Hope at Christmas

by Nancy Naigle

  “Maybe RayAnne should come live with us after all,” Jon said. “It’s what she wanted all along anyway.” Ashley nodded in agreement.

  “You were dead set against that just a few months ago.”

  “Things have changed.”

  “So I’ve heard. And in case you’re too dimwitted to put two and two together: your rain check and the news about your new baby are what sent RayAnne off on that dangerous little excursion. So don’t talk to me about knowing how to raise a child. You were unkind and a coward. Get your priorities straight.”

  “I’m sure—” Ashley stepped forward, but Jon blocked her with his arm.

  Jon looked visibly shaken. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

  “Well, that’s exactly what happened. After your bombshell that you weren’t coming on Christmas, either, she locked herself in her room. She was totally devastated. Then she snuck out and went over to her friend’s house. That’s when all of this happened. You can’t keep jerking RayAnne’s emotions around.”

  “I have broken a lot of promises lately.” He glanced over at Ashley. “That won’t happen again.”

  “I really hope not.” Sydney leaned back to look in the room. RayAnne was hugging her pillow. “Not only is it too much for her, but I’m really tired of trying to resolve all of these issues you are causing. I promised myself I wouldn’t badmouth you, but you are making it very challenging.”

  “We’ve got to go,” Ashley said, nudging Jon. “We can still make it on time if we leave now.”

  Jon scrubbed his hand across the scruffy whiskers on his chin. “We’re going to miss that flight.”

  Ashley let out an unhappy huff, then went and sat in a chair across the way and started scrolling through her phone.

  Sydney resisted the urge to comment. He’d chosen his path. She wasn’t part of it, and she was starting to feel very good about that. She had better things to do.

  “We’re going to need to replace that four-wheeler,” Sydney said. “She took it without permission.”

  “Why would she do something like that? That’s not like her.”

  “She was upset. She was already sad about you cancelling plans. And then the new baby news made her think you didn’t love her anymore. Like she was going to be replaced.” Sydney glanced over at Ashley. “Kind of like I was. With no notice. On a holiday.”

  His jaw pulsed. But he didn’t argue.

  “Excuse me.” She turned to see that Mac had walked up behind her. “Hi, Mac.”

  “Good morning. I don’t want to interrupt. I just had to know how y’all were doing. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all,” Sydney said. “Thanks for coming.”

  “How is RayAnne this morning?”

  “The doctor was just here. Things are going to be okay. They’re going to keep her one more night just to be on the safe side.” She could feel Jon’s piercing eyes. “This is my ex-husband,” she said. And boy, did that feel good and final. “Jon, this is Mac.”

  “Jon Ragsdale.”

  The surprise in Mac’s face was pretty clear.

  “Oh, you’re RayAnne’s father. Sweet little girl. She and my son have become good friends. Nice to meet you.”

  “Your four-wheeler, I’m guessing?” The words held an accusatory edge.

  “My son’s.”

  “I understand she took it without permission. I’ll replace it.”

  Mac just nodded.

  Jon looked like he was sizing Mac up, then looked at Sydney and said, “I’m going to go back in.” Ashley scurried past them and raced to Jon’s side, wrapping her arms around his bicep.

  Jon looked annoyed, but he didn’t say anything else as he went into RayAnne’s room, closing the door behind him.

  Sydney smiled at Mac. “I’m so sorry I lashed out at you.”

  “You okay?” Mac asked.

  “Yes. Better than I’ve been in a long time.” She glanced over her shoulder. “That’s becoming old news.”

  He smiled. “I still owe you a picnic under the stars. You think they’ll let her come home tomorrow?”

  “The doctor said he expected she’d be fine to come home Christmas Eve. He wants to keep her the extra night to watch the head injury and get the physical therapist to help her work with the crutches a little. Probably a good thing. I’m going to have to figure out how to get her in and around the house. Those stairs aren’t going to be crutch friendly.”

