Chapter 6
Dario opens his eyes and finds himself in his room. He looks around and sees Timothy with tears of relief.
"I am so glad you are ok, sir. You scared me" says Timothy wiping his tears.
"What happened?" Asks Dario.
"I came into the mansion to find you after you left the office so urgently, only to find you on the floor, unconscious. I called the doctor and he said you are fine it's nothing serious" says Timothy.
"I felt pain in my chest" says Dario.
"You didn't eat your lunch so you got gastric problem and mixed with work stress, now that caused a little hiccup to your health. The doctor gave you an injection but insisted you visit him for further checkups just as a precaution" says Timothy.
"I don't feel anything right now, so I guess i am ok" says Dario and looks around the whole room.
"What are you looking for, sir?" Asks Timothy.
"Nothing" says Dario and sits up on his bed.
After few hours, Dario was feeling much better and notices Timothy with a wide smile.
"What's got you all smiling?" Asks Dario.
"The workers wanted to show their gratitude to you. So, they asked if they can decorate the mansion and bring in a Christmas tree?" Asks Timothy.
"No need for that" says Dario.
"They insist sir and I do to. I promise nothing too much" says Timothy.
"No" says Dario.
"Oh come on, Please. It will be my gift from you. Please let me and the workers decorate the mansion. I know, Julie ma'am would like it" says Timothy and when Dario heard Julie's name, he nods.
Timothy with the few workers decorated the mansion just like it has been decorated for 40yr in the presence of Julie. Dario couldn't resist a smile seeing the decoration.
"Mario and I have helped Julie ma'am to decorate for many years" says Timothy.
"You are good boy, Timothy" says Dario.
"You are a great boss, sir" says Timothy.
"Sir, the mayor called and has asked you if you would like to light the star on top of the huge tree in the middle of town. He said, your generosity has caught attention of the media and it's only fair you are given this honour for your generosity" says Timothy.
"I didn't even want to give them bonus. It was a mistake they were given three months of salary as bonus. How am I the good guy here? This publicity and talk about my generosity is all fake. You know it" says Dario.
"Sir, i don't know how the workers got the bonus when you claim you didn't give them but the fact stays that they did get it and you gave them. That is what happened. I am just calling it a Christmas miracle" says Timothy.
"Hmm.." is all Dario says and then looks up and sees CCTV camera in the corner of the siting room. The fireplace was in this same sitting area. Dario orders Timothy to bring him the recordings of the nights he spent talking to the girl. To his shock, he seems to have never come down that night or spent the night talking to anyone. So, Dario confirmed it to be a dream. He smiles though. Dream or real, loosing his mind or not. After a long time, after Julie's death, he was not alone and spent the two days with the girl he fell for, at first sight. His Julie.
Day before Christmas, Dario was introduced in front of a large crowd gathered in th middle of the town, by the mayor as the generous mill owner. Dario was not comfortable with this tittle as he very well knew it was not him who gave everyone the bonus.
Dario lights the star on top of the tree and everyone cheers.
He could see the whole town singing, dancing, drinking, eating and enjoying the day before Christmas with family. He looks around and sees young families with little ones. He sees old couple holding hands. All in all, everyone were having a jolly time.
Dario thinks back at what the girl last said "She will be back and you will love her again"
Dario thought about it and maybe what that girl or what ever she was or where she came from. She must have hinted that his time was near and he too will join his Julie soon. He couldn't stop to imagine if Julie had come back as an angel to make him do one last good thing and secure his place in heaven. He smiles thinking, Julie really could do something like that for him.
Dario looks at the little girl, Angel who sold him the porcelain doll. He calls her close and says "I think the doll is a truly magical doll. I really like it."
"Did it make you happy?" Asks Angel.
"For a little while, it did. It made me believe what I saw was real for a minute" says Dario.
"Maybe it was" says Angel and runs away.
Dario watches Angel run away to her family and hug her father.
"Dad" calls someone from behind and Dario turns to see who it was. It was Mario, Dario and Julie's only son.
"Mario" calls Dario still can't believing he was here.
"Hey dad. You ok? I heard you fainted and were unwell" says Mario.
Dario looks around and sees Timothy smiling at Dario. Dario knew it's Timothy who called Mario.
"I am fine. How are you?" Asks Dario.
"I am good. I came as soon as I heard about your health. And when I came here, i see you are a hero. How did that happen?" Asks Mario with a little laugh.
"Magic" says Dario and Mario busts out laughing.
"You don't believe in that stuff. You called them all crap" says Mario.
"Got to see a new prospect of life" says Dario.
"I have something new to show you too" says Mario and looks behind him. Dario follows his eyes and sees a young lady with a baby in her arms.
"That's Elizabeth, my wife" says Mario.
"Your married?" Asks Dario.
"I am sorry. I didn't know if you wanted to come. Last time we didn't leave at good teams. After mom died, you simply pushed me away. But I can't stay away any longer. I have this strange dreams where mom tells me to go to you and be with you. Please dad let us in your life" says Mario shedding tears.
Dario wipes his tears and says "man up"
Mario Snickers and says "ready to meet them?"
Dario nods and Elizabeth walks closer and says "hello, Mr King"
"Hello" says Dario and looks down at the infant not older than 3 months.
Elizabeth hands Dario the baby and Dario's heart skips a beat when the little baby girl opens her blue eyes and looks up at Dario.
"Julie" says Mario and Dario looks up at him confused.
"I named her after mom. Julie King" says Mario and the floor beneath his feet shook in shock.
'She will be back and you will love her again'
"Julie" calls Dario and hugs the baby close.
"My Julie is back. My Julie is back. I love her" says Dario with the widest smile and laugh no one had seen for ages.
"Julie" calls Dario again and sees the baby smile a toothless smile.
A year later...
Little feet try to walk towards Dario, who had his arms spread to embrace the little angel smiling at him and trying to reach him. Baby Julie reaches Dario and he laughs out loud when she finally reaches him.
"That's my girl. Now tell me, who do you love the most?" Asks Dario.
"Papa" says baby Julie.
"See? She only loves me" says Dario to Mario.
"Yes, you are very lovable. How come she gets all the love and I didn't growing up?" Asks Mario fake angry.
"I didn't want to spoil you with lots of love" says Dario.
"Oh wow. Thank you dad" says Mario making Elizabeth laugh.
It was Christmas and the mansion was filled with happiness just like Julie would have loved it.
Dario let's baby Julie back on the floor and she tries to walk again. Dario and Mario watch her as she attempts to walk without support and without falling. She reaches a corner table and runs her hand on the porcelain doll.
"It's a pretty angel" says Elizabeth.
"It's a magical doll" says Dario and picks the doll and baby Julie.
"I miss mom. I wish she could be here with us" says Mario.
Dario places the doll on top of the shelf over the fireplace and smiles and says "maybe she is" and looks back at baby Julie.
"I have a feeling she is looking upon us as a beautiful but a little naughty angel" says Dario.
"You think so?" Asks Mario.
"I know so. And I think she missed us so much that she is back with us as baby Julie" says Dario.
"I can't believe YOU are saying all this. You don't believe in angles, magic or anything which doesn't have a logical or practical explanation" says Mario.
Dario runs his thumb on the doll's cheek and says "some things are hard to explain but make you believe in miracles. I felt the warmth of this miracle first hand. I felt my Julie's presence and it was as real to me as holding baby Julie in my arms"
"It's like mom is back and you are loving her all over again. How sweet" says Elizabeth smiling a warm smile.
"My Julie is always close by" says Dario hugging baby Julie and adoring the Christmas Angel.
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