Chapter 38 Riggs
THIRTY-EIGHT
RIGGS
Ipocket my phone as I walk through the automatic doors of the hospital. Not where I want to spend Christmas Eve. I stayed with Dad overnight so Mom could go home and sleep. When she got back this morning, I went home for a nap. After tossing and turning all night, I collapsed on my bed instantly.
A few hours later, I have showered and am feeling somewhat better. I’m ready to soak up every moment I can with my parents before everything changes. Mom told me they were on their way back to the room, so I head there and see them as I exit the elevator on Dad’s floor.
“There’s my boy.” Dad has a smile on his face.
Mom too. I’m struggling to find mine. I have to do better for my dad, if nothing else.
I walk to them and hug Mom while Dad gives me a fist bump from his wheelchair.
Going to open his door, I see a small Christmas wreath hanging on it.
I’m glad that the staff is doing something to bring the holiday cheer to the patients.
I hold it open so Mom can wheel Dad in, and as they cross the threshold, I hear a loud gasp.
I'm not sure what’s going on, so I follow in quickly, and my heart stops.
Looking around the room, I find decorations covering every available surface. There is even a Charlie Brown tree in the corner, and twinkling lights cover the space.
“Mom, did you do this?” My answer comes quickly as I look at her and see sobs consuming her body.
It definitely wasn’t her. My eyes move to Dad, and he is beaming at me, eyes flooding with tears as well.
He points at the doorway, and that’s when I see her, my Sunshine.
Of course, it was her. She knew we would be here tomorrow.
This beautiful, thoughtful woman never ceases to amaze me.
“Merry Christmas!” I hear her and the rest of her family behind her say, as they walk into the dreary room that they transformed into something Clark Griswold would envy.
I walk straight to her, lift her in my arms, and hold her tight. No words need to be spoken as I press my forehead to hers. She has a beautiful smile on her face. “Thank you, Sunshine.”
“Anything you need, Riggs.” We are in our own little world until someone clears their throat, and we break apart to see everyone smiling back at us.
“Y’all are incredible. I can’t believe you did this for us.” My sweet mom can barely get the words out before Paige wraps her in a hug.
The rest of the evening passes quickly with a delicious dinner that Paige and Reagan prepared for everyone. We watch a Christmas movie before the Mills decide to go home, and then it is just Mom, Dad, and me.
One last Christmas with the man and woman who gave me a life full of holiday magic and memories. I promise myself I will never forget it.