Christmas special

This is a Christmas special chapter. It doesn't go in line with the original book. Just like a stand-alone extra chapter. I hope you all enjoy though.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” 

~Norman Vincent Peal

. 

"I know you would rather be on your own, but are you ever going to let us change that?" Ada asked, as she steps into Cainan's room and finds him in the bed, covered up with the duvet.

This has been his routine, and for months it has been the same. Ada would always find him in his room wrapped in his duvet, either crying, sleeping or just there in silence.

"It's Christmas today. Surely there has to be something you want to do than just laying in bed and giving me the silent treatment."

"Leave, I never asked you to be here, anyway." He ground out through gritted teeth. 

Ada sighs, completely frustrated with her son, she understands his grief and pain, but it's been over a year since Neriah's death and he doesn't seem like he's ready to move on and she is no psychic, but she knows this isn't what she would have wanted. Ada fears she might lose him if he continues down this road.

"So, this is what you want? To kill yourself, you need to ask yourself if this is really what Neriah would want," she demands, her r getting the better of her.

"Do not stand there and tell me what Neriah would want, mother," he warns her even though he is yet to get off the bed. 

"I know she loved you and I know that in the little time she had, she lived. If you continue down this road, you will end up killing yourself."

Giving up with a loud growl, Cainan throws the bedsheets off his body to exclaim, "What do you want from me, woman?!" his face is hard and his eyes flaring

Ada knows no one is going to win this if they are both upset with each other and so she calms herself and speaks in a much tender voice than she has before. "I want you to live, and what you've been doing this year isn't living. It barely exists. This is Christmas time and the Cainan I used to know would make the most of this season. He would try to reach out, to spread love as much as he can and I know Cainan is in there somewhere." She steps towards the bed where he's currently sitting, careful not to spook him. 

He shakes his head, "It's not the same, mom, I've lost so much already and it's hard to get back from all that. Inferno, my unborn child and then Neriah."

Ada understands where he is coming from and, as much as she wants him to live and be happy, it is going to take a longer time, but with help and support from the family, she believes he will find his way back to life. 

She sits down on the bed and opens her arms to her son and without waiting for a second; he rushes into her arms and his eyes close. 

"It's going to be fine, son, I promise you," she assures in a hushed voice, and not long after, Cainan falls asleep. 

"Mr Inferno. Are you coming down or what?" Cainan's eyes snap open as he hears the familiar sing-a-song voice call out to him and he sits up in bed instantly. This has happened before, he tells himself and tries to recall, but he can't tell when.

He looks around his room in search of his mother, but he doesn't see her. Where did she take herself to this time and how long has he been sleeping? He asks himself.

The voice calling to him isn't that of his mother because his mother never calls him in such a snappy manner, not in almost ten years. Only one person had that much audacity to call him out in a snappy manner. 

Neriah. 

He smiles to himself, knowing her audacity has been what he loved about her. 

"You know me, I will not wait for you!" she threatens, "so get yourself out here this minute or you're staying home this Christmas!" 

He gets up like he was ordered and, looking down at himself, he notices that he's already dressed in a black suit and a red bow tie. His hair is in a sleek form and his face bare of beards. He looks dressed and ready for wherever it is they are going to rush out of his room down the stairs where his lovely wife awaits him. 

At the sight of her, Cainan slows down in his steps and his heart leaps for joy at the woman he's seeing. Neriah in a red silk gown that holds her in all the right places and a black veil over her shoulder. Her full, coarse black hair is in a low ponytail, but having a bit of a messy touch. The gown sweeps the floor so he cannot see the heels she has under, but considering the modulation of her height this evening, he is certain she wearing a heel about 3 to 4 inches high. 

She's standing and looking down at her wristwatch, not bothering to look up at him. "Whoever said women spent more time dressing up never met you." Neriah points out with a shake of her head. 

He smiles at her bluntness and steals a glance at her before saying, "Don't tell anyone, I've got a reputation to maintain." 

To that, she laughs, and he doesn't know if there is any sound better than her sweet laughter. 

"Let's get out of here." 

