by Laura Acton
She longed to scream out her agony over the pain her child endured as Dan quietly sat as Becca opened each package. Tears silently streamed down her son’s face, and the utter devastation visible in his eyes pierced her heart.
Yvonne tried to hold him and explain, but he would not hear it, pulled away, and returned to his sleeping quarters to pack the meager belongings brought with him. His words that he didn’t expect any gifts, utterly crushed her. It took all of her inner strength not to collapse and bawl her eyes out.
She kept fighting her emotions, afraid that any show of weakness on her part might intensify Becca’s insecurities. Her little girl’s world had been rocked to the core along with the rest of them, but she was too young to understand and cope with the emotional loss of both siblings.
The lost presents couldn’t have happened at a worse time. It sealed in Dan’s head he was not wanted, and they no longer loved him—his twisted reality was so far from the truth. Yvonne wished they had been able to spend more time together that day. Perhaps she might have helped Danny understand. But they didn’t and she couldn’t because William’s duties required him at the base.
They debated leaving Dan with her, but with the foul weather, Dan needed to travel with William or Danny might be stranded in a strange place alone until it cleared. If there were two days Yvonne could change, it would be the day Sara died and Dan’s ninth Christmas. Both days shattered her heart.
She gazed at William and made a decision. “Dan may have to work today, but I can’t go another year without seeing him on Christmas. I want to drive or fly to Toronto this afternoon. I want to surprise Dan after work. I can make him dinner, and we can be there when he opens his gifts.”
William pulled Yvonne into his arms, hugging her close after witnessing the lingering sorrow which filled her eyes every Christmas since their beautiful little girl died. “Yes, we can do that. The family will understand us going to Daniel. I can charter a plane and ask Zach to fly anyone who wants to go down to visit Daniel with us. And if Zach can’t do it, I’m certain Mike would be willing to pilot the plane.”
Yvonne shook her head. “No, not Mike. He rarely has a chance to spend time with his family. I wouldn’t want to pull him away from them today.”
“Then Zach it is. We can do something special for him in return. Perhaps I can speak to his CO and extend his leave. Connie would like that.”
Yvonne smiled as her heart lightened. “Yes, she would love that.” She finished dressing, eager to talk to Becca about the change in plans.
General Broderick’s Home – Library – 5:50 a.m.
Becca rushed in and closed the doors behind her as she whispered, “Operation Merry Surprise is a go.” She beamed seeing everyone standing or sitting by the tree. Her eyes scanned, confused. “Where’s Dan?”
Everyone pointed to a wingback chair.
Becca walked around it worried he might not be feeling well. “Why are you sitting there? Come stand next to me.”
Shaking his head, Dan handed Becca a small pony. “Hold this.”
“Dan you’re weird. Why would I want to hold a child’s toy?” Becca scoffed.
“You’ll see. Just please do it and don’t say a word that I’m here. Got it?” Dan said. Then he added, “I’ll explain later.”
Becca took the pink pony and joined the rest of the family. She didn’t understand why but there was something in Dan’s eyes which told her this was important to him, so she did it. Plus, he said he would explain.
Five minutes later the library door opened and William and Yvonne walked in. They took two steps in and stopped in their tracks as everyone said in unison, “Merry Christmas.”
Yvonne’s hand flew to cover her mouth as she leaned into William who instantly put his arm around Yvonne to steady her. Not that he was any too steady himself. Their shocked and surprised eyes gazed at the whole extended family gathered around the decorated evergreen.
Mark and Kimberly, arm-in-arm and smiling, were positioned near their four adult children Tiffany, Pamela, Ashley, and Jeff. Tiffany’s husband Anthony Jones and their two offspring David and Abigail sat on the floor in front of them. Pamela’s spouse Riley Banner and their three kids, Carol, Joss, and Wendy beamed happily from their spot on an ottoman. Landon Taylor’s arms encircled Ashley’s waist, as she hugged their only child Diana.
