The Spirit of Giving: A Caskett Christmas Story
Chapter 6 - Christmas In NYC
Christmas in New York City was always festive. The city dressed up for the event. Decorations in all the department stores, particularly Macy, known for heralding in the start of the season with their Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade that had become an NYC and national icon. The official NYC Christmas Tree was up in Rockefeller Center and the rink was opening for skating. Rick and Kate always took to skating at the rink during the season. They had done so since grade school, and continued to do it, now without the presence of their parents to watch them when they took to the rink.
Crowds were bigger now as everyone headed out to do Christmas shopping. The hustle and bustle of the street scene added to the feel of the season. The street vendors were out in full force selling Christmas items, like chestnuts roasted on an open grill by the stalls, poinsettia plants, along with fruit cakes and other holiday food items. The weather was cooperating with its cold winter days and again there was the hope for a White Christmas. The ambience of the Season was everywhere to be found in the city.
This was the favorite season for our couple, particularly for Rick. This was the holiday he always looked forward to thru out the year. Now it finally had come and they had more free time on their hands particularly since the start of Christmas Break from college.
The last school day before Holiday break commenced, Rick and Kate had joined Lanie in the NYU cafeteria to share a meal before Lanie headed home to New Rochelle to be with her family. As they started the meal, Josh Davidson entered the cafeteria and spotted them. He joined them for a last minute meal.
"So where to Josh?", asked Rick.
"Rochester, to be with family. Heading out after this. Came in for a meal before I left."
"It will be a cold ride on your motorcycle, better bundle up", says Lanie.
"You and Lanie are in the same situation. She's headed to family in New Rochelle", says Kate.
"And the two of you?", asks Josh.
"Here, Kate and I are native NYC residents, born and bred."
"Family?", questions Josh again.
"Just Kate's dad".
"Oh, that's right, both your mothers have passed away", he says, but then sees their faces when he makes the remark, "Sorry, did not mean to bring that up."
"Oh, that's okay Josh. It's just hard remembering them. Particularly now during the Christmas season", responds Kate.
It was almost four years ago when the worst Christmas for them had happened, both lost their mothers. Kate's mother murdered. Months before that, Martha Rogers had died from her bout with cancer. The tree in the Beckett household was up and did not get taken down till way after February as a result of her mother's murder. Rick had sold his mother's things to help pay for a room he shared with a friend and never put up a tree. The shock of those events having overshadowed everything that past Christmas. Those were but sad memories of that season now almost four years past. All those memories had come back when Josh had spoken of their mothers.
Despite all those memories, their farewell meal continued as the four of them enjoy each other's company before two in the gathering began their Holiday travel home. They part ways after the meal wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one another. Kate and Rick take a subway ride back to their studio. The unfolding of the Season now well in progress.
Christmas Morning
Kate woke up bright and early on Christmas morning despite the fact they had attended Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's and did not get to sleep till well after that hour. Still Kate was envigorated and wide awake. Next to her, Rick was still sleeping.
"Wake up sleepy head, it's Christmas Morning!"
As if energized, Rick woke up with a start.
"What time is it?"
"Seven in the morning and we need to get ready. We will have a Christmas Brunch with dad and then we'll give dad his present afterward. I am so excited as this is one Christmas where dad will be mentally present to celebrate. Past Christmas's he did not have the mental capacity to enjoy the season. His mind was in a haze during those times. It will be different this year and I am so excited about that. So, go now and shower Rick."
As Rick showered, Kate made a quick trip to the laundry room and got Rick's gift from their storage cabinet. She put the already wrapped gift in the bag with their prepared Christmas meal. When Rick finished, Kate then took her shower.
As Kate was in the bathroom, Rick checked the envelope with Kate's gift that he had placed in his backpack, along with the Christmas cards from his students. Those cards were now under the tree to be opened and read this Christmas Day. They would be opened later and enjoyed. Rick then quickly put on his best dress pants, button down shirt that Kate liked on him, and sports coat. The shirt brought out the blue of his eyes and that's what Kate always said about that item of dress he now wore.
When Kate finished showering, she got dressed putting on the black dress that Rick always drooled over when he saw her wear it. Kate is stunning in the dress and Rick just admires her beauty. Kate could always bring out that reaction in Rick. She was gorgeous and alluring in that outfit. Kate puts on her warmest full length coat with a scarf of Christmas colors. She grabbed the bag with both the Christmas meal and Rick's gift in it.
"I can carry the bag", Rick says as he puts on his back pack.
"No, I got it Rick!", she was not about to have Rick accidentally discover his gift before she could surprise him with it.
Normally they would take a subway ride and then two bus routes to get to her father's health care facility. Today however with what they were bringing, they decided to splurge on a taxi ride to the facility. Once there, they heated their Christmas meal in the microwave and on one of several portable electric hot plates in the kitchen area of the facility. The other families were doing the same. Many patients celebrated the holidays this way, particularly Christmas. Their health seldom permitting travel, very few of the patients here actually made it home for the holidays. So the facility allowed for this event on the premise.
