New Love for Christmas

Holly arrived home from the hospital and smelled something cooking. Nick was at the stove. He turned and smiled at her.

“Hey, sweetie! How’s it feel to be an aunt?” Nick asked.

“Well, it feels amazing. I’m also the godmother, and Nathan is the godfather,” Holly said.

“Boy or girl?” Nick asked.

“Girl. Her name is Emma Rose Green, and she is precious,” Holly said.

“Got pics?” Nick asked. Holly held up her phone with a photo.

“You are right. She is precious,” he said.

“Now you didn’t have to cook. I would have made something when I got home or called for takeout,” Holly said.

“It’s fine, Holly. I don’t mind. You said to make myself at home, so that means dinner too,” Nick said.

“What you got?” Holly asked.

“Chicken Fettuccine,” Nick said.

“Sounds good,” Holly said. The phone rang. Holly answered it.

“Hello… Yes, it is… Oh God, no!” Holly said. She dropped the phone and sank to the floor, sobbing. Nick grabbed the phone.

“Hello? Who is this? He’s my son… Oh God, yes, please… That would be helpful… Thank you, bye,” Nick said. He hung up and wrapped his arms around Holly as tears ran down his cheeks.

He got out his phone and texted his daughter to come to Holly’s. He sent a text to Sam to get the family to the house.

Holly sobbed against him. He lifted her and carried her to the bedroom she had shared with his son. After tucking her into bed, he went downstairs and finished cooking.

Setting the meal aside, he stood at the back door of the house and stared out.

“Nick?” Maria called.

“Where’s Holly?” Sam asked.

“Upstairs asleep,” Nick said. He wiped his face with his hands.

“What happened?” Maria asked.

“What’s going on?” Faith asked.

“Nick?” Eric asked.

“Daddy?” Ellie said. She was his daughter and Nathan’s twin sister. Her husband Bryan was with her.

“We are here. My mom and dad are with Luke,” Bryan said. Luke was their son.

“Call Mark and put it on speaker so I can say this at one time,” Nick said.

Maria called her son and put it on speaker.

“Hello,” Mark said.

“Hey honey, it’s Mom. Can you put it on speaker so Ashley can be in on this?” Maria asked.

“It is, what’s going on?” Mark asked.

“Holly got a call tonight from a police detective in New York City,” Nick said.

“Nathan?” Ellie asked.

“He’s gone,” Nick said. Ellie started sobbing and buried her face into Bryan’s chest as he held her.

“How?” Bryan asked.

“He was on his way to the airport to come home when a drunk driver swerved into his lane and hit his car head-on. He died on the way to the hospital,” Nick said.

“Oh God,” Ashley said.

“The drunk driver?” Eric asked.

“Died instantly,” Nick said. Faith cried, and Eric hugged her. Maria rested against Sam as he held her.

“My baby girl,” Maria said.

“We have to be strong for her, baby. She needs all of us. She needs the whole family here with her, Nick, and Ellie,” Sam said.

“Daddy,” Ellie said. Nick hugged his daughter. She sobbed against him.

“I’m here, baby girl,” Nick said.

“Oh, Daddy. I lost my twin; you lost your son,” Ellie said.

“We will get through this together,” Nick said as they all gathered and mourned the loss of the one person who connected them all as a family.

***

Holly woke up the next day and began sobbing as the reality of her situation sank in. Her husband was gone.

She heard the door open and felt someone sit on the bed. She looked and saw her father.

“Sweetheart,” Sam said.

“He’s gone, Daddy,” Holly said, sobbing.

“I know, sweetheart. Your mom and I are here for you,” Sam said.

“Does everyone know?” Holly asked.

“Nick told all of us at once. He even had Mom call Mark and Ashley at the hospital on speaker,” Sam said.

“Where’s everyone now?” Holly asked.

“Faith, Eric, your mom, and I are here with you. Nick went to Ellie and Bryan’s house to be with them. I think he wanted some grandson time with Luke,” Sam said.

“Oh God, Luke! He’s not going to remember his uncle,” Holly said.

“He will know him through his family and pictures and your memories,” Sam said.

“Oh God!” Holly said as she broke down crying in her father’s arms. He held her close and kissed her head.

“I’m here, sweetheart. I love you,” Sam said. He held her as she fell back to sleep.

***

Two days later, she was sitting in the front row of the church, staring at the casket that held her husband. She was so out of it that she didn’t notice anyone around her.

She just sat there in a daze, staring at the casket. They had kept it closed because of the horrific injuries he suffered.

No amount of makeup would make him look presentable, so they had put a nice picture up beside it.

She sat there, silently crying. Nick sat beside her. Her mom sat on her other side. Her father sat by her mother. Ellie and Bryan sat next to Nick. Ellie was also crying silently.

The church began filling up with family and friends and anyone who knew him and her. She just sat there, staring at the casket. She was consumed with memories of him.

The pastor got up in front of everyone. Her mother took her hand and held it.

Nick took her other hand. That broke her out of her daze as she looked at him. He was crying as well. His other hand was holding Ellie’s as Bryan held her close.

“Hello, everyone. Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate the life of Nathan Davis, who was taken from us too soon.

“He was on a business trip and was heading to the airport to come home in time for Christmas when a drunk driver hit him head-on, and he died on the way to the hospital.

“He leaves behind his wife, Holly; his father, Nick; his twin sister, Ellie, along with her husband, Bryan; and their two-year-old son, Luke. Before the service, Holly informed me that she and Nathan had been actively trying for a baby, and now she is three weeks along with her first child.

“I know she will have a great support system in her family to help her go on with her life without her husband. I know she is very strong and very capable of being a single mother,” the pastor said.

After the eulogy, they got up and went to the graveside service. Finally, they went back to the church and ate.

Holly was exhausted when she arrived home with her parents.

“I need to go lay down for a while,” she said.

“Okay, sweetheart,” Sam said. She went upstairs, changed, got into bed, and went to sleep.