Greatest Gift of All; Chapter 3

 

Greatest Gift of All; Chapter 3

© 2025 by Amber Wright

Date: Christmas Eve, 1900

Place: Boston, Massachusetts

Holly leaned out her window as dusk settled over the lit up town. In windows, brightly decorated trees and fireplaces lined the street and sent a festive shiver down her spine.

Now, if only they’ll come back, everything will be really festive! Please. She sent a look up to the evening star that was now beginning to shine softly down upon this Christmas Eve.

Downstairs, Mr. Boyd and Lachlan were sitting with her father, drinking healthy warm apple cider instead of gin. She smiled.

Today had certainly been an eventful day. It had taken her a long time to persuade the Boyds to come over to their house for the little Christmas party. Lachlan had agreed first; then, he had helped persuade Mr. Boyd.

Just as she was going to close the window again, she saw the outline of a man and boy about twelve. Her heartbeat skipped up to her throat and threatened to choke her.

She slowly took a few deep breaths and waited for the outlines to emerge into people.

Sure enough, the outlines were indeed Lance and Ebron! Holly flailed out a large piece of white cloth and Lance looked up. He smiled and waved in his friendly way.

“Lance, Ebron, come here!” she hissed in a loud whisper. She didn’t want the whole neighborhood to hear her.

They stepped up to the house under her window. She pushed her head out fully and rushed out. “Now stand there perfectly still. I’m coming down!”

• • •

“Hi.” Ebron said shyly. He kicked at the snow on the walkway and waited for Holly to ramble along about nothing.

“Hello,” Holly grabbed both Lance’s and Ebron’s elbows. “Come in. We’re having a Christmas party—just us.”

“If it’s just family then I think that—” Lance began to protest.

“Silly,” Holly said in a delighted voice. “It is just family. Our families! Come on.”

She tugged them into the entry where they took off their coats. Lance cleared his throat and gave her a stern look.

“Now Holly, we’ll only be here for a short while.”

“No you won’t.” Holly pointed to the fireplace where Mr. Boyd and Mr. Sandborne sat. Lachlan was making a loud noise in the kitchen with the cook and the kitchen maids.

“It’s Pa!” Ebron gasped.

At their entrance, Mr. Boyd looked up.

Ebron gulped as his father stood up. The red in his eyes were gone and his listless face was actually smiling. Was this his pa who he had left hours ago, nearly cursing and heavy with drink? I’m dreaming. He bit into his lip.

“Ebron.” His name sounded odd spoken by his father in a kind way.

“Yes?” Ebron heard his voice squeak. He quickly swallowed, waiting.

“I’m a big man and done big mistakes,” Mr. Boyd rustily held out his arms and cleared his throat. “Can you forgive me, son?”

Ebron nodded and bit onto his lip even harder. He stepped towards his father, the father he hardly knew since his mother died.

• • •

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Lachlan said loudly.

Holly looked up. Cook was coming in with the burning Christmas Cake and Lachlan was following her with the widest grin possible. She grinned. Indeed it would be a merry Christmas. Mr. Boyd was back in his right mind and the Boyds were together again. Cook was laughing and even the scowling kitchen maid from Ireland was smiling.

But that’s probably because Lachlan is paying so much attention to her, Holly grinned.

The day had certainly surprised her. She felt a tug on her curls. Lance was there again.

“Must you make me tote a book?” Holly pretended a frown and shook her curls out.

“As a matter of fact,” Lance chuckled out. “I think it would be entertaining.”

“Then I’ll show you soon how a lady totes a book on her head—me!” Holly closed her eyes dramatically; then, she popped them back open. “So, where all did you go?”

“Tell you later.” Lance nodded towards the dining room where the smells of cinnamon ginger cookies, pumpkin pies and turkey tantalized his nostrils. “I think it’s time to eat—and I’m starving.”

Holly nodded. “Later then. But don’t forget. I want to hear.”

She smiled charmingly.

“Hi Holly, isn’t this grand?” Ebron tapped her shoulder to get her attention. “We’re having a holiday—a real one. And Pa’s not going to drink anymore.”

“I’m so glad.” Holly bounced over to her seat and pulled Ebron along by the sleeve of his shirt. “It’s the Christmas spirit.”

“The what?”

“The Christmas spirit,” Holly affirmed with a nod. “It makes people nice when they don’t feel like being nice.”

“It does? Where did it come from?”

“From God. He tells us to be happy and glad every day. But we always forget and make mistakes until Christmas comes again.”

“Then let’s have Christmas every day!” Ebron declared stoutly, sitting on the chair beside her.

His radiant smile made her bounce her toes inside her slippers. “Let’s!”

Mr. Sandborne prayed over the food.

Then they began to eat. Holly watched Ebron stuff his mouth and had to smile. He looked up with a slight frown.

“What?” the food almost poured out of his mouth as he opened it.

“Nothing.” Holly changed the subject.

“So, are you going to take lessons with me like I asked my mother?”

“Embroidery?” Ebron scowled.

“No. Writing, reading and that stuff.”

“I suppose. But let’s not think of it now. It’s Christmas.”

“Yes, and tomorrow we’re going sledding!” Holly grinned huge. “I can’t wait. But you’re not going to throw snowballs at me, are you?”

“Not too many.” Ebron promised with a little mischievous smile.

Holly caught her mother nodding towards her practically untouched plate and she picked up her fork. Time to eat. But as her eyes slid across the table at all of the happy faces, she thought that lessons learned from experience were the most important of lessons. They were practiced even when one was not feeling like it or realizing they were taking them. They just happened.

And then there was the Christmas spirit. If only people would practice that lesson every day, the world would be a brighter place. She juggled her thoughts as she ate. Then she found a little dancing thought inside of her, pressing its way out. There was one more lesson.

Love. And that lesson, once thoroughly learned, was always the greatest gift of all.