Page 17 of The Christmas Keepsake
“Since I have my car, I think I’ll just go ahead of you and visit with Nan first. You can let me know when you get there.”
“Sure. Good plan.” He gave her a wink, which was something he’d do for anyone. She’d seen him wink at others. Just like Pop did. Hollis had adopted the gesture from the man he looked up to, which Mallory found adorable.
Heading to her car, she got in out of the cold and turned on the heater, soaking it in for a moment. Then she set off for Memory Oaks. A few miles later, the familiar building loomed ahead, its brick adorned with festive wreaths.
Francis, the ever-present receptionist, offered a small wave as Mallory walked inside the building. “Mallory! I wasn’t expecting you today.”
Mallory shrugged. “I’ve had early shifts at the hospital lately. I’m not a fan of waking before the crack of dawn, but it’s nice getting out early enough to spend my afternoons doing fun things. Like going to Pop’s Tree Farm and picking out a tree for Nan’s room.”
Francis’s cheerful expression faltered a touch. Mallory knew that Hollis had had to pull some big strings to get permission for the tree to begin with.
“My grandmother loves a Christmas tree, and I have some special ornaments I want to hang up for her. I’m hoping maybe they’ll refresh her memories. Hollis is packing the tree up now and then bringing it over.”
Francis was grimacing now. Mallory hoped that Francis wasn’t about to go back on her agreement to allow this to happen. “Oh. Well, there’s a small issue. I’m afraid today might not be the best time to put up the tree.”
“Why is that?” Mallory asked, concern mounting.
Francis held out her hands. “Don’t worry too much. Nan is safe and comfortable. She’s just having a bit of a rough day. All this talk of next week’s holiday dance is throwing her for a whirl.”
“The dance. Right.” Mallory remembered Hollis asking her about it last night. He’d acted strange. He hadn’t asked her to attend with him, but he’d been nervous all the same. She could see it in his eyes.
“You can certainly try to put up the tree in your grandmother’s room today though,” Francis offered.
Mallory knew better than most that the “bad days” for Nan were difficult to turn around. She hesitated as she weighed what was the right thing to do. She was so eager to get Nan’s Memory Tree started, hoping it would help Nan remember something. “Well, I have some time to visit with my grandma before Hollis gets here. I’ll see if I can get her in the Christmas spirit.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Francis said. “You visit with Nan and see if you can’t work your magic.”
Magic? That was laughable. Mallory wasn’t one of Nan’s favorite people these days, which weighed heavily on her. In the past, Mallory could go to Nan whenever she needed, even if it was in the middle of the night. Nan’s door and heart were always open.
Making her way to Nan’s room, Mallory paused outside her door and took a deep breath to compose herself before knocking gently and stepping in. “Nan? It’s Mallory. Can I… visit with you?”
The room was dimly lit with only a small bedside lamp casting a soft glow. Nan was lying in bed with a thin blanket pulled over her. She turned her head to look at Mallory, her eyes cloudy with confusion.
“Mallory?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Hi, Nan. It’s me. I came to visit.”
For a moment, Nan stared at Mallory. Then, slowly, she seemed to relax. “Mallory. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Mallory’s heart lifted. Maybe Nan was feeling better today. “I’m glad I am too.” Mallory stepped closer, eager to give Nan a kiss on the temple.
“I’ve been waiting for an hour, at least,” Nan said, her tone turning grumpy. “I’m glad someone finally came to help me to the bathroom.”
Mallory’s steps slowed. Evidently, Nan thought she was one of the medical aides.
“Oh. Yes, I’m happy to help you.” Mallory took off her scarf and the bag she’d carried in, laying them in the chair beside Nan’s bed. Then shehelped Nan scoot to the edge of the bed and stand behind her walker. Mallory kept a hand on Nan’s low back and guided her to the restroom inside the spacious room. Once she had Nan standing with her back to the toilet, she helped Nan lower to a seated position and turned away.
Nan was a very private woman. She never wanted to “misplace” her dignity. That’s what Nan used to say.Once you misplace your dignity, that’s when you start leaving your house in your slippers and bathrobe.
Mallory could hear Nan’s voice in her head with its soft Southern lilt. Nan said all kinds of unusual things that were strangely poetic. None of them told Mallory much about her grandmother though. It was hard to think that, even though Mallory had known Nan all her life, there were parts of Nan’s life Mallory knew nothing about.
“Is this the kind of job you always wanted?” Nan asked, the sound of her peeing echoing off the walls in the bathroom.
“What do you mean?” Mallory was anxious for Nan to finish so that she could show her the ornaments she’d brought. Maybe Nan would have another memory.
“Helping folks like me use the bathroom. It doesn’t sound thrilling if you ask me. Certainly not fulfilling.”
Mallory wasn’t the nursing aide here, but she was a nurse and she did help a lot of patients get to the bathroom at the hospital. “It’s not so bad. I enjoy helping others.”
