you together, you deserve all of it, Sis,every breath of happiness you've found. Both of you do."

Diana rested her hand onto her swollen figure when her siblingreleased it. The warmth of the love filling her, embodied in thatsmall soul she sheltered beneath her heart, was truly a giftingcomfort she could claim without pain or guilt now.

"I can believe that, finally, especially with this little onecoming. But, sometimes, I wake up at night and I find myself tryingto understand it all, trying to hold the reality of it all.

"Just when I convince myself, it is only a beautiful, impossible,dream, I'll hear Jacob stirring in bed, or Vincent will reach out tohold me closer in his sleep, and I realize that, yes, this is where Iam, these are the hearts that I can love as my own, the ones thatlove me as I'd only dreamed of being loved before."

"Well, I knew that you'd need to find someone extraordinary tounderstand that streak of fairy dust in your soul! And put up withyour stubborn righteousness!" Maureen teased easily. "Maybe somedayI'll get to meet him."

Diana eased a warm hug around her sister's shoulders. "We'reworking on it, Sis."

The two women sat side by side quietly for a long moment at that,content in the peaceful reassurance of each other's presence withinthe inviting confines of the bright apartment. Vincent had beenright, Diana thought. Sharing this time thus had done her

battered spirit a world of good. There were so many quiet miraclesthat were enriching her life day by day now, not the least of whichwas having an understanding heart her own could always look to forsustaining support.

As if to echo her thoughts, even nature offered a bit of a giftingsurprise. "Look, Mama, it's begun to snow." Jacob's bright voicebroke into the reverie with the hapy news. Three days beforeChristmas -- it was sure to be a white one now. Diana knew it wouldbe nothing less than a happy one.

"I'm going to need to get organized here if Alex and I are goingto make the 5:20 back to Boston."

Maureen's words elicited disappointed groans from the children whohad visions of frolicking about together in the winter landscapecertain to be transforming the city in a matter of hours. Bothmothers automatically admonished their respective children, thenlaughed at the sound of their equally disciplining voices. "Goodheavens, DiDi, we've turned into Mom!"

Remembering how often their soft-spoken parent had stilledchildhood rambunctiousness and impatience with only a carefullyenunciated warning, Diana smiled genuinely at her little boy'sreluctance. "Oh, Jacob, I know! but we've a long walk ahead of us.We'll get together again with Alex and Aunt Maureen and maybe goskating in the park."

"Oh, Mama, that would be wonderful!" came the sweet reply.

Maureen only looked doubtfully at her younger sister. "Do you haveany idea how long it's been since I buckled on a pair of iceskates?"

"Since you took up Andrew's dare the week before you two gotmarried and you almost ending up walking down the aisle on crutches!"Warm laughter erupted from everyone in the kitchen at the improbablesight conjured up within happy memories.

"Come to think of it, I guess you weren't the only one with fairydust in your soul in our family," came the sheepish confession fromthe elder sister.

"More like fairy dust on the brain, I'd say!"

Another hug managed to just barely control the laughter thatthreatened to overtake the group completely once again. Then Dianaheld her sister in generous urging. "Well, you can't leave untilwe've opened presents, at any rate." She got to her feet andnegotiated the width of the cheery kitchen to the couch, where hercoat rested, along with several mysterious, small parcels carefullywrapped in white tissue paper with yarn bows.

"DiDi, you know I told you there was no need for gifts. Gettingtogether with you is the best Christmas present I could have had."The words came from the deep devotion that the elder woman held forher younger sibling, as always, but it also had come from therealization that her sister's newly adopted lifestyle was far fromthe frenetic consumerism that they were surrounded by in the city.Diana only smiled softly in return.

"These are just some special things we made for you, Sis. It's howwe celebrate Below."

Maureen found herself thinking once again, that her sister'stransformed existence was a blessing and a gift of itself.

As the sisters got comfortable on the couch and the childrenjoined them with sweet anticipation, Samantha began to put away themarbles from the game just completed with quiet ease, picking uparound the space.

Laura was just inside the bedroom door, packing little Michael'sovernight bag and struggling to fit everything a toddler needed totravel with into its woefully lacking size. Jerry was certain toaccuse her of packing half the house for their long weekend stay withhis family in Pennsylvania for Christmas. No matter. She'd becomethoroughly acquainted with the motto of "Be Prepared" which served todescribe both the spirit of Scouts as well as mothers everywhere.

