The Unfinished Gift (27 page)

Ezra Jeffries looked very nervous as he surveyed the scene. “You should know, Ezra, you are entitled to a substantial reward for rescuing Patrick.”

He looked startled. “A reward? For helping this boy?”

“I think that’s the real reason the police sent you away. You just stick with me, and I’ll walk you through this. They won’t try to hurt you with me here.”

As he stood by the edge of his driveway, taking in the scene down the street, Ian Collins could not stop the tears streaming down his cheeks, and he didn’t want to. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to scream. He wanted to shout Patrick’s name out loud.

But he did none of these things.

It was Miss Townsend whom Patrick wanted to see, and she was the one, by rights, he should see right now. He stepped back a few feet, just behind a fir tree. Patrick was alive, safe and back home, and that’s all that mattered. God had given him a second chance to make things right for Shawn, and Ida, and poor Elizabeth. He was determined not to let anything ruin it.

Miss Townsend would have him back at the house in a few minutes, so he turned around to get things ready. He met Mrs. Fortini halfway, and they hugged. “He looks good. I’m sure he’ll want to see you,” he said.

“He’ll want to see you too, Ian. All you need to do is say you’re sorry.”

“I plan to, but I want to do it right. Will you bring him inside? I want everything to be just right.”

“All right.” She hurried down the driveway and turned in Patrick’s direction. “Patrick,” she yelled. “You’re home.”

Collins closed the front door and surveyed the scene. He straightened a few things, here and there, but he mostly wanted Patrick to see the wooden soldier. Mrs. Fortini had made a big red bow for it, so he pressed it again to make sure it stuck well to the base. Then he plugged in the Christmas tree lights. He walked over to the radio and turned up the volume. He walked to the coffee table so that it stood between him and the front door, and waited.

He could not recall ever feeling so nervous about anything in all his life.

They were all walking back to the house now. Patrick was holding onto Mrs. Fortini’s hand, just behind them Katherine and Ezra Jeffries. Behind them were the two policemen. The captain had showed up and was driving his car slowly beside them.

The captain had tried to draw Katherine into a debate about who had a right to the reward, pointing out all he and his men had done, as well as the firemen who’d volunteered. She’d interrupted him and simply said, “That’s all a matter for Mr. Collins to decide.”

Mrs. Fortini looked down at Patrick and said, “I want to prepare you for something, for seeing your grandfather again.”

“Can’t I stay with you, Mrs. Fortini? Or Miss Townsend?” He turned to look at her. “You said you’d come get me if I ever needed you. I don’t want to go back there.”

“I know, I did say that,” Katherine said. “And we can talk about that later. But something’s happened to your grandfather since you left the other night. He’s changed. He’s been as worried about you as we were. I think he’s really sorry.”

He didn’t reply.

“And he has a very nice surprise waiting for you at his house,” Katherine added.

“He does?”

Katherine nodded. “So is it okay if we visit him first? And if you want after that, you can come home with me, or go to Mrs. Fortini’s.”

“I guess so.”

They turned into the driveway past the fir tree and walked up the steps into the vestibule. “Mr. Collins, may we come in?” Mrs. Fortini yelled through the door.

“You have Patrick with you?”

“Yes, we do,” said Katherine. “We told him you have a surprise.” She looked down at Patrick. His face was all lit up and smiling. It dawned on Katherine that he was already prepared to forgive this mean old man, even now, before a single word was said.

“Okay, then come in.”

Thirty-Nine

The door opened.

Across the room, Collins’s eyes instantly locked on the face of his grandson. Tears falling once again. He didn’t know what to do, what to say.

Patrick was already smiling, and when their eyes met, he smiled even more. For a moment, neither one moved. He looked down at the wooden soldier, and his eyes got big and wide. “Grandpa, you finished him!” he shouted.

“I did,” said Collins. “Merry Christmas.”

“For me? He’s for me?”

Collins couldn’t speak. He could only nod. He held out his arms.

Patrick ran right past the wooden soldier and jumped straight into them. “Thank you, Grandpa, thank you, thank you.”

They hugged a few moments more, then Collins gently pulled Patrick back. “Patrick,” he said, “can you please forgive a mean old fool? I’ve treated you so badly, and you didn’t deserve it, not any of it. I am so sorry. So very sorry.”

Patrick hugged him tightly and held him a moment as he cried, then said, “That’s all right, Grandpa. I forgive you.”

Katherine and Mrs. Fortini had been watching from the doorway, and now walked the rest of the way into the living room, followed by Ezra Jeffries. “Mr. Collins,” Katherine said, wiping her own tears away. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” She guided Ezra to the forefront. “This is Mr. Ezra Jeffries, the man who found Patrick the other night in the middle of the storm. He brought him home to his family, took care of him, then brought him home a few minutes ago.”

Just then the two policemen walked in, followed by their captain, in time to hear all this. “Mr. Collins,” the captain said, “my men and I have something to say about this.”

Ian Collins wiped his eyes with a hankie then looked at Ezra. “Mr. Jeffries, what happened to you?”

“Uh . . . there was a misunderstanding,” the captain interrupted. “They thought he was a kidnapper. But about the reward—”

“Please, Captain,” said Collins, holding up his hand. “I’m grateful for all you and your men have done, but right now, I want to hear what my grandson has to say. Patrick, would you come here? Please tell us what happened after you . . . after you left the other night, right up until Mr. Jeffries brought you home just now.”

Patrick looked around the room. “Don’t worry, Patrick,” Katherine said. “You’re not in any trouble. No one’s in trouble. We just want to hear all about your adventure.”

