Love From the Ashes (19 page)

Rebecca was standing outside in the freezing weather.  She could feel her knees shaking together, but part of it had nothing to do with the fact that she was cold.  She took a breath before she finally had the courage to knock on their door.  It was only a second before the door opened and Thomas stood staring at her.  “Merry Christmas; let me grab those presents.  You really shouldn’t have.”

She smiled.  “I wished it could have been more.”  She followed him into living room as he put the gifts under the tree.  “The decorations are beautiful.”

“Thank you, but the children did most of them.”  She removed her coat and held onto it; she looked around nervously and he probably sensed her tension. 
“Oh; I can take that.  You look nice.”  If she hadn’t been listening; she didn’t figure she would have heard him.

“Thank you!”

He nodded as he put her coat into the hall closet.  “Bethany, Kari, Frankie, Joey, Judy, Rebecca’s here;” without warning the kids came barreling down the stairs and wrapped their arms around her.  She looked over and Thomas was laughing.

“Merry Christmas;” Rebecca cheerfully replied.

“Merry Christmas;” Kari replied back.  “Dad said we have to eat first; what a bummer.”

Rebecca laughed.  It was a kid’s prerogative to want to open presents first.  “Well, I’ll be sure to eat fast.”

Kari smiled.  “Okay, but he wouldn’t even let us open the presents from Santa.”

Rebecca looked at Thomas and he shrugged.  “Guilty as charged, but I thought you would enjoy that.”

She thought it was a nice gesture, but she would have never really expected from them.  “Then I better eat super fast.”  She laughed.

“Speaking of eating; the food is ready.  If you guys would like to come into the dining room;” before Rebecca could blink the kids were past her and heading towards the dining room table.

“You don’t have to tell them twice.”  She laughed as she followed Seth into the other room.

She looked around the table; there were two spots conveniently opened side by side. 
The food was already placed in the middle of the table; two candles were used as the centerpieces.  She almost felt like it was a date and they had 5 miniature chaperones.  She didn’t even notice when Bethany was clearing her throat.  She turned to her and she was smiling.  “Uh…dad?”

“Yes Bethany?”  Thomas and Rebecca turned their gazes to the direction of Bethany’s finger.  When Rebecca saw it, she could have dug a hole and crawled into it.  The last thing she wanted was
to have to kiss Thomas in front of his kids.  The mistletoe was staring back at her.  When she looked at Thomas he was looking at Bethany; she was sure it was a glare that he was pointing in her direction.  “Well…” he shrugged as he looked back at Rebecca.  “It is tradition.”

She could have strangled him, but that would have been too good for him.  While she was sure every shade of red was passing through her face she felt his finger touch her chin and his lips slowly covered hers.  She expected it to last only briefly, but it felt like it was an eternity before they parted.  She bit her lower lip as he just stared at her.  She quickly looked away and she noticed the smiles and dropped jaws of each of the children.  “Wow…” Bethany quietly replied.

She covered her face; her embarrassment was surely showing.  “Okay; moving on.”  She replied as she took a seat.  Thomas casually walked over to the table and sat down next to her.

“Would someone like to say the prayer?”  Thomas asked; she heard a bit of edginess behind his words.

“I will;” Frankie was the first to speak up.  They grabbed each other’s hands and she hoped that hers wasn’t sweating too badly.  “GOD, we thank you for this food and those who helped serve it.  We also thank you for bringing Rebecca to our table.  As daddy keeps saying; she is a blessing.”  Rebecca caught Thomas looking at her out of the corner of her eye and she smiled to herself.  It was a cute prayer; especially coming from a 5 year old.  “I promise I won’t be mad if I don’t get that bike that I asked Santa for; even though I have been especially good.  I…”

“Wrap it up.”  She heard Thomas say from beside her.

“I will be appreciative of whatever I get.  GOD Bless all of our family and friends.  Amen!”

“Amen!”  Rebecca whispered.  She then looked at Frankie.  “I think that was a very good prayer; thank you for saying it.”

