by Gavin Green
***
While Brody loaded big boxes of gifts into the back of his wagon under moody midday clouds and a chilly breeze, Simon brought the last of them out. After they finished, he handed Brody a small box and asked that it be given to Alana. Uneasy from the other's devilish grin, Simon gave the meager explanation that it was only in the spirit of Christmas; it was sitting in his shop and he thought someone might like it. Brody let his cousin off the hook of embarrassment and simply agreed.
While Simon chose to stay behind and look after the animals, Brody and Kate first stopped by Alana's apartment. She had a little time before joining her own family down in Athlone, and so they exchanged gifts over a quick cup of tea.
Kate's prediction was correct; Brody received a handsome brown and tan hand-stitched wool scarf. Kate herself was also given a scarf, but with the colors reversed, plus a gag gift: a bottle of energy supplements. The couple gave Alana a large art case that held every medium of paint and graphite, as well as brushes and markers.
Simon's gift to Alana was a hand-forged four-leaf clover table decoration. She asked Brody and Kate to pass along her thanks, but was told to thank him herself when he moved to the area. She was apparently pleased that Simon would soon be a permanent fixture.
The next quick stop was to visit Mary Clarke, Kate's friend and former co-worker. The older woman had her daughters and their families over at the time, so the couple was welcomed into a home of friendly strangers and a number of ginger-haired children running around.
The male grandchildren who were of an age to notice girls grinned shamelessly at Kate, while all of them gaped openly at Brody's size. To avoid the blatant stares, Brody milled about and noticed pictures of Mary's late husband throughout the cozy house, gone some seven years,. Mary was given a deluxe box of chocolates and her favorite vanilla perfume. She in turn gifted the couple with a platter of home-baked confections. Upon seeing them out, Mary sweetly suggested that Brody could return the platter when he felt he had the energy.
By early afternoon, Brody and Kate arrived at her parent's home, with Jack and his family already present. With good humor, both Fiona and Jack moaned at the wide variety of toys their children were given, most of which made raucous noises. Casual conversations were had between all in front of the warm fireplace before the adults shared their presents.
Jane gave Brody and Kate a set of four mugs with a picture of one of their donkeys on each, plus a homemade CD of Jane singing to a selection of tunes on her old guitar. They loved the mugs, and couldn't wait to listen to her music. From Jack and Fiona, they were given sets of muck boots and rain slickers. Brody said he had plenty of use for them, and that there was no longer an excuse for Kate not to assist him. Liam and Cora gifted them both with cardigan sweaters, plus a long dress for Kate and a tweed ivy cap for Brody. Kate laughably complained that her pretty new dress didn't go with her new muck boots, but she'd make do.
Brody couldn't find a box to conceal one of Jane's gifts, so he just stuck a bow on the Ovation guitar case and handed it to her. With a voice that was normally mesmerizing, Jane's squeal of delight stung their ears. When Kate handed her little sister a music bag, it was well-received but came in a distant second to the first gift.
Jack and Fiona were stunned with what Brody and Kate gave to them; the stylish watches and the pair of laptops were far beyond anything they might have expected. That is, until Brody handed them an envelope while Kate explained their last gift. The four-day stay at an Irish resort plus a balloon ride had Jack in disbelief and Fiona nearly in tears. Kate mentioned that she was looking forward to watching the children during their vacation.
Liam and Cora were gifted with even more presents; Kate watched with a growing smile while Brody continued to set packages in front of them. Her parents stared around them and politely tried to refuse, saying it was too much before they even opened a single box. In an earnest moment, Brody sat next to Kate, setting Shey on his lap, and explained that he never had people like the ones in that house to share Christmas with, and wanted to show his thanks for their acceptance and friendship.
Jane held a camcorder and Fiona snapped photo after photo as Liam and Cora opened one gift after another with escalating joy. From what Brody ordered from Simon, they received a two-dimensional bronze wall ornament; two horse busts, side by side with wind blowing through their manes. The other metal sculpture was a hen and rooster in exquisite detail, both mounted to a single base, to add to Cora's current décor of those animals. Next came a fireplace set with handsome ram-head pommels. Lastly from Simon's handiwork was an iron buckler shield with the McCarthy crest engraved in high detail.
Brody swelled with pride for his cousin's sake as all of the McCarthy's fawned over the metallic gifts.
Kate directed her parents to both open smaller boxes together; Liam and Cora both put on their new matching gold watches with beaming faces. After opening his new golf clubs and bag, Liam pumped Brody's hand and gave Kate a warm hug. Cora let Jane and Fiona share in her joy of receiving a Waterford decanter set.
As the family was in multiple conversations of the gifts bestowed on them, Brody got Liam's attention and pointed to the envelope that sat unnoticed on the table between him and his wife. Liam tapped Cora's forearm and then handed her the gift they'd forgotten.
The other conversations ceased when Cora exclaimed, "Oh my dear Lord." After reviewing the contents a second time, she handed the packet back to her husband. "Liam, love," she said with barely-controlled restraint, "they're sending us to Greece." At that, the house erupted in wild and festive surprise.
