Jingle Bell Blessings by Bonnie K. Winn Page A

time to learn to cast like that. Which was why they’d given Jimmy a pole instead. Although the boy had helped tie flies, he was still too young to master casting. Maybe in the spring when there was plenty of warm weather ahead…. Evan jerked his thoughts to an abrupt halt. No. Jimmy wouldn’t be here in the spring.
    Â 
    Reminded that the boy needed to catch a fish so they could get his father back home, Evan paused. His own gear lay in the yellowing grass. He had brought it along only to appease his father. But it gave him an excuse to help Jimmy.
    Evan walked to the shore quietly so he wouldn’t startle the boy. Studying his wobbling line, Evan remembered his own father teaching him to fish. Then he remembered the times he had brought Sean to this very shore, the bubbling excitement of his son’s animated face. Evan had expected someday to be the one sitting in a camp chair while Sean taught his own child the sport.
    Evan felt a light tug on his arm and looked down.
    Jimmy’s upturned face was quizzical. “Do you want to use my fishing rod?”
    A sweet gesture. Evan swallowed and pushed away the emotion. “Thought maybe I could watch awhile. You using worms or minnows?”
    â€œUncle Gordon said I could use his best fly, but Chloe said I’d better start with worms.”
    Uncle Gordon? Evan pushed past the moniker. “That’s how I began. Takes a while to learn how to cast.”
    â€œLike Chloe and Uncle Gordon?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œUncle Gordon must be a neat dad.”
    The remark caught him completely off guard. “You had a pretty neat dad yourself.”
    Pain flooded Jimmy’s eyes. “We were going to go on a boat next summer. Mommy, too.”
    Chloe met Evan’s gaze over the boy’s head.
    She knelt down so she was at the child’s level. “They would be so proud of you. How you’ve been so brave about starting a new school. And now, learning a new sport!” Chloe’s clear green eyes beamed with empathy and Jimmy’s expression started to clear.
    Paralyzed with shared grief, Evan couldn’t speak. But there was no condemnation in Chloe’s eyes. It was almost as though she understood what he was going through. But that couldn’t be.
    Gathering his senses, Evan watched quietly for a while. When Jimmy’s line snagged, Evan could tell it wasn’t a fish. “Looks like you’re caught up in some brush.”
    Jimmy frowned, then tugged on the rod, but it didn’t yield.
    â€œThis is the good part of fishing with bait. No big deal to lose a worm, but when you lose your favorite fly….”
    â€œOh.” Jimmy’s eyes widened. “I’m glad I didn’t lose the fly.”
    He was so serious that Evan wanted to pat his shoulder, tell the boy to relax. Instead, he cut the line and reached in the tackle box for a small hook and bobber.
    â€œIs it bad to lose a hook?” Jimmy asked in a near whisper.
    Evan couldn’t stop his smile. “Nope. That’s part of fishing—the worms, hooks and line. We don’t waste them on purpose, but it’s not bad when we lose some.”
    Jimmy visibly exhaled.
    â€œWhat do you want to use for bait this time?” They had stopped by the bait shack and picked up leeches, worms and minnows.
    Jimmy shrugged his narrow shoulders, his eyes still anxious. “Which one should we pick?”
    â€œIn the spring, you can find all the earthworms you need right in the yard. I used to collect them to sell to the bait store. Don’t suppose kids do that anymore.”
    â€œThey don’t?” Jimmy’s expression remained sober.
    Evan knew the child shouldn’t have to always be so cautious and serious. “Let’s try a minnow this time, okay?”
    â€œOkay.”
    Evan showed him how to slip the tiny fish on to the end of the hook. Jimmy’s small hands were practically hidden under his while the