Christmas Epilogue

Epilogue

“…conceive and give birth…”

Luke 2:31

Agatha Tabitha Freefrompride prodded the smoldering logs on the hearth as she prepared Christmas dinner—her first Christmas married to the boy, now man of her dreams. She paused and leaned on the mantle as a montage of memories played in her head to the soundtrack of Stephen Curtis Chapman’s “I Will Be Here.” The song had to repeat several times to accommodate all the scenes that had taken place over the last year. The last memory playing in her mind was a slow motion scene of she and Clark’s wedding; what a beautiful day it had been full of long gazes into each other’s eyes, solitary tears, and friends and family looking on with love with their heads tilted to the side and their hands clasped at their chests.

As her memory montage faded to black, Aggie realized she still had much to do to prepare for the day. After shaking off her characteristic tension headache, Agatha began finishing up the rest of her holiday preparations. Her apron draped over a growing bump on her waste, a new life on the way, a testament of her and Clark’s love, a bun in the oven. Clark didn’t know yet, the doctor had just confirmed that their bundle of joy would be coming in the next 4 or 5 months (Agatha thought she’d just been putting on weight for the first several months). Agatha had waited for today, Christmas, to break the wonderful news to her love Clark, her father, and Clark’s family. A smile spread across her face as she looked at the small parcels under the proud Christmas tree that Clark had cut down for her. She had festooned the tree with strings of cranberries, and bows made with the extra fabric from her latest calico dress.

She kneeled at the hearth to stir the mashed potatoes in her sturdy Dutch oven, catching a whiff of the turkey roasting on its spit over the warm flames. As she knelt down she felt a slight movement in her stomach that caused her to jump. She held her right hand to the spot she had felt the movement. She wondered if she was so excited that her very body was responding with joy, but then she realized it was her little bundle, her precious package, the littlest Freefrompride.

“What’s the matter beloved?” Clark stood in the doorway, surveying his wife’s surprised face and her bent figure clasping her stomach.

“Nothing my groom, just excited for our dinner. Is everyone here?” Agatha was proud of her quick wit.

“Yes my prize, they’re all here, should we gather around the tree in a picturesque semi-circle and open an inaugural gift before Christmas dinner?”

“That sounds lovely my best companion and constant provider, I have just the one. Usher them in!” Agatha could barely contain the blush of excitement spreading over her cheeks.

As they all gathered around the tree creating an image that only Thomas Kinkade could render with enough love and light, Agatha handed Clark the present she had prepared for this moment. Clark read aloud the gift label: “To my dearest friend and lover Clark, with love, your bride and servant Agatha. Thank you dear one,” Clark met the soft eyes of his wife as he began to tear apart the parcel’s brown wrapping. Folded gracefully in the small package was a neatly embroidered handkerchief. Clark read aloud the scrolling blue text, “Awww, thanks honey. It’s a handkerchief, and it says, ‘expectant father’ on it….that’s….now wait one second. Have I gone and opened someone else’s gift, because I’m not an expectant father, not that I know of.” A bewildered but expectant Clark looked up at Agatha for help who simply nodded and smiled.

“Well, give me one second to go kiss my beautiful wife,” Clark got up off his chair with the biggest smile on his face and a solitary tear of joy falling down his cheek; he went to Agatha, picking her off the ground and spinning her around in a circle. “I can’t believe it we’re having a baby!!” The rest of the family present clapped and laughed as they all celebrated together, discussing due dates and plans. They all chided Agatha for keeping the secret as long as she did, but they all agreed it was the best Christmas present they had ever seen. Even Bart Freefrompride, who had also changed his last name, let loose a solitary tear.

Clark and Agatha could barely contain their happiness as they sat through Christmas dinner, both steeling long smiling glances at one another. Indeed, God has been good, very very good to them. As they celebrated the birth of the Christ child surrounded by family and friends, and amidst the aromas of a holiday meal and the faint scent of pine and cinnamon, Clark and Aggie celebrated the upcoming birth of their own darling son or daughter. The real question remains whether Agatha will be able to hold onto her faith during the pains of childbirth.