Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
SAMANTHA
W hat? With her family’s eyes upon her, Sam somehow got to her feet. Of course, she forgot that she needed her scooter so that first step was pretty painful. After she finally got situated on the scooter, she rolled into the hallway. Her mind was moving way faster than that scooter. Boy was she glad that the phone wasn’t in the living room. Her entire family was leaning toward the doorway. When she reached for the phone, Marlowe held it out while she mouthed, “Dr. McCall?”
“Smartie pants,” Sam mouthed back, yanking the phone receiver out of her sister’s hand. “Hello?”
“Hi Sam. It’s Josh. Josh McCall.” As if she knew other men by that name.
“Hi Josh. Thanks for sending the scooter over. Very thoughtful.” She’d thought of sending him a note, but that seemed way too formal…and too personal at the same time. Being single again felt confusing. Could she handle this? But her sister was staring her down and Sam took a deep breath.
“I didn’t know if you had any physician here in town to take care of that for you. I mean, maybe you do. You know, from your past. Those scooters are very practical. Very handy.”
Okay, Josh sounded as nervous as she felt. Somehow, she found that reassuring. Her neck muscles relaxed a little. Lifting herself off the scooter, she sat down on the little bench that sat against the wall. Shaking her head at Marlowe, Sam stabbed a finger toward the living room. She didn’t need an audience, and her sister disappeared.
“No, I don’t have any physician here in town. And I appreciate the scooter. Hopefully I won’t need it for long.” The cord attached to the phone was the old kind that had a million loops that you could twist around your finger. Right now they were twisted tight on the fingers of her left hand.
Silence fell between them. What now? Did he expect her to say thank you and hang up? But sometimes Josh did have these silences. At least that had been his way in high school. Certainly now he’d learned more confidence. But maybe she’d take the lead. “So how’s your rehabilitation coming?” she asked.
“My what? Oh, that. Rehabilitation. Right. I don’t know. I might fail the class.” The poor guy sounded at a loss. Maybe his kids were getting the best of him.
“Did you go back to the course and get in more skiing?”
A big sigh came over the phone. “Yes, we did and I am now sore in places, too many to mention.” He gave a dry chuckle that she remembered from so long ago. Josh had always been able to laugh at himself. “The cross country skiing was a reminder that I’m getting older.”
Sam smiled. “Maybe that’s my problem too. The age thing. I didn’t know what to do when my skis headed down that hill. Which should have been a sign that I shouldn’t be there.” It felt good to laugh with him about it. When she finally got home with Marlowe that day, she’d felt like sobbing. Being yanked into the cookie conversation with her aunt and sister had saved her. And the arrival of the scooter had sure helped.
“Yes, my kids have decided that I’m a hopeless case, I’m afraid.”
“Why? Because you needed some time off to have some fun?”
“Exactly and two weeks is a short time to learn all that. How to have fun, that is.”
“But I thought doctors had vacations.”
“Some do. Or so I’ve heard. But then there are always seniors falling – that kind of thing. I often take emergency orthopedic calls. Broken hips and so on.”
“We do have a lot of seniors around here.” Sam thought back to the older women she’d seen at Coffee and Cupcakes.
“Yes. Yes, we do. And frankly, in recent years, I welcomed the diversion.”
“I imagine so.” Was he talking about losing his wife? She totally understood since the hectic pace of the past couple days had given her little time to think about Kurt. Another uncomfortable silence followed.
Sam’s stubbornness kicked in. Maybe she was too old for this. She didn’t feel that she had to be the one initiating the conversations. Re-entering the dating pool, if that's what this was, terrified her and this stilted conversation made that clear.
Then she heard Josh clear his throat. Maybe he felt the same way. This was the boy she used to know. The boy who sat beside her on the beach, skipping stones across the water while they talked about their futures. The conversations had been sweet and thinking back, very idealistic. Josh had always wanted to help people. In fact, at one time he’d talked about going into the Peace Corps.
After she lost her parents that terrible wintry night when they’d come for Christmas, he had been the first to call. The one who was there for her while she sorted through the pieces of their broken lives. He had gone to the airport to pick up Aunt Cate and Uncle Monty.
“So I guess I should be going,” Josh finally said. “I don’t want to tie up your line. You probably have a lot to do on Christmas Eve.”
“Right.” She felt both relieved and sad. “We’re watching old family films and then going to the caroling later. You know, down on Bridge Street.”
“Old family films. A trip down memory lane?”