At almost the same instant, both Maureen and Diana called out tothe other two young women in the apartment with them, withbright-spirited instruction. "We need you ladies, too! Come joinus."

Samantha signed the comment to Laura, who accepted quite shyly.Both the girls suddenly found themselves beaming with warm gratitude-- at their automatic inclusion in what was very much a family momentbetween the two sisters awaiting them. It spoke how close all thewomen had become with the regular visits they'd shared over the pastmonths, opportunities for bonding friendship and trust eachtreasured.

When everyone was present, Jacob reached into the pile of coatsnearby and drew out a small paper sack he'd carefully decorated withcrayon designs of trees and stars. Maureen nodded over to Alex whoalso had collected a parcel she was eager to offer -- a beautifullywrapped gift that was obviously a book, from its shape.

"Why don't you go first, Jacob?" came Diana's urging to the littleboy. He smiled with a great deal of pride and dug into his treasurebag, bringing out two small piles of writing paper and envelopes,each held together by a yarn bow. He handed one over to Laura who satcross-legged on the floor with Michael in her lap, and one to Maureenup on the couch.

"These are for you to write letters with. I colored them allmyself, and put everything together, too. Samantha helped me cut thepapers," he added without hesitation, offering credit where creditwas due.

Both women carefully studied the gift prepared for them from thechild with obvious diligence. Sheets of plain lined school paper hadbeen decorated with different crayon and marker designs on thecorners -- trees, snowflakes, hearts, even musical notes. Envelopesof various sizes matched the different drawings. They had taken quitesome time to cull from diverse sources Below, and the little boy wasobviously proud of how cheerfully they complemented the writingpapers into a stationery set.

"Jacob, these are beautiful," came Laura's signed thanks. "I willwrite to you from our trip."

"And I will be happy to write to you from Boston, too. Thank you,Jacob." Maureen gave the little boy a large hug, which he receivedwith obvious delight.

"I have something for you Alex." Digging back into his bag, thesmall boy pulled out a treasure he'd long considered over beforedeciding on its appropriateness for his older cousin. It was a copyof "A Child's Garden of Verse," he'd carefully selected from his ownlibrary of books at home.

The little girl accepted it graciously. "Oh I do so love thesepoems," came her heartfelt reply. "Mama got the book from the librarya while ago and we both read through it together. It was so much fun.Thank you."

"I know lots of the poems by heart," the little boy statedmatter-of-factly, without a hint of conceit.

His older cousin exclaimed with obvious awe, "Really? Will youhelp me learn them, too, Jacob?"

"Sure," came the immediate reply.

After the gift was carefully set to her side, Alex then was eagerto offer her own special treats. Shyly she handed Jacob her wrappedpresent. "It's for you and Uncle Vincent, for when you look at thestars at night together. The stories about the stars are all inthere."

Jacob's eyes grew wide in amazement as he broke open a largevolume on celestial mythology that was so apparently brand new -- andhis. "This is so very fine a book, Alex!" Turning his intense blueeyes on Maureen with deepest affection, too, Jacob judged she'd beenobviously listening carefully as well to his past tales ofstar-gazing with his father on occasional nights Above. And a brandnew book . . . it was a treasure beyond belief to the little boy whowas already appreciative of learning of any kind.

Alex smiled widely, pleased. Her suggestion to her mother aboutfinding something related to stars as a gift for Jacob had truly beenright on the mark. Her generous young spirit found itself more andmore attuned to that of the small boy that her beloved aunt's newlife circumstances had also brought into her own experiences. Feelingsupremely happy that she had been able to share her affections withhim, she continued with her gifts.

Small parcels were also handed to Samantha and Laura, two othernew friends the little girl had been glad to welcome into her life.The gifts were brightly colored hair accessories that she'd obviouslychosen herself -- a headband of silk fabric for Laura, and a pair ofscrunched ribbon bands to hold Samantha's braid. The two womenaccepted their treats with hugs.

