If the Fates Allow
Part Two
…Christmas morning
The Christmas tree was gorgeous. It was a six-foot tall green spruce and lit with those
miniature aquamarine lights. Because Nichols-Parker family was a blended unit a mix
of personalities were seen through some of their favorite ornaments. Walter's KDJY
San Diego's #1 weathercast snowman, Josh's magic hat complete with bunny,
Audrey's UCLA Bruins bear, Megan's Hallmark computer, and Drake's blue (they didn't
have red ones) Fender Stratocaster. The garland was wrapped around the tree in thin
strings of gold that seemed to have no end. The angel tree topper had long blonde hair,
blue eyes, and wore a pink dress with soft transparent wings. Drake didn't notice the
beauty of the tree until this Christmas. This holiday everything seemed to matter from
the top of the tree to the bottom, with its white tree skirt with its red and green
snowflakes design.
Even though Drake was really tired last night he stayed up for two reasons one to talk to
Emme on the telephone to wish her a Merry Christmas Eve and to be the one to put the
angel on top of the tree. After breakfast, Drake found himself where he was last night
sitting on the sofa staring at the Christmas tree with its middle class abundance of
presents around it and on the stockings hanging by the fireplace. Their names
represented in silver glitter cursive. Everything was so pretty. Tables with unlit red,
green, or white tapered candles. A ceramic Santa head that Grandma Parker made
two years before she passed away. Walter's green, blue, and red toy tricycle that
belonged to his father before him was on the table with the homemade table top 'Merry
Christmas, Mommy' ornament that Megan made in Kindergarten from a mound of
green clay.
Drake enviously watched from the living room last night the hilarious spectacle of Dad
and Josh trying to put the outside lights up as he nursed a lukewarm cup of instant
cocoa. He never cared before. Last year he remembered playing his electric guitar with
the amp up to ten so he wouldn't have to go outside and help them. Now he wished he
could've been the one to go outside to show them the proper way to unstring a pack of
lights. It certainly wasn't as difficult as they made it. It was hilarious though when Josh
fell backwards on his ass though. He wished he had a camera phone. That picture
would have definitely wound up on the internet.
Drake felt that he had to savor his holiday surroundings. This year mattered.
His thoughts interrupted as Josh swung by putting on his navy blue track jacket with the
white and blue stripes.
"I'm going to pick up Emme now."
"Thanks."
"Later." Josh closed the door.
Drake took his cell phone off the table. He didn't want to call Emme too early, but now
seemed perfect.
"Merry Christmas, Drake." Emme said in her most upbeat voice
"Merry Christmas, Emme. Josh just left the house. Are you ready?"
"Yeah. I am. I hope you like your presents."
She didn't want to ruin the moment by telling him the latest. Her and her mother used to
have the best time gathering the boxes from the attic and apart from Mr. Bartleby
putting the tree up and some other hired staff who took care of the outside of their
house, it was Emme and her mother who did the rest themselves.
Emme had to write the checks on her mother's behalf. It wasn't the money. They always
had money coming in. It wasn't her forging her mother's signature. She signed a better
Mrs. Beverly Watson then the woman who actually had the name. She forgot to give the
Christmas bonuses. Mrs. Simpson who was on the verge of quitting (but she only came
in three times a week to clean) due to Mrs. Martinez trying to take over and Mr. Bartleby
who took care of Peanut Butter Cup demanded their bonuses. Emme didn't know if
they were lying or not. She could've called the bank and asked what they were paid last
year, but then that would mean having to admit her mother was a drunk.
And Emme had her own problems. She didn't need to know what room her mother
passed out in or hearing the bilingual yelling of Mrs. Martinez when she found her
mother walking naked in the empty indoor swimming pool slurring and sickly giggling
that she thought she was in the bathtub and had to be shrinking because she couldn't
find the water faucet. And there were no phone calls from her brother or that other
heartless bastard.
She had to do all of this by her damn self.
That was Emme Jessica Watson's Christmas Eve.
(Hello. I have cancer)
(And I have a boyfriend who should've left me out to dry eons ago)
"I know I will. I hope you like yours. How bad was it?" Drake wasn't stupid, he could tell.
"Very bad. I'll tell you later. I have to finish getting dressed."
Her heart was breaking and that in turn was causing his heart to break as well.
"Okay, Miss Priss," He hoped he could at least make her laugh, "I'll see you soon. I love
you."
She played along. "I'll see you soon, Don Juanoma. I love you more."
Drake hung up the phone and placed it in his robe pocket. He needed to get dressed
himself.
Despite their obstacles this was going to be the best Christmas ever, Drake could feel
it.
I promise you the best Christmas, Emme.
If the fates allow.
Author's Note: To be continued…