A Gift of Love for Christmas

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Lyra’s POV

I smiled when I saw the signboard that read: Welcome to Logsville, the home of Grooming Resort. Grooming Resort has been in Logsville for as long as I can remember. It was the soul of the town.

Although Logsville was a small town that was sleepy most months, it experienced a boost during holidays as tourists trooped in to enjoy their holiday at the resort. My mum had a store that sold souvenirs at the resort, so Phil and I grew up viewing the resort as our second home, and when we became older, we worked during holidays at the resort. We called the owner of the resort old Max, not because he was old but because that was what Dad called him.

I knew my mum would be at the resort. I had intentionally told her I would be arriving the next day and arrived a day earlier just to surprise her.

People were moving around the town as I drove to the resort. Anyone who came to Logsville during the holidays would not believe the sleepy form of the town when the holidays are over.

I didn't recognize anyone and I wasn't expecting to recognize anyone either since most of the people around were tourists.

‘Lyra, is that you?’ Someone asked from beside me just as I was about to drive into the resort. I turned to my side to see that it was River's mum. I would have rolled my eyes if the older woman wasn't looking at me. I wasn't even in town for ten minutes and I am already reminded of River.

‘Mrs Brown,’ I said smiling at her. After all, she wasn't her son. She drew closer to the window and greeted and then waved at Charlie. ‘Let me park the car, ma'am,’ I said to her, then entered the Resort to pack the car to the side properly while she followed me in.

I got out of the car and hugged her. River's mum was a very nice woman. She and my mum became friends because of River and Phil's friendship. It was obvious back then that River was not happy about moving to Logsville but when he became friends with Phil, his mum wanted to know who Phil was.

‘It is nice to see you again, my dear girl,’ River’s mum said, smiling happily at me.

‘It is good to see you too ma'am. It is as if you are aging backward,’ I teased her.

‘You know that is a big lie. I am getting older by the day. That is why I have asked River to get married and give me grandchildren but that boy is as stubborn as a mule.'

‘I believe he will do that. He must have a plan, so relax,’ I said, smiling at her to lift her mood. I know that seeing Charlie had made her long for her grandkids.

‘It is a good thing that this year you have all decided to come back home for Christmas.’

‘By all you mean River will also be here for Christmas?’ I asked not because I didn't know but I wanted to confirm that he was indeed coming home for Christmas. If he had told his parents that he was coming then he definitely would.

‘Yes. He should be here in a day or two. According to him, he is trying to clear his desk. That boy works too hard,’ Mrs Brown said frowning.

‘It is a good thing we will all be home after a long time,’ I said, smiling, but it didn't reach my eyes. I knew I was being judgemental, but the fact that River was a Mafia Boss was a total turn-off for me, my heart wouldn't stop beating for him.

‘I know you just came back, but can you do me the honor of coming over tomorrow for lunch? I would love to catch up and to meet your son properly,’ Mrs Brown said with her eyes pleading with me.

‘Of course, I would love to do that. I need to get out of the house and do some serious catching up with things in this town, but I can't promise to have Charlie over, maybe next time because my mum will be all over him, and she will want to spend time with him,’ I said.

‘No problem. I will be expecting you, Lyra,' Mrs Brown said, and I nodded and promised her that I would be there.

After I had said goodbye to Mrs Brown, I drove straight to the resort’s car park. I met one or two townfolks that I had to greet before I proceeded to my mum's souvenir shop. That was one of the pecks of small town. Everybody knows everybody, and it would be rude not to stop and greet people who recognize you.

My mum was attending to some tourists explaining to them the reason they needed to buy a particular souvenir. I smiled. My mum's animated way of talking when she was selling things was always a thing I wished I could do. She could easily sweet-talk anyone into buying to the extent of buying things they don't need. Phil took that from her anyway so the ability was not lost.

In order not to distract her, I took Charlie's hand and turned into another aisle to look at souvenirs because the moment she saw us, I was sure she would end all sales for the day.