Erik and Ann stood with Scott, Vicky, Amelia, Kyle, and Scott’s wife, Lily. Derek McKnight, Vicky’s husband, held their youngest, two-year-old Tony. Their four-year-old twins Caleb and Courtney sat cross-legged on the carpet with Amelia’s husband, Christopher Pendgraft.
Ryan and Connie stood next to their sons Adam and Zach.
Yvonne’s and William’s eyes scanned all and stopped on Becca noting she clutched a stuffed pony. The plush animal was exactly like the one she received her first Christmas when she was only an infant.
William started forward with Yvonne as he gazed lovingly at Becca. He found his voice first and said with a little disbelief, “Becca, you did all this?”
Becca shook her head. “No, not me. I’m just an elf. Santa arranged this little surprise.”
Yvonne’s eyes teared up, overwhelmed by the family’s love. “Oh, my! Everyone is here. This is such a lovely surprise.”
Then she turned her head into William’s shoulder when she couldn’t stop the little sob. Not everyone. Almost everyone, but not Dan. Not the one I miss the most. The one my heart desires to be with this Christmas.
William rubbed Yvonne’s back and pulled her towards Ann. Her twin sister would soothe Yvonne. He completely understood Yvonne’s reaction—her thoughts precisely aligned with his—one was missing. Some might say two, but William carried Sara in his heart everywhere, so she was here in spirit. However, Daniel was not here and should be. He should’ve insisted Walter give the team the day off so Daniel could come.
Ann reached out to Yvonne and held her, recognizing her emotions had swamped her—a rare thing for Yvonne. After a few moments, smiling warmly, Ann caressed Yvonne’s cheek and gently wiped the tears which were a mix of happiness and sadness. She loved her sister so very much. Yvonne endured too much over the years.
She was about to make Yvonne extremely happy. Softly, Ann spoke the words Dan asked her to say, “I want you to turn around. Santa brought you something else.”
Yvonne’s heart skipped a beat. Those words were etched in her memory. She turned rounded eyes to gape at William.
William squeezed Yvonne’s hand at Ann’s words. That phrase forever burned into his memory.
As the entire Broderick clan looked on with huge smiles, William and Yvonne slowly turned towards the wingback chair. Yvonne gasped. William stared as years slipped away and a vision of himself in that chair seized his mind as he gazed at his beloved son.
Wearing a Cheshire cat grin and a Santa hat, tilted to cover his bruise, Dan said, “Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. I caught a ride in Santa’s sleigh.”
Yvonne’s face dissolved in joyful tears as she rushed toward Dan with her arms wide open. “Oh, Danny! My beautiful boy. You found a path home.”
William moved forward with Yvonne, a broad grin plastered on his face as he chuckled at Daniel’s comment. “Son!”
Embraced in a death hug by his parents, Dan felt not the slightest twinge of pain, though he teared up as the flicking warm firelight reflected glistening eyes. Home is where the heart is, and my heart’s right here.
Yvonne wiped her eyes, not wanting to release her hold on Danny. “This is the best Christmas present ever!” Her face morphed into one of dread as she sucked in a shaky breath. “Oh no, not again!” Her gaze shifted to William showing panic before going back to Dan’s. Her voice lost all composure. “Your gifts! I sent them to your apartment. I have nothing for you here.”
Becca piped up, “Mom, chill. They’re here. I didn’t mail them as you requested since I was in on Dan’s plans. I hid them from you, and now they’re under the tree with everyone else’s gifts.”
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nbsp; Relief washed through Yvonne as she rushed over to Becca and hugged her mightily. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
Becca stared at her father over her mother’s shoulder as the stuffing was squeezed from her. Mom was quite emotional, and Becca didn’t fully understand why. Her father’s demeanor mirrored Mom’s, but on a scale of ten, Dad’s was a five and Mom’s had been a thousand.
Dan’s hand went to his hat, checking its position. For a brief second Mom’s reaction made him think perhaps the cap failed to cover his bruise, but her words drove home how severely his first Christmas after Sara’s death wounded her. He glimpsed the general’s emotion too.
