Christmas Present

Miles waited in front of the hospital, looking to either side to see from where Ramona would come. In his large jacket pocket, he held the wrapped gift he had gotten her. Miles hoped she liked it. He spotted Ramona and her parents walking from the direction of Tormino's. Ramona's parents linked their daughter between them. Ramona carried only a few packages while her parents brought the rest.

"Ramona," he called out as he trotted towards her, waving as he did.

"Miles!" Ramona returned the greeting, only to stumble in her step, her parents’ firm grip keeping her from falling face first. The packages however flew from her hands. Miles had to catch them all before they hit the ground.

"What an excellent catch," her mother congratulated Miles.

"Probably practice from catching our little girl all day," teased her father.

Miles smiled as he passed the packages back over to Ramona, watching her cheeks turn pink, most likely from the cold, as he felt his own cheeks getting warm.

"No worries, we should head inside," urged Miles, Ramona's parent's nodding in agreement.

"So, you're Ramona's co-worker," clarified her father as the group approached the hospital entrance.

"Yes, Miles Sonata."

"I'm Collin Mori."

"And I'm Madison Mori."

"Thank you for letting me join you, Mr. and Mrs. Mori."

"No worries, Miles, we're glad you could join us."

Miles nodded; glad Ramona’s parents didn't mention anything about his lack of family this holiday. She might have told them, at least based on what he told her. The party entered the lobby of the hospital, with Mr. Mori signing in for them. The woman at the counter directed them to the floor where they would need to go. Mr. Mori wished the worker a "Merry Christmas" before leading the group to the elevator. There wasn't a decoration insight in the lobby, and everyone had a stone-cold expression. At least the elevator had vocal-less Christmas songs playing.

The floor they exited on had all the decorations, all made by the children staying. There was a check-in counter, which Linda stood behind talking to another worker. The nurse nodded in their direction; Linda's countenance brightened upon seeing the familiar faces.

"Ramona," she greeted, followed by hugging the Mori's. "Glad you could come too," she added, placing a welcoming hand on Miles' arm.

"Come this way. We set up the Christmas tree here.”

She led the group to a room cleared of any equipment or playing material for children. Instead, a "Christmas tree" filled the room, which consisted of three hoops stacked on a pole, with lights strung so they reached from top to bottom, forming a cone. Along the wall were paper ornaments made by the children. At the base of the tree were several presents.

"Alright, boys’ gifts over here, girls’ over there, and non-gender specific in the middle," she directed. Ramona let go of her parents and went to help Miles with the gifts. She took them one by one from his arms and set them down in the right piles.

"Did you enjoy your Christmas Eve?" asked Miles as they set up the presents.

"I finished wrapping the last few presents. You?"

Miles nodded, "I gave my pets an extra treat as their Christmas present. And my birds a new toy."

"I'm sure they liked that."

Miles smiled, “Yeah, I could hear the bells on the toy ringing as I left the house.”

Ramona giggled as he passed her a bulky rectangular present that was probably a blanket. Ramona took the package, the weight of the item feeling familiar as if from the dream the night before or perhaps a distant memory. She smiled to herself as the present joined the rest.

"Miles?"

Miles turned to look at her.

"Um, actually, I had…"

"The children should be here in a few minutes. Ramona and Madison, you go over by the girls' gifts and pass those out," instructed Linda. "Collin and Miles, you go over by the boys’ gifts and pass them out. Other volunteers will help when the children arrive."

Everyone nodded in agreement before heading to their places. Mr. Mori stood in front of Miles, who passed him a gift before picking up another. He glanced behind the tree to see Ramona and her mother in a similar position. Ramona's eyes caught his, to which he smiled and she returned it. Her cheeks were turning pink again, which was a little odd considering how warm it was in the hospital.

He then looked over to see several children escorted by nurses, a few adults, and a couple of teenagers.

"Alright, everyone! Santa left some gifts for you. Everyone be patient and your helpers will get your gifts," instructed Linda. She led the children into the room, their faces lighting up at all the gifts. Some began whispering to their helpers, and the adults stepped forward to take presents either from the piles or from the Mori's and Miles.

Soon the piles of gifts were depleted; every child was now playing with their gift. Miles soon found himself in the middle of it all. Today was looking to be a good Christmas.