The day started with a jumping toodler in Ericson's bed, Rachel had thrown herself between her mother's yelling Merry Christmas. The excitement coming from Rachel made Mary and Brook give the child a goffy smile. After taking a shower Brook and Mary joined the restless mini-Brook in the living room.
The living room was coverd with red and green ribbons taped all over the wall behind the tree, golden ribbons lacing the gifts, windows coverd with christmas figures, the mantel decorated with their x-mas socks and the x-mas tree full of nic-nacs made by Rachel and Brook iluminated by the golden and white handlamps.
Rachel skipped towards Brook with her well trained puppy look. Mommy can i have my gifts, please?
Brook stared with her poker face on trying not to smile to her daughter's attempted manipulation. First of all we will get our breakfast, then call grandma Grace and grandma Alice and Sebastian.
Is Davi coming to? asked Rachel
Uncle David is coming after lunch, he has other things to do this morning. answered Mary.
Momma can we have pancakes? asked Rachel to Mary.
You can have some pancakes, milk and some apple, mommy and i will have some too.
Chocolate pancakes? Asked the toodler.
Is there any other kind of pancakes that you will eat? Mary asked smirking to the little one.
No. answered the toodler with a serious face making the grown up laugh.
After breakfast Grace, Alice and Sebastian joined the party, swapping gifts between themselves. The rest of the morning was spent by the women in the kitchen and Sebastian and Rachel in the living room preparing her sleigh for her first time slidding on the snow behind the house.
Grace and Brook were doing a batch of cookies while Mary and Alice were finishing the rest of the food.
Soon came the lunch time with Rachel full of snow from head to toe but with a happy smile on her face. The family shared the meal exchanging christmas storys about their children and funny moments of their own childhoods. David came by later with John's father carring some gifts for the rest of the family. Richard treated the Ericson's as his own family after his only son passed away.
I wanted to say something to you all. David interrupted the group. I was offered a position as Head nurse in a nursing home in New York by a friend of a colleague of mine. The offer is up 'til the end of March, but i made the decision of taking the job right after i have the green light from my therapist and the ortho doctor. he said looking to the rest of his family.
Are you sure about it? i mean about taking a job in New York right after what happened? asked Mary.
I think that now is the right time to do it. I need a new start after what happened. And i know that John would agree with me in the matter. he answered looking to his mother.
As long as you keep giving us news about you every once in awhile. Alice said to him with teary eyes. You know i can't and don't want you to disappear from my life, ever, neither one of you. she said smiling to her children.
I won't disappear from anyone's life mom, i just won't be by your side everytime of the day. Besides, i'll visit when i have free time or ask you to come to New York and have some fun with me. he said smiling to Alice This goes to every single one of you. looking to his sister.
