The letters in the Christmas tree.
As Christmas approaches, it is between memories and hope, and especially in the letters that everyone hopes to find a Christmas miracle. This fanfiction contains references to the movie "For Christmas." The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.
Author's note: The beginning is sad but necessary for the rest of the story. Thank you all for reading this first chapter. Have a good day . :)
Flashback.
It was Christmas Eve, Shane McInerney, 10 years old was in her room with her 13 year old sister Alex. They were waiting for the gifts to be placed under the tree in the living room. It was a moment that Shane was looking forward to. To make the waiting fewer endless, Shane would slip her necklace between her fingers that she had received a few days ago. This necklace that she cherished the most, with the inscription: "To C, with love, mom & dad". Shane was smiling as she looked at her necklace, when she and Alex heard the sound of a bell. That was the signal. They ran down the stairs.
"Wow, there's a lot of presents. I can't wait to open them tomorrow !" Alex exclaimed.
"You two have been very kind this year, so I think you'll be spoiled." Ms. McInerney said.
"But where's Daddy?" Shane asked.
"Yes, that's right, we have to take the traditional family photo with the tree." Alex added.
The mother had a sad little smile on her face as she looked at her daughters. She tried as hard as she could to keep her head high and not let her emotions get the better of her.
"Uh, my darlings... As I returned from the living room... I found this little note... Your father left with his things and he's not coming back... I'm so sorry." Their mother exclaimed, as she shed tears on her face.
Shane's heart squeezed, and she felt as if she was breathless. The tears kept streaming down her face.
"I can't believe it! And his presents, so he'll never open them !" Shane exclaimed, angry and crying even harder.
"Shane, he's not coming back... He's gone for good." Alex added, calmly, with a sad face.
Shane's whole world shattered. She ran upstairs to her room to cry into her pillow. Exhausted, and with a heavy heart, she fell tired and fell asleep.
Later, she gently heard her name and tried to slowly to open her eyes.
When Shane opened her eyes wide, she saw Alex.
"Shane, I know it's so sudden for everyone. Come to dinner, you have to eat something." Alex said.
"Alex, I'm not really hungry." Shane said .
" All right... But you can sit by the fireplace and read a book... I'm going downstairs to stay with Mom. She needs support." Alex says with a smile before leaving the room.
Shane put on her dressing gown, took a book, as well as paper, colored pencils and an envelope. She walked down the stairs and sat down by the fireplace under the tree. She began to make a drawing that would accompany a letter she wanted to write.
Dear God,
I miss my daddy.
Please make him want come to back home.
I just want to have a happy family again.
Love.
Crackers.
Shane slipped her letter into the envelope she addressed to God, then discreetly put on her shoes. She opened the door to get out. Shane started running down the street, lit by lanterns.
Alex got up, went into the living room with a bowl of crackers for Shane, when she dropped it on the floor.
"Mommy, Mommy! Shane is no longer there... She's gone." Alex exclaimed.
"My God! It's all my fault. I'm so sorry. I should have talked to her, consoled her. I was so sad that I... I'm going there to look for her. Alex, stay here if Shane comes back. I'm going to find her." Their mother said as she left the house.
Shane continued to run down the street, again and again, not wondering where she was. She ran but stopped, when she finally saw a mailbox. Shane caught her breath, picked up the envelope, prayed, and threw the envelope into the mailbox.
When she turned around, Shane saw her mother, tears in her eyes, calling out to her from afar.
Shane ran and threw herself into her arms crying.
"I miss Daddy so much... I want him to come home." Shane said sobbing.
"My darling, I'm so sorry... I wish I could have stopped it, especially today... It's going to be okay, I promise. Come on, let's go home. I'll make you a nice hot chocolate with marshmallows." She said.
Shane wiped away her tears, took her hand in her mother's hand and went home.
~Three years later.~
"It's great to celebrate our third Christmas in Washington DC." Alex remarked.
"And Grandma should be here any minute now." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"It's great, I can't wait for her to be here. We have to finish soon, so ... Mom, can you give me the snowball to put in the tree? ... Thank you ... Hey Shane, you don't want to help us...In the family, you're the most artistic." Alex remarked.
Shane, who was then sitting on the couch reading a magazine, stood up and put her magazine on the table.
"Why bother? Christmas is for children, who believe in miracles, and who think that a man dressed in red will bring them gifts and hope. Today, the only thing that can bring a little hope is to believe in fairy tales. I'm in my room waiting for Grandma to arrive." Shane said, visibly angry, and went up the stairs.
"But what's gotten into her? She's never said that before." Elizabeth McInerney remarked.
At the same time, in a house on an island.
Oliver O'Toole was standing, thoughtful, looking out the window at snowflakes falling from the sky. It was the first Christmas since his parents divorced. So Joe and him were spending Christmas at his grandmother's house on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It's a beautiful island not far from Seattle. Joe was finishing adding logs to the fireplace when an elderly lady, carrying a box down the stairs, smiled when she saw her grandson still thoughtful in front of the window.
"Mom, I finished putting the logs in the fireplace." Joe said.
"Thank you very much son... I'm so glad you two are spending Christmas here... Oliver, are you okay? You look pensive. Do you want to come and pick out the decorations for the tree with me ? " His grandmother asked.
