“See, you had nothing to worry about,” Robert says as he walks towards the front door.
“I wasn’t worried,” I lie. I walk with him to greet our guests. Drake opens the trunk of the car and everyone reaches for gifts to carry into the house.
“Close your mouth, it’s rude,” Robert says. I close my mouth as I stare at all of the gifts they are carrying.
“I’m sorry we’re late,” Drake says. “We had to load up the car, and Madison didn’t know what to wear.”
Madison is wearing a red and white Christmas dress, and she has a green color ribbon barrette in her hair. Drake and Chelsea are also dressed up. Caden is wearing a black suit with a red Santa tie.
I smile and say, “You guys look nice.”
“Mommy and Daddy made me wear this ugly tie,” Caden pouts.
I smile and bend down to see him. I straighten his tie and say, “I think you look very handsome.”
“You do?” he asks.
“I do. Are you spending the night with us, too?”
“I want to, but Mommy said I had to make sure it’s still all right.”
“It is; go on inside and I’ll make sure they know you can stay.”
“Thanks, Miss Leah,” he yells over his shoulder as he runs into the house.
“Walk, Caden,” Chelsea yells after him.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
I see Madison next. I tell her, “Don’t you look beautiful!”
“Thank you,” she says, holding a small stack of gifts.
I hug her and tell her to go ahead and place them under the tree. I look at Mom and Margie in the doorway and ask, “Would you both help her?”
They both smile and open the door wide for Madison. Once Madison is inside, I walk off the porch to join Robert, Chelsea, and Drake near their car. They are still unloading gifts from the trunk.
“You didn’t need to do this.”
“We wanted to, Madison wanted to, and Caden also wanted to,” Chelsea says, laughing.
“Well, you didn’t need to. It looks like you both have big plans for this evening,” I say, taking some gifts from the trunk of the car.
“No plans. No kids on Christmas Eve so we thought we might go to dinner,” Drake says, closing the trunk of the car.
Robert looks at me and I nod. I know what he’s thinking. “You should come in and stay for awhile. It’s only friends and family,” Robert says.
“And we have more than enough food,” I add.
“I don’t know,” Chelsea says, following us into the house. Once the gifts are under the tree, I walk around and introduce them to everyone. Robert hands Chelsea a glass of wine and then hands Drake a beer, while Robert and I have eggnog. Raelynn and Madison bond quickly. Molly goes around and takes pictures with her new camera, an early Christmas gift from her husband, Adam, and her daughter, Raelynn.
Gracie is being passed around and is loving all of the attention. I have a warm and happy feeling in my chest that hasn’t been there in a long time. I don’t focus on Mom’s upcoming surgery and neither does she. I look over at her and Dad and they are both smiling and laughing. Today and tomorrow are about family and God, then we’ll focus on Mom and her surgery and on doing what we can to get her better. I talk silently to Jamie and tell her how much I miss and love her. I can feel her presence here, and I know she is watching, smiling, and laughing with all of us.
Robert cuts the turkey and places it on the table. Drake says grace and we all begin to eat. Madison and Caden come to me and Robert to help them with their plates. I look over and see Drake and Chelsea are talking to Gus and Bethany. I’m glad they decided to stay and they seem to be having a good time.
Robert and I each take a child and walk with them around the table of food. They tell us what they like and we give them some vegetables and fruit they need. I laugh when they scrunch up their noses at the broccoli salad. Broccoli tastes bitter to some people, but not everyone is able to taste the bitterness.
I take Gracie into her nursery and feed her. I miss my baby. With all of the company we have this evening, I didn’t get much time to spend with her. I think Gracie likes the alone time together as much as I do. I keep the lights off in the nursery and let the lights from the hallway illuminate her room. I play with her hair as I softly sing “Oh Holy Night” to her. Gracie looks at me the entire time I sing. Once she is done eating, we follow the laughter into the family room where the party is still going on.