"This is for you, too, Alex," came Diana's gentle offer next. Sheset a soft parcel into the little girl's lap. When the tissue paperwas carefully pulled away, a brightly-pieced vest of jewel and earthtoned fabrics, rich in patterns, was revealed. The little girl smiledup at her aunt with about as much enthusiasm as Jacob had inreceiving his book.

"Did you make this, Aunt Diana?" came her wondrous question.

"Yes I did, honey. The girls where I live like to wear things likeit. Even Samantha has one."

The little seven year old looked in amazement at the older girl aswell as her aunt, and was plainly overjoyed at having been initiatedinto something as highly mysterious and attractive as the fashionsense of her relative's new community. "Thank you, Aunt DiDi. It's sopretty, and soft, too!"

Diana smiled at that last comment, easily. It was the same thingthat always attracted her to the simple garb of the Underworld: Theuse of much recycled and laundered fabric for clothing left garmentswith a wonderfully draping, comfortable feeling that was hard todescribe. It was much the same sensation that she got from thecandlelit world of her home . . . something soft and appreciated andcomforting.

Alex handed her aunt a small thin parcel. Diana opened the box tofind a baby's journal within, a sweet binder decorated with thewide-eyed Precious Moments children in pastel colors, their carefullypatched clothing and gently uplifting sentiment seemingly drawn fromthe Underworld's own setting. The acknowledgement of her soon to beborn baby set Diana's eyes filling with tears.

"We knew you'd be the kind of mother anxious to set to paperevery last little particle of observation about that little one, sowe thought you should have a proper way to get it all down andtogether," Maureen explained teasingly.

"Will the baby be born soon, Aunt Diana?" Alex asked in quietwonder.

"Hopefully not too soon," came Diana's laughing response. "I needto get back home tonight, at least, or things could get a bitcomplicated!"

Maureen was close enough to her sister to detect the barest traceof concern in her green eyes, despite her easy good humor. Sheunderstood the reason all too easily. "Now, you'll let me know theminute that child comes into the world, Dee. You promise? I may notbe able to rush to your side, but I want to know that everything's alright."

Diana hugged her sister tight. "I will let you know as soon ashumanly possible, I promise. And everything will be fine. I have moremedical and emotional support going into this than most new mothersever dream of."

"Or can tolerate," came Laura's signing, that sent the women backinto peals of easy laughter. She, too, had found herself the objectof such tenderly overprotective attention when she was carryingMichael, the last tunnel-connected child born to the community. But,knowing the reality of how so many babies and mothers must begintheir lives together robbed of such welcoming care, both womensilently blessed their loving family members for their protectivesupport.

Finally recovered from the happy laughter being shared, Diana seta small box into her sister's hands. "This isn't much, Maureen, but Ihope you'll like it. It gave me a lot of pleasure to do it foryou."

The elder sister carefully unwrapped the box, which contained anobviously antique metal picture frame. Maureen smiled at the sight ofit, then felt the tears welling up into her own eyes after a moment.Then she found her words. "Oh, Diana . . . you're sketching again!"Her face was suffused with soft emotion as she lifted her gaze fromthe frame in her hands to her sister's tender countenance. "God, it'sMom and Dad! It is truly them, DiDi . . . you've captured themperfectly!"

A gentle hand slipped over the image carefully shelterd within theboundaries of the antique frame. It was a colored pencil sketching ofMaureen's and Diana's parents, sitting together on a porch swing onwhat was obviously a summer evening. Timothy Bennett was just homefrom his duty shift, still in his patrolman's uniform, though his tiewas removed and his shirt was unbuttoned at the neck. His cap was seton a small wicker table off to a side of the swing. His face was abright, open, male version of Diana's own.

Maggie Bennett was in a comfortable house dress and apron, hergolden brown hair gathered into a braid that slipped over her leftshoulder. She was young, yet obviously possessed of a certainty ofself, resting easily against her husband, whose arm was comfortablysettled about her, tender green eyes holding his wife's quietlydevoted blue ones with obvious affection and gratitude. On her leftarm, Timothy's other hand rested with sweet affection, his weddingband plainly visible on his finger.

To complete the setting, an open window was enlivened by abillowing sheer curtain, attesting to the soft evening breeze. Thebright faces of two young girls, both redheads with honest, gentleeyes, peered mischeviously, and with wonder, around the curtain,spying on the tender scene out front.

