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“Merry Christmas, Grandpa,” Lexi coos while giving the elderly man a big hug. “Your wife is molesting my date again,” she adds.
“Link, I apologize,” he says, extending his hand towards me. “That woman is hornier than a three peckered billy goat,” he adds, shaking his head.
“Stop talking,” Lexi begs.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. You can be my partner later when we play Euchre.”
“Sounds good, sir,” I say, wondering when the last time I actually sat down and played cards was.
“You gotta watch out for Dean and Ryan. Those two boys are cheaters,” Orval conspiratorially whispers.
“What?” Ryan exclaims as he enters the kitchen. “Dean, Orval’s calling us cheaters.”
“Are you kidding? This from the man who stuffs Jacks up his sleeves?” Dean enters the room, joining the conversation.
“Those were extras. I had no idea they were there.”
“Sure you didn’t,” Levi chimes in as he joins us in the kitchen.
All able hands, which surprisingly turns out to be the male hands of the family, make quick work of whipping boiled potatoes into creamy mashed potatoes, carving the turkey that smells devine, and pulling pans from the oven. Levi, actually, looks surprisingly at home in the kitchen, and seems to be telling everyone else what to do. I help where needed, which right now appears to be buttering steamy rolls and placing them in a fancy breadbasket.
When the food is ready, we gather around the table, hands folded in prayer.
“Lord, bless this food we are able to receive on this glorious Christmas Eve. I’m thankful that my son-in-law, six granddaughters, great granddaughter Brielle, and others could join us for this meal. I’m also grateful for the love of a good woman, my wife, Emma. Without her, I’d be lost in this world.” For some reason, my throat burns with emotion. I’ve never thought it possible to love someone the way Orval appears to love his wife. They smile at each other, even through prayer, and the prospect makes me yearn.
Yearn for more in life.
I feel Lexi’s hand wrap around my wrist, as if we’re being pulled together by some invisible, magical force. Just the feel of her fingers on my skin calms me and brings me comfort.
“Please continue to watch over us, guiding us each day. Continue to watch over our Meggy, giving her extra comfort and strength, as she continues to learn to live her life without Josh.” There’s a sniffle somewhere in the room, but I don’t dare look up to find the source. Something tells me I already know where it came from.
“And continue to bless our family with love and laughter. In your name we pray, Amen.”
“Amen,” we all say in unison.
When I glance down at the woman standing next to me, she gives me a sad smile, her gorgeous green eyes filled with unshed tears. A louder cry comes from the corner, and Brian is there, comforting and holding is daughter.
“It’s her first Christmas without him,” Lexi whispers, watching her dad hold Meghan.
“The pain will never go away, but over time, it’ll lessen a little more.”
Lexi nods her head, and pulls me towards the kitchen. We fall in line and fill our plates with more food than I’ve eaten in the last week. Even as Meghan joins us at the table, chatter and small talk commences. We eat and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. There’s teasing and loving glances and maybe a few wandering hands beneath the table.
Even through the sadness and heartache, you can still feel the love, the happiness, the unity.
Life goes on.
* * *
“I can’t believe all those toys,” I say, steering Lexi’s car towards the apartment building. “Where in the hell are they going to put them?”
She laughs as she replies, “I don’t know, but that’s their problem.”
“I think Dean almost had a heart attack when he realized most of the gifts under that tree were for his daughter.”
“She’s the first niece, first grandchild, and first great-grandchild. What do they expect?”
“Help renting the U-Haul?” I offer with a laugh.
