Project Scrooge

by A M Heath

  It was her turn to snort.

  “I don’t hate Christmas, I just … don’t want to deal with certain things, is all.” And I was purposely going to ignore the dig to learn more about Kelly.

  She perked up her brows. “Well …”

  I waved her off. “It doesn’t matter. I’m taking on this challenge to prove to Granny and everyone else that I’m not a Scrooge.”

  “What challenge?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Granny wants me to celebrate Christmas every single day in December.”

  Viola’s eyes lit up, and her mouth fell open. “This is great, Sanford!”

  I batted away her words with a single swipe of my hand. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  Laughter poured out, and her shoulders rocked with merriment. “Bless your Granny; she sure does have her work cut out for her.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Can we go now before you make me late?”

  She sent me a knowing grin. “Sure.”

  A flash of Natalie’s brown eyes peering back at me through the window made my heart pinch. She’d likely be there when I arrived. She was almost always there. Suddenly being late sounded like a fantastic idea.

  Within the hour, I walked into Granny’s kitchen with both boxes of Christmas decorations. I peeked around the boxes and gave a curt nod to those in the room–the same three who had peered at me from the window yesterday. Likely the same three who tattled to Granny on me.

  “Where do you want these?”

  Granny closed the fridge with her hip, her hands full. “Set them by the washroom, dear.”

  I did as I was told and stretched back to my full height, eyeing the assortment of items spread out onto the table.

  “Hey, Uncle Sanford.”

  I gave Hunter a partial grin and slapped him on the back, since ruffling his hair was no longer allowed by the teen. “You’re shooting right up there.”

  Hunter grinned and stretched a little higher, his chest expanding.

  I said hello to his constant sidekick, Mia. In a way, she reminded me of Natalie, who I had yet to greet. We were once the best of friends, and we were always over here with Granny. I suppose it’s why Natalie still visited often. After a quick word to Mia, I forced myself to turn to Natalie.

  She eyed me with vulnerable brown eyes as if she were waiting for me to set the tone.

  I forced a nod and something similar to a smile. “Natalie.”

  Her shoulders slumped just slightly, and there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but I wiped the effects of it away. She gave me a timid smile. “Hey, Sanford,” she whispered.

  I pointed to the table. “What’s all this stuff for?”

  “We made strawberry jam yesterday,” Hunter said, “and today we’re gonna put bows on them, so Granny can give them away.”

  “How is any of this about Christmas?”

  Granny gave me a pointed look meant to deter me from arguing. “It has bows, they’ll be gifts, and we’ll have Christmas music and cocoa.” She turned to Hunter. “Can you–”

  Hunter leaped from his chair. “Got it, Granny!” He dashed out of the room, and a minute later “The First Noel” filtered through the house.

  I pulled out a seat, spun it around on a back leg, plopped it down on all four, then straddled it. I looked up in time to catch the small grin on Natalie’s face and the twinkle in her eyes.

  “What?” I asked, sounding gruffer than I meant to, but she didn’t seem put off by my tone.

  “I was just thinking about how you always used to do that. I haven’t seen it in so long.”

  “Well, we haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

  Natalie frowned. “No, we haven’t. But it looks like not much has changed.”

  “Nope. Not at all.”

  There was a sadness in her eyes that pierced my heart. I shouldn’t have snapped at her. We had once been so close, but that was before Kelly. And there were some things that were better left in the past. Our friendship was one of them.

  Natalie dropped her eyes and picked at the tablecloth. This Christmas challenge would be aggravating enough, but I’d have to talk to Granny about excluding Natalie. Thirty more days of Christmas, I could handle. But thirty more days with my ex-best friend was a challenge I wasn’t willing to face.

  Natalie:

  I jotted something down in my notebook, then dropped my pen and took up the mouse, scrolling further down the search page.

  Susan Green strode through the office. Her lime green shirt paused before my desk, so I turned my face up to meet her gaze. “You about done?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What are you working on?”

