Oh wow! [She gazed down at the painting in her hands. The colors were gorgeous!] It’s beautiful Jack! Thank you! [She gave him a sort of side hug, still holding the painting in one hand.] I love it! Thank you! [She looked up at him as she stepped back.] You’re very talented!
[Grinning past him at Katelynn.] And what beautifulness did he give you?
She hardly heard Alice, having unwrapped her presents and stared at them in wonder, fingering the beautiful star and camera slowly, just as amazed as the present Alice had given her. She sniffed, fighting back grateful tears as she took all her presents, hugging them close and trying to ignore the pain in her chest.
She wasn’t sure if the pain was from abusing her ribs or because of the emotions she was feeling, going years without having received presents from anyone. No one had cared enough to give her presents, not even her own parent’s anymore.
Despite being in the hospital, this was the best Christmas for her, even if it wasn’t on the actual day.
Jack just smiled. He hadn’t given gifts to people who weren’t his immediate family in years, and he had been afraid he had gotten the wrong things. But seeing both Alice, and Katelynn, smile at his presents was enough to make him very happy.
“I’m so glad you like them.” he said, “B-both of you.” he reached out to Katelynn most, seeing the tears collecting at her eyes but refusing to fall, and gently, carefully, rubbed her shoulder. “I just had to make you something, even with the camera. So, so when you put it up somewhere you remember it came from me.” he said, before glancing at Alice, smiling. “Same goes for you.”
Jack Maple 