Let Them Eat Fruitcake

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Let Them Eat Fruitcake Page 24

by Melody Carlson


  “Who do we know is coming for sure?” asked Megan as she picked up a pen.

  “Besides Nana, who said she plans to be here, I don’t have anyone to put on the list. Everyone I invited seems to have other plans,” admitted Kendall. Okay, she didn’t admit that she’d lost all interest in this party. But at least she was trying to be a good sport for Megan’s and Lelani’s sakes.

  “I invited Mr. Green, who would like to come, as well as a couple others from work, although they haven’t confirmed yet,” said Lelani. “And, oh yeah, a shoplifter named Frances.”

  “A shoplifter?” Kendall felt alarmed. “You’ve invited a thief to my home?”

  “She’s a sweet lady. She’d never stolen anything before, and she didn’t even steal anything today. She just needs a friend.”

  “I invited Mrs. Fowler,” said Megan, “one of my clients who’s alone at Christmas.”

  “I didn’t invite Gil yet,” said Lelani, “or reinvite him. But I will.”

  “What about Anna?” asked Kendall. “I left her a message, but she hasn’t called back.”

  “I don’t know what’s up with her,” said Lelani. “But I don’t think we can count on her coming to the party, if that’s what you mean.”

  Kendall frowned. What she really wanted to know was whether she could she count on Anna to pay her January rent. More and more Kendall felt like she was on a sinking ship, steadily going down. Losing Anna’s rent money wasn’t going to help. Besides this, she had no idea what she’d tell her parents. So far, she’d held her mother at bay by acting mysterious. But that couldn’t last forever.

  “There’s this homeless woman I see on my way to work every day,” said Megan, “I was thinking of inviting her.”

  “Are you serious?” Kendall couldn’t believe this. “Shoplifters and homeless people—you have got to be kidding.”

  Megan shrugged. “Maybe I’ll just invite her to the mission on Christmas Day. I’m helping to serve dinner there.”

  “Why do you want to do that?” asked Kendall. All she could imagine was dirty, smelly people lined up for a free handout. Of course, she realized that at the rate she was going, she might be eating there too before long.

  “Because it’s a good thing to do,” said Megan.

  “And you are such a good girl to do it,” said Kendall. “Maybe Santa will put something extra special in your stocking.”

  Megan sort of rolled her eyes, but didn’t respond.

  “So is that all of our guests?” Lelani frowned. “Doesn’t seem like much.”

  “Let’s see,” said Megan. “There’s Nana, Mr. Green, the shoplifter lady, Mrs. Fowler, and possibly Gil—counting us, that makes a whopping total of eight.”

  “Wow,” said Kendall sarcastically. “We’re gonna rock the house.”

  They all just sat there looking at each other.

  “Oh, come on,” said Lelani. “It’s not that bad.”

  “And maybe we can all be on the lookout for others to ask,” said Megan.

  “Like more homeless people and shoplifters,” suggested Kendall.

  “It reminds me of a parable.”

  “Huh?” Kendall frowned. “A pair of what?”

  “A parable, a story that Jesus told.”

  “Go for it,” said Lelani.

  “Well, a wealthy guy is throwing this big party and he invites all his important friends to come, but no one shows up.”

  “Some friends,” said Kendall. She had friends like that herself.

  “So, he sends his servants out to ask other people to come, not just important ones, but they don’t come either.”

  “Maybe the guy throwing the party is a big jerk,” suggested Kendall. “And no one really likes him.”

  Megan frowned. “I’m not sure about that. Anyway, the guy then sends his servants out to the streets to find street people, you know, like homeless people and shoplifters and down-and-outers.”

  “And?” Lelani leaned forward with interest.

  “And they came.”

  “So?” said Kendall.

  “Is that supposed to mean something?” asked Lelani.

  “It means that the people on the streets really appreciated being invited, because they were down on their luck and they liked getting a good meal,” said Megan.

  “So we should go invite street people to our party?” asked Kendall.

  “No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying this situation reminded me of that parable.”

  “But what does it mean?” persisted Lelani.

  “The parable?” Megan seemed to consider this. “Well, I think it means that God has really great things in store for us—like the best party ever—but maybe it’s just the people who realize they’re poor and needy and hungry who will have the sense to come to his party.”

  “Wow,” said Lelani. “That actually makes sense.”

  “It does?” Kendall frowned. It didn’t really make sense to her. “Are you saying that God only likes poor, needy people?” Of course, even as she said this, she couldn’t deny that not only was she poor and needy, she was going down.

  “God loves everyone,” said Megan. “But it means that we have to realize we need God—that we’re like poor, homeless people without him—and then we get to go to his party.”

  Lelani nodded. “That’s cool.”

  “But back to our party,” said Megan. “How about if we all do what we can to think of other people to invite. Sometimes people change their minds at the last minute.”

  So they all agreed, but Kendall knew for a fact she was not inviting anyone. How could she? Her friends would think she’d lost her mind if they showed up here to find shoplifters, homeless people, and old ladies. No, it was better to just get this thing over with. When no one was looking, she would spike the eggnog and pour brandy over the fruitcake.