Oliver came out of his daydream, turned around and smiled.
"Yes, Grandma, I'd love to." Oliver said as he walked towards her.
His grandmother took the decorations out of the box and put them on the table, when Oliver, surprised, noticed that there was also writing paper, envelopes, pens, twine, paper clips and pins.
"Grandma, why are there envelopes and stationery?" Oliver asked.
That's when Joe smiled at his mother.
"It's a family tradition. These are the letters from the Christmas tree." Mary answered.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked, eager to understand.
"You know Oliver, I also believe that gifts are also found in the words of a person's heart. With your grandfather, we used to write letters; full of love, joy, kindness and hope. To use the magic of words to say what you feel and appreciate in a person. We hang the letters on the tree and we opened them on Christmas day. And I intend to carry on that tradition this year with you." Mary says.
That's when Oliver picked up a pen and some stationery.
"How about we start now?" Oliver asked with a smile.
It was then his grandmother gave him a big smile.
End of flashback.
One december Saturday afternoon in Denver, Colorado.
Shane McInerney was watching a romantic comedy like every afternoon, when the front door rang. It was the third time in fifteen minutes. She turned off the TV, sighed and opened the door.
"Look, if you still want to sell me life insurance, I'm not interested...so please... Oliver?" Shane exclaimed, surprised.
"Good afternoon Miss McInerney. I was in the area and was just about to go downtown for a little shopping. Would you like to come with me, if you like?" The postal detective asked.
"I'd love to come with you, just give me five minutes." She answered with a smile.
They walked through the illuminated and decorated streets of Larimer Square.
"Oliver, I don't want sound impolite but what were you doing in my neighborhood?" Shane asked .
"Oh, I was just finishing my tour." Oliver replied.
"Your tour? Wait, you work on Saturdays too." Shane exclaimed.
"Well, I volunteer every year on Saturdays in November and December to help with mail delivery. It's important to me... Oh, one can start with this store." Oliver declared.
"Oliver, what are we doing here?" Shane asked.
"We're here to buy decorations for the Christmas tree in the DLO. And since you told me that you studied art history in college, I thought you might be able to give me your opinion on which decorations to choose." Oliver replied.
"I don't think that's a good idea... Plus last year, there was already a tree at the DLO that you decorated." Shane declared because she wanted to avoid old Christmas ghosts.
"In fact, you're the only person I wanted to ask to go with me. So your presence today means a lot to me." Oliver says.
She smiled at him and they went into the store. When they had finished shopping for decorations, they sat down to drink hot chocolate and taste gingerbread. That's when Oliver looked at his pocket watch.
"Excuse me, Miss McInerney, can you wait here for five minutes. It's not very gentlemanly of me, but I have to pick up something on the next street and I...
"Oliver, take all the time you need, I'll wait here, don't worry." Shane says.
Oliver smiled and rushed to the next a street.
He walked a few more minutes to get to a stationery store.
The storefront one can read: Wilson, stationery store since 1880.
The postal detective opened the door and a bell rang.
"Good evening Mr. Wilson. How are you?" Oliver asked.
"Oliver O'Toole, just in time ! I've been expecting you. I'm fine, thank you. The move of the store from East 7th Avenue to Larimer Square went very well... I prepared what you ordered " Wilson said, retrieving a bag from behind the counter.
"It's all there, it's perfect !" Oliver exclaimed.
"Yes, it's vintage antique paper. By the way, it's a little early for presents, but I wanted to give you this. It's a storybook with an antique cover that I bought in London. It's for you." Wilson says.
" Wow ! It's very nice of you, thank you very much Mr. Wilson. It's a beautiful gift... I will take great care of it. Books and antiques are so important to me." Oliver said with a smile.
"Yes, I know you very well. Don't forget this: Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. C.S. Lewis. Did you need anything else my boy ?" Wilson asked with a smile.
Shane was pensive when she saw a little girl with her father coming out of a toy store. It brought back a distant memory.
Flashback
"Daddy, can I ask Santa Claus to give me this box of watercolors ." Shane asked.
"Really? Are you sure you were nice enough to get that box of watercolors?" His father asked, smiling.
"Daddy, stop making fun of me." Shane laughed.
"Okay, and you know what? I'm going to call Santa Claus and ask him to give you a complete drawing set too." His father said with a smile.
End of the flashback.
"Miss McInerney... Miss McInerney... Is everything all right?" Oliver asked.
" Oh, Oliver, you're already here! No, it's nothing. It was just a meaningless memory. "Shane replied.
"I'm done. The weather is more cold. I'll take you home." Oliver said.
"Thank you very much Oliver. I had a lovely afternoon." Shane declared with a smile as she opened the door.
"It's my pleasure. I'm finally going to spend Christmas with my dad after all this time. Tell me, are you going on vacation for Christmas?" Oliver asked.
"I don't know yet. I haven't thought about it yet. Besides, you know I don't like the cold. See you Monday, Oliver." Shane said smiling before closing the door behind her.
The postal detective sat on the porch swing and thinks for a moment. That's when snowflakes started to fall and a smile appeared on his face.
TBC.