Christmas Joy

by Nancy Naigle

  For a moment, Joy froze. Unsure if she could walk down the hall. The beeping of machines and the chatter on the hospital floor competed with her ability to breathe and separate her memories from the present.

  “Are you okay?” the nurse asked.

  Joy glanced down the hall in the direction of room 304. She hadn’t realized, until just now, that she even remembered her mom’s room number. Her palm sweated against her keys.

  “Come on. Let’s get you down to see your aunt. You’ll feel better once you see her,” the nurse said.

  Joy’s lips felt numb as the scent of the hospital cleaner mixed with the cherry gelatin that seemed to always be on the food trays around here tugged at old wounds.

  The nurse motioned. “She’s down this end of the hall.”

  Joy fell in step next to the nurse, who walked as slow as the elevator ride had been. If Joy could get her mouth to work, she’d just ask the nurse to give her the room number so she could sprint down and see for herself that all was well.

  “She came through surgery fine,” the nurse said. “Broken ankle. Bad break.” The nurse shook her head, bunching her lips. “Real bad. Took a few screws and a rod to put her back together, but she’s awake and fussing. I usually take that to be a good sign.”

  A burst of laughter floated into the hallway. Aunt Ruby’s laugh always made Joy smile. She could’ve found her without the room number or the escort. Thank goodness.

  The nurse stopped short of the door. “They’ve been in there awhile. Make it quick. Visiting hours are over. We don’t see any reason to rush folks too much, but your aunt does need her rest.”

  Joy hesitated at the door. Two women she didn’t know stood next to Shirley, Ruby’s best friend, practically blocking her view. But even from here, the outline of Ruby’s body looked tiny lying there in bed. Then again, Ruby always looked small next to Shirley, who had to be at least five feet eight inches with wild Shirley Temple curls and the take-charge skills of a drill sergeant with a southern twist that left you unaware you’d been manipulated. Quite the opposite of Aunt Ruby, who, like Joy, was a fiery-tempered strawberry blonde just a smidge over five feet tall.

  Ruby rattled off the details of her accident as if it had happened to someone in a Hallmark Channel movie. Her familiar voice reminded Joy of the many late nights Ruby had entertained her with her tall tales.

  Joy listened, her worry falling away with each word. It wasn’t until one of the women moved to get something out of her purse that she finally caught a full glimpse of her aunt. And had she not heard her aunt’s voice already, she wasn’t sure that she’d have recognized her.

  Ruby must have switched hair stylists because her red hair was now closer to tomato red than strawberry blond. She’d aged significantly since their last visit. Stop that. She just came out of surgery. Be grateful Ruby sounds like her old self … even if she doesn’t look like it. Joy’s lips quivered as she forced a thankful smile.

  “… and I stepped in a hole. It hurt like the dickens when I fell, but that’s not even the ankle I broke. I don’t know how I managed to break the other ankle. I must have been a sight, toppling tail over teakettle. Anyway, with one foot in the hole, and the other all twisted backwards, I couldn’t pull myself back up.”

  “How long did you lie there?” one woman asked.

  “Most of the morning. Glad it wasn’t raining. Now, that could’ve been miserable. As it was, I think my menagerie thought I was hanging out for a sleepover, because they all came over and just walked around me in circles like it was a game of Ring Around the Ruby. All they wanted was for me to get up and get them a treat.”

  “You’re lucky,” another lady said. “You could have died right there, lying in your yard.”

  “Seriously? It’s a broken ankle, and it was almost sixty degrees. Don’t be so dramatic!” Ruby snapped at the woman.

  “Maybe you need one of those medical-alert necklaces. My son was telling me about those.”

  Ruby tugged the sheet up around her. “Stop it. It was just an accident. One teensy mishap. I’m fine.”

  Shirley cut in. “When Isabelle had that broken foot, she was in the hospital for days, and then had to go to the rehab center for physical therapy.”

  “Well, that’s Isabelle. Not me. I told them I had things to do at the farm. Give me one of those walking casts and some crutches, and I can get some chores done.”

