“How do the decorations look?”
“They’re fine.”
“Really?”
“Well, darling, there’s only so much they can do to lift the spirits.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Getting sick again.”
“You know that’s not your fault.”
“But what if ‘It’s’ returned?”
“Then we deal with ‘It’, just like we did the time before.”
“And before that and before that and b—”
“Stop that. You know I love you.”
“I don’t know why, I’m such a burden. Your mother was right, I’m not good enough for you.”
“That’s enough whining out of you. Santa may have come and gone, but I can still take a switch to your backside.”
“I think the nurses would be scandalized.”
“Not if you’ve been acting the brat all this time.”
“I’m not being bratty.”
“Really?”
“I hate spending Christmas in the hospital. It’s so depressing. I hate being sick all the time.”
“That’s not your fault.”
“Sometimes it feels that way.”
“I love you more today than the day we got married. You’ve given me beautiful children and a secure home. You should never doubt you’re loved by your family.”
“Stay with me?”
“Always, my beloved husband. Let your wife take care of you and, when you are back home, I’ll give you a nice, hard spanking as your Christmas present.”