Part 3: December 22nd
Tom woke bleary eyed to the alarm blaring from the radio. He blinked and yawned hugely, staring somewhat morosely at the clock as he tugged himself out of bed and shook Grace awake. Grace yawned loudly and darted into their en suite bathroom while Tom trudged out into the hallway with clothes in tow to their upper level main bathroom between the kid’s rooms.
He showered, shaved and dressed quickly before padding into James’ room and shaking him awake. James groaned but slid out of bed and stumbled out the door and into the hall. Tom smirked and opened Casey’s room with a smile.
She was wrapped around herself like a cat in the middle of the bed, the pillow tugged under her head and part of her upper body. The blankets were a fort around her and Tom could barely make out the top of her head.
“Casey-May, feet on the floor,” Tom uttered loudly as he shook her awake.
Casey whimpered but opened her eyes. Tom helped her untangle herself as the door to James’ room closed again, signalling that he was getting dressed for the day. Finally Casey was free from her blankets and she carried her straggly looking bear with her to the bathroom. Tom took that moment to lay out a pair of thick jeans, a pink sweater and some white socks for her.
He knew innately she would pick out something different but it made him feel useful in the mornings to do something besides wake the two up. He strode out of the room a moment later and leaned against the bathroom door to hear Casey brushing her teeth. He muttered about how quick they were growing up before striding down the hallway, back to his own bedroom upstairs.
He placed his soiled clothing in the laundry hamper and made a mental note to put a load or two in sometime over the next few days. He pulled on a pair of socks and strode downstairs, shouting to his kids that it was nearing 7:30 and they only had half an hour to eat.
The smell of bacon, eggs and breakfast potatoes wafted from the kitchen but Tom was more interested in the scent of freshly brewed coffee. He made it down the stairs and turned left to head into the kitchen, taking a quick peak to the right to smile at the lit Christmas tree in the corner of the living room in front of their picture windows.
“Good morning,” Tom exclaimed as he strode to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup.
“Good morning. I have everyone on our list prioritized by store when we enter the mall through the main doors. The gift and price is by each name for each store. Yellow highlighting is a few minutes to pick out the gift, orange highlighting means it will take longer. The kids are obviously in orange but I’m still not sure what to get your mother so she’s in blue.” Grace mentioned as she plated the bacon and scrambled eggs.
“We can get my mother bath soaps,” Tom suggested with a shrug.
“No, no, my mother wants the bath soaps and I don’t want your mother thinking we gave her the same thing just to get everything done and over with,” Grace disagreed as Casey and James came charging down the stairs.
Tom smiled at Grace’s purple sweater, pink socks and unicorn embossed jeans. James was wearing a thick green sweater over a white shirt and jeans.
“Aww, no pancakes?” James grumbled as he pulled out his chair.
“We had pancakes yesterday, we can’t live off them. And we can get my mother those scented candles she likes,” Tom chuckled speaking to both his son and wife.
“That would work. We’re getting your sister and her husband those wine glasses they’ve been looking at every time they’re down here. I don’t know what it is with them and etched wine glasses,” Grace mentioned as she portioned out the plates for her children.
“Okay,” Tom agreed after taking a sip of coffee.
“Your father is getting that carving set he’s been begging for; I told your mother and sister we’d get it. Oh, my brother is getting the flask with the dragon emblem, and his wife is getting the sewing machine she likes. My mother is getting the bath soaps and my father is getting the ties he’s been begging for,” Grace concluded as she finally sat.
“He actually wanted ties?” Tom questioned with a laugh.
“He’s an accountant, he wants to be fun and have a different funny tie every day,” Grace muttered with a little amused roll of her eyes.
“What are we getting Jon and Maggie?” Tom inquired as the children ignored the conversation to eat.
“I’m not sure. Jon uses that rusty old shovel every year; maybe we can get him an electric one. As for Maggie, we can get her a new mixer, she mentioned to me yesterday that her old one is barely working,” Grace suggested with a thoughtful little frown.
“Sounds good, I’ll tell Jon about the mixer, you tell Maggie about the electric snow shovel,” Tom planned.
