The wonderful gift of Christmas- A Christmas story - Part 17

 

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Jack grew up in a very small town.  He grew up as an only child and was sent to boarding school at a very young age.  On weekends his parents were absent and he was mostly left alone. Both is mother and father were not involved with his upbringing but he had everything that he needed.  On weekends when he came home from boarding school his parents were always out somewhere attending a charity event, but he had his own parties to make up for the loneliness.  He started drinking at the mere age of sixteen and at eighteen he was the most eligible bachelor on the block.  Girls were drooling over him, and it was not because of his good looks.  He started experimenting with drugs at a young age, but it was always alcohol that won. By seventeen he was an alcoholic with no sense of responsibility. 

He had all the money in the world but he had no one that loved him.  He had numerous drug charges against him and quite a few driving under the influence charges.  Every single time his father made the charges disappear with the help of a generous donation.  Jack was lost to the world. He didn't care what happened to him until that one day when he made the mistake of his life. He knew he was not capable of driving and he was far over the limit, but he had to impress the girl that was with him.  

She was killed instantly when they crashed into a tree, and he walked out without a scratch. That was the one and only time that a large donation did not do the trick.  He was charged with first degree murder.  He was sent to a rehabilitation center and came out clean.  His father had a long and serious talk with him which had no impact at all.  He felt alone.  He stayed clean for about a month and was out with some of his friends one weekend and he was pulled off for driving under the influence.  Again.  

His father cut him off and for the first time in his life he had nothing, except a few thousand dollars in his bank account.  He had all the opportunities in the world previously but everything was handed to him on a silver plate.  He suffered for a few months and crashed with one of his friends but when the money ran out, his friend kicked him out and he went back home.  His father kicked him out cold, and he had no other choice but to find a job.  

He found a job as a salesman, and he was so charming that he became the head salesman after a few months.  The money was good, and soon he could get back to his extravagant lifestyle.  Not in the same degree as before but he was able to live comfortably.  He even drank less.  

Then one night, he saw Maria. She was the most beautiful girl with the saddest face that he had ever seen. He had to meet her.  They were at a night club and he got her number from one of her friends that were trying to cheer her up.  He called her the next day and took her out to dinner the following night.  He put his best foot forward and charmed her into his life. 

Maria made him feel different about his life, and he was head over wheels in love with her. The first few months were perfect and he didn't care that she had kids, until he met them.  He was not used to kids and couldn't handle all the attention that Jonah stole from him.  He was intrigued by Mindy and she was the most sweetest baby ever, and perhaps that is what made him stay.  Then things at work started going downhill.  His sales dropped and he became more stressed.  He started drinking more and more until he didn't care anymore.  Most of the times when he hit Maria he was not quite sane and after Jonah ran away Maria became such a needy person.  She was so sad all the time and she did not give him the attention he needed.  

He wanted to make it up to her and tried to find Jonah, but he had no luck, and now he was here all alone with no one to care for him. Jack's parents died two years before in a plane crash and he didn't even go to their funeral. He was so angry at them and was surprised when they left him the house and set up everything for him in a trust fund.  There was so much money,that Jack would never have to work a day in his life.  

It was still there and he never touched one cent of their money. Maria never knew about his past, and he never bothered to open up with her about his parents.  When she asked, he told her that his parents were dead.  She knew absolutely nothing about the amount of money that was available to Jack, and he never wanted her to know. 

That is what he wanted to speak to Mr Settler about. He wanted to give the house to Maria. They would be able to live there and her kids would have the best opportunities in life.  He wanted to give her enough money so that she never had to work a day in her life, and he wanted to set up trust funds for both kids so that they would not have to struggle in life.  

It was too late for him to get involved now, but he wanted to do this one last thing for Maria and her kids. He knew that he could not buy his way back in, but he knew that looking forward Maria, Jonah and Mindy would be well looked after.  

An hour later Mr Settler walked into the hospital. It was Christmas day, and he could have waited for the holidays to be over, but he was a widow, and he had nowhere to be.  He had to hear what Jack wanted.  He knew what Jack did to Maria and it would be the most intriguing way to spend his day.  

He walked into the ward, and the nurse told him where Jack lay.  He walked into the room and saw this pathetic creature in bed and he couldn't help but feel sorry for him.  A man so fierce and powerful, suddenly looked so frail and breakable.  Jack did not see him standing there, and when he turned his head, he smiled for the first time in weeks.