She wrapped her hand around it. “Where will you put it?”
I laid it on the dresser. “Right here. We’ll put it back on first thing in the morning.” She watched as I laid it on the top of the dresser. I helped her into bed and leaned down to kiss her face. “Thank you for being here for Christmas.”
She nodded and nestled into the pillow, holding Ernie and her new baby doll. She looked at me and grinned.
“I better get Mark up here so he can kiss you good night, too.”
I pulled the covers up onto her chest and she grabbed my hand. “Thank you, Patricia.” I kissed her all over her face before I called Mark. I walked toward the door and Girl jumped off the bed, following me. “Can she stay?” Emily asked.
“I think she might need to go outside,” I said. “I’ll let her out and then she can come sleep with you.”
Mark said good night while I opened the back door for Girl. I was unloading the dishwasher when Girl started to bark at something out front. I knocked on the front kitchen windows and she stopped. I put glasses into the cabinet but then heard Girl barking again. I walked to the front door and called her before she disturbed the neighbors. She ran up the front steps and I noticed a bag hanging on the doorknob. What in the world? I thought. The card attached to it said “Patricia.” I couldn’t imagine who had left it there.
I stepped inside the door and took the bag into the living room. I dug through the gold tissue paper and found a tiny note folded on top of a gift wrapped in delicate green foil paper. It read “Found at the hospital.” My mind couldn’t process things fast enough. Did I leave something at the hospital when I was visiting Mia? I ripped into the paper and discovered a black velvet box. I lifted the lid and saw a beautiful antique pocket watch with elaborate engraving. What in the world? I thought again, trying to figure out who would have given me such a beautiful gift. I turned the watch over and discovered engraving on the back. “Mom, Always … S.”
I gasped and fell onto the sofa. A note card with a gold embossed heart at the top was in the bottom of the box. I began to cry when I recognized Sean’s handwriting.
Dear Mom,
You always told me that the best Christmas gift I could ever give was the one I couldn’t wrap—the gift of time. That never made sense until I got older and saw how you gave your time to “your kids,” and to Dad and me. And I noticed that you never just gave your time at Christmas, Mom.You gave it away every day—24/7.
At the very first Christmas, angels said, “I bring you good news of great joy for Everyone!” When I was little you told me that the good news was that God loves everyone (so much that He sent His Son to live here). A lot of people don’t know about God’s love but I know about it every time you hug me (how’s that for mushy?!). And every time I see you hug one of “your kids” I know they feel it, too. (Okay, enough mush. I need to move on!)
You said your grandfather’s watch was “just a thing” but I know it was more than that to you: every time you looked at it you remembered time spent with him or the time you spend with Grandma. You warned me (lectured is more like it!) to be careful how I spent my time because before I knew it the day would be gone. So before another day and another Christmas got away I wanted to give this to you and thank you for being the best mom in the world and for giving me the gift of your time every day. I know you have to unwrap this, but in a way I’m giving you the gift of more time that we’ll be able to spend together!
I love you, S
Mark ran down the stairs and discovered me on the sofa. Tears streamed down my face as I held the watch and note for him to see. He took the watch from me and read the note. He was stunned. He read the note again and looked back at the inscription on the watch. It didn’t make sense. How could this be from Sean? He looked at the note and watch again.
“Who left this?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“How did they even know it was you or Sean or …” His voice started shaking and he sat down next to me.
“I thought I heard the doorbell ring this morning when I was in the shower but with everyone here I forgot all about it,” I said. “I’m sure it’s been there all day.” I cried harder and held the watch close to me. Mark pulled me to him and I wrapped my hand tighter around the watch. I never wanted to let it go. “I miss him every single day,” I said. Mark wrapped his arms around me and I felt his tears on the back of my neck. “It’s gotten to the point where I can’t hear his voice anymore and I’m so afraid I won’t remember what he sounded like. I won’t remember what he sounded like when he’d run the through the door and say, ‘Hey, Mom. What’s up?’ I won’t remember what he sounded like when he’d say, ‘I love you.’ And I don’t ever want to forget.”