The Gift

 Evelyn Carter looked at her husband Tom, as he drove the family to visit her mom in the mountains of California. The sudden death of Evelyn’s father made it necessary to spend Christmas with her mother. Tom couldn’t get off until Christmas Eve. But her mom was thrilled that they could make it for Christmas morning.

 Christmas was a big deal for her mother. She loved to decorate for Christmas. As a child, Evelyn remembered how important holiday traditions were for her mother. Every year her father put up Christmas lights around the house and set up the waterproof Christmas tree in the front yard. On Christmas Eve, they always had friends over and played games. Christmas morning, all the kids got their presents from Santa. Evelyn felt nervous about how her mother would handle the first Christmas without her father.

Her mother and father moved from the city into a cabin in the mountains. It was more work than they expected, and the extra strain and worry of keeping the place up contributed to her father’s heart attack. She planned on talking her mother into moving back to the city. So far, the drive was smooth, with no problems. As they began the climb up the mountain, snowflakes hit the windshield and piled up on the hood.

“Tom, did we bring chains?”

He nodded, “Don’t worry honey, we have front wheel drive. We’ll be fine.”

Evelyn bit her lip. She hoped her husband was right about the front wheel drive. 

Todd whined, “Mom? I’m hungry. Can we stop?”

Evelyn grabbed her purse and pulled some snack bags she had prepared for this scenario.

“I’m sorry, honey, but there is nowhere to stop.” She handed two bags of goodies to Susan. “Susan has a bag of snacks for you.”

Susan said, “Heads up.” She tossed the bag of snacks over the back seat.

Todd whined, “Ouch, you hit me.”

           Susan said, “It is crackers and cheese. How bad could it hurt? You’re such a spaz.”

Todd yelled, “Mom, Susan called me a spaz.”

“Susan, apologize to your brother.”

“I’m sorry I called you a spaz. You’re really just a wiener.”

“Mom?”

“Susan!”

Susan laughed, “Sorry, I can’t help it sometimes.”

Evelyn smiled. “Got to love them.”

Tom shook his head. “I wanted a dog.”

Evelyn punched him in the shoulder. At the same time, Tom gritted his teeth and said, “Black ice.”

In slow motion, the car began to spin. Tom gently turned into the skid with no effect. He took his foot off of the gas pedal. The front wheels caught, and the rear end came back to the center of the road.

Todd said, “That was fun. Do it again.”

Susan blurted out, “My-gosh, you are such an idiot, we almost crashed. Dad, you are amazing.”

Evelyn placed her hand on Tom’s leg and said, “Is there anywhere to stop and wait it out?”

“Stopping is a bad idea right now. We still have pretty good traction and were only about 30 minutes from moms. I’ll run a little slower, and hopefully we won’t hit anymore icy spots.”

Evelyn turned on the radio and a broad caster said they were expecting record snowfalls and high winds making for blizzard conditions. The announcer suggested that if anyone listening was traveling in the areas mentioned that they pull off the road and find shelter, and if possible, get out of their cars and spend the night some place. A commercial for an insurance company came on and Evelyn turned down the volume. She looked at Tom and he stared straight ahead.

“Tom?”

“What?

“Did you hear?”

“Yes I heard. Do you see any place that looks like it qualifies as shelter for a family of four?”

Evelyn looked at tom and said, “In my book, anyplace beside the bottom of a ditch, head on with another vehicle, or wrapped around a tree, is qualified as shelter for a family of any size.”

The hairpin turns were getting more difficult to make with a tail wind and icy conditions. Twice he had to maneuver out of spins. As they made a sharp turn, flashing lights and a warning sign made them stop. A highway patrol man leaned into the wind and made it to the driver’s side of the vehicle. He tapped on Tom’s window and motioned for him to roll it down. Tom rolled down the window, and a gush of cold air whistled in and made it difficult to hear what the Patrolman said.

“Sir, the road is closed ahead. You will have to turn around and find shelter. Until the storm passes.”

