A Christmas Carol: Dave Rossi Style
Dave sat in his oversized chair and stared at the fire roaring in the fireplace. Comforting, warm, and soothing – it was everything it should be – but it wasn't enough to mend his broken heart. He was stupid, and he had acted even worse. He had held the world - and the heart of the woman he would always love – in the palm of his hands, and what did he do? He threw it all away. He should have been shot on the spot the night he killed Em's dreams of a happily ever after.
No, he corrected, getting shot would have been the easy way out; living with the searing pain of loss ripping thru his heart was better punishment. But living without Em in his life was the worst. She was going to die alone in a foreign country all because of his pride. And there was nothing he could do about it. And once that happened, he would have no choice but to live the rest of his life in seclusion. First thing in the morning, he was packing and moving to the cabin. He would drop off his letter of resignation on Erin Strauss's desk on the way to Little Creek.
The clock mournfully tolled the hour of nine. Maybe it was time to turn in. Christmas Eve was almost over and there was nowhere he needed to go. Not anymore.
He should have tried harder to make Em understand that he was sincere about wanting to spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He should have found that one thing that would have convinced her that he wanted to fill their home with children and laughter. But she had turned away and no one could blame her.
Now he was alone in the huge house he had bought as a statement of his success. And that was all it was: a house. Without Em and his friends, it could never be a home.
He should get ready to go to Midnight Mass, but what would be the use? It wasn't going to ease the pain in his heart. It wasn't going to wash his sins clean. It wasn't going to bring Em back to him.
Standing up, he stretched. Tomorrow was Christmas and he had been invited to JJ's for dinner. He didn't want to go, but Henry had pleaded and begged and finally turned on the tears. How could he resist the blonde angel who had never lost faith?
Henry had saved him. The little boy who saw deep into his heart had helped bring him back to reality and showed him that there was something worth saving. And in return, Derek and Pen were going to have a chance at happiness. Fran Morgan would live to see her grandchildren. Jack would grow up normal, and Spencer would survive.
But without Em, he had still failed. If only he could have a reason to give it one more try, he prayed.
Turning off the light, he headed toward the staircase. It was early, but with any luck, he might still be able to get a couple of hours of sleep. His feet clumped heavily on the stairs.
Suddenly a knock on the door made him jump. Turning around, he hurried to the foyer. Em! His heart jumped for joy. His prayer had been answered. But as he looked thru the peep hole in the heavy oak, he had to pause. There was no one on the other side. Perplexed, he opened the door. Looking around at the empty porch, he moved back into the warmth of the house, when a piece of paper caught his eye.
Mr. David A. Rossi
The letters were printed in bold beautiful letters on the outside of the cream colored envelop. Picking it up, he slid hid finger under the flap to draw out the card. He had to read it three times before the words sunk in: Dave, I was wondering if you could meet me at the church after Midnight Mass. I need to talk to you. Em.
Em wanted to talk to him? Something had to be wrong. But what? He hadn't heard anything. No one had called him. He wasn't one to make a mountain out of a molehill, but considering what he had seen in his future, nothing was out of the realm of possibility. Now she needed him. Emily needed him.
Suddenly the truth dawned on him. It was time to move on. For good. Shoving the card in the envelope, he set it on the table next to the door. Then he reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. Flipping it open, he stared at the picture he had carried for far too long.
Pulling it out, he fingered it gently as he memorized the face and smile. So gentle and sweet. Her beauty and love would always haunt him. There would always be a place in his heart for her, but it was time to move on.
Walking over to the fireplace, he pulled the grate back and knelt down. The sound of laughter rang in his ears as he quickly remembered the happy times. The looks. The touches. The late night kisses of promises of forever. He remembered her soft eyes looking at him as she had turned around and walked away toward her future. Now it was his turn to do the same.
Closing his eyes, his finger caressed the smooth matte finish one last time. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the picture into the fire. The flames rapidly consumed the 3X5.
"Good-bye Emma," he whispered as the picture melted, curled, then burst before fading away into ash.
Standing up, he replaced the grate. A feeling of freedom filled him. Looking at his watch, he smiled. He had to get ready for Mass. Then he was going to win Em once and for all.
****
"Well, the cards have been delivered," Ray announced.
"How did they react?" Emma asked excitedly.
"Em was nonchalant, but I'm waiting on Dave," he replied.
"I thought Em would be running around to get ready," Emma replied. "I thought we had made it clear that they needed to see each other."
"Do you blame her for not dropping everything?" Jason wondered a loud. "He did destroy her."
"But he's changed!" Emma argued. "Look what he did for Derek and Fran. And for Jack."
"That was sweet when he whispered that Haley was watching him," Zoe supplied. Emma and Ray nodded their approval.
"But that doesn't erase what he did," Jason reminded the women. "He crossed the line."
"We brought him back!" Zoe cried passionately. "We saved him."
"We only partially saved him. He still wants to cloister himself off in that cabin in the woods if Em leaves. And Em is determined to leave for Europe. The only thing we've saved is the team."
"But that counts for something. Doesn't it?" Zoe wondered. "Dave is not a bad man…"
"Misguided and jaded," Emma supplied as an afterthought, "but not bad."
"I can attest to that," Ray interjected.
Jason threw up his hands. "Okay. Let's give the benefit of the doubt that we made a difference. But December 2015 is only a few years away. Once Em gets on that plane, no matter what we did two nights ago is not going to make a difference. She will die and so will Dave's heart."
"She still loves Dave. I saw it. I felt it…." Zoe paused. "What is Dave doing?" she asked slowly. Her attention was drawn to the expensively decorated study and the man kneeling down in front of the fireplace.
Stopped by her comment, Jason, Emma, and Ray turned to see what had caught her attention.
"Is that my picture?" Emma whispered. A weird flutter filled her as she watched the man she once loved more than anything touch the picture lovingly.
"Maybe we were wrong," Ray admitted reluctantly. He hated being wrong, and now it looked like he had bet on the wrong horse. '
"I'm sorry Ray," Jason apologized and laid a hand on his shoulder. Comfort was something they were allowed to have in heaven and he was glad. "I know how much you wanted your wings."
Ray shrugged. "I don't care about my wings; I just wanted to save Dave and Em."
"I know." Jason couldn't think of anything else to say.
"What is he doing? Did he just throw my picture in the fire?" Emma cried out happily.
"Good-bye Emma," Dave whispered as the fire consumed the 3X5.
"Good-bye Dave," Emma whispered as tears ran down her cheeks.
"We saved him," Zoe wept happily.
"Now we need to save Em," Jason stated firmly. Everyone nodded. "Who's up to making a phone call?"
Three hands flew up in response.