"I thought you'd like it. It's the way I always see them now, whenI think about them," Diana spoke softly. Maureen kissed her sister onthe cheek, unable to find words at the moment to express her thoughtsany further.

Jacob sat quietly, attuning himself to both the warmth and thepang of loss channeling itself to his little heart from his mother's."Are they really your mother and father, Mama?"

"Yes, angel, this is my Mom and Dad, and Aunt Maureen's. This iswhat they looked like when we were little girls."

Jacob took in the sight of the portrait in his aunt's hands withconcentrated observation. Carefully he touched a hand to the faces inthe picture, then he smiled softly up to his mother. "You and Fatherlook like that, too."

Maureen picked out what the child had perceived, and what hersister's artistic gift had portrayed with such gentle wisdom: theradiance of love enveloping two consumated hearts. Diana kissed thelittle boy on the forehead, then took her sister's hand in hers. "Idon't think that picture would have turned out half as well if I'dattempted it any other time before this," she conceded with her owngenerous offering of credit where it was really due. Her siblingunderstood.

"There is a bit of experience showing through that portrait, DiDi,I'll guess. Jacob is right. He's seen it."

Samantha couldn't help smiling, either, knowing first hand, too,what spark of communing recognition had so enlivened a pencilsketching. "I think everyone Below has seen that . . . specialness .. . too, and it's a wonderful thing to finally know. Vincent neededsomeone pretty extraordinary, as well." Diana offered her a look ofpure gratitude, blushingly poignant in its true humility.

After a moment, Maureen handed her sister another box, carefully,with explanation. "It's so funny that you should decide to give methat portrait of Mom and Dad now, Sis. I was thinking along the samelines for you. Open it and see."

Slowly Diana tore open the wrapping paper on the small, heavyparcel. She reached into the cardboard box and found it filled withnumerous tissue-wrapped bundles. Opening the first bundle she pickedup, she sat totally speechless, as she took in the sight of a smallbisque angel figurine.

Actually, the angel was a little boy, dressed as an angel, hisgown held up above his little sneakered feet by a length of cording,his wings patched with squares of tape, a small wire from hisshoulders lifting a circle of a halo slightly askew over hishead.

There were three more angel-children that Diana quietly unwrapped.The tears had begun falling down her cheeks in earnest by the timeshe revealed the final pieces of the gift -- two small, curly fleecedlambs, a little boy leaning on a much too long staff, and a littlegirl in a veil and gown, gently cuddling a small, rosy cheeked babyagainst her.

"Mom's favorite nativity."

The words were softly spoken, waves of emotion sweeping overDiana's heart in the process. Her mother had collected differentnativity sets and had them displayed around the house all through theyear . . . wooden ones, fabric ones, sets from differentcountries.

Each had been a special Christmas gift from her husband Timothy,lovingly gathered over the years of their marriage.

Because of it, after he'd been killed, Maggie had been unable tobear the memories they'd triggered. She'd finally donated the sets toSt. Elizabeth's as part of the school's fund-raiser for new librarybooks. It had given her a great deal of comfort to know that hergenerosity had accomplished some good for the school, and thatfriends and neighbors would lovingly cherish her treasures. She'dbeen able to share Timothy's devotion to her

with them, and, somehow, that made it possible for him to still bea part of all their lives.

But, she'd kept the one set for herself -- the first one herhusband had ever bought for her. It had come into Maureen's belovedkeeping too soon . . . when Maggie herself had

died only a year later.

"She always said that it meant the most to her because of the joyof the children in the pageant. It mirrored what was truly specialabout Christmas for her."

Diana looked up to her sister in confusion, between her tears."But you've had this set since Mom died. You want me to take itnow?"

Maureen raised a gentle hand and wiped her sibling's tears asidesoftly. "I don't know if you use a nativity in your community tocelebrate Christmas or not. You've said Father has taught thechildren to respect and be open-minded about everyone's religiousbeliefs in your world. But, you've left so much behind . . . you hadthe courage to leave so much behind ... I thought you'd take it now,to remember what was good in our lives together -- maybe to startyour own traditions and memories with Vincent and Jacob, and thebaby. I think Mom, and Dad, would have been happy to see it comeBelow with you."

With genuine gratitude, Diana swept a loving embrace around hersister's shoulders. "Maureen, I don't know what to say, except 'thankyou'. You know how much I'll treasure this, always."