Seeing Becca’s utter confusion, he realized he needed to explain the part about the pink pony he gave her—his missing gifts nineteen years ago didn’t need ever to be shared with Becca. “That pony is a replica of the one you received the year Dad surprised us by coming home. That was the best Christmas ever. I wanted you to have one because Sara loved you so much she specifically asked Santa to bring you a stuffed pony.”
He chuckled. “Well actually, Sara wanted to request a bike for you so you could ride with us. I had to tell her you were too young. She did eventually figure out a way for you to go riding with us. I’ll tell you about that later.”
A lump formed in Becca’s throat as she gazed at the pony. No one ever talked about Sara—like she didn’t exist—but Dan had just spoken about her. And more than that, he gave her something tied to a memory of Sara. A remembrance Becca could hold of a sister she knew only through pictures.
Becca’s sapphire eyes pooled with tears as she encircled her brother with care, cognizant this time of his injuries. “Danny, I’ll treasure this always. Thank you for sharing something about Sara.”
William and Yvonne enfolded Dan and Becca in an embrace. Nary a dry eye among those who understood the significance as they bore witness to four souls healing old wounds and moving down a new path.
Ann blinked as her tears spilled and she leaned into Erik. “Dan did well.”
Erik nodded as he wiped rare tears from his eyes. “Yes, yes, he did.”
In short order the children started clamoring to open gifts, it was Christmas after all and Santa had come. Chairs were positioned by the guys, and Dan ended up on the couch between his parents. His uncles took over handing out the massive number of gaily wrapped gifts. Aunt Ann turned on the stereo and carols added a soft background to the happy laughter.
Dan gaped at the ever-growing pile of presents at his feet. What impacted him most was not the material offerings, but the thought behind them and the hugs and smiles sent his way as everyone enjoyed the morning.
An hour later, a soft sigh sounded in Dan’s ear as he covered himself in the yellow and blue afghan his mother had knitted for him. He twisted to his right seeking the source, but his mother had gone to grab him and his dad a cup of coffee. He felt warmth beyond what the soft yarn would provide. He turned to his left when a tinkle of a laugh filtered in.
William grinned at Daniel when he looked in his direction. His voice soft so as not to carry to the others, he said, “Sara’s happy today.”
Dan’s smile grew as he recalled the one shining moment of the horrific day he was shot. The moment when the frayed and nearly severed thread of connection between him and his father strengthened and began to repair—the instant they both heard Sara’s laughter. “I hear her laughing too, Dad.”
Sara beamed luminously at Brody. “They heard me.” She snuggled up to her daddy, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Brody sat next to Dan and slung an arm over Danny’s shoulder. “Yes, Poppet, they did. Danny always hears you in his heart if not via his ears.”
Courtney played with her dolly near her mom. She turned and smiled at her granduncle and new uncle. She tugged on her mommy’s sleeve.
Vicky stopped and peered down at Courtney. “Yes, love?”
“Mommy, who dat golden girl?” Courtney asked as she saw a golden-haired little girl sitting on Granduncle William’s lap and a glowing man with beautiful, full wings with his arm around Uncle Danny.
Bemused by her daughter’s question, Vicky asked, “Where?”
Courtney pointed to the couch. “Over dere. Can I go pway with her?”
Vicky stared at Dan and Uncle Will. They were grinning and conversing in low tones. She was about to ask Courtney again what she was talking about but her son Caleb popped over, and the two kids raced off together. A flicker of a thought made Vicky smile and her heart warm. Sara, it has to be Sara. Merry Christmas, sweet girl. Your Danny is finally home where he belongs.
Risqué Call, Fantastic, and Snowball War
61
December 25
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Room – 8:00 a.m.
Gazing around his childhood room, sounds of family downstairs filtered in—kids and adults laughing. Over the past two hours, tons of paper had been ripped and scattered with ribbons and bows as squeals of delight and exclaims of ‘I wanted this’ and ‘thank you’ rang out jubilantly filling Dan’s heart with the spirit of giving. Scrooge was banished … this Christmas morning became the jolliest in a long time.
