Merry's Christmas Miracle

Chapter One

Twelve Days ‘Til Christmas

It was just under two weeks until Christmas, and Merry stood looking at her half wilted, limp Christmas tree with only three working lights left on it. The branches were heavy with the kids’ hand made dough ornaments. It was the only part of the holiday that held good memories, the only part she could even afford anymore.

Of course, the kids didn’t mind. They never seemed to complain about the fact that they didn’t get to do all the cool stuff like their friends did. Merry wasn’t sure if that made her feel better, or worse. It might have been easier to tell the kids they would have nothing much on Christmas morning if she knew they’d pitch a fit and whine.

Being a broke, single mom wasn’t for the weak.

Instead, she knew that they’d tell her it was okay. Too old for their years already, Merry felt awful when they tried to comfort her about the lack of gifts.

The other women at work spent every last extra holiday tips on gifts for their kids, but she was already juggling the electric bill, the rent that was two months late and if not for the kids, she would have already given up her cheap cell phone. There was nowhere else to squeeze money from the budget. The money just wasn’t there.

Merry sent up a small word of thanks for her endlessly patient landlord, Mrs. Coleman. If she hadn’t opened up the small apartment above her old carriage house, Merry and the kids would have had nowhere to go after her husband had died. Plus, Mrs. Coleman seemed to understand that there were going to be times when Merry had to pay her rent a little late. Or a lot late.

If only John hadn’t gone out to get her gift that night. The ache in her heart nearly took her breath away, even after three years. All of their plans for this little family, up in smoke on one horrible Christmas Eve.

Brushing those thoughts away, she held the small gifts in her hands. One for Nick, a little race car with some cheap washable markers and stickers from the dollar store that they would make cardboard race tracks for.

Merry knew his eyes would light up when he saw it, no matter how insignificant it was. He’d run over, wrapping his little arms around her neck whispering, Thank you, mommy! I love it, before racing off to play. He’d enjoy creating race track worlds with her and even his little sister for hours.

The other box was slightly bigger. A doll from the consignment store. She’d had to comb out a few tangles and clean off the marker from its face, but it looked good as new now that she’d used one of Laura’s old baby dresses to make an outfit for it.

Merry looked at the plain wrapping on the two small gifts through tears in her eyes. It just wasn’t fair. None of it was fair. The kids should have a dad. John should still be here.

A wave of anger, of regret, washed over her. She almost wished... no. She couldn’t even finish the thought, but sometimes, as much as she didn’t want to admit it...

Sometimes Merry thought it would have been so much easier if they had all been in the car that night. The semi would have just sent them all onto the next life, to Heaven, wherever. It really didn’t matter. They would all be together.

The tears flowed. It was such a horrible, awful thing to think, even though Merry knew that she didn’t mean it. She could never actually entertain such an awful idea, as much as she missed her husband.

Their children brought smiles and love to her days, enough to make her feel like she would burst from it. Merry just wished that she could give them even half the life they deserved, instead of this barely eeking by existence, in this tiny one-bedroom apartment that was basically charity from the little old lady next door. A charity that couldn’t last forever.

Merry had a niggling suspicion that the charity Mrs. Coleman offered was running out. Fast.

She whispered to John, as she often did after the kids went to bed, What are we going to do, John? I don’t know how to do this on my own. Where are we going to go when Mrs. Coleman finally sells this house? She’s been talking about it for ages. It’s bound to happen soon. She hugged the tattered throw pillow to her chest, wishing beyond anything that it was her husband she was holding instead.

It was almost surprising to her how much she still missed him. His smile, his hair, his arms around her.

Seeing his warm brown eyes in the faces of their children was bittersweet. He would have been such a good dad and instead, they had a single, stressed out, exhausted, worked too much mom.

She sank deeper into their worn overstuffed chair and sighed, feeling sorry for herself and the children. Her mind went back, as it always did, to that night three years before.

Chapter Two

Memories

Christmas had always been their favorite holiday. Christmas Eve was just for them. The kids would finally go to bed and then it was time for Merry and John to exchange their private gifts.

John had always been so excited to get her some big surprise for Christmas, even though they really didn’t have much money to spare for extras. It was a tradition of sorts, and he always got it so wrong. It had almost become a tradition of bad gifts but given with such love, she couldn’t complain.

Once the children were born, the holiday excitement just grew. John always wanted to surprise everyone, he wanted so badly to give the best presents to his little family. He worked so hard, just to be able to take care of them, that Merry could never begrudge him the money he managed to save up over the course of the year with side work just to buy things for them on Christmas.

It had been the best holiday ever, three years ago. They were at a high point in their lives, on the verge of so much wonderful change. Living in a tiny apartment that cost too much, they had been talking about buying their own home.

John had big dreams. He wanted to buy the big Victorian house on the edge of town. He’d heard that Mrs. Coleman was getting ready to sell.

Merry knew it was totally unrealistic, but as much as she tried to keep her feet on the ground, she wanted that house, too. It was like something out of a dream

John had been trying to convince her that it was a possibility for a year, but lately, he’d clammed up about it. He hadn’t mentioned it at all in months. Merry figured he’d finally gotten a reality check when they’d talked to the bank about a loan. No way was a bank going to write a mortgage for that house with the meager down payment they had saved.

