The Gift

Written from an actual event that occured on December 25, 2000 at 7:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.

It is early morning......the room is warm and the house is quiet. The soft scent of pine and the smells of Christmas gently hang in the air. Christmas music plays softly in the background as Laurel sits with her first cup of hot morning coffee in front of her computer. Every now and again a voice from the TV in the other room is heard. There is an atmosphere of peace, an odd serenity.
Michelle’ enters the room, a large man still striking in looks even with age. Quietly for a moment he watches his wife.... then approaches where Laurel sits. She turns to face him noting that he is fairly glowing and thinks “what mischief” is this that your up to now.
“Do you believe in Angels”, he asks.....maybe he was just reassuring himself that she still believed.
“Of course I do, they are always with us”....her reply came quizzically.... “why?”
“What if I told you I have a way to see if they are here, now, with us?”
“What are you talking about”
“Listen,” Michelle’ bends down in front of her chair taking her small hands in his large hands most delicately and softly. “If you really believe, I have a way to see if they are here with us now”.
“OK, I’ll bite.....what do we do” Laurel replied, her eyes twinkling.....thinking “what kind of game are you playing”
“Here, I’m going to place my one hand over your eyes three times.....on the third time close your eyes..... I will keep my other hand in your hands.....”
“And what will that prove” she queried.
“When I place my hand over your eyes the third time, if there is an angel present-- the angel will touch your shoulder, then you will know if there is an angel present.....but you have to believe.”
“Well, I believe they are always around,” a smile appearing broadly on her face, “let’s give it a try”, she truly believed in angels but was skeptical. She’d humor him not wanting to deprive him of what she was sure was a game.
One, two, three.......... nothing.
“Let’s try it again,” Michelle’ looked disappointed.
“Sure, why not.....besides I know they are always close by.” Laurel chided.
“You really have to believe or it won’t work,” Michelle’ looked sternly.
In her most serious voice she assured that she “did believe”.
One , two , three, ......... the air became static and semi sweet.....and then the gently warm touch to the back of her shoulder...... a touch like non other she’d ever felt.
Laurels eyes flew open and with one hand she brushed Michelle’s hand from her face.....
“How did you do that?” her words came quick and excited.
“I did nothing,” Michelle’ answered.
“There has to be some trick, “
“No, I told you , you had to only believe.....and only you know what you experienced.”
“Again,” she demanded.
One, two, three........as before it was the same except the touch lingered for a moment longer and seemed much more than before...... passing chills through Laurels body.
Unbelievable........she uttered.
“Is there an angel present”, Michelle asked excitedly.
“Most definitely” and she told of the experience.
“Dear husband, I do not know how you did this but thank you for the most wondrous gift you could have ever given to me.....”
He held her close to his chest and tears of joy, wonder and love ran from her eyes.