Unwrapping Christmas (7 page)
“Not much, why?” She’d wait until evening to break the news that they were having Christmas dinner again. Not that he cared. He had plenty of Christmas spirit even if Rose’s was drained.
“Wanted to warn you not to wait dinner for me tonight.
I’ve got a late shipment going out and I’m stuck here.”
She felt emptiness well up inside, a lonely void. He worked so hard; he should be home, by the fire with her . . . only she wouldn’t be here either. Tonight she had to attend the Sunday school Christmas party.
“Rose, you there?”
“I’m here. That’s okay. I’ll leave something for you to eat.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll get a sandwich later.”
“Okay, if that works.” Maybe tomorrow she could fix that roast. With her luck, no one would be home to eat it.
“You sound sort of down, hon.” Joey said. “I’m sorry we’ve been short with each other. Forgive me?”
“Sure.
I talked to Jo and Jamie today.”
“Oh yeah? What about? Christmas dinner?”
She could tell from his voice that somehow her tone had given her away. “We’re hosting again.”
“Couldn’t talk Jamie or Jo into taking it, huh?
How well he knew her family. “They both had believable excuses.”
“Don’t worry about it. The two of us can handle the dinner. Christmas only comes once a year.”
“Joey, tonight’s the class party. Can’t you get away a little early and stop by the Millers’ house on your way home?”
“Christmas party? Oh hon, the party completely slipped my mind.” She heard papers rattle. “I’ll do what I can, Rose.
“It’s Christmas, Joey.” But she knew work didn’t stop for the holidays.
“Hon, I would if I could, but business has picked up, which is good, but it means more work for me, and right now I’m swamped. You go and have fun. I’ll try to wrap it up early, but I can’t promise.”
“I’d have more fun if you were there.” Everything was more fun with Joey by her side. Besides, being half a couple wasn’t any fun.
“I’m sorry, Rose. I’d be there if I could, but when you run your own business, it’s not always easy to walk away.”
Guilt. Joey worked so hard to provide for them. How could she make it harder for him all because of a Christmas party?
Where are your priorities, Rose?
Tears welled in her eyes. He was a good man. And reportedly, good men were hard to find. She had to take better care of him. If he couldn’t make the party, she wouldn’t say a word.
Magnanimous of you, Rosie.
Well, she was sorta in a magnanimous mood.
The third candle, usually for the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally pink or rose, and symbolizes Joy at the coming Advent of the Christ. Sometimes the colors of the sanctuary and vestments are also changed to rose for this Sunday. However, increasingly in many churches, the pink Advent candle is used on the fourth Sunday to mark the joy at the impending Nativity of Jesus.
Judy Thomas phoned as Rose was leaving the house.“Just wanted to let you know that Sue’s biopsy came back benign.”
Rose closed her eyes with relief. “That’s wonderful news.”
“Isn’t it? I can’t think of a better Christmas present.”
Neither could she. “Thanks for letting me know, Judy. I’ll call Sue and tell her how relieved I am.”
“There is much to be thankful for. Have a great day, Rose, and take care.” Rose hung up and immediately dialed Sue’s number.
“I just heard the good news. Judy called.”
Sue’s voice rang with relief. “I’m praising the Lord. I can’t tell you the agony I went through. I thought of everything imaginable.”
“It must have been a difficult few days.”
She paused. Apologizing didn’t get any easier, no matter how long you procrastinated.
“Sue, I’ve been intending to call and check on you, but somehow I never got around to it. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to help you through the awful time.”
Silence followed, enough to let Rose know Sue had noticed her absence. “That’s all right, Rose. I know how busy you are.”
“I prayed for you.” Rose offered a crumb, all she had.
“A lot of people prayed for me, and I appreciate every one. You know, I could actually feel those prayers enveloping me like a warm blanket, but I guess that sounds cheesy.”
“No, it doesn’t. We do feel the love and support of those who care about us, and I do care for you, Sue.”