He sounded uncertain and she understood his concern but she quickly swept it away. “We’ve really been enjoying those movies,” she said. “Seeing my parents has opened our eyes. They were so young.”
“That’s about right. But back then, we didn’t think so.” Josh gave voice to her thoughts. A silence followed and she let him take it. “We’re about ten years out from the age your folks were when they had that accident,” he finally said.
“Hard to believe.” She was amazed that he remembered. But she couldn’t say anymore. Those days weren’t clear in her mind. It had been a long time ago. But the one thing she did remember was that Josh had been great through everything. Maybe she hadn’t appreciated him that much. Back then, she was only seventeen. But she had felt so mature, thinking about college and where she wanted to be in ten years or so. That had changed fast. Her attention had swerved to her younger sisters.
“Caroling.” His tone lightened with the word. “My kids want to go to that too. But I can’t sing.”
“I remember.” And she smiled. Josh couldn’t stay on key to save his soul but he enjoyed singing. “But it’s the spirit of the thing. The music director from the high school will be directing. There will be a lot of people there that can’t carry a tune.”
“You’ve convinced me. I’ll look for you and your family.”
“Great. See you then.” They hung up and she sat there for a beat. Untwisting her left hand, she shook out her numb fingers. If she told her family that Josh and his kids were coming to the caroling, they’d make a big deal out of it. So she waited for a second and composed herself. Then she wheeled herself into the other room, ready to face their scrutiny and grateful for the teasing that would follow.
A soft snow was falling when they all gathered in front of The Lake House to sing. Besides her family, Sam knew no one, although some looked familiar. That night it didn’t matter. How long would this take? Afraid that she’d never be able to stand up, Sam had maneuvered the scooter into the crowd with Marlowe’s help. No one seemed to have a problem with that. In fact, they made way for her. Maybe being an invalid tonight would have its upside.
A woman in an elf costume was passing out caroling booklets. Marlowe grabbed a pack for the family. Sam was a little limited by the scooter. More than one person had asked how she’d hurt herself. Throwing out “skiing accident” brought a certain amount of respect so Sam was sticking with that. No way did she want anyone to know that she hadn’t been skilled enough to keep her skis on a trail they might consider a beginner’s loop.
The day had been so peaceful as they watched more family films. Aunt Cate had mysteriously slipped away, saying that she had a few things to do. When they passed the dining room on their way out, Sam couldn’t help but notice that the table was set with a linen tablecloth and Grandma Norah’s china and silver. Seeing that beautiful table brought a warm feeling to her heart. If she were back in Oak Brook, she would probably be sitting down to a frozen turkey dinner while she watched “Little Women” one more time.
Coming back to Charlevoix had brought memories rushing back, not only of the people but also the family traditions. Sam could see that for Izzy these moments were especially precious. Standing there with Holly snugly strapped to the front of her parka, Izzy was laughing as the baby opened her mouth, trying to catch and eat the soft flakes sifting from the sky. Holly was dressed in a warm red hooded bunting that Aunt Cate had bought for her. She looked darling with her mouth open like a baby bird.
The crowd continued to grow. The happy chatter indicated that they gathered every year for this event, although she didn’t remember coming here with her parents. Mom and Dad would have loved this. Looking very official in a red parka, the director arrived along with some musicians from the high school band. They quickly set up music stands and sheet music, snapping open their cases and taking out their gleaming instruments. The group grew still.
Then the director raised his baton and greeted the crowd. “Good evening and welcome to our annual Christmas caroling. We invite all to sing, no matter what your skill level.” Here the crowd laughed and she thought of Josh, although she hadn’t seen him yet. Sam was determined not to look for him, but she found Marlowe scanning the crowd more than once.
While they listened to the director’s welcome Sam thought she heard the vibration of Marlowe’s phone. Her sister reached into her pocket and shut it off. Who was calling her all the time?
The director gave them the page number for "O Little Town of Bethlehem.” “I like to think that our little town might be like the town Joseph and Mary found that night so long ago,” he said. An appreciative murmur rippled through the crowd.
Marlowe looked over at her and smiled, and Izzy gave her the thumbs up. “This was one of your mom’s favorites, wasn’t it?” Aunt Cate whispered in her ear.
All Sam could do was nod and lift her voice in the carol they’d all learned in grade school. When the holidays came around, their mother would play her Christmas CDs. She had her favorites. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, and Frank Sinatra sang the carols from long ago and their mother would sing along. After the girls learned the lyrics, their mother sang alto harmony effortlessly while they took soprano. Sadly, their dad sang off key and to everyone’s relief preferred to hum along.
