Gabriel's Angel
Kimberly Cates
Part three of five short stories in "A Gift of Love"

Rated 3.5
ISBN# 0-671-53661-3
U.S. 6.99, Canada $8.99
Reviewed 11/08/86 by Pam Tullos


"Gabriels Angel" is what I would call a story that really touches your heart.

Alaina, a ballad seller from a young age, has never known happiness that comes with being a part of a family. With only a drunken father to raise her, she secretly adopts a young boy and his family. She spends every Christmas watching them through a window, privately enjoying their happiness. That is the only taste of Christmas she has until meeting Tristan and Gabriel.

One Christmas, she befriends the young boy, Tristan, after he receives a pony for his present. Tristan gives her a coin, with the statement that he will be a famous artist some day and doesn't need the coin anymore.

Alaina spends her life watching through the window as Tristan grows into a man and marries, which then leads to having a son of his own. When the boy, Gabriel, is seven, his mother dies and Alaina hears him making a wish for his father smile again.

During the night, Alaina attempts to sneak into the house and decorate it with kissing boughs and holly as it has always been decorated in past Christmases. Tristan catches her in the act and accuses her of being a thief. It takes young Gabriel to convince his father to let her stay. For one night, Tristan says, one night only.

One night turns into several as Alaina becomes Gabriel's governess. Tristan plans to send Gabriel to his aunts home where he thinks the child will be happier away from his grumpy father.

Alaina spins a magic web around Tristan, showing him the way to becoming a happy person again, and how to love Gabriel as well. Getting over the selfishness of his dead wife is difficult for Tristan, he blames himself for never being able to make Charlotte, his wife, happy. It takes Alaina's goodness to help him see that Charlotte she was not a perfect person either and that he can't continue to blame himself.

At one point they begin to sense they are falling in love and Alaina is afraid of jeopardizing Tristin's career. After all, all she's ever been is a ballad seller.

This was a good story. The story ended well, with them staying together at last, but only after a short separation. I do admitt this was a sad story. With Alaina growing up all alone and watching from afar through Tristan's window, then the death of Tristan's wife, followed by the deep separation between father and son when you would think they would grow together instead of apart. I wanted to yell, get on with the happy stuff.

Give it a read!