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As Calleigh had been listening to Frank and Eric tell their stories, she had been watching Ryan's reactions. He seemed to cringe when Frank would mention Santa and seemed distracted when Eric was talking about his sister. Ryan's past was still a mystery to her, but she thought if she didn't provide such a cute and happy story then maybe he would be willing to finally open up to everyone.
She waited for everyone to get a refill of food or punch before she started her story. "Well this is a story that may not bring any laughs as the last two, but it is definitely one that I will never forget". Calleigh paused to get more comfortable in her chair before continuing. She also glanced over at Ryan and was happy that he was still willing to listen to more stories. "Ok, most of you have met my father on one or more occasions, well this story centers on him and how we almost didn't have Christmas that year".
"My father was working a lot at the end of the year to pay the bills and to also make sure we had a good Christmas. I usually only saw him a few minutes in the morning before going to school and would be in bed sleeping by the time he got home. My mother seemed to be alright with it at first, but as he got home later and later each day, she was beginning to have doubts about all the hours he was putting in. She tried to ask him about it when he got home, but he would deny everything. This only caused more friction in the household and I was beginning to think we were not going to spend the holidays together".
"A few days before Christmas he finally confessed to us what he had been doing. He had been removed from all of his current cases because he showed up drunk to court one day. They had decided to give him a chance to clean himself up by having him do community service at night in hopes he might see where he was headed. He wasn't sure how to tell us so he made the decision to hide it and pretended he was just working a lot. It turns out he was just doing that to keep his job. He told us he was very sorry that there was no money for presents since his salary was reduced while he was working at the community center".
"This was just too much for me because this wasn't the first time his drinking had gotten in the way of family plans. I blamed him for ruining Christmas and refused to come out of my room for a whole day. My dad tried to talk to me and tell me that things would work out. He said that any kind or presents would have to wait until next year when he could afford them, but It wasn't the presents that I was upset about, it was the fact that I had lost the father I knew from before. He had been such a devoted father, doing everything he could to make sure my mother and I had what we needed, and then he goes and almost loses his job".
"My mother tried to get me to talk to him; which I finally did on Christmas Eve. I didn't want to spend the holidays locked away in my room so I went down to the community center with my mom. When we got there I was so surprised to see how many people were there for a free meal on Christmas Eve. We found my dad busy in the kitchen preparing food; it was a side of him I had never seen before. From the look on my mother's face, neither had she. We were told to wait for him in the dining room, so we went joined another family at one of the tables. While my mom talked to the parents I sat next to a little girl who was probably only a year younger than me. We started talking and she told us that her dad had lost his job a few months back. They had been coming to the shelter for the past few weeks because their money had all dried up. She showed me a doll that she had gotten from one of the workers at the shelter and she knew it would most likely be her only present this year, but she didn't' care. As long as she was with her family nothing else mattered".
"While I was talking to her, my father came out of the kitchen and started walking toward us. We were playing with her doll when she suddenly stopped and pointed to someone. As I turned to see who it was, I found myself looking at my father. She told me that he was the one who had given her the doll and that he was such a nice man to do that".
"I looked at my father with different eyes that Christmas Eve. I had been so upset with him for ruining my Christmas that I forgot what the season was all about. That night my mother and I stayed with dad and helped him serve the food. It was one of the best Christmas's I had ever had, and to this day I try and find time during Christmas to volunteer. That little girl taught me that no matter what happens, as long as you have your family everything will be alright".
When the story was done Natalia spoke up with tears in her eyes, "Oh Calleigh, that was such a sweet story. Thank you for sharing it with us".
"You're welcome Natalia. As long as I am with family, nights like this are easy to get through". She looked around the room and smiled at everyone, but she stopped when her eyes fell upon Ryan. He was looking more uncomfortable than ever. She was hoping her story would have had the exact opposite effect. She looked at everyone again and said, "Hey why don't we take a break for more food?"
Eric stood up at the mention of food, "Sure Calleigh sounds good, but I hope we can come back to more stories; I am really enjoying this".