"Where are we going again?" he asks, a little puzzled by the way things are suddenly happening around him. 

"You forgot, didn't you?" sadness plagues her voice as she keeps her eyes away from him. 

'Please, can it not be something very important.' He silently prays.

"You know how I am, babe, short-term memory and all. I admit I'm getting old." he tries to cover up with the joke.

She rolls her eyes but still smiles and he pats himself mentally for a job well done. "It's my birthday today, 25th December."

His mouth opens, and it nearly hit the floor. He couldn't believe he forgot her birthday. What kind of husband forgets his wife's birthday?

A horrible one.

But he didn't forget—he didn't know to begin with and, as shameful as it sounded, he never asked or tried to find out. They met under very difficult circumstances, so things happened.

"Honey, I'm so sorry, I am a horrible husband, but happy birthday to you. I hope I can make it up to you somehow."

"It's fine, I've never really celebrated it before."

"What did we have planned?" He asks, and she gives him a ridiculous look.

She walks towards the door. "We are going to my family's place at the penthouse to celebrate Christmas and my birthday. You invited a few friends as well." She pauses and turns to look at him. "Have you been drinking again?"

No! Of course not, I never drink...

Wait...

His eyes narrow at her. "Was I drinking before?"

"Yes!" she exclaims—more of explodes in his face, "after we lost Africa, you started drinking."

Africa as in a continent or as a person? He wonders to himself in confusion.

She looks devastated and her eyes become glassy and it breaks his heart to see that happen, "You swore you were no longer drinking."

He can't believe there is a world where he is the reason Neriah feels hurt and devastated, but here he is, being the reason for her pain. What the hell has he done to her? 

"And babe, believe me, I'm not drinking, I just can't remember a lot of things... like this Africa you're talking about and a few other things." He says the last part to himself.

"We should go."

They arrived at the venue thirty minutes later and though Neriah asked him to drive, but since he didn't know where they were going, he couldn't and told her he was having trouble seeing these days, especially at night. 

"We should go in," she says, but he takes her hands and stops her from moving. Surprised, she looks up at him  

"I think I owe you an apology, I haven't been the best husband to you in a very long while and I know you deserve better, I just want you to know that I love you so much and hurting you is the last thing on my mind." 

Pain flicker in her eyes before looking down at their hands. "I understand, Cainan, you were in pain, you were grieving the loss of someone you loved. But you need to realise that I lost someone too and when you pushed me out, I didn't just lose a child, I also lost my husband."

Africa was their baby. He had a baby with Neriah, and he lost himself after losing her.

"I am sorry," he apologises in remorse, not really knowing what else to say to her. 

She shakes her head and smiles at him. "I forgive you. It is time to move forward and celebrate what we have instead of holding on to what we lost. I love you."

"I promise you this, Neriah. I will change, just so that you will be happy. Consider that my Christmas gift to you."

She smiles and hugs him and he feels complete, "That's all I want."

Cainan's eyes open to realise that it was all a dream. He knows what to do now. He is going to live for her and he is going to keep the promises he made to her. And he is going to make his family and loved ones happy.

He knocked on his mother's door and waits for the door to be answered and not so long after that, the door slowly opens and Ada stands at the door, staring at him. She's in a blue lace gown and her grey hair in a neat sweep to her back. She looks so beautiful, and Keenan feels guilty for hurting her this past year.

"I'm sorry, mother, for everything I did." Her eyes grow glassy, but she blinks it back and smiles brightly at him before pulling him closer and wrapping her arms around him. "I lost the love of my life, mom, but you lost a daughter-in-law and a son at the same time and I never saw it that way until now."

"I just want to see you happy, my boy," she pulls back and reaches up to stroke his cheek. "come, join us, the whole family came for the dinner. You were the only one left out and I'm glad you're here. Now come, we are about to eat."

"One more thing mother," he dips his hand into his black winter coat and brings out a red bottle of wine, the one he knows she loves the most." Merry Christmas, Mother."

And just as he knew she would, she smiles widely, "Merry Christmas, Cainan."