by ID Johnson
“And was it?” she asked, turning back to begin moving some items around on what was left of the display where the Santa had been.
“It was nice,” Josh replied, trying to keep his tone nonchalant. “Anyway, I decided to grab a cup of coffee from that bakery, the one in the picture, and the lady at the counter suggested I try the cocoa instead. She said it was an award winning recipe.”
“I didn’t know they had cocoa contests,” Lydia muttered, still shifting merchandise. “Maybe the large snowman over there….”
“I didn’t either,” Josh admitted. He was about to sneak back out the door, realizing his mother was more interested in the shop than the cocoa discussion and knowing full well the only reason he’d mentioned it at all was because he wanted to speak of his experience to someone. While he was not about to reveal anything about Delaney to his mom or anyone else, he felt like he’d been keeping a secret bottled up for several days now, and talking to his mother about the cocoa relieved a bit of the pressure anyway.
Lydia was listening after all. “Well, if our cocoa is so awful, maybe we should see about trying another brand. I wonder if that bakery would let me use their recipe, or if they have a mix we can purchase. I’d hate to turn away people from the lot because of our horrific cocoa.”
Chuckling, Josh said, “Maybe if I head toward Charles Town this week, I’ll stop by and ask.”
“I think you’re headed back north all week,” Lydia replied, turning to look at him. “You might have a trip that direction next week, but those big lots in Maryland really want our trees, and we’ve gotta give them what they want.” She returned her attention to the display and repositioned a few smaller collectibles before she mumbled, “Unless they want cocoa.”
“Mom, don’t take it personally,” Josh recommended, squeezing her shoulder. “It’s a packet from the store—not something you made.”
“I know, honey,” she said, wrapping her arm around him. “I just want everyone to have a perfect Christmas. I don’t know how much longer your father and I are going to be able to do this, and I’ve yet to have the perfect holiday I’ve always imagined in my mind. I guess I was hoping this might be it. And while cocoa is not the end of the world, if it’s something we can fix to make our customers’ experience better, I suppose we should.” She let out a sigh and then continued. “Surely I have a cocoa recipe in the kitchen somewhere.”
“I’m sure you do,” Josh encouraged her, though he would still like to use his cocoa reasoning as an excuse to stop by Delaney’s Delights.
Lydia rested her head against her son’s shoulder. “I’m so glad we have you here to help us out, Josh. This place means so much to your father. It’s a shame he won’t be able to continue for too much longer, but he’s just getting to where it’s… too much.”
She didn’t need to rehash everything for him; Josh was aware of his father’s failing health. Working long hours out in the field would do that to a person, no matter how well they took care of themselves. “I know, Mom,” he said quietly.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured into making a decision, but I have to think about what we will do if you decide not to take this place on. There are some extended family members who might want to purchase it, I suppose. But ultimately, it will probably be sold to someone who wants the land for other purposes, and while we’d intend to keep the house and a few acres, I’m not sure what it would do to your father to see all of this gone.”
A lump formed in Josh’s throat, and he did his best to swallow it. He couldn’t imagine all of this not existing. The village, the trees, the barns, the feeling visitors got when they pulled into the lot knowing they were practically stepping into Santa’s village.
Before Josh could comment, Lydia continued. “There’s something else, Josh. I’m starting to worry about his memory more and more. The other day, I walked into the kitchen to see him just standing there. I watched for about a minute before I said anything, and when I finally did, he said he’d forgotten what he came for. But he was just… staring into space. I’m afraid he’s becoming more forgetful. I’m afraid he might… forget something important. Like to put the truck in park or put the guard on one of the saws. At least when he’s in the house, I can keep a better eye on him.”
While Josh was well aware that his father’s memory and focus had been slipping over the years, he had definitely noticed a pronounced difference this year as well. It was quite alarming since Kent wasn’t really that old, relatively speaking. He’d always been sharp and detail oriented. Now, he seemed to fumble for words, to lose his train of thought, and to forget to do things that had always come second nature. Josh didn’t want to tell his mother that Dad had misplaced the keys to one of the tractors the other day and it had taken them hours to find them. When they finally turned up, they had been in his pocket all along.
“I know you’re worried, Mom,” he began, “I am, too. What does Dr. Nelson say?”
“He says that’s just part of being old. He recommended some supplements, and your father has been taking them. I don’t know if they’re helping.”
“Maybe it’s time to see a specialist,” Josh suggested.
Lydia nodded. She opened her mouth to say more, but the bell above the door chimed and a family walked in. The children, a boy and a girl about Bridgette’s and Chloe’s ages, let out exclamations of wonder as they darted around taking in all the Christmas magic.
“I’ll see you later, Mom,” Josh said as he stepped away, leaving his mom to dote over the children and help the customers. He said hello to them and made his way back outside.
