It's a Wonderful Date

by Sophia Summers

  “With pieces the kids can touch and play with as well as those more delicate nativities.”

  “I love it Lily, and of course we can do whatever you would like in there. Do you have a color theme in mind?”

  “No, I leave all of that to you. Just the theme I think, I would like a reminder of the reasons for our season, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do. I will start working on your thoughts immediately.”

  “Thank you. I know it will be nothing short of magnificent.” She leaned her head back again and closed her eyes. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

  “Thank you dear Lily.”

  “You’re welcome child.” Her voice faded quieter at the end.

  Sarah searched Tricia’s face. What was going on? She feared the worst.

  Tricia walked her out. “Mama is ill.”

  “Will she be alright?”

  “We pray so, but we don’t know yet. The doctor has ordered some tests and the first results are just coming in. But you see the difference in her.”

  Sarah nodded. “Let me know if I get in the way or over burden, or, just let me know how I can help.”

  “What you are doing is perfect. She’s talked of you several times already since her illness was noticed. This Christmas is important to her, as you can imagine. She’s asked the whole family to come.”

  “Oh wow. Okay.” Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sad to hear this. I hope she’ll be well and with us for many years to come.”

  Tricia pulled her into a hug that tried to scare away the sadness. Comfort filled her but the sadness remained. “I hope so too.”

  Sarah worked most of the morning unloading boxes in different rooms and returning the storage containers back to the attic. Then she started in the front room, just off to the right of the entry into Lily’s home. The largest tree would be set up there in the corner. And then a bough on their baby grand piano, a model train, and a centerpiece for their coffee table. She’d ordered some extra pieces for the tree and the bough to tie in but for the most part, the room could be finished with what Lily already had.

  She dug in right away, fitting the pieces of the tree together. Sarah wished she had an assistant. She thought of David’s advice to ask Jessie, but she just couldn’t make herself do it, not when she knew the woman was obviously pining for David. But putting together the tree would certainly be easier with someone else.

  She took a break for a moment and moved to the easier boughs that would go on the piano. She covered the lovely black finish with a shimmery fabric and then placed the greenery out on top, draping over the sides. Then she carefully opened a well-worn box to pull out the table centerpiece. Lily had purchase this music box in Germany over thirty years ago and she pulled it out every year and listened to its music. The piece was huge and very intricate. The carousel in the middle turned and the tree had lights that flickered. Sarah carefully placed it in the center of the table. Then she moved back to the tree. The train would have to come last.

  An hour later, as she was adjusting the upper branches of the twelve foot tree, the doorbell rang. The house remained quiet. No one seemed interested in answering the door. She thought about calling out for the person to enter but then the door cracked open and a familiar voice called, “Miss Lily!”

  David.

  He peeked his head in, looked the other direction then straight at her. He straightened. “Well, hey!”

  “Hey you.”

  He closed the door and walked over to her, looking up at her perch on the ladder. “You’ve got your hands full here.”

  “I do. This tree is the crown of Christmas glory in the Townsend home. I’ve only just begun.”

  “So, she’s your oldest and best client?”

  “She sure is. And she’s your…patient?” Sarah’s mouth turned down.

  “Yes. I’m here unannounced to ask after some test results.”

  Sarah started to place things on the branches, to free up her hands. “Let me go see what she’s up to.”

  “Oh no. Don’t move. I’ll call her. I can text her daughter. Anything that doesn’t require you to leave your spot right now.”

  She laughed. Her hands were full. And she had a ream of ribbon, hanging from the bough as she moved along, she adjusted its placement. She was shaping the branches while getting started with the base décor. “Thank you. But if they don’t answer, I am happy to go back and seek them out. I know Lily would love your visit and Tricia is bound to be touched by the extra care.” Sarah’s heart ached for them. “I…I don’t know the details, but I can tell people have been shaken. Some.”

  He nodded. “I myself was somewhat shaken when I ordered the test, but there is always hope. And in her case, loads of hope.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  He pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear. “Yes, Miss Lily. I’m checking on you.” He laughed and listened. Sarah could just imagine all of Lily’s words filling his hear. “Well, I’m right here talking to your beautiful decorator if you can handle a personal call?” He laughed again and then pocketed his phone. His eyes twinkled as he winked at Sarah. “I’m to go right back.”

  “Well now, you best get going then.”

  “Yes ma’am. Seems I might be answering to a house full of women if not.”

  Sarah laughed and then called to him before he rounded the corner. “Thank you. For taking care of her.” Her voice caught and she regretted the show of emotion but she couldn’t help express her gratitude. She had a lot of love for that woman.

  He bowed his head. “it is my pleasure and honor.”

  Sarah teared up immediately and turned back to her tree. What an incredible man. Did he know how much his work meant to the families struggling with their health? Did he even realize that this town needed him? What big city would even appreciate his generosity? Lily needed him. And because of Lily, Sarah needed him too. Or perhaps she needed him even just on her own. She thought of her lights, of the hope for company on lonely nights ahead. Yes, Sarah suspected she needed him too.