When they began to sing “Silent Night,” she heard someone singing off key behind her. How surprising that she would still recognize Josh’s booming, tuneless voice. The scooter prevented her from turning around, but Sam ducked her head. Smiling to herself, she tucked her chin into her red scarf. Apparently Marlowe had caught sight of Josh because she gently elbowed Sam’s forearm. Squeezing her eyes shut, Sam sang about the night when all was calm and bright.
If only she could feel that way.
She didn’t know what to think about running into Josh and his family here in Charlevoix. Josh had put together a wonderful life and sure, she was sorry that he’d lost his wife. How well she knew that kind of pain. Still, from what she could see, he’d had a full life. And now his children were here with him. And in time there was the hope of grandchildren.
Maybe that was what was missing for her. Sam missed a few beats of the song as her eyes filled and her throat closed. A complete life . Husband and children. Tonight she was here with her family around her. But what about when she went home? Would she be studying the TV Guide wondering what to watch?
Nonsense. Get a grip . Sam gave herself a good shake. The night was crisp and clear. She gripped the scooter with one hand and her songbook with the other. Their voices lifted in frosty breaths as they sang, “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” The air might be cold, but their hearts were warm as they joined together. She loved the time-old songs that her mother would listen to while she basted a turkey or mixed another batch of spritz cookies.
Unlike her sister Cate, their mother was a practical cook. Mom baked meatloaf for their dad, one of his favorites, or made spaghetti with hearty meatballs and lots of sauce. Because their father was a teacher, they were always on a budget. But when Sam was in grade school, she was never really aware of that. They always seemed to have enough and they had each other. Their mother used the meager funds from her seamstress work for Christmas presents.
Every Christmas morning there would be a doll for each of them, and maybe a sweater. Her father loved to introduce a new family game at Christmas. They were hugely competitive when they played Monopoly, chess or Uno. These songs brought back all those memories, especially with her family standing around her.
But her ankle made her wish this caroling session would end. Even with the help of the scooter, Sam’s left ankle throbbed and her back ached from standing. How much longer could she hold out? As if she sensed Sam’s dilemma, Marlowe came closer behind her.
“Rest against me,” her sister whispered. “Lean in.”
Relieved and grateful, Sam let her body go limp against her sister. The pain in her back eased. How she wished she lived closer to Marlowe. And she felt the same about Aunt Cate, Izzy and her wonderful baby. Saying good-bye was going to be so hard.
The music ended after a rousing chorus of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The entire group was invited to roam the streets, where the shopkeepers and restaurants had set out hot chocolate, warm apple cider and cookies. Since Izzy’s shop was on a side street, she’d decided not to open that night.
But Sam didn’t want to ruin her appetite and the others seemed to feel the same way. She was looking forward to the fondue that had been their Christmas Eve family tradition. Last night Marlowe had searched the pantry and attic until she’d found the two fondue pots.
When the crowd broke up, she discovered Josh at her elbow. “I thought I heard you in the crowd,” she teased. Had she put on makeup? Probably not.
“Should I be offended by that comment?” He grinned as her sisters and aunt gathered around them.
“You should be pleased. Do you remember my Aunt Cate and of course, Marlowe and Izzy.”
Josh introduced his children. Mia seemed a little more outgoing than Hayden but how would Sam know? She’d never raised children and they didn’t have any boys in the family. Maybe all boys were quiet.
“Yes, we met at Coffee and Cupcakes,” Aunt Cate said, giving Josh a measuring look. “You’re the doctor who saved Sam out on the ski trail?” Sam wasn’t going to remind her aunt about the role Josh had played in the past.
“That would be me. Happy to do it.”
“And the scooter too,” Marlowe said. Oh, Sam wished they would be quiet. Instead, Marlowe patted the handlebars. “I don’t know how Sam would’ve gotten around without this.”
“I thanked him for it,” Sam said defensively while Josh blushed.
“Dad, Dad.” Mia tugged on her dad’s jacket. Was this evening full of memories for Mia and Hayden? Sam imagined that the family had come to the caroling each year. As they stood there during her family’s interrogation, Sam noticed the people who passed by giving Josh a respectful nod or tossing out, “Merry Christmas, Dr. McCall.” That must be the life of a physician in a small town. Serving everyone and being respected by all.
“Sam tells me that you’re supposed to be having fun these two weeks.” Aunt Cate jumped right in. Her aunt never knew a stranger and smiled at Mia and Hayden. “That your children insisted.”
