Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
C huck spent all of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day overwhelmed with love for his family. He enjoyed platter after platter of food. He drizzled too much gravy on his turkey, got extra helpings of cake and cookies and pie, and over-imbibed on wine. Eventually, he passed out upstairs at Roland’s place, his stomach full and his head woozy. Miraculously, he woke up the day after Christmas feeling relatively all right.
More than anything, he was ready to get back home.
That morning before Roland took him to the ferry, still more snow fluttered down from a thick blanket of gray clouds. Estelle made a pot of coffee and offered cinnamon rolls, but Chuck declined anything sugary. “Just the coffee, thanks.”
He would get something healthy when he got back to the retirement home. Oatmeal, maybe. Fruit.
He wanted to return to his routine. He was grateful for his routine.
But more than anything, he was grateful for the new addition to his routine—Sylvia.
He couldn’t believe how quickly he’d fallen for her.
He dreaded telling his family about her. He was worried they’d say or think something like, Aren’t you too old to fall in love again?
But Chuck’s heart was working very, very well. It was the only thing that functioned just as it always had.
He’d tell them about Sylvia when he was ready. He wanted to make sure it stuck first. He felt as giddy as a teenager.
Over coffee that morning, Chuck and Estelle talked more about the specifics of their approaching trip to France. It was hard for Chuck to believe he’d leave the country at this age; hard to believe he’d sit on an airplane for seven or so hours; hard to believe he’d manage the time difference. But then again, why not? As long as his doctor cleared him, he was willing and able to go anywhere. Roland agreed to go, too.
“Maybe Rachelle can swing over to meet us,” Estelle said excitedly. “Italy is just a country away.”
Chuck beamed. It felt as though the plans were fully forming now.
But it was hard to imagine seeing Natasha again.
“When was the last time you saw her?” Estelle asked.
Chuck considered this. He tore through his memories—all the way back to November of 1982. It must have been around the time Vivian got out of the hospital. By then, it wasn’t clear to any of them that Vivian and Travis would end up together. (Looking back, Chuck realized that Travis ran away in December of 1982 to chase Vivian.)
“She made some food for Mia and me and dropped it off right before Thanksgiving,” Chuck remembered. “It was a French quiche. Absolutely sensational. She said she and Vivian were leaving the island, and they would never come back.” His voice caught in his throat.
“Did you know she’d had that affair with Roger?” Estelle asked.
Chuck shook his head. “I was trying to stay out of other people’s drama. I was trying to focus on my life.” He bowed his head. He felt Roland’s eyes on him. What was he thinking?
But when Chuck looked up to catch Roland’s eye, he saw only compassion and curiosity.
Roland was now older than Chuck had been in 1982. We’re doing the best we can , Chuck thought.
“I figured Natasha and Vivian went back to France together,” Chuck said.
“I guess Travis apprehended them,” Estelle said.
“It’s romantic,” Chuck offered.
“It’s also tragic,” Estelle said. “It divided mother and daughter for decades.”
Until now , Chuck thought. He took a sip of coffee and gazed out the window. It looked as though the Nantucket Sound was frozen beneath a sparkling cerulean sky. But it was impossible for the entire ocean to turn to ice. He knew that.
Hours later, Chuck returned to the retirement facility. Sylvia was waiting for him in the living room of his suite, where she’d made tea and had little Christmas cookies sitting out. “My daughter made too many,” she explained. She kissed him hello.
“If I ever see another Christmas cookie again, it’ll be too soon,” Chuck said with a happy laugh.
Sylvia groaned and clutched her stomach. “I know exactly what you mean!”
Chuck laughed and turned toward his Bluetooth speaker to turn on Christmas songs. “I can’t get enough of these, though.”
“Silver Bells” played. His shoulders fell. Sylvia wrapped her arms around him and began to sway in time with the music. For the hundredth time since they’d reconnected a couple of weeks ago, they kissed with their eyes closed. Chuck felt as though he was floating.
He imagined Oriana saying, Aren’t you a little old for this, Dad?
Of course, she would never say that. Chuck needed to stop worrying so much about what Oriana thought, anyway. She loved him. She wanted the best for him. That was that.
Sylvia and Chuck cozied up on his sofa with a film he’d never seen before. Ordinarily, he would have put on a history documentary and abandoned the world. But now, as dramatic stories unfurled on his television screen, Sylvia shifted uneasily and made soft comments about the characters. “Don’t do that!” she begged. Chuck grinned.
They drank a small glass of wine an hour before bed. Chuck fought the urge to tell her he loved her. He certainly didn’t, not yet. But maybe soon.
Instead, he said, “Let’s go say good night to Vivian.”
Sylvia smiled. “Let’s do it.”
They walked hand in hand through the halls of the retirement facility, headed for the television room, where Vivian always sat by herself. Soon, she won’t be alone , Chuck told himself. But he prayed nothing would go wrong in Paris. What if Natasha was too sick to come back? What if she no longer cared about Vivian? What if she felt betrayed that Vivian had stayed behind to marry Travis rather than return to France with her?
Vivian was wrapped in a blanket and watching It’s a Wonderful Life . Chuck and Sylvia pulled up chairs on either side of her and watched for a while. They’d seen the movie what felt like hundreds of times. Somehow, it never got old.
The wine went to Chuck’s head shortly thereafter. Soon, he was unable to stop himself. He touched her shoulder.
Vivian flinched and turned her head ever so slightly. He wondered if she could hear him—somewhere in there.
“My son and I are going to help you,” he said softly. “We’re going to help you with whatever you need.”
Vivian’s eyes glowed. It was difficult to know if she understood. He prayed she did.