Lawfully Gifted

by Ginny Sterling

  “Stop, you’re going to get in trouble,” she’d cautioned and asked him to flip off the police lights. People were gawking as they drove past slowly to see what was going on. He was so attentive and loving that she was really beginning to savor these practical jokes. In fact, last night had been over the top.

  Lily had come home from school after a long day. They’d finally dismissed for Christmas break and she had a pounding headache. She’d texted John to tell him that she didn’t want to go out but instead suggested staying in to cuddle and watch TV. He’d not responded, but when she pulled up to her house, she was in complete shock.

  John was out front and had just finished digging a massive hole in her front yard to plant a large pine tree. He was shirtless with a flocked Santa hat on, working up a sweat. He looked so proud of himself and held up the shovel like an Olympic torch, his breath fogging in the cool air. The smile on his face was epic as he threw down the shovel and pushed a remote in his hand. Radar was dancing around, barking beside him excitedly. The tree suddenly lit up with a myriad of Christmas lights. He ran over to the car, opened it up and put a Santa hat on her head too. The large dog jumped upwards, her front paws on the glass as if to welcome her home.

  “I’m so glad my favorite elf is home,” he announced, teeth chattering. “Aren’t you, Radar?” This started another flurry of barking, bringing her neighbor outside. The older woman smiled, and John waved merrily, shirtless and all.

  “Where’s your shirt and coat? It’s thirty degrees out!”

  “I was sweating when I was digging the hole, I didn’t get cold till a moment ago. Your kiss will warm me up,” he quickly said, and she could hear the clicking coming from his mouth.

  “Get your crazy rear-ends inside now!” Lily ordered, staring between the pine tree and her beloved man. “I swear you both will make me grey before my time.”

  “I bet you’ll be gorgeous then too.”

  “John, inside! Now!” Lily unlocked the front door and led them both inside, plucking his jacket and coat off the bush beside the door, shaking her head. He was going to catch pneumonia at this rate. She grabbed a thick quilt and wrapped it around his shoulders in an effort to warm him up. His eyes stared down at her tenderly as she rubbed his arms, trying to create a bit more heat. Glancing up, she felt herself smile at his intense look.

  “I love you more than anything,” he told her, ducking his head down and kissing her lightly. She could still feel him shivering under the blanket. Lily opened the blanket and stepped into his arms, feeling the blanket wrap around her as she placed her head against his chest.

  “I love you too,” she murmured softly. They spent the rest of the evening putting up her Christmas tree and drinking hot cocoa. She decided to get them stockings to hang off the mantle. She’d sent John’s mother a poinsettia from both of them that should be arriving in the next day or two. She’d also picked up a few gifts for John to surprise him for Christmas. This was his first one home and she wanted it to be special. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed since he’d come into it and loving John was a miracle in itself.

  * * *

  Lily stood impatiently in line at the mall. Shopping the day before Christmas Eve was simply a mistake. It was horrifically crowded, and she couldn’t stand having people bumping into her or pushing rudely. John had to work today, and she was finishing up a few last-minute things. She’d gotten stockings for her, John and Radar embroidered at a little kiosk in the center of the mall. Now, she was in line to pay for a matching set of ugly Christmas sweaters for them to wear. She thought it would be a fun tradition for them to start and dreamed of his laugh when he opened the box. He had the most beautiful laugh that made her heart light.

  John had not said a word regarding exchanging presents but she knew deep down inside that he’d not forgotten. That was something she’d learned over the last few weeks: when it came to her, there was no stopping the man. He’d do anything for her and it boggled her mind. She’d realized it when he’d planted that pine in the front yard. She’d casually made the comment the day before about how it was so cute that people decorated their trees in the front yard. He’d immediately bought a tree and decorated it with lights.

