Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight related
December 13, 2011
Kate's POV
"It's going to be so quiet this year." I said as I leaned into Garrett's side while we sat on the floor in front of the fireplace.
"That sounds nice to me." He said.
Every year for Christmas, both of our families come to our house. We have a big family dinner, and open presents, and spend a few days together. This year, however, no one can afford the travel expenses. So it will be just Garrett and I this year. The thought of that does have its advantages, but I look forward to our big family Christmas every year.
"Think of it this way," Garrett said, "You don't have to make a huge dinner."
"I like making a huge dinner." I whined. "It will be nice to not have to do all those dishes though." I added.
"See. Advantages." Garrett laughed. "We can stay in our pajamas, open presents just me and you, eat TV dinners. No dishes."
"Oh, yeah." I rolled my eyes. "It has always been my dream to have TV dinners for Christmas."
"Alright not TV dinners, you know what I mean." He laughed.
"I do." I said completely understanding what he was trying to do. "You're right. It will be just us, and it will be fine. We will make it special."
"We get to stay in pajamas all day, right?" He asked.
"If thanks what you want." I laughed. "You are such a big child."
I love spending time alone with Garrett, I really do. I cherish every minute we have together. But, the both of us love spending the holiday's with our families. We see them so rarely that we look forward to when everyone is together. The sounds of a full house, the huge meal we all make together, the sleeping bags littering the living room floor for all the kids, even the family squabbles that occur. We love it all.
We would just have to postpone it this year.
~*~*~*CM*~*~*~
As I came in the door after work the phone was ringing. I dropped my bag and keys on the couch and ran for the phone.
"Hello?" I asked slightly out of breath from running through the house.
"Hi, sweetie." I heard through the line.
"Hi, mom." I said cheerily.
"Honey, I have something to tell you and I don't want you to freak out." She said.
I sunk to the couch and said, "Nothing good ever starts with that sentence."
"I probably could have said that better." She said.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Your father had a mild heart attack last night." She answered. Before she could continue the tears started. "He is going to be fine. The doctors are keeping him in the hospital for a few days and run a stress test and some other things."
I sat there staring at the well as the tears rolled down my face and I let her words sink in. Heart attack kept flashing in my mind over and over.
"Kate, are you still there?" My mom asked.
"Yeah, sorry." I answered shaking my head to bring me out of my thoughts. "I just…I can't believe he had a heart attack."
"Me neither." She said. "He scared me to death."
"Please don't say death." I cried harder.
"I'm sorry." She said. "But he's going to be fine. The doctors say with exercise, a healthier diet, and less stress, we will be perfectly healthy."
"How is he doing?" I asked.
"He's sleeping right now." She answered. "When he's awake he is in pretty good spirits. He has been joking around with the doctor's and nurses. Complaining he wants to go home, trying to bride everybody for things."
"Sounds like dad." I chuckled through the tears.
"I have to get back in there with him." She said. "I will have him call you when he wakes up."
"Alright. Tell dad I love him, and I love you too, mom."
"I love you too, sweetie." She said.
I sat on the couch after getting off the phone and just cried.
I looked up towards the door as Garrett walked in. He took in the sight of my tears and said, "What's wrong? Who died?"
I started crying even harder.
Garrett rushed over to me. "Jesus, I'm so sorry. What happened? Kate, what's going on?"
"My dad had a heart attack." I answered.
"Oh, God." Garrett mumbled. "Is he…is he, you know?"
I knew what he was trying to ask. He was trying to ask if he had passed away, without actually saying it.
"Mom said he's going to be fine." I said. "But I should be there. I want to be there."
"I know." Garrett said wrapping me in a hug. "We will try to figure something out."
For the rest of the night we went over our savings, and vacation time we both had.
When the phone started ringing I ran for it and grabbed it on the first ring.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hi, baby girl."
"Dad." I breathed. "How are you doing? Are you alright? How are you feeling?"
"Slow down." He chuckled. "I'm alright. Tired. I have been sleeping a lot. They have been giving me some good stuff that knocks me right out. I'm thinking about taking some home so I can take some when your mother decided to talk about her feelings and crap." I heard my mother yell at him from the background and he laughed again.
"We are trying to figure out a way to get there to be with you." I said.
"Oh, Kate, that's not necessary." He said. "I really am going to be just fine."
"I believe you." I said. "But I still should be there. Plus its Christmas, I want to see you guys anyways."
"I know you want to be here Kate, but I also know you can't afford it right now." He said. "Don't feel guilty. Plus you don't want to come here. Your mother has already gone through the house and thrown away all the real food and replaced it with soy this, and gluten free that. Sounds more like a prison sentence." He whispered the last part.
"If it keeps you healthy and alive you will eat it." My mother said, who must have been sitting next to him.
"That does sound pretty awful." I laughed. "But we are still going to figure out a way to get there."
"Don't stress yourself out over it." He said.
"I have gone over everything." Garrett said as he sat back in his seat running his hands through his hair. "We might have enough for you to go; no way both of us can go."
"I can't leave you alone over Christmas." I said shaking my head.
"There's no other way." He said. "You should go. You should be with your parents."
I sighed. There was no way I was going to be away from Garrett, but I also wanted to be with my parents. This was a lose-lose situation.
"Let's sleep on it." I said. "I could probably wait until after Christmas and we will have our Christmas bonuses."
I tossed and turned all night, worrying about my dad, stressing over the fact that we couldn't get there, guilty about actually thinking about leaving Garrett for Christmas.
"Stop it." Garret said rubbing my back. "You're going to make yourself sick. We will figure something out."
I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but we both knew there was nothing we could do.
While we were standing in the kitchen making breakfast the telephone started ringing at the same time as Garrett's cell phone started ringing. I answered the house phone while Garrett answered his cell.
Garrett looked at me after he got off the phone and said, "That was my boss. Along with the Christmas bonus I am getting extra vacation days and he gave me the two weeks surrounding Christmas off."
"That's weird." I said. "My boss just told me the exact same thing."
We both looked at each other not understanding why different people at two different companies would give their employees the same thing. We were brought out of our thoughts as the door bell rang.
We both walked to the door. Garrett opened the door to reveal no one there, but there was a small package sitting on the doorstep. Garrett picked it up and opened it and pulled out two round trip airline tickets to Florida and a note that said,
Garrett and Kate,
The holidays are a time to be with family. And during a family emergency, you should be together.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Santa
"I guess we both get to go." Garrett smiled.
I threw my arms around Garrett's neck and smiled. "Thank you." I said. "Thank you!" I yelled louder hoping whoever put this on the doorstep would hear.
"I'm still wearing my pajamas on Christmas." Garrett said. "You promised."
"Big child." I laughed.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
If Santa came to visit you, what miracle would you want granted?
Leave a review and I will see you tomorrow!