“Good idea, speaking of, finish up guys, we have to get you two dressed and ready to go next door soon,” Grace gestured while she hurriedly finished her own food.
“Do you think we can play Candy Land and Monopoly today?” Grace inquired happily.
“I’m sure if you ask you’ll be able to,” Tom told her as he cleared his plate and stacked them into the dishwasher.
Both children let out excited whoops and helped to clear the table. Grace bustled them off towards the front entrance of their house and helped Casey pull on her coat and boots. Grace tucked gloves into the pockets, wrapped a scarf around Casey’s neck and pulled a hat onto her head. Tom pulled on his own winter boots and coat as James zipped up his coat, pulled his hat and boots on then tucked gloves into the pockets of his coat.
“Scarf James,” Grace instructed as she dressed.
“But mom,” James whined.
“No buts, if you go outside to play, I want you wearing a scarf,” Grace reiterated as she pulled on a hat.
“Okay,” James grumbled and pulled his scarf down from the rack.
Instead of hanging it off his neck like his sister, he stuffed it into his coat pocket with a minor pout. Tom tried not to laugh at his son’s disinterest in scarves or anything wrapped around his neck. Grace merely smiled and ushered the children out the door as Tom grabbed his keys and Grace’s forgotten purse.
He locked the door behind himself as Grace walked Casey and James to the neighbours. Tom began to follow swiftly behind after subconsciously studying his front porch for extra footsteps from the night before. He made it to the neighbour’s house just as Jon was opening the door and handed over Grace’s purse which she accepted with a sheepish smile. Maggie greeted Grace a moment later and the two began chatting.
“Hey Jon, we’re going to get a new mixer for Maggie,” Tom said nonchalantly with a smirk.
“Oh, she’ll love that. We’re getting Grace that lamp she’s been pestering about for the front room,” Jon told him with a grin.
“That’s great. Hey, why don’t you two come over to our house Christmas morning to open presents? You can stay over for the day and play with the kids then have dinner with the family,” Tom invited smoothly with a smile.
“That would be wonderful since my kid can’t make it down this year,” Jon replied happily.
“Thanks again Maggie, Jon and sorry about the short notice,” Grace iterated as she gently grabbed Tom’s arm and stepped out the door.
“It’s all right Grace, dear, we suggested it. Have fun at the mall,” Maggie told her with a wink.
“Oh we’ll try,” Tom laughed and led Grace down the steps and towards their waiting van.
A flash of red disappeared behind the back of his home and Tom glanced at it for a long moment with a frown. Grace looked at her husband than the back of the house, seeing nothing to be worried about as she opened the door to their now unlocked van.
“What is it?” Grace asked as she slipped into the passenger seat and sat her purse on her lap.
“I keep thinking I see someone in a red coat,” Tom muttered as he closed her door for her.
He walked around the front of the van, keeping his eye on the back of the house before getting in. Grace was watching him carefully and waved at Casey, James, Maggie and Jo
n as Tom buckled in and started the van.
“Maybe you’re seeing Old Saint Nick,” Grace joked with a smile as they started down the street.
“Yeah,” Tom uttered as he made the first turn towards the city.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Grace tried again with a small frown.
“You’re probably right,” Tom agreed with a small smile.
“Now, we’ve got a busy day ahead of us, let’s try to make it go as smoothly as possible,” Grace suggested as she flicked on the radio.
“Sounds like a plan,” Tom chuckled as he began to ease out of his worried state and into one filled with Christmas happiness.
The mall was a disaster area and Tom wished with all his might that they would be able to get in and out quickly enough to make it back home in time for supper. Grace took his hand, grabbed her purse in an iron grip and strode through the main doors with her head held high. Tom smiled at her confidence and pushed through the crowd with her.
Soon they were in the main foyer of the mall. Tom let Grace led the way and watched as parents struggled with crying children in carts. A few people were waddling out of the mall, laden with brightly colored shopping bags and looks of half-distress and half-happiness on their faces. Some looked outright annoyed but he said nothing as Grace hustled into the first stop in their journey to Christmas joy.
