The Christmas List (23 page)

Kier pulled out his cell phone and dialed Jimmy's number but it went right to voice mail. “Do you have a number for Juliet?”

“I might.” She walked over to the refrigerator and ran her finger down a list of names and numbers. “Here it is.”

Kier looked at the number and dialed. A young female voice answered. “Hello?”

“Juliet, this is James, Jimmy's father. Is Jimmy with you?”

“He's talking to my dad. Is something wrong?”

“I need to talk to him right away.”

“I'll get him.” He heard her say, “It's your father.”

Jimmy's voice was cautious. “Hello?”

“You need to come home. Right away.”

“We're on our way.”

Kier turned to the nurse. “Have you heard from her sister?”

“Ms. Beth is still out of town. Would you like me to call?”

“Please.”

Kier walked down the hallway to Sara's room. He could hear the quiet hiss of the oxygen apparatus. He gently opened the door and looked inside. Sara's eyes were closed. He went in and sat in the chair next to her and took her hand.

“Hey, beautiful.”

She smiled at the sound of his voice though she didn't open her eyes. She said weakly, “Hi.”

“Merry Christmas.” He kissed her cheek.

“I didn't get you anything,” she said.

“Not even coal?”

“You're not a bad boy.”

“You gave me everything I wanted.”

She opened her eyes and looked into his.

Kier ran the back of his hand gently over her cheek. “You never stopped believing in me, did you?”

“I never stopped loving you.”

He rubbed her hand. “How are you feeling?”

She didn't answer but closed her eyes again and swallowed. Tears ran down her cheeks. Kier couldn't hold back his own.

“I'm sorry I can't stop this,” she said. “I'm so sorry.”

He took a tissue from the nightstand and wiped the tears from her face. “I'm just sorry I wasted all that time.” They were both silent for a moment. He took her hand and gently ran his fingers down hers. “Are you afraid?”

“A little.”

“Just think of all the people who will be waiting for you. It will be like a Who concert. They'll have to take tickets.”

Her laugh erupted into a cough.

“. . . me, on the other hand.”

“I'll be waiting,” she said.

“I doubt they'll let you in where I'm going.”

“Remember how I used to sneak into your room without your dad knowing?”

Kier smiled in recollection. “How could I forget that?” He gently ran his finger over her lips. “With you there, it wouldn't be hell.”

“Without you, it wouldn't be heaven.”

He lay his head on her shoulder and she kissed the top of his head. For nearly twenty minutes they sat until the silence was broken by the doorbell. A moment later the nurse entered. She had a bemused expression on her face. “Mr. Kier?”

“Yes?” he said without looking up.

“There's a delivery . . .”

“Tell them I'll be right out.”

She left.

“A delivery?” Sara asked.

“Remember what you said at your mother's funeral?”

“I said a lot of things.”

“Yes. You said, ‘It's a shame that people give flowers too late.' I'll be right back.” He walked outside the room and a moment later he came back in carrying a large bouquet of daisies. He set them on the nightstand next to her.

“I love daisies.”

“I know.”

“They're beautiful.”

“I'm glad you approve, because I got you a few of them.” He turned toward the door and said, “Bring them in.”

A man walked in with a cart of flowers; he was followed by another, then still another. Sara's smile broadened. “What did you do?”

“I think I bought up every daisy in the city. Probably the state. A thousand should be enough.”

“You bought me a thousand daisies?”

“Yes.”

“You're crazy.” Her delighted smile belied her words.

He smiled at her. “I've been called worse.”

She kept smiling as the men came and went, filling the room with flowers. “I don't think the room will hold them all.”

“We'll see.”

“How did you get someone to do this on Christmas Eve?”

“Money's good for some things.”

“They'll be nice at my funeral.”

Kier's smile fell. “Don't say that. Please.”

The flowers covered nearly every available surface in the room. Sara held his hand as tightly as she could.

“What do you need from me?” Kier asked.

“Take care of our boy.”

“I will. I promise.”

“He's a good boy.”

“I know. You did a good job with him. I'll take good care of him. Not as good as you did, but I'll do my best. I'll get myself a little bracelet that says WWSD?”

