Page 38 of Hush (The Seaside Saga #25)

THEY GOT IT BACK.

Sitting at Jason’s desk in the barn studio, Maris holds his Christmas message. The paper is loose in her hands.

They almost didn’t make it this past summer. Their marriage, tenuous.

Now?

After reading this?

She just loves him.

After a moment, she gets up and walks to the double slider.

Still holding Jason’s penned message, she looks outside.

The sun’s just set. There’s only a hint of violet at the horizon.

Many of the leaves have fallen from the old maple tree in the yard.

With the barn’s outside lights on, she can see the carpet of gold leaves covering the ground.

And the big old tree? With its nearly bare branches a silhouette against the midnight-blue sky, it stands sentry over the barn, the gabled house.

Maris even opens the double sliders a bit to let in the sweet salt air sweeping in over the bluff.

She deeply inhales, too.

Cures what ails you? This summer, it surely did.

Turning back, she heads to Jason’s desk again.

After sidestepping Maddy gnawing on a big rope bone beside it, Maris settles on the padded desk chair.

There, she types in Jason’s Christmas message, inputs all the Christmas card design elements—the font specs, the card size, the border, even the envelope seal design—and places their order.

With that done, she pulls up the final card image on the screen.

It’s unbelievable what they pulled off.

On the finished Christmas card, their living room is filled with the palest of gold light.

She and Jason both stand partially in front of the decorated, illuminated tree—so it twinkles behind them.

The stone fireplace and garland-draped mantel look grand, making the picture very evocative of a quiet Christmas Eve.

But it’s the pose.

They really did get the shot. In this one perfect picture, Maris—her hair hanging just right; her eyes, not blinking—stands turned at a slight angle toward Jason.

He’s facing her more than the camera. Their bodies touch.

He’s got an arm looped around her neck, his hand resting on her shoulder.

And her smile… it’s effortless. It’s Jason, bringing it out.

Jason—as he stands there in his Christmas finest; his dark hair, wavy; his face, scruffy.

All as he presses a light, loving kiss onto the side of her head.

Well. Maris knows. Anyone would know, looking at this photograph of husband and wife.

She in her black-and- white buffalo-plaid midi skirt and fitted black turtleneck; Jason in his pale gray blazer over red-and-black buffalo-plaid shirt and slim charcoal-gray trousers.

Seeing the two of them in their home, pressed close, affectionate and happy, with Maddy miraculously sitting proud right beside them, her black-and-white buffalo-plaid bandana hanging around her neck—just so?

Yes. Anyone would know, see, recognize, realize what Maris sees now.

This is their whole happy world.

***

After shutting down Jason’s computer and dimming the studio lights, Maris sits alone at his big work desk.

Before locking up here and going into the house, she lifts the paper with his handwritten message on it—the same message that graces the back of their Christmas card now.

She drags a finger over some of the penned lines.

Reading his message again this October evening, she can almost hear his voice saying the words.

***

Apparently, this is the place to share accomplishments and life milestones from the past year. But if you’re receiving this, well, you already know all that stuff.

So instead, I’ve been thinking about a line of Scripture an old friend told me recently.

It goes like this: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

The thing is, day to day, hour to hour, we never know who we might encounter.

But I like the idea of unassuming angels being in our midst. And I feel downright lucky to personally know a few of them … Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

Printed with permission by my beautiful wife, Maris.

With much peace and love in the New Year,

Jason Barlow

P.S. We did get a new kitchen this summer—had to fit that highlight in here. Our kitchen’s pretty rad now, and you’re all welcome to hang around the island.

***

“Oh, Jason,” Maris whispers then.

Just that.