An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

Author:Cynthia Ruchti
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Published: 2015-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

THE MEN’S SUPPER preparations got a late start, considering the need to say their farewells to Jericho, whose walls had come tumbling down as soon as Micah released him from his harness.

Katie watched the Binders move in and out of soberness over the family’s loss and buoyancy of gratitude for Jericho’s life and tenderness of memories, without losing touch with the undercurrent of joy marked by strings of lights and the ever-present Christmas carols. There it came again—the carol Katie found hauntingly comforting. It had become her favorite of the looping playlist. “All Is Well.”

Its message fought hard to convince her it spoke truth. That despite everything, she was loved. Despite everything, hope kept flickering like a trick birthday candle that refused to go out. Or the LED candles Grandma Dodie kept in every road-facing window, spilling a path of light across the snow, shining even brighter the darker the night became.

By the time the last of the dishes had been cleared—still the men’s assignment despite the new snow that had fallen in the night—Rhonda and Allie were already headed to the edge of the pond, where earlier in the day the men had stacked wood for the bonfire.

After their first meal together, cleanup had been decided in the traditional Binder way—by snowfall accumulation. Grandma Dodie measured the snow depth with her yardstick. If it was closer to an even number, the women did the dishes. If closer to an odd number, the men won the honor. So far, it was coming out odd whether it snowed or not.

The women had the fire blazing by the time the rest of the family hauled patio chairs and folding chairs for the older members and laid a ring of logs for the more agile. The night air felt like stepping into the walk-in freezer in the research lab at the hospital. The fire drew everyone closer to its comfort.

“You’ll need this,” Micah said, draping an old quilt over her shoulders.

“Does it come in an electric version?” Katie asked. The temps must have dropped dramatically in the last few hours.

“Imagine white sand beaches so sun-heated you can’t walk on them barefoot.”

Katie smiled as he settled into a chair beside her. “Still not feeling it.”

“Aunt Katie, try this.” Aurora spread her quilt wide and high behind her, as if capturing heat from the fire like a sail would capture wind. She held it that way for a few seconds, then tightened it around her like a cocoon.

“Or, try this,” Micah said, scooting his chair closer and wrapping both arms around her.

“Yeah, that’s better,” Aurora said.

Katie expected the ten-year-old to affect an “Ewww!” No lack of surprises with the Binders. Including Micah’s arms around her after their abbreviated but serious-as-they-come talk.

Twilight sat on Grandpa Wilson’s lap, with one arm around his neck, as she read her “Why We’ll Miss You, Jericho” poem. The grammar and rhyming could have used some editing, but the sentiment hit home.

Family members stared into the fire, wordless, after Twilight’s tribute.

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