Tidings of Joy

by Margaret Daley

  Chance chilled suddenly, all the warmth gone. “Don’t count on it, Tanya. Bullies don’t just go away like that.” He snapped his fingers.

  “I can hope, can’t I?”

  “Sure, but don’t let that keep you from seeing what’s going on.” How can I leave until the problem with Holly is taken care of? And yet, the trial is the first full week in January. I’ve got to be there to see justice done.

  He and Tanya emerged onto Main Street, and immediately he saw Crystal near the stage with Amanda next to her. Another girl he’d seen around the center occasionally with them joined the pair. Then two boys, one being Grant Foster, came up and stood with them. Laughter sounded as Tanya and he approached.

  “Maybe we should leave them to their own devices.” Seeing Crystal happy caused that same emotion in him. For so long he’d forgotten what happiness meant—until he’d come to Sweetwater, until he’d met Tanya.

  “Are you suggesting we would put a damper on my daughter’s fun?”

  He nodded. “We’re over thirty. That’s a given.”

  “You don’t believe that, do you?”

  He chuckled. “No. I just want to have you to myself.” Where in the world did those words come from, he thought, shocked by them as much as Tanya obviously was if her wide eyes and open mouth were any indication.

  She cuddled next to him, his arm slung over her shoulder. Shortly, Jesse and Nick joined them, then Darcy and Joshua. Before long Samuel, Beth, Zoey and Dane completed the group. Surrounded by Tanya’s friends—no, his, too, he had to acknowledge—he realized he had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

  He leaned down close to Tanya’s ear and whispered, “I’ll go to church with you and Crystal this Sunday, that is, if the invitation is still open.” He added the last part in a teasing tone just so he could see her expression light up before she playfully jabbed him in the side.

  “Funny. You know the invitation is a standing one.”

  The mayor of Sweetwater came to the mike and began the ceremony with a speech. Chance tuned out the man and scanned the crowd gathered. He spied Wilbur glaring at him with Jim and his family not far from the older man. Jim Proctor refused to look toward him as though to do so would acknowledge that he was alive and part of the town.

  Chance noticed one of Holly’s friends pull her away and Crystal’s tormentor joined a group of teenage girls, some he had seen at the center. What he had seen he hadn’t cared for. They had often been cruel and callous toward others. They had always made sure they were together in a group because it gave them a sense of power. He’d seen that in prison and he’d seen what could happen. Tom’s death was a result of one of those bullying gangs.

  He shuddered.

  “Cold?”

  Tanya’s question thankfully drew him away from his past. “Are you kidding? It must be twenty.”

  She wound her arm around his waist. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it snowed before the weekend is over. I can smell it in the air.”

  “All I smell is wood burning. I could use a hot cup of coffee.”

  “Will hot apple cider do?” Tanya whispered, close enough that the familiar scent of lilacs rivaled the aroma of burning wood.

  “Sure. Hot is the operative word.”

  “Good. Alice invited some of us to the café after the ceremony.”

  “How long does it take to throw a light switch?” Chance asked as the mayor concluded his speech about the upcoming holiday season.

  “Let’s see, we’ll sing a few songs, then the mayor’s wife will turn the lights on.”

  “How many songs?”

  “Six, maybe seven.”

  “That’s not a few!”

  As the crowd launched into “Joy to the World,” Tanya murmured close to Chance’s ear, “It used to be twelve—one song for each of the twelve days of Christmas. And we ended with that one.”

  “Then I should count my blessings?”

  “Always.”

  In the soft glow of the streetlight, Chance became transfixed by the intensity in Tanya’s gaze. He didn’t hear one word of the second or third song. His attention fixed upon the woman at his side. He savored her beauty that was on the inside as well as the outside.

  Finally he joined in with the others and sang the last song, “Silent Night.” As the last chord rang out in the square, the mayor’s wife flipped on the lights and a brilliance filled the whole length of Main Street and the park in the middle where a massive twenty-foot Christmas tree shone with hundreds of tiny twinkling clear lights.

