The Christmas Hope(41)

“A topiary.”

Dad shook his head. “It looks better than it sounds. See, it’s got real fruit mixed in with the artificial leaves. That way you can use it every year.” He smiled and Mom laughed. For years we’d only heard him use construction and building terms. Today he was an article straight out of Better Homes and Gardens. Mark followed carrying large paper bags with handles. Emily drank the last of her milk and ran into the dining room to help. I searched for our camera in the hall closet and tried to snap a picture of Mom but the batteries were dead.

It’s been four years, I thought, realizing the last time we’d used the camera. I popped new batteries into place, put in a roll of film, and stepped into the door of the dining room. I took a picture of Emily burrowing through the bags, of Mark and Dad hanging garland, of Dad giving me a thumbs-up while he strung some lights, of Mark helping Emily spread out the table runner, and of Mom licking her fingers and giving me a dirty look. We baked and cleaned and spruced up the house for our visitors and for the first time in years it felt normal; it felt real.

Mom and Dad left and Mark carried games in from the garage. “I bought these today,” he said to Emily and me. He was holding Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders. “Does anybody want to play?”

Emily held up her hand. “I do. But can we see Mia first?” She walked over to him and looked up. “Can you go with us?”

“I can’t be seen in public with someone wearing reindeer pajamas,” he said. Emily ran up the stairs into the bedroom, leaving Mark and me alone in the kitchen.

“The dining room is gorgeous,” I said, breaking the silence. “Thanks for doing that.”

He nodded. “Thanks for cooking.”

“Mom did most of it. She’s a much better cook than I am.”

“Guess it depends on who you’re asking,” he said. He smiled and I wanted to hug him but I couldn’t. He couldn’t either. Roy was wrong. We didn’t know what to do. There was something broken and neither of us knew how to fix it.

Emily ran downstairs and I helped her with her coat. “Are you coming to the activity tonight?” she asked Mark.

Mark raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “What activity?”

“The live one,” she said, pulling on her gloves.

“The living Nativity,” I said.

“You have to go because all the animals will be there,” Emily said. “Mary and Jesus, too.”

“Well, of course I’ll go,” he said, opening the car door for her. I sat next to her in the backseat.

“I love animals,” she said. I knew she did from the way Girl responded to her. “We had a cat named Harry once, but he ran away.”

“I have an uncle named Harry,” I said. “We always wanted him to run away but he never did.” Mark laughed out loud and his sudden outburst made me laugh. I caught him looking at me in the rearview mirror and when I saw him he smiled. I wasn’t sure if he was smiling at me or because of what I had said. Did it matter? He was smiling again. And so was I.

We walked into the room where Mia was being monitored and Emily ran to her side. She was awake. “Hello, sweet girl,” I said, stroking her hand with my finger. She smiled and Emily wrapped her hand around Mia’s.

“Merry Christmas, Mia,” she said. “We’re going to see the animals tonight. I wish you could come with us.” She made faces at Mia and Mia giggled. Emily beamed. She was so proud. She reached into a bag and pulled out the tinsel and strand of lights she’d brought for Mia’s room. Mark plugged the lights in and formed them in a snake shape on the windowsill and wrapped the tinsel around Mia’s bed where she couldn’t reach it.

“‘Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.’” Emily was singing. She looked up at Mark and me and nodded her head, trying to get us to sing as well. We looked around, hoping no one could hear, and joined in, whispering. “Louder,” Emily said. We sang louder and Mia kicked her feet. “‘In a one-horse ohhh-penn sleiiighh,’” we all sang, giving the song a big finish. Fortunately, Dr. Andrews entered the room after the song was through.

He walked to Mark and extended his hand. “I’m Nathan Andrews.”

“I’m Mark. Nice to meet you.”

“She’s doing great,” he said, touching Mia’s leg.

“Everything’s working?” I asked, looking at the wires surrounding her.

“Everything’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.”

“Will she ever be sick again?” Emily asked.

He put his hand on her shoulder. “I think Mia’s going to surprise us all,” he said. “And I love surprises. Especially at Christmas.” He handed me an envelope and I opened it. It was full of money.