Page 31 of Shy Santa

“Hey, I don’t want to add to your tables, but can you drop our order in? The guy hanging by our table bothered Alice-Grace.” My hand rubbed the little girl’s thin arm. “You don’t have to do much, but I don’t want to leave her alone again.”

Eye’s softening, she tried to smile at Alice-Grace. “Sure thing, I’ll play waitress for you guys. No worries.”

I turned to Alice-Grace, attempting to distract her. “Hey, Uncle Gerald said Aunt Shirley isn’t feeling so good today. Before we get dessert, I want to check on her and take her some lunch.”

Alice-Grace nodded her head. “She going to be okay? I don’t like being sick. Mommy used to let me sleep on the couch and watch TV for an hour or two. But that was if I took a nap and colored.”

“That sounds like fun. I didn’t get sick much as a kid, but when I did, my mom let me do the same thing.” I didn’t add Mom used to hand me a bag of crackers and sprite with orders, not to answer the apartment door or leave; before she headed to work.

* * *

“Hey Aunt Shirley,got you some soup.” I yelled into the house on my way to the kitchen.

“Thanks.” A croaky voice came from upstairs. “Bring it on up, if you don’t mind.”

“Alice-Grace, can you grab the bed tray from the pantry over there?” I set the soup container and rolls on the counter.

“This one?” She held up a dark wood tray.

“Yep, thanks. If you want to grab the silverware and napkins, I’ll get the soup into a bowl, then we can take it up.” I grabbed a deep bowl from the cabinet before pouring.

“Ms. Addy?”

“Yeah?” I glanced up once I poured the soup.

“Can we invite Ms. Shirley to tea?” She clutched her hands in front of her, rocking from foot to foot.

A smile spread across my face. “I think that’s a great idea. I bet it will help make her feel better.” I didn’t want to tell her Shirley had been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer over the summer. You’d never know she was sick except on the days like this. Uncle Gerald was happy she’d been watching Alice-Grace because it meant she slowed down a little.

Food arranged on the tray; we headed upstairs to the sitting area we’d set up for when she wasn’t feeling good. Lots of light and soft colors for her. The windows looked over the back garden. It was all brown and covered in slush, but come spring it’d be a riot of colors.

“Ms. Shirley.” Alice-Grace ran ahead of me and hugged my pale aunt, her skin sallow. “Mr. Gerald said you didn’t feel well.”

“Just getting old, sweetheart.” Shirley glanced at me. I shook my head to let her know Alice-Grace was in the dark about everything still. “Now, what are you and Addy up to today?”

“We went shopping. Got lunch and brought pie to eat here with you.” Alice-Grace gushed; her cheeks rosy from the cold. “This weekend we’re gonna have a tea party. Want to come?”

A grin spread across Shirley’s face. “I would love to come. Is this tea party going to be fancy or simple?”

“We got special Tea Hats, so fancy. Bear said we could look and see if Gran’s tea set was in storage.” Alice-Grace glanced at me before smiling at Shirley, her eyes a little worried.

Setting the tray down on Shirley’s lap, I grabbed the paper bag that held the mini pies for us to eat. “Alice-Grace, why don’t you sit on the love seat with me while we all eat?”

After clearing the coffee table, I set the bag down and pulled out the pies and forks. Handing the cherry to her and keeping the lemon custard for myself.

CHAPTER18

Bear

With the last box shoved in the back of my car; I pulled out my cell and texted Addy. I’d asked her to keep Ace out of the house all day until I messaged.

Yesterday, while Ace had been at school, I’d swung by Gran’s storage unit in town. It was another mess, but at least all the boxes were labeled. I found all the old Christmas decorations. It took three car loads to get them back to the house.

As soon as Addy and Ace were out the door, I jumped into action. Benson swung over and we caught up while we strung lights on the exterior of the house and put up some basic decorations inside. There were still three storage totes inside of ornaments, snow globes and the little village Gran loved to display.

I didn’t want to do everything without Ace and Addy. No, not Addy, just Ace. I needed to pull my head back from thinking about her. Every time I saw them together, my chest clenched. She was perfect in every way. But what woman wants an instant family? Or one still trying to find its way? Addy was starting out in life. She didn’t need to have the responsibility of a family yet.

Shuffling around in the kitchen, I stirred the chili and checked the cornbread. The local bakery had great bread bowls I’d grabbed a couple hours ago for dinner.

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