  Mac nodded, chewing on his lip. “You two should come and stay with us. You can use the bedrooms downstairs. You’ll have plenty of privacy, and she’ll be able to get around more easily as she’s figuring out the crutches. Although you’ll be shocked at how fast she’ll get the hang of it.”

  “We couldn’t impose.”

  “Why not? Please do. She and Seth will have fun.”

  “That’s not necessary. I don’t blame you, Mac. RayAnne’s accident was all of her own doing. Well, Jon motivated it, but please don’t feel bad. She told me everything.”

  “I’m not making this offer because of guilt. I want to help. Selfishly, I’d enjoy having you in my home for the holidays, too. Come on. What do you say? It’ll be so much easier with our help.”

  Sydney felt things shifting. It was a little dizzying, but in a good way. Her attitude. The walls she’d been holding up. The fear of being hurt again, all falling away.

  It was almost like she’d been parked on a hill and someone just took off the emergency brake. The accident had shaken her in an unexpected way. It was Christmas and she wasn’t going to be alone. She had her daughter, and new friends, and new opportunities lining up for her. A new world with bright possibilities.

  “Let’s just roll with it,” he said.

  And she wasn’t really afraid … for once. “I think I can do that.”

  Ashley walked out of the room and right past them, moving down the hallway.

  “That was interesting,” Mac said.

  “Did she look mad to you?”

  “Not happy.” He watched as Ashley got on the elevator. “Some people don’t know how to be happy. That’s not us though.”

  Jon walked out and stood between them. “RayAnne’s pretty banged up. Sydney, I’ve made some mistakes.”

  And this day was just piled with surprises. An admission from Jon? She’d have put money on that never happening. “Yeah. Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?”

  “It really does. I’m going to make all of this right. I’m really sorry I’ve been such a jerk.”

  Jon gave Sydney’s shoulder a squeeze and shook Mac’s hand. “I’ll get a check over to you for the four-wheeler. Just have Sydney get the details over to me.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll call you later,” Jon said. “Ashley was going to make some calls. I guess she went downstairs.”

  Mac shrugged as Jon walked away. “Y’all don’t look like a pair.”

  “We were. Once upon a time we were a really good pair.” For the first time in a while she was able to say that without feeling anger or disappointment.

  “Sydney!” Diane called out from the opposite end of the hall. She rushed forward in rather a frantic pace, waving one arm above her head.

  “I should have called her. I totally forgot,” Sydney left Mac standing there as she hurried to meet Diane halfway down the hall. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve called to give you an update. She’s going to be okay. You didn’t have to drive all the way out here.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad to hear the good news. But that’s not why I’m here.” Diane looked past Sydney. “Hi, Mac.” She lowered her gaze and whispered to Sydney, “Did he stay here all night with you?”

  Sydney turned her back on Mac and nudged Diane. “No. He just got here, too. Never mind that.” She looked over her shoulder then spoke so he could hear. “Why are you here then?”

  “It’s Bea. Someone found her collapsed in the bookstore. Tony heard it on the scanner and called me. I went right over there. They just brought h
er in,” Diane said.

  “No. This can’t be happening. Is she going to be okay? What kind of Christmas is this? Everything is going haywire.”

  “I know,” Diane said. “It didn’t look good. I thought you’d want to know. But don’t worry. Don’t give up hope. If there’s any time things can work out, it’s Christmas.”

  “There’s always hope at Christmas. I sure have been praying for a lot of it lately.”

  “I’m going to go back down and stay with Bea. She doesn’t have any family, you know. I lied and told them I was her granddaughter. I don’t think they really believed me, but they let me in.”

  “She needs someone with her.”

  “They were putting her on a ventilator when I left.”

  Sydney held her hand to her heart. “No. I’m so torn. I want to be with them both. Keep me posted. I have my phone. And tell me when I can come see her.”

  “I will.” Diane turned and headed back to the elevators.

