Dachshund Through the Snow

by Roxanne St Claire

  She rolled her eyes and looked at Pru. “Count your blessings that you have no older brothers, Pru.”

  Katie and Daniel joined them, starting to usher everyone into the newly renovated living room for the official placement of the candle in the window, an old Irish Christmas Eve tradition, and gifts.

  As they broke up, Cassie put a hand on Pru’s arm. “Do me a favor and keep Gramma and Yiayia in here until everyone’s settled. I want them to come in last.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Knowing the family loved their Christmas surprises, Pru agreed and walked over to distract the grannies, while the rest of the family spilled into the center hall and the formal living room. The echoes of laughter rang through the house, along with a few barks from God knew how many dogs, all of whom had probably already claimed their spots on the living room floor.

  “What are you two cooking up now?” Pru teased as she sat down in a way that purposely blocked them from getting up.

  “We’re just wondering.” Gramma Finnie rested her chin in her palm. “Ye think there’s a woman over twenty-five and under forty who hasn’t fallen hard for Connor?”

  Pru gave a snort. “You better try some fresh blood, Gramma. He wants to run for mayor of Bitter Bark. He won’t have time for romance.”

  The two women looked at each other. “Mayor of Bitter Bark!” they said in an excited whisper.

  “Who could be the first lady?” Yiayia asked.

  “Oh good gracious,” Gramma said, suddenly noticing the room had emptied out. “I must light the candle. ’Tis the first time we’ll be tellin’ the tale of our family settlin’ here to the Santorinis.”

  Yiayia gave her arm a gentle jab. “Finnie, you’ve told us all a hundred times. The long version.”

  Gramma turned to her friend and patted her face, undaunted. “Because I like ye, lass. Let’s go.”

  “No, wait,” Pru said, glancing over her shoulder for some kind of signal from Cassie. “Let them all get settled, and we’ll slide in last. Everyone is so polite, you know they’ll save us the comfy sofa.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Gramma said, shooing her out of the way. “Let’s go.”

  “Absolutely,” Yiayia said. “I want to open presents.”

  There was no stopping these two when they wanted something, so Pru hoped it didn’t cost her with Cassie, but she gave up and let them out. She followed them to the door of the family room, but before they got around the bottom of the stairs, Braden and Cassie came out from the center hall.

  “There you are,” he said, slyly getting behind Yiayia to put his hands over her eyes.

  “What’s this?” she demanded.

  “Just let me lead you, Yiayia,” he said, throwing a grin at Gramma and Pru. “Cassie told me what you wanted most for Christmas and…”

  As Pru followed, she automatically reached for Gramma Finnie’s hand as the first wisp of hope twirled through her.

  Cassie knew.

  “So we found the perfect present for you today.”

  Today. In the park. A young couple…

  Just then, a little brown dachshund, wearing one of Gramma Finnie’s red doggy scarves, came trotting out of the living room, and the whole family—and the dogs—miraculously stayed quiet, all of them watching.

  Braden kept his hands over Yiayia’s eyes, guiding her closer to the dog. She reached her hand out like a blind person…like maybe she did when she was in that dark place, walking toward the light.

  Charis.

  Pru glanced at Gramma, smiling through tears at the ones trailing down her great-grandmother’s crinkled cheeks.

  Cassie urged the dog closer, and as she did, he barked.

  Yiayia gasped as if she recognized the sound, and Braden dropped his hands.

  “Merry Christmas, Yiayia!” the whole clan hollered.

  “His former owner called him Rover, if you can believe that,” Cassie said.

  “We had to give him a ticket to the Christmas play that one of the other firemen gave me at work,” Braden added.

  But Yiayia just stood stone-still, staring at the dog. After a moment, she bent over, and he jumped into her arms, letting her lift him and press a kiss on his head.

  Another cheer went up, and this time, the dogs gathered to bark along with everyone else, while a little bit of Christmas chaos ensued, which made it like every other Christmas Eve at Waterford Farm.

  “Well, what do you know?” Gramma said as she inched closer to her friend. “You got your Christmas wish after all.”

  “I did.” She closed her eyes and pressed her face into the dog’s fur. “Charis.”

