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20
Kimberly
Igot to take my father home for Christmas. I think that was the best gift that I could have gotten. He started recovering rapidly, once he woke up and started moving around. It wasn’t long at all before he was ready to go. It reminded me how strong he was. He’d always been the strong one for me, and I was hopeful that I would be able to do the same thing for him.
It was a lot to get him home. He was walking, but needed help, and he was probably going to need help for a while. I don't know how that was going to work out, but my job would be there when I was ready for it. They were really cool about me taking some time off to take care of him.
The other part of it was being there with him. I moved back into the house and Dennis was there to help me. Ever since I came back and I was in the hospital, he was Johnny-on-the spot helping me with anything that I needed. It was priceless really and I didn't know what I would have done without him. I honestly didn't even want to think about it.
When we got to the house, I was even more surprised to find that it was decorated far more than I think I'd ever seen it before. There were lights everywhere. Two Christmas trees outside and another two as we walked in. My father's place was as cheery as it could be. Presents were underneath the tree and stockings were hung by the mantle. There was even dinner on the table, and I think both of us just stared in amazement for a minute.
I’d been so wrapped up in everything that was going on at the hospital, that I'd almost forgotten that it was Christmas. When I realized that fact, it had sort of depressed me a little bit because I would be taking dad back to an empty house. Now though, all of the holiday cheer was right there for the taking.
It was more than I could have asked for.
Dennis arrived quickly afterward. We all had dinner and dad was off to bed suspiciously early. It left me and Dennis sitting in front of the Christmas tree, the lights twinkling, regular lights off. It felt magical and it was the first time that I was able to breathe again. It had been so touching, but now everything would be different, but maybe a good different.
“Merry Christmas, Dennis. You did something great here. I don't even want to know how you did it, but it's just lovely. I know that dad really liked it. He really wasn’t into it at all this year, but I think this helped him so much.”
“I am glad that you like it. If I would have had more time, I would have done more.”
“You've done enough.”
“Not hardly, Kimberly. I will do much more, if you would just give me some time.”
I looked at him dubiously. “Time is not something that we really have, is it? It won't be long until you're going to Texas, and I will probably never see you again. Let’s be real.”
“What if I told you that I wasn't going to Texas?”
“I would ask why the hell you weren’t? You are going to have a great career there, you worked your butt off for it, and you love it.”
“And what, make a lot of money?”
He scoffed and told me that he had plenty of money.
“Besides, do you know how many of them completely junked their body before their 30? And then what good would I be?”
“I thought that was your dream.”
“My dreams have changed.”
I don't know why, but I didn’t get the way he was looking at me and the way he was talking. My heart started to beat a little bit faster. I felt like it was going to be one of those monumental moments and I could feel it in my bones.
He pulled out a little wrapped present that was in his pocket. I saw him press his fingers against it, like the box was alive and might get away at any time.
“I can't accept anything else from you, Dennis. It's already been too much.”
“This is the last one, I promise. It's the most important present of the day.”
My hands shook as I took the little box from his hand. I knew what it was. It was pretty obvious, and while my body was trembling, my mind was racing. I had spent so much time imagining that this was impossible. Could it really be something that could be done?
I opened it slowly and I was shocked to see that it was actually my mother's old engagement ring.
“Couldn’t spring for a new one, huh?”
He chuckled, which was doing wonders for breaking up the intensity of the situation. I mean it was pin-drop intense.
“Well, I could have, but when I asked your dad about it, he wanted you to have it. He said that you would want your mother's ring and he gave me his blessing. He insisted on the ring.”