  “The power company must be ecstatic right about now.” Chance took in the whole park, lights in almost every tree, lights running along the fence that separated the children’s playground from the rest of the area.

  “We do tend to go all out. I figure an astronaut can see Sweetwater from outer space. What do you think?”

  “Yep. I figure you’re right.” He hugged her against his length, enjoying her warmth, her own radiance that vied with the brilliance of the lights.

  Tanya’s becoming too important to me. He needed to back off. And he would tomorrow, he told himself as the crowd began to disperse, people strolling toward their parked vehicles. Some of them made their way toward Alice’s Café, lit with its own bright lights, the owner standing in the doorway greeting her guests as they entered.

  Tanya started for the restaurant, stopped after a few feet and said, “I forgot I have a present for Darcy. I left it in the van. I’ll be right back.”

  Before she could move away, Chance captured her hand and halted her progress. “I’ll get it. You go on inside.”

  She tossed him the keys, and he snatched them up. Then in a lope he headed toward the back of the building and the few parking spaces behind it. Coming around the corner, he stopped when he heard yelling.

  “Can’t you do anything right?” Jim stood only inches from Holly, his face thrust in hers, his hands balled into fists. “You don’t need a tutor to learn math. You just need to study harder. When were you going to tell me you failed that test? If your teacher hadn’t said anything tonight, I wouldn’t have found out, would I?”

  “Dad—”

  Jim glimpsed Chance and stepped back. “Get in. We’ll talk more at home.”

  Chance watched Holly jerk open the back door and slide inside while her mother and younger brother got into the car. Silhouetted in the dim light from the cars passing on the side street, Jim Proctor stared at Chance. The man’s anger was evident by the stiff lines of his body.

  So much for the perfect family, Chance thought as the Proctors pulled away, Jim gunning the car. Bullies were made and Holly had been expertly molded by her father. But still that didn’t excuse the teenager’s actions toward Crystal.

  Quickly Chance retrieved the wrapped present for Darcy and jogged back to the front of Alice’s Café. He wanted to feel sorry for Holly, but Crystal’s pain made it hard for him.

  When he entered the restaurant, he searched for Tanya and found her with Darcy and Joshua in the corner. Chance wove his way through the crowded café and joined them, giving the present to Tanya who immediately handed it to Darcy.

  “I saw this yesterday and couldn’t resist, especially since we know you’re having a little girl.”

  Darcy took the gift. “You shouldn’t have. You’ve already given me something.”

  “Yes, I should have. Darcy, you were the first person to reach out and help me when I was in trouble. I’ll never forget that.”

  “We’ve helped each other.” Darcy’s eyes filled with tears. “See, you’re gonna make me cry. I cry at the drop of a hat lately.”

  “Tell me about it,” Joshua said with a laugh.

  Darcy jabbed her husband in the side. “Are you complaining?”

  He held up his hands. “No way am I answeri
ng that question.”

  “Unwrap the present.” Tanya shifted from one foot to the other.

  Darcy ripped into the gift. When she opened it to reveal a music box with painted pink roses on it, a tear slid down her face. “Oh, Tanya. It’s beautiful. What song does it play?”

  “That’s the best part—‘Amazing Grace.’”

  “The one Sean and Crystal sang together.”

  Tanya nodded. She turned to Chance. “That was the first time they sang together and they got a standing ovation.”

  “It’s one of my favorites,” Darcy murmured, running her finger along the edge of the music box. “Thank you, Tanya. I will treasure this.”

  A few seconds of silence reigned before Joshua cleared his throat and said, “Hey, I don’t know about you all, but I’m gonna fight my way to the counter and get some hot apple cider and a few of Alice’s cookies.”

  “I’ll help you.” Chance followed Joshua, leaving the women by themselves.