  Sydney glanced into RayAnne’s room. She looked to be resting comfortably. She stepped right into Mac’s arms and let the tears go. “RayAnne. Now Bea is in the ER. What more could go wrong?” She regretted saying it as soon as the words left her mouth.

  Mac wrapped his arms around her. “You’re going to be okay,” he said, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I’m here. We’ll get through this.”

  She placed her hand against his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong, and she felt safe there.

  “I can wait here with RayAnne if you want to go down and check on Bea,” Mac said.

  “Would you mind?”

  “Not at all. Haley is with Seth. I can stay as long as you need me.”

  “Thank you. Yes. I need to see Bea.” Sydney leaned back. “Thank you for being here.”

  He kissed her on the forehead.

  The kiss sent an unfamiliar feeling racing through her. She wasn’t sure what to even make of it, but right now she needed to get to Bea. She could analyze her emotions later. She jogged down the hall and pressed the button on the elevator. She followed the signs to the emergency room. Diane wasn’t in the waiting room.

  Sydney walked over to the desk. “My aunt was brought in just a little bit ago. Bea Marion. Can I see her?”

  The woman gave her a double-take, then typed on the computer, and then asked her to take a seat near the door. Sydney sat waiting.

  A moment later a nurse came out. “Are you here to see Bea Marion?”

  Sydney got up. “Yes. Can I see her?”

  The nurse led her inside. Then stopped before going any further. “I’m sorry. She didn’t make it. Her granddaughter is back there with her. Would you like to join them?”

  “Diane?”

  “Yes,” the nurse said.

  Sydney blinked back tears.

  The nurse pushed two tissues into her hand and guided her to a room at the end of the short hall. As soon as Sydney walked in, she and Diane both cried and clung to Bea’s hand.

  “This can’t be happening,” Sydney said. “Bea, you were helping me find my way again. I need you.”

  “You’re going to be fine. I promise,” Diane said to Sydney. “Hopewell will always be here for you.”

  Sydney’s body felt too heavy to move. And all of the strength she’d mustered to get through the night with RayAnne just crumbled away. “She was such a big part of everyone’s life in this town.”

  “She’d slowed down, but I don’t think anyone expected that she’d…”

  “I know. Did you get to talk to her?”

  Diane shook her head. “No. I mean I told her we loved her and needed her, but she was out of it. And that was before I came up to tell you. She didn’t respond. I don’t know if she could hear a thing.” Diane hugged Sydney, the two of them holding hands. “When I came down, she was gone. She looks very peaceful.”

  Sydney noticed the slightest grin on Bea’s face. “Bea talked about going home to be with Henry again one day. I pray he came and held her hand all the way to those streets of gold.”

  “We’ll have to figure out who might know what her final wishes were.”

  “She’d gone to see her attorney one morning this week before she came to the bookstore, so he must be here in town.”

  “That makes it easy. There are only two in Hopewell. One is the mayor.”

  “They seemed to be very close. I’d start with him,” Sydney said. “I have a key to The Book Bea. I can look in the office to see if she had any documents on file there tomorrow when we get back.”

  Sydney wasn’t even sure how much time had gone by when an older woman in a cheerful holiday cardigan walked in carrying a clipboard. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you,” Diane said.

  Sydney lifted the wet wad of tissues to her eyes again. Fresh tears streamed down her face.

  “Do you know who your family would like to handle the arrangements?”

  Diane and Sydney looked at each other, then Diane said, “Cooper Funeral Home in Hopewell.”

  The woman scribbled it down on her clipboard. “I’ll give them a call and get things scheduled for you, dear.”

  “Thank you,” Diane said.

  Sydney waited until the woman left. “How did you know that?”

  “I didn’t,” Diane said.

  “You can’t just make a decision like that.”

  “It’s the only funeral home in Hopewell. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

  “Oh.” There were more advantages to living in a small town every day.

