Christmas Surprise
By Kathy Lynn
If I was very lucky and I wouldn’t miss the last ferry for the afternoon and be home in time to make dinner for Tom when he got in from work. We live on a small island and have to take the ferry to the mainland to shop and go anywhere.
This suits Tom and I very well. I love the peace and quiet of the small island with just the few neighbors that we have become good friends with since we moved there when we were married three years ago.
I needed to pick up some groceries and a few gifts for my husband’s son Jacob who would be arriving tomorrow to spend Christmas vacation with us. Tom had told me that he had a son with his first wife but that because she lived so far away he never saw his boy much. Only on the rare occasions that he could get away and go to California where she had moved . Tom had always lived in the New England states and he loved his job and didn’t want to move to the west coast. So she had picked up and took off with their son.
Jacob was about 10 years old and Tom said that he had his eyes and color hair.
A few days ago Jacob’s uncle had called Tom and asked him if he would like the boy to come and spend Christmas vacation with him. He asked me if it would be ok with me, as I had never met the boy and he knew that the boy would be spending a lot of time with me while he worked during the day.
He looked so hopeful at me, how could I refuse. I always loved children and taught in the local school here. I told him that I would be very happy to have his son here and to get to know him better.
We had decided to wait to start our family because I had just gotten my job at the school and Tom was working a lot of overtime so that we could make some improvements on our home before we had children. So I was happy to have this small child in our home for the holidays. It would make them extra special.
I sat down on the bench outside and watched as the large ferry slowly approached the docks. It was still about a mile out, but it is so big that you can see it coming in to pier.
As I was sitting there, I noticed a young boy nervously pacing back and forth. His eyes never left the ferry boat as it slowly moved along. It seemed that the closer it came the more nervous the young boy became. I was very curious as to why such a young boy was here all by himself on the docks, and I didn’t recognize him from the island.
He came and sat at the far end of the bench and just stared ahead as he clasped and unclasped his small hands. I felt so sorry for this child. How scared he appeared to be. I looked around to see if there was anyone with him. There didn’t seem to be anyone around. Just him and I and a few older fishermen that lived on the island.
He looked my way and I smiled at him. He quickly turned his head and stared out to the ocean.
I decided that I was going to try and see if there was anything I could do to make this young boy less uneasy. I cleared my throat and he turned his head and looked at me.
“Hi”, I said. “My name is Sally and I live on that island you see out there.” “What is your name young man?” I asked.
He looked at me for a long time, probably remembering what his mom had taught him about talking to strangers. I just sat there not saying anything more but I smiled at him. Finally he must have decided that he didn’t have anything to fear from me because he quietly said. “Hi, My name is Jacob, but everyone calls me Jake.”
I was stunned. I looked more closely at this young boy. He had the same coloring as my husband and the same eyes. Could this be Tom’s son? I wasn’t sure. I had never seen him before. But I wanted to find out.
I smiled and I said, “Well, it seems that the ferry will be a little while coming in so why don’t we talk and get to know each other a bit. Would that be ok with you?” I said.
He started to jump up and I hurriedly spoke up. “Hey, I am not going to hurt you.” “I just thought that it was very strange that a young boy like you would be waiting for the ferry all by yourself. Is there someone meeting you on the other side,” I asked him.
He sat back down and started to nervously bite his nails and finally he looked at me as if he decided that he had to talk to someone. He really looked worried and my heart went out to him.
“Where are you going Jake?” “Is there someone waiting for you on the island that you have come to see?” I asked.
He smiled slightly and said,”No, but I shouldn’t have any problem finding my dad.” “ I was supposed to come tomorrow but I am a day early. “My mom and dad divorced and I have only seen him a few times, but he told me all about the island and so I don’t think I will have any problem finding him.” “He said it was a small island and that everyone knew each other.”
Jake nervously looked out at the water at the approaching ferry again and I could see that he was struggling whether to continue talking or just sit there.
I just sat and looked out at the water and finally he glanced back at me. I could see he was struggling with something. I felt so bad for this beautiful child.
I spoke quietly to him and said, “Jake, is there something wrong?” “Can I help you?”.
He seemed to shrink into himself and his eyes welled up with tears as he looked at me. What could possibly be so bad that this child was so upset and afraid ?
He sadly looked at me and cleared his throat. “Well, my mom died about 6 months ago and I have been staying with my grandma, but she is getting very old and she told me that I should come to my dad and be with him.” He said, “Grandma had to move into one of those homes where they have all the other older people and they take care of them.” “Grandma called my uncle and told him to take me to my dad and explain what had happened and that I should stay with my dad.”
“My uncle called my dad and asked if I could spend Christmas vacation with him, and dad said it was ok.” He said with a shaky voice. “I don’t know if he told my dad that mom died and that grandma is in the home .” “What will happen when dad finds out that they want me to stay with him.” “I don’t know if my dad will want me.”
I sat there and listened as I realized that this young beautiful boy was indeed Tom’s son and that no one had come with him to bring him to us. How sad a world we live in I thought when they could put a young boy on a plane and ship him out to a place so far away and all by himself. I wanted so bad to take him in my arms and tell him that all was going to be alright but I decided to just try and be his friend a little while longer.
He seemed more relieved now that he had told someone about what was worrying him. We sat and talked about school and he told me he was in 5th grade and that he got all A’s in his studies. He seemed so smart and well mannered for such a young man. I enjoyed sitting and talking with him. We joked and laughed and smiled.
Finally the ferry came into view and docked. We both got up and he said goodbye to me and ran off to board. I wanted to catch him, but I held back. I could keep a watch on him on the boat and I didn’t quite know how to tell him that I was his dad’s wife. So I boarded and the ferry eventually took off and we traveled across the channel to the island. When it was time to get off I was going to tell him who I was , but as I looked out at the shore I saw my Tom nervously standing there and looking at the ferry. I knew that somehow he had been informed about the boy coming and he was anxiously awaiting the boat. I could see the concern on his face as he scanned each person coming off of the ferry.
Then he saw Jake and a big smile came on his face like I had never seen before. He called out to him and Jake looked and spotted his dad and started to run to him with a big smile and Tom had his hands outstretched as he bent down. Jake ran into his arms and Tom laughed and picked him up and twilled him around and around as he kissed him on his face.
I just stopped and watch the man that I loved so much meet his son. I don’t think I have ever seen anything as wonderful as that in my whole life. I smiled and continued down the gangplank and walked up to my husband and my new son.
It took them a few minutes to realize that I was there but then they both just stopped there laughing and hugging and looked at me. I could see that both of them were worried how I would take this
reunion. I couldn’t help myself. I started to smile and then laughing as I gathered them both into my arms and hugged them both.
My husband was so happy but surprised when Jake came to me and hugged me and gave me a kiss which I was more than happy to return to him.
We went home and spent the day getting to know each other and when nighttime came Tom and I took Jake to his room and tucked him in for the night. It was Christmas Eve, and tonight Santa would be coming with gifts for all. But as Tom and I looked at Jake as he quickly fell into a deep sleep, we both knew that he was the best present that Santa could ever give to us.
The end
