A Tree for Maggie
(addendum to the story
Reflections, a.k.a. Reflected Images)
By
EPM
The
snow started to fall in earnest as he rode toward the little lake not far
outside of
Adam
stopped beside her snow-covered grave and dismounted. He sat on the log he had
placed there and said, "well, Maggie mine, it's almost Christmas
again." He remembered their last Christmas together. Finally, they had
both stripped away all their fears and let themselves enjoy the deep feelings
they held for each other. The holiday had been full of family and fun and
promise for the New Year. But the one thing that seemed to pull all the pieces
of the season together was the tree.
The
Cartwright tradition of the three boys going out to bring in the family tree
had continued as they rode toward a pine-covered meadow. Adam had left Hoss and
Joe arguing over the merits of which tree was best and went to look for the
"perfect" specimen. There it was! A perfectly shaped tree about six
feet tall and the darkest of green in color. He cut it quickly and returned to
his still arguing brothers.
Adam
remembered Maggie's face the night he brought the tree to her. The look was one
of pure delight. They had put the tree next to the rocker and decorated it with
ribbons and candles and popcorn. She had made it all so real for him.
It
was not that he didn't love Christmas but when Adam was old enough to remember,
it had been just he and his father on their way west. Ben did the very best he
could for his young son but they were usually in a strange place, with
strangers. When Inger entered their lives, Adam had his first taste of a real
family Christmas, only to have it taken away. But by then he had Hoss and it
became important to him to see that his brother's Christmases were as happy as
he could make them. By the time Marie entered their lives, Adam felt he was
getting too old for the magic of the season. Then Joe and again it was
important for him to make sure his two younger brothers would have treasured
memories.
But
sharing the last holiday season with Maggie had reawaken that little boy need
for the feelings that only come at this time of year. That had been her gift to
him and she hadn't even known she was giving it.
Adam
reached out and brushed the snow from the name on the granite marker.
"Thank you Maggie mine---Merry Christmas." The cold light of the
winter's evening began to fade as Adam and Sport made their way home.
The
ribbons that hung on the little pine next to the stone fluttered in the wind.
2004