  “Charis?” Connor asked. “Is that what you’re calling him?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “What does it mean?” a few people asked.

  “There’s one dog name I never heard,” Grandpa said.

  “Well, I, for one, love it.” Alex grinned at his grandmother, then at the woman he’d recently fallen in love with. “It means ‘grace’ in Greek, so that’s…perfection.”

  The women cooed, but Alex caught a little grief from his brother John and a few of the Mahoney men—but not, Pru noticed, the Kilcannons, who were all happily married.

  The noise started up again as everyone moved into the living room, and Gramma lit the candle, told her story, and the presents and jokes started flying. The whole time, Yiayia held Charis on her lap.

  “Good thing you left Pyggie and Gala at home to rest,” Pru whispered in her ear. “They’d be the color of Fee’s dress with envy.”

  Yiayia just smiled, her gaze distant and content.

  “But they’ll get used to it,” Pru added. “You’ll spread the love.”

  She gave a long sigh. “Yes, I will. That’s the lesson of this dog, you know. To spread the love.”

  Pru smiled. “I’m so glad you got your Christmas wish, Yiayia.”

  She didn’t answer right away, listening to Liam handing out his usual Christmas gifts, T-shirts with dog sayings, including one for Shane, the world’s greatest dog trainer, that said Your dog doesn’t know sit, and another for Connor that read Sorry, I can’t. I have plans with my dog.

  “That ought to keep you out of trouble with the ladies,” Liam joked.

  “I don’t even have a dog at the moment.”

  “Or a lady,” Declan teased.

  “You should talk, old man.”

  Yiayia gave out one more sigh, but it didn’t sound as content as Pru would have thought, considering she was holding everything she’d said she wanted.

  “How long does this go on?” she whispered to Pru.

  “Until Midnight Mass, but we’ll take a break to eat. Are you tired, Yiayia? Not everyone goes to Mass, so someone will take you home.”

  “I’m…not quite done today.”

  Pru gave her a look. “What do you mean?”

  She leaned closer. “Can you get the keys to your mother’s car?”

  “My mother’s…why? I can’t drive you home.”

  “I want to leave.”

  “Leave the party? Now?”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time I slipped out on a holiday, now would it?” She added a playful wink.

  “Where do you want to go?” Pru asked.

  “To spread the love.”

  Pru just stared at her. “Where are you…”

  She lifted one of Charis’s floppy ears to cover her mouth and whisper, “How far away does your friend Teagan live?”

  “Not ten minutes down the…” Pru blinked, then shook her head. “I’m not going over there now to beg for her…”

  “No begging involved.” Yiayia’s gaze dropped to the dog, stroking his smooth brown head. “We have one more errand to run today, Pru. Santa has to deliver one last gift.”

  “Yiayia.” She barely whispered the word. Chills exploded over her whole body as she realized what she meant. “You would do that?”

  “I can’t stop thinking about that little gi
rl and how she loved playing with the dogs and…” She paused. “It’s…charis. And my purpose. This Christmas, anyway.”

  “Oh.” Pru put her hand over her mouth and blinked away tears. “What about Gramma Finnie?”

  “Well, I’m not giving her away.” At Pru’s giggle, she added, “She’ll come with us. Don’t worry, I’ll drive.”

  Pru smiled as a joy so deep she couldn’t quite hold it in washed over her. “I love you, Yiayia. You are truly the Greek grandmother I never knew I needed but cannot live without.”

  “I love you, too, koukla.”

  “Hey…” Cassie leaned back from where she sat on the floor in front of them. “I hear you calling another girl ‘koukla,’ Yiayia.”

  “Because she’s like another granddaughter to me. A great-granddaughter, in every sense of the word.”

  At the comment, the family grew quiet, and Katie reached over from where she perched on the arm of the chair where Grandpa Daniel sat. “You never cease to amaze me, Yiayia,” she said softly. “You’ve changed so much.”

  Yiayia cleared her throat and leaned forward to the edge of the sofa, silencing everyone as they looked at her expectantly. “I hope that’s true,” she said. “In fact, I hope it so much that I’m now going to do the unthinkable and…” She lifted the dog in her arms a little higher. “Regift this little fellow.”

  “What?”

  “Regift?”

  “Yiayia, you don’t want him?”

