The Christmas Answer (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)
Page 6
“Okay, Mrs. Dubois, I hope you are right. I’ll get the paper work started.” The doctor left and walked down the hallway. Donna quickly turned and made her way toward Sara’s room.
* * *
Pacing back and forth, Mark waited for his wife outside Sara’s room. He was so unsure of their ability to take care of Sara at home. But then again, the woman should be able to live the rest of her life in the comfort of her home, with her kids. Everyone had that right. Mark took a deep breath. It was all in God’s hands now. He spotted Donna in the corner of his eye, hurrying down the hallway, her face lit with victory.
“Dr. Anderson is starting the paper work to discharge Sara.”
Mark blew out an ample amount of air. “That’s great, Donna. Seems that you and Sara had the same idea about her going home.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No...well, that’s not true. I guess I’m just worried about taking her out of the hospital and the responsibility that goes with that decision.”
“I’ve thought about that myself. I spoke with Dr. Anderson about having nurses come in to help. Truthfully, I had just about backed out of moving her home, because her condition has deteriorated. But, when Sara pleaded me, I just couldn’t say no. With the help of round the clock nurses, we’ll manage.”
“Good. That would make me feel more comfortable. I’m not trying to discourage you from acting upon her wishes—I understand that she wants to spend the last amount of time she has at home and I’ll do my best to help her accomplish this in any way I can.”
Donna threw her arms around Mark’s neck. “I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you.”
CHAPTER TEN
The following day, Mark and Donna worked hard to acquire a hospital bed and wheelchair from the local pharmacy store. When the children arrived home later that day, Mark and Donna sat them down. They had made the hard decision to tell the girls the truth about their mother’s health. Tears were shed by the little ones, while Christopher, saddened by the fact that there was no longer any hope, bolted out the door. Donna started after him, but Mark said to let him go—he’d come back. Daniel sat there silently, not saying a word. When Donna walked over and hugged him, he burst out crying hysterically and buried his head in Donna’s shoulder.
“Let it out, just let it out.”
Mark comforted Jessie and Lexie as they sobbed, but Mark wasn’t sure how much they really understood. After Daniel composed himself, he hugged his little sisters, promising he would always take care of them.
Everyone embraced and then washed their faces. Donna fixed some hot chocolate and was serving the steaming drinks as Christopher walked in. His face relayed his devastation over his mother’s illness and impending death. Placing her cup of hot chocolate on the coffee table, Donna walked over to Christopher and squeezed him tight. Mark followed, as did Daniel and Lexie and Jessie. They wrapped each other in a loving fold. An embrace that symbolized the future—the Dubois family.
* * *
The next morning, Donna drove to the hospital while Mark and the kids remained at the cabin. After she arrived, she went straight to Sara’s room. If possible, Sara looked even weaker than she had the previous day. Standing in the doorway, Donna closed her eyes and said a little prayer. “Lord, if we are doing the wrong thing, please let me know.”
She walked over to Sara, who looked up and removed her oxygen mask. “Home. I want to die at home.”
Donna placed the mask back over Sara’s face. “We are taking you there today, Sara. You are going to get your wish.”
Soon after, the nurses came in and began the process of unhooking the machines in Sara’s room and transferring the wires to portable machines. Sara was lifted and placed on a bed and transported to an ambulance.
Donna followed behind the emergency vehicle to Sara’s home. The kids were outside when they arrived. The paramedics vaulted from their seats, opened the back door, and proceeded to lift Sara out. They wheeled her in the cabin and then positioned her on the hospital bed that was located in the living room. After hooking Sara to the machines that were now installed by the hospital bed, the paramedics left.
Sara’s kids gathered around her bed and Sara reached out with one arm. Each child bent down and hugged her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sara went home to be with the Lord on December twentieth, eight days after she had returned to her little cabin. Through that difficult period, Donna often sat with Sara for hours and held her hand. At times, she felt Sara silently praying and would see her smile so big as she gazed toward the ceiling. Donna and Mark suspected, at those times, she was seeing Jesus.
