Life’s Expectations

The Next Steps

The next morning Grace was awakened by a light kiss on her forehead.She blinked open her eyes to see Daisy standing beside her bed.She jumped up immediately and clung to her neck.

“Hey Priss.You look amazing little bug! You’re so healthy!And I can see how happy you must be.Get yourself up and dressed.Come down for breakfast when you’re done,Miss Kay is cooking.”Daisy told her giving her another squeeze.

Grace dashed to get her clothes and started to change before Daisy even left the room.She went to brush her teeth and ran downstairs.They were all sitting at the dining room table waiting.Grace sat and Miss Kay put her plate in front of her.They took hands and Holly said the blessing.

“Lord we come together to enjoy this meal prepared by Miss Kay.We ask you Lord to bless this food and all who surround this table.Give us thankful hearts and loving spirits.We thank you Lord for continued guidance and protection.We ask you to continue our walk with us Lord.In the Mighty Name Jesus Christ Amen.”

They all closed the prayer in an Amen and ate.Some small chatter here and there but mostly enjoying the food.Miss Kay had made pancakes,link sausages,biscuits and gravy,scrambled eggs,fried onions and potatoes,bacon and fruit.Grace even had a second plate,then helped with clean up.After everything was clean,they sat in the livingroom.

“So Daisy,what’s this about a paper?”Miss Kay asked.

Daisy pulled out the paper from her purse.She handed it to her and Miss Kay read it aloud.

To Whoever Cares

I ,Courtney Ann Halafax do hereby give my kid Grace Alexandera Neely to —————. She may raise her how she wants to. I don’t want anything to do with her.I ain’t paying you nothin to help.She is not my responsibility anymore.

Sincerely Courtney Ann Halafax

They all sat in silence watching Grace,expecting tears. Instead she burst out of her chair with roaring laughter and triumphant sequels.She bounced and jumped around,they all began to laugh. The reality of it hit them all at once and they laughed harder.

“Lord have mercy child,you are free.Thank you Lord!”Miss Kay said.

“This is the best gift ever!How?”Miss Holly asked Daisy.

“I called Courtney and told her if the court found Gracie,they would make her pay.She would not get her back and she would have to pay the state.And maybe her and her boyfriend would get put in jail.”Daisy said with a smirk.

“Wow cous,that was smart.”Holly said patting her on the back.Daisy just nodded her head and smiled.

“So,we get this notarized and enroll you in school.Who is going to be responsible for her?”Miss Holly asked.

They all looked confused.Miss Kay shook her head and continued.”I am to old.She can live here but someone else must sign that paper and be responsible for her.”

Holly nodded knowing Miss Kay was right and she took Grace by the hand.”Would you like for me to sign it?”

“Does that mean you will be my mom?”Grace asked.

“Kind of,but more like an Aunt.You can live here and I will handle any legal things you need.And help with your bills Miss Kay.”Holly added.

“No,mam.I can handle my own bills.She hasn’t added much to them.You can keep helping with things from your shop and with meals sometimes.Anything else we will figure out”Miss Kay said.

“Ok.Well,Grace Daisy is going to take you to get new personal garments.”Holly told her and Grace looked confused.Daisy whispered in her ear and Grace laughed.

When Daisy and Grace left they started on their surprise for Grace.Holly gathered what they needed from her shop,because Miss Kay definitely did not celebrate anything.They decorated the house and put up a real tree.And continued cooking.They baked cookies and prepared a whole Christmas feast.Holly saved the sugar cookies for them to decorate with Grace and the tree.Holly was going to share some of her family traditions with Grace too.She had all she needed in a box that she also wrapped.Holly wrapped everything and placed it under the bare tree.They even decorated the back porch and had their feast layed out on the long buffet table they had put out there.The huge table was set with fancy dishes, Christmas decorations and candles.Colorful Christmas lights were hung around the porch and back yard, along with Christmas figures made of wood.

Daisy knocked at the front door,holding Grace back.

“Daisy this is my home.I don’t have to knock.”Grace said as she burst into the entryway.

Miss Kay heard her and her heart swelled and a happy tear ran down her face.She was glad this child had found her yard and become her family.

Holly rushed to meet them,taking Grace by the hand,so Andy could put up the last decoration on the front door.Holly waited for him to come in.Andy came through the back of the house.He stood waiting with them in the hallway, in front of the closed door to the livingroom.Holly knocked.Grace was very confused, why was the door shut and why was Miss Holly knocking?Miss Kay opened the door standing in the doorway.

They all began to sing Jingle Bells,as Grace stood hand in Holly’s even more confused.They all began grownups sang a few more Christmas songs and Miss Kay clapped,then slid to the side to reveal the decorated livingroom.Holly let go of Grace’s hand after she gave it a pat and Grace ran in.

“Wow this is beautiful!But why is there a tree in the house?And what is in these boxes?What’s going on?”Grace asked still confused.

“This Miss Priss is Christmas, a bit early but Christmas.”Miss Kay told her ruffling her dark hair and gently pinching her cheek.

