She sat down comfortably on her bed, folding her legs, and dialled Danica. It was almost 5 p.m. now and there was an hour’s time difference to back home, so it would be later there. It was probably close to dinnertime, but she might catch her first.
The phone rang several times and then she heard a voice on the other end.
“Hello, Lilly speaking.”
It was Danica’s mother. She could hear music playing in the background, but couldn’t make out what it was. It was probably from something they were watching on the TV.
“Lilly, hi! It’s Emily. Can I speak with Danica please?”
“Emily? Oh good. You finally got the letter? I’m afraid she’s not here at the moment,” Lilly said; the tone of her voice suggesting she’d been caught off-guard. “Oh, it’s nothing bad. She had one of her check-ups, so they went into town this afternoon. I can ask her to give you a call when she gets back?”
“Yes, I got the letter,” she said, emotion causing her voice to grow husky. It seemed a good thing that Danica was able to leave the house, even though it was for a check-up.
“Is she alright?” Emily asked, hoping that Lilly would tell her more about Danica and what was going on.
“She’s about as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” Lilly replied. “Don’t worry, we’re looking after her. Cathy said you’re coming back for Christmas?”
“I am,” Emily replied, her voice wavering slightly. “It’s not far away now. You can tell Danica I’ll write to her, and that I’ll bring over some Christmas DVDs to watch after I get back home.”
“I’m sure she’ll look forward to that,” Lilly said. “Are you alright there?”
“I’m okay,” Emily replied. “I’m glad I’ll be back soon and that Christmas is almost here.”
“Oh, that makes two of us,” Lilly replied, a smile in her voice. “We’re going to make something special of it this year.”
“So am I,” Emily promised her.
She realised then that she needed that, just like she needed to be close to her family and Danica again. It would be such a relief when she was.
Danica
It had been an ordeal just getting back upstairs. Danica was tired, and it seemed like she’d hardly done anything other than see her doctors again. They’d reminded her once again that it would take time, so what could she do? There weren’t a lot of alternatives, so she went along with it, while trying to enjoy the time she spent out of the house for a change.
The Christmas decorations were out and the shopping season was in full swing. It hadn’t snowed yet, but frost was forming on the grass and parked cars, and people out and about were dressed warmly for the cold weather.
Normally on cold days like this she was in a hurry to get where she was going, but now she had plenty of time to sit and observe. Myrton was a small town—it had once been a logging town, but it still showed her a slice of life, which was interesting to see this time of year.
Her father had taken her out for cocoa with marshmallows at the local coffee shop. It wasn’t the one where she’d worked, but it was the same chain. She definitely enjoyed their time out, even though she hurt and the wheelchair didn’t make things easy. Still, it was just what she needed and when she made it back home she was in good spirits.
Now she was upstairs and re-situated in bed, she decided to call Emily back. Her mother had told her about their conversation, and she hoped Emily wouldn’t be mad at her or Cathy, Emily’s twin sister, who had kept her secret. Cathy was more like a regular sister to Emily than a twin. They weren’t identical, and unlike Emily, Cathy wasn’t lesbian. She also had an entirely different personality and was more introverted. Danica stayed in touch with her, even though they weren’t super close. She and Emily had a different kind of connection.
She carefully dialled the number on her phone, then rested back against the pillows. Emily must’ve been near the phone, because she picked it up on the second ring.
“Hello?”
Danica immediately recognised the voice as Emily’s.
“Emily, it’s Danica calling you back. I hear you got my letter…”
She felt awkward, but also good to be talking to Emily again. It had been too long.
“I did,” Emily replied, and then a moment passed in silence. “Oh God, are you alright?”
“I am. I’m alright, Emily. Way better and healing, and I’ve really missed talking to you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Emily admitted, with a touch of shyness that Danica discerned in her voice. “I’m glad you’re okay and getting better. I’d have come back if you’d told me.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t,” Danica admitted. “I wouldn’t want you to fail because of me, and you’re out there pursuing your dreams.”
“It’s not really like that anymore,” Emily said. “I miss everyone and I wouldn’t have failed. They would’ve understood; I’m sure of it. Your letter really scared me... about what happened to you.”
“I know,” Danica replied. “I was trying to spare you that.”
“I got you a present that I’m going to bring with me.”
“Don’t tell me what it is,” Danica said, smiling as their conversation grew more relaxed. “I’d prefer to open it on Christmas day and be surprised.”
“Then I won’t tell you,” Emily promised. “I think you’ll like it.”
“I already know I will. Thanks for thinking of me.”
A moment passed and Emily replied, “I always do, you know?”
“I know, and I do too,” Danica confessed, wondering if Emily had any idea how much.
“What are your other plans while you’re here?” Danica asked as she glanced out of her bedroom window at the distant houses. It was starting to get dark outside.
“My father promised to take me to a hockey game after Christmas and Cathy wanted me to teach her some of my painting tricks I learnt at college. I heard she got a job in Ellis & Co.”
It was a legal office in the town.
“She’s got the artist gene too,” Emily added.