  Diane placed her hands on Sydney’s shoulders. “Look, you have been through so much the last couple of weeks, and the last twenty-four hours has been a real doozy. I’ll take care of the stuff down here. Go spend time with RayAnne. Call me if there’s anything you need me to do before y’all come home.”

  “Call me before you leave,” Sydney said.

  “I will. I’m so glad you came back to Hopewell, Sydney.”

  “Me too.” She walked down the hall and stopped in the chapel. She knelt and bowed her head. “Please let my little girl be okay. I’ll do anything. Anything at all. Just let her be healthy and happy again. Please take care of the people I love.” She then silently prayed for Bea, for RayAnne’s speedy recovery, and for clarity about what path she should be following herself. She stood, then knelt one more time and prayed for Jon.

  Feeling more at peace, she stopped in the bathroom and pressed a cold rag to her eyes, then went back to RayAnne’s room.

  Mac was sitting in the chair in RayAnne’s room, watching television.

  “Thanks,” she said quietly.

  He got up and nodded toward the door. As they got to the hall, he said, “She didn’t even know you were gone. She slept the whole time. You’re upset. Is everything okay?”

  She shook her head and buried her face into his chest. His hand pressed the back of her neck, holding her tight. Letting her cry. No words. Just his arms around her.

  “It’s been a rough few days,” he said.

  “Bea.” She pulled in a breath. “Mac, she didn’t make it.”

  A crease formed between his eyes. “Wow. I didn’t expect that.”

  “She’s been so great. Making me feel so welcome in this town. Giving me purpose and building my confidence. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “She will not be forgotten. I can promise you that.”

  Sydney shook her hair back behind her shoulders. “I know. I should be so lucky to live to be the kind of person Bea was.”

  “You already are, Sydney. What can I do for you?”

  “Nothing. You’ve already given me everything I need,” Sydney said. “I feel stronger just for you being here, and giving me a safe place to land.”

  “I’m here for you.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll get my place ready for y’all to come stay. Can I pick up anything for Christmas Day from your house?”
r />   “Oh gosh, I could probably do it when I get home tomorrow.”

  “Just let me help. There’s going to be a lot to do with checking her out of the hospital and making the trip back.”

  “If you could go by Wheelies and get her bicycle that would be great. It’s the one in the window. He doesn’t know I’m picking it up, though.”

  “I know Wes. We go way back. I can do that.”

  “And there’s a bag of stuff in my front hall closet for the stockings. If you could pick up the stockings and that stuff. That’s pretty much all I did.”

  “Perfect. Christmas isn’t about the gifts and toys. It’s about the fellowship. It’s going to be a wonderful Christmas.”

  “You’re right. I just want my girl home with me.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. Lips to lips. “This is good.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The physical therapist had RayAnne standing and maneuvering with crutches in under fifteen minutes. The woman pushed RayAnne to sit, stand, walk, turn, lie down, and get up. Sydney fought the urge to intervene. Her daughter had just had surgery to pin her ankle back together. Her toes were so purple they were painful to look at, much less walk on. What was this woman thinking? Sydney finally walked out of the room to keep herself from telling the woman to ease up and give RayAnne a break.

  After the physical therapist left, RayAnne was back asleep, only waking up when dinner arrived and when the nurses came in to check on her through the night.

  In the morning Dr. Kelly showed up before eight o’clock to check on RayAnne and sign her release papers. “I hope you have a merry Christmas,” Dr. Kelly said.

  “Thanks, Doc,” RayAnne said. “I can’t wait to get back home.”

  Mac walked in just as RayAnne was trying to move from the bed to the chair in her crutches the way the physical therapist had shown her. “You’re pretty good at that.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Mac,” RayAnne said.

  Mac handed a paper bag to Sydney. “I thought RayAnne might need some clothes to change into so I brought her some sweats of Seth’s. Figured you could slit the leg if you needed to for the cast. He’s outgrown them anyway.”