December 20th 1919
Five days and it would be Christmas. The holiday season should be a time of joy and happiness. Our Christmas would be very different. Of course I was going to try and make it the best day possible for Annie. She deserved it after all she had been through, but it would be our first Christmas without Rose. Through all preparations of the festive season there was always a big gap missing. Annie and I decorated the entire apartment together.
I bought a huge Christmas tree yesterday and stood it up in the corner of the room. When Annie awoke this morning she stumbled into the living room to find the huge tree and a box of decorations lying on the table. She gleefully ran into the kitchen where I was already making breakfast for us both.
"Daddy! That tree is massive!" She exclaimed emphasising the hugeness with her arms.
I laughed at her. "Do you like it?"
Annie nodded. "Can we decorate it now?"
"Well you gotta have some breakfast first Princess," I tried to explain.
"Oh please Daddy, I can't wait to decorate it,"
I took one look at her pleading smile and immediately was worn down. I just nodded while she squealed and clapped her hands.
"Go get changed first though!" I called after her as she ran out of the room.
I then leant against the counter and looked outside. There said there would be snow that weekend but it hadn't come yet. The sky was dark, and an unwelcoming wind blew through the leafless trees shaking their branches. I remember last December around about this time it had been snowing heavily. Annie was so excited to go outside and make a snowman.
She bounced from her room into ours and jumped on the bed.
"Mummy, Daddy wake up it's snowing!" She had said gleefully.
I remember not fully understanding what she was saying at first. I stretched and yawned sitting up in the bed.
"What was that Princess?" I asked rubbing my eyes as Rose began to stir herself awake as well.
"It's snowing!" Annie repeated running over to the curtains and flinging them open, to reveal huge drops of snow pouring from the sky. The ground fully covered in deep snow. I looked at it in amazement of how so much could have fallen in just a night.
"Can we go outside please?" Annie begged.
"Sure baby go get ready and wrapped up." Rose told her.
Annie immediately ran out of the room to get ready. I looked over at Rose who lay back down. I delicately ran a finger through her curls. She looked so beautiful all the time, even on a morning.
"We should get up before Annie dies of excitement," Rose joked. I leant over her and began kissing her passionately.
"Five more minutes," I mumbled before slipping my tongue into her mouth entwining it with hers. Rose wrapped her arms round my back and I pulled myself on top of her and began kissing at her neck hungrily.
Rose patted my back gently. "Jack we can't. Annie could come in at anytime," She said.
I laughed. "Annie will probably already be out there now," and then we heard the back door slam.
"Told you," I smiled. Rose rolled her eyes at me in a joking manner before pulling me back on top of her. She wrapped her legs round my back while we began kissing again. I ran my hand up and down her smooth leg running it underneath her nightdress while she ran her hand down my bare chest before wrapping them round my waist. I slowly started kissing her neck and moving down towards her breasts while she groaned in pleasure. Before we had chance to go any further a snowball was thrown at the window making us both jump.
I leaped down off Rose and towards the window. Annie was stood below it wearing her coat and gloves laughing.
I opened the window. "Good shot Annie!" I laughed.
Rose came up behind me tying her robe round her; she peered out of the window at our daughter. "Annie where's your hat?" She asked. I wasn't aware of what the little monkey had planned next until snow hit my chest. I shivered as the cold numbed it.
I looked down. "You little-," I flung on a sweater and steamed after her. I ran into the garden and picked her up spinning her round and round while she squealed in excitement. Rose shouted at us both from the window to quit messing around and come and get properly dressed of course she wasn't angry. It wasn't long before she followed us both. She came outside wearing a dress, her thick tights, boots, gloves, scarf, coat and hat. In her hands she held scarf and hat for Annie and an entire winter wardrobe for me.
"Honestly it's like having two children," She said handing me my stuff while she wrapped Annie up.
When we were all dressed we had one mighty fine day in the snow. At first we all made a snow family that were supposed to be representatives of us. My art skills didn't stretch as far as sculpturing and I remember standing staring at the one I had created looking for any resemblance. I stroked my chin pretending to be deep in thought.
Rose snuck up behind me pouring loads of snow down my neck. I winced and tensed as the snow trickled down my back. I grabbed her as she tried to run away and flung her down in the snow. Annie jumped on my back desperate to not be left out.
"You want some as well?" I asked and repeated my motion. The pair lay in the snow laughing their heads off. Before they took revenge on me and we had a massive snowball fight. I remember when the novelty had worn off and we were all soaking wet.
It was beginning to get darker so we all went inside and got changed into our night wear. We snuggled up on the sofa by the fire. Annie fell asleep in the middle of us her head resting on my chest. Rose leant over and rested her head on my shoulder and gazed at the Christmas tree. I rested a protective arm around them both.
"Thank you Jack," Rose suddenly said.
"What for?" I asked slightly confused.
"Making me the happiest girl alive," Rose smiled.
I smiled back and kissed her on the lips before she rested her hand once again on my shoulder. We giggled as we rubbed our feet against each other. Before we knew it we had all fallen asleep.
I continued to look out in the yard and could see the faint memory of us all playing in the garden, a repeat of last year's events. I faintly heard Rose call my name as I pulled her down into the snow. I looked down at the empty cup of coffee in my hand and made my way over to the sink and put the cup in before washing it.
