Loveable Christmas Angel: Book #3 - Romance and Heavenly Spirits! (Angels with Attitudes) (16 page)
Authors: Mimi Barbour
Tags: #Loveable Christmas Angel
Her arms and swaying body cuddled him, and her soft voice shushing him finally seemed to register. He leaned back and cradled her cheeks in his small hands. “Do you want me to be your boy?”
“Oh, Mano. Of course, I want you to be my boy. In fact, you will
always
be my boy, my son, and nothing will ever stop me from staying with you and being your mother. Do you know what adoption means?”
He shook his head, looking at her with keen interested. His abundant eyelashes were glued together with tears.
She wiped at his wet cheeks with her hand. “It’s a law that says we’ll belong together forever.”
“You want to ‘dopt me? Be my mom?” Stars shone in his amazing brown eyes.
“Would that be okay?” She waited without taking a breath or blinking.
“Does that mean Kale will be my Dad?”
“Only if we want him.”
She saw the wheels turning. “If you’re my mom, we’d be together. But then Kale would be sad.”
“So you’d like him to join us?”
God, please let him say yes.
Like tiny mirrors into his sharp mind, she watched his eyes as he calculated everything they’d said. “Do
you
want Kale, Leilani?”
“Very much.”
“Me, too!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Leilani smiled happily as two young members of Kales’ staff met her and Mano with Christmas greetings at the lavish hotel entrance.
“Mele Kalikimak,
Merry Christmas
Leilani and Mano.”
“Mahalo Nui Loa!
Many thanks
Mele Kalikimak! “
She chattered to both the young man and the woman, complimenting them on their traditional outfits and particularly the customary flower leis embellishing the girl’s head and the fellow’s neck. “The hotel is incredible tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Christmas lights in one place.”
Proudly, the female spoke up. “The lobby was designed by professionals and they tend to go all out.”
Leilani could see that. From the fake snow piled around the base of the largest tree to the intricate golden birds perched on the sparkly ribbon twisting through the branches, it made one think they’d entered a fairyland and that was only one tree. There were so many, she couldn’t begin to count them all. She watched Mano’s expression of awe and knew exactly how he felt. Just because she was an adult didn’t mean the affect hadn’t stunned.
“Hello, Darling. I see you’re enjoying the impact.” Kale nodded his thanks and moved to place his arm around both his honored guests. “What do you think, Mano? Is it cheery enough for you?”
“I like it, Kale. It’s cool!” Mano lifted his arms and Kale immediately picked him up and rested him on his hip. “Is Pi coming soon? I want him to see it.”
Leilani turned to send Kale a questioning look also. She’d wanted to wait for Pi at the house so they could come together, but Kale had called to say he’d be sending a limousine from the hotel. She watched as he hesitated. Distressed and unable to hide it, she sensed he had something to say that she wouldn’t like. Her heart instantly dropped.
“Don’t look like that Leilani. He’s fine. It’s just that he had to go home for the holidays, and he didn’t have the heart to tell you and spoil your evening. He sends his love for you both.”
Still feeling a little sad, Leilani had to accept the disturbing news for Mano’s sake. “You know, he never talked about himself and I suppose I thought he was alone. That we were his family. How silly! Of course, he’d want to be with his loved ones. I imagine we’ll see him once the holidays are over and he returns from wherever he had to go. Right Mano?” She smiled encouragingly wanting to ease the hurt she saw building in Mano’s expression.
“I wanted to show him the Christmas trees. And he didn’t see me in my new clothes.”
“Yes he did, you tried them on for him and I’m sure he’s been to the hotel before, and saw the decorations.” She looked for help from Kale, and being sensitive to her needs, he didn’t let her down.
Jiggling the boy to get a smile, he added. “He sent a special message for you, Mano. He said to remind you that you needed to thank Santa Claus tonight. Not sure what that means… do you know?”
Mano nodded, and his face brightened. “When Pi brought me to the other hotel party, I asked Santa to bring me a special present… and he did.” The boy clapped his hands, quite happy again.
Leilani loved seeing him cheer up, and so she played along, knowing that the multitude of gifts that Pi had shoved under the tree would probably cover any toy the boy had requested. “What did you ask him for?” She teased him just a little by poking him in the stomach.
He giggled and covered up the secret spot she’d found while they’d been wrestling earlier in the day. “I told him I wanted a Mommy.” With his arms extended and his laughing eyes twinkling, he leaned a bit toward Leilani.
Such beautiful words, Leilani reached for the youngster and whispered in his ears. “I’m going to thank Santa tonight myself for giving me such a precious boy.” When she kissed his cheek, he wriggled to be put down and a frown replaced the smiles. He leaned toward her, yanked on her hand and waited for her to put her ear close to his mouth. “You can only kiss me at home… when no one is around… okay?”
“Okay! Sorry sweetie.” She saw his frown deepen and quickly added, “…and no more sweetie words in public… got it!”