“He’s always working,” Mia said with an adult shake of her head that made Sam smile. “But this holiday, he’s supposed to relax with us.”
“I’m on call tomorrow,” Josh said. “I wasn’t going to leave my partners in the lurch on Christmas. Some of them have young families.” And that would be Josh. Sam could see that he’d gone up a notch in the eyes of her family.
Sam’s family didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Aunt Cate had come closer. “So, Dr. McCall, what are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Dad’s going to try to make a roast.” But Mia didn’t look convinced that her father could pull that off. Sam never remembered Josh cooking anything. His mother had taken care of all that.
“We want him to grill burgers,” Hayden said.
“Oh come on. Humor your old man,” Josh said. From the expressions on his children’s faces Josh had some convincing to do. “We can have hamburgers anytime. It’s the holidays. My mother will come over of course.”
“We’re having an open house,” Aunt Cate said. “You know, nothing special. Two to five o’clock. You and your family are welcome to come. Your mother too.”
Glancing over at her sisters, Sam bit her lip. Had she missed something? She didn’t recall anything about an open house. Then she remembered all the goodies tucked in the pantry. Had this been part of her aunt’s plan all along?
“That sounds nice,” Mia said.
One hand on each child’s shoulder, Josh seemed to be maneuvering them away. “That’s very kind but I hate to impose. You have your family and….”
“Always room for more,” Aunt Cate chirped. Yes, this definitely wasn’t planned, but the spur-of-the-moment open house was gaining traction with Sam’s sisters. She could see that in their pleased expressions. Why rain on their parade? This evening had been wonderful and part of it was the community spirit. But now she really had to get home and off her feet.
“Our aunt is a fabulous cook,” Marlowe threw in.
Sam didn’t miss the look Mia and Hayden exchanged. With their father’s business schedule, who cooked for them? How old was Mia? The young girl reminded Sam of herself years go. She would hunker over her mother’s Betty Crocker cookbook, trying to figure out what she could pull off. Marlowe and Lizzy now hated tuna casseroles for a reason. That simple dish had been Sam’s easy fix years ago.
“We’ll think about it. Thank you for the invitation.” His words came out in a jumble and Mia threw her father a curious look. With his dad's lanky stride, Hayden was already walking toward the next storefront and its display of hot chocolate and candy canes.
Sam figured Josh was being polite as he waved goodbye. Didn’t people like to stay home for Christmas? As he walked away, she found her aunt gazing after him. “What a nice man.”
“Yes, he was a very nice boy in high school,” Sam said as they walked toward the car. They’d parked on the side street. The wheels of her scooter skipped now and then on the ice. But Marlowe was always there to grab her elbow.
“Boy?” Marlowe snorted. “Come on, Sam. You were crazy about Josh. He was more than that.”
“Why don’t I remember that?” Izzy said, stepping carefully. Holly had fallen asleep and Izzy’s arms cradled the baby against her chest.
“You were too young,” Sam and Marlowe said at the same time. The years had made a huge difference back then when Sam was seventeen and dating and Izzy was only eleven, more child than woman.
Izzy’s lower lip pushed out. “So I missed all that?”
Coming up behind Izzy, Aunt Cate laid a hand on her shoulder. “You were busy with your own life back then. Playing dressups with your girlfriends.”
“So I missed everything.” Izzy did not look happy about the situation.
“Not everything,” Sam said, nodding to the baby in her sister’s arms. “You sure caught up. Look at what you have now.”
Sam felt Marlowe’s hand on her shoulder as they finally reached the car. Once they were bundled into the SUV with Marlowe at the wheel, Cate turned to the three of them in the back. The baby’s pumpkin seat was strapped in between Izzy and Sam.
“Izzy, dear,” Aunt Cate said. “Do you think you could start calling your friends. You know, people from Coffee and Cupcakes? Let’s get a crowd at the house tomorrow.”
“Do we have enough food?” Sam asked.
“Is a bluebird blue?” Marlowe edged the car away from the curb. “Have you looked in the refrigerator or in the garage?”
“And does Santa come every Christmas?” Izzy threw in with a mischievous smile.
“I wanted to be prepared.” Her aunt’s eyes twinkled.
Although Sam liked an orderly, scheduled life, she sure was enjoying her aunt’s impulsive streak this Christmas. And her sisters seemed to feel the same. Maybe she should relax and go with the flow.
What a novel idea. Now, what had she brought to wear for a festive holiday open house?