White Christmas
Garrett awoke early his back hurt from sleeping on the couch in his mother's living room.
It was Christmas morning and he’d spent the night.
A small table tree stood decorated with miniature lights and ornaments on a stool in the corner of the room and two small boxes and a bag for each of them beneath it.
Garrett sat up stretched and walked over to the kitchenette still wrapped in his mother’s couch throw blanket.
Looking at the morning light through the small window over the sink he turned and filled the coffee pot.
He closed his eyes for a moment allowing the moisture to return to them, the steam from the coffee maker felt good against the skin under his beard.
When the coffee was brewed he added sugar and peppermint creamer and cute peppermint marshmallows then after taking a mug in each hand he made the short walk down the hall and knocked on his mother’s bedroom door.
He was a grown man but she loved when he woke her up on Christmas morning.
He entered quietly, set her cup down on her bedside table, and sat on the corner of her bed shaking her awake.
“Mom, it’s Christmas” he whined in a whisper.
Leandra stirred and looked at him with a smile, “Good morning dear, Merry Christmas” she said with sleep rasping in her voice
He leaned down and she kissed his forehead through his mass of messy hair.
She looked over his slept in clothing and smiled, Garrett shrugged and helped her to sitting.
They sat together for a moment and drank their coffee in silence as was their tradition.
Every christmas they would sit and drink their coffee wordlessly to honor the memories of Malcolm, his father and Bethany, his sister.
The sun shone through the sheer curtains in her bedroom and little dust particles floated in and out of the rays of growing light.
Leandra took a deep breath and looked at Garrett, who met her gaze with a sort of eager expression. Hoping his mother was alright, and not hurting.
She smiled, and Garrett relaxed a bit. He hated knowing she was in pain but he understood why she hurt.
Leandra’s smile softened and she furrowed her brow, “Now, my son if I am not mistaken there is a small matter of presents?”
Garrett smiled a big goofy grin and stood to help his mother out of bed. They made their way back down the short hall into the living room.
Leandra looked it over and blew a small puff of disappointed air from her nose. “Garrett, my son, must you leave such destruction in your wake?”.
Garrett looked at the living room his belongings had been strewn about haphazardly. He shrugged dejectedly and moved his backpack over so his mom could sit down.
As she made herself comfortable he walked over to the tree bringing each a bag and box.
Leandra opened her box first, inside it, was a small chain with a charm on the end in the shape of a bird, and a matching bracelet.
Garrett smiled as she looked at the charms, “I hope you like it, I want to buy you a charm each holiday.”
In her bag was a small vial of amber liquid with a powder pink pump coming off the side.
She looked at Garrett with a puzzled expression. Garrett smiled,
“I remember when I was young you’d wear this scent. I called Gamlin and asked what it was if he could remember and after he got back to me I went out and bought a bottle.”
He hugged his mother, you’re beautiful mom, don’t forget okay?”
Leandra looked at Garrett with tears growing in her tired eyes and wiping them away with the back of her hand she took a deep breath.
“Now, open yours son. I feel you’re really going to enjoy them.”
Garrett smiled and looked at his own two small packages.
He chose to open the bag first and after pulling out the tissue paper he found a small black box with a silver ribbon.
He played with the box in his hand for a moment admiring it and finally slid off the bow and pulled off the lid.
Inside was a semi transparent chunk of unpolished light blue rock that had a round finished wooden base.
He looked up at his mother eyes wide with a puzzled expression, and in a whisper finally spoke.
“Mother, is this... lyrium?”
His mother smiled and looked down at the rock in her son’s hands.
“Yes, it was your Grandfather Amell’s. I kept it in its box in the attic for many years,"
She turned her eyes back on her son and continued.
"But you know what they say? Lyrium is magic and if you love it and show it to the sunlight even for a moment it will glow for hours.”
Her voice was different when she spoke, almost mysterious.
She really believed in this, it made sense that it mattered to her, she loved magic.
Garrett was stunned and sat silently admiring his gift. He gently returned the stone to its box and hugged his mother.
“Thank you”, he said with a hush to his words “really.”
He turned and placed the bag next to him on the couch, and turned his attention to the box.
In it was a small white bundle of tissue paper and a bit of twine.
Garrett pulled off the twine and unrolled a long red scarf.
His initials GH were knitted into one side and the crest for house Hawke in the other.
There were little knots with yarn hanging from them at each end.
Leandra covered her mouth as Garrett stood and tried it on.
It was warm and soft, he could tell it was homemade even though he knew his mother didn’t know how to knit.
He looked over at her and she had a small smile on her face as she admired her son’s movements.
Garrett walked back over to her and sat on the couch kissing her cheek. “Merry christmas mom.”
He put his arm around her and they sat there in silence watching the two candles on the fireplace burn.
Bethany and Malcolm.... Holidays were always hard for them.
Now with Carver deployed they both knew that there may very well be 3 candles next year.
Though neither dared say it aloud.
“Alright son, I’m hungry, Chinese?” Leandra said looking away from the candles.
“Sounds good Mom.” Garrett said taking out his phone.