Page 12 of Through the Snow Globe
“Noted.” There was no part of Diana that thought her snow globe from Linus was magical in any way. The only thing special about it was that Linus had picked it out for her. “Thank you again for the wine. And, um, the enchantment.”
“You’re very welcome, dear. Merry Christmas.” Mrs. Guzman patted Diana’s hand, the bangle bracelets on her wrist clanging quietly against one another. Then she headed back toward the door.
“Merry Christmas,” Diana called after her. Mrs. Guzman wasn’t staggering so she must not have been too tipsy. Diana followed her and closed the door, barring the frigid air. Then she looked down at the snow globe that she was still holding. She believed in enchanted snow globes about as much as she believed in Santa Claus and tiny elves.
Her cell phone rang from the dining room table, making her jump and nearly drop the snow globe for the second time tonight. She quickly walked to the fireplace mantel and set the snow globe there next to a series of photographs of her and Linus. Then she hurried over to her phone. Joann Grant’s name flashed on her screen. Diana was going to have to talk to Linus’s mother at some point. Might as well be now.
She connected the call and held the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Diana. You answered,” Linus’s mother said, sounding surprised.
“Well, you called.” Diana let out a nervous laugh, hoping she didn’t sound curt. That wasn’t her intention. “I’m sorry for not being available for the last couple of days,” she said, trying to sound warmer. It wasn’t that she was cold. Just that she felt awkward and nervous. Her instinct, when something bad happened, was to isolate herself. Linus’s mother seemed to do the opposite. “It’s been busy at work.”
“Oh, I understand,” Mrs. Grant said. “But even so, I hear that you stop by to see Linus every day. I’m sure he appreciates that.”
Diana cleared her throat. “I hope he knows I’m there.”
“Oh, he does. I’m sure of it,” Mrs. Grant said with a confidence that Diana envied. “And if there’s anyone who could pull him out of that coma, it’s you.”
How did Mrs. Grant have so much faith in Diana when she barely knew her?
“That man adores you,” Mrs. Grant went on. “He has been so excited to marry you.” Her voice cracked. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so happy as he’s been since you came into his life. It’s like a light has lit up inside him.”
Guilt whirled around in Diana’s chest. She should have set a date with Linus. Instead, she’d let her anxiety build up walls around her heart. She’d pushed him away and prioritized her work. So much so that Linus had even wondered aloud if she regretted saying yes to his proposal. He’d even said he regretted proposing to her. “How are you doing, Mrs. Grant?”
“Please, call me Joann. We’re practically family at this point, aren’t we?” Joann said on a teary sounding laugh. “I’m hanging in there.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”
“I won’t deny that it’s been hard. I miss him. Christmas just won’t be Christmas without my Linus. Nothing will be.” She sucked in an audible breath. “But he’ll wake up. I know he will. Linus is as stubborn as he is quick-witted. He’ll prove those odds wrong.”
Diana wondered what odds Joann was referring to. Had the doctors told her something more than they’d shared with Diana? Diana wasn’t officially family. The Grants had to sign paperwork to even allow Diana to be included on Linus’s medical information.
“I just wanted to call and check on you. Can I help you with anything, dear?” Joann asked.
“No, thank you. I’m fine. I’m actually just putting the finishing touches on my tree,” Diana lied. She hadn’t even started the beginning touches on the tree. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to be untruthful. Maybe it was to prove to all who wondered that she didn’t need their concern or fuss. Drawing attention to oneself was always something Grandma Denny frowned on.
“A Christmas tree? Oh, you got yourself one?” Joann sounded relieved. “I was worried you wouldn’t.”
Diana’s gaze jumped to the corner of the room where the tree she and Linus had dragged home at the start of the month still sat, untrimmed, unlit, and undecorated. She had at least been watering it every morning while her coffee brewed.
Joann cleared her throat, signaling a change in conversation. “Well, have you considered my invitation to Christmas dinner?”
Diana hedged. “Um . . .”
“Linus wouldn’t want you to be alone. He’d insist that I make sure you get a proper ham-and-turkey dinner, complete with eggnog.”
Diana wasn’t sure she could go to the Grants’ home without Linus. For the last nine months, she’d shied away from the Grants’ events even when he was right beside her. Going without him would be torture. “I’m, um, actually working tomorrow.”
“Linus always said how committed you were to your job. He was so proud of you, Diana . . . You can spare an hour to eat and open gifts, though, can’t you? Or how about I bring the gifts to you after you’ve gotten off shift?” Joann offered. “That way I can see your tree.”
Diana looked at the barren tree once more. She had no intention of trimming or decorating it between now and then. “No, that’s okay. I’ll plan to stop by your place after seeing my patients.”
“Oh, wonderful. That will be nice. I’ll make your favorite, pecan pie.”
“How . . . ?”
“Linus told us. He never stopped talking about you, Diana. We’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then,” she said.