  7

  David returned from an equally difficult and meaningful conversation with Miss Lily. The signs all pointed to a rare and difficult Lymphoma. And he wasn’t sure how to move forward except that she would need the best in care from a talented oncologist. He would remain present as a point person in her care, to help treat or manage her symptoms and to otherwise give support to a dear friend, but the oncologist would take it from here. And that frustrated David. Once again he was left questioning his choice as a general practitioner. Of what good or use was he to the world when he had to hand off his dearest patients to more skilled physicians in more focalized niches? He made his way back through the house to the front door with heavy steps. His hands and head hung low when he thought no one was watching.

  “It helps if you lift up your chin.”

  His head whipped up.

  Sarah was leaving the kitchen with two plates of sandwiches. “It’s true. If you hold your body so that it looks happy, you will actually feel a bit better.” She held out a plate. “Come, eat with me.”

  He took the plate without argument and followed her out to the room across from the one she was working on. A study of sorts. There was a desk in the center of the room and that is where she placed her plate and scooted up a chair.

  He sat in the captain’s chair behind the desk.

  She lifted her sandwich and took a huge bite. “Mmm. The Townsends have the best sandwiches.”

  He grinned at her overly full mouth and the muffled manner in which she was trying to speak. “That good, huh?”

  “Mm. So good. They’ve had the same cook for years. Henri. He’s French.” She took another bite.

  “And now I’m intrigued.” He lifted the overly thick meal from his plate and took his own bite, somewhat smaller than hers. But as soon as he chewed it for a moment, he was astounded. “You’re so right. This is amazing. The bacon crunched around in his mouth next to the av
ocado. The turkey was lightly smoked and the cheese was soft and the tiniest bit sharp. “I love this.”

  “Henri says it’s all about the ingredients. Good ingredients, good meal. I’ve heard him say it fifty times.”

  They ate in silence for many minutes. At last his gaze drifted over to the front room. She’d made significant progress since he arrived. “That looks amazing. I feel like I’m in some kind of store display.”

  Sarah wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Thank you. I’m not quite finished, but I was starving so I took a break.” She pointed to the top of the tree. “I could use a bit of help if you don’t mind, before you go.”

  “I can do whatever you need.”

  “Thank you. It’s the star, and those few remaining branches. I think I just need longer arms.” She pointed to him. “So you’re perfect.”

  “I hope I can get it right though.”

  “You’ll be fine. I’ll coach you along the whole while.”

  He laughed. “You’ll probably go and change up everything I touch after I go.”

  “I will not…” She paused. “Okay, I might… but if I do, don’t feel bad. I change up my own stuff all the time too.”

  He shook his head but he was grateful for the turn of conversation and for the distraction from Miss Lily’s disheartening situation. She was a fighter. If anyone could conquer this, she could, but given her age and the suspected stage of the disease, she would be the miracle case people talked of for years if she made it through.

  His finished up his sandwich. “So, what can I do for you?”

  She led him over to the tree. The closer they moved, the more impressed he was. “This is all stunning.” He reached for an ornament, a young boy playing the trumpet. “Each ornament is something special.”

  “Yes, she’s collected most of these for years from around the globe. People send them and she buys them when she sees one, and then I also paid attention to her style and added pieces that matched, to fill out the tree. I love to take the traditions people have in place and then make them look good and planned and professional.”

  “You definitely met that goal. I can’t wait to see the other rooms in this house and what you do to them.”

  “Well, lots of my work will be right here by the front door. She has a lovely garland that will wrap around and up the stairs. And then the wreath on these study doors. There’s a carpet with a sleigh we roll out just for Christmas.” She smiled. “I love my job.”

  “I can see why. And you do this for more than one house?”

  “I do. I have quite a few in the coming weeks. But I start on Miss Lily’s first.”

  He climbed up the ladder. “Ok boss. Tell me what you need me to do up here.”

  She guided him with the fluffing of the branches she called it. Then she stood back. “Ok. Now we’re ready for the star.”

  “I get to put the star on?”

  “You sure do. But Miss Lily likes to watch this part, so look smart.”

  He laughed. “You sound a bit like her.”

  “Well, I’ve known her for years.”

  “Are you related?”

  “No, but she and my mama were dear friends. I came here as a child.”

  He nodded. Then she left him, standing there while she went to find Miss Lily. He hoped the woman would have the energy to walk. She’d seemed so tired. He’d offered a wheel chair. They might take him up on it at some point but for now, she’d adamantly refused. “I will use my legs while I can.”

  He understood her creation completely. He’d probably have said the same.

  At last, Lily, in between Tricia and Sarah, joined them in the front.

  “What! We’ve got the doctor employed doing our decorations now, do we?”

  “I hope you don’t mind that a bumbling person like myself would be the one to put on your star.”

  “Oh tosh, you’re perfect.” She sat. “Sarah, you’ll tell him how we like it, won’t you?”

  “Yes, he knows. I’ll be his guiding hand.”