  Picking up an ornament near the register, she smiled. Our first Christmas 2015. It was simple, sweet and perfect. She’d put a photo in the opening of them in their sweaters. This was the last thing and then she was leaving. She’d already picked up a small roast to cook for them as well as some puppy snacks. That was something she adored about Radar. The massive dog would lay on the couch beside her and put her head in Lily’s lap. John always whispered ‘traitor’ to the dog, but she knew deep down inside that he loved it.

  “NOBODY MOVE!”

  Lily heard screamed from close by and immediately flinched at the voice. There was something so insidious hearing the nightmarish words aloud. Frozen, she slowly glanced around and saw the gun just on the other side of the register. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she let out a soft prayer of thanks for having the foresight to put it on silent.

  “Everybody gets down now, heads on the floor, and no one will get hurt.” Two large men began to bark orders, waving their guns at people. Lily immediately got down and her phone clattered to the floor noisily. To her it sounded so loud, but the chaos around the cashier’s stand drowned it out. People were screaming and crying as they got down onto the floor. She glanced at the phone and saw John’s text.

  Don’t go to mall-will call later

  Rolling her eyes, she cursed the timing of it all. Five minutes earlier and she’d have hightailed it out of there, leaving the precious ornament behind. Carefully, she typed “I’m here now” and hit send before the phone was brutally kicked away from her hand. She felt an explosion of pain in her hand as the boot made contact. She heard the deadly click as the gun was cocked not far from her ear. The cold tile pressed against her cheek was absolutely nothing to the chill in her blood at the sound.

  “No phones, no nothing- got it? Get your wallets out and put them on the floor beside you. Jewelry too.”

  Lily slowly nodded her head and began to pray. She prayed harder than she had ever done before, a wild scattering of thoughts. She prayed for the quick end to the robbery, she prayed for her safety and above all? She prayed for John because she knew deep down inside he was on his way like an avenging angel. Minutes seemed to drag on for hours and she saw a flashing blue glint reflecting on the chrome display case near where she lay. She locked eyes with another couple and saw that they also noticed the lights. Lily slowly put her finger up to her lips, her hand aching with the movement.

  John is coming, she prayed, pinching her eyes shut. Please God protect him! She heard voices on a megaphone and listened absently as they asked to release the hostages. The two men were trapped and now more dangerous than before.

  Lily saw hope and excitement in the other couples faces just moments before she felt someone grab her ankle in a vice grip, dragging her backwards rapidly across the floor. She bit her tongue to keep from yelping aloud. She was pulled silently back and watched John move forward in a crouched position along the edge of the register, his gun in his hand. Radar was beside him, alert, and looked beyond deadly. How had she ever thought the dog to be a simple, sweet pup?

  The two were at work, focused intently on each other.

  Eyes glued on each other and the men holding the guns, John gave a silent signal. At a sharp short whistle, Radar leaped around the register as John flew into action. Lily squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears mercifully as the dog made terrifying growls accompanied with screams, shouts and the sound of gunfire. Within seconds, there was silence.

  Cracking open an eye, she saw John sitting on top of one of the men, placing handcuffs on him. The other man lay there as another officer read him his rights and took him into possession. Radar stood beside the men, hackles raised, and teeth bared, fury barely contained. John’s blessed voice broke through the chaos.

>   “Radar! Go see Lily! Make sure our girl is okay.”

  Lily felt tears of relief tracking down her cheeks as the massive dog’s stance relaxed and she trotted over, plopping down and putting her head and legs across Lily’s lap where she sat on the floor. Radar whined, and Lily petted her ever so gently, trying not to move her hand any more than she had to. She saw boots come into view just seconds before John squatted down.

  “Sweetheart are you okay?” his voice shook as he looked her over and patted her down. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

  “My hand,” she admitted. John wrapped his arms around her and picked her up off the floor bodily.

  “Let me see it.” Lily watched as he tenderly inspected her fingers and she jerked her hand away protectively as he got close to her pinky finger. “This one hurts? What happened?” he asked, concerned, and yelled for medical over his shoulder.

