Read It Really IS a Wonderful Life: The Snowflake Falls but Hearts in Love Keep a Home Warm All Year Long for Free Online Page B

again? If she procrastinated any longer, she’d be late. This emotional tug-of-war had to end.
    Mom’s smile spoke sympathy. “Dorie, you know I love you and think you’re a wonderful mother.”
    “But—”
    “You worry too much. Josh is fine. He’s been running around the house with a towel pinned to his shoulders, pretending to be Superman.”
    “What if he jumps off the stairs again? I’ve told him four times not to use the steps as a launching pad. I’m afraid this time it’ll be a broken leg.”
    “You don’t think I know how to handle a restless child? I had a little boy too, you know.”
    “And that little boy is now thirty-three and living in California. I don’t think JJ is ever going to grow up.”
    “He will when he finds the right girl. Devon helped you grow up.”
    True. She’d sown a few wild oats in college before meeting Devon during her senior year. They married the day after graduation. He joined the army that summer and she became an officer’s wife. How much more responsible could she have been?
    Devon’s faith settled her more than marriage did. He had enough for both of them, his far deeper than hers. With Devon gone, he couldn’t tell her what she should believe. Now, faith had become a big question mark. What she knew of God had been absorbed through others, first her parents and later Devon—a sponged faith, counterfeit. She squirmed, glad to return to Josh’s needs and leave the shredding of her papier-mâché spirituality for another day.
    Dorie powered on the cell phone and stuck it into her jeans pocket. “Call me if Josh gets too rowdy. Promise?”
    Mom raised her right hand. “I promise.”
    “They’ll quiet down with a movie.” She tossed a disc to her mother. “They haven’t seen this one yet.”
    She put on her coat and slipped outside. The crisp night air nipped her nose. How she despised the cold. And being late.
    ***
     
    The cast members and production crew filled four tables at the Little Red Hen Preschool. Dorie searched for a place to sit as twenty pairs of eyes stared at her. She spotted an empty chair to the left of Gabe, but Jamey sat to his right.
    Surely she could find a better seat than that. She spotted an empty chair next to Gillian Davidson, the lady from Mom’s church. As Dorie took the seat, Gillian gave her a friendly smile. Apparently Midville had its warm-hearted folks as well as its characters.
    Danny Riley stood. “We’ll move into the school auditorium a week or two before production. Until then all our rehearsals will be here. Evie, please mail our customary thank-you letter for the building use.”
    Her face glowed with self-assurance. “Already done.”
    When everyone had their script and instructions sheets, Danny brought attention to the rehearsal schedule and introduced each cast member. Gabe hunched over the table and whispered to Dorie, “Jamey always gets the part of the angel. So much for typecasting!”
    Dorie scribbled the cast names into her script for future publicity purposes then scoped the room, a microcosm representing many segments of Midville society. The liquor store manager would play the drugstore owner. There was also the Episcopal minister, Reverend Stanton, his two sons, a church organist, and a postal worker. Zeke would play Ernie, the patrolman, while the resident police officer had been cast as the hefty Uncle Billy. Last to be introduced were Gabe Wellington and Susan Davidson. Who would have guessed that swivel-hipped flirt could be related to a refined woman like Gillian?
    Danny continued the roster. “Susan will round out the cast as Mary Hatch Bailey. That leaves a few minor parts unfilled. Dorie, would you take the part of Mr. Potter’s secretary in addition to Mrs. Andrews?”
    Two parts when she feared doing one? Should she accept the challenge? She agreed with a hesitant nod.
    “Good. I’ll play Sam Wainright. Evie has agreed to take the role of Mrs. Thompson. Any thoughts for Mr. and Mrs.