Page 24 of A Constant Christmas

Jonathan Flemming is a good man. He’s always done everything he could to take care of his family. When his wife got sick, he worked twice as hard to keep food on the table for his babies. He helped his daughter deal with the trauma of her assault. And he didn’t complain when that same daughter wanted to move across the country to start a new life.

He’s always been a truly good man…which is exactly why we named our son after him. No one is more deserving of that honor.

“Well, come on in. It’s getting colder than shit out here,” he says.

We walk in behind him, and Tyler quickly takes our bags to the basement. When I moved out, my dad changed it into another finished bedroom for whenever I would come home to visit. We always slept down there whenever we came back.

Once we are all seated in the living room, we all exchange pleasantries and talk about what’s been going on before Dad, of course, wants to know all about the kids. We spend the next hour talking and showing him pictures. The look in his eye tells me he wishes he could be a more present grandfather than he is. But this farm is all that he has, and I know he doesn’t want to sell it. Besides, a man like John Flemming would hate living in New York. He’s always preferred a simpler way of life.

“Where are Jessie and Luke?” I ask, inquiring about my brothers.

“They’ll be over tomorrow. I think we are going to do a big lunch. They both asked if it was okay to bring their girlfriends. I told them I didn’t care, but I would have to ask you.”

I scoff. “Why would you have to ask me? It’s your house.”

“First of all, you know this will always be your house too. You and your brothers’. I just know that you haven’t been home in a while and didn’t know if you wanted extra company or not.”

“The more, the merrier,” I smile. “Besides, I’m excited to check out their ‘flavors of the week’.”

“Oh, I think it’s more than that this time, Sammy. Luke and his girl have been together for about a year, and Jessie and his girl are just a couple months behind that.”

“Really? Man, it’s been way too long since I’ve seen them,” I say the words quietly as if almost just muttering them to myself.

Tyler pulls out his phone and does a video chat with his sister. When she answers, he asks to talk to the girls before he hands the phone to my dad. The look on my father’s face when those two little faces pop up on the screen brightens the entire room.

“My angels!” He cries.

My stoic father looks like he might break down in tears as they scream, “Papaw!”

Tyler and I walk outside for a minute to give him some time talking to his grandbabies.

When we are on the porch, he wraps his arms around me trying to keep us both warm.

“I can’t believe you brought me to Kansas,” I smile up at him.

“I figured it would be good for you to see your dad. And I love it when you’re here.”

“Why’s that?”

“You turn into this no-nonsense, fire-spitting, country girl who will kick anyone’s ass who gets in her way.”

I start to laugh. “Oh please. You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m really not. But I love it. It’s like when you’re here, you have fire running through your veins. Last time, you brought that back to Boston with you. I thought maybe it was time for another dose.”

We only last a few minutes outside before the cold air becomes bone-chilling. When we are back inside, my dad is saying his goodbyes to the girls.

I walk behind his chair so that they can see me on the phone. “Girls, are you being good for Aunt Tess and Uncle Ace?”

They both nod.

“Remember what I told you about your ears turning red when you lie?”

They both cover their ears and continue to nod.

“Be good, or Santa won’t come,” I warn.

Both of them solemnly agree to be on their best behavior until we get back, but I know ten minutes after I hang up, they will completely forget about this conversation.

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