  I exhaled and leaned back in my chair. “I’m trying to find new exercises for Yolanda Miller. We keep taking one step forward and two steps back.”

  Susan bobbed her head. “Well, if there’s anyone who can figure it out, it’d be you.”

  I sniffed. Not that I didn’t appreciate the praise, but I wasn’t feeling all that confident in my abilities.

  Susan pulled away from my desk. “I have five more minutes, then I’ll need to lock up.”

  I nodded, already returning my attention to the computer screen, but the words failed to make contact with my brain. I lifted my eyes and stared at the misty-gray wall. Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to help her. What am I missing?

  I scanned the various notes on my paper, but nothing jumped out as the answer to her problem. My stomach dipped as thoughts and prayers for Yolanda naturally bled into thoughts and prayers for Sanford. How long had I prayed for his healing, and now, finally, I was able to do something about it? It took no time at all for Ms. Carol to put my concept into motion. And wonder of wonders, Sanford had agreed to her Christmas challenge, although I had a feeling it was the word challenge that had pushed him into agreeing.

  I gazed back down at my notes. I couldn’t help Yolanda anymore today, but I could help Sanford. Turning off my computer, I gathered my things, then headed for the door. Lord, please bless our efforts to help him.

  Minutes later, I walked through Ms. Carol’s front door, my stomach already a tangle of knots. I didn’t have to come, but … I wanted to be here. I wanted to help Sanford regain his joy. And I wanted to regain his friendship. We had been cordial to one another so far, but he was still angry with me.

  Our one and only fight rang out in my mind. Shouts like we’d never had before … or since.

  “You can’t marry her, Sanford.”

  “Stop it! You were always against Kelly!”

  “That’s not true!”

  “Yes, it is. Don’t try to deny it, Natalie. I’ve seen it on your face from the very beginning.”

  “No! You don’t understand.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I asked Kelly to marry me four years ago. And now that our wedding is finally approaching, you’re trying to break us apart. I can’t believe you call yourself a friend!” His eyes seared me with so much disgust that I took an involuntary step back.

  “She’s cheating on you, Sanford! Open your eyes!”

  His face turned so red that I thought he’d burst. If I were a man, I’m near certain he would have decked me right then and there.

  “Get out, and don’t ever come back.” He didn’t yell the words, but the low menacing tone struck hard all the same.

  “Sanford, listen.”

  He clenched his jaw and turned his back. I had no choice but to walk away.

  And four months later, Kelly had walked away too. I ached for Sanford when I heard the news, but I had known he wouldn’t welcome me, so I had kept my distance. And we’d been distant ever since.

  Reliving such a memory only made my heart ache all the more. I said another prayer for Sanford and our efforts to be Christmas Ghosts as I hung up my coat, leaving my pink and gray plaid scarf around my neck.

  I scanned the living room just as Sanford walked in. We silently nodded to one another, and the indifferent greeting struck my heart anew. Lord, please br
ing him to the end of his bitterness. I miss him.

  I turned on my heel and strode into the kitchen to help Ms. Carol and give myself time to control my emotions.

  “What are we doing today?” Sanford said, striding into the kitchen.

  Sanford’s deep voice suddenly behind me made my insides start. I kept my face glued to Ms. Carol.

  “Let’s see. We finished the jam on the first, took turns reading Luke on the second, and saw the high school play on the third.” She sat at the table, essentially inviting me and Sanford with her. Hunter and Mia strode in then, as if they sensed the conversation, and took seats around the table. “We need to focus on decorating.”

  Sanford lowered his brows, his eyes darting from side to side. “Your house is fully decorated inside and out, Granny.”

  She grinned. “Mine is. Yours isn’t.”

  Sanford’s face fell, but, to his credit, he didn’t say anything. At first. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to the boxes of decorations. “I’m not hanging that stuff back in my house.”

  Again, Ms. Carol only smiled. She reached out and patted his arm, something I wished I had permission to do. “I already thought of that, dear. We’re going to give those boxes away to a family who is just starting out.”

