Page 116 of Share with Me

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Brinley wassad to see her brother go home right after breakfast on Christmas Day. But she was glad that he agreed to return that gift from Phinn, whatever it was. It was a small box of something and Brinley could guess he wanted to resuscitate their dead relationship.

And she was glad that Mom and Dad had called from Paris to wish them a merry Christmas though she didn’t feel that it had been necessary for them to apologize to Dillon for taking the family jet. It was Dad’s BBJ and he could fly that plane wherever and whenever he wanted.

After dropping Dillon off at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Brinley drove Aunt Ella to Brunswick Senior Living Community for lunch with Hiram and his friends. Her news last night could’ve been alarming. Brinley was thankful to God that Aunt Ella hadn’t pulled a Zoe. It was a relief to her that all Aunt Ella had announced was that she was moving into the Brunswith Senior Living Community the day after Christmas.

Whew. At least Aunt Ella hadn’t said she was moving in with Hiram, though they would, technically, be in the same building.

Aunt Ella’s one packed suitcase was at the back of the SUV together with a couple of gifts that Brinley had purchased for the McMillans.

“I still can’t believe they expedited your application to live here.” Brinley pulled up to the community gate.

“It does help when you offer to buy up lands on both sides of the property.”

“You what?” Brinley nearly slammed on her brakes.

“To expand BSLC so more retirees can live here. Make it a resort.”

“They’re going to give me a nurse on call around the clock, three meals a day and all the snacks I want, plus friends. That alone is worth it, dear.” Aunt Ella placed a warm hand on Brinley’s arm.

Brinley could barely look at her.

“I hope you’ll come to visit me often, Brinley. You’re the only family who does.”

“I will, Aunt Ella. I will.”

“Thank you for my Bible,” Aunt Ella said as Brinley pulled to a stop in front of the BSLC cafeteria entrance.

“Did you download it?”

“Yes. Hiram helped me put it on my smart phone. He’s very techno-savvy.”

Techno-savvy?“Where did you pick up that word?”

“Don’t underestimate us seniors, child.”

Before Brinley could figure out how to get Aunt Ella into the building and park the car, Aunt Ella was shrieking in delight.

“Look, Hiram’s over there.” Aunt Ella pressed a spindly finger to her heaving chest.

Brinley slowed down the SUV in case any overly excited senior walked into her path. She parked the vehicle right in front of Aunt Ella’s welcoming party, which included Hiram leading the pack and the people whom Brinley recognized had given Hiram a hard time during his Wednesday night sermon.

That very night Brinley accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.

It was still sinking in.

Brinley was glad that she hadn’t missed the opportunity to thank Hiram for the sermon when he joined them for Christmas Eve dinner at The Cloister the evening before. It had been interesting for Brinley to see Dillon’s shocked and disappointed reaction as Hiram explained to him what Brinley had done.

Seeing Aunt Ella so happy with her new friends in the latter years of her life made Brinley resolve that she would enjoy life on earth, however short or long it was, and to know God more, the God who had come down to earth to save her soul.

What Christmas is about.

* * *

One more stop for Brinley. She pulled up to the McMillans’ house to find the whole place decorated for Christmas. There were icicles hanging off the porch railings, and even a plastic tree next to the two cheap plastic chairs. Before she could reach the front door, Ivan and Yun burst out shouting, “Merry Christmas!” to her as Ivan began to sing “Go Tell It on the Mountains.”

Brinley tried to keep her face set to “grin and bear it,” but every time she clapped for it to be over, Ivan went through the refrain again. And again.

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