Chapter 21

The silver Dodge sped along the highway with Des Moines fading farther and farther into the distance. Ennis wished K.E. would drive faster, but he could tell that they were already traveling along at a pretty good clip. The scenery flashed by, and most of the vehicles were being left behind.

Wish we hadn't sat around in the room so long talking before we got going. We were both excited about my memory though, so had a lot to talk over.

Ennis was so wound up he didn't know how he'd sit in that truck for the hour and a half it would take to reach Jack's place. The weather wasn't looking too good either, and he hoped like hell they could beat the storm. Light mist spattered the windshield. It wasn't enough to need the wipers, but it added to Ennis' anxiety.

"Shit, weathermen never can predict the weather accurately," Ennis said in disgust. "I don't think the storm will hold off till this evening the way it looks now."

"Take it easy, we'll get there," K.E. said in a calm, relaxed tone.

Ennis found himself becoming annoyed with his brother's seemingly laid-back attitude, and it must have shown because K.E. said, "You should have taken my suggestion and called Jack...let him know you're on your way and that you've got your memory back. Shit, Ennis, maybe you wouldn't be so wired up if you had." After a pause K.E. said, "You can still give him a call. Why don't you get your cell out and..."

Ennis interrupted and wasn't able to hide his irritation. "I want to surprise him. This isn't the kind of news I want to give him over the phone. I told you that already." A tense silence hung in the air before Ennis went on. "I just wish we hadn't had to stop at the mall this morning..."

This time it was K.E.'s turn to interrupt. "Carla would have had my hide if I got home without the stuff for her table. Jesus, Ennis, this is Christmas Eve, her folks will be there and she wants everything to be nice...besides, we needed to eat breakfast...couldn't have driven clear back with nothing to eat." Ennis was quiet so K.E. went on. He smiled a little. "Anyway, I saw you buying something in Carlton Cards while I was picking out the napkins and stuff. What was that all about?"

Ennis felt shy all of a sudden, "Uh...it was a card."

"A card? What kind of card?"

"A Christmas card...for Jack...can't go showing up with nothing for him, can I? It's Christmas Eve."

"Yeah, it's Christmas Eve, that's what I've been saying...Ennis, you should have taken a little time to buy him a present."

Ennis looked out the side window and mumbled, "I'm putting his present in the card."

K.E. leaned toward Ennis. "What was that? Present in the card? And what might that be?"

"Can we change the subject?" Ennis said louder as he turned to look out the front window.

"Why? Why don't you want to say what the present is...Ennis, you're not blushing, are you?"

When Ennis remained quiet, K.E. began to chuckle and then it turned into full out laughter.

"Just watch the road, will you?" Ennis said. "Concentrate on getting us home rather than needling me. Don't know what the hell you find so darn funny anyway."

"I'm just happy, little brother...is that okay with you? Got everything I could want. A wife waiting at home, a daughter waiting for Santa, great family coming for Christmas Eve...and a miracle...you getting your memory back. Can't ask for any more than that."

Ennis had to smile. He knew how lucky he was. The fact that his brother hadn't batted an eye about his relationship with Jack was pretty amazing. He even encouraged it. Said not to worry about the Christmas Eve dinner...he'd explain to the family why Ennis wasn't there. Ennis felt a pang of guilt at that though, especially where Leanna was concerned. But he'd told K.E. he would see Leanna sometime on Christmas day to have a heart to heart talk with her.

If her attitude is anything like K.E.'s, I'm home free.

As if K.E. could read his mind, he said, "When you and Jack come by tomorrow to get your truck and Lobo, and I assume all your stuff, he can stay and visit while you go over to Leanna's if he wants...I mean, I'm assuming you'll want to speak to her alone...You may have to kick Ben out for awhile to get time alone," K.E. chuckled.

"Thanks. That's real nice of you to be so...so...okay with it all."

"Jack's a good guy...I like him. Carla liked him when she met him. I know Leanna will too."

Ennis breathed a sigh of relief. The drive was going along good. The pavement was dry, no snow yet. Ennis was hopeful that they would be able to make it back in good time barring any unforeseen problems.

...

Jack finished a plate of toast, and drank the last of his coffee, as he tried to warm up after being outside with the dogs and cats. Shit, it's cold. Only gonna get colder when more snow falls. Just what I need.

Jack hadn't even shaved that morning. He hadn't felt like making the effort. What for? I won't be seein' anyone.