Kate and Rick chatted with several of the other families, getting caught up with them since they last saw them on the past Christmas a year ago. Then came the sharing of some dishes between the families. Kate had killer bite sized pecan tarts that she had baked. She had spent several hours baking then in their little portable electric toaster oven in the studio. Still the pecan tarts came out good and she had baked enough to give the other families a small plateful of tarts each. Another family shared their green bean casserole with shave almonds in a cream sauce which had become yet another shared favorite dish. And still another family had shared the dinner biscuits that were so delicious. So did the gathering go for all of them until each family was ready to partake of their meal. One family won the lottery to lead the prayer and all stopped to participate in the mass Christmas prayer. Each family then settled down for their individual family meal. The room was buzzing with all of the conversations, laughter, and several outbursts of sheer pleasure and enjoyment from the event happeining around all of them. Once the dinner was done, they all retired to the assigned room of their loved one.
In Jim's room the couple sat on the coach to the side of his bed. Kate pulled out an envelope for her father.
"Dad, here's your Christmas gift, but don't open it yet."
Before Kate could surprise her husband with her gift to him, he surprised her.
"Merry Christmas Kate", he says handing her an envelope.
Not to be outdone, Kate pulls out her gift to Rick from the bag that had held their Christmas meal.
"Merry Christmas, Rick."
Surprised, Rick says, "Thought we did not have enough for gifts for each other since the money went to help dad on his treatment this coming new year."
Both were waiting for the other to open their gift.
"Tell you what, why don't we all open our gifts at the same time, since I have a pretty good guess about my gift", suggests Jim.
They all open their gifts simultaneously and are totally surprised by them. That done, they all take time to appreciate their gifts.
Kate speaks first.
"A pre-paid shop order to repair dad's watch, how did you afford this?"
"How did you pay for the laptop?"
"I asked first", she says.
"I sold my pen to a shop, but I can buy it back in a month."
"I pawned dad's watch and have four months to pay back the loan. Then I used some of Mom's insurance money to make up the difference. I also used some of that to supplement the co-pay."
"So, as I suspected, you all went and spent what you had saved for this Christmas to pay for my copay. Then the both of you went into debt and made up the difference of what was lacking by sacrificing your most prized possession for additional money. This so I could have a good Christmas and the two of could give each other a great Christmas gift."
Then they all laughed at Jim's remarks that summarized exactly what had happened. It sounded comical the way Jim had described the situation. Still, theirs were sacrifices forged from love. That love allowed them to give up a most cherished possession for the sake of the others' benefit. It had been a labor of love obtained by forfeiture. An act of unconditional giving with little hesitation to act on the matter despite the personal loss of a prized possession for each.
"Well, let me add to the gifts, here is my gift for the two of you", Jim says and pulls out an envelope that clearly by its size and shape contains a Christmas card.
Jim hands to them both that envelope and they are surprised.
"You got the two of us a gift, what's in the card?"
"I have my ways, so open the card, read it, and get your gift."
They open the card and read what Jim wrote to them: "To my family for Christmas. To make up for all the Christmas's I was not mentally here and did not have a gift to share. Love Dad."
There is a check in the card, but only the back is showing. Kate takes it and turns it over, then they see the check... for $32,000!
"Dad... how?! What?!", the shock of the amount evident in Kate's voice.
"Yes Jim, this is an incredible amount."
Jim then tells them the story of purchasing the Pilgrim Life Insurance with mutual fund account.
"So this is a third of the accrued value of your mutual fund after some 25 years", says Rick.
"Yes, and the two of you, along with future grandchildren, are now he beneficiaries of the remaining amount in that fund. It will continue to accrue if left untouched. So, save it for my future grandchildren", replies Jim.
Both are dumbfounded and can hardly believe what has happened. Jim's mention of future grandchildren makes them aware that in the future, they would give Jim future Castle babies.
"Well, I guess we can pay off the debts we owe, get the watch and pen back, and still have lots leftover for a sizable emergency fund", says Kate.
"Merry Christmas!" they all say in unison to one another and then do a family embrace.
They had all hug and the love and sharing in that room that Christmas day exemplified the spirit of the season. The joy had been in the giving. An action that had been done because of their love for one another. They are a small family, only three, but their love and joy that day filled the room. It was a Christmas Story that Jim Beckett would share many times with his future grandchildren in the re-telling of what happened this day. A Christmas Tale recited to remind them always what the season spirit was truly about... love and sharing.
Later That Evening
They returned to their studio after having one of the best Christmas's in a while. Rick was sitting on their sofa bed, reading the cards from his students. Kate was in the bathroom changing to night wear. She emerges from the room.
"There is still one gift left that you have yet to unwrap."
Rick looks up from his reading to see his wife. His mouth drops when he catches the view of her. There in a translucent black teddy with nothing on underneath but a thong panty is Kate. A Christmas bow tie hanging on her from her neck. Kate glowing in all her sexy beauty. To say Rick was surprised is an understatement!
He stands up from the sofa to look into her eyes as she enters his personal space.
"Of course, I have to unwrap my gift also", she whispers in his ear in a seductive manner all the while starting to unbutton Rick's shirt, "so let's unwrap our last gifts together."
"Best. Gift. Ever." is Rick's reply as he too commences to unwrap his last git of the Christmas night.
FIN
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my fellow Caskett Fans!