  “Now, Ruby, you heard Ben—”

  “Don’t you start—” Ruby’s voice rose two octaves.

  Even after being gone so long, Joy still recognized the tone Ruby took when she was ready to argue. “I came as soon as I heard,” Joy said, hoping to head off a quarrel between her aunt and Shirley.

  “Joy?”

  The look on Ruby’s face nearly caused Joy to choke on the tears that threatened to fall. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You drove all that way? You didn’t have to do that. How did you know? Who called you?” Ruby demanded.

  Shirley bristled but didn’t speak up, and there was no way Joy was going to throw her under the bus.

  “I must be listed as your next of kin. Besides, I deserve to know these things. We’re family.” Joy knew that she hadn’t treated Ruby like real family, though. While dodging her own painful past, she’d shoved Ruby aside too, always allowing work to take precedence unless Ruby showed up. And even then, Ruby had to resort to showing up with hardly any notice to keep Joy from worming her way out of the visit.

  “Phooey. It’s no big deal. Next of kin is for when you’re going to die. I’m nowhere near dead. But you get on over here. It sure is good to lay eyes on you.” Ruby flung her arms open wide, and her friends stepped back to let Joy get close to the bed.

  “Girls. This is my niece, Joy,” she said proudly.

  “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry it’s been so long. It shouldn’t have taken something like this to get me here.” Joy leaned down to hug Ruby, whose grip hadn’t suffered one bit.

  “You’re busy, sweetie. Don’t you worry. I understand.” Ruby’s eyes glistened, and guilt stuck in Joy’s throat like a pill too big to swallow. Lying in the hospital bed, her aunt didn’t seem like the vibrant, unstoppable woman Joy had always known. Was it the surgery, or had she really paid so little attention?

  A blond-haired nurse knocked on the door. “I hate to break up the party, but our patient needs her rest. She’ll be up for visitors again tomorrow.”

  All Ruby’s friends left, but Joy lagged behind. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  Ruby grabbed Joy’s wrist. “Honey, I’m sorry they called and worried you, but thank you so much for being here. Seeing you has almost made it all worth it.”

  Those words stabbed like a knife to Joy’s gut. “Don’t say that.” But her voice came out so quietly, she wasn’t even sure Ruby heard her. Joy cleared her throat. “Please, don’t you ever worry about worrying me. I’m here. Where I should be tonight.” She rested her arms on the rail of Ruby’s bed, and lowered herself into the bedside chair.

  Ruby laid her hand against Joy’s cheek. “You’re staying at the farm, right?”

  “I’d planned to.”

  “You look exhausted. Are you working too hard?” Ruby waved a bony hand. “Don’t answer that. You always do. I know you better than you think, young lady.”

  Of course she did. She was Mom’s sister, and had been there through the hardest times of Joy’s life. “I can help you until you get on your feet.”

  “I’ll be home tomorrow. They never keep anyone in the hospital long these days. Insurance runs that mess, not the doctors. But you can help me with one thing.”

  “Anything.”

  “Could you please feed the animals for me tonight? That would be a huge help. I know they’re probably raising a ruckus. They’re used to their six-o’clock feeding. I’ve taken in a few more since you were last here. I just can’t bear the thought of animals going to slaughter, so I’ve kind of become the rescue lady. Oh, and Molly, that darn ra
bbit, is in a cage on the sunporch now. She just can’t tolerate the cold these days since Mr. Bugs crossed the rainbow bridge. At least there won’t be any more baby bunnies.”

  “Not a problem.”

  Ruby’s face contorted into a frown; then she began pushing the sheets down and edging to the side of the bed. “It’s too much to ask. I really need to get home. Help me get out of this bed and get dressed.”

  “Lie back down. You’re just feeling good because of that cocktail they have in your IV.” She placed her hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “You relax. I’ll make sure every single animal gets fed something tonight. No one will go hungry on my watch.” She crossed her heart. “I promise.”

  Ruby deflated back into the pillows. “There’s a list on the barn wall of everything that needs to be done. The goats, Nanny and Waddles, and the donkey, you remember Jack, right?”