Hours later Tom was sweltering in his winter coat and carrying five shopping bags in one hand. Each one held something larger and more awkward to carry then the last and he was hoping none of the handles would give out. He diligently followed Grace into the over-crowded toy store and winced as a bag knocked into someone’s knee.
“Sorry,” Tom managed over his shoulder.
“Honey, why don’t you drop off that load in the van and come back here? I’m going to be a while,” Grace mentioned as the bags knocked into another person.
“Sorry miss and okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes I hope,” Tom told her and released his wife into the hoard of parents and children in the toy store.
He backed out gratefully and sucked in a deep breath as he transferred two bags to his now free hand. He walked back towards the main entrance with a purpose while skittering around other shoppers as he moved. Someone in a red coat passed by in his peripheral vision and he turned to look. Because of the distraction, he walked into a man pushing a baby stroller and almost fell to the floor.
“Sorry,” Tom muttered out embarrassed.
The man merely huffed and grumpily forged ahead as Tom darted around other consumers and finally made it to the much clearer main entrance. The cold air was refreshing on his damp form as he stepped outside. Soon he had crossed the parking lot and stuffed the bags into his van. On his way back he noticed an envelope on his windshield.
“What the?” Tom asked in curiosity as he grabbed the damp envelope.
He opened it quickly to see another Christmas card inside. This one had a snowman coated in sparkles that stood in front of a snow-covered house that looked eerily similar to his home. Tom shoved down the bubbling fright and opened the card.
‘Merry Christmas’ was inscribed in gold writing. Below this was ‘I’m home now, can’t wait to see you’ in the same scrawl from the mystery card days ago. This was written in the same thick red marker and Tom scowled. Tom crumpled the card and tossed it into a garbage bin as he passed. The writing stuck in his mind and Tom could not get the thought that the lettering had looked like it was written in blood out of his head.
He finally entered the mall again and bee-lined for the toy store he had left Grace at. He was swallowing hard, trying to knock down the terrified feeling that his wife would not be where he had left her and it would not have been of her free will that she left. He called himself ridiculous and entered the toy store.
He did not see Grace’s hat right away but ploughed through the crowd and searched with darting eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief as her form came into view and pushed to stand beside her.
“Hey,” He muttered out in a surprisingly calm voice.
Grace turned and smiled at him then promptly handed him four boxes. Tom laughed in relief and made no comment as Grace continued to select toys from various shelves. Soon Tom was overburdened and Grace had to go back to carting boxes around.
“Please tell me these aren’t all for Casey and James,” Tom groaned out from somewhere behind the pile of boxes in his arms.
“Oh no, there’s some for Jessie, Jackie, Christina and Samantha,” Grace assured him as she helped him to the cashier.
“Oh good,” Tom breathed.
“But we still have to go to one more store to get a few things for James since trains, puzzles, ponies and dollies don’t interest him,” Grace informed him a moment later.
“Aw,” Tom whined as he carefully placed the toys onto the counter.
“Oh and we still have to find an electric shovel and a mixer for Jon and Maggie,” Grace commented as she used the cashier began ringing in the items.
“Great,” Tom breathed as the total continued to add up.
“You may have to go back to the van,” Grace remarked with a little chuckle.
“Right, I’ll meet you where?” Tom enquired as he began picking up the already full bags.
“By the food court, I’m starving and it’s close to noon. We should eat first before hitting the last leg of our journey,” Grace suggested with a smile.
“Good plan,” Tom agreed as he picked up the rest of the bags while Grace paid.
“I’ll meet you in front of that burger joint you love,” Grace told him as they were released from the store.
“Okay, see you in ten,” Tom told her and began to stride off again, his eyes still looking for a figure in a red coat.
Tom sighed heavily as he and Grace finally left the mall. The sky was still bright and Tom was glad they would have enough time for supper before the sky got too dark. Once supper was finished and the appropriate presents hidden, they would pack Casey and James in the van to see Santa.
Tom adjusted his hold on the bags in his hand and smiled when Grace gave him a satisfied smile. One more thing was crossed off their to-do list and Grace always received a wonderful jolt of happiness from completing things. Tom was merely grateful that there were two days after Christmas for him to just relax.