  David smiled at the particularities of Miss Lily. She certainly had a right to everything done in just the right manner in her own home. And he for one could appreciate extra care in presentation and in his surroundings. “I’m ready for my instructions.”

  Sarah pulled out a rather large box, opened it and pulled a huge star, bright and sparkling in the sunlight, out into the room. “This is one hundred percent crystal. It is cut at a perfect angle to get the most refractions of light and will create a rainbow affect in any room where it is placed in sunlight.”

  True to her words, as she held it up to catch the light, the room filled with rainbows.

  “That is incredible.” David could say nothing more. He stood in awe of such a piece. It must have surely cost a fortune and if he dropped it, he might never be able to look the family in the eye again. “Perhaps I’m not the one to place such a piece.”

  “You are the one, Doctor. We are counting on you.” Lily’s words tore at him. The responsibility weighing down his shoulders, sucking his breath. Not for the crystal but for the greater reminder that this dear woman really thought he could perform the miracles she hoped for.

  “I shall do my best.”

  Sarah brought over the crystal and explained the support piece. “You put this up there first. Tie it carefully with these ties. And then you can add the star.”

  He worked with great precision to do exactly what she said. She climbed up the ladder to join him, just one step down. The presence of her body, leaned up against his, gave him strength as well as a whole myriad of emotions that he tried to ignore for the moment.

  As soon as the support was in place, he gingerly took the star from her hands and reached up to attach it to the top of the tree. It sat in the direct light from two upper windows, a skylight and the almost ceiling level top of the floor length windows that lined the front wall of the room. And immediately the rainbow effect filled the room. “This is the most remarkable thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Lilly nodded. “It’s my favorite room. Until we finish the next.”

  Sarah laughed. “Now you see one reason why she’s my favorite client.”

  He worked hard to make sure the crystal was secured in every manner possible and then he climbed down the ladder. “Are you finished with this?”

  Sarah nodded, her eyes shining as she stepped back to look at her work.

  He folded it up and took it from the room and then the four of them took a minute to stare at the tree in silence.

  Until Miss Lily breathed. “It is perfect. Thank you, Sarah.”

  Sarah wiped a tear from her cheek. “You’re welcome. We’ve just got the train to finish and it’s off to work that garland.”

  “Perhaps the doctor can help with the train. I’m off to my reading room I think. Audio book this time.”

  “Of course, I’d be happy to assist.” David knew he had work to do, knew he’d be filing his paperwork late into the night, but he also knew that he wanted to help more than any of that work.

  Sarah’s face lit. “Oh that would be wonderful, thank you.”

  Miss Lily and Tricia left them to their work. Sarah pulled out the train box and opened it. As with everything else in the room it was an exquisite piece of equipment. The details meticulous carved or welded or fashioned in metal, however one did such things, and the track was equally authentic looking.

  “So, the train travels around the room, behind the couch there, under the piano and then back to the tree.”

  “This is not just a simple circle under the tree kinda train.”

  “No, nothing with Miss Lily is ever that simple.”

  He laughed. “No, I don’t suppose it is. She is rather remarkable. I’m glad to see her in her home because when she comes into the office, we only get the tiniest view of who she really is which is forgetful, confused and a kind soul.”

  Sarah nodded. “I can see that.”

  “When really, all of this lies inside her and in he
r past. There is so much more to her than I would have ever guessed.”

  “Isn’t it that way with everyone? How much of any person do we ever really see in the snap shot moments we get to meet them?”

  “True enough.”

  He wondered how much more there was to know of Sarah and he looked forward to discovering her bit by bit. “So, what do we do first?”

  “We shift the couches enough so that we can lay the track.”

  “I can do that. Muscles and brawn at your service.” He winked.

  She laughed. “Great, then I’ll start handing you track for back there.”

  “Very good.” He shifted the couches and crouched behind as she handed him pieces which he connected to each other. “You know, it’s remarkably clean back here.”

  “Oh, I’ve seen her cleaning lady. That woman moves furniture.”

  He nodded. Did his cleaning lady do the same? He’d have to ask. Once the track was laid behind the furniture, he adjusted it with precision so that the train could fit. Then they worked side by side to add pieces of the track building a journey around the room.

  He reached for another piece, hand brushing hers. “You know, I think I’ve seen you every day since we met.”

  “Which was when, yesterday?”

  “The day before, right? No, it was early this week. What day did you arrive?”

  “You’re right. It’s been a few days. I imagine I might see you every day just cause you live across the street.” She tried to act nonchalant about it, but he saw a pink to her cheeks. And that emboldened him.

  “You might find me on your doorstep more often than you were expecting.”

  “Oh?”

  ‘Well, yeah. I’m gonna be sitting in my house and you’re gonna be sitting in your house. And I‘m gonna look at my lonely walls and wish I was with you.” He shrugged. “You can always turn me away if you’re sick of me.”

  She laughed like he hoped she would. “How could I ever turn you away?”

  “Maybe we can become good at working together.”

  “So far, that’s all we’ve done.”

  Did he detect a nudge? A hint for more? “Working is the best way to get to know a person.”