  That stubborn donkey had to be fifteen years old by now.

  “They should have had a new bale of hay put out today. Don’t worry about the cow. He belongs to Tommy, a 4-H’er in town who needed somewhere to keep her until showtime. Good little boy. He never misses a day, but check the gate. He doesn’t always latch it right.”

  “Got it.”

  “The chickens have most certainly dumped their water over, they always do. Oh goodness, they are all probably starving.”

  “I’ve got it. Don’t worry a—” Joy spun around at the sound of the door swinging open.

  “Ladies. I’m sorry. I really need to ask you to wrap this up.” The nurse who had escorted Joy down earlier cocked her head in that way that told Joy she meant business.

  “I’m going.” Joy stood, stepped away from Ruby’s bed, and started for the door. “I’ll be by tomorrow to visit.”

  “Molly!” Ruby called out, waving her hand frantically. “I almost forgot. You have to take care of Molly. She can’t be alone in the morning.”

  “You girls can talk tomorrow,” the nurse said.

  Joy kept moving. “No problem. I’ve got it all under control. Go to sleep.” Joy breezed through the doorway, and the nurse pulled the door closed behind them. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen her in—”

  “I get it. She’ll be here tomorrow.” The nurse ducked into the room next door to reset a beeping monitor.

  Loneliness hung over Joy as she made her way down the empty hallway. She had every intention of making up lost time to Ruby, no matter what it took.

  Chapter Six

  Joy got in her car and started the engine, feeling a huge relief that her visits to Bridgewater Regional Hospital would be short-lived this time and the outcome different than with Mom. Ruby’s injuries were not life threatening. Thank goodness.

  She leaned forward and glanced up to the third floor. Not toward Ruby’s room on the east wing, but toward the room where Mom had spent those last weeks. Why did it still feel just as raw tonight as it had over twelve years ago? She took a napkin out of the console and dabbed at her tears.

  Heartache steamrolled her. Back then, she’d had Ruby to lean on. Now everything was on Joy, and if she ever let these tears go, she wasn’t sure they’d stop.

  “It’s going to be okay this time.” She stuffed the napkin into the top of her purse and looked in the rearview mirror. “It’s okay.”

  Feeling lonely, she picked up her phone. It was too late to call Renee. Her kids would already be in bed for the night. One tap on the callback button, that’s all it would take to hear a friendly voice. She checked the call log. Todd’s number hadn’t come up in over three weeks.

  She hadn’t even realized it had been that long.

  It wasn’t like she and Todd had ever been exclusive or anything. She’d heard from a friend that he’d been seen out on the town with a couple different girls. Definitely not looking like he was searching for something long term. Fine by her, because she wasn’t.

  She didn’t have anyone to call, so she dialed the office and left a message for Margie. Joy felt bad leaving Renee with the presentation tomorrow afternoon, but Joy knew even if she left now, she’d be so exhausted, she wouldn’t make a good impression anyway.

  Margie’s voice mail picked up. “Margie, it’s Joy. I wanted to update you about my family emergency. I’m down in North Carolina. I won’t be back in time for the presentation. My team has been briefed, and they are prepared. Renee has all the files. You’ve got my number if you have any questions, and I’ll have access to my e-mail if you need me. I should be back in the office on Monday.”

  In her heart, she knew she was doing the right thing, but doubt niggled at her brain with an endless loop of Don’t mess up your chance for the promotion now and I’ve worked so hard for this, will they hold it against me for being away?

  Those little voices nagged at her.

  “Stop. It’s only a day,” she said out loud to calm herself, then dropped the shifter into reverse and pressed the accelerator.

  No sooner had she tilted her chin to glance into her rearview mirror than the piercing screech of metal meeting metal sent a jolt right through her. She jammed her foot so hard on the brake pedal that her butt lifted from the seat, causing the seat belt to tug against her.

  The car lurched to a stop. “No!” She put the car in park and jumped out, running to the back of her car to check the damage.

