by Nancy Thayer
She drove to her house, feeling absolutely dismal. The Shedders hadn’t succeeded in pleasing Oscar. Christina wondered if anything other than money made him smile.
Well, Wink did.
Back at her house, cozy in flannel pajamas, Christina collapsed on her bed just as her phone buzzed.
“How did it go?” Louise asked.
It brightened her mood to hear her friend’s voice. Louise consoled her for the discouraging evening, then went on to discuss her own Christmas chaos, and to ask if she’d heard that Bea Montgomery fell in the snow, broke an ankle, and was having surgery at Mass General.
“Poor Bea! This is turning into an absolutely calamitous Christmas season.”
Louise assured her, “You’re just having the Pre-Christmas Crazies. That’s when all kids become little monsters a few days before Christmas. It’s the waiting that builds the tension. We adults probably have some version of it.”
“I think you’re right, Louise,” Christina said. “Talking to you is as good as two glasses of wine.”
“You can phone Dr. Louise anytime,” Louise teased. “Now, give me the scoop about Andy.”
“It’s confusing,” Christina warned.
“I can handle it,” Louise said.
They talked about Andy Bittlesman, and what Christina felt about him (mad crazy lust and love) and what Louise had heard about him (a solid stand-up good guy) and where Anastasiya Belousova was (in Paris, with Wonk; Louise had googled) and what had convinced Louise that her boyfriend, now husband, had really loved her (he named his boat Louise) and what it would take for Andy to convince Christina he loved her (was it too soon to tell?). They talked about Harriet and Jacob and how Louise’s daughter, Dora, adored Wink, and finally Christina said, “I’ve got to go to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day in my shop. It’s Christmas Eve!”
The late afternoon on Christmas Eve was always profitable for Christina because so many people came rushing in at the last moment, having only just remembered a child on their list. These shoppers usually wanted something that would be a keepsake of the island for a child, and Christina sold out of rainbow sailboats and anything mermaid or whale.
The last customer finally left. Christina took a moment to lean on her counter and take a deep breath. She needed to slow down. She felt as if she’d been in an emotional popcorn popper today.
When she looked up, she saw the tall, handsome man who’d bought the Legos walking toward her store.
He was carrying the box of Legos.
Delia Bittlesman Lombard was walking next to him.
And here we have it, Christina thought, the perfect end to this topsy-turvy day. Delia was making the man return the Legos. The most expensive item in her shop. A huge financial loss for Christina’s Toy Shop.
Hurry up! her Inner Christina shouted. Turn off the lights! Lock the door! Don’t let them in!
Her pride wouldn’t let her do that. She waited in misery as the couple came closer, closer, and then there they were, pushing open her door and stepping into her shop, stamping snow off their feet.
“Hi, Delia,” Christina greeted the other woman, forcing herself to smile.
“Hi, Christina,” Delia said, and she smiled, too, a great big, genuine smile.
Christina stared.
“Christina,” Delia continued, “I’d like you to meet my husband, Jeff. Jeff, this is the Christina Wink’s been telling you all about.”
The big, handsome man in his designer coat (Harriet would hyperventilate) came across the room and held out his hand. “Hello, Christina.”
“Hello, Jeff,” Christina responded. She pulled herself together. “You have a wonderful daughter.”
“That’s true. We do.” He turned and gave Delia a significant look.
Delia came to stand next to Jeff. “And we’re giving her the best Christmas present of all. We’re back together. We’re not getting divorced! Jeff will be here for Christmas.”
Tears came into Christina’s eyes. “How wonderful for Wink.”
“And for us,” Jeff said, squeezing his wife close to him.
“But we have a problem,” Delia cooed.
Great, Inner Christina moaned. Now what?
“How can I help?” Christina asked.
Jeff set the huge box of Legos on the counter. “I bought this because it’s the biggest thing in the shop. Delia tells me Wink doesn’t want the biggest thing in the shop.”
“That’s right,” Delia chimed in. “Wink would like the most interactive thing in the shop.”
“So what would you suggest, Christina?” Jeff asked.
“Why not surprise her with some board games she can play with her parents?” Christina suggested. She led them to the shelves stocked with board games. “For example,” she said, pointing to each game as she spoke, “Wink might like Hey, Pa! There’s a Goat on the Roof, or Qwirkle, or Carcassonne.” When Delia and Jeff didn’t respond, Christina continued, “We’ve also got Rummikub and Sequence and Llama Drama and all these old favorites like Scrabble Junior and Twister and Clue.”
“They look great!” Jeff said. “We’ll take them!”
Christina blinked. “Which ones?”
“All of them,” Jeff said.
“Plus any others you think Wink would like,” Delia added. Seeing Christina’s hesitation, she explained, “We only have Monopoly at Father’s house. We really need to stock up.”
“Well, yes, of course,” Christina said breathlessly. “First, let me credit you for the return of the Lego set. Then we’ll start on the games you’d like to buy.”
It took almost half an hour to ring up the game boxes and put them into Christina’s Toy Shop bags.
When they were finished, Christina said, “That will be four hundred and twenty-three dollars.”