I’m happy to see everyone is still having a good time. The grandparents are all sitting on the floor with Madison, Raelynn, and Caden. They are near the tree and Molly is still snapping pictures of everyone. Some are posed shots, but most of them are candid pictures. I smile and when Gracie sees the kids, she kicks and squeals. I walk over and hand Gracie to Mom so she can be a part of the fun.
“Having fun?” I ask Mom.
“I am… we all are. Best party ever.” She smiles and then sits Gracie between her legs so Gracie has support to sit up. I step away and watch them at a distance. Robert comes up beside me and hands me a glass of eggnog.
“Are you having a good time, Sweets?”
I look up at him and smile. “Best time ever, Ace.”
“Turned out to be quite a party.”
“Sure did. If someone had told me this time last year that we would have a houseful of children for Christmas, I never would have believed them.”
“Me either,” he laughs. Robert wraps his arms around me and I lean into him. “I forgot how much I missed it.”
“Me, too.”
At the party, we tell stories. Robert says, “When I was a young teenager, I started getting into trouble at school. My parents — sometimes just one but sometimes both — responded by stopping by the school when it let out and hugging and kissing me and telling me in front of the other kids how much they loved me. After I managed to avoid them a couple of times, they started taking me to school and hugging and kissing me and being lovey-dovey toward each other — parents’ public displays of affection are really embarrassing to their kids. At home they told me that if I stopped getting into trouble at school, they would stop embarrassing me in front of the other students. I stopped getting into trouble at school.”
Drake says, “When I was eight years old, I told my mom that a monster was in my closet. She told me that I was too old to believe in monsters, but I convinced her to go in my room and look in the closet. She opened the door, saw a monster, and screamed. Then she noticed that she was looking into a big mirror I had put there. Since it was evening and she was wearing curlers and face cream, she did look like a monster. When I finished laughing, she told me that she was considering dropping me off in an unfamiliar part of the city and seeing if I could find my way home.”
Drake explains how he met his wife, Chelsea: “While I was in high school, I went to a park and sat down on a bench. A girl I didn’t know sat down next to me, so I scooted over to make more room for her. She scooted over close to me, so I scooted away from her again. She scooted over close to me again. I was at the end of the bench, so I stood up. She also stood up and started talking to me. We’ve been married for ten years.”
Margie says, “When I was pregnant with Robert, I was very emotional. My husband once made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch, but he cut my sandwich wrong. I like it cut diagonally. I cried the whole time I ate the sandwich.”
Adam tells a meaningful story of a good deed. When he was young, his family had a picnic at a park. His mother fixed each member of the family a plate of fried chicken, potato salad, and baked beans, and then she fixed an additional plate. Adam thought that it was for her, but she carried the plate and a Pepsi over to a homeless man who was looking through the contents of a trash can. He turned to her and thanked her, and then he walked away with the food so he could eat it in solitude. Adam’s mother then fixed a plate for herself. Adam says, “I remember this very well because for me it was the epitome of a good deed.”
It reminds
us to be thankful for what we have and to offer our blessing to those less fortunate. It also reminds me to be kind to everyone. You never know what internal battle someone is facing that day. For example, lots of people have cancer, but you can’t tell by looking.
After dinner we all have a gift exchange. The kids all open one gift from Robert and me. They look disappointed when their gift reveals Christmas pajamas. Mom, Margie, Bethany, Jo, Molly, and Dove all bought the kids a gift that they can open tonight. Of course, their gifts aren’t clothing; they are toys. Some toys need put together and some toys need batteries. Dad, Carl, Drake, Kyle, Robert, Adam, and Walter all laugh. “The joys of Christmas,” Dad says. It’s been awhile since I had a Christmas with small children and I forget about that part. I don’t think we have extra batteries in the house. Note to self: Stock up on batteries.
Most of the gifts to Robert and me are family board games and candles. We laugh but deep down are very grateful to have them. Because we have been a childless family for a few years, our home lacks games. Walter tells a story of one year he and Margie were playing Twister in their older years and Margie threw her back out and was laid up in bed for a week. Everyone laughs but Margie. She glares at Walter and gives him the look. The look that says, “Wait until we get home.” It makes everyone laugh harder.