  Twenty-nine

  Megan

  “Here you go,” said Megan as she handed the homeless woman a booklet of McDonald’s coupons and a five-dollar bill. “Merry Christmas.”

  The woman grinned. “Thank you!”

  “And there’s Christmas dinner at the mission tomorrow,” said Megan. “I’m going to be there. I hope you’ll come too.”

  The woman nodded as if she was considering this. “Merry Christmas to you too, dear,” she called out. “God bless you!”

  Cynthia handed Megan a Christmas bonus and told her to go home at noon. “There’s nothing we can do around here anyway.” So Megan’s plan was to help get things ready for the party. Not that there was much to get ready.

  “You’re home early,” said Kendall when Megan came in.

  “Looks like someone slept in,” said Megan as she hung up her coat. Kendall was still in her robe and slippers, sitting on the sectional with Tinkerbell in her lap.

  Kendall made a face. “I’m having a slow morning, okay?”

  “Except that it’s afternoon now,” pointed out Megan.

  “Thanks for setting me straight on that.”

  Megan went to her room, quickly closing the door when she heard the sound of Tinkerbell’s feet tapping down the hallway after her. That mischievous dog had already sneaked into Megan’s room and chewed up a paperback book. No way was Megan letting her in now. Megan flopped down on her bed and let out a deep sigh. This was going to be one lousy Christmas. She wondered if her mom was having fun down in sunny Mexico with Louise. And why wouldn’t she be having fun? Why shouldn’t she? Really, Megan wanted her to have a good time. She wanted her to come home happy and refreshed.

  Still, Megan couldn’t help but feel envious. And lonely. And sad. Then she remembered the parable she’d told her housemates last night. Well, at least she should be welcome at God’s party. She was like one of those needy street people
. Maybe not financially, but emotionally. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what God’s fabulous Christmas celebration might be like—probably far more incredible than anything she could dream up. At least that was something to look forward to.

  “Wake up, sleepyhead,” said Lelani.

  Megan sat up and blinked. “Huh?”

  “It’s Christmas Eve, remember. We need to get things ready for our party.”

  Megan nodded. “Oh, yeah, the big party. What time is it?”

  “It’s just past four. But we have things to do.”

  So Megan trudged out and followed Lelani to the kitchen, where the countertops were covered with various serving dishes—and far more food than eight people could possibly consume. Kendall, now dressed in sweats, was glumly arranging cheese and crackers on a red platter, and Christmas music was playing in the background. Oh, so festive.

  “Merry Christmas,” said Kendall in an unenthusiastic voice.

  “Let the fun begin.” Megan picked up a bag of veggies and dumped them in the colander to wash.

  “Come on, you guys,” urged Lelani. “It’s Christmas. You’re supposed to be merry.”

  “Yeah,” Kendall directed this to Megan. “She’s all giddy because Gil is coming tonight.”

  “Well, I’m glad someone is happy,” said Megan.

  They worked quietly together in the kitchen. And although Lelani made several attempts to cheer them up, the general feeling was not jolly. And by the time they were arranging the food platters on the dining table, Megan felt like this whole party idea was not only a waste of time and money, but an exercise in futility.

  “At least we have food,” said Kendall as she popped a deviled egg into her mouth.

  “And we’re sure to have leftovers,” added Megan.

  “Fine,” said Lelani, shaking her finger at Megan. “Kendall can be the Grinch and you can be Scrooge. Have at it.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Megan. “I’ll try harder.”

  “Why don’t we all go change into party clothes?” suggested Lelani. “I mean we can at least look like we’re having fun, right?”

  “Sure,” said Kendall without a speck of cheer. “We can do that.”

  “And dress Tinkerbell up too,” said Lelani.

  “Yeah. Whatever.”

  Megan was starting to feel guilty as she went back to her room. Here Lelani was trying so hard, and Megan was acting like a spoiled brat. It even seemed like Megan’s bad attitude was rubbing off on Kendall. And not that long ago, Kendall had been enthused over this little event.

  As Megan brushed out her hair and applied some lip gloss, she decided it was time to put on her party face as well. No more pity parties, feeling jealous of her mom or missing her dad. No more questioning whether Marcus was thinking about her or not. She needed to buck up, and somehow she’d get through this. It wouldn’t be long before the Christmas holidays were just a memory and life would go on. Besides, she reminded herself, this is what came from having high expectations.

  As Megan headed back out she heard someone at the door, but it was too early for guests. Then she saw that it was Anna, and that she’d let herself in. With her luggage in tow, it appeared that Anna planned to stay.

  “Hey, Anna,” said Megan happily. “What are you doing?”

  “Making amends,” said Anna. “Is Lelani around?”

  “Yeah.” Megan hurried back to find that Lelani was already coming out of her room.

  “It’s Anna,” whispered Megan. “She said she’s come to make amends.”

  Lelani’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  Megan walked back through the living room to make herself scarce in the dining room, but Anna stopped her.

  “Please stay, Megan. I think everyone should hear this.”

  “Even me?” asked Kendall. She’d been lurking in the kitchen.

