Page 15 of A Baxter Family Christmas
“A for Awesome!” RJ raised his fist in the air. “We’ve got this, team. Come on.”
“Everyone else is on Team B.” Cole looked around. “Everyone get with your team. Then I’ll go over the rules.”
Tommy headed for the B team. “B for Best. It’s our year, guys. Let’s do this.”
John and Elaine were on Team A, and as Cole went over the rules, the two of them shared a brief kiss. Elaine whispered near his ear, “Nothing like the Baxter family.”
“My favorite people in all the world.” John directed his attention to Cole. The rules were simple—much like real football, only tackling wasn’t allowed.
The game got under way and after an hour of close competition, the A team won. Tommy shook his head in mock discouragement. “One more series and we coulda pulled it off.” He pointed at Cole. “Next year, cousin!”
“We’ll be ready for you.” Cole laughed. “Unless we’re on the same team.”
Both boys laughed as the group headed back inside the house and washed up. Everyone found their places at the two long tables set up in the dining room. John’s heart was full to overflowing as he watched his kids and grandkids take their seats. For a single moment, he let his eyes linger on the empty chair. The place they always set to remind them of those no longer in their midst. Their mother and grandmother—Elizabeth Baxter. Erin and Sam and their three girls—Clarissa, Chloe, and Heidi Jo. And Ashley and Landon’s baby, Sarah.
This year Ashley had set a separate table for the food. The turkey sat at the middle, where Landon was carving it. On either side were the mashed potatoes and the deep-dish sliced sweet potatoes. There was Cole’s famous corn bread stuffing and the Baxter Christmas salad. Brooke’s peas and Kari’s cheesy biscuits. Reagan and Luke’s homemade gravy, and Dayne and Katy’s special cranberry sauce. And half a dozen other new salads and dishes that weren’t part of their previous Thanksgiving spreads.
When they were all seated, Ashley turned to John. “Dad... would you say the blessing?”
This was their tradition, and each year John tried to customize the prayer to the circumstances. Some years had held great grief and tragedy. Others involved new life and hope. This year... well, this year they would find out after dinner about Kendra Bryant and her involvement in their Christmas Eve.
But not yet. John smiled at his family. “Let’s pray.” All around the table the Baxter kids and their spouses and children held hands, closed their eyes and bowed their heads.
“Lord, we come to You on this Thanksgiving Day with hearts overflowing with gratitude. Thank You, Father, that we can all be together today, here in Your presence. Thank You for our health and the way You are using us in our communities. This has been a year of great blessings, and for that we humbly thank You.”
John paused, taking his time. “For all the ways You have blessed us and helped us in our schools and homes and places of employment, we are mindful that the greatest blessing of all is this—the joy of being together. The gift of each other. Thank You for today. Help us hold on to the precious moments it contains. Including this one. Thank You for our food, and for the hands that prepared it. We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Around him, from both tables, came a chorus of amens.
During dinner they went around the room and each person said what they were thankful for. John loved this part the most, hearing from even the youngest in the Baxter family, and getting glimpses of their hearts.
Not until dinner was over did John ask the older girls—Maddie and Jessie—to take the kids to the upstairs bonus room. When he saw the concern on their faces, John smiled. “Everything’s okay. We just need to talk.”
When all the kids were out of the room, John gathered his adult children and their spouses in the living room. “What a beautiful Thanksgiving.” He smiled at them, thankful again for each one. As everyone settled in, John braced himself. “Most of you have an idea what this is about. Kendra Bryant—the woman who received Erin’s heart.”
Luke shifted in his seat. “You still want us to meet her... on Christmas Eve?”
“Yes.” John felt the beginnings of tears at the corners of his eyes. “I invited her. And she has decided to join us.”
There. The facts were on the table.
John surveyed the others, and the different ways they reacted. Katy and Dayne leaned into each other, their eyes still on John, still open to whatever came next. Ashley hung her head and so did Kari and Ryan. Brooke reached for Peter’s hand and the two of them nodded. Like they were in favor of the plan.
John caught a quick breath. “I know not all of you agree with this. And it’s true, we don’t know this woman.” Beside him, John felt Elaine press in closer.
“Isn’t there a better time?” Luke sounded on edge. He sat up straighter, looking around the room. “Christmas is for family. This woman... she’s a stranger.”
“She is.” John remained calm. He understood Luke’s feelings. “The thing is, Kendra Bryant doesn’t believe in God. She doesn’t believe in Christmas.” He looked around. “What better way for her to understand the truth than here? With all of us?”
Ashley rubbed the back of her neck and then lifted her eyes to John. “I can’t do it, Dad. It would be too much for Amy.”
“I understand.” John nodded, his heart breaking. This was harder than he had expected. “I guess I keep asking myself... what would Erin want? And I know with every heartbeat that Erin would want to see Kendra Bryant come to know Jesus. She would want us to embrace her. Especially on Christmas Eve.”
“I’ll be here.” Brooke sounded sympathetic, but certain. “To see firsthand at Christmastime the fact that Erin’s heart saved the life of someone else? It’ll be hard, but I want to be a part of that.”
Peter agreed with her, and so did Dayne and Katy, Kari and Ryan. As they spoke up, Ashley sighed and stared at the floor. Landon put his arm around her.
Across the room, Luke released a frustrated sigh. “I can’t do it, either.” He looked at Kari and then Brooke and Dayne. “I’m not mad at any of you for agreeing to this. But I guess this year we’ll have Christmas Eve in separate places.”
