Island Fever 6: Sanctuary Ch. 16

But I am also reminded of the countless number of people in the world who do not get along with their family, or simply cannot see them over the holidays. Today was great for me, indeed, but it would have been so much better if I could have my own mother and father here, and my two brothers and sister. But Mom and Dad were separated and sworn to never see each other again, and Dan and Di were at odds with me. Steve did not even have a telephone and was tough to track down. So, I can understand. I know what holiday heartache is like. Unfortunately, this would also be the the first Christmas season that Lindsay did not get to see her mother. Leslie still refused to have any contact with her.

But I was able to shove all of that to the side today, and be happy for what I did have. The fact that Pamela got to spend time with her family. Trish, Amy, Kristanna. Tomorrow, I was having dinner with Scarlett at her parents' house. They were not as keen and open to our group marriage as others were, but at least they did not shun Scarlett as a daughter.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart, but some of you may be having a hard time right now because you're not with your family at all. Or, you do not have a lot of family with you. I just want to let all of you know that you are more than welcome to be a part of our family during this holiday season. Words could never even begin to describe the appreciation I have for my most loyal readers. I hope the glimpse into our family life over these past three-plus years has put a smile on your face. I have enjoyed sharing our experiences with you.

From my heart to yours, have a very Merry Christmas.

* * *

I was turning off the shower the following morning, telling myself that it was okay to feel this happy despite the fact that my own inner family was not here. They would never be here. But that would not dampen my spirits. Not today. It was Christmas, and I looked forward to watching my kids open all of their presents. Each of my wives would be spoiled even more after today than they already were. No one enjoyed gift giving more than me! Later, I would have Christmas dinner with Scarlett and her parents (and Dylan, our baby boy, of course). The day was going to be nothing short of awesome!

But then, I heard Lindsay let out a wild squeal.

Grabbing a towel to wrap around my hips, I hurried out into the bedroom to see what was wrong. Was there a problem? An issue? Why did Lindsay scream like that? But the squeal sounded sort of happy, but I had to be absolutely, positively certain. Was she okay? Lindsay was out on the balcony and had actually left the sliding glass door wide open.

"Lindsay!" I exclaimed, stepping out to see what she was doing and exhaling with relief when I saw everything was all right. "It's freezing cold out here! You're just wearing your nightgown, for God's sake."

"It's snowing!" Lindsay whirled around, beaming at me, looking rumpled and rosy and happy. Basically, like her usual self. "It wasn't supposed to snow today! JEREMY! We're going to have a White Christmas after all!"

"You can admire the snow all you want from indoors. Now please come back inside before you get sick."

Lindsay put forth an exaggerated frown, but stepped back into the bedroom with me and closed the door behind her. "I love having a White Christmas. Reminds me of spending Christmas Day with Dad when he was still alive when I was younger ... building a snowman in the backyard with him." A tear streaked down her face. "Oh, I miss those days."

I grinned at Lindsay, trying to keep her spirits high. "We can go outside and build a snowman later if you like. But first, you'll actually have to put on some warm clothes!"

Lindsay giggled. "You think you're joking, Jeremy, but I'm going to hold you to that. You and I can build a snowman, and we can get Kaden, Piper and Dani Grace to help us."

Lindsay tossed on a robe while I changed into suitable attire for the final exchange of gifts on Christmas morning. Soon we retrieved Kaylee from the nursery and descended the grand staircase, eager to meet up with the others.

I stopped in surprise when I saw Kristanna standing at the bottom, clearly waiting on us.

"Merry Christmas," I told her, taking the final few steps.

"Merry Christmas," Kristanna greeted both of us, before turning her attention to me. "You were upstairs longer than anticipated. I'm glad I caught you ... before you went in."

"Before I went in where?" I asked, completely confused by Kristanna's comment. "Where is everyone?"

"In there," Kristanna responded, nodding toward the closed door of the sun room. "Go say hi." She took Kaylee from me and kissed the sweet, little baby on her forehead.

I nodded and continued to hold Lindsay's hand as we opened the door to the sun room together.

I halted in shock when I discovered that the sun room was full of people who were not at our Christmas Eve party last night. Namely, Mom and Dad. Di, and her husband Timmy, my niece Chelsea. Dan and Susan, his wife, and another niece, Hope. Even Steve from Kentucky was here, too! As was his wife (Brenda) and two daughters (Stephanie and Autumn).