She smiled proudly.  “Okay; dig in.”  Thomas rubbed his hands together.  They each grabbed a bowl and dished out the food.  They then passed it around the table.  Rebecca felt like it was an old-fashioned Christmas; everything was just perfect.

____________________

Thomas didn’t think the meal could have gone any better.  As Rebecca and he were finishing up the dishes he felt like they were one big happy family.  “I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Hm?”

He laughed.  “This kiss, I’m sorry that that was sort of thrown upon us.  I didn’t’ really give the mistletoe a thought.”  It wasn’t planned, but it was the nicest gift he was going to probably receive.”

“It was nice; don’t give it another thought.”

His ears perked up; maybe the day and evening was going to go even better than he thought it would.  “I’m also sorry about the prayer.”

She laughed and handed him the last dish.  “Which part?  The part where she started to have a conversation about what she wanted for Christmas; or the part where she said that I was a blessing?”

“Actually, I believe her exact words were… as daddy keeps saying, she’s a blessing.”  He snickered.  “That would be the part.”

Rebecca turned to him and shrugged.  “Are you sorry because she stated something that wasn’t true; or because she stated something that you didn’t want her to tell me?”

Thomas dried off his hands and cocked his head.  “Um…tough question.  I…”

“Dad, are we going to open these gifts; or not?”

Rebecca laughed.  “You’re off the hook.”

She turned away and headed into the living room.  Kari was still staring at him, waiting for an answer.  “Okay; I guess we’re done.”

She clapped her hands with glee as she ran into the living room.  “How does this work?  Do you each just open one present at a time; or do you make a mad dash to see who can finish earliest?”

“What usually works best is the oldest child gets to pass out the gifts and then one by one we open up the presents.  So, Bethany; go ahead and do your duty."

Bethany went at passing out the gifts; he saw Rebecca’s expression each time a present went to her.  Finally after she had received her 6
th
present she turned to Thomas.  “This has to be a mistake.”

“Maybe Santa Claus knew that you were spending Christmas here.”  He winked at her and shrugged.  “If it has your name on it, it’s no mistake.”

She looked down at the gifts and shook her head.  She looked confused, but pleased.  “Okay; there’s the last one.”

“We start with the youngest to oldest; so Frankie, help Judy to open her gift.”  Judy picked at the wrapping, but within a second Frankie had it unwrapped.  Judy seemed pleased with her doll that Santa had brought her so they moved on.  Joey was happy with his bat and ball; Frankie loved her Barbie accessories and Kari was already trying out her
barrettes for her hair and Bethany was in love with her makeup.  Thomas knew that was courtesy of Rebecca, but somehow he was okay with it.  Rebecca looked at him and he pointed in her direction.  “Ladies first;” she smiled as she looked at the label on the package.

“This is from Bethany.”

“I want you to know that each one of them told me what they wanted to buy you.”

She looked at the kids and then opened up the small box and looked inside.  “Bethany, it’s gorgeous.”

She pulled out the necklace and turned it in her fingers.  It was a heart shaped locket and her name was engraved on the front.  “Thank you so much.”  She leaned over and hugged her.

“Open it up; there’s something inside.”

Rebecca opened up the small clasp.  Thomas had put a picture of Bethany on one side and a picture of Rebecca on the other.  “I love it, but where did you get the picture?  Wait a minute; this is from the night of the dance.  How did you…”

He laughed.  “I have my ways.”  He had snapped a picture of her when she was in the gymnasium; it had worked out perfectly.

“I love it;” she turned to Thomas.  “Will you put it on me?

He smiled as she lifted up her hair and he clasped it around her neck.  She held onto it as he went to open his gift.  “This one is from Rebecca.  I can hardly wait to see it.”

“I didn’t know what to get you; so sorry if it’s…”

He waved away her worries and continued to open the gift. 
When he saw that it was the type of cologne he wore, he turned to her.  “Okay; this is strange.  How did you know what I wear?”