  Sanford nodded his approval.

  “So, for the next three days, we’re going to work on decorations. The old-fashioned way. We’ll make homemade ornaments today. Tomorrow, we’ll string up popcorn before going to church. Thursday we’ll make wreaths. And Friday, we’ll go pick out a live tree and decorate at your place. Oh, and Saturday, it’s supposed to warm up nicely, so we’ll hang the lights on your house then.”

  I watched as Sanford chewed on the inside of his lip and said nothing, but his expression spoke plenty. At last, he said, “Fine. What are we making tonight?”

  Ms. Carol turned to the kids. “Hunter and Mia, take those decorations to my trunk, please. And don’t forget the tree box. Natalie, clear off the kitchen table. Just set everything over yonder.” She pointed to a cabinet against the far wall.

  I rose from my seat to get started, grabbing the cookie jar off the table.

  “Sanford, there are some bags on my bed; bring those in here. And I’ll finish up the cocoa.”

  Sanford cut his eyes to me and grimaced. “Granny, exactly how much cocoa am I supposed to consume this month?”

  I held a giggle back with my hands.

  Ms. Carol stirred her concoction from the stove, a tempting minty scent wafting in the air.

  “I have several new recipes to try out, so we won’t have to drink the same thing each and every time.” She shot him a look over her shoulder. “You haven’t gotten those bags in here yet?”

  Sanford caught my gaze again and sent me a pinched grin, one that told me he was choosing to behave but didn’t want to.

  I silently chuckled, waved him on, and returned to my task.

  “We’re done!” Hunter announced, as they flounced back into the kitchen moments later.

  “Ms. Carol, do you want me to leave the tablecloth on?”

  Sanford strode back into the room just then. “Gee, Granny, did you leave anything in the craft store?” He grunted as he set four bags on the table, their plastic sides bulging.

  Ms. Carol turned from her stove and took in the scene. She patted Mia and Hunter on the shoulder. “Good. Just stand over there and wait a minute. Natalie, there’s a plastic tablecloth in one of those bags, let’s swap the covers out so I can toss the plastic one after our crafting sessions.”

  “Alrighty.” I turned for the bags.

  “Sorry,” Sanford muttered and quickly moved the bags from the table to a couple of chairs. “I’ll find it.”

  I stripped the table and folded the cloth, laying it aside just as Sanford was pulling a red plastic one from a bag. He ripped it open and pulled it out, unfolding it as he did so.

  I reached for one end, and, without comment, we stretched it across the table from opposite ends. I looked up and locked eyes with him, but he quickly shifted away, taking my hope along with him.

  Ms. Carol dished up the cocoa, then organized her supplies while we sipped the drinks and waited. At last, she stood before her table, hands clasped at her chest, and a smile on her lips. “We’re ready.”

  She arranged us, putting me and Sanford on the same side of the table, with the kids across from us, and herself at the head, and our supplies on the other end.

  “We’re going to work in stations. Mia and Hunter, I’m going to let the two of you paint.”

  They shouted for joy.

  “Natalie and Sanford, the two of you have the hot glue guns and all the glitter and jewels. I’ll tend to all the bows and loops and such.

  Ms. Carol set her list of projects beside her and began organizing her crew. It was hard to tell exactly what we were making at first, but over the course of the next couple of hours snowmen, reindeer, crosses, snowflakes, and trees began to take shape.

  “Stupid glue,” Sanford muttered beside me.

  I cut my eyes to him and caught him waving his finger. Again.

  I pinched my lips together to keep from smiling.

  Sanford looked up, catching me in the act. He sent me a playful glower and shook his head, which only made me giggle. The heat in my chest fanned out.

  This is what I had missed.

  Sanford:

  Another hour of torching my fingertips, and we were almost finished with a great arrangement of ornaments. Already, our supply section was dwindling, while drying ornaments stretched out in their place.