  “Call me tomorrow whether you get the job or not. I want to know either way.” Darcy tossed the crumpled wrapping paper and box into the trash can near the kitchen door.

  “I’ll have more responsibility. If I get it, I’ll need to go to a seminar in Lexington for three days in a couple of weeks. I’ll have to drive back and forth since I can’t stay overnight because of Crystal.”

  “She can come out to the farm and stay with us.”

  “No, I’d rather drive. It’s only a little over an hour. I can do it for three days. With all that’s happened this year at school, I don’t want to be gone.”

  “I don’t blame you, but you know we’re here to help if you need it.” Darcy cradled the music box to her chest. “Sean says things are a little better at school.”

  “The situation has improved some, especially since Crystal’s begun to tutor some of the kids at the center. I think they appreciate the help.”

  “A bully feeds on the reactions of bystanders and if there are no bystanders…” Darcy’s voice trailed off into silence as she shrugged. She looked toward Chance and Joshua who were making their way back and asked, “How’s it going with Chance?”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine? That’s all you’re gonna say. I saw you two at the ceremony looking all cozy. I want details.”

  “There are no details. We’re good friends. That’s all.” Tanya noticed the men stopped to say something to Dane.

  “That’s all? That’s not the way it looked to me.”

  “Darcy, I don’t know that Chance will ever get over his family’s deaths. Not only does he have a picture of his daughter up in his apartment but one of his wife, too. I know they are together but still…”

  “You need to give him a drawing of you and Crystal so he has something besides them. Life is for the living. He needs to move on and you need to help him do that.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Sure it is. Wouldn’t that be a great Christmas gift for him? A portrait of you and Crystal. I bet he would treasure it like I will this.” Darcy held up the music box. “You’re not asking him to get rid of the photo of his wife and daughter. You’re just giving him an alternative.”

  “I don’t do drawings for other—”

  “Shh. Here they come. Think about it.” Darcy plastered a smile on her face and directed it at Joshua and Chance who broke through the crowd with their drinks in their hands.

  Tanya took the mug Chance handed her and sipped the apple cider, relishing its spicy flavor. Its heat slid down her throat warming her insides.

  When Chance bent forward and whispered, “I discovered something about the Proctor family that I want to share with you,” the warmth from his nearness replaced the warmth from her drink.

  She nearly melted into him. “What?”

  “I’ll tell you later, but it explains some things.”

  Her curiosity aroused, Tanya hardly listened to the conversation flowing around her, even when Samuel and Beth joined them. But the mention of the Proctor family caused her to scan the café to make sure her daughter was all right. Crystal sat in her wheelchair at a table with Jane, Eddy, Craig, Grant and Amanda. The grin on her daughter’s face eased any tension the Proctor name produced. And it didn’t return until her friend got up on a chair and gave a loud whistle to get everyone’s attention.

  Jesse held up the drawing Crystal did of Nate and Cindy so the crowd could see. Murmurs flew around the café. The noise level rose.

  “I wanted you all to see what a beautiful job Crystal Bolton did on a drawing of my children that I commissioned. From what I understand she wants to earn some money and what better way than sharing her talent with us.” Jesse gestured toward Crystal, who blushed from head to toe.

  But a huge grin still graced her daughter’s face as several people openly commented on the portrait. Two women approached her immediately and Tanya could see her pleasure at their compliments.

  “Her work was shown and nothing bad happened. Crystal is doing a great job of handling the praise. I predict she will have to turn people down before the evening is over. She’s gonna be quite busy this holiday season. Maybe you could help her out with some of the portraits?”

  Chance’s suggestion stirred Tanya’s interest for all of two seconds until she pictured people staring at her work, analyzing it, criticizing it. No, her art was a private affair between her and her daughter—and maybe Chance. Because Darcy’s idea of a portrait for Chance for Christmas wasn’t half-bad. With him she felt safe enough to share an important part of herself—her art.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “What do you think about putting some more lights up there?” Tanya pointed toward the roof of her house.

