Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Coyote Ugly just the ones I make up in the story.

Chapter 15: First Christmas Without Josiah

December 24, 2000

2:30pm

I was getting ready for my family to come over so we could go to Christmas Eve mass together. Since I've only been out of the hospital for three days the doctor didn't want me to travel not even to New Jersey where I usually went to my Dad's for Christmas Eve so Kevin and I decided to have everyone over for Christmas Eve. We had a good sized living room so we would be able to host everyone. I walked with a cane for the most part and was on a liquid diet. I couldn't stand to clean my colostomy or change the bag so Kevin did that for me.

Soon my Dad and Judy came over with the food and presents. Then Keith came in with Paige and Howie came in alone and finally my Uncle John came in with Grandma and his gifts and an apology that he was running late due to a homicide in the meatpacking district and he had to supervise the investigation.

"Okay we're all here how about we get to the church," Uncle John said as everyone agreed. Then there was a knock on the door. I went to get the door, opened it and gave Keith a dirty look. There stood the Mulroney Brothers, Bud, Jerry and Rollie. Keith worked with all three of the brothers at his firehouse in the meatpacking district. Jerry was holding his 2 year old son, Charlie, in his arms.

"You invited them? This is supposed to be a family celebration!" I yelled at Keith.

"They are family, at least to me, Paige and Grandma. I don't know about the rest of you. Their dad had a heart attack last night and they have no one to celebrate Christmas with so I said they could come over here and celebrate with us," Keith said.

My dad and Uncle John objected but Grandma talked them out of it.

"I'm…sorry, I didn't know. Well, I guess they're welcome here then. Come on in guys. We were just leaving for mass," I said as they came in.

"You don't mind me bringing Charlie do you? Val has to work at the firehouse tonight and won't be off until Sunday," Jerry said, referring to his ex-girlfriend Val, who's a paramedic at the firehouse that Keith and the brothers work at.

"That's okay Jerry. Well, we better get going or we're going to be late," I said as we all walked out of the apartment.

8:00pm

It was after 8 pm and we were all in the living room talking while Paige and Charlie were eyeing the presents. Kevin was talking to the brothers, discussing the firehouse life.

"When do you get your firehouse assignment Kevin?" Bud asked.

"January 1st. My first day is on January 8th. I have orientation in between the 1st and 8th," Kevin said.

"Oh maybe you'll get assigned to our firehouse then we get to harass you because you'll be a rookie and we get to harass the rookies," Rollie said as Jerry elbowed him in the ribs.

Kevin gulped.

"Don't worry man, we won't go too hard on you, if you come to work with us," Keith said.

"Okay, I think. Hey Jerry, your son's pretty interested in the presents," Kevin said.

"Yeah he can't wait until he gets his own tomorrow. It sucks that he can't spend Christmas with Val my ex girlfriend his mother. She thinks it sucks having to work on Christmas too," Jerry said.

"Yeah. So how did you two meet?"

"You mean me and Val? Simple, it was her first day at work at the firehouse three years ago and I bumped into her literally and sparks flew. Next thing you know it we were going on our first date. Then we slept together and two months later she found out she was pregnant with Charlie. Then I said something stupid and she broke up with me. We still worked at the same firehouse and I was involved in the pregnancy from start to finish and Charlie was born on November 17, 1998. That was the best day of my life."

"Wow. I had a similar experience just last year but it didn't turn out like expected."

"Yeah Keith mentioned you and Violet lost your son. I'm so sorry man."

"Yeah, thanks. He would've been 7 months old earlier this month and this would've been his first Christmas."

"Yeah. Well, let's change the subject. I think everyone's ready to open the gifts!" Jerry said as he grabbed one from Charlie's hands and handed it to Paige, who tore it open and jumped up and down. It was the Barbie doll she wanted.

One by one the gifts were handed out and opened. By the time all the gifts were opened Paige and Charlie were getting tired so everyone started to pack their cars full of their presents and left one by one until there was just me, Kevin, Dad and Judy. Dad and Judy were staying overnight on the pull out couch.

I got ready for bed in the bathroom and joined Kevin in our bedroom. Dad and Judy were watching a movie in the living room.

"You know, I was thinking, why don't we open the keepsake book that the hospital gave us? We need that closure, you know?" Kevin asked me.

"Yeah we should. How about tomorrow because I just want to sleep right now, okay?" I said as he agreed. I got into bed and turned the light off. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was asleep.

10:00am

December 25, 2000

I woke up to the smell of coffee and pancakes. I woke up Kevin and we left our room and went to the kitchen. Judy was dishing up the pancakes and Dad gave us each a coffee cup.

"Well, our surprise gift should be coming any minute now," my dad said as there was a knock on the door. It was Lil, holding a small box.

"Hey guys how's your Christmas so far. It only took me five minutes to wrap this surprise gift of yours so please appreciate the wrapping job," Lil said as she handed the box to me.

"So let me guess…you were in on this with my dad and Judy all along?" I asked her.

"Yes along with Cammie, Rachel and Zoe. They couldn't be here they're with their families so it's just me," Lil said.

"So, open it already!" my dad said as Kevin and I tore open the gift and there was a large envelope inside. We opened it and inside it were two plane tickets and a brochure about Hawaii in it with cash.

"Oh my gosh you guys. This is way too much money!" I said surprised.

"Oh it was nothing. It took us six months to save up enough cash for the tickets and the spending cash so please put it to good use," Lil said as Dad nodded.

"I think we'll use this for our honeymoon, thanks," Kevin said as I agreed.

"Yeah, Dad, Judy and Lil, thank you so much. Lil you have to thank the girls for us too," I said.

"Sure will do. Well I have to go over to Rachel's so glad you like your gift," Lil said as she said her goodbyes and left. I went up to my Dad and gave him a hug.

"Well let's open the rest of the gifts okay?" Dad said as we started to open our gifts. When we were finished Kevin went to get the keepsake book. I was dreading opening it but it was our chance for some closure. When Kevin put it in front of me I wanted to cry but something was stopping me from doing it so I opened the book.

The first page was his birth announcement. I read it. Josiah Andrew O'Donnell, Weight 7 pounds 6 ounces 20 inches long. Born on May 3rd 2000 at 9:03pm at St. Luke's Medical Center. Right below the birth announcement was his picture. He was dressed in a blue striped sleeper with a giraffe on it. He looked peaceful. The next page was his footprints and handprints, the page after it was a lock of his hair and the final page was his hospital bracelet and a poem called God's Little Child. The whole book was beautiful and put together well. Kevin held me close as I finally cried. My dad was holding back tears as well as Judy. We finally had closure in Josiah's death and we could move on, hopefully having another child someday will help too.