“I know that, Rose. I never doubted it.”
Rose felt as if a load had been lifted from her shoulders. Sue always made the difficult easy. “Tell you what. Let’s go to lunch sometime soon and celebrate.”
“Why, I’d love that. Thank you, Rose, and thank you for calling.”
She hung up, promising herself to keep the date, but admittedly it would have to be after the holidays.
Thankfully, Sue’s crisis was over, which removed some of the urgency. A pity life was so hectic. She needed to call Jean. She’d kept up with Ken’s reports through snatched conversations at church. The tests were still inconclusive, and Ken and Jean would spend this holiday worrying, waiting.
Hosting the annual family Christmas Eve dinner suddenly didn’t seem so dreadful.
Class members Nina and Paul Miller’s house pulsated with twinkling lights racing through every shrub and bare tree branch when Rose arrived for the party.
Mrs. Claus in person — Nina Miller in costume —opened the door. “Rose! Merry Christmas! Joey’s not with you?”
“Merry Christmas. No, he had to work late.”
She made a face. “That’s too bad, we’ll miss him. Give me your coat. The food’s over there. Make yourself at home.”
Nina turned to welcome new guests, and Rose stripped out of her coat. She headed straight for the dessert table to fill a plate before she began to mingle. She gazed from one delightful dessert to another, suddenly grateful for her ten-pound weight deficit. Everything looked and smelled delicious, and she wanted to try it all.
Lois Gleeson openly compared her scant plate with Rose’s selection. “I’ll be glad when I can eat like that again.”
Rose eyed Lois’s plate. “Looks like you’re doing all right for someone who recently had her gall bladder removed.”
Lois laughed. “I’ll survive, but my appetite’s slow to return.”
“Other than being calorie deprived, how are you?”
“I’m doing okay. Thank you again for all the lovely food you brought. It was such a blessing. Christmas isn’t an ideal time to have surgery.”
Rose agreed. She didn’t know what she would do if some emergency arose. So many people depended on her for holiday magic.
“Since I was forced to slow down, I’ve realized most of the things that I thought were important, aren’t. From now on I’m going to live at a slower pace,” Lois said.
“Take time to pick the daisies?” If only she’d heed the advice and stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
She cared with all her heart.
“You got it.” Lois pointed her fork at Rose. “What about you? Are you feeling all right?
Rose lifted a brow. “I’m fine, why do you ask?”
“You look pale, and I don’t remember those dark circles under your eyes being quite so prominent.”
Rose stared at her, slightly offended.
Lois softened the observation. “I’m just asking because I’m concerned.”
“That’s nice of you, Lois, but I’m feeling just fine. As soon as Christmas is over, I’ll slow down.” At least that’s what she kept telling herself.
“I’m not trying to pry,” Lois said, bending closer. “But you just don’t look well, and it worries
me.”
“I’m fine. Tired, rushed, ready for Christmas to be over, but fine.”
Lois frowned. “Christmas is so special.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little cranky tonight.”
As soon as she could, Rose made her excuses and wandered away. Surely she didn’t look that bad. She’d been congratulating herself on the weight loss, and Lois made her sound like she had one foot in the grave and the other on a grease spot.
Nina wandered by, obviously having overheard the exchange. “She doesn’t mean to be rude.”
“I know.” Rose sat the plate aside, appetite vanished. She pushed back a strand of hair and winced when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the festively decorated mirror hanging over the mantel. Maybe Lois wasn’t that far off after all. She did look like a well-worn shoe.
“Have you seen Blyth?” Rose asked. Nina and Blyth were friends, not just the see-you-in-church kind of friends, but bosom buddies.
“She’s not here. I suppose you know Frank is giving her a hard time right now.”
“She mentioned something about it. I’m so sorry for her . . . can I help? Does she need anything?”
Nina shook her head. “That boy was the cutest thing when he was little. I never thought he’d turn out like this . . .driving Blyth nuts, doing drugs.”
