by Nancy Naigle
She hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions. “You really think I play it safe? I mean with my life?”
“Think? I know it. Anyway, you won’t believe what I’ve got in my arms right this minute.”
She couldn’t begin to guess, because her mind was still doing inventory on the crushed reality of her not being a risk-taker. “One of Miss Jennings’s famous fruitcakes? Hope you stretched first.”
“No,” Renee said with a chuckle. “I could pull a muscle heaving one of those suckers around. Plus, I would have left that in the office break room.”
“Don’t blame you.”
“I happen to be hugging the biggest potted poinsettia I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh great. You’re going to murder another plant?”
“It’s not mine.”
“You’ve taken one hostage?”
“Funny. No, this was delivered to the office this afternoon.”
“Someone sent you a plant? They don’t know you very well.”
“Actually, it was for you. I’m gracefully accepting this award in your absence. Well, not award, but gift … from Todd.”
“Todd?” Maybe they weren’t so off as she’d thought. “Haven’t heard from him in weeks. He drops in, and then sends me a plant? Is there a card?”
“Sure is.”
“Read it.”
The sound of the envelope ripping was followed by Renee’s “awwww.” “It reads, ‘You are the Joy of the season. Can’t wait to spend time with you. We on for the gala this year? Call me.’”
“He just wants to go to the gala.”
“Oh, don’t be so skeptical. Maybe he really misses you.”
“I doubt it. The gala is next week, and since he doesn’t work for MacDonald-Webber anymore, he thinks I’m his ticket.”
“Do you have a date?”
“I don’t need one that badly.”
“Maybe you can get car-crash guy to take you.”
“It might be a better option.” Todd was strictly a call for the obligatory armpiece kind of a guy. Convenient, handsome, and steady. Maybe she did need to take more risks.
“Whatever you say. I’m leaving your plant here at the office. I figured it would stand a better chance of living here.”
“At least the cleaning service will keep it alive for a while. Thanks for the update.”
“Give ’em hell down there,” Renee said. “I’m holding down the fort here.”
Joy hung up from the call. Give ’em hell? Am I that hard to get along with?
Ever since she’d put on that fancy gown at Wetherton’s and made that wish that she was on the right path, it was like every flaw she had was being magnified.
Then again, everyone knew that things in a small town got around fast. That’s probably why all the fuss about Ruby and her decorations.
Joy hoped word wasn’t already zipping through Crystal Falls about her little hissy fit with Ben earlier. She’d overreacted, but darn if he hadn’t pushed her buttons. And it did seem like every time something went wrong here in Crystal Falls since she hit town, he was there. Plus, there was something about his polished look, so out of place in this little town, that just sent up red flares and set her on edge. She couldn’t even really put her finger on why. It just did, and her gut didn’t usually steer her wrong.
Or maybe it was just the holidays getting to her. Wouldn’t be the first time. Or the pressure of the promotion and not being in her usual routine. That was more likely.
She owed Ben an apology, but she probably needed to let Ruby know what happened first before someone else told her. Crystal Falls was a small town, and the last thing she wanted to do was embarrass or disappoint Ruby.
Joy called the private phone number for Ruby at Dixon County Rehab, but there was no answer in her room.
On the bright side, if she couldn’t reach Ruby, no one else could either.
* * *
The next morning, she fed the animals and got Molly off to school in record time. On the way to visit Ruby, she stopped at the store, and as she shopped for things she’d need to decorate the farmhouse, she also picked up a burner smartphone for Ruby to keep nearby while she was in rehab. That way they could stay in touch. If she was going to get everything done, she wasn’t going to have time to make an hour each way drive every day. Ruby had been right about that.
When Joy walked into the Dixon County Rehab Center, it was almost lunchtime. A group of school kids swayed in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby, singing “Jingle Bells.” Onlookers of all ages were four and five deep, watching and enjoying the music. Joy scanned the crowd but didn’t see Ruby’s bright red hair among the crowd.