Mom, Dad. My two brothers. My sister. Everyone whom I loved and cared for while growing up as a child in Ohio...

All I could do was turn my head in dazed shock to look back at Kristanna, who had surely orchestrated this little reunion.

She innocently shrugged her shoulders. "It took some work, but I was able to convince your family that spending Christmas in Norway is not such a bad thing." In the background, Pamela, Devon, Trish, Amy and Scarlett all emerged, smiling at me.

"We offered them Amy's cookies!" Trish laughed.

Lindsay was clinging to my arm and doing her best not to cry. "Merry Christmas, Jeremy! You've given us everything over the years; so much ... TOO MUCH. We all thought this would be the best Christmas gift you could possibly receive."

"It's your family!" Pamela beamed at me, sobbing with joy.

For just a moment, the whole world seemed to stop. Mom and Dad were here? Aside from my wedding to Kristanna in 2013, this was the first time since 1998 - the year they separated - that Mom and Dad had actually been together. The last time I saw Dan was the summer of 2015, when he took Mom and stormed out of a restaurant in downtown Cincinnati after I told him that I had gotten both Trish and Lindsay pregnant just days apart. Dan did not believe in or condone my lifestyle at all, my marriage, and neither did Di. And Steve? Steve was the black sheep of the family; always in trouble with the law. He was considered even more of an outcast than I was by Dan and Di.

Yet all of them were here now. In Norway. In my home ... with me. And Lindsay was on the verge of tears beside me.

And then I suddenly broke down, and started crying myself. I freely admit, I was crying like a little baby.

That was all it took for the room to erupt, and everyone was coming over to hug me, give holiday greetings, tell me how much they loved me.

Dan gave me a bear hug, calling me baby brother. Di cried as well, hugging me to her, as Dad slapped me on the back. Di and I both exchanged apologies for everything that had gone wrong between us over the years. Dad and I shared a hug of our own, and when he motioned for Mom to join us, she did. "Only because it's Christmas, and we are all together again," Mom sniped at Dad. I cannot even begin to describe the vast and countless emotions I felt as I shared a three-way embrace with Mom and Dad for the first time in perhaps 20 or 25 years. After my wedding with Kristanna, Mom vowed to never be seen with Dad again, as their break-up was cold and bitter. I opened my mouth to say something to them, but then closed it, shaking my head. Was this a dream? Wow! Being reunited with my family was my one last, great fantasy in life...

Steve, quiet and detached, offered me a handshake. But I pulled him to me regardless, and hugged him as well! It did not matter to me that Steve had been in and out of jail since I was eight years old. I never once looked down on him for the many mistakes he had made in life. Steve was my big brother, and I could not be any happier that he was here now!

I glanced over and saw that Lindsay was in total and utter shambles herself as Amy hugged and caressed her in comfort. No doubt, Lindsay was thinking of her own family right now and how much she missed each and every one of them. Her mom, her two older sisters, and even Alison, her little sister. And of course, her dad. Lindsay was a down-home, family girl at heart, and always would be. But Lindsay was also happy that I had been reunited with my own family. She was totally overjoyed, and the emotions were getting the best of her.

Kristanna gave me a knowing smile, and then winked an eye. It was Kristanna who made this Christmas miracle come true! It was always Kristanna, and always will be. I had zero doubt about that within my mind. Somehow, she was responsible for all of this. Kristanna was the ultimate peacemaker, a true diplotmat if there ever was one, and could talk her way out of any situation. No one could resist her when she laid it on.

Tears gushing down my face, I glanced outside for a split-second. It was snowing; the bushes, the trees, the world all around us was being blanketed by a soft covering of white. Indeed, the forecast did not call for snow today. It felt like some kind of sign, really. A miracle. A symbol of everything I had lived through in the past 42 years.

It was a promise that the world was not broken. With love and family, anything is possible.

WOW! I had since latched onto Mom and Dad again, and was hugging them! This time, I never wanted it to end. I could not believe that I was together with them once more! I was going to hold onto and cherish both of them until they saw fit to end the embrace. Even then, I may not let go...

"Lindsay, honey," Kristanna said softly, gently, lovingly, stepping over and latching onto her hand. "I had a long talk with your mom last night on the telephone." Lindsay gasped and her eyes bugged out as Kristanna added, "She wants you to call and video chat with her later today on the Internet..."

--- End of Chapter 16 ---