Page 21 of Ghost of Christmas Future
“I don’t see her either,” Ten said.
“Same here.” Cope set his hand on Jude’s shoulder. “Was she with you in your coma?”
“Yeah, Bertha showed me how much you all love me. She showed me my future. Our future.” Jude’s eyes slid shut again, as if he were trying to catch one last glimpse of that dreamworld. “Not gonna believe what’s gonna happen to Wolfie and Lizzy. Bertha kept calling her Lizzy.”
Lizbet squealed and toddled toward the bed. Fitz lifted her up, so Jude could see her.
“Can you see it, Cope?” Jude asked, his voice growing softer. “Can you see their futures?”
Cope shook his head. “No. As hard as I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to see what was in store for our kids.”
“Gonna love it.” Jude smiled. “But you gotta wait and see.” Jude’s eyes slid shut.
“Mimi Bertha showed Daddy my future?” Wolf asked in wonder. “Am I gonna be a werewolf? Or a vampire?”
Jude huffed a laugh. “Maybe.” His mouth went slack and Jude started to snore softly.
“Okay, everyone, let’s give Jude time to rest.” Ronan lifted Wolf and Everly off the bed. Fitz handed Lizzy to Cope and got Aurora down. “I pressed the nurse’s call button. Let us know what the doctor says. We’ll take the kids for lunch and bring you back something.”
“Thanks, Ronan.”
One by one, Cope’s friends and family filed out of the room. It was unbelievable, but Cope’s Christmas wish had come true. Jude was awake. He didn’t seem to have any more brain damage now than before he fell. Cope didn’t need his gift to know Jude was coming home for Christmas.
Cope’s silent nights were over, he could finally wish people a Merry Christmas and mean it. Santa Claus was indeed coming to town along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Their family would have aHolly Jolly Christmas, and hopefully aWhite Christmasas well. It really wasA Wonderful Life.
Joy to the world.
EPILOGUE
Jude
Christmas Morning…
Jude sat on the floor in front of the Christmas Tree. It was lit up brightly and filled with colorful ornaments. Cope had gone out and bought cheap plastic ornaments to fill the empty spaces left by the ones he’d broken when he’d fallen down the stairs. They’d waited until Jude came home from the hospital before they finished decorating.
It was hard to believe that it had only been two weeks since Jude’s fall. He’d thought long and hard about it, but still didn’t know what caused him to trip, then tumble down the stairs. According to Cope, one of the ornament boxes he’d been carrying flew into the kitchen, while the other two tumbled down the stairs with him.
He supposed it didn’t matter much why he’d fallen, only that Jude had the strength and perseverance to get back up. Jude was still suffering from the effects of his concussion. He had occasional dizzy spells and felt tired almost constantly, but he was making slow but steady progress. All that mattered was being home with his family in time for Christmas.
After the kids had gone to bed the night before, he and Cope had stayed up and put the presents under the tree. Well, Cope actually did it, while Jude watched. Same went for assembling Lizzy’s kitchen set. Jude was relegated to reading the instructions, while Cope assembled the present. When it was finished, Jude had been the one to arrange long sheets of wrapping paper around it so that Lizbet could rip it open. “Hurry up, kids!” Jude called from his spot on the floor.
Little feet ran into the living room from the kitchen. Cope had insisted they eat breakfast before they unwrapped presents. Jude thought it was mean-spirited, to make the kids wait, but was also on board with Cope’s idea of making the morning last longer.
“Coming!” Wolf swooped into the living room. Lizzy wasn’t far behind him.
“Prezzies!” Lizbet squealed. “All mine!”
“They’re not all yours!” Jude grabbed his daughter and pulled her into his lap. “Some are for Wolf and your Dad.”
“Woofie!” Lizbet crawled off Jude and went to stand beside Wolf.
Jude clicked pictures of the siblings looking with awe at the pile of presents.
“You good?” Cope asked, sitting down beside Jude on the floor.
“Little bit sore and tired, but I’ll live.”
“Damn straight you will!” Cope agreed. “Okay, Wolf, grab a present for yourself. Lizzy rip off the paper on the big present.”
