“No silly, it was Mom and Dad.” Alexis crouched down and looked through the gifts.
“Hey, hey.” Peter came into the living room with coffee mugs in his hand. “No peeking at the gifts beneath the tree.” He handed Megan her coffee and placed a kiss on her lips. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Happiness wound itself around Megan’s heart.
“Good morning yourself.” She smiled up at him, remembering their evening last night. They’d sat in front of the fire at first as they waited for the kids to fall asleep, the baby monitor beside them, and talked about their hopes for the upcoming year, their thoughts on the previous year. And they talked about planning a trip in the new year, something far away, a place to put a smile on the kids’ faces after having such a hard year and difficult Christmas.
They didn’t say it, they didn’t need to, but both knew that their time with Jack was almost over. The doctors had told them last night not to expect him to last another twenty-four hours. He was ready to go home to Dottie. Jack had said as much last night to Megan and Peter as he said goodnight to them.
“When can we go see Papa?” Emma curled up on the chair with Megan and laid her head on her shoulder.
“Visiting hours don’t open until ten, honey, so we’ve got some time.” Megan laid a kiss on the top of her daughter’s head and prayed that Jack would still be there when they arrived. Let them have this last Christmas, please, she prayed.
“I finished my story,” Emma whispered.
Megan smiled. “He’s going to love it. I promise.”
There was a knock on the door and before anyone could answer it, Laurie called out a greeting.
“Merry Christmas, Taylor family.”
Alexis ran out into the hallway. “Merry Christmas…oh, what’s that?”
Laurie had sent Megan a text saying she was coming over with breakfast, something she’d done for the past three years now. She would pick up some muffins, cinnamon buns, and croissants from Jan Brewster and bring them over, and they would provide the coffee.
Laurie came into the room, a large Tupperware container in her hands.
“Wow—look at that tree.” Laurie gave Megan a wink before she handed the large container to Peter, who took it into the kitchen.
Megan waited for Emma to get up and then she followed after them.
“Jan gave me some extras for you to take into the hospital, if that’s okay?”
“She’s a sweetheart.” Megan took a peek into the container and her mouth watered. The aroma of the cinnamon buns called out to her and she reached for the plate.
“What’s the plan for today?” Laurie asked.
“Breakfast, gifts, and then over to the hospital.” Peter glanced at his watch at the same time Megan checked the clock on the microwave. They had two hours before visiting hours opened—not much time.
“So how about we do breakfast and gifts at the same time? Then you guys go shower while I get Carson dressed,” Laurie suggested.
“Can we?” Hannah was in the kitchen now, Carson still in her arms but not for long. The moment the little boy saw Laurie, he smiled and wiggled in his sister’s arms. Laurie reached out for him, and Megan noticed the little sigh of relief from Hannah as the weight in her arms disappeared.
“Can we what?” Peter asked.
“Eat and open presents at the same time.” Hannah reached for a croissant and took a bite.
By now, everyone was in the kitchen, reaching for the delicious pastries laid out on the counter.
The rest of the morning sped by with the girls opening up the few gifts beneath the tree. There were squeals of delight from the toys and dolls Emma received, to the stack of books for Hannah she’d been wanting and the skateboard for Alexis. But everyone kept an eye on the clock, aware that where they all wanted to be was at the hospital, with Jack.
While Laurie fed Carson, Megan and Peter headed upstairs to get ready.
“Did you call the hospital?” Megan had noticed Peter slipped away for a few minutes into his office, earlier.
“Jack’s awake.”
“How is Doug?” Jack’s longtime friend had cornered a piece of their hearts as well and although they knew he was dying, it would be hard to say goodbye.
“If he’s still there when we arrive, then we need to count our blessings, the nurse said.” Peter sat down on the bed and hung his head. “I don’t want to lose them and yet, it’s not fair to ask him to keep fighting, is it?”
Megan knew he was talking about Jack now. She went and laid her hand on his shoulder. “He’s fought so hard these past few months. Every time we thought he was ready to go, he stayed—for you, for Emma, for Doug. But it’s time…time to let him go.”
The agony in Peter’s eyes as he looked up at her was enough to break her heart. He wasn’t ready; even though it was time, she doubted he would ever truly be ready to say goodbye to the man who’d become a father to him.
Emma led the way through the hospital corridor, past the nurses’ station and down the hall, her sole focus on reaching Jack’s room. She didn’t hear the nurses who called out Merry Christmas to her, or some of the other residents who saw her passing their door calling her name. Megan knew why her daughter was so focused. They all knew.
Peter had been honest with the girls before they left the house, saying that there wasn’t much time.
Megan walked behind her daughter while Peter, who held Carson, and the other two girls stopped at the nurses’ station and handed them plates of baked goods from Jan.
“Papa?” Emma poked her head past the open door, hesitating for a moment as she called out his name.
Megan hated that Emma hesitated and yet she understood why. What if he didn’t respond?
“Merry Christmas, Princess.”
Jack’s voice was hoarse and weak. Megan walked in with Emma but stayed off to the side, out of view, and let her daughter go in to the man who stole her heart.
