A Perfect Mistake

Chapter 29

A month and 4 days later, it's Christmas Eve...

Mom is still ill, but she is improving slowly every day. She's been at home for about 3 weeks now. 

I've been taking care of her, though it's hard because I'm also taking care of a needy, demanding (but adorable!) 4 month old.

Mom goes to physical therapy for 1 hour 2 times a week, occupational therapy for 1 hour 2 times a week, and speech therapy for 1 hour 2 times a week, which is 3 hours 6 days a week. Every Sunday, she goes to the doctor a checkup. She doesn't have a single day to relax and neither do I. 

Mom had to quit her job since she obviously can't be a surgeon anymore. Dad looks after Mom sometimes when he's off from work, but I'm ultimately Mom's full-time caregiver.

Honestly? I hate it...I hate looking after Mom everyday all day...I hate taking Mom to several appointments a week...and, most of all, I hate that Mom has a stroke.

But today is Christmas Eve. Today and tomorrow are gonna be a big, fun, relaxing holiday.

I smile at Mom who is sitting on the couch, watching Frosty the Snowman on TV, and holding Lorraine ever so delicately.

"Merry Christmas Eve, Mom," I acknowledge her, walking up to her, and sitting next to her. 

"Christmas Eve, Cassie, Merry," Mom replies, smiling at me and Lorraine. "This baby beautiful so. Looks you like."

Translation: "Merry Christmas Eve, Cassie. This baby is so beautiful. She looks like you."

By now, I am a pro at piecing together Mom's jumbled up phrases.

"I know Lorraine is so darn cutesy," I enthuse. "She looks like her daddy, too."

As if on cue, Mitchell shows up.

"Hello, beautiful," Mitchell kisses me on the cheek. He looks at Lorraine and picks her up. "And, hello to you, beautiful."

I laugh. "Hey, sweetheart. How was work?"

"Shitty as usual."

"Watch your mouth!" I admonish. "I told you; no cussing around the baby."

"Sorry, sorry." He apologizes.

I stop being so tense. "It's okay."

"What are our plans for this evening, by the way?" Asks Mitchell, sitting down next to me, continuing to hold Lorraine.

"Um, at 6:00, we're going Christmas caroling. At 8:00, we're going to church. When we go home at 10:00, we each open 1 gift from under the tree. At 10:30, we bake cookies for 'Santa'. By 11:30 or midnight, we go to sleep."

"All righty, I can't wait!"

"Me too!" I grin.

Christmas is my favorite time of year...it truly is.

Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum

Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum

When we come

Our neighbors thoroughly enjoys our Christmas carol songs especially The Little Drummer Boys.

At church, we decorate the big Christmas tree, donate money, listen to a long lecture about Jesus being born, and watch a play from the Sunday school children. 

When we get home at 10:00, we bake delicious sugar cookies. After it's done baking and cooling, we decorate the cookies with red and green icing and red and green sprinkles.

While the cookies are set on the kitchen table, waiting for Santa, the entire family gathers around the living room and we all open our gifts.

Mom gets a pretty light blue scarf from Dad.

Dad gets a handsome olive green tie from Mom.

Lorraine gets a pair of black, shiny Mary Jane shoes from Mitchell and I.

I get the most surprising gift ever:

An engagement ring.

A silver, 9-carat diamond ring.

The most beautiful ring ever.

"Mitch...I..." I stammer.

"Cassandra Nicole Somers," Mitchell says, sitting down on 1 knee, and holding my hand. "I love you so much. You're the best woman I could ever ask for. You've been an amazing girlfriend to me and an amazing mother to my child. Will you marry me, babe?" He slides the ring onto my finger and gazes at me hopefully.

I cry with happiness. "YES!" 

I'm officially engaged to Mitchell...

Unbelievable!