Chapter Six. #2
“Gran said that because you were protecting us at Christmas and missed it, Santa would come back when you came home. I got up today and knew you were on your way home because Santa had decorated for us again! Grandma’s making dinner, and Santa will be coming back tonight!
It’s magic, Daddy! Christmas magic! Santa wants to bring you your gifts! ” Liv spewed, and I laughed.
“That sounds fantastic,” I exclaimed. Liv wriggled to get down, and she rushed off again. “Wanna explain?” I asked Mom.
“Liv was upset thinking you’d not get a Christmas, so I informed her Santa would come back when you got home.
He knew you were protecting us, and in reward, he’d make a second trip for all soldiers who were abroad at Christmas.
Liv told all her school friends, and now most of the women on base whose man was away are doing Christmas number two! ” Mom explained.
“I just flew in, Mom; do I have time to get her presents?” I said, feeling drained but knowing I’d go back out for Liv.
“No need, Sunny. I know what she wanted, so bought it. And I thank you in advance for my gifts.” Mom grinned, and I burst into laughter.
“Fair enough. Tell me you’re making ham and turkey with all the trimmings.”
“Naturally, Sunny. What else would I be doing?”
The scene faded, and I swallowed a lump in my throat.
Margaret turned to me. “That man knew how to celebrate Christmas,” she said as she began fading. “When the clock hits one, you’ll be visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present.”
◆◆◆
I sat on my bed and blew out a deep breath.
Damn, so many memories, each had hit hard, each of which had something special attached.
I’d not forgotten them, but seeing them so clearly made a difference.
Bullet had stood in front of me, and there’d been things I’d failed to remember.
The laughter lines around his eyes, the scar by his top lip.
Now he was back with me, and I cherished that.
My phone beeped, and I looked up to see two children appear.
“I’m Janie, this is Tommy, we’re the Ghosts of Christmas Present,” Janie said.
“Didn’t we meet you in the dining room?” I asked.
“Yes, and you’re Mr Scrooge. Come on, you old miser, we’re going to make you feel Christmas again,” Janie explained and flicked my head.
Callie stood tall as she investigated the hotel's sitting room. She did not see me as I walked up to her, and I frowned. Her eyes stared through me, and I saw sadness in them. Callie was doing something she loved, investigating ghosts, and yet she was sad. I’d dimmed her enjoyment of this.
Guilt hit me hard. I’d not wanted this. She reminded me of how Mom had looked when she’d lost Bullet. Was Callie already writing me off?
“You okay?” Liv murmured to Callie, who straightened her shoulder and offered a smile. But it didn’t reach Callie’s eyes.
“Of course!” Callie said in a bright voice that was blatantly fake.
“This shit with Dad. He had never been like this before. I am not sure what’s got into him,” Liv said.
“Liv, it’s fine. If Sunny doesn’t want to celebrate with me and the little one, fine. I’ll ensure the baby never misses him at Christmas,” Callie said.
“You won’t do it alone. Gran and I will help. I don’t understand. Dad used to celebrate the other Christmas most of the years he was away,” Liv drawled as her eyes clouded with memories.
“Christmas number two?” Callie asked.
“Yes!” Liv began explaining, and I watched as emotions crossed Callie’s face. When Liv wound down, Callie offered a sad smile. Each word had been a punch in Callie’s gut.
“I guess Sunny doesn’t love me enough to do that for our family.”
“No!” Liv exclaimed, horror crossing her face.
Callie patted her arm. “Liv, it’s okay. We can make the holidays special for the baby. Hey, the REM Pod is going off, let’s concentrate on what we’re doing.”
Callie went away and walked past me.
I reached out and attempted to grab her, but my hand moved through her. That was disconcerting.
“Scrooge!” Tommy hissed.
I blinked as bright lights hit my eyes, disorienting me. I was in a hospital ward, and a sick child lay on the bed. Standing outside were a man and a woman talking to a doctor. Janie nodded for me to listen in.
“…I’m sorry. Jasper isn’t strong enough to make Christmas. We had hoped this treatment might work, but…” The doctor broke off.
The woman, Jasper’s mom, sobbed in her husband’s arms.
“Jasper wants just one more Christmas,” his dad said, sounding broken.
“I know of a place. It’s in Wyoming, in the Beartooth Mountains. All year round, it’s a Christmas Village, including Santa’s Village. It’s due to open next month. I can make a few calls and see if they can take Jasper,” the doctor said.
“Will he be well enough to travel?” the mom asked.
“Jasper is weakening fast. He has around four months left, Susan. Hopefully, the resort has space,” the doctor said.
“Please ask them, tell them we’ll pay whatever it takes. Jasper’s final dream is to have one last Christmas. Having it here, in this place, isn’t the same,” Susan begged.”
I walked away and headed back into the boys’ room. He looked about seven. No child should struggle like he was. I rubbed my face and thanked God for my blessings.
“This makes you sad,” Janie said.
“Of course. No child should suffer like that.”
“Um, you do care then?” Tommy asked.
“I’m not heartless, Tommy!” I exclaimed.
“Just mean and miserable,” Janie retorted, and I opened my mouth and snapped it shut again. I couldn’t argue. They spoke the truth.
I was transported to the Village again. I could see the lights and recognised the hotel's decor.
Simon spoke, and I turned and saw him as he walked across the floor to where Fiona sat curled up on a window seat.
“What’s up, love?” Simon asked as he sat and tucked Fiona in against him.
“Simon, I’m worried.”
“What about?”
“We started this place with good intentions. To make people’s dreams come true, to ensure dying children get one last Christmas. Have we made a mistake? I look at Sunny and Callie, and this is tearing them apart,” Fiona said sadly.
“What is happening between them is none of our concern,” Simon replied.
“Callie is looking so sad, and Sunny is so angry, grumpy, and miserable. Connor assures me Sunny is not like that. If the magic we created here can’t touch Sunny, how can it affect others?”
“Oh, love, Sunny’s an asshole. Plain and simple. It seems Callie is learning that Sunny isn’t who she thought he was. That’s a shame, but nothing to do with us. We’re not to blame, babe.”
“I feel it’s my fault,” she replied.
“It’s not. This is about Sunny and his piss-poor attitude. The man is so full of himself, he is unable to look beyond that.”
Ouch.
“Fiona. We’ve created something special. If Sunny is so blind to happiness and joy he can’t see that, that’s on him. If he wishes to wallow in misery and negativity, so be it. When he’s lost everything, and he will, because who’d want to be around him? He’ll only have himself to blame.
“Now come to bed. I’ve had an urgent phone call about a dying child. His name is Jasper, and we need to get him here as soon as possible. Poor lad only has four months to live. Just imagine the gift we can give him of a magical Christmas.”
With that, I was dismissed and back in my bedroom.
Shit. Sometimes the truth hurts.