Whose Angel Keyring Read Online Free

morning—she’s not coming.” James again pursed his lips.
    “If you like, I can take care of it.”
    “That’s very kind, but it is rather more difficult than it may seem—”
    “Remove place card, flatware, goblets, china; put one chair in the corner by the large window; reposition the existing chairs and settings.”
    His eyes widened. “Indeed.”
    “Consider it done.”
    “I shall be indebted,” James said with some discomfort.
    “Oh, no, James. It’s Cynthia who owes me.”
    All James could think to say was again, “Indeed.”
    By the time brunch was scheduled to begin, the three neighbors had joined the hosts, chattering in the sunroom. By the time brunch was scheduled to begin, the three
    neighbors had joined the hosts, chattering in the sunroom.
    Jolly voices and clattering flatware trailed after James and filtered through the edges of the kitchen door. As he gentled the naked eggs in their holders down into the boiling water, he delighted in the dining room sounds, and in knowing they signified family and friends alike were enjoying themselves. But a few minutes later, as he served the eggs on homemade English muffins, he couldn’t help but notice Mr. Zackery’s somber face.
    Sadder than I thought over Miss Cynthia’s absence, James observed. The next course will cheer him . Returning to the kitchen, James poured thick batter and listened as it sizzled in the waffle iron; the delicate, bready aroma rose with the steam escaping its edges. Twenty minutes later, James pushed backward through the kitchen door and spun a silver tray into the dining room laden with fresh Belgian waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream to finish off the meal.
    “Oh, James,” groaned Mr. Joseph as he touched both hands to his nearly flat belly. “You’re doing us in!” But the wide grin confirmed the master’s pleasure.
    After brunch, the neighbors departed for their own homes, leaving the two men and Ms. Zelda to tackle Christmas stockings —the larger gifts they’d save till this evening. Judging by the oohs and aahs, everyone in the party was pleased to prove the old adage—good things come in small packages. Pouring coffee from a newly polished silver service, James noticed two open boxes with shiny new cufflinks, and was just in time to see Ms. Zelda open a pair of garnet earrings—fifteen- carat stones surrounded by tiny diamonds, if he was any judge of gems. It seemed to James that against Ms. Zelda’s dark hair they shone like tail lights on a black Jaguar. Certainly their recipient seemed dazzled by the gift. As she began kissing the master full on the mouth, Zack looked away, and James left the room quietly as he’d entered.
    By the time James returned with freshly baked cheese cookies, it was clear Master Zackery had quite finished with gift-giving, and was growing embarrassed at the affectionate turn of events in his father’s life. And then James noticed Zackery staring at the small envelope on the mantel.
    Zelda was watching Zackery as well. “She did apologize.” Zelda took a sip of vanilla decaf. “And she did ask me to bring the envelope.”
    “You mentioned that. I’ll get to it later,” Zack said somewhat dismissively.
    Zelda raised her eyebrows and took another sip of coffee.
    Not wishing to pry—and noting that Zackery already had quite an audience—James withdrew to the kitchen. Teresa had finally appeared in the kitchen and was scouring pans.
    “No, no,” he scolded. “For the heavy work, we use the pantry sinks, remember? Because they’re much deeper.”
    “But the pens, Sen ̃ or.” After all these years, James still had trouble with her heavy Hispanic accent. “Jou put t’em inna t’is sink!”
    Pursing his lips, James walked over to her, lifted several dirty pans, and, holding them away from his body, deposited them in the pantry sink. “There,” he said with finality. “That should remove all obstacles.”
    Scowling at her back, he resisted the