Grace got into the car as he put the final load of bags into the truck of the van. A few items would not fit so he reluctantly opened the side door and placed the rest on the back seats. He walked around the back and blinked at the foot prints in the snow.
A second set of long, wide, and heavy looking prints was there and Tom scowled as he followed them to the front of the van. They continued on a bit further, enough to place something on the windshield before striding off towards the mall again. Tom sighed and got into the van, glad that he had gotten rid of the other Christmas card before Grace could see it.
“Something wrong?” Grace questioned with a frown.
“Just tired,” Tom assured her as he started the car and buckled himself in.
“Well, we still have to come back to see Santa. We did promise the kids,” Grace informed him with a little chuckle.
“I know and the line-up looked huge. We’re going to have to bring something to entertain them while we wait,” Tom remarked as he pulled out and began the drive home.
“Well James has his portable game player and you know Casey will be thrilled to merely people watch and do a running commentary,” Grace remarked with a little giggle.
“Yeah, that’s our Casey,” Tom agreed with a grin.
He noted a small chunk of paper on his side of the windshield then. Without breaking his grin, he flicked on the windshield wipers and the paper was disengaged. He felt a bit horrible for littering but he did not need some mysterious stalker ruining his favorite time of the year.
The drive was over too quickly and Tom found himself almost disliking the fact they had to go out again. Grace helped unload some of the bags into their bedr
oom closet. They would spend tonight wrapping their children’s gifts and bring the rest downstairs so Casey and James could help wrap the rest.
Grace organized the bags swiftly so only Casey and James presents were hidden behind pants and shirts. Tom left the rest by the Christmas tree and hoisted down a three pack of wrapping paper and some ribbons. He stared at the electric shovel for a long moment and tucked it and the mixer behind the larger piles.
Grace darted into the kitchen a moment later and Tom decided to gather the kids. The walk to next door was brisk but Tom continually looked to the back of his house and the ground to find any extra footprints. He knocked on the gaily decorated door with a smirk a few moments later and Jon answered with a smile.
“Howdy neighbour, how did the shopping go?” Jon asked and stepped aside to let Tom in.
“Good, we got everything we wanted and Grace is making dinner right now. I’m here for the munchkins,” Tom told him.
“I’m not a munchkin,” James protested from the kitchen.
“Okay, you’re a munchie then,” Tom bargained as the two came charging out of the kitchen to greet him with Maggie on their heels.
“What’s a munchie?” James asked as he pulled on his coat and stared up at his father.
“A slightly bigger munchkin,” Jon informed him with a laugh.
James rolled his eyes as Tom helped Casey into her coat. Tom merely chuckled when James finally began tugging on the rest of his winter outwear.
“They weren’t too much trouble today were they?” Tom asked as Casey plopped her own hat onto her head and wrapped on her scarf.
“Not at all. We had fun, right guys?” Maggie iterated with a smile.
“Yeah, we played Monopoly and I won,” James beamed with bright eyes.
“I won Candy Land,” Casey jumped in with a little squeal of delight.
“And we helped make pie and cake,” James exclaimed happily.
“Did you help eat it too?” Tom joked with a grin.
“No, Maggie says the cake and pie are for Christmas dinner,” James commented with a small pout.
“So we’re going to have lots of dessert,” Casey called out.
“That’s great. Okay you two, let’s head on home to eat then we’ll go see Santa,” Tom instructed.
James and Casey gave twin shouts of joy before darting past Tom’s legs and out the door. Jon chuckled at Tom’s flabbergasted but joyful look. Tom thanked the older couple again before saying his good-byes and chasing after his children. The warmth of the house was welcome and watching the two try to get out of snow clothing quickly for food was amusing.
“We’re back,” Tom shouted out as he tugged off his own coat.
“Oh good, I’ve got a tuna casserole that’s almost ready,” Grace informed the trio as they made their way into the kitchen.
“Go wash up you two,” Tom told Casey and James as they tried to sit at the table.
Moans of protest met his ears but the two ran off again to wash their hands before coming back to the table. Tom set the table and sat tiredly in his chair to rub at his temples. Soon the children were back at the table and Grace was piling food onto their plates.
