Chapter 18
Walt came in with Rusty right before sunset, turning down a chance to visit. “We need to be getting back before dark. The wind picked up today and blew some of the snow off the roof. I was getting concerned about having to shovel some off before the roof caved in. Instead, it looks like we will have a peaceful Christmas.”
“That sounds promising.” Jerry motioned for them to follow him to the parlor and stand by the fire. “Leanne has made up some goodies for all of you men.”
“Let me get them for you.” Leanne hurried away.
Jerry lowered his voice. “Walt, she’s still sick and running out of medicine. The day after Christmas I need one of the men to ride in and bring the doc out here.”
Walt nodded as Leanne returned with two bundles tied up to throw across the horse. “Merry Christmas to all of you.”
“Merry Christmas.” The men turned and made their way out.
Leanne turned to him with her eyes sparkling. “I can’t stand to wait much longer. I’m getting excited. I really hope you like what I have for you.”
He nudged her toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat, then we’ll see.”
Leanne had taken full doses of her medicine to make sure she got through the evening. She refused to let anything mess it up.
Watching Jerry as she sat across the table from him, she smiled in admiration, trying not to let him catch her. Every time he would start to look up, she would avert her eyes. She loved to look at him, and she felt blessed to be his.
“I see that you have on one of your new shirts. It looks good on you.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “All of this sitting around doing nothing has caused some of my buttons to burst.”
She giggled, knowing that was far from the truth, but he was far too humble to admit why he needed the new shirts.
“What’s so funny?” he teased.
“You. Don’t think I don’t notice things. The buttons that burst weren’t from sitting around, and you know it.” She blushed and looked at her plate.
She looked at him and noticed him smiling and turning a bit red. Ever since his accident, and especially over the last few months while doing strenuous exercise, his upper body had really gotten a workout. His chest, arms and shoulders bulged with nothing but muscle. She enjoyed looking at him, but mostly, she enjoyed him holding her.
“Ready for dessert?” she asked.
“No, I’m stuffed. Maybe later? I have my mind on enjoying some time with my wife, and maybe even opening a present.”
Her eyes glowed. “Give me a few minutes to put everything away and clean up.”
He nodded. “I’m a bit excited, so let me help you.” Pulling her toward him, he kissed her.
Clearing her throat as she stood straight, she mused. “That’s really nice, but it’s not helpful. At that rate, the kitchen will stay a mess.”
He mocked a pout. “Killjoy.”
It didn’t take long for them to finish everything and make their way to the parlor.
“Ladies choice, my dear. I have two surprises for you. One is wrapped, and one isn’t. Which do you want tonight?”
She scrunched up her face and thought hard. “I’ll take the wrapped one.”
“Okay. He moved and picked up a gift, handing it to her. Merry Christmas, Darling. I love you.”
She opened the small box as her eyes filled with tears, looking down at a sparkling diamond pendant encircled by a silver heart. “Oh my! This is beautiful! Thank you. I love it.”
She hugged his neck and sat on his lap for him to fasten it for her. When he clumsily succeeded to work the clasp, she turned in his lap and kissed him sweetly.
“Now, it’s your turn.” She went to the tree and pulled out a box tied with ribbon.
“I don’t get a choice of which to open?” he teased.
“Nope. I’m saving the best for last.”
She knelt beside him as he purposely took his time untying the ribbon. He could see her squirming for him to hurry, and her excitement delighted him.
“Jerry! Open it!”
“I am, I just don’t want to mess the ribbon up.”
“Don’t make me open it for you.”
He laughed and removed the ribbon, opening the lid to the box. His breath caught in his throat, and he felt as if his heart stopped. He looked at her, confused, not knowing how to react.
Finally, with a trembling hand, he pulled out a shadowbox that showcased every one of his medals, with the largest one in the center.
“Leanne, this is a most thoughtful gesture, but I can’t do this to you.”
She took his hand and held it to her face. “Jerry, I am proud of you. You earned these medals and have every right to display them. It doesn’t hurt me anymore. I know and love the man you are.”
Tears filled his eyes, and he whispered, “This means more than you’ll ever know. You have truly given me a kindness for Christmas.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you with all my heart, body and soul, and I always will.”
********************
By three in the morning, both had given up on any chance of sleep. Leanne was so excited, she couldn’t lay still. Jerry couldn’t sleep for the thoughts of how much Leanne had overcome to do such a kindness for him.
“We may as well get up, don’t you think?” he asked.
“Can we? I’ll go put the coffee on.” She jumped out of bed leaving him laughing in amusement.
The first thing she did after lighting the kitchen lamp was reach for her medicine. After swallowing the vile liquid and giving a shiver, she proceeded to build the fire and make coffee.
Hurrying back to the bedroom to dress for the day, she took time to help Jerry button his shirt. She was finding it harder by the day to keep her hands off him for long at a time. He certainly didn’t seem to mind.
They had both found the love they had so desperately needed, being able to fully trust each other, and commit their hearts completely.
When she finished dressing, her first and only word was, “Presents?”
He laughed heartily at her childlike enthusiasm. “Before breakfast?” he teased.
“Yes! Please?”
“Well, only because it’s you.” He pulled her onto his lap and rolled them into the parlor.
“Sweetheart,” he began as she stood and turned to him. “Umm, this present isn’t really a present at all. It’s just a surprise that you would have found out anyway. I sure hope you aren’t disappointed.”
She tilted her head to the side, wondering what he was talking about.
He backed his chair to the wall and reached behind the tree. “Ready?”
“Yes!”
Pushing himself from his chair, his hand revealed a cane from behind the tree. He stood straight, and with hardly a limp or tremble, he walked all the way across the room. Successfully turning on his own, he sat down on the couch exhausted.
