Under The Mistletoe (John & Luke - Pt 2)

Chapter 24

Bob's absence left a heaviness in the hearts of those left behind. It was in their eyes—the sadness—that couldn't be disguised with talk of happier things. As Luke and John volunteered to hand out the presents, Luke wondered at that scripture that people tossed around—but which had become real to Luke over the course of the past few days; The Lord works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.

The events that brought Bob into their lives had nearly ended in tragedy. Or so he had believed. He knew better now. God had had a tight grip on Luke the whole time. John was right—it hadn't once crossed God's mind to take him away from John, from his new family. Maybe it was that understanding that would allow him to tell John the truth of it all. When the time was right.

But not on this Christmas day. There was enough anguish in Bob's departure, Luke didn't want to add to it.

Luke left Bob's gifts under the tree to be opened last as he and John passed out the others.

John was thrilled with his parents' gift of multiple digital art software, and their gift to Luke—a brown leather bomber jacket—nearly made him squeal like a little girl. Luke had grown up with wealth, but the money—and what was purchased with it—was tightly controlled by Luke's dad. Luke rarely, if ever, received any gift he truly wanted, though his parents could have easily afforded it. Even the clothes he wore had to be approved by his father—image was everything—and Luke's image reflected back on Chandler Rivers.

Christmas with the Eckleys felt like his first real Christmas of his life. The only downside being that Bob wasn't here to share it with them as well. The man had admitted that he had no one to spend Christmas with, and it caused an ache in Luke's heart that he would be out there alone today, on the road. Luke sent up a silent prayer that God would keep the weather fair during his drive to New York, keep him safe.

Sharon was delighted with John and Luke's gift—twelve hardback novels that made up the complete set of her favorite book series, along with an ornamental shelf on which to display the collection. For Mitch, they had picked out a Samsonite bonded leather attaché briefcase to start him off right with his new contract job.

John and Luke waited to exchange their gifts to each other as they were eager to see if Mitch would cave and give Sharon her "anniversary surprise" now. Mitch let Sharon go first and she presented him with a vintage leather journal set of three different sized journals, each personalized with his name in embossed letters, and a gold pen set.

"I love it, darling." He kissed her. "You truly cater to my incessant need to scribble down my thoughts."

Sharon laughed softly, emotion strong in her eyes. "You are a wise man, Mitch," she smiled warmly and touched his face. "What comes out of that beautiful mind of yours deserves to be immortalized."

Mitch chuckled, "It's a kind and loving wife who makes her average husband feel like a genius. Thank you, my dear." He kissed her.

"Okay." She straightened in easy chair expectantly and smiled, teasing gleam in her eye. "Where's mine?"

Mitch glanced at John and Luke, then informed Sharon it was kind of a two-part gift. The two boys grinned and tried to stifle their amusement.

"Oh Mitch..." she whispered when she opened the present and found the Nikon camera, which came with an extra telephoto zoom lens. "This is..." Her lips pressed tight and deep affection filled her eyes.

"There's more in the box." Mitch nodded at the package.

"More..." Sharon removed a small cardboard partition at the bottom and lifted out a handcrafted leather photo album—and three language translation dictionaries. Her brow knit. "Spanish, Italian...French." She raised her eyes, her frown deepening. "What are these for?"