" Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas Collins"
Chapter 7: " Best Christmas"
Collinwood, Collinsport, Maine-December 1975 ( a meaningful family celebration)
The baby and toddler years of young Master Joshua Benjamin Barnabas Collins just flew by. It was his fifth Christmas and he was so excited. " Papa," the little four year old Collins cried out, " can I pick out the present for Mama, this year…please…huh…huh?!"
" May I!," Barnabas corrected him.
" May I, Papa?,"
" Of course," the delighted father told his son. " We will pick it out, together."
" Oh, goody!," J.B. squealed, jumping up and down.
Julia was just coming down from upstairs when she saw her two men grinning broadly at each other, the younger one decidedly more animated than the elder. " Just what are you two conspiring about?," she teased.
" Nothing," said the young master of the old house, looking guilty.
" Never mind," said the elder master, giving her a look that meant she had better not inquire any further. She laughed as she threw her arms around them. The three clasped each other tightly in a group hug.
Young Joshua Collins had the handsome profile of his father and the fair skin of his mother. His soft, thick, dark auburn hair had grown longer and thicker with age. He had waves in it that resembled the hair of his mother. They were not as tight as her curls, but there was no mistaking that this was her son. There was also enough of his father in him to prove himself a true Collins. Even at his young age, his handsome face and charm mimicked those of his father. The whole Collins family adored him, including Carolyn and Willie Loomis who had been married four years and had a child of their own.
Her name was Lydia Elizabeth Loomis. She was named after both their mothers. Beth, as she was called, was a year younger than J.B. They played together almost every day and had become fast friends. Beth was especially excited also, this Christmas season, because she would be welcoming home a new brother, or sister very soon. Willie was a very proud husband and father. Julia and Barnabas were very happy for him. The expectant parents already had the name picked out for their " son."
Carolyn and Willie resided in the West Wing of Collinwood Manor, which Elizabeth Stoddard had restored for them after their wedding. She and Carolyn( along with Hallie Stokes, Maggie Evans, and other members of the Collins family) took turns caring for the preschoolers while Julia was at Windcliff, Barnabas was at the cannery, and Willie continued to work on the renovation of the old house.
Barnabas himself had ordered many new modern convieniences for the new mistress of the old manor. He had set aside many of his old ideas for her comfort. Julia was very appreciative and she demonstrated this to him with expertise. " Giving in to these modern convieniences was not so very hard, after all," he mused.
Two weeks before Christmas, the new Loomis offspring arrived. Unlike his sister, he looked more like a Stoddard than a Loomis. Lydia Elizabeth Loomis was the spitting image of her father and had his personality, as well. She had steely blue eyes and sandy blonde hair which was long and thick like the hair of her mother. She was loyal to a fact, but a very nervous child. Any sudden noise made her jump and she was always wary of new things and people. Her mother would remark frequently," Girl, you are just like your father!." Then, Carolyn would giggle characteristically, enfold her daughter in her arms, and they would laugh.
This new child-Carolyn and Willie's son-was different from his sister in more ways than one. He was a calm and quiet child, from the day he was born. His eyes were a deep blue, as deep as the sea. They resembled the eyes of his mother. The day of his birth, he had virtually no hair on his head. It grew in as he got older, but was so light, it was almost white. Whenever Liz looked at her grandson, she was reminded of how Carolyn looked when she was a little girl. They were both " towheads."
Paul William Loomis was named after his maternal grandfather and his father. Elizabeth, at first, took issue with that. " Why would you want to name my poor grandson after that good for nothing man?!," she exclaimed to her daughter.
" Mother, don't speak like that about my father!," Carolyn spoke defensively.
" He left us, Carolyn, when you were just a baby and he never even tried to contact you," Liz continued.
Carolyn spoke back vehemently, " Not because he wanted to, Mother! He didn't have any choice! He loved me and he was only trying to protect me! You know that!"
" I realize that now," said Liz, " but I didn't know it then...Alright, Carolyn, I understand. If you want to name your son after your father, I will not object."
" Thank you, mother."
Paulie, as he was called, was a very happy baby and so easy to please. It didn't take much to amuse him. He was always laughing at something-much like his mother. Beth and her cousin, J.B., doted on her baby brother so much that Carolyn was frequently prompted to tell them, " Time to leave Paulie alone now so that he can get some sleep."
Whenever they were at the great house, Julia and Barnabas gave almost as much attention to the Loomis children as they did to their own child. Willie and Carolyn were both so dear to them. They delighted in spoiling Beth and Paulie much in the same way as everyone at Collinwood spoiled J.B.
The Collins family Christmas Eve party was always elaborate and exhausting, but Julia didn't mind. She was happy to be part of this close knit family. After eight and one half years, she had grown to know them well and loved each of them, dearly. J.B. adored all of his cousins and they equally adored him. Barnabas was happier than he had been in all of his 205 plus years.
Usually after returning home from the Christmas Eve party at the great house, J.B. would beg to open his presents at the old house, before going to bed. This year, he was too worn out from all the partying to ask. Instead, he went straight to his room, climbed into bed, and went right to sleep. Barnabas followed him, covered him up with his blankets, and kissed him goodnight, before joining Julia in the master bedroom. He found her in bed, already asleep. Smiling at her adoringly, he stipped down to his shorts, threw on a pair of pajama bottoms, climbed under the covers, snuggled up next to her, and fell fast asleep.
On Christmas morning, Julia and Barnabas awoke with a start. Their bed was bouncing and a familiar voice was ringing in their ears. " Mama, Papa, wake up! It's Christmas!"