Supper was finished quickly and Tom found himself driving back to the mall with his family singing ‘Jingle Bells’ around him. Tom tried to get into the song but still kept seeing that piece of paper on his windshield. He found a cherished parking spot close to the front doors and helped the children out of their seats.
James protested holding Grace’s hand but she insisted while informing him that the mall was exceptionally crowded and it would be easy for him to get lost. He reluctantly agreed and shuffled along behind her while clutching her hand in a soft grip.
Casey was easier to handle and instantly took Tom’s hand the moment it was free. Tom smiled to himself and grabbed Grace’s free hand as the family entered into the overly-populated mall. They navigated around shoppers until finally reaching the line to see Santa Claus. Before James could start complaining about the long wait, Grace had pulled out his fully charged portable game system and given it to him.
Instantly he was lost in a world entirely not of his own and was quiet. Casey began talking about a lady with a cute baby and narrating other things that caught her interest. Tom helped her pull off her coat when she asked but James was still too absorbed by his fantasy world to notice the heat.
“Are we getting pictures this year?” Grace asked slyly with a smirk.
“Don’t we always?” Tom chuckled back.
Grace laughed along with him and he wrapped her in a hug while pushing James forward slightly when the line moved without his notice. Casey skipped ahead; clutching Tom’s pant leg now and pointed out a woman with vey sparkly earrings. This went onto a monologue of if Tom was going to get Grace a pretty pair of earrings and what they should look like if he did.
Tom went along with the conversation, wondering how a seven year old could amuse herself so much with other people as she spoke. Grace was grinning the entire time, wondering if she would get a pair of earrings this year. They both had enough time to themselves after work to sneak in a quick trip to snag something for Christmas. Both also carried large enough bags to work to hide a present for the other.
The line had finally moved enough that Casey could see Santa and Grace pulled James out of his world long enough to point out the jolly man. James saved his game, turned off the system and handed it back to Grace without being asked to as the children three ahead of them in line moved to sit on Santa’s lap.
Casey began vibrating in excitement, rattling off her list of Christmas presents so she would not forget. James was watching the line move and the cameras flash with wide eyes as they finally stood at the front. A cheerful elf asked who would go first and James allowed Casey the chance. Casey thanked him profusely and kissed him on the cheek before darting off to meet Santa. James winced at that and wiped the kiss off his face, much to the amusement of Tom and Grace.
“What’s your name little girl?” Santa inquired with a deep but gentle voice.
“Casey-May Taylor,” Casey proudly stated as Grace smiled in affection.
“What a beautiful name! Have you been a good girl this year?” Santa asked with a grin.
“Mommy and Daddy said I have,” Casey informed the happy man with a quick glance at her parents.
“Well I know you have; I check my list twice you know,” Santa told her with a wink.
“All ready? Really?” Casey inquired with sparkling eyes.
“Oh yes, I have to be prepared you know. Now, what would you like for Christmas?” Santa asked with another smile.
“Could I have the pony play-set with the sparkly baby ponies, a new bicycle, and a mermaid doll that swims and for my daddy to get mommy some pretty earrings?” Casey requested with hopeful eyes.
“Oh I think we have that ready for you at the North Pole. And I’m sure you’re daddy got your mommy a sparkly pair of earrings,” Santa promised with a belly laugh.
“Smile for the camera,” One of the elves said.
Casey turned part way and beamed as the elf lined up the shot and took the photograph. Casey jumped off Santa’s lap after giving him a hug and thanked the elf who gave her a candy cane. Tom took her hand on the other side of the gate as Grace moved to the elf taking money for photos to pay for two prints.
“And what’s your name young man?” Santa asked as James got on his lap.
“I’m James Taylor and that was my sister,” James told him as he waved at Casey.
“You’re a lucky young man to have such a nice sister,” Santa commented.
“Yeah, she’s better than other girls,” James agreed.
Santa laughed heartily at that and Tom joined in. Grace was hiding a chuckle behind her hand demurely and Casey grinned.
“Have you been a good boy this year?” Santa questioned.