The days after her death were a blur to Donna and Mark, who were balancing the planning of the funeral while comforting the children and helping them adjust to life without their mother.
Christopher and Daniel accompanied Donna and Mark to pick out a casket. They also picked out the tombstone and the words they wanted engraved in memory. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: Luke 6:23.
“Mom is rejoicing now, on streets of gold, Miss Donna.”
“Yes, I’m sure she is.”
The day after the funeral, Ellie unexpectedly stopped by and brought a barbecue dinner and gifts for the children. Observant of the dark circles and fatigue across Mark and Donna’s faces, Ellie sympathized with the young couple.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We’re fine. We all just need some rest and time to adjust.” Donna poured herself another cup of coffee. Ellie followed as they sat down at the table.
“I am so glad you came, but I know with Christmas in two days it had to be hard to make the trip.”
“I needed to check on you all after I received your text about Sara’s passing. What are you and Mark going to do now?”
“Well, the day after Christmas we’re going to tell the kids that we’re moving them to Nashville. We’ll look for a bigger home to suit us. I thought about staying here longer, for their sake, but I think a fresh start is best for everyone. We’ll sell the cabin and put the money aside for the boys when they are older.”
“I hope everything works out.” Ellie glanced at her watch. “I’m afraid I need to get back on the road. I have a long drive ahead.”
Donna stood with Ellie. She hugged her dear friend and the family followed her to her car. Ellie hugged Mark and the children and promised to call when she arrived in Nashville. Exhausted, they all went into the house and retired to bed.
* * *
The next morning, Mark and Donna awoke to the chatter of children and weird thumping.
Nothing could have prepared her to find a fresh cut tree in the middle of the living room. Daniel spoke up first. “Christmas is tomorrow. We needed to get our tree ready to decorate.”
“Well, let’s get busy then,” Mark replied.
“You all go ahead. I’ll start breakfast.” Donna made her way into the kitchen and in no time whipped up pancakes for the family. After they ate, she washed the dishes and then joined the gang in finishing to decorate the tree.
Once the last ornament was hung, Donna drove to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for tomorrow’s special dinner. She also selected two camouflage winter jackets, two gift certificates and a laptop for the boys and for each girl, two Barbie dolls, a doll house, Disney watches and several new outfits each. When she returned to the cabin, she found Mark and the boys target shooting outside. The girls were inside playing. She was putting the groceries away when she realized that they were finally a family—a real family.
The next morning, the girls came bouncing into the bedroom and woke Donna and Mark. They hurriedly dressed and went into the living room where the kids were hovering around the tree.
“Can we open our gifts from Santa?” Lexie pleaded with her hands folded as if she was praying that Donna would say yes.
“Of course you may open your gifts from Santa!”
A knock
on the door startled everyone. Mark was surprised to find both his and Donna’s parents standing at the threshold with their arms loaded full of presents. Donna leapt from the couch and hugged everyone, introducing the kids to each new grandparent. Donna, her mother and Mark’s mother, Madge, helped cook Christmas dinner for the family.
After the fine meal, they settled into the living room and Mark picked up the Bible that had belonged to Sara to read the Christmas story. As he opened the pages, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Kneeling down, Donna retrieved the folded note and read the words inscribed. Dear Lord, I know my time on earth is short. I have four children and no one to leave them to. Please send someone to us that will be good parents for my children. Amen.
Tears rolled down Donna’s face as she placed the paper close to her heart. For the first time in her life, she knew that she had been chosen to be an answered prayer—and what a gift she had received.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kimberly first started to write to encourage her little boy to read. After including his favorite stuffed animal in four short children's stories, she decided to tackle her life long dream of writing Christian fiction. After placing second in a writing contest, her career of being a published author became a reality. She has been blessed to be married for over two decades to her husband, Jim and they have one son, Cole. She resides in a small town, outside of Birmingham, Alabama and attends a local Baptist Church. Kimberly likes to write books that inspire and uplift people. You can contact her at kimberlybjackson.blogspot.com.