A Family for Christmas by Irene Brand

pair of muddy boots. A wool cap covered his blond curls. When Evan bent to kiss her, his whiskers scratched her face. He seemed like a stranger to her.
    In the midst of the pleasure of having Wendy inhis home, Evan was aware of the puzzled look on her face, and he guessed the reason for it.
    Grinning, he said, “I can’t run a farm looking like a fashion model.” He hung his cap on a wall rack, removed his boots and shrugged out of the coveralls. In his flannel shirt and jeans, he looked more like the man she knew.
    Victor trotted into the room, planted his paws on Evan’s chest and barked into his face.
    â€œHungry, are you?” Evan said. He pushed Victor aside and poured some pet food into a tray and filled the dog’s water bowl.
    â€œIs breakfast ready?” Evan asked.
    â€œYes. Hurry and wash up. Your mother has a lot of good food ready, and I’m hungry.”
    Wendy had watched with interest as Hilda made biscuits from scratch, prepared low-fat bacon on the grill and scrambled several eggs. When Wendy tasted the biscuits spread with blackberry jelly, she couldn’t believe the difference between those biscuits and the ones she’d eaten in restaurants. When she commented on the jelly, Hilda said, “Blackberries grow wild on the farm. I made the jelly last summer.”
    When they entered the kitchen, Hilda had already had breakfast. She sat at the table and sipped some coffee.
    â€œWendy and I have been talking about her clothes,” she said to Evan.
    â€œI should have told her about the different climate, but I’ve been so worried about Daddy, I forgot it. I’m sure you don’t even own heavy clothes,” he said to Wendy.
    â€œThat’s true. I’ve never been in a really cold climate before. I knew it would be colder up here, so it’s no big problem. I’ll only be here two weeks.”
    â€œYes, but there’s no reason for you to be cold while you’re here,” Hilda said. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. My niece moved to Arizona last year, and she left her winter clothes for my girls. But she’s taller than Olivia and Marcy, and although Olivia may grow into them, she can’t wear them now. The clothes are clean and hanging in the closet in garment bags. You’re about Annie’s size, and you’re welcome to use the clothes.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea, Mom,” Evan said, pushing back from the table to cross his right leg over his knee. “Wendy, if you can wear one of Annie’s coats and some boots, your other clothes will be fine.”
    â€œThey’re all right when I’m in the house, but yesterday at the airport, I thought I’d freeze. I’ll be glad if I can borrow a heavy coat, and I’ll buy a pair of boots. Thanks.”
    â€œMy niece had some sweatpants and shirts that will be good for lounging around the house, too,” Hilda said. “I’ll lay out some of Annie’s clothes while you’re at the hospital.”
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    They found Karl Kessler on the fifth floor of Holzer Hospital, resting after a rigorous morning of physical therapy. The stroke had not only left serious paralysis of his left side, but his speech was impaired, too.
    A smile creased his face when Evan and Wendy entered his room. Evan elevated his bed to a reclining position and said, “Daddy, this is my friend Wendy.”
    Karl extended his right hand and squeezed Wendy’s hand with a firm grip. “Happy…to meet…you,” he said slowly.
    Karl Kessler was a stocky man with powerful shoulders, graying hair and dark blue eyes. Evan didn’t look like him now, but Wendy knew this was how Evan would look when he was Karl’s age. Although she liked Evan’s mother, Wendy was still a bit uneasy around Hilda, but she experienced an instant bond with Karl Kessler. Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed him on the