A Christmas Story - 3. Chapter 3

The morning seemed to come early. Christmas day was a lovely day. It had snowed during the night, and the snow seemed to sparkle in the early morning sunlight, or maybe it was just the sparkle in my eyes. I quickly took a shower and got dressed, ready to make breakfast. When I got downstairs, Dave was still asleep. The blanket had fallen off, and the fire had died down. I pulled the blanket back up around Dave and added a few more logs to the fire. It didn’t take long for the fire to catch hold with the dry wood and hot embers.

I tried to be as quiet as possible as I made biscuits for breakfast. A special on Christmas morning for me was biscuits and ham. While I was putting the biscuits in the oven, I heard my name being called by Dave. Going into the living room, “Good morning, Dave, and Merry Christmas. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes, thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you also.”

Bringing in his tea, “I thought there would have been two elves down here by now.”

“They won’t be down until they wake up at their regular time. Christmas, since my wife died, was not a particularly happy time. She died on Christmas Eve, and so it’s a sad time for us. “

“I’m sorry, but I hope the love she left behind will bring cheer into their hearts. Christmas is a time of love and hope. There’s plenty of love in this house, and hope is just a matter of believing. We have biscuits and ham this morning, are you up to that, or would you want eggs, cereal, or oatmeal? I’ll fix whatever you’d like to eat.”

“I’ll have the biscuits and ham just like everyone else. I don’t like to put people out of their way.”

“It isn’t a problem. I enjoy helping people and family even more. As soon as Chad is up, I’m going to rouse the children out of bed. This is as much my Christmas as theirs.” Dave just laughed at me when I said that. It was the first time I heard him laugh.

It wasn’t too long after I started the coffee going when two arms encircled my waist, and a kiss landed on my neck. I turned into my husband’s embrace, giving him a kiss that I knew his shoes prevent his toes from curling. “You need to go and wake the children while I finish breakfast. Dave said that their Christmases were not special after his wife died. She died on Christmas Eve.”

I heard Chad go upstairs, so I went and sat on the love seat with my coffee and a fresh cup of tea for Dave. As the kids came downstairs in their robes and slippers, their eyes popped open. They weren’t sure what to make of everything. They went over to their dad and cuddled next to him. Dave just smiled and whispered something in their ears. I don’t know what he said, but whatever it was, the children couldn’t have grinned any bigger. Andrew came over to me, and Susan went to Chad. They each gave us a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Are you ready to eat?” Their heads were popping up and down. It was yes.

While Chad helped Dave into the chair and then into the kitchen, Susan and Andrew helped to set the table. I placed the basket of biscuits on the table along with slices of ham. I asked Andrew to get the butter and jams from the refrigerator and orange juice or milk, whichever they wanted. Andrew asked if he could say, Grace, we held hands while he prayed. At first, he prayed silently, and then he thanked God for taking care of him and his sister and the love of his father. He prayed for Chad and me and thanked God for leading us to this family. Lastly, he thanked God for the food we were about to eat.

I noticed Dave had tears in his eyes again, but he smiled as he looked at his children. The food must have been good because it all went. Even Dave had eaten a fair bit. I think he’s beginning to put on weight.

With Andrew and Susan’s help, we had the breakfast table cleared, dishes rinsed, and in the dishwasher. Making them a hot chocolate, tea for Dave, and coffee for Chad and me, I herded them into the living room. Dave was nestled back into this chair, and Chad was whispering to Andrew and Susan. They looked at me. I nodded and smiled. Carefully they went and took down their stocking, sitting on the floor; they began to pull things out of the stocking. Laying each item aside, they finally reached the prize. As Andrew opened his prize, he began to cry.

Similarly, Susan began to cry as she looked at the necklace. They took the gifts in their stocking over to their dad to show them what they had. Dave just smiled and said that Christmas was good because they are special. Andrew came over and gave Chad and I a hug, followed by Susan. We had to put the necklace on Susan and adjust the strap on Andrew’s watch to fit.

I believed that the children were very happy at that moment, thinking they were fortunate to have such a nice Christmas. Then Chad announced that it was the youngest child’s duty to deliver the presents which were wrapped under the tree. Susan’s eyes must have rivaled my coffee cup saucer. Andrew took her hand and offered to help her. The first package she picked up was addressed to Dad. She looked a little puzzled as she handed the package to her dad. He had a questionable look and proceeded to open the package. It was a sweater, and the gift was from Andrew. Before Andrew could say he didn’t buy it, his dad grabbed him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the head. The next package was also addressed to Dad. Susan gave him the package. When he opened it, there was a pair of very warm slippers. Yes, Dad grabbed Susan, giving her a kiss and a hug as well.

And so the morning went, with packages all stacked up in front of the children and a few more for Dave from Chad and me. Of course, there were a few for Chad, and I from Chad or I. Chad and I couldn’t have been happier as the children opened their gifts. Each gift was proudly shown to their father and then to Chad and me. I think Susan thought the best gift was the necklace followed by the books and then the clothes. Andrew loved the watch and the games followed by the clothes.

That evening, after all the gifts were put away and the children were in bed, Chad and I stood in front of our bedroom window watching the snowfall softly on the white carpet below.

“This has been the best Christmas I have ever had. I’m very happy right now and feel truly blessed. I have a wonderful husband I love more than anything; I have a family to love and care for. What more do I need.”

“I love you, Troy. My heart is yours, and now I am truly blessed to share a family with you. I think you did see an angel the other night. He was leaving us with God’s blessing. Merry Christmas, Love.”