This story was
inspired by a difficult decision with which my family has been faced, this
holiday season…
Jim stared in disbelief at the Christmas
card in his hands. He hadn’t received a lot of cards these past years. In fact,
the little white postal truck rarely came up the long track to the farm any
more. Neither did many visitors. He supposed folks in town must consider him a
right hermit, since Jenny died.
Now, the scene on the card blurred before
his eyes—a tall, wooden house not unlike the one he occupied, with billows of
snow all around and a dog standing out front. A retriever wearing a Santa hat.
A dog, by God.
Inside the card, a message had been
written, crowding out the printed greeting, in a hand he recognized. Emotion
rose to his throat as he began to read.
Daddy,
I’m sure you’ll be surprised to get this. I know we didn’t part on the best
terms. And I know I didn’t stay in touch the way I should have. That’s my fault,
I guess. But that was a dark time for me.
I
suppose you’re still mad. I shouldn’t have said the things I said, called you
the things I did. You’re not a cruel man, or a monster, just like I’m not a selfish
brat. We both said things that would have made Mom ashamed.
The
thing is, Daddy, I want to come home for Christmas…
Jim stopped reading when the tears in his
eyes made it impossible to see. Daddy,
she called him Daddy, a name he’d never hoped to hear again. Brenda, his little
girl, once the light of his life. Five years, it had been since the day they’d
argued, and she’d slammed out of this house vowing never to return.
“You murdered my dog!” Suddenly Brenda’s
words filled his mind, those she’d bawled at him between sobs, that last day.
“You waited till I wasn’t here, and you killed her.”
“I didn’t kill her, Brenda, child. I took
her to the vet’s office and did what had to be done. The dog was suffering. You
don’t prolong suffering for someone you love.”
They’d stared into one another’s eyes and
Jim had been able to read Brenda’s thoughts: You let Mom suffer. And he had, God yes, he had. He would have done
anything he could to keep her with him one more day, including trade his own
soul. A man learned, sometimes the hard way. But he learned.
He’d looked into the collie, Bran’s, eyes
and seen Jenny’s pain. And he’d done what he’d done out of love. Coming so soon
after Jenny’s death, though, the loss had gone hard for Brenda. He hadn’t
expected her ever to forgive him.
She wanted to come home for Christmas.
Jim sucked in a breath that hurt. He
caressed the card with gnarled fingers, rubbed the places where her pen had
formed the letters, and spoke to the woman who, though dead, had never left his
heart.
“By heaven, Jenny, it’s a miracle. Did you
have something to do with this?”
No answer came from the air around him,
though he fancied a bit of warmth brushed his cheek.
But why now? Oh yes, he knew that all
hearts longed to come home at Christmas. But Brenda’s heart, like his, had been
so battered he could no longer guess what she felt. What if something was
wrong? What if Brenda needed to come tell him she, too, had fallen ill? He
couldn’t bear losing her a second time.
A rap at the front door had him setting
the card aside and scrambling to his feet. Who could that be so late on a
winter’s afternoon?
The front hall felt cold, and lay steeped
in gloom. When he swung the door open, light rushed in, along with a leaping,
panting bundle of fur.
The dog hit Jim in the center of the chest
and almost knocked him over. Large paws reached for his shoulders and a wet
tongue landed a generous and quite sloppy kiss on his cheek. He heard a laugh
he recognized every bit as well as the handwriting on the card.
Brenda, here. Now. Oh, by heaven!
The golden retriever collapsed at Jim’s
feet and rolled over for a belly rub.
“She’s shameless,” Brenda said, and just
like that day five years ago, they gazed into one another’s eyes.
She has Jenny’s eyes, Jim thought, full of
warmth and kindness.
He began to babble, “I just got your card
today. I didn’t expect—”
“I know.” Brenda looked sheepish. “I was
afraid if I mailed it too soon, you’d find some reason I shouldn’t come.”
“I’d never do that,” Jim said hoarsely.
“Never. Listen to me, Brenda, about Bran. You were right. I should have waited
so you could be there, so you could speak a proper good-bye.”
Brenda smiled sadly. “No, Daddy, you were
right—I’d let her suffer too long. It’s just that I’d already lost Mom. And
then I went and lost you, too.”
She stepped over the dog and threw herself
into his arms. He closed them around her tight. Welcome home.
Brenda said, “I hope you don’t mind I’ve
brought a guest. You see, our quarrel—that last, awful argument—sent me down a
very special road. Now I run a rescue, mostly for senior dogs. We’re
well-staffed this holiday, so I could get away. Daddy,” she backed up to look
at him, “I’ve helped a lot of dogs since I left home. But this one,” she
gestured at the golden retriever, “she’s really special and I wanted you to
meet her. In fact, I think it’s she who’s brought me.”
Jim found himself laughing for the first
time in ready memory. He bent and patted the retriever’s furry chest. “What’s
her name?”
“Jenny.” Brenda choked with emotion. “Her
name’s Jenny.”
“Well,” Jim smiled, “that’s a pretty fine
name. And I have to say, I’m glad you’ve both
come home for Christmas.”
Laura
Strickland’s web site: http://www.laurastricklandbooks.com
Oh, Laura, what a beautiful story (needed tissues after reading this)! Wishing you a lovely holiday season.
ReplyDeleteLovely story Laura. I hope you find peace in this holiday season and in the therapy of sharing your story with other.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story! I totally cried.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays, Laura.
Thank you, ladies! I hope everyone finds warmth and comfort this season!
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ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, touching story, Laura. As a dog lover, who lost her own mom when she was very young, I could totally relate. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'm crying. Very touching story. Loved reading it.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great story...brought several tears to my eye. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh, Laura, what a lovely, touching story. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story, Laura. The ending had me blinking back tears. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Cat
A beautiful story that touched my heart. You illustrate so well that out of pain, we can find fresh paths to walk. I’ve learned this in my own life too.
ReplyDeleteYour story filled me with warmth! Love is truly the healer and I felt it in your words shared. Thank you and everyone have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOh Golly how I hate tearing up (although I guess as a female I'm supposed to like it), but your great story left me sniffing and smiling. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteI loved this. And needed it.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Wonderful. Beautiful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! Been there, and love the outcome of this sweet story. Thank you so much, Linda. Happy Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteI love your hopeful story that shows forgiveness can happen at any time. We had a golden retriever, Italia, who we got a month after the passing of my father. She was indeed and angel dog sent by God to help our family heal. Your writing is charming and poignant. Thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteThe story has some tender moments. Very nice message.
ReplyDeleteThat was an excellent tale that I enjoyed very much. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDelete