It was a quiet Christmas up in Maine. Helen, Cristina and Logan joined Owen up at his house for the Christmas season. It was too cold to go out on the beach, much to the chagrin of Logan. He thought that it was always going to be sunny at the beach. Cristina explained the seasons changed at the beach, too. Sometimes, he and Cristina would stare out of the window, watching the snow fall. They built snowmen instead of sandcastles.
Owen was really elated that they were spending Christmas with him. His Christmases were usually quite quiet. Sometimes, he would spend it in New York and just do the whole social scene, attending parties and the like. But other times, he would just go back to Maine and spend it in solitude. Joyce had come back from her holidays to spend it with them. She had missed the presence of Cristina and Logan in the house. It had been several months since they left near the end of August. It was also good that Helen was there. The two older ladies had found that they enjoyed much of the same things, the last time that Helen had visited in the summer. Together, they were planning the Christmas day meals. They loved nothing better. Cristina was actually quite glad that her mother had found a friend to share her similar interests. Cristina and her mother didn't have much in common, when it came to interests and hobbies.
In terms of sleeping arrangements, Cristina now shared Owen's bedroom, while Logan slept in the bedroom that was Cristina's. Even though he had his own room, that didn't stop Logan from coming into their room, every morning to cuddle a bit before breakfast. Owen actually loved that very much, with the three of them lying together in the bed. It seemed like they were a family.
Christmas Day was totally different. Logan rushed into their room to wake them up. He climbed on to the bed and sat on Owen's chest. "Get up, Owen." Then he went to his mother and shook her. Both Owen and Cristina pretended to be still asleep, as the little boy tried in vain to wake them up. He then resorted to jumping up and down in the middle of the bed to shake them awake. "Get up!" he shrieked. "Let's go see what Santa brought for me, last night." The night before, Logan had expressed the great fear that Santa would not have known that he was staying in Maine and not in New York.
Owen assured him that Santa knew that he was on holiday in Maine and would know to bring his presents there for him. "Are you sure?" Logan had asked with a worried look. He didn't want to miss out on any presents that Santa may have had for him.
"I am positive," Owen said. "When I mailed him your letter, I added a note that you were going to be here in Maine." Earlier in December, Logan had dictated to Owen everything on his Christmas wish list and together, they composed a letter to Santa. Logan wanted to sign his name, too. Owen held Logan's hand as the little boy held the pencil to write out his name. He was so proud that he actually wrote his name. Logan's fears were alleviated that Santa would find him. If Owen said so, then it had to be so.
Now today was Christmas and Owen and his mommy were not getting up. He was getting so anxious. Owen opened one eye and nonchalantly said, "Oh, hey Logan, what's up?"
"You have to get up! It is Christmas morning," Logan yelled. His mother opened her eyes and stretched, languidly. Logan was starting to turn red in the face. "Okay, okay, baby," Cristina said, as she got up and found her slippers. "Logan is not going to allow us to sleep in, Owen." Owen also got up and smiled at Logan. It was so much fun, getting him all worked up. He found his slippers and together, they all got down the stairs. Logan ran down the stairs, followed by Owen and Cristina, who were holding hands. As they got downstairs, they could smell brewing coffee, emanating from the kitchen.
"Oh, good," Owen said. "Joyce is up. That means breakfast is ready." As if on cue, Joyce appeared in the living room. "I thought you might be able to use these," she said, handing Cristina and Owen a cup of coffee each. "I see Mighty Mouse is down here, already." She observed the young boy attacking the presents under the tree.
"Hey, Logan," Cristina said. "Not all of the presents are yours. Let me take out the ones that are yours." She went under the tree and started making piles, so that each person's presents were all together. It was the only way she could stop Logan from opening all of the presents. Logan, of course, had the largest pile, since everyone bought him two or three presents. He shrieked as he opened each present, but the biggest present was from Owen. It was a huge box, which was even bigger than Logan himself. He was struggling the wrapping paper but Cristina helped him to tear it off. It was the train set that he had so wanted all those months ago in the toy store.
"Mine?!" Logan screamed. He ran to Owen and gave him an enormous hug. "Yes, buddy, yours," Owen said. Logan could barely contain himself as he danced all around the large box.
Cristina looked at Owen, "You didn't have to do that, Owen. That is too much."
"It's okay. I like just seeing him happy," Owen said. "When can we put it up?" Logan said.
"After breakfast," Cristina said. "Then you brush your teeth and then you can put it up. Though I have no idea where you are going to put it."
"The attic," Owen said. "I put up a couple of tables up there for that very purpose. It is going to take up a lot of room, especially, when we have to build the town in the middle. It's a project that Logan and I can work on, until the New Year holiday."
