Fixing the Angel's Wings Read online

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  The supermarket lights shone like a beacon at night. The Fourie family walked hand in hand into the shop. There were few shoppers left at this hour, and most of them were buying last-minute Christmas dinner ingredients or presents. No one seemed interested in the stationery aisle. Cally held onto the heavy, glossy-paged library book with her finger in the right spot. She opened it up to the page, placed it on the bottom shelf and they all stuck their heads close to the book to find what they needed.

  “Mommy, we need gold ribbons. But this isn’t a sewing shop,” said Mary loudly.

  “Shhh!” Tessa placed her finger to her mouth. “There are the gold ribbons, right there.” She pointed to the gift-wrap section which was adjacent to them. Mary ran towards the section and picked up every item to inspect it carefully. Tessa watched her carefully while being aware of Eric and Cally behind her finding papers, khokis, glitter glue, craft glue, and whatever else was needed. Everything seemed to fade around her except for the garish store decorations overhead and the buzz of her children’s excited voices. Maybe she needed to try to enjoy Christmas this year, even if she had little and felt lonely. Cally touched her arm gently, but she felt as if she were in a strange capsule of rest, floating in a bubble of acceptance. Eventually Eric’s loud voice boomed in her ear.

  “Mom, are you okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “We can’t find tissue paper. Most of the decorations are made with tissue paper. If we don’t find it, this whole idea will fall flat.” Eric’s face was drawn into a mature frown beyond his ten years.

  She smiled slightly. “I’m sure we’ll find it.”

  “We’ve looked everywhere,” Cally said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  Tessa frowned. Cally would be telling the truth. “Okay, I’ll look.”

  Slowly, the peace that had enfolded her began to dissolve as she couldn’t find the tissue paper. Eventually, she stood in front of her three distraught children. “There is no tissue paper in this store. Have you seen the time? It’s nine o’clock at night. This store is probably closing right now. We will have to just make the bells with the cardboard.”

  “Ma’am, may I help you?” a man asked, walking towards her.

  She scrutinised him to see if he had the supermarket staff uniform on, but he appeared plain clothed. She shook her head and turned to pick up the basket of goods they had collected.

  “I do work here,” he said. “We’re wearing our Christmas cheer uniform today.” He smiled broadly at her.

  She smiled back at him. He had round cheeks with two very prominent dimples beside his wide mouth. His greying hair was thick and a little messy. His red golf shirt had a circular badge on the right with the supermarket logo on. He seemed to smell of cinnamon and Turkish delight. She wondered if he’d been working in the sweet aisle.

  “We can’t find tissue paper.”

  The dimples disappeared. “I’m so sorry. We ran out today.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. We have to get going anyway.”

  “I have loads of it at home. My elderly mother collected it, and I inherited her collection,” the man said.

  “Cally, pick up the library book. You nearly left it behind. That would have been terrible.” Tessa quickly grabbed the gold ribbon from the shelf. She began to put back all the other things they wouldn’t be using.

  He peered closely at the book before Cally closed it up. “Are you making Christmas decorations?”

  “We were going to,” said Eric, “but without tissue paper we can only make bells.”

  “For once Mommy wasn’t sad,” said Mary, moving close to the friendly stranger. Tessa pulled her away from him awkwardly. “Mommy’s always sad, but tonight she was happy to make decorations for our tree. Without the decorations, we won’t have a tree, then we won’t have presents.”

  “I would have still given you presents…” Tessa stammered.

  The worker looked up at her as if he understood how she felt. She stepped back farther. How would he know?

  “If you wait for me, I have surprise for you all. I finish work in fifteen minutes,” he said.

  “Thank you for your help,” said Tessa, “but we should really get going. It’s late and my children are hungry.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll have my elderly aunties with me in a moment. I’m taking them home with me for Christmas. In fact, I’ve been dreading it for months. I’ve got no clue how to amuse them. But before that, I was going to take them out for supper. I thought you guys could do with a Christmas Eve feast too, on me, of course.”

  The Fourie’s stared at him, paralyzed with uncertainty. At that moment, two elderly women arrived and greeted the man with kisses and hugs and fussing, making him blush visibly. He took their hands and asked them if they were well and if their trip was good.

  Tessa relaxed. If she drove to the restaurant, what harm would it do to have a free meal? It was a little awkward, but the man was like a thin Santa Claus bearing Christmas goodwill.

