Page 34 of Welcome Home for Christmas
“Of course I can, Margaret. I would do anything to make sure those kids have the best Christmas possible. When is it?”
“This Saturday at three o’clock.”
Allison scribbled the time and date on the yellow notepad beside her. Her family’s Christmas party was at seven that same night. She could attend this event at Mercy’s Place before heading to her parents’ house, which was only a few miles away. “I’ll handle it.”
“Oh, thank you so much,” Margaret said.
Allison stared at the phone after hanging up. She pulled her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled softly, knowing exactly who should play the role of Santa for the kids at Mercy’s Place. Troy was already hers for that night. They could go together and spread joy to the children before being suffocated by her well-intentioned relatives.
Now all she had to do was figure out how to convince him.
For the rest of the morning Allison hummed her way through paperwork, doing her best to keep her mind focused. She headed out at lunch and grabbed a sandwich to eat at a picnic table outside the Veterans’ Center. Even though it was chilly outside, sitting in direct view of the sun kept her comfortable. She liked to be visible for the people who came to the Center. Liked getting to know them and helping in any way possible. That was part of her job—one of her favorite parts.
“Hey there, Allison.” A middle-aged man came to sit opposite her at the table.
“Henry. Haven’t seen you here in a while.”
Henry used to attend the Center in the fall, when Julie had teamed up with the newly hired nutritionist to teach a healthy-cooking class.
“I’ve been busy,” he said, massaging the sides of his face.
Allison studied him. “How are you?” she asked, thinking that he looked tired. His skin had a pale yellow tone to it. There were bags under his bloodshot eyes. “Everything okay?”
He didn’t meet her gaze. “It’s just a tough time of year.”
Allison nodded. A lot of people struggled during the holidays. Especially those who lived alone and had no support system in place. The Veterans’ Center could serve as that support system, though. “Are you hungry?” she asked.
“More than a little. It’s all right, though. I’ll grab something—”
Allison pushed her unopened lunch toward him. “Sandwich from the Seaside Café. I haven’t touched it and, truth be told, I’m not very hungry.” Which was a lie. Her stomach tightened as a sincere smile lifted on her lips. She could grab a bag of chips from the vending machines to tide her over.
“Thank you,” Henry said, taking the food.
“You’re welcome. And don’t be a stranger around here. I miss seeing you.”
“I didn’t think anyone would even notice I was staying away.”
Allison tilted her head. “Of course we notice, Henry. You’re part of the family here.”
“Allison?” Someone called from the back door of the Center.
She turned toward Jill, the nutritionist hired for the new Health and Wellness wing. “Yes?”
“Mr. Banks is on the phone for you,” Jill said.
Allison stood. “Coming.” She turned back to look at Henry. “Enjoy your lunch. See you again soon?”
Henry gave the slightest of nods. He looked undergroomed as well as exhausted. Maybe adding a personal care class would be a good idea, she thought, waving and heading inside. She’d put it on the list of things she wanted to propose to Mr. Banks for the new year.
—
On Tuesday night, Troy sat in a booth at the Chinese restaurant where he’d agreed to meet his mom and tapped his fingers on the table. She was late as usual. He didn’t mind. What he did mind was the six-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with rainbow-colored lights in the corner of the small dining area. The whole reason he’d picked a Chinese sit-down place was because he thought they wouldn’t be celebrating the season. Now his mother was going to guilt-trip him over seeing this tree and not hers.
Bells jingled as the entrance door opened and his mother breezed in. She was dressed in red and white from head to toe, the picture-perfect image of Mrs. Claus.
He couldn’t help but smile. He stood and wrapped his arms around her short, stout body. “Hey, Mom. Good to see you.”
She laughed softly as she always did with a hug. She was like one of those dolls that giggled when you squeezed it. “I’m so glad to see you, too, son. Although I wish—”