“WWSD?”

“What Would Sara Do?”

She smiled. “No, please don't do that.”

“I might. It's a good reminder for a lot of things.” He pressed his cheek against hers. “I love you.”

“I know. That's all I really wanted for Christmas.”

By ten o'clock Sara's pain had clearly grown more intense. Kier couldn't stand watching her suffer.

“The nurse will give you more medication.”

“No,” Sara said, “not until Jimmy gets here.”

Jimmy and Juliet arrived a little before eleven. Jimmy went straight to Sara's side, his face tight with anxiety. Juliet stopped and looked around at all the flowers. “Oh my. They're beautiful.”

Sara looked lovingly at her son and took his hand. “I'm sorry I let you down, darling, I tried to make it to your wedding.”

“Mom, you've never let me down.” He started to cry. “You've never let me down. You've always been there for me. I love you.”

“I love you, Jimmy. I need you to trust me now. I need you to promise me two things.”

“Anything.”

“First.” She stopped, letting a wave of nausea pass. “First, give your father a chance. Open your heart to him. Promise me.”

He looked at his father, then back at her. “I promise.”

“Good,” she said with relief. “Good. Now where is Juliet?”

Juliet was leaning against Jimmy. She stepped forward, grasping Sara's hand. “I'm here, Mom.”

Sara took Juliet's hand. “Promise me that you won't delay your wedding. I will be there, you just won't see me.”

Juliet looked at Jimmy, both of them in tears.

“We promise,” Jimmy said.

“We promise,” Juliet echoed.

Sara exhaled. “Thank you.” She grimaced with pain. Kier squeezed her hand, then went out and got the nurse. She came in carrying a bottle filled with amber liquid and placed a few drops under Sara's tongue. She checked her blood pressure then left the room. Sara's eyes closed and her face relaxed as the drug took effect. The three of them sat next to Sara, keeping a silent vigil. At midnight the grandfather clock in the home's lobby chimed. Kier said, “Merry Christmas, my love.”

Sara's eyes fluttered opened. She looked around the room as if trying to remember where she was. Then she spoke softly. “Is it Christmas?”

“Yes.”

Her words came slow and slurred, but still distinguishable. “We made it.”

Kier struggled to control his voice. “Happy twenty-fifth anniversary.”

Sara smiled. A few minutes later she fell asleep and her breathing became shallower. At 1:47 she opened her eyes, and looked up into the corner of the room. She said, “Mom.”

All three of them looked to where she gazed, but saw nothing. They knew it would be soon.

Kier held her hand tightly, as if he could keep her with him by force of will. Just before she went her eyes opened once more and she looked at him. She held his hand with the last of her strength, then her grip relaxed. Kier leaned over and kissed her forehead. Then he dropped his head to her breast and wept.

Sara Ellen Kier was pronounced dead at 2:42
A.M
. Christmas morning. After the men from the mortuary had taken her body Kier sat alone in her room, his head in his hands, sobbing. Juliet walked up to him and knelt before him. “Mr. Kier, I'm Juliet. We've never met. But I'm so sorry.”

Kier looked up. His eyes were puffy and red. “Thank you. Sara told me what a wonderful young woman you are. You are welcome in this family.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kier.”

“Please, call me Jim.”

“May I call you Dad?”

“I would be honored.” He closed his eyes again, overcome with emotion. Juliet put her arms around him as Jimmy watched from across the room. After a few minutes Kier looked up at his son. Jimmy was also in anguish and it broke his heart to see his son's pain. “Come here, son.”

Juliet stepped back. Jimmy hesitated a moment, then remembering his promise to his mother, walked over. Then he put his arms around his father and the two of them wept for the loss of a woman they both loved.

Sara was buried at the Salt Lake cemetery three days after Christmas. True to their promise, four days later Jimmy and Juliet were married. Kier was part of the wedding party. At the rehearsal dinner the night before, Jimmy gave an emotional tribute to his mother, then raised a glass for a toast. “My mother was my past, for which I will always be grateful. My father is my future. To the future.” Kier raised his glass, his eyes filled with tears. “To the future,” he said.