The December air had a small bite to it, but he welcomed the refreshing sensation on his face as he watched his father across the lot, standing near the shaker station, talking to Payton. Ever since he realized a few years ago that his father’s memory was beginning to fade a bit, Josh started considering what he could do to help. He had discovered some apps that were supposed to help provide information to family members, help keep track of appointments, and possibly sharpen cognitive skills, but the more he thought about how apps were changing lives in so many other ways, the more Josh thought there might be a way to use smartphones to help with memory loss. As a computer information systems manager, he was well aware of how technology could improve lives. Over the last few years, he’d spent some of his spare time designing an app that would help people in the early stages of dementia not only improve their memory skills but also serve as a reminder of what they needed to do next in their daily routine. While he was still working on it, the basic premise was that the phone could operate as a memory stimulator, giving prompts and interacting with the user in a way that would help them remember what they were doing and what they needed to do next, as well as interact with them in a way that improved brain function. There was still a lot of research that needed to be done before his idea was even ready for early stage programming and design, but hearing his mother voice her concerns about his father made Josh realize he needed to do something that could help. And if his app had the potential of helping just a little bit, he needed to give it the time and attention it deserved.
For now, however, he had another trip to make out to gather more trees. With his gloves on and his stocking cap pulled tight, Josh made his way through what was turning out to be quite a crowd of people toward the tractor. There just didn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done, but he would have to find a way to make time. His father was much too important to him for there to be any alternative.
Chapter 7
It was easily the busiest Monday Delaney could ever remember at the bakery. She’d come in bright and early to get as much prepared as she could, and Cameron had been on time as well, but he’d been so swamped up front with the breakfast crowd that she’d ended up having to stop baking to come and help. By the time Edie got there, they were desperately in need of more cocoa and completely out of their most popular chocolate-chocolate chip muffins. Cameron had been reluctant to
leave to go to school, but Delaney sent him out the door anyway. Now, it was well past noon and she hadn’t gotten a chance to sit down for even one minute. She would be happy to see Courtney and Joanna arrive after school, though she was fairly certain she wouldn’t be able to leave them if business continued to boom in the afternoon as it had all morning. They wouldn’t be able to handle it.
She had completely forgotten that she was going to call Melody and ask her about going to the Christmas tree lot until her friend came by for a treat after lunch. While Melody had mentioned that she would stop by frequently since she visited her mother’s antique store almost everyday to deliver new products, Delaney didn’t see nearly as much of her as she’d expected to, and she wasn’t sure if they were both busy or if it was the distance being so far apart for several years had brought to their relationship. Melody had gone to school in Chicago and lived there for a few years only recently having moved back to help her mother out at the shop.
Perhaps it was the fact that she didn’t actually get much time to speak to her friend when she did stop by that was acting as a deterrent. That was certainly the case today. Every time Delaney started to come over and ask how Melody was doing, another customer would enter through the front door or someone would ask for a refill. Finally, after more attempts than she could count, Delaney got a second of spare time and slid over to where her friend was sitting, looking at her phone as she sipped her cocoa.
“Hey,” Delaney said, waiting for Melody to look up. They both had long brown hair and similar complexions. Often times in high school, they were mistaken for sisters. “Sorry. We’re just so busy. I feel like there’s twice as many people here as on a regular Monday afternoon.” She glanced at Melody’s mug to see if she needed any more cocoa and decided she was okay for now.
“I’ve noticed there’s been a lot more traffic lately, too.” She looked around the bakery and then returned her attention to Delaney. Every table was full, and it was a little noisy with the chatter and the festive Christmas music Delaney had playing to add to the ambiance.
She’d been meaning to ask if Melody was the one who made the flyer, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity. “I think maybe some of your advertising has had something to do with it,” Delaney replied, probing for a response. “Lots of people say they didn’t even realize Charles Town had such a quaint little shopping district.”
Melody’s eyebrows arched momentarily before she said, “Not people from around here.” She repositioned her mug on the counter. “Everyone who lives in Charles Town knows that.”
Delaney surveyed the room and noticed a lot of unfamiliar faces. A lot of the people she’d spoken to that morning were not from Charles Town. “No, a lot of them are from out of town. It’s really kind of cool.”
Melody glanced around again, her green eyes crinkling at the corners. “What makes you think that they learned about Charles Town from me?”
Several people had either mentioned seeing an online advertisement or a flyer, and while Delaney had the sheet of paper Josh had left on the counter at home, she’d managed to procure another one from an elderly gentleman who lived near Berryville. “This?” she said, pulling it out from beneath the counter and sliding it across the table so that Melody could see it.
A look of recognition washed over Melody’s face as she glanced at the sheet of paper. It was evident to Delaney that her suspicions were correct and that Melody had designed this particular advertisement. “I’m glad that it’s helping,” she said, offering a small smile, and Delaney was surprised she wasn’t more vocal about her contributions, though she had always known Melody to be very humble; she never seemed to understand the positive impact she had on others.
Now seemed like a perfect time to segue into the topic Delaney had been dying to discuss with Melody for over a week now. There just hadn’t been time, and she’d felt a little silly bringing it up at all since her hopes that Josh might show up on his own had begun to fade, but since Nana had planted the idea in her mind the day before, she could hardly contain her enthusiasm. Trying to act as casual as possible, Delaney mentioned, “And… it brought in a really cute Christmas tree farmer from Shepherdstown.”
