Reviews for Arden O’Keefe

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When Chrissy came back down, lugging a large suitcase behind her, she didn’t even spare a glance at her mother, brushing past May and out of the house. Her mother quickly went to the porch and watched as Chrissy threw the suitcase in the backseat of her old Chevy and drove off without saying another word—even to her son.

May had a feeling it was likely the last she’d ever see of her daughter, and yet, she didn’t try to stop her. There was no point. It was time for all of them to move on.

However, as May thought about raising a five-year-old by herself, she was overcome with emotion as she sat on the front step. Her tired eyes welled quickly as her head filled with new worries. She knew she was in for a difficult road, but several questions still haunted her about the boy—how could she keep him safe from those who wanted to do him harm, because he was so unique? That was her primary concern.

When a small hand touched her shoulder, May quickly wiped away her tears and turned to the sweet boy who sat down beside her. She picked him up with some difficulty and sat him on her lap, his big brown eyes reminding her of Chrissy.

A lump formed in her throat, but May refused to let out the sob that wanted to make itself known. “Hi sweetie. I thought I put you to bed.”

The little boy rested his head on her shoulder and said, “I couldn’t sleep.”

“You couldn’t sleep, because Gramma didn’t tell you a bedtime story tonight, right?” May asked in a voice just above a whisper, to which he simply bobbed his head. “Come on. Let’s go inside, and I’ll tell you whichever story you want to hear tonight, okay?”

“Where did Mommy go, Gramma?” the small boy asked timidly.

May wasn’t sure what to say. How was a five-year-old child going to process the concept of abandonment? It was a fact, indeed, that her daughter had abandoned her only grandson. “Your mommy—she went on a road trip to the North Pole. She had to go tell Santa what a good little boy you’ve been and that she wanted the best-est presents sent for you this year.”

“But… but, tomorrow is Christmas,” the boy responded, raising his head to look at May. “Will she be back tomorrow?”

May smiled down at him, her sad expression had to hide. “I don’t know, sweetie. I’m not sure.” However hard she tried, May couldn’t stop the tears from escaping her eyes

“She… she isn’t coming back, is she, Gramma?”

“Sweetie…” That was all she could manage to say between her tears. Looking into his innocent, questioning eyes, May just couldn’t lie to him.

The boy sat up a bit before offering his defense. “I went into the woods, because I wanted to find that light, Gramma. Mommy said I was lying, because she couldn’t see the light, but I saw the light. You said you saw it too. How come Mommy couldn’t?”

May sniffed before wiping her tears with her free hand. “Yes, yes, honey. I can see it. It shined so brightly last night.”

The little boy gave her a look of disbelief. “It’s… I see it now, too. See there?” He pointed toward the woods to the left of the house.

May looked in that direction and offered a smile. “Oh yes, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it, honey?” When she didn’t get a response, she turned to look at him again and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“You don’t see it, do you, Gramma. The light is on the other side of the woods. You didn’t say the truth, and you said God punishes people who lie. Will God punish you?”

May pulled him closer and hugged him tightly. “I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to lie,” she responded, cradling him for a while in her arms.

“I’m crazy, like Mommy says.”

“No! No, you’re not, honey. Look at me… you are not crazy. Your mommy was wrong to say that. I know we can’t see the light you see, but I believe in you. I believe it when you say you see the light. It’s God’s way of telling us that you’re special. It must be God’s purpose to show that light to you.”

The boy furrowed his brows. “Then… Then, why didn’t God take me to it? I went to find it, Gramma, but I got lost. The light kept running away from me.”

May looked into the woods in the direction the boy had pointed, carefully choosing her words before she answered with a smile, “Maybe it’s just not the right time for you to find it. Maybe you’re meant to find it when you’re older? I guess you’ll have to wait.”

Elves After Dark Series

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