Joy At Christmas by Grainne Plaxton
Grainne is from Dublin but now lives in Kildare with her husband Rick and her two adorable young boys, Alex and Matthew. Grainne has been writing on and off for most of her life but has started to take it more seriously since May 2013. The following piece of flash fiction is an excerpt from her first novel, which is near completion! Grainne is another member of the wonderful writing group ImagineWriteInspire, whose support and encouragement to her is deeply appreciated and treasured. You can follow Grainne on Twitter.
Miguel Ramos walked the long corridor from the nursery to his study. He poured himself a drink and sat down at his desk. He could scarcely believe that it would be Christmas in just two days. Luisa and Carmen would be going home the next day and Miguel and little Eliza would be alone in the big house. Miguel was looking forward to time alone with his baby niece but he could not deny the intense loneliness he felt without Kristina. He did not even know where she was any more. She had left them and went travelling. He would never stop thinking about her or worrying for her but he knew she had to do this alone. He sipped his whisky and smiled at her framed photo on his desk. The past seven weeks had crept by so slowly and Miguel had no idea when he might see his fiancée again.
He picked up his phone suddenly and dialled, as Kristina's photo smiled back at him.
“Luisa, could you come to my study please”
Five minutes later, Luisa, his maid and personal assistant was standing before him.
“Luisa, could you arrange to decorate the house for Christmas? Order decorations for the nursery and the main corridor and a large tree for the hallway. I also want a few small trees.”
“Yes Senor. Anything else?” Luisa asked.
“Yes. I want a new nativity crib for the hallway as well please. I refuse to feel miserable over the festive season and I want Eliza to enjoy her first Christmas. I am sorry to give you this extra workload so late. Let me know as soon as the supplies arrive and we will decorate together. Carmen can do the nursery.”
He was feeling cheerful already and went upstairs to his suite and showered. They had decided to decorate first and eat later. Miguel and his family had always hosted a get together with their staff during Christmas week. Miguel had planned it for this evening and the caterers had delivered the cold platters earlier on. It would be strange with just Carmen, Luisa and himself. So much had changed in a year within the big house. The two ladies were invaluable to him however and they had all come through a most difficult time together. It would be like toasting friends. The phone rang. Luisa informed him that the supplies had arrived. Miguel finished dressing and sped downstairs to the hallway, where he met Luisa surrounded by boxes of garlands, holly wreaths and the Christmas trees.
“We've got quite a job ahead of us Senor” she smiled.
“Let us get to it then. I will decorate the hallway and you get started on the corridor. Could you take the nursery decorations to Carmen first please and I will take the small tree there myself later”.
Miguel did not take long to get the large tree in place. It was an artificial pre-decorated tree and it looked just wonderful. Luisa had chosen a beautiful nativity crib in olive wood. It had been made in Israel and was the nicest that Miguel had ever seen. After disposing of the empty boxes, he made his way to the nursery. Eliza was already asleep and Carmen was busy hanging decorations. The little tree was decorated within fifteen minutes.
“Senor Ramos, it is truly beautiful. Everything is perfect” Carmen exclaimed excitedly.
“Nothing is perfect Carmen. We have lost so much in the past year, but we need to look forward now with hope and expectation for a better time ahead. I am glad we decorated the house. It is the way it should be” he smiled wistfully at Carmen.
Miguel returned to Luisa and helped her to finish the corridor. He suggested that she take time to relax before the little get together.
“That is very kind Senor, but I am happy decorating. I will do the dining room and you do the games room Senor. I will see you at supper”.
Miguel was surprised to find himself taking orders from Luisa but he knew she meant well and so he happily obeyed. Luisa had done a terrific job on the corridor and he was feeling nostalgic and light-hearted all at once.
In the games room, he went to the stereo and put on some Christmas music. He then chose a spot for the little tree. He put it in the corner, near the bar area and carefully placed the decorative lights on its branches. He dimmed the main lights of the large room and took a step back to look at the tree. He added the coloured baubles and placed a star on the very top. He dimmed the lights a second time and stood back again for a final look.
“It is beautiful” uttered a soft voice from the doorway behind him. It was a voice he would know anywhere. He must be dreaming...it couldn't be her! He was almost too scared to turn and look, afraid that she would be gone again. Tears were welling up within him as he turned slowly towards the door and saw her slim figure standing there.