“Officer?” Evelyn leaned towards the window. “My mother is by herself in the Shadow Mountain area and is expecting us tonight. We just lost my father, and I don’t want her to be by herself tonight.”

The patrolman said, “Ma’am, I am sorry, but we have strict orders to keep traffic off of the road into that area tonight. Plows are on their way and should have it open by tomorrow. But tonight, the road is closed.”

Tom said, “We have ourselves, and two children. Where are we supposed to stay? We can’t stay in our car?”

The officer caught his hat as it came loose in the wind. “You must be the Carter family. Did you see the sign that said Turkey Creek? It was about two miles back?”

Tom looked at Evelyn. She nodded, “Yes, I saw it. How do you know who we are?

“That’s not important. Take the road marked Turkey Creek. They tell me it’s sheltered from the wind and there is not much snow on it. At the end of the road, there is an old lodge that is available for the night. Power is out, but I understand they have a very nice fireplace and lots of provisions for travelers caught in the storm. Please turn your vehicle around and make your way to the lodge.”

Tom said, “Okay, thank you. We will check it out.”

Tom turned the wheels, and they caught, bringing the rear end around and back on the pavement.

“Well, who knew?”

Evelyn said, “I wonder how he knew who we are. Mom is going to be so worried. I’ve tried to call, but there is no signal.”

“We don’t have any choice. This is our only option, besides sleeping in the car. I have heard too many horror stories about that.”

Todd leaned over the back seat and said, “Yeah, horror stories. I like the one where an escaped convict from an insane place had a hook instead of a hand. And he liked to chop people’s heads off. So, he finds this car with this guy kissing his girlfriend.” Todd hugs himself and makes kissing, smooching sounds. “The insane guy sneaks up on the car, but he gets his hook stuck in the car. And the guy in the car hears something and peels out and rips the hook out of the guy's arm and it’s all bloody and stuff and when they get home, his girlfriend sees it stuck in the car and passes out. That one makes me laugh.”

Susan smirked and said, “I rest my case. You are a dork.”

Evelyn laughed and said, “Todd, I love you. Your dad means things like people freezing in their cars or getting carbon monoxide poisoning. Horrible stories like that. But I like that hook story too.”

Tom said “Okay, everybody sit back, here is the turn off.”

Letting off of the gas, Tom slowed the car down and made the right-hand turn without sliding. The car rattled and shook as it went over a cattle guard. The road was lined with trees on both sides and the officer was right. Very little snow found its way on the road. The road made its way around a frozen pond and a cow and calf darted across the road in their head lights. A fingernail moon lit up a meadow where a dozen head of cattle foraged for grass. The road climbed over a series of hills, gaining elevation slowly.

They came to a gate with a sign that read “Welcome to the Lazy Bar Y”. The gate was open and Tom pulled through. There were a dozen cars parked in a wide open space. As Tom found a place to park, his head lights flashed across a large log cabin with a porch that surrounded the building. There were no electric lights, but Tom could see kerosene lanterns placed in strategic locations.  

Tom put the car in park and left it running with the heater on. He looked at Evelyn and said,

“I’ll make contact and see what the deal is and if there is room for us.”

Evelyn nodded, and Tom could see her eyes glisten with tears.

He bent over and kissed her and said, “I’m so sorry. I know how much it meant for you to spend this Christmas with your mother, and I know how much you miss your father. We’ll make it through the night and then get to your mother's place in the morning.”

Evelyn wiped the tears away and nodded. Tom climbed out of the car and headed for the front door of the cabin. The door shut and she could hear Todd climb over the back seat. She felt her two children wrap their arms around her neck and hug her.

Todd said, “Don’t cry mommy. We’ll see Papa in heaven, and we’ll see grandma tomorrow.”

Susan kissed her mother on the cheek and said, “I love you, mom. I’m so glad we are together. I miss gramps too, but we still have each other. That’s important too.”

Overwhelmed by the love of her children, Evelyn wept. The kids shared what was left of their snacks with their mom and they laughed about dad sliding the car around the mountain. After a while, Evelyn looked at her watch. Tom had been gone a long time. She looked out the window and did not see any movement.

