Chapter Two: JC Runs Down Santa
Every year the children got a new Christmas ornament, a special one to denote the year. When they moved away from home, they would take these ornaments with them to start their own trees. This was a tradition in Chad’s family and Nikki was seeing to it that his children continued it. With the children in their safety harnesses in the backseat, the Martin family set out in their mini van to purchase items for the tree.
JC was distracted. In a few weeks it would be Christmas. He didn’t feel like it this year. Again his mother called about what he wanted, what his plans were — and again he’d had no answers for her. Christmas was elusive — and he couldn’t explain why. He had always loved Christmas! It was his favorite time of year…
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an elderly man step from the curb, JC slammed on the brakes but too late. The sickening thud of body and car reached his ears before his forehead hit the steering wheel and blackness claimed him.
Nikki saw it all — and barely avoided hitting the Mercedes convertible as it slammed on its brakes to avoid the man. Jerking on her parking brake and setting her blinkers on, she grabbed her cell phone. “Stay here,” she commanded the children as she got out. Efficiently she called 911 and gave them details as she went to the man in the street. Ringing off, she checked his pulse. Steady. Except for a few scrapes he appeared fine.
Beneath bushy white brows bright blue eyes blinked open. “Hello, young lady,” the old fellow said cheerfully.
“Be still, sir, the paramedics will be here shortly.”
“I’m fine, child.”
“You let them be the judge.”
The old man sat up and looked to JC, who slumped forward in his seat. “I’d say he needs you a sight more than I do.”
“I’ll see to him if you promise to just stay here until the paramedics get here.”
“Go see to the young man,” he insisted.
Deciding he was feeling well enough to argue, Nikki went to check the man in the car.
JC moaned and tried to straighten. A pain shot through his head and he let it drop back to the headrest. It was then he felt the gentle touch of soft fingertips and eased his eyelids up. He was dead. He was dead and a beautiful brown haired angel hovered over him. She had kind blue eyes, soft-looking pink lips, a slender throat, and nice breasts — whoa, dude, you don’t look at angel’s boobs!
Nikki smiled. “Hi.”
“Hey, beautiful angel,” JC returned her smile drowsily. “I think I’ll like it here.”
“Here?”
“Heaven. Beautiful, blue-eyed angels with boobs…” he murmured, his eyelids growing heavy.
“Stay with me—”
“JC…my name’s JC. You’re Angel.”
“No, I’m Nikki Martin.” Hearing the emergency vehicles approach, she glanced to where she had left the old man. He was gone!
The policeman stepped out of his car, “Where is the other victim?” he asked of Nikki.
“I—I don’t know. He was sitting right there…”
A paramedic came up to her. “He just vanished, Nikki?”
She recognized him from the ER. “I left him sitting right there, Dave. He said he was fine. His pulse was good.”
“Well, you go talk to the police, I’ll take care of this guy.”
JC felt Nikki’s hand leave his face and grabbed for it. “Angel, where’re you goin’?”
Dave lifted an eyebrow. “Angel?”
“He’s a little confused.” Nikki looked chagrinned.
Dave winked at her. “I’d say he’s got it about right.”
While Nikki explained what she saw and what happened following the accident to the policemen, Dylan helped his sister from the van and went to watch Dave check JC out.
“You know our mom?” Dylan asked the brawny firefighter.
“Nikki? Yeah.”
“She’s our mom,” Kimmy announced proudly.
“Yeah? She’s a good nurse.”
“She’s a great cook, too.” Dylan said.
“We don’t hardly get into trouble,” Kimmy added.
Dave chuckled. “Sorry, kids. Not interested.”
JC tried to understand what was being said. These kids belonged to his angel…this guy didn’t want her? “I’ll take her!”
Dylan and Kimmy looked at the blue-jean clad man who was a tad scruffy. “You?” Kimmy questioned.
“I like to eat. I like kids…”
“Mr. Chasez, we’re taking you to the hospital,” Dave told him.
“Gotta call Lonnie and Carlos. My car…what happened to the old guy?” JC shot up to his feet only to have the blackness claim him. “Angel…” he muttered before he hit the pavement.
JC woke once more to find his angel hovering over him. He smiled tiredly and reached for her hand. “You’re still here. Am I still dead?”
Nikki shook her head. “No, Mr. Chasez, you never died. You hit your head.”
He frowned. “JC. I told you JC.”
“Your friends are just outside—”
“Where are the kids?” he asked abruptly.
“Kids?”
“The ones trying to hook you up with the fireman.” He remembered some of it. “‘You’re a good cook and they don’t get into trouble much.’”
“They didn’t! “ Nikki felt her face go hot.
“He didn’t want the package deal.”
“Oh, Lord!” She was mortified.
“I said I’d bite.”
“Mr. Chasez—”
“JC,” he muttered.
“I am sorry they bothered you.”
“They didn’t.”
Nikki tried to pull her hand away but he held on fast.
“Where’s the old dude I hit?”
“He walked away. You must have just knocked him down.”
“I heard him hit.”
“All I know is he got up and left.”
“Nikki, thank you.”
“You remembered my name.”
“Yeah, some of this is coming back.”
The compassion in her surfaced. “I’m glad.”
“You have a beautiful smile.”
“I am glad you are feeling better. I have to go.”
“Nikki, don’t –”
“Kimmy and Dylan…”
“Tell them ‘hey’ for me.” Reluctantly he released her hand.
“Good-bye.”
“Later.”
JC didn’t plan on saying good-bye to his angel just yet.