Helen came down the stairs and joined the group. "I heard all of the shrieking, so I guess Logan got something he really wanted."
"Yeah, mom. Merry Christmas," Cristina said, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. "I put your pile of presents there. So I guess since Logan has opened all of his presents, it is time for the grown-ups." She handed her son his stocking. The stocking stuffers would keep him busy for a while. Owen dug into Cristina's pile of presents and found the gift he had got for her. She opened it and found tickets for a one week Caribbean cruise. "I thought you and I could get some time away together, alone. Logan can stay with his grandmother and you and I could get away from the cold weather and enjoy some warm Caribbean sun."
"Thank you," she said. "I have never been on a cruise."
"I got us an outside cabin with a balcony," he said. "So we can have a view of the ocean. I just want to spend some alone time with you. I love Logan. I really do but sometimes, adults need a little time together without any distractions."
"I understand," she said. "I want some alone time, too. So, let me get your present from me." She went into Owen's pile and pulled out a thin envelope. "An envelope?" he said, lifting one eyebrow. "What is this? A coupon for sexual favors?"
"NO!" she said. "Just read it." With a grin, Owen opened the envelope. There was a small card in it that read, "Go to the laundry room. Your present is there."
"Okay, you have piqued my curiosity," Owen said. "Let's go." He walked to the laundry room, followed by Cristina. Logan, of course, noticed that they were leaving and followed them, too. As soon as Owen got to the door, he heard yelping and scratching. "What's going on here?" he said. As he opened the door, a German shepherd puppy jumped up on his legs.
"Puppy!" Logan yelled from behind them. He started jumping up and down.
"You got me a puppy," Owen said, as he picked up the puppy and examined its paws. "Look how huge these paws are. He is going to be big."
"Yup," Cristina said. "Remember I always said that I imagined you and a dog walking along the beach. Well, here is the dog. Plus when Logan and I are not here, he will keep you company." He knew it was a thoughtful gift but the reason she got it was for him to have a companion. He hated the fact that she and Logan were not going to stay after the holidays. Helen, Cristina and Logan were headed back to New York, on the afternoon of New Year's Day. He snuggled the puppy, then leaned over and gave Cristina a kiss. "Thank you, baby."
The holiday week passed too fast for Owen. He found himself at the airport, saying farewell to his three house guests. He gave Helen a kiss on the cheek and hugged Logan. When it came to Cristina, he held her in his arms and felt that he almost could not let her go. He held her face and kissed her on her mouth, three times.
"Bye," she said. "Bye," he said. "Call me as soon as you get in." She nodded and then took Logan's hand. He watched as they disappeared through the security line.
He drove back to the house and as soon as he got in, the German shepherd puppy came running towards him. He picked him up and sat down on the sofa with the puppy in his lap. "Max," he said. "She's gone. My love is no longer here. What am I going to do? I miss her so much, already." The puppy licked his face.
"I haven't even told her that I love her, Max," he continued. "Maybe it is time that I do. I want her and Logan to stay with me, forever. Do you think I should ask her to get married? So she won't ever have to leave, again." The puppy licked his face, again. "You know what, you are an amazing listener. I think I am going to do just that. As soon as she calls me, I am going to tell her that I love her and that I want to marry her. So we can be a family." The puppy yelped his agreement.
Owen waited for her call. He knew it was a little more than hour of flying time from Portland to New York. He was getting anxious, waiting for her to call. He looked at the time. She should be back in her apartment by now. He called her phone. It went straight to voice mail. "Oh, good grief," he said, aloud. "She hasn't turned on her phone yet from the flight." He left a message for her to call him. He hoped she would turn on her phone, soon.
He waited for a couple more hours but still nothing. He was getting worried, now. He went to the kitchen to get a snack and a cup of coffee. It was there he saw a shell-shocked Joyce sitting at the kitchen table, with tears streaming down her face. He went to her, immediately and rubbed her back. "What's wrong, Joyce? Did something happen to your family?" She looked up at him and shook her head.
"I just heard on the radio that Flight 2242 from Portland to New York went down earlier in bad weather," she said. He knew that was Cristina's plane.
"What? Are you sure you heard right?" he said, his voice breaking.
"Yes," she said. "I am so sorry, Mr. Hunt. Cristina, Logan….." Her voice trailed away.
"Survivors! What about survivors?" he screamed. "Did they say anything about survivors?" She shook her head. "I don't know as yet. They found the plane and are searching through the wreckage," she said.
Owen could not believe that this was happening a second time in his life. He remembered the feeling of dread he had when his parents died in the plane crash, when he was 16. This could not be happening again. He fell to his knees and started to cry. "God!" he screamed. "How can you do this, again?"
A/N Please leave your comments and reviews. I do appreciate when you take the time to do so.