The Christmas gift - a Christmas story - Chapter 8

                                                       

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Terrence woke up very early the next morning. He lay there thinking about the events of the day, and then grabbed his clothes to go and take a shower at the shelter.  If he was lucky, and early enough he could get some breakfast too. He wanted to use the money he had left to buy Jonah a present. He was going to miss Jonah, but he knew, just like him, Jonah did not belong here in the alley. 

After showering, he grabbed a cup of coffee and some cereal, and then went to the shop to go and look for a present for Jonah. He found the most beautiful snow globe with a big Christmas tree inside, and it reminded him so much of the tree in the park, that he decided that it was the perfect present. He still had money left to buy little Mindy a coloring book and pencils, seeing that she enjoyed his drawings so much the previous day. 

Maria and Mindy had a peaceful night and when Maria woke up, she sighed with relief when she realized where she was. She wanted to go to the hospital a little later, but she was scared that Jack would find her there. She had asked the nurses to allow no one but Terrence and herself to visit Jonah, but she knew that Jack would find a way to torture them, if he knew where they were.  

At least she had the restraining order and if he dared to come near them she could call the police.  She checked her cellphone and saw that there were 23 missed calls from Jack.  She shuddered.  He must be ballistic.

Jack arrived home the previous night to find the house dark and quiet. He struggled to open the door, because the porch light was off. Once inside, he tried to find the light switch, and stumbled over Mindy's toys on the floor. He hit his head on the side table next to his chair, and he could feel the blood streaming down his face. He stumbled towards the kitchen and finally found the light switch. He grabbed a cloth to stop the bleeding, but he was too intoxicated, and he bled all over the place. He tried to go upstairs, but he couldn't balance properly so he found his chair.   

He grabbed the bottle of Whisky on the table and took a big sip to numb the pain. He called upstairs, but no one answered, and then he dialed Maria's number. He kept on trying and trying, but she didn't answer.  He was outraged at the thought of her leaving him and eventually just passed out on his chair. 

Jack woke up with a terrible headache and shouted again for Maria to come and help him.  No one came, and he sat there forsaken by all others. He knew he had to get upstairs to take a shower, but nearly lost his balance and sat down again. He grabbed his phone, and dialed her number again. When no one answered he dialed his friend Steeler at the police station.  Steeler confirmed his suspicions.

Maria was still sitting with the phone in her hands and shrieked when she saw him calling. She declined the call, and got up to get dressed. Her heart was pounding and she was going into a panicky state, but took a deep breath, made her bed, and then got dressed before she woke up Mindy. 

Once Mindy was dressed, they quickly went downstairs for breakfast, and then walked out to go to the bus stop to get to the hospital. Jack had enough friends in the police to find out where they were, but she knew that if he found them, he wouldn't try to do anything at the hospital. She had to get there quickly. She had to get to Jonah. 

Jonah had a wonderful night. After his mom and Terrence left, the doctor came to see him again and told him that he might be able to go home tomorrow.  He fell asleep with a smile on his face when he thought about his mom and his sister. He was so grateful that his mom had left Jack,  and he knew that things would be different from now on.  

Jonah was busy eating breakfast when Terrence walked in and he could see his face lit up when he handed him his present.  

"This is just like the tree in the park Terrence!  Thank you! I love it!"

Terrence smiled and sat down next to him.  

"How you feeling mate? You look so much better."

"I'm feeling much better Terrence, the doctor said I might be able to go home today." Jonah said with a big smile on his face.  

They sat talking and laughing for about twenty minutes when Maria and Mindy walked in. 

Mindy grabbed the coloring book from Terrence and sat down at the table to do some coloring and Maria took a seat opposite Terrence on the other side of the bed.  

Maria looked much more relaxed than the day before and they chatted like old friends. The doctor was only doing rounds later, so they would only know if they can take Jonah home a while later. 

"Could you go and show my mom the Christmas tree Terrence?"  Jonah asked, and Mindy started pleading too. 

"Please Terrence please can we go to the tree again?"

Terrence smiled.  "Of course we can. That is to say if your mom wants to go."

Maria nodded, but she was quite nervous to be out in the open as Jack could be anywhere, but she was also not willing to put her life on hold just because she is scared of one pathetic man.  

She got up and grabbed Mindy's hand. She kissed Jonah on the forehead and promised to see him in a few hours.  

"I'll see you later Jonah." Terrence said, and waved at Jonah when they left the room. 

They looked like one happy family when they went downstairs. Terrence looked much more respectable than the day before.  Mindy grabbed both Terrence and her mom's hand. They were swinging her in the middle and she was singing a Christmas song.  She was happy to go see the tree again.  

As they walked out of the hospital, a cab pulled up and out stepped a man in a familiar brown jacket. He had a bandage around his head. Maria still wondered why he looked so familiar, but when he turned around after paying the cab-fare, she knew who it was. 

It was Jack. She hoped that he would not see them, and tried hiding behind Terrence, but when he looked up, he instantly saw Mindy and she knew that it was too late. 

There was nowhere to hide.   

 

-To be continued

Chapter 1 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-1

Chapter 2 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-2

Chapter 3 - https://steemit.com/story/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-3

Chapter 4 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-4

Chapter 5 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-5

Chapter 6 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-6

Chapter 7 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-7