“Merry Christmas, Papa. Are you feeling okay today? Is your heart happy?”
Jack patted a spot beside him on his bed, and Emma carefully climbed up and snuggled with him.
“My heart is happy now that you’re here. I missed you.”
The weak smile on Jack’s face, the happiness that shone through the sheen of tears, had Megan crying. He knew. He knew he was dying and this was probably the last time he’d spend with Emma.
“I always miss you, Papa. But you know what?” Emma reached for his hand and entwined her small fingers with his large ones.
“What?”
“I’m never going to forget you. Ever. You’ll always be my Papa.”
Megan had to turn and wipe the tears away that ran down her face. Peter stood there at the door and when she shook her head at him, he slowly turned Hannah and Alexis away, giving Emma the time she needed with Jack. When she turned back, she glanced over at Doug, who slept.
“And you’ll always be my little girl. Always.” Jack placed a kiss on the top of Emma’s head. “Guess what?”
“What?” Emma still clutched her gift tight to her chest, unwilling to let it go.
“I’ve got something special for you and I need…I want to give it to you now. Okay? It’s in the drawer there. Be a good girl and get it for me, will you?” Jack pointed to his side table by his bed. Emma leaned down and opened the drawer and pulled out a small box wrapped with a red bow.
Megan knew what it was. She’d taken a peek inside when Jack had given it to her earlier in the year. Then, he hadn’t thought he’d be here, this Christmas, to give it to Emma.
“For me?” Emma held onto the box. Her little hands shook.
Jack nodded. “It’s a gift from your grandma and me. She…she had it made for you before she died and I…I want you to have it before…” His voice trailed off.
“Before you go to see Grandma? She probably misses you.” Emma’s lips trembled.
Megan was so proud of her little girl. She knew…knew her Papa was dying and yet she was being so strong. Was it for him?
Did she know he needed her strength, today of all days?
“Wouldn’t it be a nice Christmas gift for Grandma if you went to see her today?” Emma struggled to smile up at Jack and right then, Megan broke down. She couldn’t watch anymore, and yet, she needed to. She hated that she was intruding on this private moment but couldn’t leave. If her daughter was being strong for Jack, then Megan could be strong for her. And for Peter.
“It would be the best gift.” Jack spoke through the tears that streamed down his own face. “Open it up, sweetie.”
With meticulous care, Emma untied the bow and opened the small jewelry box. Inside was a small oval locket on a gold chain.
“This was Grandma’s,” Emma whispered. She gingerly stroked the locket as if it were a physical connection between her and the woman she’d loved so innocently.
Jack nodded. “Do you remember the story of this locket?”
Emma nodded. “Grandma got it from her mommy, right?”
Jack swallowed. “Sure did. Let’s open it up. There’s a surprise in there for you.”
Emma carefully took out the locket from the box, pried open the clasp and gasped.
“Oh Papa.” She cried out as she stared down at the opened piece of jewelry. “It’s you and Grandma. She’s beautiful.” Her hands trembled as she held it out for Jack to see.
“Your grandma, she was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen…other than you.” Jack swallowed hard before he held out his hand and Emma grabbed it.
“I have…I have a gift for you too, Papa. One I made myself. It’s a story.” Emma climbed awkwardly back onto the bed; one hand held the locket and the other her gift.
“I’m a bit tired, baby girl. Will you read it to me?”
Emma turned and placed her hand on his heart. “Is your heart tired, too, Papa?”
Jack sighed and nodded. “Very tired, honey.”
Emma sat up. “Mommy, can I read my story to Papa with everyone here?”
Megan stepped forward. “Do you want me to tell Daddy?”
Emma nodded.
As Megan went to the door, Doug woke up in a coughing fit. Megan rushed over and grabbed his water glass and forced the straw to his lips once he’d stopped coughing.
“Take a small drink, Doug. Just a small one.”
Doug didn’t say a word, but she knew from the expression on his face that he said thank you.
“Merry Christmas, Doug,” Megan whispered. She helped him lean back into his pillow and he closed his eyes, his face gaunt and pale.
“Merry Christmas, old man.” Jack watched his friend with a look of love in his eyes.
Doug couldn’t say anything but Megan caught the faint smile on his face.
“Go say hi to my Dottie mine. Tell her I’ll be there soon.” Jack breathed in deep, as deep as he could. “Wait for me, okay?” Jack choked up and held onto Emma’s hand, blinking away at the tears that pooled in his eyes.
Doug closed his eyes and smiled. Megan checked his monitor and knew he was either resting or asleep because his heart rate, while slowed, still beat.
Peter and the girls all came into the room and crowded around the bed. Peter went over and squeezed Jack’s shoulder.
“Merry Christmas, Jack,” Peter said. Jack smiled up at him and reached for his hand, squeezing back.
“You girls look so pretty, just like your mom,” Jack said to Hannah and Alexis. The girls stood there, unable to say much but they smiled at him.
“Your sister has a story to tell me and then…I think I’m ready to…” He couldn’t finish.
“To see Grandma and give her a hug. Wouldn’t that be the bestest Christmas present ever?” Emma finished for him.
