The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Author:Daphne Benedis-Grab
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

This place is huge,” Cami said to Lucy as they walked up the icy path to Alma Sanchez’s house. “I think she must have twenty-five rooms just for her and her cat.”

“I bet the cat likes having the room to run around,” Lucy said, trying to keep her voice light to hide how tired she was feeling. The walk to Ms. Sanchez’s house wasn’t more than a mile from Lucy’s house but tromping through the fresh snow was taxing, especially since sometimes there were ice patches or uneven sections of the sidewalk that were easy to trip on. Plus there was the stress of knowing she was slowing Cami down. Right about now Lucy was really missing Valentine.

Cami laughed as she led them up the steps. Lucy snagged the toe of her boot on the first one — it was always hard to gauge how high steps were — but Cami had her arm and she steadied herself. Cami shifted slightly to ring the bell, which Lucy heard chime inside the home. A minute later the door flew open.

“Cami, Lucy, come in,” Ms. Sanchez said.

Cami guided Lucy into a warm room that smelled of butter cookies and pine needles. If the house was as big as Cami claimed, Lucy imagined that the Christmas tree must be spectacular.

“Perfect timing!” Ms. Sanchez said. “I’m testing a Christmas cookie recipe. You’ll have to try some and tell me what you think.”

“If you insist,” Cami said in her usual friendly way.

“Thanks,” Lucy added.

“You girls make yourselves at home and I’ll be right back with the cookies,” Ms. Sanchez said.

“Here’s the sofa,” Cami said, carefully backing Lucy up so that her calves rested against the seat. “And just so you know, this whole room is lined with bookcases. She’s definitely a big reader.”

“So the bookmark could belong to her,” Lucy said, sinking down on the soft cushions.

“Yeah, she fits a lot of the profile. She’s a reader, she has money and time …” Cami said in a low voice.

“Plus she’s generous, inviting us in without even asking why we’re here,” Lucy added.

“I know,” Cami agreed. “She reminds me of my grandma, always welcoming.”

Lucy noticed a note of sadness in Cami’s voice and wondered if she should ask about it, but then she heard footsteps coming down the hall toward them and a moment later Ms. Sanchez was back, the smell of cookies even more powerful.

“Lucy, here’s your plate,” Ms. Sanchez said, handing it to Lucy and making sure she had it securely before letting go. “How’s that dog of yours?”

At this Lucy smiled, remembering how kind Ms. Sanchez had been on the street that day. “She’s great, thanks,” Lucy said. Lucy waited until she heard Cami crunching into her cookie, then she felt for hers. It was in the shape of a candy cane and studded with rough sugar sprinkles. Lucy took a bite, the luscious buttery cookie just the right amount of sweet. “Delicious,” she said when she had swallowed.

“Mm-hm,” Cami agreed. “These are fantastic.

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