Sometimes in life all a man has left is the ability to dream. And if he is lucky, sometimes dreams do come true—even forbidden ones. John was one of these broken men whose life, at the age of forty-nine, was nothing but a constant uphill climb against, well, pretty much everything.
He sold insurance for a living. Boring. His wife of 24 years, Kim, had grown ugly and fat before his eyes. Depressing. Along with her loss of beauty came a meanness of spirit that seemed to be set on an irrevocable course.
Finally, there was the most disheartening fact of them all: his darling little daughter Jade had left home to attend a private high school in another state when she was only 16. It was her idea which was maybe the most depressing fact of all.
John took it hard. It seemed she was running away from him for some reason. Worse still, over the past two years they had only gotten the odd phone call here and there from her. She always claimed she was too busy to come home, even on holidays. Over summer break it was the same story—"I am working part-time, I am taking summer classes . . . sorry just can't make it home. No time."
Finally, when she does call she seems only interested in speaking to her mother. But then one night the Gods of Fate smiled on John, or maybe it was something a bit more sinister at work, but regardless his life, for this one night anyways, was anything but boring.
He had went grocery shopping for that night's dinner. He got the usual - a TV dinner and a six pack of beer He enters his dark house after coming home from the store. It is filled with nothing but emptiness as his wife is staying the weekend at her sister's which is all the more depressing because it is Christmas Eve.
Just as he is unpacking his meager bit of groceries the phone starts to ring. He hurries across the kitchen to pick it up-hopeful it might be Jade. This is the same ritual he goes through every time the goddamn phone rings—hoping it is Jade and then being bitterly disappointed when it is not. But tonight his hopes are richly rewarded.
The charmed evening starts with a simple "Hello" from Jade. She is in town visiting old high school friends, but wants to spend Christmas Eve with him.
Pleasantly surprised at this fortuitous turn of events, he showers and puts on his nicest dress shirt, along with a pair of dress pants, and finally his matching favorite dark blue blazer with a light blue silk tie.
Roughly one hour later he is in a dark restaurant. The low hum of voices float across the room to him. He looks at the table, with its pristine white table cloth lit by the soft glow of candlelight emitting from the middle of the table, and wonders what she will look like. It been just over two years since he saw her last.
His thoughts are interrupted when his phone rings. He fishes the phone out of his dress khakis and stares at the screen-
Wife.
He sighs deeply before answering.
"Hello."
"Hi sweetheart," his wife's cheery voice says to him.
"Oh . . . ahh Hi . . . how is your sister." He is a bit flustered as Kim's voice sounds different. In a good way though as it does not have the usual annoying edge to it tonight.
"Has Jade gotten there yet? She called and told me you guys were having dinner."
"No not yet, but I was early. I think she should be here at any moment."
"Good I will make this quick then. I just want to apologize for not being able to go with you tonight. Helen is just so sick and I really need to be here OK? It's my duty as her big sister, plus you know she is all alone since the divorce. Afraid I did not have time to tell you all that before I left in such a hurry yesterday."
"Oh of course. I . . . ahh just hope Helen gets better." He is doing his best not to be too amazed as this doesn't really sound like Kim at all. She almost sounds like she gives a shit about him.
"Anyway I just want to tell you quickly about Jade. She is feeling real lonely and vulnerable tonight honey. That god damn boyfriend of hers really messed her up. I mean he really hurt her, John."
"What did the asshole do?" John says anger tinging his voice. He knew little about the guy other than he was wealthy, older and named Francis.
Francis, for God sakes, what kind of faggot name was that for Christ sakes,
he thinks before he could stop himself the first time Jade went gushing on and on about him over the phone. Truth was he had no real reason to dislike the guy except for the fact he was jealous.
"I'm not sure as she won't really wouldn't tell me. Maybe she will open up to you later, but it was bad I can tell. Just be sure and be really sweet with her tonight honey. Please do your best to take her mind off of her troubles, at least for tonight huh."
"Yes OK I will try."
"Oh and I got her a little surprise. Please tell me you are wearing your favorite blue suit jacket."
"I am . . . yes, why?"
"Coz I slipped a little something in there for you to give Jade. A Christmas present."
"Really?"
"I was counting on you wearing it."
He turns and reaches into his pocket of his blazer. His fingers find a small oblong box.
"Yeah got it," he says trying to hide his surprise.
"OK great. I picked it out the other day at the mall when she told me she might be coming home . . . just in case."
"Jesus Kim, you knew she was coming home and you didn't tell me."
"Yes . . . I wanted it to be a surprise for you, plus she was not sure. Anyway yell at me later if you want, but give her the present without mentioning my name. It will mean so much more if she thinks it's from you alone."
He looks at the oblong black velvet box. It's the type of box used for jewelry. He hopes his wife didn't pick out something that would make him look cheap.
Kim is talking again. He decides to wait until he is off the phone before taking a look at the present his wife picked out.
"Just remember to be extra sweet to her tonight. She needs her daddy I think more than anything in this world. And please if you can John . . . deny her nothing. Say yes to all she wants. Spoil her rotten with love and especially affection as God knows she needs it."
"I will," he answers simply trying to calm his thumping heart at the mere thought of showing her affection. After saying good bye he opens the box and lets out a low whistle.
It contains a very expensive looking diamond necklace. "Jesus this thing must have cost a small fortune," he mutters under his breath before snapping the box shut and slipping it back into the pocket of his blazer.
He glances up just in time to see a shapely figure moving in the darkness across the floor to him. The last time he seen her she was 16. What a difference a couple years make.