He wished the clinic or Humane Society had been open on Christmas Eve. He'd have had no problem working. He had four days off, Thursday through Sunday, except when it was his turn to check in on the patients and borders at the clinic. That wasn't until Saturday. He'd have gone in everyday but Dr. Edwards and Dr. Fields wanted to split the load up...not take advantage of any one person during the holiday.

Jack's attention was drawn to the Scotch pine propped in the corner of the room, lonely and forgotten. Shit, don't know why I even got a tree. Don't feel like decoratin' the thing. Been sittin' there three days already.

"If I'm gonna do it, it's today or never...shit, Christmas Eve already," he said aloud.

Jingles lifted his head and gave a small woof as if to encourage his master to get on the ball and get into the Christmas spirit. "What's with you, boy?" Jingles gave a whine and a low bark. "I got us a Christmas dog, what more do ya want?"

The small white Terrier-Maltese mix, which went by the name of Snowball, was sleeping soundly on the couch. Many a dog had made themselves at home there during Jack's time in the farm house. "Maybe we'll bring the rest of the crew in later, have ourselves a real nice Christmas Eve," Jack said to Jingles. He tried to smile, but felt about as low as a person could get on a bitter cold Christmas Eve with an undecorated tree, and no one for company except a couple of dogs.

Jack thought about Christmas the year before. He'd gotten a tree for his uncle. It had been about five feet tall. He had decorated it by himself, since his uncle had been too sick. He had brought Harold out to see it a couple times during the holiday. Harold was bedridden at that point, so it was a struggle to get him to the living room, but he'd perked up and put on a brave face.

Jack read the newspaper before deciding to drive into town to check the mail and pick up a few things at the grocery store. Jingles and Snowball accompanied him on the drive. Jack parked as close to the store as he could. He didn't even feel like getting out of the warm SUV to brave the cold. A bitter wind had begun to blow, signaling the approaching storm.

"I'll be sure and get ya a couple boxes of milk bones," Jack said as he closed the door and headed toward the store, pulling up his collar and stuffing his gloved hands into his coat pockets.

Jack carried four bags of groceries and a twelve pack of beer when he returned, placing them in the back, far away from dogs who liked to poke their noses into everything. "We'll stop at the Post Office and then head home before the snow starts," Jack said to the dogs.

Jack returned with a few envelopes in hand. He threw them onto the dash and sat quietly for a few minutes trying to blink back tears. He didn't let any fall, rather shook it off and got on his way. He turned on the radio only to hear the sound of a slow, gentle Christmas carol which only served to make him feel more depressed.

"Damn, is this all they play on Christmas Eve?" he wondered out loud. As he passed by the decorated houses, it made him feel even worse, although he'd shut the radio off by then.

No sooner had Jack gotten in the door when the phone rang. He grabbed the receiver, anxious to find out who was calling. Hearing Lureen's cheerful voice, he tried not to let his real mood filter through the line.

"Hey, sweetheart...I'm doin' just fine...Yeah, sure I have a tree...Got it a few days ago...It's real pretty, six feet tall and real full branches, none of those bare spots like in some ya see...Yeah, the Christmas party at work was real nice...everyone missed havin' ya there...Of course I got food in the house. Gonna cook up somethin' real special, don't you worry about me. Havin' a nice visit with your granma?...Good, you're lucky ta be someplace nice and warm. It was seventeen degrees here last night and I don't think it's gonna get any higher than thirty two today...Should have a white Christmas before we're through...Yeah, the dogs will keep me nice and warm...Yeah, got me a little white Terrier mix ta spend the holiday with us."

Jack hoped he was doing a good enough job with the conversation so that Lureen wouldn't worry. She soon said she had to go and they said their goodbyes, so she must have been convinced that he was all right.

After they hung up Jack put his groceries away. He made the mistake of turning the radio on and being reminded of the Christmas carols, so turned it off as "Blue Christmas" was just starting. His refrigerator was full, the cupboards stocked, and it was getting time for lunch, but he didn't feel very hungry. Instead of getting himself something to eat, he opened the milk bones and gave Jingles and Snowball one each. They crunched them up in front of the bare Christmas tree that still leaned neglected in the corner.

Jack kept looking at the telephone. He sure wished he could hear Ennis' voice, but he figured he was busy with his family, so he didn't expect a call and he didn't feel it would be appropriate to call him. He felt like the eggnog was calling his name, so he got a glass out of the cupboard and poured some and then added bourbon.

"Don't look at me like that," he said to Jingles. "I know it's not even noon, but hey, it's Christmas Eve...I'm entitled."

He sipped the drink for awhile and kept thinking about the phone. He needed to hear a human voice. "Shit...what do you guys think? Should I call mom?" The dogs were oblivious and didn't even look up. "Got tired out from the outing, huh?" he drawled.