“Oh,” Delia said, tugging Jeff’s hand, “let’s get her the lighthouses and ferries, too. She can take those back to New York to remind her of the island.”
The total amount of their purchases rose considerably, but Jeff Lombard’s credit card zipped its acceptance immediately.
“Thank you, Christina,” Delia said. “You were so helpful.”
“Yes, thank you,” Jeff added.
“Thank you,” Christina said weakly.
Both Delia and her husband had their arms full of packages. Christina hurried to open the shop door for them.
“Merry Christmas,” Christina said as they left.
“Merry Christmas!” they answered.
As Delia went out the door, she turned and winked at Christina.
Christina surveyed the long snow-covered wharf. All the other shops were closed. She’d had a very successful business day, but as she turned the sign to CLOSED, locked her door, and leaned against it, she was exhausted, body and soul. Money was not everything, and on Christmas Eve, she longed to be with people she loved.
She checked her phone. Mimi had called to wish her Merry Christmas and to say she was closing her shop and heading home.
Janice had called and asked Christina to return the call as soon as possible.
Christina sighed. Now what? She might as well get it out of the way. Reluctantly, she tapped “Call.”
“Oh, um, hang on,” Janice said, sounding overwhelmed. “I’m just…I’ll just…”
Christina waited.
When Janice spoke again, she sounded as if she was shut in a closet. “Christina, sorry, I’m just cooking and everyone’s around and I don’t mean to interfere but I want you and your friends to know that Oscar’s wife also sang soprano. She was extremely talented and often soloed in their church choir. Oscar was overcome with emotion hearing Harriet sing—well, we all were, really. She was amazing. But Oscar was so deeply touched that when you all left, he shut himself in his study for hours.”
“Oh, Janice, I had no
idea. We certainly didn’t intend to upset him.”
“I think it was good for you all to come. He won’t talk about it, but I can tell the carols broke through his reserve. Only a little, but still…”
“Thanks for telling me, Janice—”
“No, no, I’m coming, don’t put it in the oven yet!” Janice called. The phone went blank.
Christina smiled, warmed by Janice’s message. She’d call the others tonight—or maybe not. It was Christmas Eve. Janice was obviously surrounded by the family as she made dinner. Mimi would be with her family. Jacob and Harriet were probably together.
And she hadn’t heard from Andy.
Should she phone him? When she refused Oscar’s offer yesterday, maybe Andy had become discouraged with her. Disenchanted.
Returning to her spot behind the counter, Christina gathered together her bank bag and her credit card machine and her stacks of signed receipts. She was too tired to deal with all this right now. She wanted to sit down with a nice glass of wine and…and what? Sit alone in her living room, crying in front of Mittens?
Her friends often had Christmas Eve parties, but they started and ended early so the children could wind down and be put to bed.
In the past, whether she’d been dating or not, she’d always spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her parents. They always attended what was called the midnight service at the church. Actually, it started at ten-thirty and ended at midnight. The music was glorious. She could go by herself, but she thought she wouldn’t have the energy. And probably she’d embarrass herself by weeping. Tonight of all nights, she missed her parents.
Right now, she was too profoundly sad to cry. As she pulled on her coat, hat, and gloves, and hefted her purse and bank bag full of money, she felt heavy. Her heart was full of lead. She locked the shop door and trudged over the snowy path to the street and her Jeep, which was, of course, ice cold. She sat dejectedly warming up the car.
After a while, she listlessly drove home, past the shops with gorgeous decorations and the houses with their windows twinkling with lights.
She turned onto her street. Cars were parked nose to nose on both sides. Someone was having a party.
She turned into her driveway and gasped.
From her windows, light beamed. The Christmas tree twinkled cheerfully from her front window. Smoke spiraled from the chimney—someone had made a fire. Who? Mimi? Louise? Although she always locked her shop, she seldom locked her house. Most island people never locked their doors. Then she saw her front door open.
Wink peeked out. “Come in, Christina!”
Laughing, Christina stepped out of her car and hurried along the path that someone had shoveled to her house.
Wink held the door open wide. “Surprise!”
Christina stepped into the bright warmth, and her heart swelled with joy.
She could hear chatter and laughter and she smelled something wonderful cooking.
“Come on!” Wink said, tugging on Christina’s hand. “We’re all in the kitchen!”
And they were. All in the kitchen.
Including Delia and Jeff.
Delia, Jeff, Andy, and Oscar were seated at the kitchen table with homemade cookies shaped like stars, wreaths, reindeer, and Santa in front of them. Several bowls of icing were in service as they decorated the cookies.
“Don’t eat the silver balls,” Wink warned her. “They crack your teeth.”
Delia, holding a knife covered with red icing, looked up. “Nice to see you again, Christina.”
Christina grinned. “Nice to see you, Delia. And you, Jeff.”
“He’s my daddy!” Wink crowed. “He’s spending Christmas with us. He and my mommy love each other!”
“Oh!” Would she ever get used to the way Wink blurted out information? “How nice!”
Oscar, a half-eaten cookie in his hand, looked up. “Merry Christmas,” he rumbled, and he almost sounded as if he meant it.
Andy rose from the table. “Merry Christmas. Let me take your coat and hang it up. And I’ll put your bags and purse on the top shelf of the closet, okay?”