  “I texted you and the guy kicked my phone out of my hand,” she told him and saw the enraged fury in his eyes on her behalf. Someone had dared hurt her and she saw the barely restrained violence within him. John and Radar were just alike. Both loveable and gentle, until called to duty.

  “I’ll break his…” he began, and she interrupted him.

  “No, stay with me. It hurts and I’m a little shaken,” she admitted and saw his expression soften noticeably. “Thank you for coming.”

  “I will always come to you,” he vowed, kissing her tenderly. “But I might be in a bit of trouble.”

  “Why?”

  “I couldn’t see straight thinking you might be in here and was ordered to stand down. My boss and I didn’t see eye to eye, but he finally gave in.”

  “You went without permission,” she said flatly, knowing John’s personality. John didn’t get in trouble, instead he was being hailed as a hero. Just outside of the exit to the mall, the media and news trucks were lined up awaiting word. They passed up several reporters and he politely offered to speak to them tomorrow once he’d taken care of his girl.

  “I wasn’t alone either. Too many people in here to wait, you know? I couldn’t take a chance on your safety. I love you too much.”

  “I knew you’d save me.”

  “Always,” he said firmly and escorted her to the car. Lily had insisted they gather her shopping bags and left money to pay for the ornament at the register. She was certainly not leaving without it now! John dutifully carried the bags as she held her hand tightly against her.

  Lily’s finger was broken, and several hours later it was splinted and set. John was fussing over her like a mother hen, making her a hot cocoa and getting her some ibuprofen when they’d returned to her home. Radar just whined until she was able to get seated on the couch with Lily. The sweet dog was beside herself with wanting to comfort her.

  They stayed with her throughout the night, John holding her against his chest as they slept on the couch, her hand laid flat against his chest as to keep from moving it. Innocent, yet necessary. She didn’t want to be alone and he’d been beside himself all evening, afraid to let her out of his sight. It ached terribly, but nothing more than she could handle. She’d not trade these precious moments with him for anything in the world right now.

  Her Christmas tree was illuminated softly in the corner, the stockings she’d bought were hung by John and the love of her life had her cradled against him. Life was good, and she felt like everything was clicking together perfectly between them. They were growing to become a family: her, John and Radar. She finally fell asleep listening to John’s heartbeat and the soft sounds of his breathing as he held her.

  Thank you, she prayed, gratefully. Thank you so very much for John.

  14

  Lily awoke late the next morning. Tonight, was Christmas Eve and she felt extremely shy that John had stayed the night. It had been completely innocent, simply more of a comfort. Neither had wanted to see the other leave for the night, and John flat out refused to leave her side in case she needed help or was in pain. It was the words he didn’t say aloud that spoke volumes.

  He’d been terrified.

  When he’d grabbed her ankle, she’d been shocked at the amount of strength John demonstrated. It had to have been adrenaline pumping through his system. She’d heard of people lifting cars during moments of abject fear, and while she was nowhere near the size of a car – she wasn’t a tiny woman either. He’d moved her like it was pulling a piece of yarn dangled across the floor for a cat to play with. It was done in such a hurry, in complete abandon, neither had time to process what was happening-it was simply guttural and raw. He felt that he had to remove her from danger, putting himself bodily in front of her in order to protect.

  Neither Radar nor John had left her side. Lily had gone to the restroom after getting home and the large dog followed her, growling when she tried to shut the door in her face. She refused to allow the dog in such during a private moment; it would have been so awkward. Instead, Radar had whined desperately at the door and pawed it for the two minutes she’d taken for herself.

  Lily felt like she needed to talk about it with him, so they could move past the ordeal, but instead he shut down, his face tight and eyes tortured.

  “Not right now, please.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, you and Radar are smothering me just a bit. I’m not going to disappear or break if I leave your sight for a moment. I need to wrap a few presents and I can’t do it if you’re looking,” she explained.

  “You don’t have to wrap anything, and you shouldn’t have bought me a gift.”

