You’ve always told me that my brain was a gift from God and I should use it wisely.” He glanced at his mother. “I think maybe you’re the reason God made me smart. So I could help find a cure for MS. If not in time to help you, then to help others like you.”
Fern held up her arms to him. Nelson walked over and bent down to receive her hug.
“I love you, Nelson. You wanting to do that…it’s the greatest gift I can imagine,” she said.
James had to look away from the tender scene of mother and son holding and comforting each other, or he’d start crying along with them.
What a strange Christmas Eve, filled with powerful emotions that seemed to both overwhelm and bolster his family. He prayed the Lord would help Gideon get past his loss and help Nelson to achieve his goal.
Little in the world was more important to James than the happiness and fulfillment of his sons.
Elena carried the last of the supper dishes to the kitchen counter. It was so good to feel strong again and free of the pain she’d experienced before her surgery.
“Rafael, why don’t you and Sarah get Izzy ready for bed and then read her a book?” They’d all gone to the five o’clock Christmas Eve service at Holy Trinity Church. Even Cesar had attended. Since her cancer fright, he’d returned to his faith, for which Elena would be eternally grateful.
But Izzy had been on an adrenaline high since the church service and was still singing “Joy to the World” in her loudest voice while spinning around to make her red velvet cape fly up. If someone didn’t get the child to bed soon, there would be no time for Santa to put in his appearance before Izzy was up again. Cesar had a complicated play stove to put together before he could go to bed tonight.
“All right,
mi bonita
.” Rafael scooped up Izzy and tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “You heard what Buela said. Bedtime.”
Izzy giggled and bounced on her daddy’s shoulder. “But I’m not tired.”
“I bet Dorie is tired,” Sarah said. “Let’s get her and your other stuffed animals ready for bed too.”
“Dorie isn’t tired. She likes to stay up late, late, late!” Her childish voice echoed as Rafael carried the child down the hallway to bed.
Rolling her eyes, Elena rinsed the dishes and placed them into the dishwasher.
Cesar came up beside her and slid his arm around her waist. “Tired?”
“Exhausted from too much excitement. Too much still to do before we leave. One thing is for sure: Once we get off the ground, I’m going to sleep like a rock on that plane.”
“Querida, I’m worried about the trip. I’ve been listening to the weather report. It doesn’t sound good for the day after tomorrow.”
A pinch of concern furrowed her brow. “Surely we’ll be able to get to O’Hare. Once we’re there, the airline won’t cancel our flight. That would ruin everyone’s plans. And the weather’s fine in Málaga, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. Seems like they’re always closing O’Hare for one thing or another. They say the storm that’s coming is a big one.”
The possibility of disappointment leaked into her high spirits. “But all of our plans are made. If we’re delayed by a day or two, we’ll miss the flamenco competition.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her. “I know how much you want this trip. We’ll just have to see what happens. Not much we can do about the weather.”
“If only the storm would stay away until the plane takes off, we’ll be fine.” She’d dreamed about going to Andalusia for so many years, she couldn’t bear the thought of having the trip canceled due to bad weather. “I’ll say a prayer for us tonight. Maybe God will hold back the storm.”
Cesar didn’t look hopeful. Elena decided she’d have to have enough faith for them both.
“And so ends our first Christmas Eve as husband and wife.” Yawning, Candace crawled into bed and pulled the covers up. Heath was still
Fern held up her arms to him. Nelson walked over and bent down to receive her hug.
“I love you, Nelson. You wanting to do that…it’s the greatest gift I can imagine,” she said.
James had to look away from the tender scene of mother and son holding and comforting each other, or he’d start crying along with them.
What a strange Christmas Eve, filled with powerful emotions that seemed to both overwhelm and bolster his family. He prayed the Lord would help Gideon get past his loss and help Nelson to achieve his goal.
Little in the world was more important to James than the happiness and fulfillment of his sons.
Elena carried the last of the supper dishes to the kitchen counter. It was so good to feel strong again and free of the pain she’d experienced before her surgery.
“Rafael, why don’t you and Sarah get Izzy ready for bed and then read her a book?” They’d all gone to the five o’clock Christmas Eve service at Holy Trinity Church. Even Cesar had attended. Since her cancer fright, he’d returned to his faith, for which Elena would be eternally grateful.
But Izzy had been on an adrenaline high since the church service and was still singing “Joy to the World” in her loudest voice while spinning around to make her red velvet cape fly up. If someone didn’t get the child to bed soon, there would be no time for Santa to put in his appearance before Izzy was up again. Cesar had a complicated play stove to put together before he could go to bed tonight.
“All right,
mi bonita
.” Rafael scooped up Izzy and tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “You heard what Buela said. Bedtime.”
Izzy giggled and bounced on her daddy’s shoulder. “But I’m not tired.”
“I bet Dorie is tired,” Sarah said. “Let’s get her and your other stuffed animals ready for bed too.”
“Dorie isn’t tired. She likes to stay up late, late, late!” Her childish voice echoed as Rafael carried the child down the hallway to bed.
Rolling her eyes, Elena rinsed the dishes and placed them into the dishwasher.
Cesar came up beside her and slid his arm around her waist. “Tired?”
“Exhausted from too much excitement. Too much still to do before we leave. One thing is for sure: Once we get off the ground, I’m going to sleep like a rock on that plane.”
“Querida, I’m worried about the trip. I’ve been listening to the weather report. It doesn’t sound good for the day after tomorrow.”
A pinch of concern furrowed her brow. “Surely we’ll be able to get to O’Hare. Once we’re there, the airline won’t cancel our flight. That would ruin everyone’s plans. And the weather’s fine in Málaga, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. Seems like they’re always closing O’Hare for one thing or another. They say the storm that’s coming is a big one.”
The possibility of disappointment leaked into her high spirits. “But all of our plans are made. If we’re delayed by a day or two, we’ll miss the flamenco competition.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her. “I know how much you want this trip. We’ll just have to see what happens. Not much we can do about the weather.”
“If only the storm would stay away until the plane takes off, we’ll be fine.” She’d dreamed about going to Andalusia for so many years, she couldn’t bear the thought of having the trip canceled due to bad weather. “I’ll say a prayer for us tonight. Maybe God will hold back the storm.”
Cesar didn’t look hopeful. Elena decided she’d have to have enough faith for them both.
“And so ends our first Christmas Eve as husband and wife.” Yawning, Candace crawled into bed and pulled the covers up. Heath was still
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