Christmas Miracle: Facing a crisis, a family experiences an unexplained, miraculous event on Christmas Eve, altering their perspectives on life, faith, and each other.
Christmas Traditions
Mike wasn't sure what led him to want to go to the Christmas Eve midnight mass. It had been years since he attended a church service. He only stepped foot in churches during weddings, baptisms, christenings and funerals, the last being much more frequent. He had never been devout, only going before the Red Flu at Christine's insistence. She wanted to raise the kids in church.
Mike happened to be in Norfolk during Christmas, so he dressed in a suit and went to the church that he and Christine had attended before the Red Flu. He took a back pew and listened to the chorus singing Silent Night, one of Christine's favorite songs. He would stay long enough to light a couple candles, listen to the homily and get out of there. He sure as hell wouldn't do a confession or take communion.
He was in a trance when he heard a commotion from behind him. He looked back and noticed a woman and four kids behind him. Two older and two younger. The older two, girls, were about the same age as what his Hannah and Katie would have been had they lived past thirteen and eight. He blinked back some emotion and groaned when the woman gestured for the kids to follow her to his pew. One of the older girls sit nearer him and he noted the telltale scars on her cheek. She had suffered from the Red Flu and obviously was given the cure in time. Like his older daughter, she had wild blonde hair and was about the same age Katie would have been. She started coughing and Mike tried to ignore it, but it was really bad. Her mother was watching her, full of concern. Mike pulled a cough drop out of his suit coat pocket and passed it to her.
"Thank you." The young woman whispered.
"You're welcome." Mike said.
Throughout the course of the service, Mike had to slip her two more cough drops. There was something very familiar about her smile. And her mother seemed even more familiar. He just couldn't put his finger on it until the service was over and the woman turned to him.
"Thank you for the cough drops…Mike?" The woman asked. She was so thin, that Mike hadn't recognized her or the girls.
"Christy?" Mike asked in a quiet voice. She rushed towards him and threw her arms around him. She was so tiny. The girls were occupying the two younger kids and Mike was just holding Christine until Katie started coughing again. That caused Mike to pull away and caused Christine to turn around. e
"It's getting worse." Christine remarked.
"Sorry, Mom." Katie answered.
"She needs to go to the doctor." Mike said.
"I've had no money." Christine admitted quietly. She and Mike exchanged a look as he pulled the two older girls into hugs. At least Katie wasn't running a fever.
"Maybe we'll sleep somewhere warm tonight." Hannah remarked. Mike looked at Christine for an explanation.
"We've been sleeping in my car. I was trying to find you. Thought if I could get back to Norfolk, I could find someone from the Navy." Christine explained. He gestured at the two younger kids and she pulled him away. "Remember just before you left? I think the last night? I didn't realize I was pregnant when you called or I would have told you. They are yours, Mike. I am positive. I hadn't…anyway, trust me." Christine explained.
"Their names?" Mike asked.
"Elliott Michael and Elizabeth Maragret. We call them Eli and Ellie." Christine said.
"I…wish I could give them a normal Christmas this year." Mike remarked as they walked back towards the kids.
"Next year?" Christine remarked and he nodded.
"But I can give you all a warm place to sleep. My hotel room has two queen sized beds." Mike told her.
"Thank you." Christine answered.
"And there's room service, even tonight." Mike continued.
"That would be wonderful. We've not eaten well lately." Christine said. She was putting coats on Ellie and Eli, while Mike took his own off to give to Hannah. He didn't have one for Christine and Katie, but they were both wearing sweaters. He put some cash in an offering plate before leading his family out to his truck. The older girls got the the twins settled in the backseat while Mike and Christine got their few belongings out of her car.
"We'll figure out this in the morning." Mike said, indicating the car.
"Okay. The heater wasn't working and I think the engine was going out anyways." Christine admitted.
"I'll go and explain to the priest if you want to start the truck?" Mike said, handing her the keys. She took them and he spoke with one of the priests, explaining that he would have the car towed away within a couple days and explaining the situation. They were happy to accommodate.
By the time Mike pulled into the parking garage, the twins were asleep and Hannah was nearly so. He hated that Christine and the girls had to carry their bags, but he picked up both Ellie and Eli and carried them to the room, only stopping to make sure room service was still working and putting in an order. Christine opened the room and Mike led his family in.