“Mom and Dad said so,” James told him with a smile.
“Well you’re on the good list
too,” Santa informed him with a grin.
“Cool,” James remarked in awe.
“And what would you like for Christmas?” Santa inquired with a smile.
“The new Creature-Catcher game, a new bicycle, a new blanket and for mom to get dad the new music player he wants, maybe, please?” James requested with a smile.
“I know I have some of those around. And I’m sure you’re mom will find the perfect music player for your dad,” Santa assured him with a deep laugh.
“Smile for the camera,” the same elf called out.
James turned and gave the peace sign at the camera as the elf took the picture. Tom chuckled lightly as James gave Santa a half-hug and leaped off his lap. He thanked the elf handing out candy canes and challenged Casey to a duel with their canes while they waited for Grace to finish paying for their pictures.
Once Grace returned, the troop began to move back through the crowd with Casey and James candy cane fight ending in a forced draw. Casey requested to look at some toys and Tom reluctantly agreed. Someone walked by in a red coat and Tom ground his teeth to ignore it. Soon James and Casey were poking and prodding at different toys while Grace and Tom watched attentively.
Finally Tom all but dragged the two away from the display as another person in a red coat walked passed. Grace gave him a little frown but he ignored it, intent on getting his family safely home. Casey and James asked to eat their candy canes and Grace allowed it, only once they got home.
They agreed and began discussing the excitement of Santa and Christmas presents as Tom peered around to find the mysterious person in the red coat. He found it to be in vain as many people were wearing red because of the holidays and was happy to get out of the mall. Soon a gnawing feeling began at his stomach as he realized they might all find a new envelope on the van’s windshield.
The feeling intensified as they approached the van and Tom frowned to himself. The van came into view and Tom tried to vainly check the windshield. Soon he was hitting the button to unlock it and they were piling in. He let out a sigh of relief: there was nothing being held down by the wipers.
The drive home was relaxing and Tom found himself singing along with the Christmas carols on the radio. Grace smiled at him as they pulled into the driveway and Casey and James rushed out of the van. Tom followed behind and unlocked the door as Grace followed behind. The children peeled off their winter wear and plopped in front of the television to watch more Christmas movies and eat their candy canes.
“Want some hot chocolate guys?” Grace questioned as she shook out her hair.
“Yes please,” the synchronized reply came.
“Sure,” Tom wearily replied as he all but fell onto the couch.
Grace gave him a kiss on the cheek and went about preparing the hot chocolate. Tom watched the movie without paying attention to it and accepted the mug Grace handed him a few moments later. Only the television was sounding and soon even it was silenced as Casey and James were told to sleep.
Tom climbed the stairs after plopping his still almost full mug of cold chocolate on the coffee table. Grace puttered around downstairs for a few moments and Tom stretched out on their bed, listening to the little noises she made. Soon he heard her climbing the stairs and got off the bed.
“Are you okay?” She questioned lightly upon entering the room.
“Just tired. We’ve been going non-stop as if we’ve been working,” Tom groused as he plopped onto the floor in front of the closet and began pulling out the presents for Casey and James.
“I know, but you seem distracted,” Grace mentioned as she took out the hidden wrapping paper and bows then kneeled beside him.
“It’s nothing,” Tom absently told her as he pulled the pony play-set Casey had asked for out of the bag.
Grace frowned but made no comment and soon the gifts were being wrapped. Grace was the one who did the actual wrapping as Tom filled out the gift tags with the appropriate child’s name and ‘From Santa’. Soon all the presents were wrapped and Tom snuck some of them downstairs into the hallway closet.
A shadow shifted across the floor of the living room as he was starting back up the stairs and Tom darted into the room to look. He flicked on the light but saw nothing. His heart was beating like a caged animal in his chest and he took two deep breaths to calm it. He strode to the window and peered into the darkness again but saw nothing. With a frown, he shut the blinds and walked away from the window.
He shook himself to try to relieve the tension in his shoulders and the coiling doubt in his stomach as he took a final look around the room over his shoulder. He flicked off the light and began the walk back upstairs, wondering again what the strange Christmas cards meant.