She said, “I wonder what is keeping your father. Just as she said that Tom walked out of the big double doors. He climbed in the car and shut the door.

“Okay, they have room for us. We have a room upstairs and all we have to do is help pay for what we eat, which won’t be much. It is very nice and warm inside. They have a fireplace downstairs and upstairs. There are only two things that are a little weird, though. We have to share a bathroom, and we have to share our room with one other person.”

“What? We have to share a room. That doesn’t seem right. Does it?”

“It won’t be bad. She is a nice lady. I met her and she will fit right in with us. The rooms are huge and there are cots and two nice beds. It will be fine for one night.”

“Well, we have little choice. As they say, beggars can’t be choosers.”

Todd said, “We have to beg like a dog?” On his knees, he put his hands up in the begging position and stuck his tongue out. “Like this?”

Evelyn said, “Yes, and that is perfect.” Everyone laughed.

They all put their coats on, grabbed their bags, and followed Tom into the cabin. Opening the door, they were met with the warm smell of cinnamon, apples, and cloves. As they shut the door, there was the smell of frying bacon. People were sitting in groups. There was laughter and Christmas music playing in the background. The nervousness disappeared. The family could not help but smile.

A large man in a red flannel shirt, blue jeans, and suspenders came over and shook Tom’s hand.

He looked at Evelyn, winked at Tom and said, “You are right.” Then he said, “Welcome friends. My name is Will Puckett. Tonight, my house is your house. Make yourselves at home and enjoy.” Again, he winked at Tom and then looked back at Evelyn, “I bet you’re anxious to get your suitcases upstairs and find out where you will be sleeping. So go on and I’ll see you soon.” He patted Todd on the head and smiled at Susan.

Tom said, “Come on and follow me.”

Tom led them to a large staircase that wound around the room where everyone mingled and emptied into a hallway.

“Our room is the last door on the right. “

Tom set the suitcase down and tapped on the door. A pleasant voice said, “Come in.”

When they opened the door, an older lady was bent over making a bed. She stood facing the walls and put her hand on her mouth. When she turned, she had tears in her eyes and looked At Evelyn.

 Evelyn sobbed, “Mom! How?” She ran, and they embraced as they both wept.

Evelyn held her mom out at arm’s length and said, “How is this possible? We were supposed to meet you at your home. How did you get here?”

“It started with a freak snowstorm. And the telephones went out. There was no way to tell you to turn around because you were already in route, so I had to make plans. I know Terry Collins at the Highway patrol office, and I asked if they were going to block the road off at the pass. He said yes. I contacted Will Puckett, who was an old friend of your fathers and asked if it would be possible to open up the old hunting lodge and make room for you and some other friends. He agreed, and I got a ride down here before the roadblock. So come on downstairs and I will share the rest of the story with you.”

Susan and Todd hugged their grandma Sarah and the whole family went downstairs. As they descended the stairway, someone hit a gong and everyone went silent.

Sarah grabbed her daughter Evelyn and looked her in the eye. “Evelyn, these people are gathered here tonight in honor of your father. He was their friend and impacted their lives. They want you to know that I am not alone up here. I miss your father greatly and always will, but I am not all alone. Every person you see here tonight is a friend and I am not leaving.”

“But mom how did you know that I was going to try to talk you into coming back to the valley?”

“Sweetie, you should know by now that moms know things. I know you love me and that you miss your father and want the best for me. I wanted to show you that this is the best for me.”

Will Puckett lifted his arm in the air and said, “Everyone lift your glass to honor Ross Porter, a good friend who is gone but will never be forgotten. Here’s to Ross.”

After midnight, people began to find their rooms and the great hall emptied except for Evelyn and her mom. They sat close to each other.

Sarah said, “What did you think of the farewell to your father?”

“I have to say I wasn’t expecting that. This is truly a wonderful gift. "

“Let’s go to bed. I’m tired.”