"Can I take a shower? Maybe it would help?" Katie asked.
"Of course." Mike answered. He had laid the twins down and turned the heat up.
"We'll all take hot showers while we wait on the food." Christine said. Katie had already grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom. Eli was now sitting up and looking around in complete confusion.
"What is this place?" He asked.
"Eli; this…remember me telling you about your dad? This is him. He found us in the church and brought us to his hotel. We'll stay here tonight where its warm." Christine explained. Ellie had also sat up and was listening closely.
"And you won't ever be cold like this again." Mike said.
"It is warm." Ellie said. She was tiny for her age and cute as a button, reminding Mike of Hannah at that age.
"It feels nice." Christine said.
"It is nice to meet you both. I know its Christmas and I have no presents for you but I promise, next year will be a normal Christmas." Mike said.
"What's a normal Christmas?" Eli asked.
"We will explain it in the next year but we'll have a nice warm place to sleep tonight and we're together. That's all that matters." Christine told him.
"I'm excited to sleep in this bed." Hannah remarked.
"Me too." Christine admitted.
"I figured that the twins could sleep with your mom and I, and you girls can sleep together, if that's okay?" Mike asked.
"Its perfect." Christine assured him. Katie came out and Hannah went in for her shower, then the twins were given a bath and then Christine had hers about the same time that the food was delivered. The kids and Christine all ate every bite and part of Mike's sandwich and fries.
It was nearly three before they all got settled into bed and it was a bit tight. Mike was going to have to come up with a game plan because he was scheduled to be in Norfolk for another week. Ellie had cuddled close and Eli was wrapped around Christine. Very quickly, Christine and all four kids were sound asleep.
Mike genuinely felt bad about not being able to give them a proper Christmas. But they were together. And the next year, the kids would have a better Christmas full of traditions. As he fell asleep, he began making plans.
One Year Later
Mike smiled at the tree with all the presents under it. It had been a week full of traditions. Christine and the kids baked cookies and made candies. Mike took the kids and the baked items to the local police department, fire station and ambulance shed. They had picked out a tree and decorated it. He and Christine had gone Christmas shopping.
They had bought tons of gifts, probably more than the kids needed but Mike felt the need to make up for all the years missed. He had also bought Christine a new engagement ring and wedding band. She had sold her original set to feed the kids and had refused for Mike to buy a new set due to buying a new house and getting them set up and well.
It hadn't always been an easy year. Katie's general health was not great. Both the older girls had to get caught up. Christine had to regain strength after nearly starving herself to death to feed the kids. Mike had to bond with Ellie and Eli. And hardest was that Mike and Christine had to get used to one another again. Mike hoped the rings communicated that he wanted the marriage to survive.
Knowing she was still awake upstairs, he shut the lights off, grabbed the small gift bag with her rings and headed upstairs. The kids were all sleeping and Christine was reading. He sat the bag on the bed before changing into his pajama pants and t-shirt.
"What's this?" Christine asked, looking at the bag suspiciously.
"Open it. Its not a snake." Mike said. Christine had always been suspicious. He put the bag on her lap and waited. She finally pulled the ring box out, opened it and gasped.
"Mike…" She started.
"I know you didn't want me to buy it but I hated seeing you not wearing one. And…I wanted you to know, I would do it again. Marry you again. And hopefully, do a better job of it." Mike said, knowing he wasn't articulating well.
"Thank you for that. Will you put them on me?" Christine asked. She handed him the box and he slid them onto her ring finger before giving her a long kiss.
"I love you." Mike finally said.
"I love you too." Christine replied. He had settled against his pillows and was surprised when she climbed onto his lap. They hadn't done this yet and Mike knew what her intentions were.
"It's been a long time. Since you and I…" Mike said.
"It's been just as long for me. We will figure this out together. I kind of think it'll be like riding a bike." Christine said.
"This was also one of our Christmas traditions." Mike remarked.
"It was. We couldn't last year but I wasn't going to let this go by this year." Christine answered and Mike laughed.
"To traditions." Mike replied.
"Gotta love 'em." Christine answered.