Christmas Awakenings

Chapter 4

Lisa woke up during the night to find the fire needed more wood. She climbed out of her warm cocoon of blankets to put another log on the starving fire. She listened to the howling wind as she made her way to the window, distressed by the amount of snow that continued to fall.

And still no sign of Bill.

She found the presents she had hidden for the boys and placed them lovingly under the tree, the tree they had decorated together with love, like their lives, sharing and caring for one another. She returned to the couch and gathered the two boys close to her. Enveloped in their warmth, she finally fell asleep.

She awoke a little before dawn, just as the fire began to die down. She added another log to the embers and made her way to the window overlooking the dirt road, sure she already knew what she would see. Nothing!

Standing at the window, she couldn't stop the tears streaming down her cheeks. Her heart was full of fear and worry for her beloved husband. She could barely tolerate the wait and the not knowing.

A noise broke the silence; a whirring noise that quickly grew in intensity. She looked down the lane and saw lights, too many lights to be Bill's truck. She closed her eyes against a sudden wave of fear. When she opened them again, she found herself staring in shock at a line of snowmobiles—close to a half-dozen or more.

Lisa started to wake up the boys then thought better. What if the snowmobile riders were bringing bad news about Bill?

How can I tell my boys their father won't be coming home? Her worry increased as she watched the snowmobiles approach.

She decided she would tell them about their father the same way her mother had to tell her about her father when he left for Desert Storm, breaking his promise to return. Somehow, she would get through this just as her mother before her.

****

The sun began to peek over the mountain top and she could just begin to make out figures on the snowmobiles. On the first one she recognized Bill in his red plaid winter coat with his tan wool scarf flying in the wind behind him. Her loud whoop of relief woke the boys, who ran to her side.

"It's Christmas and we've just received the best present ever! Daddy's home." She hugged them and tousled their hair, anxious to throw herself in Bill's arms and make sure she wasn't dreaming.

"Daddy saw the star, I know he did," Chance exclaimed.

Jake ran for his boots and winter coat and flew out the back door, Lisa and Chance close behind him.

"Daddy, Daddy," they said in unison as he turned off the snowmobile and walked quickly to the porch, holding his arms wide open for a big hug.

"You saw the star on the tree, didn't you Daddy?" Chance asked.

****

Bill hugged and kissed Lisa, not wanting to let her go. He looked at his boys, his family, and exclaimed, "I sure did boys. A bright light shone right over our house so I knew exactly where to go." Home.

Lisa looked at him and smiled at his response to the boys. "So tell me, what happened?"

"Some of the townspeople, you know how my old friends are, and my parents as well, wanted to make sure I made it home for Christmas. They made me wait out the storm with them. This morning before we left to come back here, we loaded the snowmobiles with all the trimmings… for the best Christmas celebration ever."

Hand in hand, they turned to look at the sunlight streaming through the window. The early morning rays kissed the branches of the Christmas tree and illuminated the hand-made star.

The bright, shiny star that led the way home.

END VOLUME ONE