She could tell by Melody’s reaction that she knew immediately what Delaney was getting at. A twinkle in Melody’s green eyes, she leaned forward and quietly asked, “Delaney, did you meet a boy?”
Delaney felt the heat rising in her cheeks as she sheepishly said, “Maybe.” She dropped down on the counter so that she could lean in more closely to talk to Melody, hopeful that Edie was too busy with the other customers to eavesdrop, though she was fairly sure that her coworker and friend already suspected something was up. She continued, “He stopped by last Saturday. Said he usually drives right on through or around Charles Town when he’s out making his deliveries, but he wanted to check out the downtown area for himself.”
Even though it had been over a week since she met him, and she’d only spoken to him for a few minutes, she couldn’t get the memory of those sparkling hazel eyes out of her mind. “Melody—he’s so cute. And nice. And… I really want to see him again.” She looked up at her friend, hopeful that she understood exactly what she meant and that she wouldn’t think she was being silly for having a crush on a man she’d only just met.
A small giggle escaped Melody’s lips before she said, “Well, why don’t you just drive over to Shepherdstown and pick out a nice Christmas tree? Did he tell you the name of his farm?”
Trying to give Melody the impression that she hadn’t become obsessed with Josh—after all, she hadn’t even Googled the tree farm yet—Delaney replied, “He did. I was thinking about that.” She leaned up and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “I think they do most of their sales at lots—but maybe they sell trees there, too.” Josh hadn’t really given her a whole lot of details about exactly what he did on the weekends, but she remembered he’d mentioned staying there and helping his parents, rather than driving the truck, on Saturdays.
Melody gave her a nonchalant shrug. “Doesn’t hurt to drive over and find out.”
Delaney nodded and then bit her bottom lip. She knew that Melody’s late father had been quite passionate about Christmas and that he had some well-established rules about exactly how certain Christmas related tasks had to be done. She glanced at her friend and then looked away, not exactly sure how to broach the subject. Finally, she simply asked, “Have you picked out your tree yet?”
She could see Melody’s shoulders tighten up. “No, we were going to go Saturday, but mom decided to stay home and make some soup for Mrs. Tresco. She fell and broke her hip.” Melody met her eyes only for a second before looking away.
Delaney wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. They’d known each other a long time, and while she normally wouldn’t hesitate to ask her for help, things were different now. Nevertheless, the most direct way seemed the most logical. “Maybe… you could go with me?” She watched as Melody’s eyes widened and her face seemed to pale even more than usual.
Melody began to shake her head before words even came out of her mouth. “Delaney, you know my dad’s rule: Only Murphy’s pick out the Murphy Christmas tree.”
Despite her sympathy for her friend who had lost her father only two years ago on Christmas Eve, Delaney began to grow frustrated. She wasn’t asking Melody to buy her own Christmas tree—she was simply asking her to go along as Delaney picked out hers. Beyond that, the fact that Melody seemed to pick and choose which of her father’s rules she wished to follow suddenly bothered Delaney more than she had realized. Melody’s father had insisted on naming her after one of his other passions—music—and she had been aptly named. Every year, the residents of Charles Town had looked forward to hearing Melody sing at the local Christmas Festival. However, once her father passed away, Melody stopped singing altogether, and Delaney, like most people, had difficulty accepting her reasoning. Why would she stop doing something that brought herself and so many others such joy? Perhaps that’s
why she found Melody’s response to her inquiry particularly annoying. Without thinking about how it might be perceived, Delaney asked, “So you’re strictly following your father’s guidelines this year?”
Melody’s eyes narrowed a bit, but she didn’t seem to get what Delaney was hinting at, not yet anyway. “Trying to,” she replied with a nod.
“Then I guess you’ll be singing at the festival….” Delaney began, watching the heat rise in her friend’s face.
“Delaney—don’t.” Melody’s expression seemed to be a warning that she was growing quite agitated, but it was ignored.
“Well, I just thought, if you’re following all of his rules….” Delaney continued, realizing she was treading on thin ice about two seconds too late. Unlike the times they’d teased each other about countless unimportant issues in high school, clearly Melody was not taking this inquest quite the same way.
“Do not go there.” Melody’s face was turning a bright red now and her breathing seemed shallow and quickened.
Instantly, Delaney felt remorseful about pushing the issue. “I’m sorry,” she began. She realized this had more to do with the change in her friend than she realized, and once Delaney began to explain, more emotion came out than she originally expected. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know this time of year is a delicate balance for you, trying to keep your father’s memory alive while dealing with the anniversary of … the accident.” With a sigh, Delaney placed her hand on top of Melody’s. “I just miss you, Melody. I miss the old you, the happy you. I just thought, maybe, it might be a way to bring some of that joy back into your life, if you were to sing again.”
Pulling her hand away, Melody said “Delaney, I’m not having this conversation right now.” She took her mug and slid it across the counter as she rose from her barstool.