“She is definitely not the lady who was in bed and who signed that will,” Jim Gordon said, looking at the photos.

“Yes, there was a similarity, but no way is this the lady,” Eileen Gordon agreed as she vigorously shook her head.

“Tell us the rest, Eileen,” Alvirah suggested.

“When we came downstairs the door to the parlor had swung open, and we could see an old lady sitting in that chair.” Eileen pointed to Bessie’s chair. “She didn’t turn her head, but I could see her profile-she was definitely the lady in Alvirah’s Thanksgiving pictures.”

“How much more do you need to hear, Vic, old boy?” Willy asked. “Tomorrow morning, Kate files to contest the will, the Gordons tell their story and I give it a few days before you frauds are indicted.”

“I think it’s time for us to move on,” Vic Baker said pleasantly but quickly. “Kate, because of this misunderstanding, we’ll be leaving immediately. Come, Linda. We’ll pack right away.”

“Good riddance to the two of you. I hope you go to jail,” Alvirah called after them.

You told me to bring champagne,” Monsignor Ferris said to Alvirah a few minutes later as they stood in the dining room and he popped the cork on the bottle. “1 see why.”

Sister Cordelia and Kate were both just beginning to understand what all this meant. Now I’ll never have to leave my home,” Kate gasped.

“And I won’t have to abandon my kids,” Sister Cordelia exulted. “Praise be to God.”

“And to Alvirah,” Sister Maeve Marie said, holding up her glass.

For a moment a shadow came across Monsignor Ferris’s face. “Now if only you could set things right for that missing baby and retrieve the bishop’s stolen chalice, Alvirah.”

“As Alvirah always says, ‘It ain’t over till it’s over,’ Willy said proudly. “And as I always say, my money’s on her.”

28

As promised. on Monday afternoon, Lenny picked up Stellina at her school. “Star,” he said hurriedly, “Nonna gust had a weak spell, and the doctor came. They’re sending for an ambulance. She may have to be in the hospital for a while, but she’ll be fine. I promise you.”

“Are you sure?” Stellina asked, looking searchingly into his eyes.

“You bet.”

Stellina ran ahead, and as she turned the corner she saw a stretcher being wheeled from their apartment house along the sidewalk to a waiting ambulance. Her heart pounding, she raced to it.

“Nonna, Nonna,” she cried, reaching for her beloved great-aunt.

Lilly Maldonado tried to smile. “Stellina, my heart is not so good, but they’ll make it better, and then I’ll be back. Now you must wash your hands and face, and brush your hair, and put on your Blessed Mother outfit. You can’t be late for the pageant. Then tonight, after the pageant, Daddy will bring some of your clothes to Mrs. Nunez’s; you’ll sleep at her house till I get back.”

Stellina whispered, “Nonna, Rajid, who is one of the wise men, broke the jar that was supposed to hold the myrrh. May I please, please bring my mother’s cup for him to carry in the pageant? It was a holy cup. You told me it belonged to her uncle, a priest. Please. I’ll take such good care of it. I promise.”

“We have to go, little girl,” the ambulance attendant said, tugging at Stellina’s arm, trying to get her away from the stretcher. “You can visit Nonna at St. Luke’s Hospital. It’s on 113th Street, not far from here.”

Tears came to Stellina’s eyes. “I have a prayer that I just know will come true if I bring my cup, Nonna. Please say it’s okay.”

“What is your prayer, bambina?” Lilly’s voice was heavy as the sedation the emergency crew had administered began to take effect.

“That my mother will come back,” the little girl said, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

“Ah, Stellina, bambina, if only she would come before I die. Yes, yes, take the cup, but don’t let Daddy see you. He might not let it go.”

“Oh, Nonna, thank you. I’ll come and see you tomorrow, I promise.”

Moments later, the ambulance, its siren shrieking, was gone.

“Star, we’ve got to hurry,” Lenny urged.

Home Base was festively decorated with a Christmas tree and beribboned ropes of pine. Over the weekend, some volunteers had built a platform at one end of the big upstairs room to give the effect of a stage. Another volunteer had hung ancient velvet portieres at both sides of the platform. Folding chairs had been set up for the audience, and the parents and siblings and friends of the children in the pageant were now happily pouring into the room.

Alvirah had arrived early to help Cordelia and Maeve get the children dressed for the pageant. By means of dire threats, Sister Cordelia was able to maintain reasonable order among the excited performers. At ten of four, just as they were all getting nervous about her, Stellina arrived.

Alvirah quickly took her in hand. “Did your nonna see you in your outfit?” she asked as she straightened the blue veil over Stellina’s waterfall of dark-gold hair.

“No. They took her to the hospital in an ambulance,” Stellina said quietly. “Daddy promised to take me to see her. Will she get better, Mrs. Meehan?”

“Oh, I hope so, dear. But we will help take care of you while she’s away. You know how afraid we were that we would have to close Home Base? Well, now, because of a miracle, we can keep it open-and that means we’ll see you every day after school.”

Stellina’s smile was wistful. “Oh, I’m very glad. I’m happy here.”

“Now run over there and take your place with Saint Joseph. Can I hold that bag for you?” Alvirah reached to take the plastic grocery bag Stellina was clutching.

“No, thank you. I have to give my cup to Rajid to carry. Sister Cordelia said it was all right for me to bring it. Thank you, Mrs. Meehan.”

As she scurried to where the other children were gathered, Alvirah stared after her. What is it about that child? She reminds me of someone-but who? she asked herself as she went to her seat.

The lights dimmed. It was time for the Christmas pageant to begin.

“Simply wonderful!” was the universal comment as the last notes of “All Through the Night” faded away and the applause began. Cameras flashed from all around the room as parents acted to preserve the moment. Alvirah suddenly tugged at Sister Maeve Marie’s sleeve. “Maeve, I want you to get a close-up of Stellina,” she said. “I mean several close-ups of her.”

“Sure, Alvirah,” Maeve agreed. “She was the perfect Blessed Mother. When she sang, she brought tears to my eyes. She put so much feeling into the words.”

“Yes, she did. She has music in her soul.”

A wild, crazy thought that was becoming certainty had crept into Alvirah’s head, but she didn’t want to admit it even to herself. We can try to check the birth records for a start, she thought, but oh, dear God, is it possible?

“I’ve got some good ones of her,” Maeve said a few minutes later, gingerly holding out the Polaroid photos she had taken. “They’ll be clearer once they finish developing. And I have a cute one of her and Rajid. He’s handing her silver cup back to her.”

Her silver cup? No! Her chalice! Alvirah thought. You may be wrong, she warned herself. You could be just getting carried away. But one thing at least can be proved immediately. “Maeve, if you’ve got more film, get some close-ups of that cup,” she said. “Ask Stellina to hold it up for you.”

“Alvirah, come on,” Willy called. “You’re supposed to hand me the presents to give the kids.”

“Maeve, get those close-ups and hang on to them for me,” Alvirah ordered. “Don’t let them out of your hands.”

She hurried to Willy’s side. The presents were on a table behind her. “All right, Santa, this is for José,” she announced heartily, as the young boy eagerly reached out his hands.