Page 7 of Promise Me This Christmas
It should have been longer…like forever.Larkin bit back the reply she would have made if her grandmother hadn’t been present and gave a vague smile.“It sure has.”
“How have you been?”
When Larkin hesitated, her grandmother stepped in.“She’s done so well for herself in Denver.But I’m still hoping she’ll come back to Montana one day.”
Jeez, they were really ganging up on her.She needed to get out of here.“Are you finished your hot apple cider, Gran?”
“Yes, but I’d love some more, please.”
“But, Gran.It’s time for your exercises, remember?”She’d said the right thing.Her grandmother, very anxious to regain her mobility and the lifestyle she’d once enjoyed, immediately set down her mug.
“You’re right.No more cider for me.Sorry to run out on you, Carson.But we’ll see you for dinner.”
“Yes, you will.”
His words sounded like a taunt to Larkin.What kind of game was he playing here?It must be obvious that she had no interest in talking to him, that she found his presence distressing.Why wouldn’t he do the gentlemanly thing and let her be?
Maybe if she gave him another chance…?“I’m sure you have more exciting things to do with your evening than take us out to dinner,” she said as she positioned the walker and helped her grandmother to standing.
“I don’t,” he said simply.
When her grandmother beamed, Larkin realized she had to give up.She took a final glance at Carson, expecting to see him gloat.But far from looking self-satisfied, his expression was thoughtful and maybe even a little sad.
“Need any help?”he asked as he stepped aside to make room for them.
“We’re fine.”Larkin let her grandmother set the pace as they made their way down the hall and into the Mable Bramble suite.This suite was why they’d chosen to stay at Bramble House during the week Gran’s house was being renovated.There was lots of space around the furniture for her grandmother to use her walker, and the bathroom had all the features to make it completely accessible.
Larkin was able to project the exercise video onto the big screen TV in the room.She encouraged her gran to go through the quad and glute squeezes, then ankle pumps and knee extensions.Some of the exercises were performed while her grandmother was seated in a chair; for others her grandmother had to lie on a yoga mat.Larkin knew that all the exercises caused discomfort, others outright pain, but her grandmother never complained.The entire program took about thirty minutes, and when it was completed, her grandmother was ready for a nap.
Larkin helped her settle on her bed, then kissed her cheek.“You’re doing a great job, Gran.”
Her grandma took her hand and squeezed it.“Thank you so much for being here with me.I’m sure you had much more exciting things to do with your Christmas vacation.”
“There’s no one I’d rather be with for Christmas than you,” Larkin assured her.
“Hopefully next year I’ll be strong enough to travel to Denver and we can all be together like usual.”
“You’re doing all the right things to make that happen.Now get some rest.”
She tidied the props they’d used for the exercises, then quietly exited the room.She paused for a moment, wondering if Carson was still around.She really didn’t want to run into him without her grandmother for cover.But all was quiet in the kitchen and dining room.As she walked down the hall, she heard voices coming from the sitting room, but when she peered in the room all she saw was a couple in their sixties or early seventies.She vaguely remembered them being in the dining room that morning.When the woman smiled and said hello, Larkin waved but continued to the room on the other side of the foyer.
She was grateful to find herself alone in the library.It was a lovely room with armchairs positioned by the large bow window and three walls of generous bookshelves.On one side of the fireplace was yet another Christmas tree, this one decorated with all manners of literary ornaments, including figurines straight from Dickens’sA Christmas Carol.One of her favorite ornaments had a picture of books stacked in the shape of a mini Christmas tree.So clever.
Finally Larkin turned her attention to the books.She didn’t have to look for long before she found a history of the Bramble family written by Eliza Bramble.This should have all the historical information she would need for the article she’d promised Marly.
Late afternoon sun was spilling in through the window and she was tempted to sit in one of the well-stuffed armchairs to read.But first she needed to call the contractor her parents had hired.This time a man answered.
“Jake here.”
“Hi, Jake, this is Larkin Carrillo.My parents hired you to do some work at my grandmother’s house.Her name is Ethel Carrillo, and she lives at—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.Look, I’m sorry but the project I’m working on now is taking longer than expected.Maybe I can start work at your grandmother’s in the new year.”
“But that’s several weeks from now!”
“Best-case scenario.We might not finish here until mid-January the way things are going.”
“Hang on.Didn’t you promise my parents you’d have my grandmother’s project completed by Christmas?”
