Page 20 of Ghost of Christmas Future
Jude didn’t hesitate to take it. He shut his eyes as the room started to spin. When his churning gut calmed down, he opened his eyes and found himself standing in his own living room. The furniture was different, more adult, instead of the easily washable sofa they had now. An enormous television sat in front of the sofa. The Christmas tree glittered from its usual spot in the room. The tree was several feet taller than the ones he usually bought. Turning to his right, Jude saw the fireplace was new, as was the mantel and the flat river stones that made up the jamb. The last thing he noticed was that the fireplace and the tree were surrounded by a Fort Knox of baby gates.
Whenthe hell was he? He was about to ask Bertha, when the front door opened and in walked a beautiful blonde woman, holding hands with a dark haired boy, who looked to be about two years old. A second woman, brunette with dark eyes, followed behind her with a baby carrier and a shopping bag full of wrapped presents.
“We’re here!” the blonde shouted, as the toddler pulled away from his mother and ran into the kitchen with a squeal.
“Phoenix Archer!” a familiar voice shouted from the kitchen.
Jude knew the voice was his own. He watched, stunned, as his future self walked into the living room with the boy in his arms. “Lizbet named my grandson, Phoenix?”
Bertha nodded. “She did. Keep watching.
“Where’s my doodle bug?” Cope asked, coming down the stairs.
The tiny bundle in the baby carrier cooed.
“There she is.” Cope hugged Lizbet and her wife, before unbuckling the baby and lifting her up. “Hi, Persephone. How is my sweetheart doing today?” Cope kissed the baby’s downy head and took off her winter coat.
Jude watched with awe as Cope sat on the sofa with the infant. She looked to be no more than a few weeks old. Phoenix climbed up next to Cope. “Sissy.” He dropped a messy kiss on his sister’s forehead.
Before Jude could catch his breath, the front door opened again. A heavily pregnant woman walked into the house followed by Wolf. He looked a bit older than when Jude had seen him at his police academy graduation. “Hey, guys.”
“Woofie!” Phoenix shouted and toddled to his uncle.
Wolf scooped his nephew into his arms and offered a one-armed hug to his sister and sister-in-law.
“Bertha, I’m blown away.” He turned to her and could see the tears shimmering in her blue eyes. “This is my future?”
“Only a snapshot, Jude. I know I’ve always said that the future is fluid, but I’ve been seeing this same snapshot since the day you brought Lizzy home from the hospital.” Bertha took Jude’s arm. “I hate to say this, but our time here is up.”
Tears spilled down Jude’s cheek. He took one last look at his grown children and his adorably precious grandchildren. Fixing the moment in his mind, Jude was ready to return to Christmas present. He had a lot of recovering to do, but now had several additional reasons to give it his all. Jude was going to live life to the absolute fullest with his family by his side.
14
Cope
Two hours after Jude and Wolf arrived at the hospital, the rest of the gang walked into Jude’s room. Fitz grabbed the remote and turned on a football game. Aurora and Everly climbed onto Jude’s bed to sit beside Wolf. They each set their little hands over Jude’s.
Looking around the room, Cope could see how exhausted everyone was, with the exception of the kids. They all looked well-rested, even Everly, who’d been taking it easy for the last twenty-four hours recovering from her time in the coma with Jude.
“Daddy, look! Uncle Jude’s crying!” Everly held Jude’s hand tighter. “Is he in pain?”
“I’m not sure.” Ronan stepped up to the bed, setting one hand on Everly’s shoulder, the other on Jude’s. “Can you hear us?” Ronan gave Jude a shake. “Jude, wake up! I’ve got shit to do!”
Fitz stepped up to his other side. “Same here, asshole! You need to buy a gift for the office Yankee Swap and don’t pull the same stupid shit you did last year, re-gifting the present you’d gotten from the year before. No one’s interested in a candle that smells like ass.”
“Come on, babe,” Cope said, tickling Jude’s feet, which he knew his husband hated with a burning passion. “Time to wake up. The kids miss you. Me, not so much. Life runs much more smoothly without you messing it up at every turn. There’s no gobs of toothpaste in the sink. No dirty socks on the coffee table.No eyerolling or belly laughs. No fun at all. Like Fitz said, stop being an asshole and wake up!”
Everly gasped. “Uncle Jude just squeezed my hand.”
“Mine too!” Aurora said. “Please wake up, Uncle Jude. I don’t think you’re a butthole. I miss you more than anything. It’s not the same without you.”
Jude’s eyelashes fluttered. Once. Twice. A third time. His eyes slowly opened. “Cope?” he whispered.
“Right here, Jude.” Cope’s entire body was swamped with relief. Jude was awake and knew who he was.
“Bertha? Where’s Bertha?” Jude’s voice sounded like a rusty screen door. Cope assumed it was from a combination of disuse and irritation the ventilator tube caused.
“Mimi’s not here now.” Everly looked around the room.