We dress the kids in their new Christmas pajamas and then they watch The Polar Express. Everyone helps with the cleanup but Mom and Margie. I look into the family room and they aren’t watching the movie; instead, with adoration and love they are watching the kids watch the movie. Mom is also holding and bouncing Gracie on her knee. Mom looks happy and content as does Margie and all of the kids.
When everything is cleaned up, we join the kids and watch the rest of the movie. Robert and I sit on the floor and look around the room. It feels right and normal. There isn’t enough seating so several of our guests sit on the floor. I thought everyone would leave after dinner, but they stayed. Drake and Chelsea join Robert and me, and Caden crawls onto his Mommy’s lap to finish watching the show. I’m like Mom and Margie: I watch everyone in the room. I look at Caden and see Jamie in him. It makes my heart hurt. She was his age when she died and he looks a lot like her. It’ll be interesting to see what he looks like in a few years. He’s not Jamie, but it’ll give me a glimpse of what she might have looked like as she got older.
When the movie ends, everyone leaves. Robert and I stand at the door and kiss and hug everyone as they exit the house. We thank them all for coming and for the gifts they brought us. Mom, Dad, Margie, and Walter remind us that they’ll be here early so they can see the kids open their gifts. Chelsea and Drake are the last to leave. They kiss and hug Madison and Caden before leaving. I wonder what it’s like for them to not have them on Christmas. Before Robert closes the door after them, I follow after them. “If you don’t have any plans in the morning, why don’t you guys come over here and watch the kids open their gifts?” I hear footsteps behind me and I know Robert is close.
“Thank you, but we don’t want to interrupt. We already crashed your party this evening,” Drake says.
“Really, you won’t be interrupting. I know the kids would like to have you both here and Steve, too.”
Chelsea says, “It will be the first year that Dad will miss seeing the kids opening their gifts.”
“Please, you should come and bring Steve with you. We can open gifts, have coffee, and enjoy the morning with the kids. They would like that,” Robert says as he takes a closer step to them.
“Are you sure?” Chelsea asks.
“Positive,” I say.
“Okay, sounds like fun.”
Caden, Gracie, and Madison leave cookies, milk, and sugar out for Santa and the reindeer. Madison and Caden decide they want to sleep together tonight. I carry Gracie, and Robert and I follow the kids up the stairs. Madison has her own room, but she mostly sleeps in Jamie’s room. I’m not surprised or disappointed when they walk past Madison’s room and turn into Jamie’s bedroom.
“Will you read us a bedtime story?” Caden asks.
“I have the perfect story,” Robert says. “I’ll be right back.”
The kids brush their teeth and wash up while we wait for Robert to return. Madison and Caden finish washing up and climb into bed as Robert walks into the bedroom carrying the Bible. We kiss and hug Madison and Caden and tuck them into the small twin bed that Jamie once slept in. We make sure they are covered before I sit on the small wooden desk chair and feed Gracie. Robert carefully sits on the bed and opens the Bible to Luke 2:1-20: “The Christmas Story.” This is the perfect story to read; it explains the real meaning of Christmas.
Robert reads the story and although the kids are excited about Christmas, their eyes become heavy. Gracie falls asleep during her feeding as the kids fall asleep during their story. When the story is over, we put Gracie to bed, and get the gifts and stockings and set them under the tree. Robert remembers the cookies, milk, and sugar for Santa and the reindeers. I smile as Robert eats the cookies and lets the crumbs fall onto the plate. He looks up at me, and with a mouthful full of cookies he says, “What?”
“Really? You’re going to eat those cookies?”
“It’s for the children,” he jokes.
“Always for the children.”
“Christmas is for children and adults,” Robert says. “The Christmas story is the reason for the season, but people also like Christmas for other reasons. The children like the toys they get, parents like the opportunity Christmas provides to give loved ones gifts, and many adults like the boost that Christmas gives to the economy. On Christmas Eve, shopkeepers of all religions — including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — look at their empty shelves and sing, ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus.’”
