Lena POV
It was that time of a year again, when people decorate trees in the homes. Cheerful and annoying corals are heard everywhere you go, every radio station, every mall, every house. Colorful lights hang around houses and people compete, who have spent then most money on inflatable, huge decorations. The smell of gingerbread is coming from almost every house. Everyone is drinking eggnog and mulled wine and is wearing their most favorite ugly Christmas sweaters with Rudolf the red nose reindeer's on. Yes, it was Christmas.
I was in the kitchen making gingerbread, because the last patch that I made yesterday, was already eaten. Our kids were home from University to celebrate Christmas with family. Stef and I couldn't be happier to have everyone back at home.
Mariana walked in carrying a pile of mail and letters in her left, but a small box in in her right hand "Our mail box was full," She said placing everything on the Island table, which for the moment was the only clear space in the kitchen as every other counter and the kitchen table was occupied with frying-pans that contained gingerbread. One pan of gingerbread was already in the oven making, but I new that was not enough for this family.
"Yeah? Who are they from?" I asked looking up to Mariana as I continued to roll out the dough for the next patch of gingerbread
"Let's see…" Mariana sat down at the table sideways, her right side turned to the table. The first letter she reached for was the one on top.
"Christmas card from the Barons across the street," she said opening up a card and read it out
Under the tree the gifts enthrall,
But the nicest present of them all
Is filling our thoughts with those who care,
Wanting our Christmas joy to share.
To you, whom we're often thinking of,
We send our holiday joy and love.
(Joanna and Karl Fuchs)
Merry Christmas,
Mr. and Mrs. Barons
"How nice of them. Will have to bring some gingerbread over to them," I smiled looking at Mariana. She nodded smiling back at me.
"They also have a Christmas Card," Mariana said holding it up. In the card both of them where in front of a Christmas tree, under which were bunch of presents. They were wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and holding a glass of mulled wine as the steam coming from the glasses was captures.
"What are people thinking, when they make these kinds of Christmas Cards? Don't they know they look silly?" she shook her head slightly as she looked at the card. Mariana set the card down and opened the next one. There were about 20other Christmas cards from friends and family, few booklets of huge sale in the malls, Ikea and some other stuff. There was also a note about an event at Church on the night of Christmas Eve.
"I wonder, who is this from," Mariana turned to me as she held small box in her hands
"What does the card say?"
"Hmmm…." Mariana hummed as she read the card attached to it "Never heard of Callie and Jude Jacob," I stopped making the gingerbread "But by your reaction, I can tell you know them," Mariana was quick to observe
"Do you want to open it?" Mariana walked up to the table, holding the box out. I wiped my hands in the apron as I walked around the table.
"Who are they?" Mariana questioned as I read the card myself
"Mom and I fostered Jude a while ago," I explained simply examining the box that was wrapped up in Christmas wrapping paper
"Who is Callie then?"
"His sister," I replied still looking down to the card. It didn't say anything else than both of their names. "Have you seen mom?"
"Last I saw, she was in the garage, trying to find the Christmas decorations," Mariana replied glancing out the window
"Do me a favor and take out the gingerbread in 5 minutes," I said walking to the back doors
"Sure thing," I heard Mariana reply as I was walking out
I made my way across the backyard to the garage "I told you to put them away neatly last year, didn't I? Now you will get them open!" I heard Stef say as I was approaching the garage.
When I walked in the garage, Jesus was handing a ball of tangled up light strip to Stef, who raised her hands up refusing to take it "It will take hours! You do it!"
"I'm not touching it!" Stef backed off holding her hands up
"Stef!" I said getting both of their attention "We got a package from Callie and Jude!"
Jesus frowned his forehead "Who?", but Stef exclaimed out excited "Really!?"
"Mom and I helped them a while back," I said handing the package over to Stef, so she could open it herself
"You open it," she didn't take the package, but gave me the honors
I was careful with opening it as I didn't want to rip walked up to us and looked over my shoulder as I undid the ribbon and took off the card. Once the card was off and I had gotten my hands to the wrapping paper, Stef took it and read the card, which only read:
Happy Holiday
From Jude and Callie Jacob
When I had gotten the paper off, we were left with a small box, a letter and a photo of the two of them.
