Merry Christmas, Love The Marzanos
Christmas was always a small but joyous affair in the household. The house will smell of glorious food -- the atmosphere thick with the aroma of spices and butter. The oven would be filled with the turkey and then followed by the roast beef and the smaller over would be baking the Christmas cookies -- usually Keira would be handling that one. Morning would start early with gift exchanges, dancing and singing in front of the fireplace. Come dinner time, which is practically lunch, the three of them would sit around the table and pop open their crackers, wear their crowns and read the jokes inside them. Thereafter, saying what they are thankful for before eating dinner.
This year, however, was a special year to the Marzanos. This year, their long lost son, Daniel had come back to them. After 22 years missing and presumed dead, he was found again -- living in New York City. Even though he was well and was living a much more privileged life, it did not negate the fact that he was taken away from his biological family. Despite his parents calling him Killian (which was his given name at birth), they opted to call him Daniel instead since he grew up with that.
The nature of Daniel's job took him around the world, this time it was Norway. Luckily for him (even though being a secret agent of the MI5 is rather tough) he managed to return to his true home and celebrate the holiday. He was used to extravagant Christmas trees decorated by professionals but this time round, he helped set it up with his sister, Keira. Popcorn was strung around the tree in addition to fairy lights and naturally the two started throwing popcorn at one another, causing a huge mess. Every ornament hung by the Marzanos had meaning and there was one of a small white porcelain angel. Every year before this, Samantha would hang it last before the huge star at the top. And each year, Keira would witness the strain in her face -- the tears brimming in her eyes.
Today, when her mother hung the angel, she was smiling. "We got this when it was Killian's.. I mean Daniel's first Christmas in this house," she said wistfully, moisture glistening her brown eyes despite the smile etched on her face. Carefully placing the string of the ornament on a branch of the tree, she eyed it. "We got you both angels, you know," she continued, beaming at the light blue porcelain angel that was bought during Keira's first Christmas. "But when Daniel was missing... that angel reminded us of hope. And each year it just diminished every time we look at it." She sniffed and Carlo's palm squeezed her shoulder before coming closer, wrapping his hand around her middle. Samantha sniffed some more, leaning into her husband.
"But we never lost hope even though deep inside we didn't know if you were still out there." Tears were already streaming down her cheeks when she smiled weakly at Daniel. "I wanted to put it away but your dad.." Samantha turned slightly and kissed Carlo on the cheek. "He kept on pushing for it.. and here you are."
"Mom..." Holding out her gangly arms, Keira moved forward, hugging both of her parents.
"I never thought I would get my son back." Her tone was choked but there was no sadness between them. Just wistful joy -- they were finally complete. The last piece of the puzzle had come back to them.
Daniel smiled at his small family, wrapping his long, strong arms around all of them and pulled them closer.
"I'm home. And I can't ask for anything more this Christmas."
"You're home, my sweet boy. The both of you are home."