“I heard about the job. That’s really wonderful news for her. I feel like the only one who doesn’t have the artist gene,” Danica admitted, “unless it’s for cooking and you know, making endless cups of coffee. Strangely, I never get tired of that. Maybe it’s because I’ve always loved escaping to coffee shops and being around people.”
“That’s probably a part of it,” Emily replied.
Danica could detect her smile from her voice.
“I’m looking forward to being able to do that again, and oh, so much else. I want a shower and not to have to worry about the plaster casts. They’re practically the bane of my existence. Sorry, I know I keep complaining.”
“You don’t have to apologise, Danica. If anyone does, it’s me. I should’ve rung to see how you were and not just traded emails. The truth is I’ve felt really lonely, but I didn’t make much of an effort to change it. I could’ve gone home last Christmas and I didn’t. I regretted it on Christmas day but by then it was too late to do anything about it.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Emily. You’ll have to make this Christmas even more special then,” she said.
“I already know it will be,” Emily replied. “It’ll be good to see everyone again, including you, and enjoy familiar surroundings.”
Danica couldn’t see it, but she imagined Emily was blushing. She knew her so well, she anticipated her moods.
“That’s good.”
And it was. Danica would’ve found it hard to explain why, but she felt like it gave her the hope she needed to deal with everything else, even though she and Emily were just friends now. She was still a friend she would be very happy to see.
“How are your classes going there?” Danica asked.
She wondered about Emily’s life at college. It seemed so much more exciting than her own, major events aside. Until recently, Danica’s life had mainly centred around work, and the occasional nig
ht out and shopping spree to relax. She’d been saving for a house of her own. Now that plan would be set back, but she wasn’t terribly worried because she anticipated a lot of years ahead to sort that out. She was relieved that her parents were helping her while she recovered and that she didn’t have to deal with the latest ordeal alone.
“I’m almost done with classes now,” Emily replied. “I just have another week and a bit to go. I have one assignment to write in art history, but it’s only short. I have a good enough grade already that I should pass, so long as I don’t spectacularly fail anything later on.”
“That’s wonderful,” Danica replied. “I’m really happy for you. I know you work hard and I doubt you would fail.”
“Thanks. I have worked hard,” Emily agreed. “I haven’t really had all that much else to do. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve gone to some parties and stuff like that, but I haven’t made any best friends there. Just acquaintances, I suppose. I don’t know what it is but out here people seem different. A lot of people don’t really take the time to talk to you that much. They’re always in a hurry, going somewhere.”
“I know what you mean,” Danica agreed. “I’ve heard people say it’s different here because Myrton’s a small town. People still do all the usual things and live their lives, but I suppose it makes sense that they’d be less rushed here.”
“I guess people just get used to doing things that way. It hasn’t rubbed off on me yet,” Emily said.
“It probably will if you’re there long enough,” Danica replied.
Their conversation fell into a momentary silence that felt comfortable, because they were friends. Danica was glad that Emily wasn’t too hurried. She was always the kind of person who liked to stop and chat, and went out of her way for other people. It was just one thing that Danica missed and loved about her.
“You don’t want to stay in college there, do you?” Danica asked; she could tell Emily was feeling divided.
Emily sighed softly. “Yes—no, not really. I’ve already booked a return ticket and paid in advance for my classes, so I have to return here. That and I have my dorm room here. It’s just when I think of staying here for almost two more years, it feels like too much. Maybe I just need to get my head on straight. I don’t know.”
“Not too straight I hope,” Danica joked, and she could hear Emily chuckle on the other end of the line.
“Nope, twisty all the way, but then you already knew that.”
There was a light tap on the door, and Danica replied to Emily, “Just a minute.”
The door opened, because she wasn’t able to get up to open it, and her mother walked in with a tray. There was the most wonderful aroma, and she was grateful that her mother was willing to go to so much trouble for her.
She mouthed the words ‘thank you’.
“My dinner’s here, so I should probably have it,” she told Emily on the phone.
“That’s alright. You enjoy your dinner there. I think I’m going to be a stereotype and microwave some pizza.”
“Ouch, pizza should not be microwaved,” Danica replied, grinning. “You look after yourself. It was great talking to you.”
“I’ll see you soon. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
The line went dead as Emily hung up, and Danica pressed the button on her phone to end the call. It was good to have something else to look forward to and it relieved her worries that Emily wasn’t mad at her.
Lilly set Danica’s food down on a side table by the bed.
“Why don’t you sit up some more?” her mother asked.
Danica nodded and let her mother help her up; it was difficult with the plaster casts on her legs. She appreciated the help, but it reminded Danica of when she was young… like, five, and her mother did things for her that she was used to doing for herself now. She wanted to heal faster, and didn’t want to spend Emily’s visit in bed or stuck upstairs. She remembered a time they’d once gone ice skating and she would have loved to do that again. Perhaps one day soon again she would, even if only as friends.
She knew what she’d ask Santa Claus for this year.