  “This cannot be happening!” But it had, and it was nobody’s fault but her own. She’d backed right into the open tailgate of a pickup truck. Her whole back quarter panel had been ripped open like a flimsy soda can. She reached out and touched the jagged edges.

  “What is this thing made out of?” She closed her eyes and glanced back at her parking spot. There’d been plenty of room to pull out, but she hadn’t noticed that the tailgate was down on the truck parked across the way. Even so, this wouldn’t have happened if she’d been paying attention.

  “No.” She dropped her face to her hands. “Just no.” This place was just bad luck.

  She got back in the car and pulled forward slowly, but the car was locked metal-to-metal with the big blue truck. Her car wasn’t moving an inch, and that high-pitched twisting sound wasn’t reassuring at all.

  “Could this day get any worse?” She laid her head against the steering wheel, then looked up at that third-floor window. Room 304. Knowing full well that it could have been much worse, and probably was for some family tonight.

  Keep it in perspective.

  Joy pushed the car door open and walked around to the back, hoping for a solution that wouldn’t make things worse.

  It looked even worse. She took out her phone and searched for a tow truck.

  Approaching footsteps stopped her mid-search. A tall man walked through the parking lot in her direction.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” The condensation of his breath wafted from his mouth as he spoke.

  “I’m fine,” she said. As he got closer, she recognized him from the lobby earlier. Of course it was. Just her luck. The same good-looking guy whom she’d nearly speared with her keys earlier. “Better than my car.” She wished she could just disappear.

  He raised a hand to his cheek and stroked the light scruff there.

  She cringed when she heard his quick intake of air. It shouldn’t have surprised her. That had been her response too.

  “Whoa. You sure you’re okay?” he asked, looking over at her. “That’s quite some damage. What were you doing? Doughnuts in the parking lot?”

  “No. I was just backing out. Thank goodness, the truck looks better than my car,” Joy mumbled.

  “Don’t see any damage on the truck at all.”

  He had a great smile, but this was not the time for jokes. “It’s not funny,” she said. He could stand there and laugh as long as he wanted, but she had things to do. “I better go and see if I can find out who owns this truck.”

  “Take it easy. Once you get the car moved, I bet the truck isn’t even scratched.”

  “I still have to tell the owner.” She heaved a sigh that could’ve fi
lled a balloon. “This is not my day. I should have known better than to come back to this place.”

  “It’s not that bad.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. You didn’t just shish-kebab your car.”

  “True, but I was actually referring to this place. Crystal Falls.” He shrugged. “It’s not so bad. And frankly, the damage to your car could’ve been worse.”

  “Thanks for your concern, but I’ve got to go.” She turned and headed for the building.

  He trotted up next to her and caught her elbow. “Where are you going?”

  She turned, ready to explode. “To find. The. Owner. Of that truck.” She spat out the words. How many times do I have to say it? Is the guy an idiot or what? “I realize you’re trying to be nice, but I’m tired and standing here talking to you is not going to make this any better.” The lively twinkle in his eyes only made her madder. “You can leave now. Good night.” She spun around and marched toward the front door of the hospital.

  “Stop.”

  “What now?” She regretted her short-tempered tone immediately, but really, couldn’t he take a hint?

  He inclined his head toward the vehicles. “It’s my truck.”

  Something about his nonchalant response hit her wrong. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

  “You were upset.”

  “Yeah, I’m upset. Why aren’t you?”

  “I was just trying to figure out what happened, and not make the situation worse for you.”

  “I just wasn’t paying attention. That’s what happened.” That sounded weak. “My mind was on something else. What do you want me to say? All I know is I came up empty searching for a tow truck company in this town on my phone, and I tried to move my car, but it’s stuck.”

  That smile quirked up at the edges, revealing a dimple. “Stuck?”

  “Yes. Stuck. As in I tried to move my car and it just made noise. Didn’t budge. Would you happen to have any suggestion on how I should get us unstuck?”

  “Well, since my truck and your car have become so close, it only seems right that we should at least introduce ourselves.” He extended his hand, and there was that smile again. “I’m Ben.”