Hearing Eric wanting more stories made Ryan's face go pale. He stood up with the others, but instead of heading to the food, he bolted out of the room. Calleigh noticed and was about to go out after him, but it was Horatio who stopped her, "I'll go check on him".
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Ryan had gone to the lab to try and spend the rest of the night alone. The stories were getting to be too much and he was not feeling well. He didn't want to spoil anyone's night so he thought it was best to go back to work. He wasn't sorry he had gone to the party, but after the last story he knew it was time to leave. He was putting his lab coat back on when he noticed Horatio coming through the door.
Horatio came in and leaned against the door, "Mr. Wolfe, are you planning on going back to work?"
"Yeah, I thought it was time. I didn't want anyone to think I was getting paid to be on break".
Horatio knew this was just an excuse, "Well, you know your shift was over an hour ago. There is nothing here that can't wait until tomorrow".
"I know H, but all the stories were just getting to be a little too sappy for me. I was starting to fall asleep".
"Are you sure there isn't another reason for your departure?"
"No, I just needed to get some air, that's all".
Horatio came closer to Ryan and said, "I can't begin to understand why Christmas is so hard on you, but I want you to know that I am here to listen if you're willing to tell your story".
Ryan looked up at Horatio and could see that the man was genuine in his statement. He was getting tired of feeling this way at Christmas and it was the way Horatio's eyes looked right at that moment that made him just want to say why he hated this time of year. He knew that if there was anyone who would not feel sorry for him it was Horatio. "I really want to tell you, but I don't know if I'm ready. I have had so many bad memories tonight that I don't really know how much more I can take. I am getting so tired of all of this. I just wished Christmas was already over with".
Horatio placed his hand on Ryan's shoulder, "Why don't you tell me what's bothering you. It might make you feel better".
Ryan started tugging at his coat collar as he stared at the floor, "I know I should, but I don't think I can".
"Take your time, I'll be here waiting".
Ryan took off his coat and sat down at the desk in the corner. He swiveled the chair in Horatio's direction and just stared at him for a moment. "I've been waiting for too long to talk about this. The reason why I don't celebrate Christmas is because……
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Calleigh was surprised that Horatio had wanted to go and check on Ryan and she was even more surprised when neither had returned yet. Everyone had already loaded up on more goodies and had sat down to listen to one especially disastrous Christmas that Natalia had involving a fully decorated tree and the cat that climbed it. It sounded like a good story but she was too distracted by her missing friends to be really listening. When it seemed like Natalia was done with her story she got up to go and find Horatio and Ryan.
She walked toward the lab and heard voices coming from inside. She stood outside the door considering how to make an entrance when she heard Ryan start to tell Horatio why he didn't like Christmas. She decided not to open the door so that Ryan could finally tell someone, but her concern for Ryan was so strong that she stayed outside the door and listened.
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"The reason I don't like Christmas is because of something that happened when I was 10 years old". Ryan paused as the memories came flooding in.
Horatio pulled up a chair while he patiently waited for him to continue.
Ryan sighed loudly as he pushed the memories back and continued, "It was 2 days before Christmas and it was the first day of winter break. My older brother Thomas, younger sister Rachel and I were hanging out at home while our parents went out and did a few last minute errands. They told Tom and me to watch our sister while they were gone and we told them we would".
"Once they were gone we played a little but eventually got tired of playing her games; since they all seemed to revolve around Santa and his reindeer. You see Rachel was only 7 and she still believed in Santa, so it was only natural that she was excited and wanted to play these types of games. When we told her we didn't feel like playing these games anymore she decided that she would write another letter to Santa". Ryan suddenly stopped as tears started rolling down on his face. He brushed them away with his sleeve, but kept his eyes covered. He didn't want Horatio to see him crying.
He took a few deep breathes and finally continued. "As she was writing her letter we got bored and decided to kid her about Santa. We were just a couple of stupid boys who had nothing better to do but pick on their sister". Ryan suddenly looked Horatio directly in the eyes and said, "I don't know why we did it Horatio; how could we do that to her?"
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Author's Note: Sorry for the cliffhanger, but If you had read any of my other stories; you know I like to put some suspense in them. The next chapter will be up on Christmas Eve and you will all find out the answer.