  She smiled and waited until the barrage of questions slowed down. “I want him more than anything,” she said. “But tonight, at the festival, I met a little girl whose life is taking an unhappy turn. She asked for a very specific gift…” Yiayia rubbed her hand over the dog’s head. “And I feel she needs this sweet creature more than I do.”

  No one in the room said a word, Pru noticed. No one argued at the decision or cooed at the kindness or questioned her motives. Gramma Finnie simply put her hand on Yiayia’s arm and smiled at her, silent in her complete approval.

  Then Katie reached for her former mother-in-law again, her eyes misty. “Your son would be proud of that decision,” she said, looking at Alex and John, and then at Cassie, who was wiping a tear. “It’s fair to say all the Santorinis are very proud of you, Yiayia.”

  “Then, someone give me the keys to Santa’s sleigh,” she said quickly, dispelling the heavy emotion in the room. “Let’s go, Finola, Prudence. We’ve got one more adventure tonight.” She leaned close to Pru to whisper, “And who knows? Maybe you and your girlfriend can set things straight.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I just texted Teagan,” Pru said from the back seat, where she held Charis tight. “She hasn’t answered, but she knows I’m coming over.”

  “Do you think it’s too late, lass? ’Tis after ten on Christmas Eve.”

  “Never too late to get your Christmas wish, Finnie,” Agnes chided, peering into the darkness as she drove Mom’s SUV over the wet streets. They might have taken off as a trio with Charis, but Pru knew that at least one, two, or all of her uncles, aunts, and cousins were following at a distance to make sure they didn’t got lost, have an accident, or otherwise repeat what happened last year.

  But Yiayia was a better driver than Gramma Finnie, and this mission seemed to make her downright joyous. She hummed Jingle Bells and checked on Charis many times, assuring him that he was going to love his new home.

  “Turn right here,” Pru said, squinting into the woodsy side street where Teagan lived. “It’s the third house, down a little ways.”

  “Oh, look, there is a light,” Gramma Finnie said.

  “That’s Teagan’s room,” Pru told them, texting again as Yiayia pulled over. “I’m asking her to meet me at the door with her mom. If I get permission to give Avery the dog, you guys can do it.” She tossed the Santa and Mrs. Claus jackets and the beard into the front. “Don’t forget to dress the parts.”

  When Yiayia parked, Gramma turned and smiled at Pru, reaching back to give Charis a rub. “I’m gonna miss the wee thing,” she said.

  “Finnie. Don’t second-guess.” Yiayia shot her a look. “I know this is the right thing to do.”

  “Without a shadow of a doubt, Agnes,” Gramma agreed, putting her arm on Yiayia’s shoulder. “And I’m mighty proud of you, dear friend. ’Tis a sacrifice from your heart.”

  “Okay, here, take him.” Pru slid the dog across the console and leaned over the driver’s seat to give Yiayia a kiss. “You’re the best Santa ever, you know that?”

  “Ho ho…go.” She gave a wink as she took Charis. “Now someone give me my beard.”

  Pru climbed out and started toward the house as the front light came on, and the door opened. She could see Teagan’s narrow silhouette in an oversize sweatshirt and sleep pants.

  “Pru, what are you doing here? What do you mean you have a dog?”

  “Hey, Teag. My grandmothers want to give Avery the wiener dog she wants.”

  Behind her, Teagan’s mom stepped into view, her curly blond hair mussed, but her eyes clear and bright. “Hello, Pru,” she said. “Teagan told me.”

  “Is it okay, Mrs. Macdonald?” she asked. “Avery really wants a dog, but we don’t want to just thrust it on you if it isn’t good for your family.”

  She smiled, those clear eyes misting up. “It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done, Pru. She fell asleep on the sofa watching the fireplace, certain Santa would be down the chimney with a dog. I tried to get her to bed, but she insisted on waiting.” Her voice cracked. “I just don’t know how to thank you for this.”

  “Aww, I’m glad.” Pru smiled. “Then she’ll never know that we skipped the chimney drop and had my great-grandmas come in the usual way.” She turned and waved to the car, beckoning Yiayia and Gramma Finnie.