When I'd finished I leant against the side and dried my hands. The cupboard facing me was full of Annie's drawing. Some from when she was only one years old. I looked at her latest one it was a drawing they had done at school. It was of a Christmas tree decorated with lots of baubles and glitter at the top there was an angel. The angel had red, curly hair. When she showed me she explained Rose was the angel of the Christmas tree. I thought this was sweet and immediately pinned it up with all her others. They were good for a six year old really good. She had definitely inherited my artist talent, though I didn't really draw much anymore.
I heard a crash coming from the living room. "What on earth-?" I began before hurrying into the living room to see what happened. Annie sat on the floor surrounded by dozens of baubles, lights and tinsel. A chair lay toppled over next to her. I picked her up and placed her back on her feet.
"You ok?" I asked.
"I think so," Annie said looking at the mess.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I couldn't reach the box and when I stood on the chair I got it but the chair fell," Annie exclaimed.
"Did you hurt anything?" I asked.
"Just my bottom," Annie giggled.
I smiled and kissed her on top of the head. I clapped my hands together "Let's get decorating!"
When we used to decorate the tree we would switch on the radio and dance along to the Christmas songs. I didn't think why this year should be any different. Though it would be strange not seeing Rose skip gracefully around the tree spinning tinsel in her hand.
We laughed and danced, just me and Annie as the tree began to look full with decorations. I watched as she danced and sang Joy to the World. Another thing about Jasmine was she was an amazing singer. In fact she had been chosen for a solo piece to sing on Christmas Eve with her class. I couldn't wait to hear her.
When we had finished I gently lifted Annie up and let her place the angel neatly on top of the tree. We gazed up at our creation smiling.
"Do you think Mommy will be sad she missed this?" Annie asked.
"Maybe but she would of seen us and that would of made her happy,"
Annie simply nodded before slipping her hand into mine. "Daddy I need to tell you a secret,"
"What is it Princess?"
Annie gestured for me to kneel down before cupping her hand over my ear. "I got Mommy a present for Christmas, but you can't tell her," She whispered.
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and my heart ache. "I won't tell her," I promised.
"We can give it to her on Christmas when we visit her at the cemetery ok?"
"Yes," Annie said.
I hated the fact Rose wasn't going to be spending Christmas with us. In fact I hated the fact she would never be here to spend any day with us. I glanced at Annie it was going to be hard, but I was going to try and make this the best Christmas ever.
December 24th 1919- Christmas Eve
I stood anxiously in the square waiting for Annie's solo, according to the programme she would be next. The snow was beginning to fall now. The choir were really good, Annie sneaked me little waves every known and then but she stayed on track and in tune with the others. I was aware of standing by myself as proud parents stood around me. They finished the last line of the song and we all clapped. I breathed out slowly as Annie came down from where she was standing and took position at the front in the centre. She grasped her hands together and I could see they were shaking slightly. Though I didn't know if it was from nerves or the cold.
Rachel or Miss Young exchanged some words with her while she nodded and smiled taking in every reassuring word that was been said to her. The crowd fell silent as the band began to play. She took a deep breath and then began.
"O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by,"
Her voice soared through the square and people listened in amazement, at how such a voice could come from such a small girl. As she continued to sing people began mopping their eyes. I didn't look at anyone else though. I didn't tear my gaze away from her, my smile became huge I was one proud father. I winced as her voice went higher but not once did it squeak or go out of tune, she sounded like a professional.
She caught my gaze and gave a small smile. I blew her a kiss, before she went back to looking out on the crowd. I glanced momentarily up at the sky.
"She's amazing Rose petal," I whispered. Knowing she would be listening.
"O come to us, abide with us. Our Lord Emmanuel,"
With that the crowd erupted into a huge cheer and applaud. Annie smiled and curtseyed before returning back to her original position waiting for the final song. The crowd continued to cheer and clap. I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"She was amazing. You must be one proud father," One of the parents said to me.
"Thank you sir, I sure am,"
When the performance had finished Annie ran straight from the bench and into my arms.
"Well done Princess! You were outstanding I'm so proud of you,"
"Did I really do good Daddy?" She asked.
"You bet did you hear them cheering?" I asked.
Annie giggled. Parents kept coming up to us to praise Annie and wish us a merry Christmas. Finally when the last parent had gone Rachel came up to us and rested a hand on Annie's shoulder.
"Annie you stole the show, well done!" She told her while Annie giggled.
"Thank you Miss Young,"
"Jack I haven't seen you in a while how are things?" She asked.
I nodded. "They are getting better, gonna be hard this Christmas but we will be ok,"
"I'm glad to hear," She smiled.
She turned back to address Annie. "I hope Santa's nice to you this year Annie and I will see you in the New Year,"
"Have a merry Christmas, Miss Young," Annie said hugging her.
After she had gone we weren't really in a hurry to get home. I didn't realise how late it was until the clock chimed midnight and I found we were the only people still in the square. I closed my eyes, "Merry Christmas Rose," I whispered. When I reopened them I found Annie had her eyes closed and was mumbling to herself. Before she opened her eyes and looked up at the sky she smiled and then wrapped her arms round me.
"Merry Christmas Daddy,"
"Merry Christmas Princess,"
Hope you liked it. Remember to review or I won't have any motivation and then I will cry and I don't really want to cry so please, please, please review =)
Leah xx