"It looks like the children are dressing up for a play, Mama,"Jacob chimed in.

"Like the one we'll be putting on for the community," Samanthaagreed.

Maureen wiped the last of her tears away, then tousled hernephew's golden hair. "You know, Jacob, your mama and I were in aChristmas pageant almost like this one, once."

"You were?" came the wide-eyed inquiry. "What parts did youplay?"

"I'll bet you were both angels," Alex guessed.

Diana shook her head sheepishly. "Only your Mom. She could singlike an angel, even in fourth grade! I, on the other hand, was madethe silent inn-keeper's wife. Couldn't sing worth a darn."

Maureen wrapped an exhuberant embrace around her sister, at that."DiDi, you know why that happened, and it had nothing at all to dowith your signing! You had a beautiful voice . . . you still do.Sister Mary Odelia was just mad that you'd protested, too often, thatthe shepherds should not all be boys. How else was she going toinclude you in the production, and shut you up, at the sametime?"

The two sisters burst into shared laughter at the easilyremembered incident. It had signalled to the world the advent of ared-haired prophetess of biblical zeal that civilization in a workingclass neighborhood in Queens would hardly be prepared to survive ineasy complacency. Even in second grade, Diana's sense of justice, andher selfless commitment to it, burned brightly, often astonishingthose around her who had absolutely no idea what to make of it all.Maureen, over the years, had mentally catalogued nearly everyincident with generously amused, and amazed, awe.

"Do you remember every time I ever got into trouble, Sis?" cameDiana's exasperated

question. Jacob and Alex giggled at the sight of their two parentstaking each other easily to task.

"Every one!" her sister replied with certainty. That broughtSamantha and Laura into the mirth, too.

"Well, then, I'm not so certain I should be too eager to have youand Vincent meet any time soon . . .You'll trot out one of thosestories and his respect for me will just evaporate."

"I doubt that, DiDi. He'll only love you more for your humanity,because I'm certain he doesn't need any more evidence of youroutspokeness!"

Diana simply looked to Samantha and Laura for help, but realizedthat her sister had scored her points already with themsatisfactorily. She graciously conceded defeat, holding her sister ina laughter enlivened hug with meekness. Then she turned to one otherintriguing parcel that she had resting next to her coat, evidencethat even her husband had

happily connected to Maureen with only his letters and notes toher -- he had pressed Diana to bring the long, thin box with her thismorning, explaining only that it was a gift to her sister, fromhim.

She handed the slender parcel over. "I have no idea what this is,Sis, it's from Vincent."

Maureen took the box with another hug for her sister. She openedit and a long roll of papered -- something -- slipped out and intoher hand. When she uncovered the object from the cushioning wrapping,she found a sheet of writing paper still circling around it -- aletter -- and finally the gift itself: a long, exquisite candle,tri-colored, red at the base, yellow through the mid-section, andbright white at the tip.

"What a beautiful candle," was her immediate observation, as sheheld it in one hand, the scrolled letter in the other.

Diana swallowed hard, taking hold of her sister's arm with obviousincredulous delight. Laura and Samantha exchanged warm smiles oftheir own, in understanding.

"Oh it's not only a beautiful candle, Maureen," the younger sisterexplained, "it's a Winterfest candle!"

The elder sister questioned with a good bit of confusion, "Does itmean something, Dee?"

Diana nodded her head. "It means that you are invited toWinterfest next month! It's when our community celebrates itsbeginnings and our connection to those we love in the world hereAbove."

Understanding finally took hold and shone in Maureen's soft greeneyes. "You mean I'm invited to visit your world?"

Samantha couldn't wait to add her own information, the joy inDiana's face radiating to the girl's heart as well. "It means you'reinvited to become a part of our world, as a Helper."

Softly, almost to herself, Diana, admitted, "I know Vincent wasconcerned about my having to sever my ties to you so completely, butI never dreamed of this, not yet, anyway. Father, the Council, are socautious about whom they can consider as Helpers for our world. Theyhave to be. It's usually a long process. There has to be so much ...trust ... involved. Maureen, this is so wonderful!"

