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On The Feast Of Stephen

12/26/2025

“What do you think? Burger Heaven or Corn Crib Chicken?” Abby cruised down the street past the shopping center with the fast-food restaurants.

“I’m okay with chicken if that’s alright with you.” He smiled at Teddy in the carseat and made chicken sounds.

Abby grinned as she pulled into the shopping center parking lot. “Want to go in or drive through and we can go back to my place…” Her eyes darted up to the rearview. “…or yours. How’s your arm? Need to go home?”

“I’m okay going in if you are.”

She nodded and found a spot near the door. “In it is.” She turned off the car and twisted around to look over the seat. “Need a hand?”

“Unfortunately, the latch is a two-handed deal.” He smiled at Teddy. “Abby.”

“Huh.”

“Do you like me?”

Her jaw dropped. She shook her head and yanked at her mitten. “What did I say?” She held her engagement ring up.

“Technically, you said no.” A sneaky smile crept onto his face. “You almost gave half the people at the Christmas Village a heart attack.”

“And then I said yes, because I meant yes. Where’s this coming from?”

“I’m not sure I understand how I rate with you. You’re really quiet.”

“Too quiet?”

“Well, I don’t need you blabbing at me like Zelda telling Harry every single thought that comes into her head, but…”

She studied him and sighed. “I guess you’re right. I haven’t told you in so many words.”

“I appreciate how you stepped up with the paperwork this morning. That probably would have taken at least twice as long without you pitching in, and I like how you hold my hand like you mean it.”

“I do.” She smiled. “I really do.”

“So,” he thought for a moment, “tell me something I don’t know.”

She blushed and reached over the back of the seat to detach Teddy’s carseat from the base.

“Uh-oh. What does that mean?”

She bit her lip and slid down until just her eyes and her nose were visible over the edge of the front seat. “I was peeking.” She giggled and got out.

“I don’t know, Teddy. Sounds like we’re going to have to tickle it out of her.” He wrenched his cast away from the foot of Teddy’s seat and grabbed the handle. “Boy, this is like some kind of Chinese puzzle box. I feel like I have to do gymnastics to get you out of here.”

She was standing beside the car, bent halfway over to look in the window. A blush spread across her pretty face, and she opened the door.

“What’s that about?”

“I like that weird yoga position you’re in, but how are you going to get out?”

“Here, can I hand him to you, and I’ll figure out how to escape?”

She held out her hands to receive the carseat handle and watched him climbing awkwardly out of the car. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or scarred for life.” She giggled as she hurried into the restaurant.

“Hi, Gary. Can I offer you some coffee?”

“Abby’s away with Matt today, so I figured I’d stop in for Confession.”

“Fair enough. Is that a no on the coffee? Mrs. Martin brought crumb cake.”

“Okay, now you’re speaking my language.” Gary smiled. “First crumb cake and then Confession.”

Tom smiled and led Gary to the kitchen. “Pull up a chair. I’ll get us set up.”

Gary sat and watched the priest putter around for mugs and plates.

“Cream? Sugar?”

“Black is fine, thanks.”

Tom smiled. “I always took it black until I came to the States. Hazelnut creamer? I’ve been hooked ever since.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Poland?” He pulled back the cellophane. “Sometimes.” He sliced a piece. “Familiar sights. Old friends. Cousins…” He sliced another piece for Gary. “They’re only a plane ride away. We keep in touch.”

Gary hung his head.

Tom turned around with the plates of cake. “Tell me.”

“I can’t.”

Tom slid the cake in front of him. “I’ll get the coffee. It’s still hot.”

“I don’t mean…” He turned the plate to study the cake. “I… can’t keep in touch, Father. She’s gone. She’s really gone.”

“From here, yes. God brought her into his loving embrace so her suffering could end.”

“And mine finally begins.” He slid the cake away.

“Gary, we teach our children to stand so they can face the lives God meant for them to have. Abby has Matthew now.”

“Leave and cleave. I know.”

“You’ve been very busy being both mother and father to Abby. This is the time when parents are supposed to…” He took a sip of his coffee. “I guess you could say they take a little victory lap. Right? They raised the kids. They’re getting married and starting their own families. Time to go back to being husband and wife until the grandkids come.”

“It’s all upside down.”

“Nothing is perfect but Jesus. We play the hand we’re dealt.”

“A queen fell out of my deck.”

“Look how well you’ve done, though. Abigail is a model of faith. Such a splendid young woman.”

“I know. She amazes me all the time. So gentle. So secure.”

“Because you taught her how to be that way. She is a testament to the care you gave her.”

“I was out because the mayor asked for the trophy back.”

“Yes, I know Murray and Staś have something up their sleeves to get it back.” He chuckled. “I can’t imagine how they plan to top that spectacle they put on last year.”

“Should be interesting to watch.”

“You’re going up to see it?”

“Yeah, I didn’t plan on competing this year anyway. Who needs to climb Everest twice?”

“Apparently, Murray and Staś do, but that’s their cross to bear.” He took a piece of his cake and savored it. “God bless Mrs. Martin.”

“I, uh…”

Tom paused to study him.

“I parked up front. That wind.”

Tom nodded. “Bitterly cold. Makes me glad of the coffee.”

“I had to.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t get a face full of door when you came in. I’m expecting them to rip off and blow away at any minute.”

