Christmas Special

"And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent…”

~Taylor Caldwell

"Remember there is always enough love to go around, especially today," I say smiling at the little kids looking at me, their smile widens and it warms my heart.

I had discussed my Christmas plans for this year with Rory a week ago and I told him how I wanted to change the tradition of only celebrating with family which was just the three of us. I wanted something different, something new something that was more than just us. Rory then asked what I had in mind and I told him about reaching out to at least three orphanages this year and he was more than happy to support me all the way through

Flashback to a week ago

The snow falling on the trees as I stared through the window at the street. It wasn't every time that I had the chance to do this, it was just a few times in a year watching the magic of Christmas season unfold, watching the street get covered up with snow and it was a beautiful sight to behold. I had been here for almost an hour without interruption and that was because Rory was still sleeping.

When I was a child this always gave me joy and now as an adult, I still can't get over it.

"What are you doing at the window?" at the sound of the voice I turned around and I saw Rory staring at me with intense green eyes and curiosity. I guess he finally woke up to distract me.

His hair was roughened by the pillow and by me from last night and yet he managed to look as good as ever.

"I'm staring at the snow falling it's always amazing to watch."

"Anything special going on with them?" Rory being the confused one asked and I rolled my eyes at him, of course, there wasn't anything special if someone like him was to take a look, but for someone like me, this was blissful and magical.

"Not really." I made my way over to him and kissed his lips lightly. "Good morning."

His arms wrapped around my waist as I pulled away and his free hand came up to slowly stroke my cheeks, "Good morning, hun, how are you?"

"I am very well and as for what I was doing at the window, I am watching the snowfall, do you want to watch with me?"

"The snowfall? I'm not the biggest fan of snow."

I immediately remembered and I didnt even know why I asked, of course, he didn't watch snow falling because he didn't like snow or rain or anything cold. I should have known, but in my defence, I was not asking him to enter into the snow, I was asking him to watch with me.

I snapped out of my thought when he continued to speak, "Oh well, but since it's at the window, it wouldn't hurt anyone if I watch." he finished and my face broke into a wide grin.

I pulled him forward with his hands and realised that he was in his boxers and I quickly helped him grab his night robe and handed it to him and after he puts it on, I led him to the window.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer so that our bodies touched and it the most welcoming feeling. "Okay, so what are we looking at?"

"Nothing, just watch the snow descend so magically, I know it doesn't make much sense, but—"

"It's beautiful," he blurted out before he can help himself.

I peeped up to look at him who was staring through the window in awe at the snows falling, "It is, uh?"

His eyes dropped down to mine, "For years I've seen you stare through that window and never understood why, but it is indeed beautiful."

"Yeah, when I'm here I think about how I want my Christmas to be each year."

I didn't know if there was something in my voice that set him off, but Rory stiffened a little and he stepped to my side to properly look at me. "What's on your mind, hun?"

"Making it different this year. I don't want to celebrate the day with only my family, but as many as I can."

Rory nodded attentively and I proceeded to explain the plans I had to him from the beginning and down to the end.

Rory was on board the minute I finished explaining what my plan was and the next person we had to talk to was our eight-year-old daughter, Reign.

....

“I know you may not completely be in line with what we are planning to suggest because you’ve always been used to the tradition of only having mom and me around for Christmas, but we plan on changing that now and I want you to know that we will understand and going to support you to the end,” Rory explained holding the little girl's hand while he sat on the couch beside her.

“Okay, daddy, but I have no idea what this new tradition is going to be.” The eight years old pointed out to her father and he immediately recognized the errors of his ways.

Rory closed his eyes and I smiled Reign never stop at being the smart one.

I bent down beside her and took her hands into mine and her green eyes locked in mine, “We are going to be giving out gifts to the children at three closest orphanages and then giving food to the homeless on the streets. As daddy said, it isn’t really what we do on holidays, especially on Christmas day, but we are starting this and probably going to continue and we want you to know and if maybe you don’t like our plan and would want to maybe stay with one of your uncles or your aunt during the holiday, we would understand. ”

“I don’t care how Christmas is spent or where it is spent, all I care about is spending it with my parents and that’s you and daddy.”

My eyes grew glassy, how did I get so lucky to have this angel?

“We love you, Reign, never forget that.” I pulled her into my arms and hug her tightly.

***

Here she is, standing at the back and having a chat with one of the young girls in short dreadlocks and I don’t know what exactly they are both talking about, but the two girls seem to be having the best laugh ever.

After having the blessing and the support of my family, I moved to meet the various heads of the three orphanages closest to us, and we were able to accomplish this the following day. Rory supported with funds and the creation of awareness and asking for supporter and likeminded contributors for the course and hin the first day we had eight contributors and two supporters. So far we have succeeded in gaining five committed partners and over a dozen contributors.

“Everyone, please gather around,” I call out, moving to the large Christmas tree at the right corner of the room

“We know that this is very little, but we will be doing more than this next year. I want to first off thank my family, my husband and my lovely daughter for being supportive and encouraging from day one and I want to thank every one of our partner and contributors for standing by us in all this. I want to thank everyone that has worked with us, the founders of these orphanages that sport and help little children.”

“Because of you all, this is reality,” I say, using my hand to gesture to everyone and everything in the room.

The crowd applaud and I move to round up the talk, “Right now, I’m going to let Cecil, carry on with the rest of today’s program,” I step aside and welcome Cecil the fifty-two-year-old founder of the orphanage. She kisses my cheeks in a friendly manner and takes the stand while I make my way over to meet Rory and Reign who are now standing beside each other.

“You were amazing up there,” Rory commends, leaning in and kissing my lips deeply until we hear an eww from reign.

I pull back, my cheeks heating up from embarrassment. I clear my throat and began to speak to her, “Reign, I saw you talking with the other girl earlier, what’s her name?”

“Ara and just like me, she’s eight years old. She’s spent her whole life here she’s been here since she was two years old.”

“You two seemed to be having a good time earlier.”

Reign smiles, displaying an adorable dimple, “She’s very smart, mom, and also very funny.”

For the longest time I’ve known, I’ve never heard her refer to anyone as smart, not even her father and he is the smartest person I know. The highest compliment he had gotten from his daughter was “you’re alright,” which she told him after he helped her out with her algebra test. “It warms my heart that you were able to find a smart and funny friend.”

Rory seems to be lost in all of this, but he manages to recover and come up with, “That’s so nice to know.”

“Merry Christmas, mom and dad, this is the best Christmas ever.”

Later that night:

I stand at the window and watch as the snowfall on the streets, the bright street light as well as the Christmas light glittering on the street, making the night so much beautiful. I smile knowing that my joy is full, because not only was the family able to stay together this holiday but also because of how much has been accomplished this year.

The door opens and the strong cologne that floods into the room and I know that smell anywhere and that’s the small of the one person I want to be around right now. Rory wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer and I smile warmly.

“Was today everything you imagined?” he asks, kissing my neck.

I moan and lean back against him, placing my head on his chest. “Yes it has, it was better than I ever imagined it would be and it was all because of you.”

“I did nothing; it was all you, I’m just glad I was able to provide the assistance you needed.”

“And that was everything to me,” I twirl around in his hands so now I’m face to face with him and I wrap my arms around him.

“Merry Christmas, Taylor.” He mumbles, kissing my hair tenderly.

“Merry Christmas, Rory.”