Rose didn’t know what to say. She merely nodded.
“He lost his father, that was a blow, and then he started running around with the wrong crowd. One thing led to another.”
Rose bit her lip, thinking of Eric. Would someone, someday, say something like this about her son? Not if she could help it. But then she supposed Blyth had thought the same thing once. There was no magic formula, no crystal ball when raising children.
Teach them the decrees and laws,
and show them the way to live and the duties they are to
perform.
Had Rose done that for her children, or had she been too busy?
The center Advent candle is white and is called the Christ Candle. It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Day. Many churches light it on the Sunday preceding Christmas, with all five candles continuing to be lighted in ser vices through Epiphany (January 6).
December twenty-fourth. Christmas Eve. Winter arrived in the Twin Cities. A thin sheen of ice coated branches and shrubs. Rose was standing at the stove when Joey entered the kitchen dressed for work. She sat a pitcher of orange juice on the table and glanced at him. “Where are you going?”
He had the grace to look guilty. “I’ve got a couple of hours’ work to catch up on. Thought I’d go in early and get it out of the way.”
“You
promised
to help me with dinner preparations.”
“Hey, I will. Just give me time, and I’ll be here,” he snapped.
“I don’t have time.” Rose slapped a plate of bacon on the table. “I cannot believe this. Christmas Eve, and you have to work.”
“I’m not running out on you, I’ll be back in time to help.”
“I’m holding you to the promise, Joey.” She slammed a skillet on the burner and jacked up the flame.
Suddenly she whirled around, marched to the refrigerator, and jerked open the door. Her eyes scanned the shelf where she had stashed the groceries she’d bought for the family dinner. The tubs of dip and ingredients for appetizers were missing.
“I’m going to throttle someone.”
“What?” Joey turned to look, wide-eyed.
“Someone’s eaten the stuff I bought for the dinner tonight. Now, I have to go to the store!”
Joey swallowed the last of his coffee and made a break for the door. “Two hours. That’s all, I promise.” He sent a kiss in her direction. “Grouch.”
Rose threw a dishcloth at him as he disappeared into the garage. The door closed and she turned off the burner, grabbed a notepad and pen, and sat down in the breakfast nook to start on a revised grocery list, ear tuned to a local disk jockey’s weather report.
“Overnight freezing rain has left parking lots and sidewalks coated in ice, but the roads are clear. Don’t worry, kids! It’ll take more than a cold rain to scare Santa away from the Twin Cities!”
Downing the last of her coffee, Rose got up and began the day — her busiest of the year. The family was scheduled to arrive around five, and she didn’t expect to take a deep breath until long after midnight.
She woke up Anna and Eric and gave them chores to do, confident they’d go back to sleep as soon as she left. Clutching her grocery list, the grouch headed out to the van.
“Cream cheese, oranges, cheese in a jar, celery.” She repeated the glossary as she swung the car into the busy shopping complex. Eric and Anna were on vacation until the first of the year, so there wasn’t any frantic rush to get them fed and off to school. Maybe they would be up and working when she got home. Then again, maybe not.
From the looks of the empty cart area, the store was a madhouse. Grabbing the first available basket, she wheeled toward the front door. The parking lot was an ice rink. She inched along, careful to watch where she stepped, trying to avoid getting run over by cars backing out of parking places. Suddenly her cart veered east and her body west.
In a hail of exploding stars, she sprawled on the icy lot, her head spinning. A man getting out of his vehicle slammed the car door and rushed to her aid.
“Lie still. I’m a doctor,” he assured her.
Humiliated, she lay back while he respectfully probed for broken bones.
“How clumsy of me.” Her head whirled. The fall had jarred every bone in her body. She cupped her right hand against her stomach and then wished she hadn’t from the sudden stab of hot pain she felt in her wrist.
“I don’t think anything’s broken,” he announced. “But you’ve taken a hard fall.” He eased her to a sitting position. By now others were staring as they grabbed carts and steered around her.