Horatio & Josie: Happy Christmas - Traditions
Chapter 8
December 24 – Christmas Eve
At the sound of Kieran's voice, Jo jerked away from Horatio, but not before she heard his muttered, "Great timing, as usual, Roxie." Jo shrugged her shoulders apologetically, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she followed an upset Kieran out to the scene of the crime below the branches of the Christmas tree. A very unapologetic Roxie was laying amongst torn Christmas wrappings and mangled bows and ribbons. She looked from Kieran to Jo.
"Roxie what are we going to do with you?" Jo asked, biting her lip. After a moment she said matter-of-factly, "Okay, Kieran here's the plan. You gather the presents Roxie tried to open, and I'll find a box. When we get home from Mass, you and Uncle Jasper can rewrap them. I don't think Roxie found any of the dog treats or toys. Don't be too upset with her, ok?" Her nephew nodded slowly, reaching down to pat the large head. Jo smiled as she heard Kieran's softly murmured, "I know you're really excited because your dad is here too, hmm Rox?"
At the Lab in Miami …
"Oh Erik," Calleigh pushed the blonde hair back from her eyes and looked at her watch, "it's after 5:00 on Christmas Eve. Why are we still here?" The handsome man bending over the pages of sheet music laid out on the table answered her without looking up.
"Because … we are trying to figure out if there are clues in this sheet music that was left at the last crime scene. And …if we don't catch this guy by tomorrow he might disappear and won't come back until next Christmas."
"Now you're sounding like Horatio," Calleigh drawled, a smile on her face as Erik straightened up, fixing her with his best "you've got to be kidding" stare. "Sorry, your beautiful brown eyes don't have the same effect as the LT's. And, since Horatio is in Minnesota and Stetler is out of the building, what do you say we call it a day so we can get home to hang our stockings up for Santa?" Erik straightened up and stretched, looking at his watch.
"I suppose you're right." He rounded the table, following the diminutive blonde out of the room, turning off the lights as they left. "Speak for yourself Cal. My stocking was hung up days ago! I guess you might not get anything from the man in red this year." His "Ouch!" echoed down the eerily empty halls as she punched him in the shoulder.
Outside St. John's church in Minnesota:
"Bye Auntie, Bye Mr. Horatio! See you after Mass!" Kieran and Liam turned and ran to the tall wooden doors leading into the church. Jo looked up at the man standing beside her. She caught her breath at how handsome he looked in the long coat he had slipped on and the green cashmere scarf draped casually around his neck. Falling snowflakes shimmered in the Christmas lights that were woven into the pine garland adorning each of the light poles. As Jo watched, they settled on Horatio's red-gold hair and black coat. For a brief moment they sparkled in the light before melting silently away. He was staring up at the bell ringing in the 5 o'clock hour. As the fifth chime faded away into the night, Horatio offered his arm to Jo and they walked slowly toward the church.
As their feet crunched across the snow on the parking lot, Jo glanced at the man walking beside her. The earlier teasing was gone; he had been quiet on the short ride to the church from her house. In front of them, families were stopping near the Nativity scene set up outside the church doors. The excited voices of children hung in the air as they pointed to the Baby Jesus and figures of Mary and Joseph. Horatio paused beside the wooden stable, barely feeling Jo's tug on his arm as she bumped into him. "Sorry about …" her words died in her throat as she followed his blue eyes moving from the shepherd with his sheep to the angel hanging above the entrance.
"Look Horatio, the Baby is in the manger tonight! The animals are all there with Him. And there's the angel singing above them!" she said, looking at him. "The angel was always your favorite when you were young, my son." His mother smiled then, her blue eyes so like those of her eldest child, sparkling in the dim light of the Nativity scene. "She reminds me of you," Horatio murmured quietly, the awkwardness of a 15-year-old showing as he hugged her quickly. Horatio felt her squeeze his arm through his thin jacket. "You are sweet my darling son. I love singing. Let's go inside. There will be Christmas carols tonight." She began humming Joy to the World softly as they strolled the rest of the way to the heavy church doors. Horatio walked slowly, not wanting this special moment with his mother to end. Their neighbor, Mrs. Binchey would meet them after the Carols with Ray Jr. for the Midnight Mass. Standing beside her in the pew, he whispered the words of the song, so he could listen to her sing, her voice as sweet as he imagined an angels' might be.
"What is it Horatio?" Jo asked softly, seeing sadness in those beautiful eyes that had not been there five minutes ago. He closed his eyes for a moment, aware of Jo's quiet presence beside him. When he opened them, he turned to her, taking her other hand in his.
"Every Christmas Eve, my mother would take me with her to Carols and Midnight Mass at the church down the street from our house." Horatio's voice was husky with emotion. "It was our Christmas Eve tradition. She would sing as we walked and I would look at the candles in the windows and the lights on the trees. We went to that Mass every year until I was 16. I … I can barely remember her voice now." At the sadness in his voice, Jo caught her breath, her arms going around him in a comforting hug.
"I'm so sorry Horatio." Jo rested her head against his shoulder. "I didn't mean to bring up sad memories. If this is too difficult …" she hesitated as his blue eyes met hers. "I would understand," she finished quietly. "We can go back to the house." Shaking his head slightly, he said quietly, "Not sad, Josie," he paused, "more like … bittersweet." She felt his arms tighten around her. "Your nephews are counting on you, Sweetheart. And," he smiled crookedly, "it will be wonderful to share this evening with your family and to have Kyle with us." Jo's heart skipped a beat when she heard him say us.
Before she could agree, a shout sounded behind them, announcing the arrival of Jasper and Kyle. "Hey you two! There won't be any places left for us to sit together! You were supposed to save spots!" Jasper jogged up beside them and went on past. "Come on Harmon, if we don't get a spot in front where Kieran and Liam can see us, I will never hear the end of it!"
Jo watched in amusement as the two men disappeared into the building. Turning to look up at the silent man beside her, she murmured, "What do you say we send the twins home with Jasper and Kyle and Anne after Mass and we go for a walk?" She was rewarded with a smile, his teeth gleaming in the light.
"I would like that Josie," he murmured, turning her toward the doors. Silently, they walked inside arm-in-arm. Kyle and Anne were waiting for them near the main aisle and soon they were all settled into the long pew. Kieran and Liam spotted them from their chairs on the side of the altar and waved enthusiastically. Jo found herself resisting the urge to lay her head on Horatio's shoulder, smiling as she noticed Anne and Kyle holding hands on the other side of Horatio. A sense of peace settled around her and for the first time since her Aunt had died, Jo felt that this would be a happy Christmas after all.
TBC