“Kristina! Is it really you?” He almost stammered.
She walked slowly towards him, gauging his reaction all the way. She could see the emotion on his face, in the soft light of the little tree.
“I can't believe it is really you” he gasped, opening his arms.
Kristina flashed a generous smile through her tears and fell into his arms.
“Miguel, I have missed you so much. I don't ever want to leave you again” she cried.
“Welcome home my darling. Happy Christmas” he said, hugging her tightly.
He picked up his phone suddenly and dialled, as Kristina's photo smiled back at him.
“Luisa, could you come to my study please”
Five minutes later, Luisa, his maid and personal assistant was standing before him.
“Luisa, could you arrange to decorate the house for Christmas? Order decorations for the nursery and the main corridor and a large tree for the hallway. I also want a few small trees.”
“Yes Senor. Anything else?” Luisa asked.
“Yes. I want a new nativity crib for the hallway as well please. I refuse to feel miserable over the festive season and I want Eliza to enjoy her first Christmas. I am sorry to give you this extra workload so late. Let me know as soon as the supplies arrive and we will decorate together. Carmen can do the nursery.”
He was feeling cheerful already and went upstairs to his suite and showered. They had decided to decorate first and eat later. Miguel and his family had always hosted a get together with their staff during Christmas week. Miguel had planned it for this evening and the caterers had delivered the cold platters earlier on. It would be strange with just Carmen, Luisa and himself. So much had changed in a year within the big house. The two ladies were invaluable to him however and they had all come through a most difficult time together. It would be like toasting friends. The phone rang. Luisa informed him that the supplies had arrived. Miguel finished dressing and sped downstairs to the hallway, where he met Luisa surrounded by boxes of garlands, holly wreaths and the Christmas trees.
“We've got quite a job ahead of us Senor” she smiled.
“Let us get to it then. I will decorate the hallway and you get started on the corridor. Could you take the nursery decorations to Carmen first please and I will take the small tree there myself later”.
Miguel did not take long to get the large tree in place. It was an artificial pre-decorated tree and it looked just wonderful. Luisa had chosen a beautiful nativity crib in olive wood. It had been made in Israel and was the nicest that Miguel had ever seen. After disposing of the empty boxes, he made his way to the nursery. Eliza was already asleep and Carmen was busy hanging decorations. The little tree was decorated within fifteen minutes.
“Senor Ramos, it is truly beautiful. Everything is perfect” Carmen exclaimed excitedly.
“Nothing is perfect Carmen. We have lost so much in the past year, but we need to look forward now with hope and expectation for a better time ahead. I am glad we decorated the house. It is the way it should be” he smiled wistfully at Carmen.
Miguel returned to Luisa and helped her to finish the corridor. He suggested that she take time to relax before the little get together.
“That is very kind Senor, but I am happy decorating. I will do the dining room and you do the games room Senor. I will see you at supper”.
Miguel was surprised to find himself taking orders from Luisa but he knew she meant well and so he happily obeyed. Luisa had done a terrific job on the corridor and he was feeling nostalgic and light-hearted all at once.
In the games room, he went to the stereo and put on some Christmas music. He then chose a spot for the little tree. He put it in the corner, near the bar area and carefully placed the decorative lights on its branches. He dimmed the main lights of the large room and took a step back to look at the tree. He added the coloured baubles and placed a star on the very top. He dimmed the lights a second time and stood back again for a final look.
“It is beautiful” uttered a soft voice from the doorway behind him. It was a voice he would know anywhere. He must be dreaming...it couldn't be her! He was almost too scared to turn and look, afraid that she would be gone again. Tears were welling up within him as he turned slowly towards the door and saw her slim figure standing there.
“Kristina! Is it really you?” He almost stammered.
She walked slowly towards him, gauging his reaction all the way. She could see the emotion on his face, in the soft light of the little tree.
“I can't believe it is really you” he gasped, opening his arms.
Kristina flashed a generous smile through her tears and fell into his arms.
“Miguel, I have missed you so much. I don't ever want to leave you again” she cried.
“Welcome home my darling. Happy Christmas” he said, hugging her tightly.