Once Joy made it through the first set of double doors, the halls were quiet. Probably because most everyone was down in the lobby, listening to the carols. Joy tapped on Ruby’s door as she walked in.
“Hey. Why are you up here all alone? They are caroling downstairs. It sounds lovely.”
Ruby shrugged. “Not in the Christmas spirit.”
“What?” Joy sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re always in the Christmas spirit. What’s the matter?”
“I’d rather be home.”
“I know, but I promise I’m taking care of things.”
“I’m sure you are, and I appreciate it.”
“Well”—Joy grimaced—“I do need to tell you something. I kind of jumped all over Ben last night. It’s a long story. He was trying to be helpful, and something got broken. I got upset. I overreacted. It didn’t end well.”
“Joy! He’s such a nice man. Why would you do that?”
“I’m sorry. He just made comments that made me feel like he knew you even better than me. I think I was a little jealous.”
Ruby held out her arms. “Honey, no one will ever know me like you do. You are my precious angel.”
She let Ruby pull her into a hug. “I love you, Aunt Ruby.”
“I love you too. And time and distance don’t break family bonds, dear.”
“I’m going to stop over and apologize to him later.”
“Good. Everything will be fine. Give him a chance. He really is good people.”
Joy was relieved to have it all on the table. “So, let’s get to work. I went through the journals. And I brought down the boxes of decorations. There are so many!”
“Yes, there are. But you won’t need them all. Plenty to pick from, though.”
“That’s for sure. And I have a few ideas.”
“Care to discuss them with me?”
“If it’s okay, I’d like to surprise you.”
Ruby’s face spread into a wide smile. “I’d like that very much, dear. And I’ll go along with that if you’ll do a little something for me.”
“Anything. Of course.”
“I’d give my right arm for a chili cheese hot dog. I hear they have the best ones up the road at Tony’s. Would you mind making a quick trip up there?”
“A chili cheese dog? Is that okay?”
Carolyn walked in pushing a blood pressure cart. “She’s not on a special diet. She can have whatever you’d like to bring in.”
Ruby grinned. “See? What she said.”
“Well, then, I’m on my way to Tony’s. Can I get you one too?”
Carolyn didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, please. They are the best hot dogs around. Let me grab my wallet.”
“No. I’ve got this. My treat.”
“This is a treat. Thank you,” Carolyn said. “Now, Ruby, let me get some quick vitals so I can finish my paperwork for the morning.”
“Can you tell me how to get to Tony’s from here?”
Carolyn cuffed Ruby’s arm as she spoke. “It’s just out the parking lot, turn right, and it’s on the corner at the third stoplight. You can’t miss it. Giant wiener the size of a minivan hanging off the top of the building wearing a bun like a jacket. I’ll tell you it’s not the branding that sells those hot dogs.”
“Sounds a bit scary.”
“Oh
yeah. It is. But you won’t miss the place.”
And, boy, was Carolyn ever right. Sure enough, from a block away, Joy could see the outrageous giant hot dog hanging from the front of the brick building. It was faded and worn, like it had been there for years, but if the crowd was any indication of how good the hot dogs were going to be, she was the one in for a treat.
The line moved swiftly. Mostly because there were no choices. You wanted a chili cheese dog with or without onions. No other options.
Joy was in and out and back in Ruby’s room in less than thirty minutes with a box of two dozen hot dogs, enough to share with the other nurses on the floor and whoever else happened by. Hopefully, it would help put Ruby back in the holiday mood and spread some cheer. Plus, it made her feel good to do a little something nice for the folks taking good care of her aunt.
After the hot dogs were gone and the nurses dispersed, the smell of chili still hung in the air. They should sell those things with a spritzer of air freshener.
Ruby crumpled the paper hot dog tray and her napkin together and tossed them across the room, making it right into the trash can. “Thank you, Joy. That really hit the spot.”
