“Hey,” I greet Janna and Kookie over the breakfast table on Sunday morning. “Do you guys have any plans after church?”
They glance at each other.
“What are you up to?” Janna asks me suspiciously.
“A mission of merry mercy,” I respond mysteriously.
“What does that mean?” Kookie’s eyes careen into mine.
“I’ve been thinking about Jimmy and his mom.”
“You have?” Janna asks in surprise.
I nod my head. “Do you know if Jimmy’s mom is married?”
“She’s not.”
“She’s not?”
“No, she’s a single mom.”
I stare at my daughter as I begin to better understand the impulse that I’ve been acknowledging ever since I discovered that the boy’s mother was in the hospital at Christmas time.
I spear Janna with an intense gaze. “Can you find out from Lyric – through Harmony, of course – if Jimmy’s mom can receive guests and food at the hospital? But have Harmony find out discreetly.”
“Mom, what are you up to?” Kookie queries with a bright grin that catches my heart with its beauty.
“A Christmas surprise. I would like to take Christmas to Jimmy and his mom. Kookie, you got any idea what Jimmy would like for Christmas?”
“That’s easy.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. The latest edition of Doppelgängers.”
“Your favorite video game?”
“Yeah. It came out today.”
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
“Mom, you want another Christmas project?” Janna asks in exasperation.
“You know me. I’m a glutton for Christmas projects. Now I know why we prepared for Christmas early this year,” I beam down at my children.
“So, what exactly do you have in mind?” Kookie questions me.
“I would like to go visit them at the hospital the afternoon of December twenty-fourth.”
“On Christmas Eve?” Janna asks in surprise. “But we’ve got so much to prepare for dinner that night.”
“We can spare an hour to visit someone who’s suffering this year. I’d like to take them a Christmas meal. We can just make extras of our own dinner. And I want to take them some gifts too.”
Kookie grins at me. “Jimmy loves to skateboard too. I bet he’d like a new one.”
“Any ideas what to get his mom?” Janna looks at me quizzically.
“Hmm. I’ll give it some thought. I am a mom myself, after all.” I furrow my brow as my eyes fly from one to the other of my older twins. “Does either of you know what’s wrong with Jimmy’s mom?”
“Yeah, Harmony told us last night. His mom’s appendix ruptured. She had surgery a few weeks back. But she got a bad infection.”
“Yikes.” My eyes grow wide as saucers. “That’s scary. Is she doing okay now?”
Janna nods. “She’s supposed to be released at the end of the week. She’s moving from ICU to a normal room today or tomorrow, I think.”
“Perfect timing. We should be able to visit her and take presents and food.” I glance at them. “Who wants to go Christmas shopping with me today?”
“For Jimmy and his mom?” Kookie asks. “I’m game. I’d like to look at the new version of Doppelgängers. And I’ll pick out a skateboard for him. But you’re going to have to pick the girly gifts, Mom.”
I chuckle. “But, of course!” I glance at Janna. “Hey, is Harper coming to church with us this morning? Or do I need to drop her at home?”
“She said she’d come with us. We’ll have to take two cars.”
“Kookie? You wanna drive Emmie to church?” I ask with a grin teasing the corners of my lips.
His whole countenance lights up. “Sure!”
“All right. Tell everyone to be ready in an hour,” I remind Janna as I head for the living room. “I’m going to take a shower and get dressed. Anyone who wants to can join me for shopping after lunch.”
As I glance back at my older twins, I can tell that Kookie is excited about shopping for Jimmy. Janna looks less than enthused. Perhaps she already has some plans of her own. Maybe with Lyric?