  “Mia, your dad is here,” Granny said.

  “Alright,” she said, reluctant to leave her place at the table.

  Hunter rose when she did and walked her out. Granny stood as well. “Hold up, you two. I need to speak to Mia’s father before he takes off.” She followed them out the door, leaving me alone with Natalie.

  It was odd being anywhere near Natalie, much less alone with her. There was something so familiar and soothing and, yet, unnerving all at the same time. It was like finding your favorite childhood candy, only to realize that it was too sweet for your grown-up tastes. Maybe I had outgrown our old friendship.

  I slid a glance to Natalie, but she had her head down, concentrating on the jewels she was gluing to the popsicle-stick tree. She was the same person she’d always been, it seemed. And that was part of the problem. Yet something familiar pulled at me, tempting me to let go of my good sense and let her back in. Memories of the two of us laughing, snacking, doing homework, and swapping secrets here at this very table mingled together in my mind, just as the chocolate and mint lingered on my tongue. Was it possible to return to what we once had without the pain?

  Finished, Natalie stood and stretched her back.

  I jerked my head away so as to not be caught staring at her.

  But when she stood up and crossed the room to the pot of cocoa, I snatched up my cup and followed her, which was highly stupid of me, but I was standing before I realized it and doing anything less than following through would make me look even dumber.

  Natalie refilled her cup, then turned to me, angling the ladle at me.

  “Uhh, yeah.” I handed her the cup, and, without comment, she refilled it and handed it back. I mumbled my thanks but jerked my gaze up at the sound of her low laughter. “What?”

  She set her cup down on the counter then reached out, her fingers caressing the side of my beard with her feather-light touch. My heart turned over in my chest. I growled. I didn’t want to respond to any woman, but most certainly not her.

  Her hand stilled, and she slowly retracted it, raising her eyes to meet mine. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You had a bit of glitter in your beard.”

  I was struck stupid, locked into her gaze. I exhaled, letting some of my steam evaporate with it. “Yeah, well,” I said in a lighter tone, brushing my chest, “I’m likely covered head to toe in the mess.”

  She giggled again, and I allowed
myself to smile along with her, the temptations of an old friendship drawing me back in.

  I still needed to talk to Granny about Natalie being here every day. And the first chance I got, I would do just that. Distance was my best friend now. It had taken me six years to get over the damage Kelly and Natalie left behind. I couldn’t keep getting close to the very thing that had broken me.

  Fourteen sneakers thundered the length of the court and stopped at the sideline. The boys bent over, with hands propping their frames up at the knees, and angled their heads up at me, their chests heaving.

  “Bring it in.”

  In a matter of seconds, there was a ring of sweaty-faced boys surrounding me. They plopped down on the floor, breaths still panting.

  I squatted down. “One more week until our first game. That means only two more practices. Do all you can to be here for both of them.”

  Heads bobbed.

  I could have talked for another forty minutes on the finer details of the game, but it wouldn’t sink in when bellies were hungry and bodies were tired. We’d just have to go at it again next week. Besides, I apparently had a tree to decorate. I gave the boys a quick pep-talk, then dismissed them.

  “Put the balls up,” I called out, forcing them to stop charging for the door and spin back around in search of a basketball.

  Jasyn dribbled his to the far net and did an almost coordinated left-handed layup.

  I eased my way down the length of the court, very much aware of Kelly walking down the bleachers. I couldn’t seem to stall long enough and soon found myself in the throes of the crowd before Kelly managed to disappear.

  I had just finished chatting with one of the fathers when the high-pitched squeal of a woman caught my attention. “Ohhhh! You’re pregnant! I thought I noticed a sweet little bump.”

  Caught by surprise, I instinctively turned to the pair, realizing too late the woman was talking to Kelly.

  “When are you due?”

  Kelly’s eyes collided with me, then darted away. “Uhh, in April.”

  I pulled myself away and caught Megan’s meaningful look. She beckoned Tristin to follow her out the door.