  “Yes.” Anna nodded. “I want to apologize to all three of you. I’m really sorry for the way I treated everyone. I was just very confused and I believed some things that weren’t true. And I hope you’ll all forgive me.”

  “Of course we will,” said Lelani.

  “Absolutely,” agreed Megan.

  “Not so quick,” said Kendall. “I want to hear the rest of the story.”

  So Anna explained about her mother’s cancer scare. Anna had been so terribly worried, which was why she’d moved home. “But it was only one reason,” she told them. And then she explained about how enraged she’d been with Lelani. “It was so undeserved, Lelani. I’m so sorry. It’s as if I was delusional or something.”

  “You were worried about your mother,” Megan pointed out. “It impaired your rationale.”

  “Maybe, but I can’t believe I actually thought Lelani was trying to steal Jake from me.” Anna shook her head. “Jake the Snake. Why would Lelani even want him? Just the same, I blamed her for the breakup. And then I got mad at Gil—I think I was mad at almost everyone—and mostly myself.” Anna looked at them with damp eyes. “It was like I was digging this deep dark hole in my parents’ house, and I couldn’t get out. I was so miserable.”

  Lelani patted Anna’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”

  “The whole while, I was making a slave of myself for my mother,” continued Anna. “I was so worried about her. And she could see I was miserable, but she wouldn’t even tell me the truth. She’d known almost from the start that there’d been a mix-up in lab reports.” Anna was crying now. “My mother’s health was perfectly fine, she was just taking advantage of me, holding me hostage, and the whole time I felt like I was dying.”

  Soon they were all hugging. “It’s like every single part of my life was a mess.” Anna wiped her eyes. “I wanted to hold things together, but everything was falling completely apart.”

  Megan patted her on the back. “I think we’ve all been there.”

  “I’m so glad you came home!” cried Lelani as she hugged Anna again. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Does that mean you’re moving back in for good?” asked Kendall. She was eyeing Anna’s heap of luggage with what Megan thought was a hopeful expression.

  “If it’s okay.”

  “Hey, it’s better than okay,” said Kendall. “We all missed you.”

  “My mom is furious,” said Anna. “Not that I care.”

  “I was worried about the cancer scare too,” said Lelani quietly. “I’m so glad she’s okay.”

  “Me too. But I’m still really mad. It’s like she had us all under her thumb because of her big, fat lies—her narcissistic need for attention.”

  “Wow,” said Kendall, “that’s pretty extreme.”

  Megan bit her tongue to prevent reminding Kendall about the time she had lied and disappeared and strung all her housemates along just for the sake of attention. After all, it was Christmas. Bygones should probably remain bygones.

  Soon the other guests arrived. And while everyone was cordial and seemed to enjoy the food and drinks, it was a very strange mix of people. Mrs. Fowler and Lelani’s shoplifting friend, Frances, seemed to hit it off and were happily visiting over on the sectional. But Mr. Green seemed clearly uncomfortable with the small group and only stayed long enough to sample a few appetizers before he politely made an excuse to leave. It was barely seven thirty when the shuttle service picked up Kendall’s Nana and returned her to the nursing home, where Megan suspected that a much merrier celebration was taking place. Shortly after that, Mrs. Fowler offered Frances a ride in her taxi, and then it was only the four housemates and Gil.

  “I feel like odd man out here,” said Gil. “Not that I mind being with you lovely women.”

  “Quite the party, isn’t it?” Kendall set aside her eggnog and yawned. Megan was surprised that Kendall hadn’t imbibed more tonight. But she hadn’t really seemed much like her party
-girl self lately. Maybe she was still grieving her lost romance. Or maybe she was starting to grow up.

  Anna got up and tossed another log onto the fire, then sighed. “Maybe this party was a flop, but it’s good to be back just the same.”

  Lelani nodded. “And good to have you back.”

  “Anyway, I hate to be a party pooper,” continued Gil, “but I told the parents that I’d stop by before it got too late.”

  “Well, it’s certainly not too late,” teased Megan.

  “Give them my best,” said Anna firmly. “Because there’s no way I’m going home tonight or anytime soon.”

  “That’s okay,” said Gil as he patted her on the head. “I think you’ve paid your dues, Sis.”

  “And then some.” Anna refilled her eggnog glass and took a swig.

  “Merry Christmas,” called out Megan as Gil got his coat. Lelani walked him to the door, then out to the porch. The rest of them stood around the dining room table as if unsure what to do next, with only the sound of Christmas music and the wood crackling on the fire.

  “So that’s it, then,” said Kendall when Lelani rejoined them. “Our big, whopping Christmas party.”

  “It was sweet,” said Lelani.

  “Sweet for you, maybe,” said Kendall. “Since you’re the only one with a guy around.”

  “You don’t need a guy around to have a good time,” argued Megan, even though she’d been missing Marcus just moments earlier. Despite her resolve not to, she was wondering why she’d broken it off with him. Was it because of what silly Gwen Phillips told her? Even Megan’s mother had questioned that advice.

  “Right!” Kendall laughed sarcastically as she slapped Megan on the back. “And just look at you, Little Miss Sunshine, why you’re just the life of the party tonight.”

  “That’s not why I’m feeling low,” said Megan.

 

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