Chapter 1
It was a cold night during the month of December. Kira Ford spent most of her nights at her house, by the fire, lights down low with a glass of hot chocolate in her hands. It was December 20th, not long before Christmas, and Kira's parent's were away on business trips again. As she sat by the fire, Kira prayed for her parents to be home. She snuggled up into her favorite yellow blanket on the couch and sipped her hot chocolate slowly, letting every drop warm her through the inside out. The crackling sound of the fire was so soothing as she laid all warm on the couch. Kira looked down at her guitar, lying by the couch. Placing her hot chocolate on the coffee table, Kira sat up and placed her guitar in her lap. She let her fingers dangle over the strings and began to play a simple tune that she had heard before. It was a song that her Mother always played for her when she was little. Kira then began to sing to herself quietly.
I
wanna see Christmas through your eyes
I want everything to be the
way it used to be
Back to being a child again thinking the world
was kind
I wanna see Christmas, Christmas through your eyes
As Kira finished her tune, there was a knock at the door. Kira leaned her guitar against the end of the couch and ran up to the door. As she opened the door, Tommy stood in the entrance with a big smile on his face. "Hey Kira,"he said as he embraced her in a hug. "Hey Tommy! What a surprise. C'mon in. It's too cold outside,"said Kira as she welcomed her former science teacher into her house. "Go ahead and sit down, I'm gonna get some more hot chocolate. Would you like some?" Tommy took his coat off and set it on the coat rack behind the door. "Sure, that'd be great. Thanks,"said Tommy as he motioned toward the couch the couch. Kira disappeared into the kitchen as Tommy walked by the fireplace. He looked at all of the pictures her parents had on the mantle of young Kira in elementary school. There was one picture that Tommy loved the most. As Kira came back out of the kitchen she saw Tommy looking at all of the pictures. He held a small frame in his hand with a picture of Kira and her family. "I see you like the picture of our Forget-Me-Not Christmas,"said Kira as she sat down on the couch. Tommy walked over and sat down next to Kira, taking the frame with him. "Forget-Me-Not Christmas? What does that mean?"asked Tommy as he set the frame down on the coffee table. Kira handed Tommy his hot chocolate and picked the frame off the coffee table.
"That's what my Mom called it. Our Forget-Me-Not Christmas was one of the best moments in my life. My Grandma had just passed away before that Christmas Eve when the whole family came over for diner and gifts. Her favorite flower was the Forget-Me-Not because it stood for love. The flower is so small and yet so beautiful. I was only 7 at the time and had a hard time understanding what was going on. My Dad gave me a bouquet of Forget-Me-Nots that night and I laid them by my Grandma's bedside. She died that night and my flowers wilted the next day. On Christmas, I saw Forget-Me-Nots in our backyard and I went outside and picked all of them. I put them in a little basket, carried it inside and put it under the tree. I started taking flowers and putting them all over the tree. The best part was, even though my Grandma wasn't there, she was still with us that year." Tommy continued to sip his hot chocolate as Kira revealed herself to him. "That's a great story Kira,"said Tommy, placing his glass on the coffee table. Kira took the last sip of her hot chocolate and put her glass and the frame on the table. "After that year, I have never had a Christmas that memorable again. My parents are stuck on a business trip this year again in New York. They send me gifts and I send them stuff but it just isn't the same. All I want is another memorable holiday." Tommy pulled Kira close to his body. Kira leaned back onto Tommy's chest and pulled the blanket up and over them. Tommy stroked Kira's hair gently as she drifted off into her own little world. Tommy thought for a moment as he caressed Kira close to him.
"I want to be able to give Kira that memory she wants for Christmas. I want her to be able to have those memories again. Maybe, I will give the whole Ford family a gift,"thought Tommy. "Kira, how far are you willing to go to have the holidays with your parents?"asked Tommy. Kira didn't move as she took a deep breath in. "I would do anything Tommy to have Christmas with my folks. You don't understand how much it means to me." "I think I do. How would you like it, if I could do that for you?"asked Tommy. Kira sat up and faced Tommy. "What are you talking about?" Tommy stroked her cheek. "I can make your Christmas memory happen. I have some friends that are connected to the airline service and we can get you onto your own private jet to New York to see your parents. Maybe you'll have another Forget-Me-Not Christmas." Kira was astonished. "I can't believe he would do that for me,"she thought. "Tommy, you would really do that for me?" Tommy chuckled under his breath as Kira's soft, brown doe eyes filled up with hope. "Of course, Kira. I would do anything for you." Kira was so ecstatic all she could do was smile. Kira leaped into Tommy's arms and embraced him in a big hug. Tommy kissed Kira gently on the cheek. "I love you so much Kira,"Tommy whispered into her ear. Kira and Tommy let go of each other and stared at each other for a single moment before leaning in close for a single kiss. Kira pulled herself back and looked at Tommy with the soulful eyes that he loves. "I love you too Tommy. Thank you so much." Kira snuggled back into Tommy's chest. Tommy pulled the warm throw blanket over them as the sound of the crackling fire drifted off into the night.