FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY

by

CQB

CHAPTER 6

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

“Jesus I won’t ask you for a Christmas tree,

With shiny tinsel, silvery and gold;

All I ask this Christmas, that You find for Mom and me,

A friendly house to keep away the cold.”*

* * *

Bright and early Christmas morning, Faith jumped out of the big bed and hurried to the window.  The sun was starting to rise and the snow outside was kissed with a pink shimmering glaze, like frosting on a cake.

She heard her tummy rumble as she realized she smelled something good and it was making her hungry.

“Mama,” Faith shook her mother until Rachel opened her eyes. “I smell bacon!”

Rachel smelled breakfast cooking as well and a pang of guilt washed over her.  She remembered all the Hardy family had already given to her and her daughter. “Least I can do is help fix breakfast,” she murmured.  She hurriedly pulled on a fluffy bathrobe and ushered Faith across the hall to the bathroom.

There Rachel found her and Faith’s clothes waiting for them. Though worn and a bit faded, their jeans and sweaters looked so fresh and smelled clean.  They quickly washed and changed before heading downstairs.

“Good morning to you,” a tall woman called out to them as they entered the kitchen.  Her angular features and salt and pepper hair gave her a stern appearance, but the brown eyes behind her silver framed glasses held a comforting warmth.

“Um, hello,” Rachel said quietly.

“Come and sit,” the woman invited. “I’m Fenton’s sister Gertrude.  Sorry I missed your arrival last night.”

“I like bacon,” Faith announced, climbing into the closest chair.

“How about eggs, too?” Gertrude asked, putting a place in front of the child. “Eat your fill before Frank and Joe get down here. Those two nearly eat us out of house and home.”  She set a plate before Rachel as well.

Before long the entire Hardy family was gathered around the table making small talk and enjoying a leisurely Christmas morning.  Faith kept glancing through the door into the family room, but she was not at the right angle to see what lay in wait.

Joe caught Faith’s neck craning action and nudged Frank under the table. “Someone’s anxious to see what Santa brought,” the blond Hardy boy whispered.

Frank was about to reply when the back door bell rang.  He jumped up and welcomed Callie and Vanessa into the kitchen.  “Merry Christmas!” the girls called out to the assembled group.

“Well,” Fenton stood and smiled brightly, “I think it’s time to open presents.”

“Yes!” Faith and Joe cried at the same time.  They looked at each other and started to laugh.  The others joined in as they all moved into the spacious family room.

Rachel fell in step behind the Hardy family.  She didn’t know where her coat was and she needed to find the dollar she had saved for Faith.  Laura caught Rachel’s hesitation and quickly moved to her side.

“Rachel, is something wrong?”

“I…I have something for Faith.  It’s just a dollar, but Faith will be thrilled with it, but it’s in my coat,” Rachel explained, embarrassed that she had nothing more to give her daughter for Christmas. 

“Let’s get it,” Laura suggested.  On the way to the hall closet where Rachel’s coat was hanging, Laura told her about the gifts that were waiting for Faith under the tree.  “They’re all from ‘Santa’, but I’m sure she’ll appreciate your special gift to her even more.”

“No,” Rachel shook her head.  She turned and hugged Laura tightly.  “I can give it to her later.  Let’s go watch my daughter open her gifts.”

“Mama!”  Rachel heard her daughter cry out as the two women entered the family room.   “Isn’t it beautiful? The prettiest Christmas tree I ever saw! It’s all silvery and gold!” Faith cried excitedly.

Fenton felt like Santa Claus himself as he handed the little girl gift after gift.  She gushed over every present, even the Matchbox® cars from Joe.  Rachel cried as she watched her daughter having a real Christmas again.

“Sweetie” Fenton whispered to Faith, “Here is a present for your mommy from Santa.  Would you like to give it to her?”  Faith enthusiastically nodded her head and carried the shiny box with its bright red bow to her mother.

Rachel looked at the gift in disbelief.  “It’s for you Mama, from Santa,” Faith said, urging her mother to open it.  Rachel looked at the Hardy family and the two girls with them and saw encouraging smiles.  She quickly unwrapped the sweater set.

“Oh my! It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, holding it up.

Soon the other gifts were passed out and opened.  Laura was speechless when Fenton presented her with a delicate diamond bracelet and she was excited about the MP3 player Frank and Joe had gotten for her – already loaded with some of her favorite songs; Fenton quickly pulled off his old cardigan and replaced it with the rich cashmere sweater from his wife.  He knew he would thoroughly enjoy watching the ‘Three Stooges’ and ‘Hogan’s Hero’s’ DVD sets from the boys.

Both Vanessa and Callie received their favorite perfumes from Mr. and Mrs. Hardy and both were awed by the lovely diamond earrings each of them got from their boyfriends.  It was only after the gifts were opened that they realized this wasn’t planned by Frank and Joe – neither brother knew what the other had bought for their girlfriends! 

Joe admired the dark blue scarf Aunt Gertrude made for him.  Everyone chuckled when Callie presented him with a t-shirt that said, ‘Vanessa’s arm candy’. The water-proof sports watch from Vanessa was something Joe had really been wanting.  She received a passionate kiss for the gift, while the others playfully teased the couple.  Joe also got several new DVD collections, new music CDs and a new camera lens from his parents and Frank.

The scarf Frank got from Aunt Gertrude matched Joe’s, except it was red.  Frank was thrilled with the VHS/DVD converter Callie had gotten for him and he could really use the leather gloves from Vanessa.  Sweaters, DVDs and computer programs were also among the gifts he opened.

The group welcomed Tigh Cassidy and his young ward, Luke Martin to the festivities just as the last of the gifts were opened.

Soon the wrapping paper was collected and gifts were neatly stacked in piles under the tree.  Gertrude brought out a tray of Christmas cookies and mugs of spicy, cinnamon eggnog. 

Joe and Vanessa stole a few moments together by offering to take the trash outside.  They pulled on their coats and boots and slipped out the back door.

Faith had loved all the excitement.  She couldn’t remember Christmas ever being so much fun.  She was busy playing with her new doll when she saw Joe and Vanessa sneak out the back door. 

Making sure her mother was busy, the precocious child followed the two teenagers.  She had been wanting to talk to Joe all morning, and now was her chance.

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