The Happiest Season Read Online Free Page A

“Never thought I’d see one of them up close and personal,” he
related.
    “Any idea how it got in the woman’s backyard?” the other
officer, Jeff, asked.
    “She has a gate that backs up to a park behind her house. 
It happens the park backs up to a field adjoining a church, where the live
nativity scene is set up.”
    Jeff nodded.  “Yeah, my wife and I always take our kids over
to see the animals every Christmas season.”
    “I wonder what possessed that camel to venture into that
particular backyard?” Steve said.
    John gave a shrug.  “The woman who lives there was baking
cookies.  The camel seemed fairly adamant that she feed it the whole batch.”
    The officers laughed.  “Well, here’s hoping the camel stays
put from here on out.  If it wanders into the wrong yard, it’s liable to get
shot.”
    John conceded the point with a nod, and then rose from his
desk.  “I’m heading home.”
    “Don’t forget your camel,” Jeff said.
    John smiled ruefully.  “Thanks.” 
    He didn’t miss the curious looks from the few support staff
still on duty at the late hour, as he walked past carrying the toy camel.  He lifted
the camel and gave a wave with it, while they chuckled in response. 
    When he arrived home, he entered the small apartment with a
weary sigh.  He set the camel on the dinette table, and gave another rueful
smile.  As he headed for his bedroom to shed his uniform and take a quick
shower in the master bath, he realized he was wide awake.  Normally, he went to
bed within moments of arriving home, but he just wasn’t feeling tired now.
    He took a shower and was about to head downstairs to watch
television, but remembered his small digital camera in his shirt pocket.  He
retrieved it and crossed the room to a small computer desk.  He sat down and
promptly loaded the photos onto a file and then viewed them.
    He couldn’t help smiling at the photos of the camel.  In one,
it regarded him face to face, as if sizing him up.  When he’d tossed it a
cookie little Rickey had given him, the camel appeared to actually smile in
gratitude. 
    The rest of the photos showed the handler leading the camel
out of the yard and presumably back to the nativity scene.  John had made sure
to latch the gate when they’d left.  He smiled as he recalled the little boy
passing him a cookie afterward.  “This one is for you,” he had told him.
    For whatever reason, that little kid tugged at his
heartstrings.  He couldn’t figure out why, other than if he was being honest
with himself, when he envisioned himself a father to a son, the kid was the
spitting image of the little boy he saw in his mind’s eye.  The kid really
could have been his, with his dark hair and brown eyes. 
    He furrowed his brow.  The boy’s father had to be dark,
since his mother was petite and fair-haired.  She was also blue-eyed and
beautiful and he couldn’t seem to get the picture of her smiling face out of
his mind. 
    He eased back in the chair and groaned, lifting his hands to
either side of his head.  He ran his hands through his hair, sighing at the
feeling of emptiness that seemed to invade his heart.  He knew he was being
ridiculous, but something about the woman and her child had him pining for a
family of his own.  Had his life continued according to plan—his plan—he would
already be a father to a child or even two.  If only Kim hadn’t shattered his
dreams.  If only she’d meant her vows when she’d said them.
    He sighed and rose from the chair, eyeing the photos of the
camel again.  No doubt the little boy was eager to receive them.  He’d promised
to deliver them, and he intended to fulfill that promise.

Chapter
Three
     
    When Maggie’s doorbell rang early afternoon the next day,
she was struggling to finish up a long list of household chores.  She hurried
to answer the door.  She found her coworker Gloria on her small porch, her arms
leaden with goodies.
    “Hi there,” Maggie greeted