John had gone quiet on the subject after that. Nothing Merry said could make him discuss it. He just said they’d revisit the idea later when he got his promotion or found a better side job. Something would work out, it always did. Merry had put the thought of their own house out of her mind. She didn’t really care, as long as she had John and the kids, they’d all be just fine. They could wait for another year or two before they bought a house. Until then, they’d just be frugal and save up.

That Christmas Eve, John was in unusually high spirits. He always loved the holiday, but this year he seemed to be even more hyped than usual.

They’d been laughing in front of the fireplace, joking about something she couldn’t even remember. It didn’t matter what they were talking about at that time. She still remembered the reflection of the flames in his eyes. The way his smile reached his eyes and turned warm when he looked at her.

He’d just turned to her and suddenly his gaze had turned from laughter to heat. He’d reached over, his fingers trailing along her jaw, sending those all too familiar tingles down her spine. Just as he was leaning in for a kiss, he’d suddenly jumped to his feet.

Oh no! He’d cried, sounding truly distressed. I can’t believe I forgot!

Merry had instantly been worried. It must be something horribly important if it interrupted that train of thought.

John, what is it? What’s wrong? Merry got to her feet, following John as he raced to the bedroom.

I have to go out for a minute, he said.

Go out? Merry came around the corner to find him sitting on the edge of the bed, putting his work boots back on. Now? It’s Christmas Eve, John.

I know, that’s why I have to go, He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling mischievously, It’s a surprise for my best friend.

She smiled, even as she hesitated, Please don’t go out. Not tonight.

Merry, you know I have to have your surprise for you on Christmas morning. It wouldn’t be the same if I waited until after the holiday rush. It’s our tradition!

John, seriously. You can’t go out. The roads are awful and it’s late. Just stay home. She used her best stalling tactics, crawling on the bed and wrapping her legs around him. I promise, I’ll make you pay for being late with my gift. You’ll owe me one.

Mmmm, John said, turning his face towards hers. I’ll owe you what, exactly? I need to know the details of this agreement.

Merry laughed. She loved that they still had fun together, teasing, laughing and still had that spark between them. She pulled him down for a kiss.

I’m sure I can think of something, she said, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Suddenly he pulled back, Merry, I need to go get this. Trust me, it will be worth it. I’ve been planning this for months. I can NOT believe that I forgot at the last minute! He sat back up, tying his boot before standing to his feet.

John, come on. It’s not that serious. Please, just come to bed with me. The kids will be up early, let’s just celebrate right now. She gave him that smile that usually melted his resolve, but he was sticking to his decision.

I’ll only be twenty minutes, promise. He said, grabbing his coat and heading for the garage.

Merry sighed, knowing that he was going to go at this point, no matter what she said. Your twenty minutes? Or actually twenty minutes? She asked with a small smile. He always took forever to go anywhere.

Actually twenty minutes. I’m meeting with someone not too far from here to pick it up. Twenty minutes. Maybe thirty at most. I promise, Mer, I’ll be right back. He planted a sweet kiss on her lips and she watched him climb into his car as the garage door went up.

A chill went down her spine, but she brushed it off. It was cold and snowing outside. Of course she got a chill.

She turned back to the house, a tiny flicker of excitement, wondering what his surprise was. He wasn’t always the greatest at surprises, but Christmas was a time of miracles, right? She would act surprised and thrilled with whatever he brought home.

It didn’t really matter, anyway. Gifts weren’t really her thing. As long as they were together, she honestly didn’t need anything else.

Besides, this was the first Christmas when both of the kids would be old enough to really get excited. She’d barely been able to get them to sleep tonight, they were so stuck on seeing Santa Claus.

She smiled as she went back to the kitchen, cleaning up a little more while she waited. It was sweet to see Christmas through the kids’ eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she believed in things like Santa or Christmas miracles.

Besides, she didn’t need miracles. She had John and the kids. That was the only miracle she needed. She puttered around, picking up, her eyes glued to the clock, counting down the minutes.

Twenty minutes came and went, Merry’s heartbeat slowing with each passing minute. Her mind racing, vacillating between worrying that something horrible had happened and being frustrated with John because he was always late. It never failed that he took longer than expected, leaving her worried to the point of tears and then he’d pop in the door and never even realize how freaked out she’d been.

Thirty minutes. The roads are pretty bad, she thought. It’s good that he’s taking his time.

Forty minutes.

An hour.

It was almost 11:00. She’d give him until then to get home, but as soon as the clock struck eleven, she was calling the police.

Her phone in hand, she stared at the door, willing him to come walking in acting like he didn’t even notice he’d been gone nearly an hour.

She’d finally gotten up the nerve to call the police, her heart sitting in her chest like a lump of coal, but they’d been too busy to deal with one frantic wife.

... there has been a huge accident on highway 51, ma’am. I can’t send anyone out to look for your husband. Merry’s heart had lurched and went cold. Ice flowed through her veins.

She’d left the phone sitting on the arm of the chair without bothering to even end the call. Pressing her head to the small window that faced the street, she’d watched through the falling snow. John’s car would come around the corner any second now.

But it hadn’t. John had been one of a dozen fatalities that night. He was never coming home.

Chapter Three

‘Tis the Season

M ama, Nick’s voice carried from the doorway of the kids’ room. Merry looked up, swallowing the memories, the pain, and her tears.

Yes, sweetie? She answered, wiping her tears on her sleeve.

"I can’t sleep. Will you tell