"What's in the box?" Stef asked curiously eyeing the box. I handed the box to Stef, but took the letter and the photo. Examining the photo a wide, bright smile grew on my lips. It was a picture of the two of them. I could see a small decorated Christmas tree behind them. There were few presents underneath it. The two kids had pressed their heads together, smiling at the camera. By the looks of, both of them were wearing ugly Christmas sweaters. The happiness that was visible in their eyes, warmed my heart.
Stef took off the lid of the box. Instantly I felt a gingerbread smell in the air. Looking over to Stef, I saw that the box was full of it.
"Sweet!" Jesus quickly grabbed one
"Hey!" Stef called out but was too slow, Jesus was already tasting it
"Oh...so good!" he said and reached for another one. Stef swatted his palm away softly and glared at Jesus, who backed off after that.
"Take a look at this," I handed Stef the picture as I myself opened up the letter and started to read it. The moment Stef set her eyes on the pictures, a huge smile appeared on her face as well.
Dear, Stef and Lena,
I'm sorry in advance about the horrible handwriting. Jude insisted that I should write it even thought my hand is still not fully healed. His argument for it, that he has a horrible handwriting and that my hand needs the practice.
I haven't written a letter in ages. The last time I wrote one was, when I was 12. Even at that time, Jude had insisted that I should write it. But I can't blame him for that time, because he was only 8 and could barely write his own name *line of scratch, like someone had pushed Callie's hand that made the pen make the scratch*. Ow...Jude just pushed me. Anyhow, I don't remember the proper way of doing them. But here it goes.
Jude and I are good. It has only been two week since I got guardianship of Jude back, but things are slowly settling back to the way they were before the mugging happened. We are back into our routines. I'm still going to the physical therapy for my arm. It's a slow process, but things are looking good. I'm writing this letter to you after all. The job at call center is going great. Lena, thank you for suggesting it in the first place and thank you for helping me prepare for the job interview there. It's a perfect job till I can get back to being waitress and carrying 3 plates on each arm.
Stef – I don't how you did it, where you found it, how you found it, but seeing my mothers pendant back in my hands was the best Christmas gift you could ever give us. When I saw it, I almost jumped out of my pants. Jude had to calm me down. There were even tears of happiness in both of our eyes. It's all I ever wanted (besides getting Jude back of course). It means the world to us. The money I lost was nothing compared to how much our moms pendant is worth to us.
Jude wrote a poem at school before the Christmas Holiday break. And guess what? Teacher loved it. He read it to the whole school at the Christmas event at his school two days ago, on December 20nd. But it gets better! The teacher suggested that he participates in a contest of poetry of some sorts. If you want to hear it, there is this poetry slam club. A friend of his, who's also doing poetry slam, is participating there and invited Jude to join him. Jude agreed. Long story short, if you want you can come to the Poetry slam club on December 29that 6 PM to hear him perform. (Fingers crossed you received the letter before December 29th, because Jude really wants you there. I do too.)
But enough about us. You probably already figured the real reason we are really writing you. Jude and I are writing to say thank you for everything that you did for us. For opening your home and taking in Jude, when he needed a place to say and someone to look after him. For opening your hearts and caring about Jude. For helping us, when no one else did. For being there in the hospital for me and for being there afterward while I recover.
Thank you for being there for us and thank you for being our friends, when we really needed it.
We wanted you to know, how much we appreciate what you did and how grateful we are. We will forever be in your favor.
With love,
Callie and Jude Jacob"
I looked up from the letter to Stef, who was standing in front of me, mute and with tears in her eyes. I was trying to keep the tears at bay as well. It's the best feeling in the whole wild World to know that we helped these kids. Receiving letters like this afterwards, makes the experience ten times more amazing. To know that we made friends with them is a cherry on top. This is the reason why we do it.
"Mark the date," Stef spoke up, through smile and tears "We are going to Poetry slam on December 29th!"
"I can't wait!" I looked back at the letter. A single, happy tear fell down on the paper next to the words - with love.
AN: This is the chapter the whole story idea came from. It's safe to say, that I probably won't ever write a story starting from it's end. I know the story wasn't as compelling, filled with drama and angst as you wanted it to be, but I still hope you enjoyed the different take about these characters, how they met and what went on. Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed and added it to favorite.