The next morning Evie went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the girls and Josh. The image of the angel, or whatever she was sitting with her inside the cabin could not be erased from her mind. She was certain she would not tell her husband of the late night experience. He had enough trouble believing what she and the girls claimed they had seen the afternoon before.

When all had arrived at the table, the girls wanted to still talk about the beautiful girl they had seen in the forest and asked if they could go find her again. Josh became angry and told them it was all a dream and that sometimes people have the same dreams. When Sparkle continued in her whiny voice about the search, her father told her there was no time to play on the hill that day, and being it was Sunday, he had planned on a leisurely drive back to Cumberland, taking a different route to see if some of the lakes had frozen over. He was certain they hadn't, but it was a ruse to get the girls' minds off whatever silliness it was they would still not let go of.

While packing for the journey home, Evie began to think of what the strange messenger had told her the night before, alone with her downstairs. It was true, that as females, an untapped power could better be used for its healing and nurturing potential in the world. And it did seem true what she had said about the current religions of the world, often being initiated by the visitation of an "angel"—and most, as she pointed, out by a male. Yet, save the world, none of these "Messiahs" had. Being a history major at university had also further resigned her thinking that religions had become one of the key reasons of strife and discord in the world, leading to great wars and conflicts over differing ideologies—most which have persisted today in taking lives so needlessly.

During the ride home Evie sang songs with the girls keep them occupied, but she was already thinking of how she could put the angelic messenger's wishes into practice. Josh was not himself during the long drive, for he seemed still affected by his family's sudden insistence upon something that to him defied reality. It was obvious it scared him as to why they were so adamant about the bizarre occurrence.

Upon arriving home, that Sunday evening became hectic with preparations for Monday—a regular work and school day for the young family. Though incredibly busy that night, Evie found the time and energy to collect clothing the girls had outgrown and some older blankets and towels she felt they could live without. Putting these into boxes, Josh asked her what she intended to do with them.

"Remember that city center over in Courtenay where they're accepting families of Syrian refugees right now?"

"Yeah. I saw it in the papers."

"Well I just thought I could help out, that's all."

"So . . . what brought this on suddenly?"

"I don't know. There's children there, Josh. Just like ours. They could use these things, I'm sure."

"OK. Probably they could. But how are you going to get . . ."

"That's the easy part. I saw a collection box for refugees at the gas station."

"Geez . . . you women. You get these ideas in your head and . . ."

"Exactly. And things can happen from those ideas."

"I suppose. What do you mean, exactly?"

"Never mind. I'll stop by and drop off the stuff tomorrow. On the way to work."

"Be my guest, Evie. Have the girls had their baths?"

"What would the world be without mommies, Josh?"

"Yeah. Good question."

As the girls were soon in their pajamas and tucked in their beds, Evie went over and shut the door. She returned to them and sat on Pammy's bed.

"Tomorrow after school I want you girls to do a big favor?"

"To you, mommy?" Sparkle asked

"No. To some other kids. Just like you."

"But who, mommy?"

"Those children you see on TV. The ones who live in camps now."

"What do we do?"

"I want you both to pick two of your old dolls or games you don't play with so much now. We'll take them to the camp."

"That will be fun!" Sparkle said in a jubilant voice.

"It will be. I'll have a box in the car of clothes and blankets and we'll add your things for one big present. All for a family who is here from so far away."

"Nice!" added Pammy."

"You girls will learn something. That it is very special to give things to people who need them. We'll go to the camp and deliver our presents together."

Both of the girls looked at each other and smiled with excitement.

"Did you get this idea from the lady we saw in the snow, mommy?" Pammy asked.

"Was she an angel, mommy?" Sparkle weighed in.

Evie hesitated to answer either of their questions. But she realized they needed some authoritative answer. Some closure to what they had seen.

"Well, I don't know if there really are angels," she said matter-of-factly, "but I did get the feeling she wants us girls to help others. Whenever we can. And all over the world, to make it better. Do you agree with her?"

"Yes, mommy," the girls whispered in unison.

"You don't need to tell anyone of this. It will be our secret. As girls, OK?"

"Both the little mirror images of each other nodded their heads and then smiled at the prospect of carrying a such a powerful secret.

Returning to the living room, and noticing that Josh had already gone to bed, Evie switched on the television to catch up on the news from the weekend. It had been a habit of hers to stay informed ever since her studies of history in college. She had learned it was essential to see the subtle connections of the past and how they impacted so obviously to the current events of the present.

Following the world news, the program hit upon national and then local events of interest to citizens of Canada, and British Columbia more specifically. What gripped Evie so fulsomely that late evening was a local story from several communities which had reported sighting a woman, insufficiently dressed in the snow. With each of the incidents the observers claimed she soon disappeared afterward, causing alarm and concern for the young woman's well-being in the severe cold. The Canadian Mounted Police and other authorities reported they were baffled by the reports, some nine sightings in all over the course of the weekend. The events took place over the expanse of Vancouver Island and even on the other side of the strait in several small communities of greater British Columbia.

Evie could not contain her feelings that evening, and had great difficulty sleeping out the night. Upon awaking early to start the busy day, she was both convinced that all had not been a dream, and she was even more emboldened to carry out her plans with her girls.

* * *