“It was fun too.” Joy pulled the bag out of her purse. “I almost forgot. I brought you something else.”
“What’s that?”
“I tried to call this morning, and I couldn’t reach you.”
“That’s because I don’t spend much time in this room. They always have me down in the gym, or walking the halls. It’s not much of a relaxation type of place. I swear I’ve walked more the last twenty-four hours than I did last year, and I consider myself pretty active.”
“Well, I wanted us to be able to talk whenever we needed to. So I got you a portable phone.”
“Oh? How fun.” Ruby took it but looked clueless.
“You don’t know how to use one of those, do you?”
“I do not.” She turned it over in her hand and pressed the button on the side. “But I can learn.”
“Of course you can. It’s so simple.” Joy took the charger out of its package and then showed Ruby how to plug it into the phone. There was an outlet right next to the bed. “Here’s the number in case you want anyone else, like Shirley maybe, to have it.”
“I think just you is fine.”
“Okay, well we can text, but I think just using it like a phone might be easier.”
“I used to be quite a typist. When your uncle was in the military and I worked as a secretary, I could type over ninety words per minute, and that was on a manual typewriter.”
“Wow. That’s speedy.”
“And I was accurate too.”
Joy walked Ruby through the buttons and then set up her number in the contacts so that Ruby could call her with just the press of a couple of buttons.
“Okay, so now I’m going to call you.” Joy pressed the keys on her phone and the one in Ruby’s hand started playing a verse of “Jingle Bells.”
“That’s the ring?”
“Yes.”
Ruby stared at the phone and then jabbed at the green phone icon. “Hello?”
“Hi.”
Ruby grinned. “Easy! And how do I call you again?”
Joy walked her through the steps one more time. “I think you’re ready for prime time,” she teased.
“So I am. I’m just one hip old gal, aren’t I?”
“For sure. Anything else I can do for you before I leave you today?”
“Promise me you’ll make up with Ben,” Ruby said.
“I can handle it.”
“That’s not the point. He’s part of the tradition, and I’m sure you can handle it all by yourself, but why do that when you don’t have to?”
Joy sucked in a breath. “Fine. I’ll apologize and I’ll work something out with him.”
Ruby’s eyebrow peaked in doubt.
“I will!” Joy insisted.
“Thank you. And promise me that you’ll get a triple batch of each of those cookie dough recipes made and in the freezer. One each night is the way I usually do it. We have to have all fresh cookies on the cookie crawl day, and trust me, there is no way to make that deadline unless you make and freeze the dough ahead of time. That way we can just slice and bake them the night before and the morning of the crawl.”
“I’m on it,” Joy promised just as Johnny came strolling into the room.
“Well, if it’s not Miss Ruby’s beautiful, single, smart, very successful niece.”
“And this is why you can never reach me when you call the room.” Ruby pointed toward Johnny. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think this guy had nothing better to do. Or a crush on me.” She gave Johnny a flirty grin.
“Thought you said you wanted to be out of here by Christmas?” he challenged.
“That I do,” she said with a wink, and started shifting herself around toward the edge of the bed. “See. I’ve aced moving around in bed already.”
“I see. Good job.”
Ruby waved her hand in Joy’s direction. “You don’t need to wait around. Go get busy on the house, and now that I have that fancy phone, you can send me pictures.”
“Will you know how to look at them?”
“Johnny here will help me. Won’t you, dear?”
Johnny grinned. “Absolutely. I’m great with gadgets.”
“Don’t you two be making prank phone calls.” Joy felt better that Ruby’s mood was higher when she’d left, but she worried about her being in rehab so close to the holiday. Maybe sending pictures of the progress would put her mind at ease and make her feel like a part of it. She wished she hadn’t promised Ruby she’d let Ben help, although at this point, she was beginning to realize that having his help would make things a lot easier. And more important, calm down both Shirley and Ruby.
The thought of apologizing to Ben was bad enough, but groveling to ask him to help really sucked.
