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Chapter 2
Bri just approved so...oh, and to explain the text of the cut: I was listening to KISS' Beth when I wrote this.
Chapter 2
December 25, 1981-6:30 AM
Mandy opened her eyes slowly when she felt the bed sink down, smirking when she noticed Jamie trying to sneak up on her.
“Good morning.”
“Aww darn, I was gonna jump you.”
“I know” she sat up slightly, ruffling her daughter’s hair.
“I’ll be out in a minute sweetie, just let me wake up Daddy.”
“Okay” Jamie grinned and jumped off the bed, running to the den. Mandy smiled to herself, nuzzling up to James.
“Honey, time to get up.”
“Mmmm….” he groaned, tossing his head slightly. Mandy huffed, nuzzling up to him. She jumped when she felt warm sweat against her skin and saw his face was flushed. She gingerly moved his hair back, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. Crap, he was burning up.
“James, luv?”
He twitched slightly, then opened his eyes halfway, gazing up at her hazily.
“Huh? What is it?”
“It’s six thirty.”
“So?”
“Christmas.”
“Oh shit…” he started to get up but fell back, groaning.
“Help me up.”
“No. You’re staying in bed.”
“Mand…”
By this time Mandy was already up and digging in the closet.
“I’ll tell Jamie you’re sick.”
“No…I’ll be okay for ten minutes…”
“No you won’t. This is what video cameras are for. Lay down, go back to sleep.”
James sighed, grudgingly getting back under the covers.
“Why I always give into you…”
Mandy smirked, walking back over to the bed with the video camera in her hand.
“Because you love me and you know I’d nag and pinch you until you caved” she leaned over, kissing his forehead and running her fingers through his hair.
“Don’t think you’re letting Jamie down, okay?”
“I know I’m not, but it’s just…”
“I know, you’re not around that often and Christmas is the only holiday we can really count on you being here for. But you’re here with us, that’s enough” this time she kissed his mouth and then walked to the door. Before she did, James spoke while mumbling into the pillow.
“Your present’s in the hall closet.”
She smiled, amazed that even sick as he was he remembered things like this.
“Okay.”
A few hours later Mandy was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea while she listened to Jamie singing along with one of her new records. God she had such a beautiful voice. She was so much like James, sometimes Mandy couldn’t believe she was really her daughter.
The thought of James made her tense a little. Though she kept trying to convince herself that it was just a stubborn cold, the longer he was sick the more she worried. She should make him go to the doctor. But then it could be confirmed that she was right, that there was something really wrong with him. And she didn’t want to face that. For now it was just a suspicion, a silly worry. But…
She shook her head, willing herself not to think about it. Instead she picked up the slender black velvet covered box she’d taken from the closet. For some reason she hadn’t opened it around Jamie, probably because she was trying to put every second on tape. Now she lifted the lid off, jaw dropping slightly and eyes watering when she picked up a diamond and sapphire choker. She twisted her hand to watch the light hit the jewels and then a little note fell out of the box. She picked it up, smiling when she read it.
Thought you might like something a little more feminine than that old scrap of leather. Besides, it made me think of your eyes. Look at the inscription.
She twisted it again until she found some words etched into the heart-shaped sapphire at the center of the necklace. Only two words, but they were enough to make her start sobbing, both out of pure love and worry that this might be the last gift she received from him.
My girl.
Chapter 2
December 25, 1981-6:30 AM
Mandy opened her eyes slowly when she felt the bed sink down, smirking when she noticed Jamie trying to sneak up on her.
“Good morning.”
“Aww darn, I was gonna jump you.”
“I know” she sat up slightly, ruffling her daughter’s hair.
“I’ll be out in a minute sweetie, just let me wake up Daddy.”
“Okay” Jamie grinned and jumped off the bed, running to the den. Mandy smiled to herself, nuzzling up to James.
“Honey, time to get up.”
“Mmmm….” he groaned, tossing his head slightly. Mandy huffed, nuzzling up to him. She jumped when she felt warm sweat against her skin and saw his face was flushed. She gingerly moved his hair back, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. Crap, he was burning up.
“James, luv?”
He twitched slightly, then opened his eyes halfway, gazing up at her hazily.
“Huh? What is it?”
“It’s six thirty.”
“So?”
“Christmas.”
“Oh shit…” he started to get up but fell back, groaning.
“Help me up.”
“No. You’re staying in bed.”
“Mand…”
By this time Mandy was already up and digging in the closet.
“I’ll tell Jamie you’re sick.”
“No…I’ll be okay for ten minutes…”
“No you won’t. This is what video cameras are for. Lay down, go back to sleep.”
James sighed, grudgingly getting back under the covers.
“Why I always give into you…”
Mandy smirked, walking back over to the bed with the video camera in her hand.
“Because you love me and you know I’d nag and pinch you until you caved” she leaned over, kissing his forehead and running her fingers through his hair.
“Don’t think you’re letting Jamie down, okay?”
“I know I’m not, but it’s just…”
“I know, you’re not around that often and Christmas is the only holiday we can really count on you being here for. But you’re here with us, that’s enough” this time she kissed his mouth and then walked to the door. Before she did, James spoke while mumbling into the pillow.
“Your present’s in the hall closet.”
She smiled, amazed that even sick as he was he remembered things like this.
“Okay.”
A few hours later Mandy was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea while she listened to Jamie singing along with one of her new records. God she had such a beautiful voice. She was so much like James, sometimes Mandy couldn’t believe she was really her daughter.
The thought of James made her tense a little. Though she kept trying to convince herself that it was just a stubborn cold, the longer he was sick the more she worried. She should make him go to the doctor. But then it could be confirmed that she was right, that there was something really wrong with him. And she didn’t want to face that. For now it was just a suspicion, a silly worry. But…
She shook her head, willing herself not to think about it. Instead she picked up the slender black velvet covered box she’d taken from the closet. For some reason she hadn’t opened it around Jamie, probably because she was trying to put every second on tape. Now she lifted the lid off, jaw dropping slightly and eyes watering when she picked up a diamond and sapphire choker. She twisted her hand to watch the light hit the jewels and then a little note fell out of the box. She picked it up, smiling when she read it.
Thought you might like something a little more feminine than that old scrap of leather. Besides, it made me think of your eyes. Look at the inscription.
She twisted it again until she found some words etched into the heart-shaped sapphire at the center of the necklace. Only two words, but they were enough to make her start sobbing, both out of pure love and worry that this might be the last gift she received from him.
My girl.
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