I had forgotten the Candlelight and Carol Service would include Communion, so we ditched the ride after church and headed straight home. We hung up our coats and I turned on the tree lights and sat myself down on the couch right in front of the box. The Mister stood admiring the tree for a moment.
“Mighty fine tree there, Missus.”
“Uh-huh,” I replied nudging the box with my toe.
“You do such a good job every year.”
“Thanks for saying so.” I gave the box a little push in his direction.
“You coulda been a decorator with talent like this.”
“Pa, and I say this with all love and devotion, if you don’t open that box right this minute there will be chalk lines on the living room floor in the morning just about your size.”
He looked at me, his head tilted to one side. “Ya know, I wouldn’t have thought that was something you could say with all love and devotion.”
I gave the box a sturdy kick.
“Fine.” The corners of his mouth were turned down. It’s what he does when he’s trying to suppress a smile.
He opened the flaps, pulled out a ton of brown filler paper, and then a large blue bag decorated with a gold ribbon and card.
“Well nertz!” I said. “We could have put it under the tree after all. When I saw the fabric, I thought that was the gift, unwrapped. I should have known the kids wouldn’t have sent a present unwrapped.”
He undid the ties, and carefully pulled out a heavy wooden disc.
“Is it a picture frame?” I asked.
“Oh no,” he said in a strange tone of voice. “Better. Much better.” He turned it over to show me. And I caught my breath. It was an exquisitely hand-carved rosewood table top with brass inlay. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. He reached in again and pulled out the legs, also beautifully carved.
“We gotta call the kids right now and thank them.”
He nodded, then asked, “Where are we gonna put it?”
I put my hand on his shoulder and looked straight into his eyes.
“Pa, if we have to move the bookcase into the kitchen and the piano into the bathroom, we’ll find room for it.”
There was no suppressing that smile.
The kids were so excited when we called and delighted that they had selected a gift that gave us such joy. Not in a million years would we have guessed what it was.
And I’m not one bit disappointed it wasn’t puppies.
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