Read Online Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs - Free Book Online

making up stories about angels. If we’d put her in a public school the way I wanted, maybe she’d be a little more down-to-earth.”
    â€œThey don’t think she’s making it up.”
    Kemp blinked. “They believe she saw an angel?”
    â€œThey think she believes it—that’s why they’re concerned.”
    â€œC’mon, it’s just a story. The kid tells stories all the time.”
    â€œThey know that, Kemp. Give them a little credit, will you?
    They know Leah and they’ve heard her stories before—this one sounded different somehow. Her teacher wants to meet with us Tuesday morning.”
    â€œI’ll be asleep Tuesday morning. I have a shift the night before.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong—working too hard with your little movie star? I never saw you show so much interest in a patient before.”
    â€œGive me a break.”
    â€œThey want to see us both, Kemp.”
    â€œYou said this was a parent-teacher conference. Did they say anything about boyfriends? Domestic partners? Significant others?”
    â€œKemp, don’t you dare—”
    â€œWhat’s the big deal, anyway? What’s so different about this story? What does she say she saw?”
    Natalie glared at him. “If you’re really interested, why don’t you ask her yourself?”
    â€œOkay, I will.” He turned and shouted to the back of the house, “Hey, Leah, come here for a minute!”
    â€œYou be gentle with her,” Natalie warned. “Remember what the counselor said.”
    â€œI remember—she’s ‘externalizing her grief’—and I still say it’s a crock. Give me a break, Natalie. So you got a divorce—so what? Lots of people do. It happens to kids all the time.”
    â€œShe was young,” Natalie said, “and it wasn’t pretty. There was a lot of anger, and yelling, and—other things. She saw things that a little girl should never have to see.”
    Leah appeared from around the corner and stood in front of them. “What? I was playing.”
    â€œSit down here, sweetheart,” Natalie said. “Kemp wants to talk to you.”
    Leah sat down on the sofa between them and looked at Kemp. “What?”
    â€œYour mom says you saw something unusual the other day—while the two of you were driving on the freeway.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œWhat did you see?”
    â€œAn angel. Can I go now?”
    â€œWait a minute. Where did you see this angel?”
    â€œOn the side of the road.”
    â€œShe was just standing there?”
    â€œHe.”
    â€œOkay, he. What was he doing?”
    â€œHe was standing beside a smashed-up car. There was a woman in the car, and she looked like this.” She tipped her head back, closed her eyes, and let her mouth hang open a little. “The angel was standing beside her, holding his hand like this.” Once again she demonstrated, extending her hand palm-down.
    â€œHow do you know he was an angel?”
    â€œI just know.”
    â€œBut how?”
    She frowned. “I just know.”
    Natalie stroked her hair. “We’re not doubting you, sweetheart; we’re just trying to understand. What did the angel look like? How was he dressed?”
    She shrugged. “Like a man. Like anybody.”
    â€œHe wasn’t wearing a white robe? He didn’t have wings or a halo, like the angels you see in picture books?”
    She shook her head.
    Kemp looked at her doubtfully. “Then what makes you think he was an angel?”
    She looked down at her feet.
    â€œGo ahead, honey,” Natalie said. “We’ll listen.”
    â€œBut you won’t believe me.”
    â€œTry me,” Kemp said.
    She looked up at him. “When we drove by, he looked right at me and he went like this.” She put her index finger to her lips and went, Shhh .
    There was a moment of silence before Kemp said, “You