Read Online It Started With A Christmas Tree - A Lizzie Fuller Christmas Novella by Beth Prentice - Free Book Online
Authors: Beth Prentice
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she’ll
understand.”
I laughed. “No. That’s what you would tell
Grandma Mabel. You’re more likely to tell Ruby you got caught in traffic.”
“You know me so well,” he said, pulling
off his boxers and stepping under the water.
****
Luckily, after we picked Ruby
up, we stopped by the river and had a cup of coffee. Once Riley had finished
with me in the shower, I’d hardly had any time to get dressed, let alone stop
for breakfast. Thinking back though, it was well worth the grumbling stomach. I
ordered a chocolate muffin with my cappuccino. I didn’t like cemeteries at the
best of time, but with Ruby and Riley, I had a feeling this morning was going
to be emotional. So that meant I needed chocolate.
The sadness enveloped us the second we
opened the car door and stepped outside. Riley walked around to his Gran and
gently took her arm to lead the way to George Thomas’ final resting place. Stepping
back, I allowed them some time alone.
I looked around at all the headstones
placed in perfect rows on the grass and looked at all flowers. I thought of the
lives and stories those people had experienced. I probably should clarify I
don’t like cemeteries because of the sadness that lies within them. Take that
away and I find them extremely interesting. I looked at Riley with his arm
around Ruby and thought what a lucky man George had been. Yes, I had never met
him, but I’d met his family and that was enough to tell me what a wonderful
life he would have lived.
Silently, I looked around the stones
nearby and started to read the inscriptions, making my way away from Riley and
towards the older section of the cemetery. It took me a while, but eventually I
found the grave I was looking for.
The headstone was larger than the one on
Riley’s Grandpop’s grave and it looked like it had been well kept until a few
years ago.
It read : Eliza Watson
16 th June
1935 – 25 th December 1955
Rest in Peace My Angel
She was only twenty years old. I felt the
lump form in my throat as I reread the date of her death. It was Christmas day.
Christmas day to me was a day filled with
love, laughter and family. It was a day where the world felt peaceful. I could
not imagine a loved one dying on that day.
I knelt down, started to pull away the
weeds that now grew around it, and saw a hole about the size of my fist in the
middle of the stone. I reached out, noticing it had a rusty hook embedded into the stone. Whatever had
been hanging there was now missing.
A sadness washed over me and as I felt the
tears well up and spill over my lashes, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning
to see who it belonged to, I came face to face with Riley.
I stood up, buried my face in his chest
and allowed the sobbing to start because at that moment, I knew who the
Christmas ornament belonged to.
****
I wanted to return the glass
ornament the very next day, but I had a lot of work that needed to be caught up
on, so instead I locked myself in my office and did what had to be done. But on
Christmas Eve I decided it had waited long enough and I would return the glass
bauble to Eliza that day. Not only could I not stand another night like the
previous one, where I had tossed and turned with dream-filled sleep, but I
wanted Eliza to have the bauble back for Christmas morning. I didn’t know how
long it had been missing, but it was time for it to go home. Riley had wanted
to come with me as he knew how emotional I got at cemeteries, but I assured him
this was a happy occasion and that I’d be okay alone. So I carefully wrapped
the glass ball and placed it in my handbag.
A storm had been brewing for the last few days
but as yet, it had not eventuated. That only left the weather humid and
overcast. I looked at the sky as I locked my car and really hoped it would hold
off until I’d finished my mission.
I found Eliza’s grave easily this time,
remembering the way as if I’d done it regularly. I sat on the grass again
understand.”
I laughed. “No. That’s what you would tell
Grandma Mabel. You’re more likely to tell Ruby you got caught in traffic.”
“You know me so well,” he said, pulling
off his boxers and stepping under the water.
****
Luckily, after we picked Ruby
up, we stopped by the river and had a cup of coffee. Once Riley had finished
with me in the shower, I’d hardly had any time to get dressed, let alone stop
for breakfast. Thinking back though, it was well worth the grumbling stomach. I
ordered a chocolate muffin with my cappuccino. I didn’t like cemeteries at the
best of time, but with Ruby and Riley, I had a feeling this morning was going
to be emotional. So that meant I needed chocolate.
The sadness enveloped us the second we
opened the car door and stepped outside. Riley walked around to his Gran and
gently took her arm to lead the way to George Thomas’ final resting place. Stepping
back, I allowed them some time alone.
I looked around at all the headstones
placed in perfect rows on the grass and looked at all flowers. I thought of the
lives and stories those people had experienced. I probably should clarify I
don’t like cemeteries because of the sadness that lies within them. Take that
away and I find them extremely interesting. I looked at Riley with his arm
around Ruby and thought what a lucky man George had been. Yes, I had never met
him, but I’d met his family and that was enough to tell me what a wonderful
life he would have lived.
Silently, I looked around the stones
nearby and started to read the inscriptions, making my way away from Riley and
towards the older section of the cemetery. It took me a while, but eventually I
found the grave I was looking for.
The headstone was larger than the one on
Riley’s Grandpop’s grave and it looked like it had been well kept until a few
years ago.
It read : Eliza Watson
16 th June
1935 – 25 th December 1955
Rest in Peace My Angel
She was only twenty years old. I felt the
lump form in my throat as I reread the date of her death. It was Christmas day.
Christmas day to me was a day filled with
love, laughter and family. It was a day where the world felt peaceful. I could
not imagine a loved one dying on that day.
I knelt down, started to pull away the
weeds that now grew around it, and saw a hole about the size of my fist in the
middle of the stone. I reached out, noticing it had a rusty hook embedded into the stone. Whatever had
been hanging there was now missing.
A sadness washed over me and as I felt the
tears well up and spill over my lashes, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning
to see who it belonged to, I came face to face with Riley.
I stood up, buried my face in his chest
and allowed the sobbing to start because at that moment, I knew who the
Christmas ornament belonged to.
****
I wanted to return the glass
ornament the very next day, but I had a lot of work that needed to be caught up
on, so instead I locked myself in my office and did what had to be done. But on
Christmas Eve I decided it had waited long enough and I would return the glass
bauble to Eliza that day. Not only could I not stand another night like the
previous one, where I had tossed and turned with dream-filled sleep, but I
wanted Eliza to have the bauble back for Christmas morning. I didn’t know how
long it had been missing, but it was time for it to go home. Riley had wanted
to come with me as he knew how emotional I got at cemeteries, but I assured him
this was a happy occasion and that I’d be okay alone. So I carefully wrapped
the glass ball and placed it in my handbag.
A storm had been brewing for the last few days
but as yet, it had not eventuated. That only left the weather humid and
overcast. I looked at the sky as I locked my car and really hoped it would hold
off until I’d finished my mission.
I found Eliza’s grave easily this time,
remembering the way as if I’d done it regularly. I sat on the grass again
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