After all these years, his afternoon walks still brought him as much peace and comfort as they did in the early days of moving to this property. The fresh air—even as crisp and numbing as it was this time of year—and wild greens tamed his strained heart. Twelve years ago this December he was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Six years ago the murmur turned more serious into a condition that could kill him. He and his wife occasionally discussed the situation but never dwelled on it. The present day was more important to them. And the present day on both of their minds was this coming Christmas when they’d have their two children and five grandchildren visiting. Other than with each other, no joy could be found more than what their family provided.
With Delta at his side, Earnest continued along the gravel path. He was a tall and lean man with loose skin around his elbows and knobby knuckles. His stride was long and determined but light on the step. He lit up his pipe, sat on the wooden bench and took a couple puffs, inhaling slowly. The doctors had lectured him for years to quit the pipe but it was only once a day he smoked it and Violet allowed him as long as it was outside and not in her kitchen. Delta rested his head on Earnest’s knee and looked up with longing eyes. Earnest patted the dog’s head and stroked his ear. Delta was a good dog. He’d been with the family for many years now and was aging right alongside Violet and Earnest. Earnest often worried about the day Violet would be without Delta. The dog brought his wife so much comfort it hurt to think about. But again, that was in the future and they dwelled on the current, and sometimes the near future, like the Christmas holiday in just 2 weeks.
Earnest really couldn’t believe it was already here. The days leading up to Christmas were always so exciting but the best part was Christmas morning with the grandchildren. They’d rush downstairs and straight into the library where the stockings hung. Their eyes would light up as the evidence of Santa during the night caught up to their young reality. The excitement was almost more than Delta could handle anymore in his older age.
Violet and Earnest never tired of sitting behind the grandchildren with nudges of encouragement and barrels of laughter. Tradition at the house, after stockings were emptied, was Grandpa Earnest’s famous French toast and Grandma Violet’s egg casserole, hot chocolate with peppermint sticks for the grandchildren and tea for the adults.
There was no other time like Christmas and Earnest and Violet looked forward to it every year. Earnest stood up, stretched for a moment and started walking back toward the house.
“Come along, Delta.”
Earnest pulled on his tall rubber boots and headed down to the chicken house. He wondered how many eggs would be waiting for him today. The chickens hadn’t been laying like they used to. He was lucky if he could get two or three. He left Delta outside the fence and gingerly stepped around the scattering chickens to inside the barn. The goats greeted him and he gave them each a good head scrub. He liked the goats. They weren’t good for much more than just a happy feeling and sometimes that was enough.
As he approached the nests he was pleased to see brown eggs huddled close together. One nest had as many as four. What greatness! Today’s total amounted to seven eggs. Seven whole eggs. Violet would be overjoyed. He could hear her voice now when he told her. She’d exclaim and then carefully rinse them off. Earnest checked the water and food levels for the goats, patted them on their heads again and started back out toward the house where Delta was already eagerly waiting to be let in.
As soon as he walked in the house, Earnest put his hands behind his back. Violet smiled and then asked, “How many today? Anything?”
Earnest pulled his hands out from behind his back and slowly opened them, revealing the eggs.
“Seven! Oh, good heavens. They haven’t given us that many eggs in weeks! Wonderful.”
She took the eggs from the giant hands of her husband, rinsed them off and put them in the refrigerator. She turned back to Earnest and hugged him tightly. She kissed him on the cheek and returned to the stovetop. She poured 2 cups of tea and handed one of them to Earnest. He took it and walked slowly into the library with Delta close at his heels.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour,” Violet called after him.
Dinner. With his beautiful wife. On this winter evening. There was no place he'd rather be.