  In a second, they climbed out, wearing their red velvet jackets, hats, and, oh yes, Yiayia wore her beard. And there was Charis, with his red scarf and floppy ears, hustling along on his little dachshund legs between them.

  “Oh my God.” Teagan put her hand over her mouth, tears springing to her eyes. “This is going to make her so happy.”

  Teagan and her mom put their arms around each other, then stepped out to greet and hug the grannies.

  After a few more teary thank-yous and embraces, Gramma Finnie lifted the sleigh bells and started to ring them. “Let’s go, Santa!” She gave Yiayia a nudge.

  They stepped inside, and Pru stood at the door. Mrs. Macdonald followed so she could watch, and then Pru felt a familiar arm around her waist.

  “Prudie,” Teagan whispered, using her favorite BFF nickname. “I sucked today.”

  Pru threw her a smile. “We all suck sometimes, Teag. It’s fine.”

  “It’s actually not fine, but I love you for saying that.” She added a squeeze. “I hate that we’re leaving. I’m going to miss you more than anything. I kinda can’t bear it. I think it’s why I was so cold. I’m really sorry. Really.”

  “All is forgotten and forgiven, Teag.” Pru slipped her arm around Teagan’s waist so they were completely connected.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Teag sighed. “And what about UNC in three years? Can we still do that?”

  “Of course.” Pru gave her a squeeze, all the bad feelings of the day disappearing like yesterday’s snow. “Dorm roommates, just like we planned.”

  “Ho ho ho!” Yiayia’s noisy exclamation was accompanied by a loud bark from Charis and a noisy jingle of sleigh bells. Stepping inside, Pru and Teagan huddled close to Mrs. Macdonald so they could all watch from the living room doorway.

  Gramma stepped back and let Yiayia kneel in front of the sofa where little Avery was sound asleep.

  “Ho ho ho, what do we have here?” she asked in a fake low voice, keeping it soft so she wouldn’t scare the girl. But Charis jumped right up on the sofa and started licking her face, making Avery jerk in surprise.

  “Merry Christmas, Avery,” Yiayia said in her San
ta voice.

  “What?” She sat straight up and threw her arms around the dog. “Puppy! It’s a puppy!”

  “You like him?” Yiayia asked.

  “Santa?” She blinked sleep away, but held the dog tight, giggling as he lapped her cheeks.

  “And my wife, Mrs. Finnie Claus.” Yiayia gestured to Gramma. “We want you to have this special gift.”

  “Oh, thank you!” She threw her head back and let him lap at her. “Mommy! Mommy! I got my dog!”

  “I see that,” Mrs. Macdonald said from the doorway, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “What’s his name?” Avery asked, petting his head furiously.

  “His name is…” Yiayia got a little closer, putting her hand on the dog’s head, too. “His name is Rover. Isn’t that a wonderful name for a dog?”

  “It’s perfect!”

  “Rover?” Teagan whispered on a giggle. “Seriously?”

  “That’s his name,” Pru said, fighting a lump in her throat. Maybe this wasn’t Charis. Maybe Yiayia still had to find her escort to heaven.

  “I love Rover!” Avery scrambled up, still holding the dog like he might be taken away, rushing to her mom. “Look, Mommy. I got a doggy! It’s the best Christmas ever!”

  Mrs. Macdonald hugged them both, and Teagan threw both arms around Pru. “It is the best Christmas, Prudie. I love you.”

  “I love—oh, wait!” Pru jumped back. “Your present’s in the car. Hang on!” She tore outside and down the walk, giving a little laugh when she saw her dad’s refurbished minivan—the one she was conceived in—eww—parked a few feet from Mom’s car.

  “Everything okay?” he called from the driver’s seat.

  “Perfect,” she called back. “Mission just about accomplished. Who all’s in there?”

  “Half the Kilcannons,” she heard her mom call from inside, making her laugh. “We’re going straight to Midnight Mass after this. We all got a second wind, babies included.”

  Pru gave a thumbs-up and lifted the back hatch, grabbing the present Pru had noticed her mother had brought from the office. As she walked in front of the van’s lights, she held it up and mouthed, “Thank you,” then jogged back to the house. Gramma, Yiayia, and Mrs. M were hugging goodbye while Avery was running in the snow with Char…Rover.