“Okay.” Christina was too stunned to say more.
Janice was at the stove, stirring a rich stew of chicken and vegetables. She glanced over her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Christina.”
“Oh, Janice,” Christina said, startled into action. “You shouldn’t be cooking. Let me help.”
Janice smiled a beautiful smile. “No worries, Christina. Oscar wants me to make his traditional Christmas Eve dinner. I like doing it.” She winked at Christina.
“Sit down,” Delia said. “I’ll pour you a glass of wine. And here—” Delia shoved a platter toward Christina. “I made some munchies.”
“Take my chair, Christina,” Wink said. “I’ll sit on Daddy’s lap.”
As if her legs had gone limp, Christina almost fell into the chair.
Andy returned from the hall. “We’ve set the dining room table, too. Wait till you see it.”
“We’ll eat in about ten minutes,” Janice said.
“Here,” Delia said, handing Christina a glass of wine.
“Thank you,” Christina said, surprised her voice would work. She took a sip of the red wine. Its warmth curled down inside her and her frozen body stirred to life.
“Thank you all,” she said, glancing at every person in the room. “I’m so surprised! I can hardly believe this is real.”
Wink chirped, “That’s because you think you’re the only one who can be generous. That’s what Grandfather says.”
Christina frowned in surprise. Actually, her IC muttered, he’s not completely wrong.
Oscar cleared his throat. He looked at Christina. “Never say anything in front of this child that you don’t want repeated.”
“I think we can dress the salad now,” Janice said.
“No, don’t get up,” Delia told Christina. “I know perfectly well how to toss a salad with olive oil and vinegar.”
Andy took the chair next to Christina. “You’re so quiet. Tired?”
“In a state of shock,” Christina said.
“How was business?” Oscar asked.
“Crazy,” Christina told him.
“Do you have problems with shoplifters?” Oscar asked.
“Not today, usually, because Christmas Eve is mostly adults. The shoplifters in my shop tend to be children, who snatch a marble or a sticker book, something they can easily palm and slide into a pocket.” Christina didn’t glance Wink’s way as she spoke. She took a big hit of wine. She thought she might be hallucinating, all these people in her house and Oscar actually smiling.
* * *
—
The dining room table was set with her grandmother’s snow-white linen tablecloth and her parents’ good china, sterling silver, and cloth napkins. In the middle of the table was a long, low arrangement of white lilies, red carnations, and holly. Andy escorted his father to the head of the table and seated Christina at what her parents always called “the other head of the table.” Janice brought the tureen of chicken stew to the table and Delia carried in the salad. Janice went off and returned with warm homemade rolls.
“What a feast!” Christina said. “Thank you, Janice.”
“Uncle Andy and I picked out the flowers!” Wink said.
“You did a great job,” Christina told her.
As they ate, Janice and Christina reminisced about past Christmases, when not so many people lived on the island, and there were no fast ferries.
“And,” Janice said, “if you can imagine, no catalogs except Sears! The only way we could order something was to go out the airport road and stop at their office. We ordered there, and we had to go pick up our merchandise there, too. They never delivered.”
“When I was a little girl, Robinson’s Five
and Ten was the place I shopped,” Christina said. “They had everything that was small in size—needles, sunglasses, puzzles, dog collars, wrapping paper, swim flippers, picture frames, candles, and Fruit of the Loom underwear!”
“That store smelled heavenly,” Janice added.
“I think it was the wooden floors. I miss those wooden floors.”
“My favorite Christmas,” Oscar said, “was when I was ten. Long before your time, little missy,” he added, smiling at Wink. “I asked my parents for either a bike or a watch. Oh, they had money; they simply didn’t believe in spending it. When I came down Christmas morning, there under the tree were a bike and a watch!”
“My favorite Christmas was when I got a Sparkle Plenty doll, like the girl in the Dick Tracy comics,” Janice said. “She had braids coming out of the top of her head, and I could pull them to make them grow. Unfortunately, my brother pulled them too hard one day, and she ended up with two holes in her head. My mother knitted her a pretty pink hat with a flower on it.”
“My favorite Christmas is now!” Wink said.
“I’ll toast to that!” Andy said, holding out his wineglass.
Everyone at the table clinked glasses, even Wink, who had to kneel on her chair and lean forward enough to clink. Wink loved clinking glasses.
“Dessert is ice cream and Christmas cookies,” Janice told them. “Tomorrow we’ll have a special dessert, a baked Alaska.” Turning to Wink, she said, “You can help me make it. And you can carry it in, if you promise to be careful. We’re going to set it on fire.”
Wink’s eyes went round with wonder. “Oh, I’ll be very careful!”
“Christina.”
Oscar’s voice still made Christina nervous. Weakly, she answered, “Yes?”
“We would like you to join us for Christmas dinner tomorrow.”
“Oh, please please please!” Wink cried. “We really want you to come.”
Christina hesitated. “I’m not sure…”
Delia spoke up. “Please join us, Christina.” She sounded sincere.
“Yes, Christina,” Andy said. “Please join us.”
Christina took a deep breath. “I’d love to.”