“I thought you didn’t celebrate Miss Kay”.Grace said.

“Well,I had no reason to.But you child are something to celebrate.”Miss Kay said with tears in her eyes and Grace flung her little arms around her in a tight hug.

“Ok,let’s get this show rolling “Andy said to break the emotional scene.

They began by finishing the tree and decorating the sugar cookies.Then they sat in the livingroom as Grace opened presents sitting in front of the tree.She loved everything.She had never gotten new toys that she could keep,except her bear.She loved opening her stocking,it had candy and small toys inside.She jumped up and hugged them all.

“Santa didn’t forget you.But he knew you’d get them one day.” Daisy told her.

“Ok,little one.One more from me to you.”Holly told her sliding the big box to Grace.Grace eyed the large box,wondering.

“It is a gift we will redo every Christmas.It is some of all of our family traditions.And we will all help you to start a new of your own.”Holly told her.

“Well what are you waiting on?Open it!”Miss Kay said excited for Grace.Grace tore into the wrappings and ripped open the cardboard box.Inside was a large Christmas box with a lid,it was covered in holly and berries.Andy helped her pull it out,it was rather heavy.He sat it in front of her after the other box was moved.Grace had to get on her knees to see better.She slid the lid off to reveal several wrapped items.First she pulled out a package wrapped in cookie paper.She opened it.Inside was a medium sized mixing bowl,a whisk,a spatula and a jar of chocolate chip and M&Ms cookie mix.She opened the envelope with it.Inside was a recipe card and a Christmas card.She read it as best she could aloud.

“Hey Missy Prissy

This is a tradition my family had each year.We made batches of cookies in a special Christmas bowl that was passed down from each mother to the next.This was our favorite cookie to leave for Santa.

Love Daisy”

She pulled out the next gift and tore off the Santa paper covering it.It was a large wooden plate, made from a tree trunk.It was carved with reindeer on one side and Santa on the other.It had words burned into the wood,that said.

“Dear Santa

I have been very good.

Please enjoy the treats

and don’t forget the

reindeer.

Love Grace”

“That’s my name!”she squealed,then hugged it.

“That is one of my favorite traditions with my family.”Andy told her smiling.

“Did you make that?”Miss Kay asked.

“Yes mam.I started it when I heard Grace had never celebrated anything before. I was going to give it to her Christmas Eve,but then y’all had this idea.”Andy told her.

Grace set it aside reaching in the box again.She pulled out a Christmas bag made from red and white gingham material.Inside was a stack of green and red construction paper,glue and safety scissors.The note inside explained.

“Dearest Gracey

This is one of my favorite traditions with.My family made paper chains to decorate our home.We wrote a wish for the New Year on each link.It stays hung til New Year’s Eve.Then everyone would take turns pulling the chain.Where it broke was your fortune in the coming year.Enjoy.

Love Holly”

“ We will all build it later.”Holly told her,as she pulled another package out.

It was wrapped in a beautiful red velvet blanket.Grace felt that it was delicate,so she was very careful.She slowly pulled back the blanket and took the envelope out first,trying to hand it to Holly.But Miss Kay took it instead and read it to Grace,while she admired the beautiful porcelain doll dressed in a gorgeous white Christening gown.

“Hey Miss Priss

This was my favorite part of Christmas, not a family tradition.But a me tradition,that my momma said was ok to have for myself.But it was more of a tradition between me and my momma,then my papa too.My momma made dresses and blankets for every holiday.And my papa started making her furniture each Christmas. I would dress her for each holiday in her special dress.Christmas Eve I always got matching night gowns,for me,Claira Bell and my momma.The second Christmas after getting Claira Bell my momma had a Christmas tea party setup for us and every year after that.I hope you love her as much as I did.

Love Mawmaw Kay”

“I can call you Mawmaw!?”Grace said jumping to her feet holding Claira Bell tightly,running over to hug Miss Kay.She squeezed Grace tight and nodded.

Grace went back to the box after handing her Mawamaw her new baby.She reached and pulled out another present from Holly.Grace unwrapped it carefully,it was a Christmas tree ornament.It was little frame that said “My first Christmas”

Holly explained that her family got an ornament for each member of the family every year to add to the tree.She handed the other adults a gift to unwrap.They all loved them and added them to the tree.

“ We will take a picture later and then put it in your frame.”Holly told Grace.

“Ok,let’s go out to eat”Andy said to Grace and Holly,as Daisy and Miss Kay brought out all the food.Holly grabbed the sweet tea and they all sat to bless the food.

“Lord here we are gathered as one happy family,not by blood.But by your devine intervention.You built this family and we thank you.We ask you to bless it and this food.We are grateful and very happy Lord.

In Christ Name Amen”

They all got up and formed a line at the end of the buffet table.Grace stood back in awe of all the good food.There was turkey,ham,cornbread dressing,gravy,mashed potatoes,potato salad,baked beans,cranberry sauce,candied yams,greenbeans,corn and rolls.Grace put some of everything on her plate,as she went back to sit down she noticed the dessert table.