Chapter 1: Lost Love
Another day was coming to a close, it was a soft snowy day, and in his heart, Ebenezer Scrooge was warm in his heart, for he had a wonderful time with his nephew. He was most certainly grateful for the three spirits to have changed his life, and he had hoped to change the lives of those of whom he has the chance to change.
Passing the few people who remained on the streets, Scrooge cheerfully greeted them with "Merry Christmas" and hummed some Christmas carols on his way home. When he finally reached his old home, he thought to himself, I best put in more lights in this old hobble, better yet, some decorations to liven this place.
As he happily went up the steps to enter his home, he heard a soft voice say, "Ebenezer."
He turned around, and to his greatest shock, there stood before him the last person he had expected to see again, yet the first person he longed to see, and even though she had aged as he had, she still was very much as what her named suggested.
"Belle." His heart seemed to have leaped out of his chest when she had smiled at him. He felt like the young man he was long ago when he first met Belle.
It was Fezziwig's famous Christmas party, everyone was there and all was merriment. Ebenezer was out of place, although he had friends, they all had sweethearts and wives to dance with. Even Fan, his sister, was with her fiancé Fredrick, was happy and dancing with him. He was happy to see his dear sister so dearly loved by someone who could love and take care of her gentle nature.
Fezziwig pulled Ebenezer into his huge arms and cried, "Come Ebenezer, we are short of a man for the dance, can you believe that there is a young lady here without a suitor?"
Fezziwig pushed him to the group and the dance had started. It started off with two lines facing each other, one with women and the other men. Ebenezer stepped up to his partner and his heart was soaring. The young lady across from him was just, beyond words. She was about eighteen or nineteen, her hair was golden curls and with wide blue eyes, that almost looked violet, and her smile shone brighter than the sun. Her stature was petite and soft, with a heart-shaped head with the sweetest button nose he had ever seen. Ebenezer thought she was a Christmas angel on Earth.
She blushed and smiled as he looked upon her, she herself was quite interested in this man, he who was tall and lean, with soft brown hair and warm dark brown eyes.
They stood there, while others were dancing, not noticing the two having a tender moment. Fan had noticed and hurried up to the two. "Ebenezer, I see you have met my friend, Belle."
Ebenezer felt butterflies in his stomach when he heard her name, and even more so when he heard her gentle melodious voice say, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
She held out her hand to shake, unsure how to conduct herself; Ebenezer took the hand as if to shake, but then turned it to kiss her hand. In his youth, he was quite charming, charming enough to make Belle smile even more with a sweet giggle escaping her lips.
Ebenezer and Belle danced, much like everyone else, but they were the only ones that seemed to be floating on air, they were like two dancers in a music box, forever in the look of love, forever holding each other.
But the years and people change, but here was a second chance.
"What are you doing here?" He asked breathlessly.
"I-I heard of what you did for your clerk and of your donation. You see, I am the head of the organization, and when the dear man came back to tell me of what it was that you had done, I had to speak to you myself."
They stood there for a moment; Ebenezer was sure of his feelings, but unsure of what she was feeling. He knew, just as much as he was a boy that he was still in love with his dear lady. It wasn't just love and she wasn't just an old sweetheart, she was his first love, his only love, and his forever love.
Ebenezer blushed and asked, "Oh, you have heard of that? I hadn't expected anyone to know of that."
"Well, everyone has been buzzing about, talking about how the grouch has become an angel."
"I am nothing of the kind, just a man who has seen the error of my ways, and to see what it was that I lost." He couldn't help but to think of that hated day, where he lost her.
Belle explained just how he had changed from the hopeful boy he was and turned into the greedy man that he would become. She had it all right, but what she was wrong was that he still loved her, even if she was penniless.
"I release you." What? No, please do not leave me. Not too long before, his dear sister had died, giving birth to his nephew, and seeing how his father had not given her any money after his death, since she married a poor man, she had not a proper funeral. It was only out of the goodness of Fezziwig's heart that Fan was able to have a proper funeral, and with Fan, a part of his heart was buried with her.
But if Belle left him now, he would truly be lost. He couldn't lose another love one. Why couldn't she see that he was doing all of this for her, to protect them from the harsh life that would come?
She stood up, reaching for the door; she looked back and said sadly, "Be happy in the life that you have chosen. I release you."And with that, she walked out.
Ebenezer watched as she walked out, in shock. Within seconds, he pounced up and raced to the door, but the thought came to him, maybe she was right, maybe it was best that she left him and find someone that could provide for her now. He had kept her waiting for so long, and she couldn't wait forever to be married. All of that wouldn't have stopped him, except the thought that perhaps he just wasn't worthy of someone that could love him as much as she did.
And with that, he released the door knob of his office, went back to his seat and cried. It would be the last time he would cry until his old age where he would have to relive these horrible memories.
"How have you been?" He asked with full concern.
She smiled, and said, "Oh, well I have five children, and many grandchildren. I have been living comfortably."
"And-and of your h-hus-husband." For some reason it was difficult for him to say that word.
Her face slightly fell. "Oh, Will has been dead for some time now."
The only reason that he felt sorry at the news was because he saw how her face fell. "I am sorry."
"It is all right. I have my children, and, I may have loved him, but I wasn't in love with him. Not to say he wasn't a sweet man, he was, but he was more of a dear friend, rather than my love. But enough of me, how have you been?"
He sighed sharply and said, "Oh Belle, I have been miserable."
She wasn't expecting him to entirely say that; true, he was a miserable man, but she hadn't expected him to say it the way he had.
"I have lost sight of the greatest things that I had the most important things and people. Since that day that you have left me, I haven't been the same. When you left, you took the last drop of humanity in me, I became nothing without you, just a shell of a man who could have had it all. But he stupidly allowed his fears to control him and forced you out."
He was crying at this point, making Belle feel pity for this man, the man that long ago she had loved and had promised herself to.
"Oh Belle, my life has been miserable without you, I have lived, but I haven't truly lived without you. Belle," He was now on his bony knees before her and cried, with hands out for her. "I can't go on without my last strand of happiness, please, tell me, that I have a chance once more to fix my mistakes and be forgiven for the fool I was so long ago. Please, tell me this and I will be the happiest man that has ever lived."
Belle had tears in her eyes but was smiling. "Oh Ebenezer," her voice cracked when she said that, "I have been waiting for so long to hear you say that."
"I know that you cannot love me as you had for your husband, but could you try?"
She sighed, "Oh, Ebenezer, I hadn't loved him as I have loved you. He was a dear husband and a wonderful father, but only a friend. No one has ever touched my heart as you have. I have always loved you, even when you became the grouchy man that you were. I love you even more." She took hold of his hands and kissed them. "Don't cry anymore, I am here. I will always be here."
Ebenezer stood up and held her tight, crying into her hair. "Oh Belle, my Belle."
She smiled into his neck and kissed it. "My Ebenezer."
Ebenezer looked at her and with the nervousness of a school boy, he kissed her forehead. She smiled and stood on her tipy-toes to kiss him. It had been too long since he had kissed her, or really anyone, but he would only want to kiss her and only her forever.
When they pulled apart, they were amazed at how wonderful it felt, even at their ages, it was as if they had never changed, as if they never grew older. Instead of being 53 and 47, they were 25 and 19. They were still the youngsters that they were long ago.
He kissed her hands then took hold of them and hurried her away. "Come, I have an idea!" he laughed.
She laughed too. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
What does he have in store? I promise, this story will not be long and it will be done before Christmas Eve.