Page 72 of Christmas at the Movies
James could feel tears welling up inside him again – a poignant mixture of grief and joy. He’d thought there were none left, but he was wrong. ‘It makes me sad that Dad won’t get to meet the new baby. He would have been so happy for us.’
‘He’ll be with us in spirit,’ said Sarah. ‘And we’ll make sure to tell the baby all about him.’
James nodded, blinking back his tears.
‘If it’s a boy, we can call him after your dad,’ suggested Sarah. ‘Sean Nicolas.’
‘Or maybe Nicolas Sean,’ said James. The baby would be his own person and deserved his own name.
James put his hand on Sarah’s belly and gently caressed it. There wasn’t a bump yet, but a baby was growing inside her. Just as one life had ended, a new life was taking its place. Perhaps it was just magical thinking, but James felt as if his dad was still looking out for him, letting him know that life would go on without him.
‘I can’t wait to meet you, little one,’ he whispered, his heart full of love.
Chapter 8
Present Day
Sitting in the cinema’s office, James looked at the list of films in his hand. Like Santa Claus, he’d made his list and was checking it twice.
It’s a Wonderful Life
2046
The Holiday
Love, Actually
The Polar Express
Home Alone
Catch Me If You Can
Elf
Little Women
Tokyo Godfathers
An Affair to Remember
While You Were Sleeping
It wasn’t just a list of this year’s Twelve Films of Christmas, it was a love letter to his wife. James had selected each movie to remind Sarah of a special moment in their lives. They’d been together for so long that it had been difficult to whittle it down to just twelve movies, but he wanted Sarah to remember all the wonderful times that they had shared together.
Tonight’s movie wasLove, Actually.
James hadn’t picked it because Sarah loved Richard Curtis romcoms. At least, notjustbecause of that. They’d watched the movie together the night of his father’s funeral.
He remembered the psalm that had been read on that bittersweet day: ‘Sorrow and suffering will pass, but joy continues in spite of hardship.’
It had proven to be true. He and Sarah had had their share of difficult times, too, like any long-term relationship. But they’d got through them together, snatching moments of joy and laughter wherever they could.
A knock on the office door summoned James back to the present.
‘Hey, Dad,’ said Nick. He was still wearing his school uniform.
‘Good day at school?’ asked James.
