Editor’s note: This is Part Two of the Gift of the Milgi series, based on the story, The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry. For Part One, go here. 

HOMECOMING: December 22, 2009

Mike couldn’t sleep on the plane. He couldn’t wait to see Darcy. He couldn’t wait to see her face when she opened his gift. He had it delivered to his buddy Nick’s house. Nick’s wife, Kimmy, loved Darcy, and he knew she would keep a secret. She also wrapped the box and made it look extra special, as only women can do.

Six Lismore hand-cut antique glasses from 1957 were in that wrapped box. Six more to complete the set of eight. All of them were from the same year as the ones Honey had gifted Darcy. Mike couldn’t honestly say he understood the connection Darcy had to them. He also didn’t understand why six pieces of glass cost so flippin’ much. He didn’t understand a lot of things in the world.

But he understood love and especially his love for Darcy. The realization came to him during a sleepless night downrange. He was so focused on what he wanted and needed when he got back, that he forgot it was no longer just about him. He had Darcy counting on him, and all of sudden he knew what he wanted to do.

It didn’t take long to find someone online to both buy and pick up the Camaro that was sitting on blocks in his brother’s yard in Oklahoma. It took even less time for the money to be deposited and spent at an online auction house specializing in antique crystal to finally buy something that would make his Darcy so very happy.

He closed his eyes and smiled at the thought of her opening that box.

Christmas Eve, 2009

They were finally home together. After a painfully long reunion ceremony and a quick stop to Nick’s house to pick up Darcy’s present, they were settled down in front of modestly decorated Christmas tree in Apartment 2B. There were only two presents under the tree, and both Darcy and Mike were anxious to open them.

Mike insisted Darcy go first. It killed him as she took her time taking off the ribbon and teasing him by carefully pulling back the tape (Kimmy really knew how to wrap). Finally, she got the paper off the box and pulled open the top flap. Bright gold tissue paper popped out of the box.

Mike couldn’t help himself as she warned her. “Careful, Darce,” he said with a wink.

Darcy was finally able to see what was nestled in all that gold tissue paper. She pulled out the first glass, her eyes wide, and her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

Mike couldn’t wait any longer. “There are six of them, Darcy. All Lismore 1957. Now you have the magical set of eight that you and Honey talked about.” He waited for the realization to hit her as she looked through the rest of the box, slowly pulling them out one at a time.

“For God’s sake, Darce, say something!” Mike exclaimed.

Darcy looked up at him, shocked, with tears streaming down her face. “Mike, I don’t know what to say…”

He grabbed her and held her close to his chest, and she began to sob. He held her tighter until he realized that she wasn’t sobbing anymore.

“What is going on, Darce?” he asked impatiently. This was not quite the reaction he was expecting.

“Just open your gift, Mike.”

Mike had none of Darcy’s delicate feeling about wrapping paper as he tore into his present. As he opened the lid of the shoebox and took the garage contract out of the envelope, it was Darcy’s turn to be surprised at his reaction.

“You rented me garage space for the Camaro?” he asked in disbelief. “For a whole year, Darcy. How did you afford this?”

She started to laugh and then cry as she covered her face with her hands. “Oh, Mike, I sold Honey’s glasses to an antiques dealer in Houston and used the money to rent you garage space to work on that damn car of yours.”

Mike looked at her in disbelief. He wanted to cry, but laughter won out, and soon, he was laughing hysterically.

“Mike, what is going on? Why are you laughing? I thought you would be overwhelmed and happy!”

Mike wiped his eyes and took Darcy’s hands in his. “It’s like that old story our English teachers made us read. Remember? She sells her hair to buy him a chain for his watch or something. And the guy sells his watch for a hair comb.”

He starts laughing again. “I sold the Camaro, Darce… I sold the Camaro to buy you the rest of the Lismore set, and you sold the two glasses that the set is built around to buy me garage space to work on the car I no longer own.”

Darcy stared at him in disbelief but instead of tears of sorrow, she joined him in laughter for a long time until they both lay down (exhausted and emotionally spent), side by side in front of the tree.

They stayed that way for a long time, holding hands as their hearts beat with the knowledge that they had chosen the right person to love.

And that is the greatest gift of all.