A Surprise Inside

      Kathleen loved the look on Ted’s face when he opened a gift. He was just like a little child; so excited that his fingers would fumble through the wrappings. It was as if he could not get the colored paper off quickly enough to see what kind of surprise was hidden inside. She chuckled to herself thinking how childish he would become. Watching Ted at Christmas was more fun than opening her own packages or decorating the house.

      Ted and Kathleen had been married twenty-three years now; twenty-three Christmases together in their own home. Christmas was always such fun. She knew that some of the holidays had begun to run together in her mind, but there were so many warm memories it didn’t matter.

      Kathleen felt like giggling out loud as she lay there thinking about one Christmas, early in their marriage. It was probably their second holiday season together. She had planned for months to buy Ted a new watch. His old one had been a graduation present. By now, the watch had become so scratched and ugly, she wondered why it never seemed to embarrass him. Each Monday morning, she would watch Ted adjust the time by ten minutes, knowing it would gradually creep ahead during the next seven days. Ted would never buy a new watch for himself. It was the kind of expenditure that made him very uncomfortable – buying things for himself that seemed unnecessary. Getting the band repaired was about as far as he would go.

      Money had been tight that year, so Kathleen had taken a part-time job. Ted had just opened his law office and they were hoping to start a family. But the start-up costs, along with household expenses and repaying student loans, were just too much. They decided to put the family plans on hold and Kathleen went back to work. That did give her the chance, however, to put some money aside to buy the watch. For six months she saved. Then, as a real stroke of luck, she found the watch on sale. Now it was possible to buy that special watchband as well. She dreamed of Ted’s successful look as he sat across the desk from one of his clients. But most of all she wanted to see how surprised he would be on Christmas morning. No parent of a small child could have waited more eagerly.

      The surprise was almost ruined. There had been a mix-up at the jewelry store with the receipt. The store manager called the house the evening after Kathleen had purchased the watch. Ted answered the telephone. At first, he didn’t understand what the manager was saying, but not for long. Ted now knew that Kathleen had purchased a man’s watch and that the store manager would be mailing the proper receipt. Kathleen ran through the memories of Ted’s story about how he planned to act surprised. What he didn’t know was that his surprise would be genuine.

      Ted looked a little sheepish on Christmas morning. He tried to pretend it was just sleepiness, but Kathleen had suspected something was wrong. When it came time for him to open his present, Ted went through his usual routine of hurriedly ripping off the wrapping paper and tossing it aside in tiny chunks. He had a rather tentative look as he reached the watchbox inside. But when he opened the box, his eyes took on the sparkle of Christmas tree lights in a dark living room. The watch he found inside was not just any watch; it was a duplicate of the beautiful timepiece worn by his father. Dad’s watch had gone to Ted’s brother, Phil. It was something he had long lamented, but admitted only to Kathleen. No gift from anyone could have added to the joy she felt in bringing happiness to her beloved — and a bit childish — husband.

      That was only one special Christmas. There had been so many. Kathleen laid there and pondered their first Christmas with Melinda. As it turned out, Ted and Kathleen could have no children of their own. It took them almost no time at all to decide on adoption. They had planned to wait for a baby until a particularly clever agency director introduced them to Melinda. At eighteen months, this little dark-haired girl had the determination of a daredevil, not to mention a sparkle in her eye previously associated with Ted. Ted always said he fell in love with another woman. So both the women he loved became a part of his family.

      The first Christmas for the three of them, may well have been their funniest. Kathleen and Ted were both so excited about their daughter that they couldn’t stop buying presents. By the time the holy morning arrived, they had filled half the dining room with gifts – just for Melinda. Even with Ted’s expert help, Melinda ended up falling asleep before she got all her packages unwrapped. Once they realized what they had done, Ted and Kathleen threw their arms around each other and laughed until the tears flowed.

      Melinda’s growing up had gone very well. Somehow, there was enough love between the three of them to get through all the rough spots. Kathleen silently uttered her usual prayer of thanks to God for the blessings Melinda had brought to their lives. She knew she had been given a family as wonderful as families come. It was as if her family came with the brightest wrapping paper and the biggest bow. God was the gift-giver to thank. There was no question about that. As it always did, Kathleen’s silent prayer ended by asking God to care for Melinda in whatever she might be doing today. Kathleen tried to imagine what that might be, but the thoughts only made her weary. Her mind began to wander.

      The door opened as Ted noisily entered the room. He threw his coat on a nearby chair, being careful to hold a brightly wrapped little package.

      “This one’s for you, Sweetheart,” Ted cheerfully announced as he set the package on the nightstand. “You’re going to love it. I knew it was for you when I spotted it in the department store. I even told the salesclerk how nice it would look with your dark hair and dark eyes.”

      Ted seemed to go on and on with his description of the Christmas present, never even slowing down for a reply. Finally, he just pulled up a chair and sat down next to Kathleen’s bed. He had just resumed the conversation when the door opened again. An attractive young woman in her mid-twenties entered the room, smiling at Kathleen.

      “Good evening Mr. Cooper,” she said, greeting Ted as well.

      “Hi, Carol. How has your day been going?” Ted seemed genuinely happy to see her.

      “We’ve been really busy,” the young woman replied. “I was hoping to get out at lunch and do some Christmas shopping, but I never got away. This is my last week to get it done.”

      “I think I have things pretty well under control,” said Ted. “Melinda’s coming home at the end of the week and we’ll get the tree up then.” As he talked, Ted reached for the Christmas package on the nightstand, holding it up for the young woman to see.

      “This one’s for Kathleen,” he said smiling. “I’ve already told her how beautiful she will look in it. But it’s still a surprise. Kathleen won’t find out what it is until Christmas morning.” Ted winked at Carol as he returned the Christmas present to the nightstand by Kathleen’s bed.

      The jolly conversation soon ended, however. The young nurse carefully adjusted Kathleen’s feeding tube, checked her respirator and quietly left the room. Alone again, Ted reached out and grasped the hand of his comatose wife. He continued to smile, but the wrinkles in his brow betrayed a life more serious than he really wanted.

      “I love you Kathleen,” Ted whispered, breaking the silence. There was, of course, no response. Kathleen just lay there looking like the strangest sort of human machine. She seemed so very complex, and yet so very helpless.

      Ted has never figured out what happened next. It was one of those mysterious Christmas things that you never forget, but only partially understand. Some people call them miracles. As he squeezed Kathleen’s hand, he was filled with a tremendous urge to rip open that Christmas present like a kid on the heels of St. Nick. So he did. Feeling a bit silly, he held up the present he had brought his wife. Yes, it was beautiful; and he knew she would have loved it. Ted never told a soul, but as he glanced in Kathleen’s silent direction he could have sworn he saw her smile.