The Christmas gift - a Christmas story - Chapter 16

                                                       

Image source

Terrence stood on the porch waiting for the door to be opened.  He managed to press the bell while balancing the presents on the one side but nearly dropped the box with the puppies.  There was nowhere to put down the box and it might cause chaos if the puppies jumped out the box.  Terrence stood there laughing at the thought and was glad when Jonah opened the door.  

"I'm so excited that you are here Terrence. Mom cooked up a storm today and I am so excited about the whole evening!"

Jonah kept on babbling and he did not even notice the puppy sticking his head out of the box. Jonah grabbed some of the packages from Terrence and put them on the chair in the living room, before calling his mom in the kitchen. Jonah quickly ran upstairs to tell Gabriella that her dad was there. 

Gabriella was so excited and could hardly wait to see her dad. She knew she only had to wait a few minutes more before they were reunited forever. Maria came into to the living room, and asked Terrence to let the puppies out of the box on to the back porch. She put out some food and water for them and they would be out of the way when the kids came downstairs.  

Although they were not big drinkers, Maria asked Terrence to open a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass.  She was nervous and excited all at the same time, and drank the glass of wine much faster than expected.  

"Maria what is going on?  You seem a bit nervous." Maria smiled at him.  

"Come with me Terrence, I need to show you something...or rather someone...."

Terrence followed her into the living room, and Maria called upstairs for the kids to come down. She stood at the bottom of the stairs and took Terrence's hand. She looked him straight in the eyes and said:

"Look what I found." 

She watched him closely when the three kids appeared at the top of the stairs. 

Within seconds Gabriella was downstairs in her daddy's arms. Terrence started crying and she could hear the sobs coming from Gabriella. Maria started crying and then Jonah and Mindy joined in too.  They all stood there crying for a few minutes.  

She was so happy that she was able to help find Gabriella, and the scene right in front of her was something that she would remember for the rest of her life. Terrence and Gabriella clung on to each other and they never wanted to let go again. Terrence couldn't believe his eyes, and could hardly speak when he put Gabriella down. It was the best day of his life.  He got his daughter back, he found a job and this was the most perfect day he could ever imagine. 

Maria took the kids outside to show them the puppies and to give Terrence the much needed time to get over the bundle of emotions that were overwhelming him. The kids were absolutely delighted with the puppies, and the three of them ran outside playing with the puppies in the backyard. Maria went back inside to talk to Terrence.

She found him in the living room and when he saw her he grabbed her in his arms and hugged her so tightly she could hardly breath.  

"How did you manage that? I don't know how I can ever repay you for what you have done...." Terrence said through his tears.  

"You don't have to repay me....You brought back my son to me and now I am returning the favor. Gabriella was released in my care, and both you and her can stay here for as long as it takes for you to get back on your feet."

"Are you serious Maria. She get's to live with me?"  

Terrence did a happy dance and then grabbed Maria in the spur of the moment and kissed her right on the lips.  

Both of them were startled by his action, but did not say one word.  

"I got a job Maria.  Mr Williams offered me a job as store manager this morning.  I'm starting right after Christmas."

Maria was delighted and smiled at him and said:  "Today truly is a wonderful day for all of us." 

"We better get the kids back inside before they all catch pneumonia." 

Terrence said and she laughed at the thought of three kids sick at the same time. 

"Oh dear we certainly have to prevent that!"

Both Maria and Terrence walked outside and they were met by the laughter of three very happy kids.  They all joined in the fun and a few minutes later Maria took the exhausted puppies inside to the warm kitchen and put them in a basket with a blanket.  Everyone else came inside and the kids ran over to start decorating the Christmas tree.  

Terrence helped them decorate the tree, and Maria made them all a cup of hot cocoa to keep them warm.  It was the perfect picture.  Anyone who looked through the window would have thought that they were a very happy family.  

After they finished decorating the tree, they went over to the dining room to eat dinner.  Maria prepared a meal fit for a king, and it was the perfect way to end off a perfect night. Everyone around the table expressed their gratitude towards each other as if it was thanksgiving.  After dinner they all watched a Christmas movie and just after ten o clock the kids went upstairs to bed.  

Gabriella would stay in Mindy's room as there was a spare bed, and Maria made up the extra bed in Jonah's room for Terrence.  

Maria and Terrence sat chatting for a while, watching the snow in the moonlight and both of them knew that their friendship would turn into something more.  It was as if fate brought them all together and there was a reason why they were there at the right place at the right time.

The scene at the hospital was a total different story. Jack felt lonely and worthless when he heard the familiar Christmas carols sung in the hallway. He felt helpless and even though he has made a lot of progress, he still felt sorry for himself.  

None of his so called friends had contacted him, and no one was there to see the tears streaming down his face. He knew that Maria put in a lot of effort for Christmas and he couldn't believe that he messed up that part of his life. He would never touch alcohol again, and he vowed right there and then that he would make up for what he had lost. He just hoped that what he wanted to do for Maria was going to make up for all the pain he caused her.

On Christmas morning he asked one of the nurses to borrow their phone, and he left a message for Mr Settler to come and see him in the hospital.  He knew that what he was about to do, was the right thing.  He smiled at the thought, and for the first time in weeks, he felt better. This was going to change their lives forever and he couldn't wait to see Mr Settler.  

 

-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

Chapter 8 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/https-steemit-com-fiction-giantbear-the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-8

Chapter 9 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-9

Chapter 10 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-10

Chapter 11 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-11

Chapter 12 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-12

Chapter 13 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-13

Chapter 14 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-14

Chapter 15 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/dtbcx-the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-14