She laughed and looked away; he saw that redness appear in her cheeks again.  “Believe me; it wasn’t easy.  I spent half a day at the counter trying to figure out what he smelled like.”

The children started to laugh and then Rebecca and he joined in.  “I bet that was horrific.”

She blushed.  “You know what I meant, but it was not an easy task.”

He grinned.  “I’m impressed; most women would have just gotten a gift card.”

“I’m not most women.”

He smiled. 
Don’t I know it. 
He grinned as they continued to open the rest of the gifts.  When they were done they were mixed in with dolls, cars, shirts, perfumes, ties, jewelry, makeup, and odds and ends.  It was a thrift shops glory.  He looked around at the gifts and then to his kids.  “So, did everyone get what they wanted?”  He saw some nods and others voicing their agreement, but Frankie was just sitting in the mass of her toys and she looked gloomy.  “Frankie; what’s wrong?”

“Nothing; I told GOD I would be thankful and I am.”

“You know, there is a possibility that Santa couldn’t get the bike down the chimney.  Maybe we should check the porch.”

Her eyes got big and she stood up.  “Do you think…
?”

“He shrugged.  “Anything’s possible.  In fact, maybe we should all go look on the porch.”

Everyone jumped up and hurried to the front door.  “Oh my goodness;” Kari replied excitedly as she flung the door open.  “Look!”  There were bikes for each of the kids and they had their labels stating their names and that they were from Santa Claus.

“You’re right daddy; he left them here.”

Thomas watched as they eagerly tested out their bikes.  Rebecca wandered up to him and smiled.  “Okay; I’m confused.  Those weren’t there when I got here.  I didn’t see you leave; so, how do you explain that?”

He laughed and winked at her.  “It’s magical.  That’s all there is to it.”  He needed to make sure to thank Seth and Cassie; they were willing to take away time for their celebration to drop off the bikes.  It made the kids happy and at Christmas time, that was the important thing.

____________________

Rebecca was enjoying her time with the Campbell family.  She hated to see the day end, but it was getting late and it would be soon time to say goodnight to the
little ones.  “I probably should go.”  She replied quietly as she didn’t want to wake Judy had fallen asleep on the couch.

“I’ll walk you out.”  She
followed him to the foyer where he grabbed her coat.  He helped her with her coat and then she turned to face him.  “I had a great time today; I’m glad that you decided to spend it with us.”

“Thank you for inviting me.  Also, thank you for the gifts.  I loved each and every one of them; from the cookie cookbook to the locket; they were all special to me.”

“I know they each enjoyed picking out a gift for you.”  He stammered for a moment and then started to fidget in place.  She wondered if he had to go to the restroom.  “There is something else I have for you, but I don’t want to scare you away and I want you to really think about it.”

She stared at him.  “I don’t want it.”

His jaw dropped.  “You don’t even know…”

“You have already given me too much.  Whatever it is…please, just take it back.”

“Rebecca, you don’t understand; I…”

“I do understand and each time I am with all of you I get more attached, but I am not a part of this family; not in blood.  I don’t want you to feel you have to shower me with gifts for me to stay around.  I am here for the long haul, but one day you’ll find another woman and she could very well be the woman of your dreams.”  Her heart was breaking, because she had hoped she would be that woman.  “If you keep spoiling me, I’m bound to not let you move on.”

“Rebecca, you have this all wrong.  I want…”

“I’m sorry Thomas.  Just take it back.  I appreciate all of the gifts you have already given me, but there comes a point when it just becomes too much.  I have to go, but…Merry Christmas.”  She leaned up and kissed his cheek and
she fought the urge to hold him close to her.  “Tell the kids I said goodbye.  I’ll call later.”  She had to get out of there, before he saw what the goodbye was doing to her emotionally.  She didn’t mean the words she said, but she had to keep him at a distance, from fear that he would find someone else.  The last thing she wanted was another man in her life choosing someone else and if she let herself be venerable; that was what was bound to happen.