Taking a moment to realize what a true gift had been presented toher in the form of a simple candle, Maureen held her sister withtender astonishment. She finally remembered the letter still in herhand, and setting the taper carefully aside, she unrolled the paperto read aloud:

"'It gives me great joy, Maureen, to know that you and Diana havebeen able to spend some time together today. She loves you dearly,and misses you dearly, as well. But, as I am certain you have come torealize, she is not a person that easily speaks of her own needs.

'There is little that I have been able to give to her, beyond thepromise of my love, my precious son, and the limited confines of myworld, yet, these she has accepted with a generosity and joy that Icould never have dreamed of.

'Your own generosity, trust, and friendship, have come to ourcommunity, too, by way of Diana's spirit and heart. That you would bewilling to accept her path in life, away from all that had beenfamiliar and dear to her, is also a treasured gift.

'I feel as though I have come to know you already, Maureen. Yoursustaining support for Diana has made her new life easier to embrace.Still, I also know that the ties that have bound you together assisters also speaks to her heart, and claims it in her unspokensacrifices.

'Our community's celebration of Winterfest is an acknowledgementof our beginnings, as well as of our necessary ties to the worldAbove, to those whose generosity and trust help us live our dreamsBelow. It is a time to give thanks for those who help us, and toembrace the promise of our hopes with them. Those hopes aresymbolized by the candles we carry into our gathering, the candle Iam sending along to you today, with an invitation that comes to youfrom all in our community.

"I could think of no more appropriate gift to offer both you, andDiana, than to have you join us for our Winterfest celebration thisyear, to have you become part of our world as a Helper.'"

Jacob clapped happily at the announcement from his father'swritten words. "See, Aunt Maureen, now you can come to our home!" Theelder woman hugged him tight.

"I can't wait!" Holding her sister's sweet gaze for an instantlonger, she continued reading the letter:

"'I wish I was able to give Diana the world! She has given hers upcompletely to be with me, so that we might fashion a new lifetogether that speaks only of possibility and care. Perhaps, now, withthis small gesture of invitation, I will be able to offer her back abit of the world she has left behind, that part that is the welcomecloseness of the sister she treasures.

'And perhaps, at the same time, I will be able to offer you a giftas well, Maureen, one that comes to you from us all -- the promise ofa place of shelter, if ever you should need one, a community offriends who cherish your trust and vision, and the gratitude of a manwho knows what a nurturing force you have been in the life of thewoman he loves.

'Diana will give you the particulars necessary for your visit.Join us, please, Maureen, if you are able, and we will be waiting towelcome you to our community, soon, sharing our hearts and hopes withyou.

-- Vincent '"

"Oh, Sis, this is really something special! Like I said before,Father doesn't extend an invitation like that easily. I can't believeVincent was able to convince him to, so quickly!"

"Diana, you've done so much for Vincent and Jacob, for all of us.You shouldn't be so surprised! Vincent knew you'd never ask anythingfor yourself ." Samantha's conclusions reinforced the wonder of thegift to both women.

Laura signed, "You'll be a part of the community in no time,Maureen."

"Will you be able to come?" Diana questioned with teasinguncertainty.

"Do you think anything on earth will keep me away?" came theautomatic response.

In a moment, the collective conversation converged into exciteddescriptions of the upcoming event. Alex was reassured that her timeBelow was certain to come too, and plans were made for a return fromBoston. Then the sudden realization came to Maureen. "Good Heavens,DiDi! I'll be able to see that little one sooner than Irealized."

She gave her sister's swollen figure a sweet, acknowledgingcaress.

"Great!" came the eager reply. "Then you can help me out, rightfrom the start. I'm sure to need all your motherly expertise."

"You mean you haven't been offered any from Mary? And Olivia? AndLena?," Laura gestured with knowing, amused confidence.

"And Father!" Diana replied, an understanding smile radiatingacross her face

Yes, she thought gratefully, there would indeed be a great deal tocelebrate this year at Winterfest. Diana let every breath of herthankful love release itself into the bond that held her heart toVincent's own. She and her beloved, their community, and now her ownsister, would be able to share so much. There would be many giftingbeginings to look forward to. The fear and loss of the past weekswere far from her thoughts.

Diana's lighthearted spirit was even able to draw her awarenessaway from the annoying little twinge that still seemed intent onworking its way down her spine.