Page 32 of Oh Holy Knight

“Stop,” Frank argues. “If you talk mean to Santa, he won’t bring Mommy back.”

I lift my chin and stare up at Gunther, watching as he roughly pulls at the ends of his hair.

“Gunther…” I call, forcing his eyes back to me.

Clenching his jaw, his lower lip quivers as he says, “She left. I don’t know where she went and there’s no one to watch them. That’s why I haven’t shown up for work. The motel we were staying at kicked us out last night and…” His cracks as he tears his eyes away from me and roughly wipes at the tears falling down his cheeks. Sighing, his shoulders slump with defeat as he forces his gaze back to me. “They were hungry, and I didn’t know where else to go,” he admits hoarsely.

“Well, you came to the right place,” I tell him, turning back to the boys. “Let’s get you guys inside. Santa has tons of food and a sack of presents. I can’t bring back your Mom, but I can keep you warm and safe.”

“What’s going on over here?”

I turn at the sound of Parrish’s voice and slowly rise. His dark eyes move from Gunther to the two boys and back to me.

Placing one hand on Frank’s shoulder and the other on Jackson’s, I meet my brother’s gaze.

“This here is Jack and this little fella is Frank. They’re Gunther’s boys and the three of them will be spending Christmas with us,” I reveal.

So leave an empty chair.

You may not see them, but they will be there.

THE END