Peter nodded and reached for Megan’s hand.
“The bestest,” Peter agreed.
Emma opened up her present for Jack and showed him the cover of her book. It was a large heart and on the front were the words The Tales of Emma and her Papa.
Jack reached out to the book, touching it, and gave Emma the biggest smile he could.
“Is this a story about us, little girl?”
Emma nodded.
“Are there pictures too?”
Emma opened up to the first page and showed Jack the picture she’d drawn of her room with the fairy lights.
With everyone silent, Emma read the story, retelling tales of her baking with Dottie in the kitchen, of working with Jack in his little workshop, and helping to take care of his flowers. She recounted the story of when Daisy had been her surprise gift and then she turned the page to the picture of a small tree, the same one where Dottie’s ashes were buried beneath.
“Papa, now, I want you to lie back and close your eyes, okay?” Emma placed her hands on Jack’s cheeks and gave him a small kiss.
“Emma.” Peter went to stop her but Megan squeezed his hand.
“Papa is tired, Daddy. It’s okay.”
Megan was so proud of her little girl. So proud and humbled by her strength. She was doing what no one else could…letting Jack know it was okay to go.
“Emma,” Megan said softly.
Her daughter looked up with bright eyes and Megan knew she was holding back her tears. “Finish your story for Papa, okay? Jack, we all love you.”
“Love you, Papa Jack,” Hannah and Alexis both whispered.
“Jack, thank you…for everything,” Peter managed to get out.
Jack gazed around at everyone. “I’ve lived a good life, but you all,” he paused as he looked at Emma, “you have helped to make my life worth living.” Jack’s face tightened up and it was evident for everyone to see he was in pain. He struggled to breathe—in and out, in and out—and everyone held their own breath waiting…just waiting.
“I love you, Princess,” Jack was finally able to whisper.
Emma leaned forward and placed another kiss on Jack’s lips. “I’ll always love you, Papa.”
Jack closed his eyes. “Finish your story, baby girl.”
With trembling hands, Emma picked up her book and turned to the last page. She blinked a few times before she opened her mouth.
“At the end of his days, Papa was tired and Grandma was ready for him to come home. His little girl would miss him forever but she knew he would always be watching her, protecting her, just like her grandma. Because in the end, that’s what love is all about.” By the end, Emma’s voice had dropped to a mere whisper until the only sound anyone heard in the hospital room was the steady tone of the heart monitor, first from Doug’s side of the room and then from Jack’s.
Peter let out a sob as he bent down and grabbed hold of his knees as the realization hit that both men had passed away. Hannah and Alexis stood there, silently crying, while Emma leaned down and curled up against Jack. Tears ran down her face.
So that was it. The end they’d all been dreading but knew needed to happen. Megan let out the breath she held and stepped back as the nurse came in and pulled the plug from both machines so that the sound of death couldn’t continue. She then, with a soft touch to Megan’s shoulder, left the room and closed the door quietly behind her, knowing as a family, they still were not ready to say goodbye.
Megan wasn’t sure they would ever be ready, even though they no longer had the choice.
The End
turn the page for some behind the scenes info…
Afterword
Did you cry? Please tell me you cried (or are crying). I don’t want to be the only one.
Writing that last month - the scene with Emma reading her story to Jack and saying goodbye…that had me in tears. I sat in a hotel room in the middle of the beautiful rockies during a snowstorm and bawled for almost four hours straight while trying to write that scene.
And I’ll admit, re-reading it just now, I’m crying again. Why? Jack holds such a dear place in my heart and the strength of Emma, being able to say goodbye…that did it for me.
When I first started writing Jack’s story back in Finding Emma, I was amazed at how easy it was for me to
write about him. Sometimes I create a character and sometimes the character create themselves. Jack was like that - stubborn, heart warming…a big old grumpy teddy bear. He reminds me so much of my own father and grandfather and saying goodbye to him was like saying goodbye to a member of my family.
By now, I hope you’ve read all the books in the Finding Emma series. I’m not sure if there will be more…I know a few readers have asked to know more about Mary and maybe one day her story will come to me in more depth. I would love to dive back into her world with Jack and Dottie - one day.
But for now, if you’re looking for another story to read…have you read my new Stillwater Bay series? Like with Finding Emma and The Memory Child, I dig deep into issues mothers all face in one form or another - fears, heartache, life. I hope you’ll join me in this new series and if you do, thank you for trusting me to be gentle with your heart, once again.
Steena
Want a free read?
I have two books that I offer those who sign up for my mailing list. Interested? CLICK HERE.
AN UNLIKELY RENEWAL OF LOVE under my STEENA MARIE name.
STILLWATER SHORES is the first story in my STILLWATER BAY series.
I hope you enjoy the reads! I send out emails on Fridays with my #fridayreads suggestions and then when I have a new release.
Also by Steena Holmes
MEMORY CHILD
THE MEMORY JOURNAL
STILLWATER RISING
THE WORD GAME
SAVING ABBY
ABBY’S JOURNEY
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
THE PATIENT
THE PERFECT SECRET
The Finding Emma Collection (Books 1-5) Page 18