Barnabas groaned and whispered into Julia's ear," So much for our early morning ritual."
She turned towards him, laughing, and slapped at him playfully with her hands. Then grimacing, she retorted, " We haven't even had a shower."
" Mama, Papa, are you listening to me?!," J.B. hollered. " I'm talking to you!" With that, Barnabas grabbed his son and pulled him over into the middle of the bed between himself and Julia, where they both began tickling him mercilessly. Laughing and kicking, J.B.. jumped out of bed and cried out, " Come on, it's time to open our presents." His mother and father smiled at each other, threw on their bathrobes, and followed him downstairs into the drawing room.
" Which one should I open first, Papa?," J.B. asked.
" Open the one from your mother," Barnabas answered. Julia sat down next to her son, on the ornate carpet, watched him tear off the beautifuly colored wrapping paper, and smiled at his wide eyed expression upon viewing the content.
" What is this, Mama?," he asked curiously.
" It's called a kaleidoscope, sweetheart," she answered. Reaching for it, she continued, " Here, let me show you how it works." Directing her son to look inside the small hole, she assisted him in turning the kaleidoscope back and forth with his hands, first one way and then the other. Out of habit, she spoke soothingly in her doctor tone of voice, " See how the colors and patterns change when you turn it?"
" Cool, Mama! It's sort of like your medallion."
Julia smiled adoringly at J.B. " Yes, sweetheart, only this you don't have to worry about breaking. It's for you to keep and play with as often and as long as you like."
He threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly. " Thank you, Mama!...Now, may I open my present from you, Papa?"
" Of course." Barnabas sat down next to his wife, putting his arm around her trim waist, pulling her close. Together, they watched their son open his present from his father. A puzzled expression spread across his little handsome face, upon seeing the ancient toy soldiers. He counted ten, in all. Barnabas explained that these were his favorite toys to play with when he was a young boy growing up. Of course, he couldn't tell J.B. that these were actually his own toy soldiers. How would he explain it?! So, Barnabas lied to his son, even though it made him uncomfortable to do so. He told young Joshua that the toy soldiers belonged to his great-grandfather and were given to him by his grandfather. " Now, I'm giving them to you, son." Julia looked at Barnabas with understanding and compassion in her eyes. He smiled back at her, gratefully.
The precious heirlooms were found, one day, when Julia and Barnabas were cleaning out the old house attic. That is when Barnabas decided to spruce them up and give them to J.B., for Christmas. Julia was alarmed, at first. " Barnabas, do you think that's such a good idea?! It might be a bad omen. After all, think of what Angelique tried to do to you when she used one of your toy soldiers as a voodoo doll."
" ...but, she didn't succeed, Julia...and she won't be able to do anything to me, now...or, to anyone I love! Angelique is dead. You said so, yourself. She can no longer do anything to harm us...any of us."
Julia sighed," You're right, Barnabas. I'm just being silly. Of course, you should give these to J.B. It'll be a very special present-a wonderful keepsake from his father!"
J.B. squealed with delight, " You mean I may keep these, Papa...all of them?!"
" Yes, son...all of them."
" Oh, thank you, Papa! I'll take very good care of them. I promise." J.B. threw his arms around his father, giving him a bear hug. " This is the best Christmas, ever!
...Open your present now, Papa! Mama and I picked it out, together. It was her idea." Barnabas gave Julia a curious look. She just smiled at him. After complying to the request of his son, he looked with awe at the beautiful pocket watch made of white gold that he was holding in his hands. It sparkled under the light of the Christmas candles. " Open it up, Papa, and look inside," J.B. directed. Barnabas obeyed. In the face of the watch were Roman Numerals. Barnabas looked at Julia in amazement.
" This belonged to my father," she explained simply.
" Read what we wrote, Papa!," J.B. begged.
The master of the old house felt his eyes moisten as he read the inscription. It said, " Barnabas, our love for you is timeless-your Julia and J.B."
" I don't know what to say," he croaked, as the tears ran down his face.
" Do you like your present, Papa?," J.B. asked.
" I love it," Barnabas managed to squeak out, as he pulled his wife and son to him for another family embrace.
" Now, it's your turn, Mama!," J.B. announced. Julia watched her two men curiously, as father and son exchanged satisfied looks. Barnabas winked at J.B., who did his best to keep from giggling as they watched Julia open her present. She was amused at their behavior and found it hard to keep a straight face. Seeing their two happy animated faces, so full of anticipation, was almost present enough.
This time, it was her turn to be at a loss for words. Her mouth dropped open as she looked at the beautiful white gold locket in her hands. It sparkled just as brightly as the pocket watch, under the light of the Christmas candles. " Open it, Mama, and see what it has inside," J.B. directed. Julia obeyed. Tears welled up in her eyes when the new mistress of the old house saw the photo and inscription inside. The picture was of her in her most beautiful sapphire blue dress with her two handsome men dressed in their best suits, smiling broadly, and the inscription said, " Julia, love from your forever men-Barnabas and J.B."
" Papa picked out the locket and I picked out the picture," J.B. announced proudly. " Do you like it, Mama?"
Julia couldn't speak. Unabashedly, she began to weep as she threw her arms around her two men, holding them tightly. When she finally found her voice, all she could say was, " You're right, J.B. This is the best Christmas, ever!"
" Indeed," Barnabas agreed. For the master, mistress, and young master of the old Collins mansion, it was indeed the best Christmas ever!
COULD IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?
