Michaela put the two month old twins down for a nap. Another long day at the clinic. She knew that the next few weeks before Christmas would be long and busy. She sat down at her desk. She began to write down all of the things that needed to be done before Christmas came.
As she filled an entire peace of paper she realized she still hadn't planned the Christmas meal yet. She decided to wait and ask Sully what he would like this year.
All of a sudden her thought were interupted by a knock on the door. She rose from her chair and quickly moved across the room to the door. She turned the knob and opened the door. Their stood her husband with mistletoe in his hand. He held it over them and then moved toward her and gave her a deep intamite kiss that lasted a long time.
"Merry Christmas.",he told her after they parted.
"Not for another two weeks yet",she reminded him.
"Well I guess I can't do that again.",he tried to sound dissapointed.
"Mr. Sully you can do that anytime you want.",she replied and leaned in and gave him another long kiss.
"That's better."
They walked inside the clinic together. He sat in her chair and pulled her onto his lap. He noticed the list on the desk. He began to read it.
"You have enough work here for the whole town to do."
"I just want everything for Brian, Sarah, Matthew, Jessica, Colleen and Andrew to be perfect."
"Everything will be perfect."
"I just feel like I am under so much pressure this year. With Matthew's new fiancee, and know that Sarah is married to Brian. Everything needs to be just right."
"You work to hard. You oughta take a rest and come lie down with me."
He leaned in and kissed her. He then began to undo the buttons on her blouse. She pulled away when he did. She turned and faced the opposite direction from him.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just we've never done this for a long time and I'm afraid I haven't felt very loving lately. I'm afraid I dissapoint you. I've just been so tired with taking care of Katie, John and Alex. Then being at the clinic all day, and taking car of the babies. I don't have much energy left by the end of the day.",she couldn't look into his eyes.
He put his hand under her chin and gently pulled her to his eye level,"You could never dissapoint me. You make me feel so loved. We'll take our time and then it will mean all the more. Okay?"
"Alright",she replied.
"Now let me see you smile.",he requested.
Michaela let a big grin from across her face,"Thank you for understanding and loving me enought to wait."
Later on that afternoon Michaela went to the telegraph office to get her mail. There were some medical journals and medicines. She looked through and found four letters that she had been waiting for.
She went back to the clinic. She sat down and opened the first one. It was from Matthew in Chicago. She began to read it.
Dear Ma,
I hope that everyone is well. I am writing you because I don't know if I'll be home for Christmas this year. I am working on a murder case that keeps on getting more detailed and lasting longer all the time. But I am going to try my best to be there with Jessica. I want you to meet her so much. I just know that you are going to like her. Tell Sully, Katie, John, Alex, David, and Danielle that I love them and give them a big hug and a kiss from their big brother. I love you Ma. I see as soon as I can, if I can't come for Christmas.
Love Matthew
Michaela stared at the letter. They had all promised to be together no matter what on Christmas. But Matthew couldn't leave work. She would never forgive herself if he lost his job. She just prayed that his case would end soon so he and his fiancee could come home for the holidays.
By the time she finished reading two more letters she was becoming depressed. All of her older children were caught up in work and were very busy and might not make it for the holidays.
She couldn't imagine Christmas without Matthew, Brian, and Colleen along with their families to share the holidays. She prayed that they would all make it before Christmas came in the next two weeks.
She noticed the fourth letter on her desk. She looked at it. It was from her mother. She opened it and then began to read it.
Dear Michaela, Sully, Katie, John, Alex, David, and Danielle,
The holiday season is upon us in a few weeks. I can imagine you all sitting together in the homestead deocrating your tree and hanging her stocking over the mantle of the fireplace. Watching the little ones open presents on Christmas morning. Sharing a holiday dinner together later in the night. Then singing Christmas Carols and lighting the candles on the town tree. I only wish I could join you, but since my health has deteriated in the last few months I won't be able to be there. But perhaps after Christmas you and the children can come to Boston so I can finally meet my two new little grandchildren and enjoy seeing all of you again. I hope that you have a wonderful holiday. I will be thinking of you. You'll all be in my prayers.
Love Mother
Two Weeks later on Christmas Eve Michaela was baking cookies for tomorrow. She felt like Christmas wouldn't be the same this year without all of her children around her to share it with them. She felt two tears fall down her face. She quickly wiped them away.
After the food was prepared and the twins, and Alex were in bed Michaela sat at the dinner table with Katie and John waiting for Sully to come home from town.
All of a sudden the door opened. Michaela expected Sully to come walking through, but instead Matthew, his fiancee, Brian, Sarah, Colleen, and Andrew came in followed by Sully. Katie and John ran to their older siblings and embraced them.
Michaela ran from her seat and embraced them. She held onto to them tightly to make sure they were real and actually standing here before her very eyes.
"I thought none of you could make it for Christmas this year."
"Well it turned out we could, and then we thought it would make a nice surprise for you.",replied Matthew.
"I am just glad were all here together to share this time as a family."
"We all made a promise that we had to keep. That's how much our word means to each one of us.",said Colleen.
They all sat down together and ate supper. Talking and enjoying one another's company. Michaela glanced over at Sully. She said a simple thankyou with the look on her face. He replied with a thankyou by giving her a smile.
They had all made a promise to be together through thick and thin on Christmas and so far they had kept that promise this year, but next year might bring another story, but they wouldn't look and worry about the future just yet. For know they were together on the eve of Jesus's birth and they shared it together as a family.