9.3 Christmas Eve
Winter 1996, West residence
The moment they finished dinner, Mariella was already back in the living room, ripping of the wrapping paper from the presents.
"Wow, you're fast there!", Mae laughed, when the adults followed the girl.
"Wooohhhh..." Mariella cried of excitement. She didn't pay any attention to them.
"Mae! You got me that cute backpack from the shop where we were last month!", she said, her face overflowing with joy.
"Of course! You need a new one, now that you started junior high!", Mae said.
The girl jumped into her arms. "Thank you!!"
"Aww...", Mae was really touched.
"Daddy...", Mariella turned towards her father now, "that doctor set I wanted when I was six..."
"Huh?" Herbert made a disturbed face.
"But it's ok, I like it anyhow", Mariella said then, showing some good will.
In addition to the presents, Linda and Mae had prepared some christmas crackers.
There was a special one for Mariella.
"Go ahead, open it!", Linda said, when the girl eyed it suspiciously.
With a loud "plop", she opened it.
A small silver medallion on a chain fell out of it.
"What's that?", Mariella was definitely surprised.
"That necklace belonged once to your mom. I think you should have it now." Herbert said to her.
"Really? This is sooo cool! Thank you, daddy!"
This present he definitely got right.
Finally we are hearing something about her mother. The way he gave her the necklace and said its about time you have it, that sounds as if her mother is not alive.
ReplyDeleteThey usually avoid the topic...
DeleteOh dear, is mama dead? :O
ReplyDeleteYep, mommy's dead.
DeleteOhhh. So her mother is dead. That’s why he doesn’t talk about her. What a sweet gift.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it still hurts.
Deleteso the mom died? Aww... but what a beautiful gift!
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda old fashioned of Herbert, but that just is adorable about him :D
DeleteHe's a good dad.
DeleteHe does try his best for his little girl!
DeleteAw.. another sweet chapter. Herbert must feel so much emotion watching his daughter hold his wife's medallion. I can only imagine he must have held it dear to him, but finally gave it to her. I'm assuming this is a step towards healing for him. Lol I think i think too much.
ReplyDeleteAww ! ❤
DeleteI think he thought this is the right time. She's old enough to value it, and also a new chapter has started for both of them.
Idk if the implication came through, but celebrating Christmas together bonds them closer to Mae & her sister, almost like a family.
Aww. That was touching. By the sounds of it Mariella's mum died, then. Perhaps now they can maybe talk about it, since it came up and all.
ReplyDeletedid Herb finally get some brownie points? 😄
DeleteYes, Mari's mom died.
Oh dear, makes me think that Herbert is a widower. So sad!
ReplyDeleteYep, you're right 😔
Delete