He stared at the phone for a short while longer, picked it up, and dialed. As he heard it ring he said, "Hope the old man doesn't answer." It was some relief when he heard his mom's voice.

"Hello?" she said like a question.

"Happy Christmas Eve."

"Happy Christmas Eve...now who is...oh, is this Jack?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"I thought that might be your voice. How are you?"

"Fine, how bout you?"

"Fine...your daddy's fine too."

"That's good ta hear," Jack said, with no sincerity behind his words.

She lowered her voice and Jack could barely hear her. "Did that young man ever get in touch with you?"

Jack sighed. "Yeah, he called."

"Good, I was real concerned. He just looked so down-in-the mouth when I saw him..."

"Yeah, Mom, well, I didn't call ta talk about him."

"Okay...well, what are ya callin' about?"

"Just wanted ta wish ya a Merry Christmas," Jack said quietly.

"What are ya doin' for Christmas?" his mom asked.

"Just hangin' out here at home."

"All by yourself?"

"Yeah, that's about it."

"Oh...that's a shame. I thought maybe..."

"You thought what?"

She spoke in a whispered voice. "I just thought that maybe that man who answered your phone last summer..."

"No, Mom, he's not here." Jack took a deep breath. "Listen, did ya get the package I sent?"

"Oh, yes, yes, it came on Monday...or was it Tuesday..."

Jack could hear her calling out to his dad. "John, what day did Jack's box come in the mail?"

Jack couldn't hear his dad, but he must have said something because his mom said, "It came on Monday."

After some silence she said, "Uh, Jack, I have a package for you, but I didn't get a chance ta mail it yet." She coughed softly. "Your daddy was gonna mail it last week but he caught a cold and..."

Jack interrupted. "That's okay, Mom."

"I feel bad that ya won't have it for Christmas. I put your Christmas card in the box too."

Jack downed the last of his egg nog. "Well, Mom, I just called ta say Merry Christmas. I guess I'd best be goin' now. Let ya get back ta what you were doin'."

"Okay. We were just watchin' The Price is Right on t.v." Before they hung up she asked, "Do ya have somethin' good ta eat for the holiday?"

"Oh yeah, I'm gonna put a ham in the oven. Ya know the kind that's already cooked."

"Well, that sounds real good, Jack. We're havin' duck. Your daddy loves duck. You take care now. Call again, ya hear?"

"Sure, Mom. Bye now."

Jingles walked over and pressed against his master. Snowball seemed to sense that Jack needed some cheering up so he joined them. Jack gave both dogs pats on the heads and ran his hands over their silky coats.

Tears stung Jack's eyes, and he blinked them back. "That tree of ours needs some water." He forced himself up off the chair and went over to the tree. The stand had been sitting next to it, so he straightened the tree and decided the exact spot where it should be placed. He wrestled with it for a time until it was secured. He got some water from the kitchen sink and gave it a drink. At least the damn thing won't dry out any more than it already has.

The present he had bought for Ennis caught his eye. He picked the small gift bag up and gave it a look. He carefully placed it under the tree and then rounded up the gifts Lureen had brought and placed them underneath too. "Maybe we'll have a naked tree this year, what do you two think of that?" Jack asked. Both dogs stared at him, and he took that to mean they were fine with the plan.

Still talking out loud, "I'm goin' in the kitchen ta get the ham ready for the oven. Later on we'll open your presents from Lureen. I'm sure you're gonna like what she got ya. Ya have ta share with the others though."

Jack dragged himself to the kitchen feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. All he really felt like doing was going to sleep, but he forced himself to get the ham into a pan so it would be ready to heat when he got hungry for his Christmas Eve dinner. He had potatoes to bake, a can of corn to heat on the stove, and a fresh bag of dinner rolls. He'd even bought a Sara Lee frozen chocolate cake for dessert. He finished his second bourbon spiked egg nog as he sprinkled the ham with brown sugar. When it was ready, he placed it into the refrigerator.

Jack decided to take Jingles and Snowball outside. He let Duke, Abby, and Maya out of the barn. The snow from earlier in the month crunched under their feet. As he watched them run and play, his thoughts were with Ennis. This could have been our first Christmas together.

The cold settled into Jack's bones and the frosty wind stung his eyes. He soon got too cold to stand around outside, so he whistled for the dogs. After they had all gathered by his feet, he led the way to the house. A few snowflakes had begun to fall.

He's with his family. At least he'll have a good holiday.

To Be Continued...