Last year at Bram’s he was grateful to be allowed to share in their joy as if looking in through a window and then pulled in from the cold into a compassionate and warm embrace. Though he enjoyed his time with the De Haven family, it was bittersweet and only a substitution for what he longed for … something he had once known in abundance. The words, careful what you wish for, came to mind as he strolled over to his bed, picked up his stuffed tiger, and lay down, seeking a moment of solitude.
In the quiet of his room, one that still held the appearance and contents of his ninth year, Dan released a shaky breath. Home. He clutched Hobbes close to him, wincing as the pressure on his chest increased. Easing his grip, and discomfort, his mind conjured up the image of his mother.
Her lovely emerald eyes alight with pure bliss—as if him being here created heaven on earth for her. Mom’s gaze spoke directly to him, and his heart grew tenfold the moment she rushed to embrace him. Years of pain and scars on his soul faded as she held him in her arms. Mom always loved me.
An apparition of sapphire eyes, like those staring back at him every morning in the mirror but belonging to his father, joined the vision of Mom. The single word exclamation of ‘son’ held a wealth of emotion, irrefutably communicating to Dan what his tattered heart and soul yearned to acknowledge for years. Son! I’m his son. He wants me. My dad loves me.
Other images of all his family swirled in his head. The euphoria brought on by the outpouring of love seeped into every pore, filling the void which existed for so many years. His eyes landed on a picture which was not in here the last time he visited. He rose, putting his tiger down as he moved to the shelf over his desk.
His breath caught as he surveyed the photo and focused on the most beautiful woman he had ever met. His beauty of life. Lexa. Where did mom get this photo of Alpha Team? Harriet Gambrill probably sent her a copy.
He studied each member while recalling the team picnic. A fun day. The team delayed their annual summer picnic until November seventeenth, the day after he officially returned to TRF. The day was cold and crisp, but full of friends and food as they celebrated my return. The only tiny drawback was the location. I didn’t like being near Lake Ontario, especially when Allie ventured close to the edge and begged me to dip his toes in the water with her. Hiding my fear was difficult, and I hated disappointing Allie, but me and water don’t mix.
Dan’s eyes lit with humor recognizing Jon held a football like a trophy. He chuckled. A game of touch football became highly competitive as he and Jon squared off as rival captains—he, Bram, Loki, and Boss, against Jon, Ray, Lexa, and Kent. Might’ve been touch, but I enjoyed tackling Lexa.
The move lost his team the game, a penalty called, but worth holding her for a few moments. Though, Loki did pout about losing to Ray for most of the after
noon. Bram took the loss in stride and laughed at Jon when his friend gloated over the win. Boss in his typical manner smiled and said he enjoyed playing regardless of who won—because they all won with Dan returning.
Family. I’m blessed having so much family. A desire to create a life, a future, with Lexa surged forth. The image of her beckoning him into a cozy cottage, just the two of them, secluded, no cares of the outside world intruding, no secrets to hide, being able to love her openly called to his soul. Someday. Just be patient. Don’t scare her off.
His hand went to his pocket and removed his phone dismissing his conscious thought of patience. His inner desire overriding rational thinking, Dan dial a number as he returned to his bed, sat down, picked up Hobbes, scooted up to the headboard, and stared at Sexy Lexie. Her gorgeous auburn hair down and a little mussed up after the football game framed her delicate face as the golden flecks in her hazel eyes danced with reflected sun. His voice husky with emotion, he said, “Morning, Lexa. Merry Christmas.”
Having raced to grab her phone after taking a long relaxing shower, Lexa hadn’t even looked at the caller ID. Dan’s voice paused her heart. She sank down on the edge of her lonely, unmade bed as she pulled his pillow to her. Whoa! His? Her face broke into a huge smile. Yes, his! “Merry Christmas. I didn’t expect you to call today. Everything alright?”
“Yeah, all amazing. I’m not bothering you, am I?” Dan hugged the tiger wishing it was Lexa.
“No. Just finished showering. Slow morning, slept in.” Lexa’s hand traced circles on the pillow imagining it was Dan’s chest.
“You still going over to Loki’s today?”
“Yeah, for dinner, but I’m having lunch with Bram, Kellie, and the girls. How’s your surprise working out?”