“I nearly did. The wind got hold of it and nearly knocked me back down the stairs.”

“See? I’m really thinking we should change the hinges to the inside.”

“So somebody in the nave can get whacked like a pinball? Most times, outward-opening doors are better. Wind like this? There’s no good answer except to pray nobody gets hit.”

“Prayer is the best option.” Tom nodded. “Cake is the next best. Go ahead. Dig in.”

Gary pulled his cake closer and took a piece.

“I always wondered.”

Gary waited.

“Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Against all conditions, you’re always in that spot. When you’re the only one here, you’re there instead of up front.”

“I…” Gary sipped his coffee. “It was all I had left of her. Even when I forgot why I was doing it, when I forgot what she looked like… sound of her voice…”

Tom reached out.

Gary wiped his tears and took the priest’s hand. “She’s really gone, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Matt wiped ketchup off of Teddy’s cheek with a napkin. “There we go. Good as new.”

Teddy grinned at him and stuck ketchup-coated fingers up his nose.

“Okay, fair call. I forgot the hands.”

Abby giggled and ate her chicken fries.

“What do I do here? He’s like a ketchup octopus.”

She made kissy faces at the baby. “You just let him be cute like his dad.”

“Uh-huh, I’m not sticking ketchup up my nose.”

Abby laughed so hard she had to clutch her sides. Teddy laughed along with her.

“Well, I’m not.”

She wiped tears from her eyes. “You’re so silly. I didn’t expect you to be silly.”

He ripped open a moist towelette. “What did you expect?”

“Honestly? I didn’t know. I figured boot camp would turn you into…”

“A monster?”

“No, definitely not. Like stern and stoic. You know?”

“But you were really hoping for a handsome prince.”

She threw a hand over her smile. “I don’t know about prince, but you’ve sure got the handsome part figured out.”

“So, what’s your read on what you got here?”

“You’re a good egg, Corporal Jozsa. You’re just like Teddy, only bigger.”

“And with a wider vocabulary.”

“Now that you mention it…”

Matt and Teddy both looked at her with those amazing green eyes. It made her shiver.

“Well?”

“Do you find yourself saying ‘Fee fi fo fum’ a lot?”

He looked at Teddy. “Mommy’s got jokes. Wait ‘til you meet Joe. He’s a laugh a minute. He’s going to get a kick out of you.”

“Joe?”

“My friend, back on base in Africa. We work together at the chaplain’s office.”

“You mentioned that. You work at the chaplain’s office. I think that’s great.”

“Yeah, Gunny Kohn and the major, too.”

“What’s a gunny?”

Matt looked at Teddy. He looked at his dad with wide, surprised eyes. “We’re going to have to get Mommy up to speed on Marine lingo, buddy. Pfft, women.”

Teddy giggled and blew a disparaging raspberry that made ketchup leak out of the corners of his mouth.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting you to be such a disruptive influence on your son, Matthew.” She laughed.

“That’s how we do, brother.” Matt dabbed at the corners of Teddy’s mouth. “Tell Mommy that guy talk is all sandpaper and gunpowder.”

“I like when you say that.”

“What?”

“Mommy. I like when you call yourself Daddy. It makes me all squishy inside.”

“Uh-oh, Teddy. Mommy’s been kidnapped and replaced with an alien amoeba clone.”

“I what?”

“There’s only one thing to do.”

Abby’s eyes got very large.

Matt leaned in and whispered to the baby. “We’re going to have to tickle her until she tells us where your real mommy is hidden.”

She gasped. “Don’t you dare!”

“Here it comes, squishy amoeba person.” He wiggled his fingers menacingly.

She grabbed his wrist and yanked him close. “Mommy’s right here, Prince Matthew.” She kissed him, and he sank back into his chair beside the baby. “Ha. Can an amoeba person do that?”

He took a couple of deep breaths. “I don’t know. I think you probably turned me into an amoeba person, because I’m feeling incredibly squishy now.” He blew out a long, slow breath. “Wow, Mommy packs quite a punch, kiddo. What about you? Are you an amoeba baby?” He tickled Teddy and made him squeal and giggle.

Gary puttered around the living room, rearranging Teddy’s presents. “…on the Feast of Stephen…” He peeked out the window to see if Abby was back yet. “…deep and crisp and even…” Nope.

He looked around the room for something else to fuss over. His eyes fell on the makeshift trophy stand. He hadn’t really counted on winning it last year, so he had to concoct a display.

He hadn’t planned on participating this year.

He hadn’t planned on what it would mean to give it back.

He hadn’t planned at all.

This thing that had been there.

It wasn’t anymore.

He could see it without wanting to.

He knew it was gone.

He gave it back.

The stand was still there as if nothing had changed.

But it did.

Everything changed.

He hadn’t planned on raising a baby by himself, but she didn’t make it.

Life went on without her.

The trophy had a stand because nobody planned on it leaving.

Tracy didn’t have a stand.

Where was the chair she used to sit in?

Where were her clothes?

Did he actually pack that stuff away, or did it just get moved somewhere when other stuff needed to come in?

He couldn’t remember.

Her scent. Her touch. The sound of her voice.

It was all like the empty space above the trophy stand, but the stand was there.

Tracy wasn’t.