He started slowly, but over the next few minutes Patrick told the whole story.

When he was through, Collins walked right up to Ezra Jeffries and held out his hand. “Sir,” he said, “I owe you a debt I could never properly repay. But I offered a word five thousand dollar reward to whoever found Patrick and brought him safely home. I believe, Mr. Jeffries, that money is rightfully yours.”

Ezra looked as if he might faint dead away at the news. He was speechless.

“Captain, c’mon now,” one of the policemen said.

“Mr. Collins, let’s be reasonable here.”

Collins held his hand up again. “I’m not through, Captain. You and your men have also sacrificed your time, your safety, even most of your Christmas holiday to search for my grandson. And for that I am also grateful. So, I’ve decided to give you an additional five thousand dollars to divide among yourselves however you choose.”

The captain gasped. “I don’t know what to say.”

“There’s nothing to say. If my grandson was out there to be found, I’m sure your men would have found him. Please take the money and express my thanks to everyone who helped. I’ve only got one request to make.”

“Anything,” the captain said.

“Would you personally escort Mr. Jeffries home, so he can spend Christmas Eve with his family, and make sure he gets home safely carrying so much cash.”

“I certainly will,” the captain said.

“I’ve got a request of the captain,” said Mrs. Fortini.

“What?”

“I’d like Katherine to be able to spend Christmas Eve and have Christmas dinner with us tomorrow. She has no family in town. Could you have someone drive her back to her apartment to pick up a few things and bring her back?”

“Happy to,” the captain said.

Forty

It was late afternoon on Christmas Day.

After enjoying a wonderful night of restful sleep and a very pleasant Christmas morning, Ian Collins, Patrick, Mrs. Fortini, and Katherine all sat down to a Christmas feast prepared by Mrs. Fortini. Patrick was sitting next to his grandfather, laughing and talking as if there had never been anything between them but love and affection. If Katherine hadn’t seen such things with her own eyes, she would never have believed them possible.

She looked toward the living room at the wooden soldier stationed proudly once more on the coffee table. Except for meals, he hadn’t left Patrick’s side since the moment his grandfather had given it to him.

Patrick asked her something, and she was just about to turn toward him when she heard a noise outside in the vestibule. Then a shadow appeared in the door window. Then a loud knock.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Mrs. Fortini asked Collins.

“No.”

“Did you give the extra reward money to the policemen?”

“They came back for it last night after they dropped off Miss Townsend.”

Once again, a knock at the door, a little louder.

“I’ll get it,” said Patrick. He jumped up and ran to the door before anyone said a word. He opened the door and screamed, “Daddy!”

Mrs. Fortini gasped.

Collins’s eyes opened wide, and he dropped his fork.

Katherine looked up. It was almost beyond taking in. How could this be? But she recognized Captain Shawn Collins instantly from his picture.

“I knew God would find you,” Patrick said as he buried his face in his father’s overcoat.

“I’m sorry if I surprised you,” said Shawn as he picked Patrick up in his arms. “I sent two telegrams, but I guess they didn’t get through with the storm.” Shawn looked down at the wooden soldier on the coffee table. He shook his head slowly back and forth, then looked up at his father, tears welling up in his eyes. For a few moments, no one spoke. “Dad . . . he’s beautiful.”

“Grandpa made him for me,” Patrick announced.

“Did he?”

Ian Collins got up from his chair and all but ran toward his son. “Shawn,” he said, erupting in tears. Shawn gently put Patrick down and they embraced, the elder Collins’s shoulders now heaving with sobs. “I’m so sorry, Shawn. So very sorry . . . for Elizabeth, for all I’ve done, all of it. I’m so glad you’re alive.”

“I love you, Dad,” Shawn said, now crying too.

Patrick came beside them both, hugging one leg each.

By now Katherine and Mrs. Fortini had joined in the tears, holding each other up as they watched the scene unfold. After several minutes, Mrs. Fortini said, “So, Shawn, you must be hungry after your long trip.”

“I am starving. I haven’t eaten all day, just trying to get home.”

“Well, you’re home now,” the elder Collins said, making good use of his already wet hankie. “Mrs. Fortini’s made a wonderful Christmas dinner. Come and get some.”

As Shawn walked into the living room, he stopped as he passed by Katherine. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” said Collins. “Where’s my manners?”

“This is Miss Townsend,” Patrick blurted out. “She’s been taking care of me while we waited for you to come home.” And then added, “With Grandpa and Mrs. Fortini too.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Katherine said, wiping her tears in a handkerchief. “Please, call me Katherine.”

“Hello, Katherine. I’m Shawn. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for Patrick.”

“Really, it’s been my pleasure,” she said, letting go of his hand. “No, that’s not enough.” She looked down at Patrick. “You have the most remarkable boy I’ve ever met.” She felt the tears about to unleash again.

“Well, I want to hear all about it,” he said as they made their way to the table. He picked Patrick up again. “I have missed you so much, my little man.”

“I’ve missed you too, Daddy.”

“I hope you’re going to tell us about how you made it home,” Katherine said. “When you’re up to it, I mean. It must be an amazing story. The last thing we heard was a telegram saying you were shot down and missing. Somewhere over Germany.”

“I’m really sorry you didn’t hear what happened next,” Shawn said, taking his seat. “Actually, I’ve been safe for a couple of days now. After our plane went down, we made it back through enemy lines to England. That’s when I found out about . . . about Elizabeth. After that, I caught the first plane home. It’s really a long story, and I promise I’ll tell you all about it some other time. But tonight . . . tonight I’d rather just think about Christmas.” He looked down and said, “I can’t believe I made it home for Christmas.”