The Christmas gift - a Christmas story - Chapter 14

giantbear (74)in #fiction • 7 years ago

When Maria turned to sit down next to Mindy's bed, Jonah was right behind her. "What's wrong Jonah, why don't you go down to the cafeteria?"

"It's okay mom, I'm not thirsty now. I'll go later."

"Nonsense, I'll go with you. Let's go and have something to eat, Mindy is sleeping now and the nurse will come in if she wakes."

Jonah looked anxious, and his mom couldn't understand why. She took Jonah's hand, and they walked out of the room together. It was then that Maria saw Jack. He sat at the window with his hands in his lap. His recovery was slow, but he was able to sit up straight in a wheelchair, while someone pushed him around. His arms were not yet strong enough and the dislocated shoulder hindered the healing process. He just sat there like a pathetic human being, unable to do anything for himself.

Jonah clung to her as if the world was going to end and had his eyes fixated on Jack. He hated him. He hated everything about him and he didn't want to see him. Maria asked Jonah to sit down on a hospital bench in the hallway and walked over to speak to Jack.

"Don't worry, I'll be right back. He can't hurt us anymore."

"How are you Jack?" Maria asked.

Jack eyes lit up when he saw her and he smiled faintly. It has been weeks since he had spoken to anyone else but the nurses, and he was severely depressed about the turn of events. He had enough time to think about what he had done, and this was the moment he had been waiting for for weeks.

"I'm glad to see you. I've been wanting to talk to you..."

"I don't think we have anything to talk about Jack. Time for talking is long gone, and it is over between us. I just wanted to say one more thing to you and then I never want to see you again. Ever."

"You must hate me.." Jack said.

"I don't hate you Jack. I hate the things you did to me. I hate the things you did to my child... but he is back now, and I am taking my life back."

Jack started crying.

"I'm sorry Maria...I'm sorry for every time that I was mean to you, I'm sorry for ever time I hit you... I even tried to find Jonah while I was sober....I'm just sorry for everything that I have done. I know what I did was wrong and I want to give you something to make up for it."

"Nothing that you give me will ever make up for what you did to me. I found a job and I will look after myself. I don't need anything from you. I don't want anything from you."

Jack knew that it was no use talking any further. Whatever he wanted to tell Maria he would have to do via her lawyer.

"I'm sorry Maria....and tell Jonah that I'm sorry too."

Maria turned around and called Jonah. "Tell him yourself. "

Jonah reluctantly stood up and walked closer. He went to stand right in front of Jack, and Jack looked him straight in the eyes.

"I'm sorry Jonah. I'm sorry for what I did to your mom, but one thing that I have learned from this whole experience is that forgiveness is everything. It is only now, after the accident that I realized what I had. Always remember, to appreciate what you have...because when you lose it, nothing can bring it back. I'm sorry for what I did to you and I hope that you can forgive me. If I had an opportunity I would've tried to make it up to you."

Jonah could see that Jack tried to be sincere, and although he did not trust him, he nodded and said:

"It's okay Jack. I'm sure that you've learned your lesson."

Jack smiled at him and said: "I sure did. It was a hard lesson to learn, but Karma hit me hard and I lost everything."

Jonah felt much more free of the thoughts that had been haunting him. He even felt sorry for him, and he smiled at Jack when Maria took his hand to go to the cafeteria. Jonah had one more thing to tell his mom and when they sat down to eat, he told her.

"I'm so sorry for running away mom, and leaving you with Jack. I know I hurt you but I should have stayed and stood up for you."

Maria had tears in her eyes and told him: " I let you down Jonah, not the other way around, but it is all over now, and we have our whole lives ahead of us to make it up to each other."

It was a day of healing for all of them, and when they finished eating and got back to the room, Mindy looked much better and her eyes lit up when she saw her mom and Jonah. The doctor came to see Mindy a little while later and told them that Mindy had a severe case of tonsillitis, but antibiotics should do the trick and she could go home the next day. He told Maria that it would be a good idea to have Mindy's tonsils out in the near future but she was fine for now.

Maria was relieved that it was not serious, and Mindy looked much better. She fell asleep an hour later, and Maria told Jonah that they were going home. They would come back early the next morning to pick up Mindy and then there were lots to prepare for Christmas eve.

Both Jonah and Maria had a tiresome day and they slept like logs. Maria phoned the hospital early and told the nurse that she would be there by ten o clock to pick up Mindy. The nurse confirmed that Mindy had a good night and she was excited to go home. As Maria put the phone down, the phone rang immediately and she saw that it was Mr. Settler. She hoped that he had good news and that this would be a perfect Christmas.

" We found her!" Mr Settler said excitedly.

"I had to pull a few strings, but we found her. Gabriella was already in the system, which made it easier to find her. She is currently in foster care, but I made arrangements for her to be transferred. If you are ready, she will be here by four o clock."

Maria was delighted. This is going to be a perfect Christmas and she couldn't wait for the time to pass. She did not tell Jonah anything and went downstairs to put the turkey in the oven. This is going to be a Christmas eve that they would remember for the rest of their lives.