As the evening progressed, Mano began to pine for his old friend more and more. He worried that Pi was unhappy, or that he needed his friend Mano. As he checked out the different Christmas designs, one tree continually caught his attention. He stopped to look at all the glittery angels smiling at him from so many of the branches.
Without knowing why, he looked around once again to see where Leilani and Kale were. Arms wrapped around each other, they were happily talking to some old people who seemed to know Leilani already. As the man moved to shake hands with Kale, he looped the silver handle of a cool looking cane over his wrist. Mano watched as the woman hugged Leilani and thought how much he liked to see his new mom in tutu’s dress. She was the prettiest lady in the room; he knew it, and he figured Kale did too.
Mano sighed and felt his lip tremble. He couldn’t cry in public but the sad feeling wouldn’t stop.
Why so unhappy, Munchkin, aren’t you enjoying the party
?
Pi! That was his voice. Mano looked behind him, and sure enough, there was Pi standing next to a really pretty lady. She looked kinda familiar, and she wore a dress the same as Leilani’s.
Pi, you came. I really missed you.
He’d always run to get picked up by Pi but for some reason he couldn’t understand, he knew it wouldn’t work this time.
Yes, that’s why I’m here but I can only stay for a few seconds, so don’t disturb Kale or Leilani
.
Why are we talking in our heads?
Mano knew he hadn’t spoken out loud and neither had Pi. The lady just stood and looked toward Leilani as if she wanted to cry.
I’m hiding from everyone else, Mano. Only you can see us. So we have to talk this way. Is it okay, you’re not scared?
Mano knew he shouldn’t lie to a friend.
Nope. I’m a big boy, Pi. I don’t get scared… mostly.
Pi patted Mano’s curls, winked and grinned.
I’ll be going away now Mano, to the place where I belong.
Does your lady belong there too?
Mano liked it when the lady touched his cheek. It felt nice and gentle, and she made him feel better.
Yes. Lani and I have waited a very long time to be together.
I’ll miss you.
The words burst out. Mano felt like he wanted to cry. His lips were wiggling, and if they didn’t stop, he’d have to hide his face.
But Mano, I’m only a prayer away. Remember that any time you’re scared or lonely.
Then Mano felt the old man hug him, and all the sadness and fear were gone leaving him feeling lighter than he’d felt since… forever.
Okay, Pi
. He whispered.
I’ll remember.
Once Pi moved away, Mano waved his fingers secretly at the lady, who returned his gesture. Then the lady blew a kiss to Leilani, and as they faded, Mano heard her tell Pi something he didn’t understand.
You kept your promise Piʻilani. Our daughter is finally happy
.
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading “
Loveable Christmas Angel
”.
If you enjoyed reading this novel, it would be a very kind gesture for you to leave a short, honest review on Amazon. Authors thoroughly enjoy knowing that readers like their stories. Hopefully, others will read your words and choose to buy the book because of your sentiments and that would be
real
sweet!
Other Works
*****
A finalist in the 2012 Gayle Wilson contest!
*****
“When I first read the blurb for this book, I was put in mind of a Lifetime Movie and I’ll admit there its magical backdrop of a small town outside of London and its charismatic townsfolk, it completely captivated me. As if all that wasn’t enough the main characters are some of the best I’ve ever read.
Marcus isn’t the usual hero. He has a rough and gruff exterior used to hide his mushy heart but all the women who he holds dear are aware of this and use it to wrap him around their little fingers. Abbie is this sweet soul who does everything she can for others to the point of exhaustion, her motto really is “do unto others”. She isn’t goody-goody though because she has a witty almost wicked sense of humor that drives Marcus crazy and kept me laughing. Just as I was sinking into the sappiness the author brought on the angst and it took me by complete surprise!
This plot was simply amazing and I felt an array of emotions of happiness, sadness, surprise, and many more.
I highly recommend Together For Christmas, especially for those that enjoy a good holiday book.”
TBR reviewer ~ Luta Wolf gave 5 stars!
“Sara realized too late that she never should have let her young son go to Hawaii with his friends over Christmas. She quickly discovered that her favorite food, great wine, and lots of chocolate do not take the place of your family on Christmas (or any other time!) But a raging snowstorm, a lifesaving dog and a runaway girl are the makings of a Christmas Sara will never forget. Oh and don’t forget, tall, dark and handsome. You never know what’s going to happen when you end up falling in a heap on a dark and icy road. A Merry Christmas, indeed! A sweet, funny and pertinent story. Read it. And feel good.”
~ Reviewed by windigo
A short story By Nancy Radke
“This is a lovely short story about family reconciliation at Christmas. A young couple with their first baby due any day decide to make the trip to visit his parents. Pride is overcome and the promise of a new baby for Christmas heals the rift between the generations. A heartwarming Christmas read!”
5 stars ~ reviewed by Loves Romance
Vegas Series
Action–packed thrillers!