  “Did you get something for me?” she asked immediately, and saw the flush creep up into his cheeks. “Okay, then. So, yes. I bought you something and I want it to be a surprise. John, look at me,” she ordered. His distraught hazel eyes bored into her own; she lay a hand on his cheek and one over his heart.

  “I’m right here, and I’m okay because of you,” she told him softly, trying to soothe the wounded warrior in her arms. “I get that you need time to put what happened behind you, but I swear, I’m safe in my home with you. Radar barely lets me out of her sight and you’re hovering like a worried papa,” Lily caught her breath as the thought hit her mind, making her abdomen clench. He would be an amazing father someday if they were blessed with a child of their own in the future.

  “I was so scared knowing you were there,” he admitted in a tone she’d never heard before. He barely spoke the words aloud, yet they’d sounded like a shout from the heart in the silence between them. His arms wrapped around her, cradling her protectively. “I’ve seen so much out there, and you are everything good in my life. The thought of you being injured or gone,” he hesitated, swallowing hard, and she saw a tear slip past his eyelashes.

  “John, shhhh my love. I’m okay,” she whispered, kissing him softly.

  “I know. But in that moment, everything that made me want to go on living was in jeopardy and I wasn’t just defending you – I was fighting for my very life. Lily, you are the very air I breathe and the reason I even smile in this world. You are the light, my heart and soul – and I want you to be with me always.”

  “Don’t do this,” she said thickly, looking at his warm eyes. “I’m here and you don’t have to say these things to me because you want me to be here with you. I’m not going anywhere. I know that I’m supposed to be a part of your life. God guided me to you. I love you more than I’ve ever dreamed possible.”

  “And I love you. Lily, I want you to marry me. I don’t want you to push me away or even answer right now. I just want you to know that I need everything from you. Your love, your heart, your hopes and dreams – and I intend to be the man to give those things to you.” John stepped back and released her with a soft smile, nodding. “Go wrap your presents sweetheart, and I will try to keep from clinging to you all the time like a lovesick fool.”

  Stunned, she walked back to her bedroom alone where the gifts had been hidden with the wrapping paper. Instead of wrapping, she sat down on the bed, shell-shocked. He’d asked her t
o marry him and let her walk away without a word.

  15

  Lily felt like there was such an awkward silence between them. John had stayed out of her way and she’d finally gotten around to wrapping his gifts. They were awful looking because she was having such a hard time with the paper, scissors and tape with her injured right hand. She’d come out of her room and avoided eye contact with him, carefully placing the wrapped boxes under the tree. John didn’t say a word, he simply got up and went to the kitchen. She heard him opening cabinets and the fridge. Glancing in, she saw that he was preparing the roast for her.

  “Sit down and let your hand rest. I can get this.”

  Another order from her beloved soldier, she thought, but he was right. She was in no position to cut anything with her hand bandaged up like this. She sat down on the couch and propped her hand up on a throw cushion, watching him. Radar jumped on the couch next to her and shoved her nose under Lily’s hand blindly. Leaning forward, Lily propped her phone up against the candy dish she’d set out and dialed John’s mother on FaceTime.

  “Hi Martha, its Lily. Merry Christmas to you!” she began cheerfully and saw John come out of the kitchen stunned as he heard his mother’s voice. He sat down hard next to her and smiled. Lily saw his eyes water as he grinned, marveling at the technology.

  “Hey Mom, Merry Christmas. This is pretty cool, isn’t it?”

  “Your Lily is a lovely girl.”

  “Yes, she is. I wish we’d had this when we began talking when I was in Afghanistan,” John admitted, grabbing Lily’s hand and kissing it in front of his mother. He never released it, simply holding it in his own like a lifeline. He still struggled with the fact that he was starting over at times and that he wasn’t alone. He had people that cared for him, within reach. It was almost like he was afraid it was all a dream. She understood better than anyone, because she’d felt the same way when they’d met on stage.