Emily
The airport was packed with travellers returning home for the holidays. Outside, the snow was falling and Christmas music played over the speakers, pausing occasionally as flight information was relayed. While Emily enjoyed the snow, she was worried the flights might end up grounded. A few planes had been delayed or cancelled, but hers was running as scheduled. She had less than an hour until it was due to depart and the queues went back a mile.
When she finally got through, the airport opened up to her like a gigantic shopping arcade. By this point she only had thirty minutes before her plane was due to board, so she didn’t have a lot of time for shopping. There might have been time to get a present or two, and she decided it was a good idea. She browsed some of the shelves—alcohol, no—she didn’t fancy hauling it back and cigarettes, no—her father gave up a year or two back. There were perfumes, which she’d never been that big on, though she liked softer, more subtle scents.
She knew her mother, Lydia, loved floral scents, so she found a nice bottle of perfume for her that was reminiscent of tropical flowers. It was fairly potent, but then she didn’t imagine her mother would drench herself in it. She found a box of sweets for her father, Peter, and a jade bracelet for her sister, Cathy. She’d already bought Danica a small present, but she intended to add to it later.
Time was running out to get to her boarding gate, so she paid and hurried to board her flight back home. Myrton didn’t have an airport, so she was travelling to the nearest city and the plan was for her parents to pick her up.
Her plane left a few minutes late, but they were able to get back on schedule before it touched down in Amesford, a city about fifty miles west of Myrton. The plane bounced on the runway as it landed, and Emily sighed with relief to be back on solid ground. It hadn’t been a long journey, but she didn’t especially like flying, so it had been stressful.
She wanted to rush to meet her family, and see them again, but she had to pick up her bag and there was another security check before she was finally able to reach the open area of the airport.
Emily was surprised to see Cathy there, and she hurried forward to give her a hug.
“It’s so good to see you, sis,” Cathy replied.
She looked excited to see Emily again, and she reached forward to help with her bag.
They didn’t look all that alike; after all, they weren’t identical twins. Cathy was slightly shorter and her hair was blonde; it was cut into a bob above her shoulders. Emily’s was golden-brown and longer, with more of a distinct natural wave.
“It’s great to see you too,” Emily replied. “I got presents for you all. Where are Mum and Dad?”
“They’re outside. There wasn’t a single car space left, so I told them I’d ring them when you got here. They’ll drive in and pick us up at arrivals. I can carry this for you,” she said, holding Emily’s bag.
“Oh no, it’s fine,” Emily replied. “I can wheel it, so it’s not that heavy. So tell me what I’ve missed?”
“A lot,” Cathy replied, as she set the bag down.
She was being honest, not mean in any way.
“I’ll let our parents tell you about some of it. As for me, I got a new job. I’m a legal secretary now,” she said, smiling. “It’s boring as hell, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” Emily promised, leaning in to give her sister another hug.
There was a burst of cold air when the sliding doors opened and they walked outside, Emily dragging her suitcase and wearing her backpack, which was blessedly light. It was like stepping into a freezer.
“It looks to me like it’s going to snow,” Emily said, as she glanced up at the sky.
“I heard we have a 90% chance of a white Christmas. I hope they’re right, though we might come to regret it in a few weeks.”
“I heard you kept a s
ecret from me,” Emily said, as she waited for a reaction.
“Oh, did I?” Cathy asked, giving her a cautious smile. “Oh look, there’s the car.”
Emily sighed as Cathy dodged the question, but she was right, it was their parents’ car. It was just as she remembered it; the car probably even smelled the same. It was dark blue and she wasn’t sure what you’d call it. A sedan?
“It’s good to be back,” Emily said, as they approached the curb and waited for the car to pull in.
“That’s her, my girl,” Peter said, as he climbed from the driver’s side and gave his daughter a hug. He loaded her bags into the boot.
“They were saying your plane might be a bit late in, but here you are.”
Emily smiled. “Yes, safe and sound, and in time for Christmas.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” he replied, and once she’d climbed in, he closed the door.
Her mother turned in her seat to see her daughter.
“Emily, it’s good to see you. We were thinking of going out for lunch, unless you’re in a hurry to get back home?”
“Lunch sounds wonderful,” she replied.
Her airline food had consisted of bland salted crackers, so she hadn’t had a proper meal all day.
“How was your flight?” Lydia asked. “Are you tired? Oh you must be after all that travelling.”
Emily smiled, touched at her mother’s concern. “Yeah I am a bit, but the flight only took a few hours. It was snowing heavily when I left, but the flight was good, just tedious. I watched a movie on the way over.”
“You can always get a coffee at the restaurant? It’ll do wonders.”
“Thanks, Mum,” Emily replied. “I might do that.”
Speaking of coffee reminded her of Danica, and while she had questions—especially for her sister who had kept Danica’s accident a secret—she just wanted to catch up with everyone and relax. She’d been away for so long and now she was home again; she could enjoy their familiar presence and the conversation. It made her realise the dorm was so quiet by comparison. She always enjoyed a bit of time to herself, but a chance to be social with her family was just what she needed. She felt replenished just by being there with them and she could tell they enjoyed it too.
A Touch of Christmas Magic Page 2