The Unexpected Gifts

"Mommy! You look good! You look prettier!"

"Ahahaa didn't you say the same yesterday?" 

"Yeah, but still. You are so pretty each other day."

"Aww… thank you sweet heart."

Grace touched her new pair of eyeglasses for the last time. She bought it last night on the way home from Trafalgar Square with Arthur's little help to choose the frame.

Yes, indeed. After she checked with the optician, her eyesight was getting blurry. She needed to fix her old habit of reading under a small light. 

"Here mommy, your jacket."

Arthur brought Grace's winter jacket.

"Thank you, sweetheart. I Will go for a little while. Just twenty minutes. Can you be a good boy?"

'Yes, I will!"

Grace kissed her son's forehead. She left her house to pick up Arthur's gift. She already bought it but her house was too small to hide his gift. So, Grace entrusted the gift at the store. And today she picked it up and put it under the small christmas tree they had at their house. 

And tomorrow when Arthur opened his eyes in the morning, he would be surprised by the gift from Santa.

Grace greeted the shop owner. She was the parent of one of her students.

"Good evening, Mrs Chruchill!"

"Good evening, Grace! Come to pick up Arthur's gift?"

"Yes!"

"Wait for a minute, will you dear?"

Grace nodded and waited patiently.

Mrs Chrurchill was a widower, her husband died in a car crash before Grace came around. Grace herself became a loyal customer of the Churchill Gift Shop. Every year, she would always come to her shop to buy toys for Arthur. Mrs Churchill gift shop was the largest gift shop in their town. 

She looked around to find a treat for herself. A blue dreamcatcher catches her eyes. She thought it would be pretty to decorate Arthur's bedroom. The light blue reminded her of her son's eye. 

"I'll take this too, maam," said Grace, ready to pay for the dreamcatcher.

"Put your wallet back, love. You can have it for free just today."

"Free?"

"Yes, a christmas gift for you too. A gift for a good mother."

"Mrs Churchill?"

The old lady laughed when she saw how shocked Grace was.

"Just take it, Grace." 

"Ah… thank you."

She was amazed by how blessed she was this christmas. She hugged the shop owner and took the dreamcatcher and Arthur's gift with her. The little gift made her day brighter. Even when the snow started to fall, she didn't feel any cold.

"Grace?" 

Someone called her name and she turned around to see a woman standing a few feet step behind her. Her smile dropped in an instant. 

Agnes.

Agnes… She looked more beautiful than she remembered. She almost didn't recognize her with her new hairstyle. HEr black hair was bleach. And she had long brunette hair now.

"Is that you, Grace?"

Grace snapped out of her reverie. When she saw long legs stepping out from the black car behind Grace, she quickly left the street. No. no. no. She should hide as soon as possible. They were here. She needed to escape quickly before they saw her again.

It's been five years. Agnes should forget about her. Why did she call her again?

Arriving at her house, Grace locked her door and found Arthur playing with his toy blocks. 

"Mom, you arrived?"

"Yes." 

Grace quickly moved to the kitchen and hid Arthur's gift. She made a cup of hot chocolate for her and Arthur.

"Did you buy what you need, Mom?"

"Hm-hm."

"I wish Mrs Churchill's shop was nearer so I could go with you," said Arthur with a pout. Seeing her son making a cute face, lifting her worry. It was just a small second. Agnes hated her. She won't find her. And this was a small town. The countryside even. 

Grace grabbed a small box in her pocket. She laughed at the silly thought. She even bought a contact lens. She was a fool. She thought she could hide Arthur's eye's color with black contact lens. Just in case they would meet Agnes again.

"Mom, you okay?" asked Arthur when he saw his mother laugh on her own.

"I'm okay. I just thought about the past."

"Oh, you were thinking about my father?"

There was a tingle of pain in her chest when she nodded. 

"It's okay, Mommy. My father died as a patriot. He was my hero."

She lied. She lied to her four years old boy. She told him that his father died serving their country. That's why she left her country and settled in London. And he believed that his father was one of the war. 

"Please don't be sad again, mommy. Even though my father is not here. I will be your hero."

"You are already my hero, my love."

Grace put the contact lenses she bought. She took Arthur to bed. The night was getting colder and tomorrow he will open his gift. No more chances to feel sad on a happy occasion. She will save the contact lenses just in case.

When Arthur went to bed. Grace started arranging the gifts under the small christmas tree she had. She even put a few candies on the hanging socks. After that she baked the carrot cake like Arthur wanted. She didn't forget to hang the dreamcatcher at her front door to cast away bad dreams and bad luck for her and her son.

All the time she passed was a serene moment. A small hummed escape her mouth chanting Christmas songs beautifully. 

When the cake went into the oven Grace sat silently. She held her cross necklace and started praying in her kitchen.

"I wish for our happiness and a happy year that comes after this. Merry Christmas, papa."

A small tear dropped in her hands. Grace wiped her face and left the kitchen with a small smile. While waiting for the cake, Grace opened her books and started reading until the baking was done.