Robert
Leah and I fall asleep quickly. I dream that Leah broke up with me in my new boxing training center. Blinded by tears, I turned and walked right into a punching bag — one of the big, heavy ones that are used for practicing punches to the torso. I almost fell but put my arms around the big, round, solid punching bag. It felt good — better than a stick with boobs. This punching bag had meat on its bones. It felt so good that I kissed it and told Leah, “You’ve been replaced.” Many women get instantly jealous when their ex quickly finds a replacement. Leah turned to the punching bag and screamed, “GET YOUR OWN MAN, HOOKER!”
Weird dream. Inaccurate, too. If I ever had to choose between Leah and boxing, I would choose Leah in a New York minute. I watch Leah sleep peacefully. I kiss her and snuggle up to her. Thankfully, I am able to fall back into a dreamless sleep after resolving never again to eat cookies right before bedtime. I wonder if God was punishing me for not concentrating on the upcoming fight with Abel Kennedy.
The next morning Leah and I wake up early to shower and dress before the kids get up. “Merry Christmas,” I say as I lean in to kiss her.
She moans and pulls me closer. “Merry Christmas, Ace.”
I decide maybe I can wait a few more minutes to shower. I begin to climb on top of Leah when Gracie starts to stir. We both stop and look at the baby monitor where the noise is coming from. I will Gracie to go back to sleep. When she starts screaming, I know my time with Leah has been cut short. I let out a groan and roll off of her.
“Raincheck, Ace?”
“You betcha.” I shower first while Leah feeds Gracie.
While Leah showers I text everyone and tell them Gracie is up and the other kids will be waking up shortly. Then I set up the tripod in the corner of the family room. It takes Leah less than an hour before she enters the nursery, looking like a million dollars. Make that a billion dollars — inflation. Her hair is short and takes only a few minutes to fix. Her eyelashes are long and dark, and she needs very little makeup.
I decided to dress in a white linen button-up shirt and a pair of jeans. Leah is wearing a white sweater and a pair of jeans. She is barefoot and her toenails are painted red.
“You look beautiful.” I wa
lk over to her and kiss her.
“Thank you.”
I hear Caden whispering something to Madison and Leah looks thrilled. “They’re up, Gracie. You ready to see what Santa Claus brought you and your brother and sister?” Leah speaks in a child’s voice that makes me smile. I hope everyone gets here soon. I’m sure these kids aren’t going to want to wait for everyone to arrive here before they open their gifts.
Leah and I walk down the hallway as Caden and Madison walk out of Jamie’s bedroom. “Merry Christmas, sleepy heads,” Leah says. Gracie sees the kids and squeals and kicks.
“Did Santa come?” Caden asks excitedly.
“Merry Christmas,” Madison says.
“Santa did come. Do you want to go and see?” I ask.
“Yay, Santa came, Madison. I told you he would know where to find us.”
Leah and I follow the kids down the stairs and into the family room. The smell of cranberry and coffee fills the air and I can’t tell which smells better. I think the coffee maybe smells better, but I don’t tell Leah. I watch both kids as their eyes travel to the tree. They search beneath the tree and focus on the gifts and stockings. The stocking were too heavy to hang so we laid them under the tree instead. The kids giggle with excitement.
“Can we open them?” Madison asks.
“Let me get some coffee and I’ll call everyone to see where they are.” I look to Leah and then to the kids.
She nods to me and says to the kids, “We have to wait just a few more minutes. Your mom and dad are coming, and I think your grandpa may come, too. Why don’t you guys look under the tree for your names, but don’t open anything and I’ll be right back.”
Leah carries Gracie into the kitchen and asks, “Should I start breakfast for everyone while we wait?”
“They’re on their way.”
The doorbell rings. “Thank God,” she says.
I walk with her to the door. Madison and Caden are still searching for their gifts under the tree. I don’t think they even heard the doorbell. Leah opens the door and Mom and Dad are standing there.
“I’m sorry we’re late,” Mom says. “I wanted to get this breakfast casserole made.”
One Last Fight Page 14