The Christmas Wish

Chapter Three

Once the tree is up and standing as straight as it could. I head up to the attic to get all the decorations down. Brandon helps me stack them up. It doesn't quite feel like Christmas without Luke but I will make it feel like it is for Keely's sake. I started pulling out everything and getting it organized. Brandon helped me get the outside together and also climbed up on the roof to put the lights up. I couldn't help the tears that fell as I remembered Luke always putting them up.

"Hey down there, there is no crying putting up Christmas decorations! What do you think of the lights? Are they all straight?" He calls down from the roof.

I quickly dry my eyes as I look up and smile. They all looked great and he smiled down at me.

"They look great, now get down here and help me with the bushes."

"Hahaha, I'll be right down."
He quickly comes down the ladder and we get to work on the bushes, eventually we get all the outdoor decorations and head inside to start the inside. As we walk in, Keely comes out of her room rubbing her eyes.

"Hey sweetheart, did you have a nice nap?" I ask as she walks in to us.

"I did mommy, I had a sad dream though."
"Aww, what did you dream about?"

"I dreamed that I saw daddy but I couldn't get to him."
"Oh bug, come here." I knelt down and she ran into my arms and began to cry.

"You know your daddy would be here if he could. He'll be home, just keep faith that you will see him again. He wouldn't leave his favorite girl."
"You're his favorite girl, mommy."

"I don't think so. You're the apple of his eye."
"I just hate that he is away on Christmas."

"I do too, bug. How about you help decorate the Christmas tree?"
"Can I put the star on top?"
"You sure can."
"I'll help you when it is time." Brandon pipes in.

She squeals with delight as she runs over to the decorations and starts to pull them out and place them on the tree. Both Brandon and I head over and help. After we have all of them up, I pull out the star and he picks her up to put it on the top.

"This is usually daddy's job but I am so happy to get to do it."
"He would be so proud of you, sprout." Brandon says as he hugs her to him.

"I didn't even drop it!" She says with a big smile.

"You did great."

"Thank you, Momma."

We finished up the decorations and I heard a knock at the door. I wasn't expecting visitors and hesitantly went to answer it. As I open the door I see my parents standing there with smiles on their faces. I welcome them in and Keely comes running in as she hears their voices.

"Hey baby girl, we were out running errands and decided to drop by." My father says as he scooped her up.

"It's nice to see you, mom and dad."

"Hey Keely, how are you?" My mom says as she shuts the door behind her.

"I'm great Gramma. Come see the tree. Uncle Brandon helped us decorate."
"He did, did he?" My mom chuckles as Brandon comes in from the living room.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Good to see you."

"I'm glad to see you taking care of our girls while Luke is gone." Dad answers.

"It's not a problem. Have to keep Luke's girls happy."

"We just stopped by to see if you wanted to come to dinner with us. Brandon, you are invited too." Mom says.

"That would be fine. We were just so busy with decorations that I forgot to set something out to cook."
"Great, you all get ready and we can go." Dad suggests.