  Chance stepped back several feet and surveyed it. “You already have twenty-five strands up. Are you trying to outshine the park downtown?”

  “I got these lights on sale. I know I probably shouldn’t have bought them, but with my new job, I got a raise. I wanted to use a little money to celebrate it. What better way than lots of holidays lights?”

  Chance studied Tanya for a moment. Something was wrong. He wasn’t sure what, but he felt it in his gut. He took the red string and started for the ladder. “How’s the job going?”

  “Okay. There’s a lot to learn. I’m glad the seminar is over. Driving back and forth took more time than I thought.” While she laid clear lights over the bushes in front, she described her new duties.

  Chance half listened to her words. What he really tuned in to was her tone of voice. It sounded as if Tanya had been up for the past several nights and was going through the motions of living on little sleep and a lot of caffeine.

  When there was a lull in Tanya’s discourse on her new job, he asked, “Is everything okay with Crystal?”

  “Sure.” Then she launched into an account of her daughter’s week at school which Chance already knew from Crystal herself. Tanya described in detail Crystal eating lunch with Grant the day before in the school cafeteria.

  He descended the ladder after stringing the lights on the roof then walked to where Tanya continued her task of putting up lights along the porch railing. “Is everything okay with you?”

  Her brow crunched into a frown. “Yes, why would you ask? Crystal seems happy. I’ve got a new job I like.”

  Kneading the back of his neck, he tried to decide how to put his concerns. “You’re acting different. I thought maybe something was wrong.” He paused, drew in a deep, fortifying breath and added, “Have you been taking your medication?”

  “Why would you ask that?” Anger laced her voice.

  He shrugged. It had been over a month since he’d read about manic depression, but Tanya wasn’t acting right. He needed to check online, maybe call one of her friends.

  He cut the distance between them and brushed his
finger under each eye. “Are you sleeping? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

  Shrugging away, she moved toward the porch steps. “I just told you that the driving back and forth between Sweetwater and Lexington was more than I anticipated. So naturally I haven’t got as much sleep as I usually do.” She finished putting up the strand of lights, twisting it around the poles.

  Chance watched her hurried movements. He started to say something when she gathered up the few strings left and said, “I think that’s all for today. I still have to clean my house.” She hoisted the almost-empty box of lights and climbed the stairs to the porch. “Thanks for your help. We’ll have to pick Crystal up at the center in two hours.”

  “Fine. But—”

  Tanya opened the front door and disappeared inside. Chance swallowed his words, his mouth hanging open for a few seconds before he quickly closed it.

  He strode toward his apartment, removing his cell and punching in Darcy’s number.

  “Chance, what do you need?”

  “I’m worried about Tanya. She’s not acting like she usually does. What are some of the signs of manic depression?”

  “Not sleeping. Recklessness. Impulsiveness. Too much energy. Talking fast. Poor judgment. Easily distracted. Heightened moods. Irritable and sometimes aggressive. That’s some of the symptoms for mania. Do you want them for depression?”

  “No. If there’s a problem, it’s mania. Tanya told me she hasn’t been sleeping. The whole morning all she did was talk and talk while she was working. Half the time she would start one string of lights, get distracted and do a new one across the yard. I had to go back and finish up for her. She had so much nervous energy she made me edgy.”

  “I’ll come over. She once told me she wished she could stop taking her medication. She was raised to believe that a pill wasn’t the answer to everything.”

  “Don’t, Darcy. Let me take care of it.” He hung up before she could protest.

  He stood on the small landing into his apartment and stared at the front lawn with every bush, tree and pole covered with lights, not to mention the house. When she switched them on tonight, he’d need a pair of sunglasses. A laugh threatened to erupt until he thought of the seriousness of the situation. He didn’t want Crystal to know what was going on and have her worry. He headed back down the stairs to the driveway, then jogged to the back door and pounded on it.