“That’s it. That’s my big surprise. Not such a…”
She grabbed him and about squeezed him in two, squealing and crying all at once. “Oh Jerry! This is the best surprise ever! I can’t believe you kept it from me.” She continued to hug and cry tears of joy for several minutes. Kissing his cheek and drying her eyes, she stood and composed herself.
“I can say the same about my surprise for you. It’s not really a Christmas present, and you would have found out soon anyway. But I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, in fact, it will relieve you about some things.”
She reached under the tree and pulled out a box. “Please don’t take as long untying this one,” she whined.
“Okay, I promise.”
He took the box and untied the ribbon to find something soft wrapped in paper. He tore back the paper and pulled out a crocheted blanket that looked just the right size for his lap, to keep him from getting chilled as he sat in his wheelchair.
Looking at her, he smiled. “You made this for me? That was so thoughtful of you. I just hope I won’t need it much longer because I’ll be up walking around.”
The mischievous grin on her face and the way she blushed made him wonder what he was missing.
“It’s not really for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
She curled up beside him on the couch and grinned impishly. “Let me give you a hint. Maybe we should invite Fred over for an announcement.”
She could tell by the sparkle that came into his eyes when he caught on.
“We’re going to be parents? We’re going to have a baby? That’s why you’ve been sick?” He wrapped her in his arms and rocked her for a long time, whispering a prayer of thanks to the Lord.
“I’ve got to get busy! Bring my chair over so I can… No, I can get to it on my own. I have a child coming that needs me to be able to walk and run. I have to get busy making a crib and a feeding chair. I need to…”
He looked at her glowing face. Caressing it in his hands, he declared, “I need to tell you how much I love you, and thank you for not giving up on me, or us. I promise to love you and make you glad of your decision for the rest of my life. I am the most blessed man in the world.”
Six years later…
Leanne watched out the window, seeing Jerry toss the ball to their son, Jerry Jr, fondly called J.J., then take off in another direction to catch little Lucille before she wandered off again. She chuckled and shook her head as she leaned far enough to catch a glimpse of two-year-old Brock, content to sit in a mud puddle, splashing and laughing.
Looking down at her bulging belly, she patted it. “Just a couple more months and you can join this happy circus.”
She walked outside and wrapped an old towel around Brock, hoping to keep the mud from herself long enough to get him to the kitchen sink.
“Look! There’s your momma,” Jerry shouted with glee. “Ready to show her the surprise?”
The two older children shouted, “Yes!” while clapping their hands and jumping up and down.
He walked to her and kissed her cheek, taking Brock from her. “You just sit down and give us a minute.”
She wondered what he was up to now. He was the best father she could have ever wished for, but often, he indulged the children a bit too much. She never dreamed that he would have such a childlike enthusiasm, which caused her, on occasion, to have to scold him right along with the children. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Uncle Walt was almost as bad and was usually in on their shenanigans somehow.
She sat on the porch steps and heard laughter growing louder from inside the barn. A moment later, she doubled over in laughter as a goat came from the barn pulling a cart with three giggling children.
J.J. was holding a carrot dangling from a stick just beyond the goat’s reach to make him go.
Jerry grinned as he walked beside them to keep Brock from trying to escape.
Leanne waved and walked to join them. “This looks like fun!” She looked at Jerry mischievously. “You do realize you’ve cut yourself out for a lot more walking? They will keep you going until the snow comes.”
He put his arm around her. “There for a while, I thought I would never walk again. I’m so thankful, I want to walk all I can.”
When they went back to the barn, Leanne walked with them. Jerry unloaded the children, handing Brock to Leanne. He turned to the older two and reminded them that they had to help put everything away.
J.J. led the goat to the pasture before giving him the carrot he had worked for. Lucille took the harness Jerry had fashioned for the goat and hung it on a peg. Leanne was impressed.
Jerry moved the cart to a back corner, parking it beside a discarded wheelchair.
Leanne walked over and ran her hand over it. “Haven’t seen this in a long time.” She looked at him and smiled. “In a way, I miss it.”
Jerry had never been so shocked. “What?”
She adjusted Brock on her hip and put her free arm around Jerry, resting her head on his chest. “I miss being able to sit on your lap any time I wanted.”
He smiled and tipped her face up. “Sweetheart, I will make it a point to pull you on my lap often.” He kissed her forehead and glanced around at the children. “Well, if it’s not already taken.”
***************
After supper and getting the children ready for bed, they gathered in the parlor.
“Okay, young’uns,” Jerry called as everyone settled down. “What story will it be tonight?”
Brock jumped down from Leanne’s lap and ran toward the fireplace on his chubby little legs. He pointed up and turned back to them.
“Pa he-wo.”
Leanne smiled at Jerry as she watched him blush. “Yes, Brock, your pa is definitely a hero. Is that the story you want to hear?”
The children beamed and nodded in agreement.
Jerry shook his head at Leanne as he stood to get the shadow box filled with medals. “You should have never started them on this. How will they ever learn about all the great classics if this is all they hear?”
“It’s better for them to hear about a real hero, especially when it happens to be their pa.” She beamed with pride.
He sat back down, holding the box as the children clamored around him. Pointing out the medals, he told what each was for, even giving some dramatic details and adding sound effects.
They loved the part at the end where he saved the children from harm.
“One day, I will explain to you about how wonderful your ma is, and how she unselfishly had this box made for me.
“That was the best Christmas ever because I found out I was going to be a pa, and because of this special gift.” He paused and took Leanne’s hand and kissed it tenderly.
“That was the year your ma proved her love for me by giving me this kindness for Christmas.”
Find out more about Catherine and how she finally finds peace.
What is she hiding?
Why is she so miserable?
Boarding House Belles
Catherine
Coming soon!