Page 1 of The Christmas Keepsake
Chapter One
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.
—William Shakespeare,As You Like It
Thanksgiving was supposed to be all about relaxation and guilty pleasures, along with counting your blessings and loving on friends and family.
Not this year.
Mallory Blue audibly sighed as she plopped into a chair behind the nurses’ station for the first time in hours. Her legs ached, her temples throbbed, and her throat was dry. She’d had no time to quench her thirst during this eight-hour ER shift. No time to hit the restroom either.
Finally, the halls were quiet enough for her to hear herself think, which might not be a good thing. She took a steadying breath, inhaling the sterile aroma of bleach mixed with lemon. This wasn’t home by any means, but she spent more time in this hospital than she did in her own house. Especially lately.
Popping open a can of Dr Pepper—her favorite vice when working long shifts—she reached for her iPhone and checked her messages.
Maddie:Have you considered what I said?
Mallory’s momentary peace fizzled like the carbonation in her soda can. Her younger sister was referring to a conversation they’d had last week. Ever since Nan had gone to live at Memory Oaks, the bills had been piling up. These extra hospital shifts were the temporary answer, but Maddie was pushing the idea of selling their grandmother’s beloved community theater as the permanent solution.
Another text came through with a loud ping.
Maddie:You’re skipping Thanksgiving dinner tonight just to work overtime. You can’t do this forever. Sam and I miss you.
Sam was Maddie’s husband. They were newlyweds. This afternoon, they were having turkey and all the sides with Mallory’s paternal grandpa, Charlie, who also happened to be a newlywed. Mallory’s best friend, Savannah, might even stop by with her new husband, Evan. Love seemed to be all around Mallory, and she felt like the Grinch choosing work over Thanksgiving with loved ones.
Her phone dinged a third time.
Maddie:The show must go on!
It was Nan’s favorite expression, which she had used at every opportunity.
A boyfriend broke their heart?The show must go on.
Their dog died unexpectedly?The show must go on.
Their absentee mom failed to show up for Mallory’s sweet sixteen birthday party, even though she promised?The show must go on!
In this circumstance, Maddie wasn’t implying that the theater doors remain open. Instead, the show she was talking about was their lives. She’d made it clear in their last conversation that her vote was to sell Bloom Community Theater. And promise or no promise, Maddie also voted that Mallory not put on Nan’s annual Christmas play.In fact, Maddie didn’t want to do any of the things she’d promised Nan. They were supposed to go through the box of keepsake ornaments and read Nan’s journal, sharing the special memories that explained them.“I don’t have time rolling around in the past, Mallory. In case you haven’t noticed, my present is pretty different these days,”she’d remarked, talking about the fact that she had been recently in an ATV accident and was now paralyzed from the waist down.“My future is far different from the one I imagined. That’s what I need to focus on.”
Mallory empathized, of course, but Nan had raised them when their mom had walked away. Shouldn’t Nan’s wish be granted?
Maddie:Nan won’t even know if we keep our promise to her. She doesn’t remember us anymore.
It was true that Nan’s clarity of mind had been slipping away over the past year. It was rare that she even recognized Mallory’s face, much less knew her name. The “now” Nan wasn’t who Mallory and Maddie had made a promise to though. They’d promised the Nan who’d been a mother to them all their lives. The theater was Nan’s passion, and this play meant everything to her. And the town.
Nan had written the script herself, and the annual production ofSanta, Babyhad become a beloved town tradition. Last year, when subtle signs of forgetfulness had started to set in, Nan made Mallory and Maddie swear to carry on, no matter what.
It wasn’t even a huge ask. The cast was the same year after year except when cast members were sick or moved away. The set was already built, requiring only minor touch-ups each season. The script had evolved over the decades, but, like a fine wine, only for the better. Everything was in place. All they needed to do was step into Nan’s shoes and make it happen.
Mallory:Ruby Corben dropped out of the play yesterday. There’s a part for you.
Maddie’s response was quick and expected.