While the others were busy in spirited chats, and while Liam still stared at the vacation package, Cora asked Brody and Kate to follow her into the kitchen. "Brody," the unreadable woman said to him, "please have a seat. I'll get a crick in my neck if I keep looking up at you."
Kate moved around behind him with a curious expression while he sat slowly at the small breakfast table, unsure of Cora's motives. Kate's mother stood in front of him with her fingers interlaced in front of her. "I once wondered aloud if you were trying to buy our acceptance. By the looks of it, many outsiders might agree." With a frown, Brody nodded. He would have spoken up in defense of himself in light of all the gifts he'd just given, but he decided to hear her out and then plead his case if need be.
Brody's concerns were allayed when Cora said, "But I know better now." He let out an evident sigh as the woman before him relaxed in posture and tone. "I see that you aren't trying to bribe us for approval; we already approve of you, so I look at your generosity in the spirit of how it was meant. For that, I give my heartfelt thanks." She took a breath to retain a formal demeanor. "You stay seated, young man. We're not finished with our chat."
Cora looked over Brody's head to Kate. She smiled at her daughter and extended her arms. "Come here, my lovely girl." Kate moved quickly into her mother's embrace. "Thank you," Cora said softly into Kate's burgundy hair. "Thank you for everything, especially your forgiveness and understanding." Kate slowly pulled back from her mother, both with emotion-colored cheeks and watery eyes.
Cora looked back to Brody and extended her arms again. He stood and softly held her to him. She stepped back after the briefest of hugs, took both of his massive hands in hers, and looked up at him. "You've given us a Christmas never to be forgotten, but I think your acting the flahulach once was enough. You've shown your gratefulness, so don't ever do anything like this again." Brody's face was still registering surprise when Cora walked out of the kitchen.
Kate saw his stunned expression and slack mouth. "What did you expect?" she asked, moving closer to him. "Mam, and I'm sure da as well, are embarrassed by your kindness. You didn't expect her to just say so, did you? If I were in your place, Mr. Brody Lynch, American outsider, I'd take the thanks and that unexpected hug and count your blessings." Kate leaned up, kissed Brody on the chin, and then exited the kitchen as well.
Still in a mild daze, Brody watched her go. He stood
there alone while noises of gaiety echoed through the McCarthy home, and muttered to himself, "Shit, I forgot what flahulach means."
When Brody caught up with Kate as she rejoined her family in the living room, he got a subtle signal from Jack, letting him know that the last surprise was ready. While the malachite donkey and topaz necklace were being passed around, Brody went over to Kate, who was looking at dolls with Ella. "Hey, Kate," he said, getting her attention, "I made a mistake. I said I was done giving you gifts, but I forgot the little one I left over here."
Kate looked up at Brody with surprise. She then looked over at the barren space underneath her parent's Christmas tree, and then back at him in confusion. "What little gift?"
"I have it outside; it's better to see it in natural light." She hesitated, so he added, "Hurry up, it's getting dark."
To Kate's added confusion, most of the family had moved toward the door ahead of her. With the clues of "little" and "natural light", she was expecting a plant of some sort. She glanced only momentarily at the empty stoop outside the door, seeing that her family had already stepped out into the front lawn.
Brody was facing her with a crooked smile and said, "I'm sorry, darlin', but I just got tired of looking at your rust-bucket." He nodded his head to her right, toward the driveway. Kate looked in that direction and gasped. A new, five-door, emerald-green Honda Fit sat there gleaming in the diminishing rays that slipped through the clouds. As she slowly approached it, Brody commented, "I didn't want to keep worrying every time you went out in your old car, so I got this and had them slap some green paint on it; I know that's your favorite color."
Kate circled her stylish new car while her family looked on. "You got me a car," she said quietly, almost reverently, as she opened the driver's door. Breathing in the new car scent, she saw it was a sports edition with every amenity. Turning around, Kate ran to Brody while yelling, "You got me a car!" He stood his ground and took the impact of her leaping embrace.
Cora's Christmas dinner, from the main course to every side dish, was superb; Brody better understood where Kate got her culinary talent and skill. The talk around the table was a lively blend of stories and laughter. Between the meal and dessert, everyone was engrossed with their gifts.
Shey managed to nap through all of the noise. Ella cooed her new crying doll; Jane strummed her new guitar; Liam talked Brody into trying a round of golf; Fiona explained to Jack how best to manipulate their laptops; Kate explained to Cora about Simon moving to Ireland, and their ideas for a craft shop in the village. It was the best day any of them had had in a long time.
At one point, Brody leaned against the doorway leading into the kitchen and watched the cheerful McCarthy family; a family that he hoped to belong to one day. He gazed with adoration at Kate while she mingled with her parents and siblings. His swelling heart realized that with her, a life of happiness awaited him, and that the weight of grieving his losses had slowly and subtly become an unnecessary burden.
The memories of his parents came to Brody then, and those of Don and Marie Keller, but mostly just the bright moments. They were bittersweet, no longer laced with pain and longing. As long as he remembered all of their guidance and love, they'd always be with him, helping to steer his course. In Brody's mind and heart, he embraced them individually, and then with an inward smile let them go. In that release, so too faded the ache of mourning.
