The Christmas Promise(24)

She jumped at his voice. “I need to check on Donovan,” she said.

He rolled over, watching her. “He’s fine. Get back in bed.”

“He’s been alone a long time,” Carla said, whispering. “I’ll be right back.”

“Two minutes,” Thomas said, leaning up on his elbow.

She stepped across the hall to Donovan’s room and locked his door behind her. She knew a lock wouldn’t keep Thomas out, but it was all she could do. Donovan was watching TV like she’d asked him to do when Thomas arrived. She sat down next to him and he jumped in her lap, making her flinch. The bruises on her legs were tender. “I need you to get dressed,” she whispered, pulling a pair of pants off the end of his bed.

“Why?”

“Shh,” she said, helping him into the pants. “I need to take you to Miss Glory’s tonight.”

“Why?” he said, struggling to get a sweatshirt over his head.

“Because you shouldn’t stay here tonight,” she said, tying his sneakers.

“Why not?”

She held his hand and put her finger to her lips. “Stop asking questions and be quiet.” She turned the doorknob and slowly pulled back the door, creeping into the hallway with Donovan. She grabbed her coat off the rack by the front door and dragged Donovan to her car.





Dalton, Heddy, Erin, and I dumped out several garbage bags and sorted through the clothing inside. Each winter I found bags of clothing sitting on the porch, but this year there seemed to be more than ever. We threw away the clothing that was too tattered to be usable and made piles of nice, warm clothes we could include in some of the packages we were making. Miriam never offered to help. She sat at the kitchen window, staring at the huge construction Dumpster that was sitting in her driveway.

The doorbell rang at eight thirty. I took huge steps over the piles of clothing and opened the door a crack, smiling when I saw Donovan. “Hola!” I said, un-latching the chain lock.

“Hola!” he said, marching past me.

Carla stood on the porch with her back to the door. “Carla?” I said, stepping outside.

She wiped her face, turning to me. “I’m in a bind tonight, Miss Glory. I’m going to work but don’t have anyone to watch Donovan. I know you have all these people staying with you, but is it okay if he stays over?”

“Sure.” I studied Carla’s face. “Are you all right?”

Carla nodded. “I’m just cold and worried that I wouldn’t have a place for him, you know. I need to run or I’ll be late.” She leaned her head inside the doorway, kissing Donovan. “Be a good boy for Miss Glory. Yes?” He nodded and she walked past me down the steps. I watched her get inside the car and then shut the front door behind me.

“Who’s this?” Miriam asked as I hung Donovan’s coat on the hall tree.

“This,” I said, proudly, “is Donovan, a longtime friend of mine. Isn’t that right?” I held up my hand and he gave me a high five.

Miriam eyed the small suitcase. “Is he staying here?”

“For the night.”

“There isn’t any more room,” she said. “Look at this place. It’s an absolute mess. This rubbish needs to be taken to the street for the rag and bone man, but you’re bringing another person in on top of all of it!”

I jerked straight and felt the curls bounce around on top of my head. “Go to your room, Miriam.” Dalton, Heddy, and Erin pretended to be knee-deep in clothes.

“I am not a child, Gloria!”

“Then stop acting like one.”

Miriam slammed the door to her room and I sighed. There was just no way to bridge the gap between us.





Chaz packed an extra sandwich and showed up for work at nine, just as Ray was leaving. “Has anybody heard anything about Mike?” he asked.

“I haven’t heard anything,” Ray said, glancing at him. “You don’t look so good. Why don’t you just go home? The store can go one night without somebody on duty.”

Chaz set the plastic grocery bag that contained his dinner on the desk. “I need the money,” he said.

“I hear that.” Ray zipped up his coat. “I talked with my wife and we’d like to have you over for Christmas dinner. You up for that?”

Chaz hung up his coat and closed the locker. Ray needed to get out before Donovan came racing through the door. “I’m eating with some relatives that day.”

“I didn’t think you had any family,” Ray said.

“I have an aunt about ninety minutes from here.”

Ray threw a backpack over his shoulder. “Just making sure. Didn’t want you to spend Christmas alone.” He clapped Chaz on the back and left.