Page 51 of Be With Me
Chapter 25
Mooney sipped his coffee as he watched the twins dump their stockings out in front of everyone. Oh yeah, he made the entire heptad get their asses up. They’d all arrived over the past few days except Spook who was going to meet his girlfriend Jeanine’s family for the first time. How she convinced him to meet them on a holiday, Mooney wasn’t sure. Danny, the ass, had sent the boys a super-sized Santa rubber duckie to use instead of an elf. When Debbie explained to him about the “elf on a shelf” and showed Mooney a picture, he’d admit it, he was a little freaked out. That elf was a bit on the shady looking side. Uncle Danny even messaged the boys to ask what Santa duck had done. It might actually be worth the pain of moving that duck just to hear the boys ‘tell’ their uncle and have him try and figure out what they were saying.
The heptad had really come through for him and Debbie this year. He knew that Mackey probably had wanted to go see his family but he’d come here instead to help Mooney with the holiday surprises he’d planned. The reindeer last night had the boys bouncing especially when the ‘elf’ with the deer had let them feed carrots to them.
“Papa, looked what—” Cal said.
“we gotted. We’d—” Cam continued before Cal interrupted him.
“gonna beaded big—”
“boys,” they finished together as they waved underwear in his face.What the hell? Mooney looked over at Debbie who was barely holding in her laughter. The heptad didn’t bother. They hooted. Guess it was potty training time. Debbie had been mentioning that they’d seemed interested in the toilet lately after watching Elmo ‘help’ a little boy learn that it wasn’t scary.
“Mom, can I get you anything?” Mooney checked on his mother-in-law once the boys went to see what else was in their stockings.
“I’m good, Rafe. Being here and seeing the excitement in my grandsons’ eyes does this old woman good.” Marion patted his arm and turned back to the twins.
“Cam? Cal? Which one of you wants to help Uncle Kevin give out the presents?” Both boys ran and jumped on their uncle. Oh yeah, Mooney threw Kevin under the bus. Jackass tried to bring his latest “love” with him. If he really thought that Kevin wasn’t thinking with his dick and had a chance at keeping this one the door would’ve been open. Mike had told them when he got there, before Kevin did, about thelady. From what Mike had found out, she wasn’t the pickiest in who she shared a bed with just as long as the guy wore a uniform. They were hoping they could get Kevin alone to try and make him see sense.
“Squeakers, make sure not to shake presents,” Danny told the twins. “You don’t know if something is breakable.” Kevin flipped off Danny over the boys’ heads since he’d just shaken one.
“Cam, take this one to your nonna,” Kevin told Cam. “Walk carefully. No running.” Cam slowed to almost a crawl, at the rate he was crossing the room, he might get there by Spring. Cal walked up to his twin and grabbed the box then walked faster but carefully, causing Cam to cry out.
“Nibbles, be nice to each other. Santa is still watching,” Mackey said, making Cal freeze and turn to his uncle with his eyes wide.
“Uncle Key, no!” Cal screamed. “Telleded him I gooded. Pees?” Cal turned to Mooney with his bottom lip out so far and tears in his eyes.
“Cal, give the present to your nonna and come to Papa.” Mooney glared at Mackey. He knew Mackey was trying to get Cal to behave but dang it, no crying on Christmas morning. Cal put the present in his nonna’s hands and crawled into Mooney’s lap. He wrapped his arms around his son and hugged him tight whispering, “Shh, Santa knows how you help your mama and that you’re a good boy.” Cal snuggled in and went to put his thumb in his mouth. Brian leaned across and gave Cal a biscuit. He’d told them that he was making the cinnamon biscuits for the morning; his family always had them and he’d been trying to perfect the recipe. Mooney had to say that he’d done good.
“Mom, aren’t you going to open your present?” Debbie asked. Mooney could tell she was curious about the present. Mooney’d had Mackey pick up the necklace for him and get it wrapped. He’d ordered a special family tree charm with all the birthstones on “branches” including Marion’s and Debbie’s father’s along with two emeralds for the boys, a citrine for Debbie and Mooney’s garnet. He just hoped she liked it.
Marion moved slowly as she delicately pulled the paper back. He’d learned last Christmas that she didn’t rip into presents but went about it methodically. When she had the box out and opened it, Mooney watched as tears streaked down her cheeks. He’d gotten it right. They’d still not talked about what sickness was ravaging her but at least he knew that she’d have them close to her heart for whatever time she had left.
§ § §
Debbie could see how much the boys tired her mother. She hadn’t been able to bring up the elephant in the room. She wanted to believe that nothing could take her mother from her and she’d be with Debbie forever.
Having the heptad here over Christmas had been a welcome buffer. They’d helped out at every turn. Danny had even given the boys a bath one night, with of course, new ducks. Where he was finding all these different ones, she didn’t know but she knew that he and the boys were enjoying them.
Debbie curled up with a cup of coffee on the overstuffed lounge chair in the corner of the living room. They’d bought it when they got to Fort Hood. Debbie had taken one look at the view from the corner out the window to the backyard and knew she needed it to be her nook to relax in. Kevin and Danny had taken the boys to the park.
“Debra, it’s time,” her mother said from behind her. Debbie didn’t move, just sat there pretending she hadn’t heard her.
“Debs, please?” Luny pleaded. He stood next to her mother when she looked over her shoulder.
“Did you ask the guys to take the boys out?” she accused her husband.
“I didn’t. Kevin and Danny wanted to have some time with Cam and Cal before they left tomorrow. Come on.” He held out his hand.
She took a deep breath and blew it out. This was going to suck more than when she dealt with Luny deploying. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” She stepped around him to sit on the couch next to her mom and took her hand.
“I’m sorry, Sunshine. I kept hoping that the doctors were wrong. That my results were mixed up with another patient. Buddy took me to an oncologist at Duke.”
“What kind? Where?” Debbie started digging in her mental files from her oncology rotation. What she could remember in quick succession was that the end wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone and that her mother was going to need a lot of assistance if they could even get her hospice.
“Pancreatic and they’d found that it’s already spread. I thought I was just getting older, tired easily so I put off going. Thought the trip to Europe took a lot out of me. Finally, your uncle made me go see the doctor. I’ve opted to not go through chemo and radiation. They’re not positive it would have any effect on the cells and can maybe guarantee a few months to a year,” her mother finished and sat there letting Debbie digest what she’d told her.
Luny leaned from his chair and took Debbie’s hand. He didn’t say anything, just gave her silent support. Debbie knew that she didn’t want her mom to suffer but she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.
