Christmas Morning

Shane stood in front of her Christmas tree. Oliver walked into the room. His blue eyes shown with love. He joined her at the tree and took her hands. He brought them to his lips, kissing first one, then the other.

Shane stirred.

"No. I don't want to wake up. Oliver is ok. He's kissing my hand."

He's kissing my hand? This wasn't a dream. Oliver WAS kissing her hand. Shane's eyes flew open and she sat upright. His eyes were open. Clear and bright and shining with love as he looked at her.

She touched the call button on the side of his bed.

"Yes, Shane?"

"He's awake."

"I'll page Dr. Carlson."

"How long?" Oliver asked Shane.

"36 hours. It's Christmas morning."

"How is Dale?"

"Blaming herself."

"She shouldn't."

"I know. It was an accident."

Oliver studied Shane carefully. She looked worn out. Her cheeks were pale and she had dark circles under her eyes.

"How long have you been here?"

"All night."

"You should have gone home to get some rest."

"I wasn't going to leave you alone, not on Christmas Eve."

Tears spilled from Shane's eyes and ran down her cheeks.

Oliver pushed the button to raise the bed. When he was sitting upright, he patted the side.

"Come here, my love."

Shane sat carefully on the edge. She laid her hand lightly on his cheek. She was almost afraid to touch him for fear that she'd hurt him. Oliver took her face in his hands. His eyes caressed every inch. He placed soft kisses on her forehead and eyes. Gentle kisses on her cheeks wiped away the tears. Shane hadn't moved, but then Oliver touched her lips with his own. She pulled him towards her, gently caressing the hair at the back of his neck while he stroked her back. Time stood still for just a moment while they held onto each other and kissed each other passionately. For Shane, it was as if the last 36 hours had never happened. Oliver held her in his arms. She didn't want to ever let go again.

"Ahem!"

Oliver released Shane quickly. Shane jumped off the bed and moved to the other side of the room. Her cheeks were red. Dr. Carlson stood in the room.

"I'm Dr. Carlson," he told Oliver, extending his hand.

The two men shook hands.

"A pleasure," Oliver said.

"How do you feel?" Dr. Carlson asked him. "Headache? Dizziness? Blurred vision?"

"No, and no, and - no."

"Any pain in your neck? Your back?"

"I assure you, I'm fine."

Dr Carlson looked at Oliver, then at Shane, and smiled.

"It appears that you are, however, I would like to keep you here one more day for observation."

"That isn't necessary. I am all right. It's Christmas, a day of joy and celebration. I want to go home."

"Very well. Just one thing. Please don't drive today. If you develop any problems, call me immediately."

"I will."

"Carol will bring your discharge papers in a few minutes."

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," Oliver told Shane as soon as the door closed behind Dr. Carlson.

"I wouldn't have cared if the whole world was watching. The only thing that mattered to me at that moment was being held in your arms."

Oliver's eyes lit up and he smiled.

"As much as I would like to hold you in my arms again, I do need to dress. Would you excuse me for a few minutes?"

Shane reached into her purse for her cell phone and headed for the door.

"I'll call Dale and let her know you're all right."

Carol walked up, pushing a wheel chair and carrying the necessary papers.

"He's dressing," Shane told her.

Carol knocked on the door.

"Come in," Oliver said.

By the time Shane finished talking to Dale, Oliver was ready to leave.

"Must I sit in that?" he asked Carol, indicating the wheel chair.

"Yes. Hospital rules."

"You always follow the rules, Oliver," Shane said.

Oliver sighed and shook his head slightly, but he complied, taking a seat in the chair.

"Patient pick-up is at the main door," Carol told Shane.

Carol was waiting with Oliver as Shane parked the car by the doors.

"You take care of yourself," Carol said to Oliver. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you."

Shane started the car. She reached over and squeezed Oliver's hand.

"I called your dad and Rita & Norman. Joe's on his way."

Shane pulled the car away from the hospital. She bit her lip and fought for control. In spite of her best efforts, tears spilled from her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

"I was so scared," Shane said.

Oliver reached over and tenderly wiped away the tears.

"I had a visitor last night," Shane told him. "Jordan."

"He had a message for you?"

"More like a reminder. About miracles. The greatest miracle, when Perfect Love came down. I remembered what you told me that Christmas. Perfect love casts out all that pain and all that fear and replaces it with hope. For the first time since you were hurt, I had hope."

Shane blinked hard to keep the tears from falling again.

"More tears?"

"I'm just so...grateful."

Shane stopped the car in front of Oliver's house. He got out, came over to the driver's side, opened the door, and held out his hand.

"Come inside for just a moment."

Oliver continued to hold Shane's hand as they climbed the stairs. As soon as he shut the door, he turned to face her, took hold of her other hand, and kissed her softly.

"Merry Christmas!"

Shane stood there looking at him.

"What is it you're contemplating?" Oliver asked.

She couldn't resist. She reached out and lifted his tie, pulling him towards her and returning his kiss.

"Merry Christmas!"

Oliver released her reluctantly.

"You'd better go. We can't be late for the service."

Shane nodded. She touched his cheek with her hand and left.

Shane ran up the steps and burst through the front door. Chris and Alex came into the entry.

"He's awake! He's all right!" Shane exclaimed. " I just dropped him off at his house!"

Shane dropped her coat and purse on a chair and hugged her mother, then her sister.

"You left him alone?" Chris asked.

"He's fine. He needed to get ready for church."

"He's attending the service?"

"Of course. It's Christmas. I'm going to get ready. We need to leave in an hour."

Shane headed for her bedroom.

Shane, Chris and Alex entered the church. Joe and Oliver stood waiting by the door.

"Welcome, ladies. Merry Christmas." Oliver said.

"Merry Christmas, Oliver," Chris replied.

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm.

"I'm so glad you're all right."

The door opened, and Rita & Norman, followed by Mike and his family, joined them.

"Everyone, please meet my wife Marilyn and daughter Christine," Mike said.

Marilyn walked up and put her arms around Chris.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family. My daughters, Alex and Shane, Oliver O'Toole, Shane's fiancé, Oliver's father, Joseph O'Toole, and dear friends Norman and Rita Dorman."

Hugs and handshakes were exchanged by everyone.

The door opened again and Dale stepped inside. She saw Oliver and just stood there.

Oliver walked over to her and smiled.

"Good morning. Merry Christmas."

Dale's voice trembled.

"Merry Christmas. Oliver, I'm so sorry. It was all my fault."

"It was an accident," he assured her. "There's no need to speak of it anymore."

He gave Dale a hug. She hesitated just a few seconds, then hugged him back.

"Shall we prepare for the service?"

Dale nodded.

"I'll be there as soon as I seat my family."

Shane took Oliver's arm. They led the rest of the family to a pew. As soon as everyone was seated, Oliver left to put on his choir robe.

Sweet strains of organ music began as the choir took their places at the front of the church. Oliver stepped up to the podium and opened the Bible.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,"*he read.

Oliver closed the Bible and began to sing.

"Adeste, fideles, laeti trimphantes; venite, venite in Bethlehem."

Shane reached over, took her mother's hand, and squeezed it. Her heart swelled with joy. This Christmas had truly been a time for miracles. She looked up at Oliver, all the love and pride she felt for him shining in her eyes. Oliver looked down at Shane and smiled, then lifted his hand to indicate that the congregation should stand and join him as he changed to English for the chorus.

"Oh come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord."

The door opened one more time. Oliver looked to the back of the church. Jordan stood there. His eyes met Oliver's and he nodded. Oliver returned the nod and Jordan closed the door.

THE END

*Isaiah 9:6