  “What restaurant are you going to, Mr…?” Tessa asked.

  “It’s Clark. Clark Richards. The restaurant is behind the supermarket.”

  “Oh, that’s easy. I know that one. I’ll meet you there.”

  He nodded and went back to his aunts. She rushed to the till to pay for their few decorations. While standing and waiting, she looked at the glum faces of her kids. “I’m so sorry about the decorations, but at least we get to have a nice supper.”

  They nodded submissively.

  She paid and walked with them to the restaurant, took a table for eight, and waited awkwardly for Clark to arrive. She stared at her watch every few minutes and after forty-five minutes, began to get edgy. What if he never came? This restaurant was way too expensive for them even to order a drink. They would have to just walk out. The shops would be closed, and they wouldn’t have bought supper. Tessa sighed. This Christmas was becoming more and more disappointing.

  “Hello, dears.” Tessa heard a lady’s voice behind her. Next minute, she was surrounded by the jovial aunts with curly grey hair and machine gun questions. Her children kept them busy answering questions while Clark sat next to her and waited patiently for her to look through the menu. She didn’t want to choose something too expensive, but if she chose the cheapest on the menu, he would be insulted. She stared at the choices for some time.

  “Choose what you like out of the menu, even if it’s the cheapest.” He brought his face close to hers. She felt an uncontrollable heat rise up her neck and swallowed quickly.

  “How did you know?”

  “I had a feeling.” He gave her a smug smile. “Earlier, I was watching you from my office while you were with your kids in the stationery aisle. I was amazed at your love and patience towards them. They seem like a busy bunch and you looked so calm.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m never calm with my kids. I’m probably the worst mom they could ever have.”

  “Nonsense. Look how happy they are.” He pointed at her kids, talking animatedly with the two aunts.

  She shook her head. “My kids are miserable because I can’t even give them a decent Christmas.”

  “It’s the love that counts.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think they have that either.”

  He just looked into her eyes, his own bathed in sympathy. She looked down at the menu. It felt prickly to have someone care, like a new jacket with the tag still on. She was used to handling everything on her own. She quickly picked something from the menu and dashed to the lady’s room. Sitting in the toilet cubicle, she rested her head in her hands. Her insides felt like they were being squeezed hard into a tight knot and they were about to burst. No, she had to be strong. Her kids needed her to. They could make the decorations tomorrow. At least she had three days off work to spend with them. Maybe she would feel better after a few days. She stood up. Clark’s kind eyes seemed to taunt her. He didn’t really know her. She was a stranger to him and he thought more hig
hly of her than she deserved. She walked back to the table, watching her children laugh as Clark made some joke. Their food arrived shortly, and they tucked in eagerly. As she watched her children eat eagerly, she realised how long it had been since they had restaurant food. Their faces were shining, especially when they ordered the dessert.

  “Are you going to ask your new lady-friend over for Christmas lunch tomorrow?” asked Aunty Daisy.

  Clark looked at her questioningly. “We would love you to spend Christmas day with us.”

  “Yes, please, Mommy,” said Mary. “They have a real Christmas tree, and it’s covered with decorations. Plus they have a swimming pool.”

  Cally and Eric looked at her expectantly.

  She stared at everyone and bit her lip. “I don’t have anything to bring.”

  “Just bring yourselves and your swimming costumes,” said Clark.

  Tessa glanced at Clark and then at her kids’ bright faces. The aunties gave her gentle, maternal smiles. The kids had dropped the whole decoration idea, she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about giving her kids leftover chicken casserole for Christmas lunch, and they would have a tree. She wouldn’t have to talk to Clark. She could immerse herself in her kids the whole day and help wash up.

  She nodded slowly, a tiny smile lifting up her mouth.

  “That’s my girl.” Aunty May patted her affectionately on the arm. “I’m making my famous turkey with couscous salad.”

  “And I’m making my almond trifle with real marzipan,” said Aunty Daisy.

  “Her almond trifle is the best,” said Clark quickly. He turned away and busied himself with his drink, possibly a little embarrassed at his forwardness. Tessa relaxed a little at the realisation that he too was embarrassed by the lightening-fast turn of events. She hadn’t planned on meeting a man when she went out to the shop today. Not that she hoped anything would happen between them. He was just like a friendly Santa Claus.