The tourists agreed to buy, and they paid, and Mum thanked them. I waited for the tourists to leave before coming out of the aisle.

Mum had her head bowed going through the cash register when I came out of the aisle and turned to her. I had asked Charlie to be quiet by placing my finger on my lips to tell him not to say a word before approaching.

‘Hi, Mama,' I said but she just grumbled something and continued looking at the register, too distracted to get that I was the one talking.

‘Sorry, I was just …’ She looked up and then froze as I stood there smiling at her.

‘Grandma,’ Charlie screeched before throwing himself on her and holding her legs tight. It took my mum several seconds before she recovered from the shock and she bent down to pick Charlie up.

‘Someone should wake me. Am I dreaming?’ My mum said widening her eyes exaggeratedly and making me laugh.

‘No dreaming, grandma,’ Charlie said, rubbing his hands on my mum's face, which was hilarious.

Charlie knew my parents because my mum came to visit three times, and Charlie spoke to my parents all the time on a video call.

‘You aren't dreaming mum. I am here for real,’ I said then stepped closer to her and hugged the both of them.

‘You look lean, Lyra, and your eyes are not radiating the normal happiness that I know in you,’ Mum said, frowning.

‘It is a long story, Mum. We will talk about it when we get home,’ I said.

‘Let me lock up then so that we can go home,’ my mum said then put Charlie down so that she could close for the day.

‘No, mum, please. This is the time of the year when you sell things most. I didn't come here to make you go home early. Charlie and I will wait for you to close for the day so that we can go home together,’ I said.

‘No. You drove all the way here and you will just wait here while I sell things? No way. You must be tired,’ my mum said.

I wasn't tired, hungry maybe. Logsville was a three hours drive from Philadelphia but that was not enough for me to be tired.

‘Mum, I am not tired, but if it makes you feel better, let me have the house keys; Charlie and I will go home and relax, and you will join us later. How about that?’

‘Fine. But you don't need the house keys. Your father is at home,’ Mum said, and I frowned. It was unusual for my dad to be home on normal days not to talk of a time like that when there were tourists in town.

‘Why is dad home? Is he okay?’ I asked. My dad was a horse trainer and he also teaches horse riding at a ranch. Most tourists loved to learn to ride horses so that time was usually busy for him too.

‘Your dad said he wanted to do the Christmas decorations today since you will be arriving tomorrow,’ mum explained.

‘Oh! I see,’ I said, then told Mum that we were going. I then took Charlie's hand and turned to leave.

‘Make sure your father is not on one of his creaky ladders when you surprise him. He is too old to nurse a broken bone,’ Mum shouted when I was at the door, and I laughed.

My dad was outside with a ladder in his hands when I got home. He kept looking at the car as it approached until I came to a stop in front of the house. When he realized that I was the one, he was down the small steps in a blink of an eye.

‘Oh my goodness. You came earlier?’ Dad said as he wrapped me in a tight hug. I felt like staying there in his arms as his warmth embraced me.

‘Grandpa,’ Charlie called from inside the car and I smiled. He was just being jealous.

I quickly left Dad's embrace and got him out of his car seat. He came down and bounced into my father's hands almost knocking him down.

‘Hello, Charlie boy,’ my father said kissing Charlie's temple.

‘Hello, Grandpa,’ Charlie said, smiling. Then my dad turned to me with a sad eye.

‘Phil told me about the divorce. I didn't tell your mother. I envisaged that you would want to do that yourself,’ Dad said.

I knew Phil would tell Dad. I sighed unhappily and didn't bother to hold back the sadness.

‘Come let's go inside. The storm is over now my girl. Now you have a chance to a new start,’ Dad said as he ushered Charlie and me into the house.

Indeed, I had a chance to make a new start, but what about my heart that kept dragging me to keep thinking about one person who had lived there for years? I was supposed to have a new start that I could dictate but why was my heart whispering one name, River, when I should have options to pick from?