She’d accept Ben’s help, only because she’d promised Ruby, but she’d be the one running the show.
Chapter Sixteen
Joy unloaded the basic supplies she’d bought this morning, glue sticks, floral wire, some scented oils, and spray paints. She’d marked several ideas with sticky notes as she’d gone through the journals, hoping that a cohesive theme would show up as she did. That had narrowed down her resources to three books with most of the ideas that she liked.
She changed into a pair of sweats and snuggled up with just those three books one more time. This time, intent to do more than just skim them. These weren’t just scrapbooks. Ruby journaled nearly daily in them, sometimes not about the decorations at all.
The tiniest elements and details were all here. Not a formal project plan, but Ruby’s random method of pulling something together. Precise plans written here that Ruby had used to give awe-inspiring memories to her neighbors. Even now, just reading about the fabulous displays and the love and time that Ruby had put into decorating, Joy felt it. Felt it all the way to her heart. Ruby didn’t do this for the bragging rights. She did it for the community, and to share her special memories with others.
For a moment it was overwhelming to think that she’d been so sure she could duplicate what Ruby had done over the years. Unlike Joy, Ruby hadn’t shoved Christmas under an icy snow blanket after Mom died. Not after Uncle George died either. No, instead she’d embraced the traditions more tightly. Clung to every little thing that reminded her of her family … of those departed and even of Joy … who may as well have been departed since she hadn’t once made the time to spend Christmas with her aunt since she’d left. There wasn’t a single year as Joy slowly absorbed the contents of the journals that she didn’t connect to something. A recipe, a thought, a memory. She’d been in Ruby’s thoughts every single year.
Her eyes stung, and the words seemed to swim as she read on through the tears. She raised her hands to her ears, wishing she could quiet the guilty negative speak that was running through her brain. She’d been so set on keeping herself safe from
being hurt again that she never shared any of herself.
How could it have taken this many years for her to realize it?
When was the last time she’d sat and tried to really conjure up a best Christmas ever? What would that mean to her? She couldn’t remember ever doing it. Certainly she must have. As a child, or as a teen, but nothing came to mind now. She closed her eyes.
If she opened her heart and her mind, what would be there?
She closed the cover of the leather journal and held it to her heart. She walked to the living room and sat down on the couch, looking out the window at the bright blue sky. Deceiving on the cold day. A cardinal flitted between limbs in the tree out front, its bright red catching her eye against the soft brown gray of the winter tree.
She lay back, letting the sun stream across her face. The rays warmed her cheeks, and a bright glow like the warmth of a fire on a winter day danced on her eyelids.
What would her perfect Christmas look like?
* * *
Cinnamon, orange, peppermint, and pine mingle in the air as my husband hoists a live tree into the stand in our living room. Our dog, a black Lab, wears plush antlers with bells dangling from the ends, fetching Christmas decorations like it’s a game. We’ve spent weeks making ornaments out of the pinecones and things we’ve found outside. Yes, we. Me, him, our children. A boy and a girl, giggling as they place their favorite ornaments in a cluster on the bottom half of the tree that we’ll fix later—after they go to bed. We’ll tell them Santa moved them.
Later that night, we sing carols along with the CD in the old player that doesn’t get nearly enough use during the year and hang our homemade stockings from the mantel above the fireplace. Then, in those anxious last hours before bedtime, we place still-warm-from-the-oven cookies out for Santa. And, of course, a carrot and apple slices for his reindeer. After the children are tucked snug in their beds, me and my man carefully arrange presents under the tree. Then my husband stands. Reaching for my hand, he helps me from the floor. The scent of fresh pine in the air. I stand in front of him. His lips part in a smile that says “I love you,” and he takes my hand. His hands are strong, and he pulls me close. Then he twirls me and slowly waltzes me around the living room. My green Christmas robe swirling around my ankles, until he stops and kisses me under the mistletoe.