Chapter 19 #2
The drive took him past the town’s main supermarket and hardware store.
Brody stopped long enough to buy boat supplies in the form of a coffee maker, filters, ground coffee, and a case of bottled water.
Then he went back a second time for disposable plates, cups, cutlery, and garbage bags.
The Community Church formed a trio of buildings out past sports fields shared by the high school and junior high.
When Brody pulled into the lot, he found a tall gangly man in his forties piling boxes of Christmas ornaments by the side entrance. “You Reames?”
“Brody.”
“Jonathan.” He shook hands. “How’s Emma faring these days?”
“She wants to go sailing tomorrow.”
“That’s about the best news I’ve heard this season.” He indicated the boxes. “I have no idea why we wind up with all this stuff. I keep telling people our back rooms can’t be used for storage. But every year they drop off more stuff. Come on inside and see for yourself.”
The activity hall was connected to the main church by a long air-conditioned passage, an absolute necessity during the stormy seasons.
Three cavernous storerooms extended off one side.
The central room was crammed with what appeared to be an army of Christmas elves, reindeers, and smiling Santas.
Jonathan pointed to cartons stacked by the side wall.
“All those hold lights. No idea if any of them still work.”
“This is amazing.”
“Every few years we put up a nativity scene—that’s the gear under the canvas tarps at the back. You’re welcome to take that as well, if you dare.”
“Nix on the nativity,” Brody replied. “I can pretty much imagine what Emma would say, having Joseph and Mary and the Three Wise Men staring through her bedroom window.”
“We’ve got some extension cords around here somewhere.” The pastor started away. “Why don’t you load up what you want, I’ll go see if I can find them.”
In the end, Brody took everything except the manger scene.
When he returned with the fourth truckload, Brody found Marilee, her husband, three other women Brody didn’t recognize, the elderly gentleman, and half a dozen student-age helpers stringing lights and erecting a Christmas scene in Emma’s lawn.
They were yelling at each other in whispers, waving arms, pointing at various empty spots, and generally having a grand time.
Marilee greeted him with, “Emma was kind of asleep, so I went in and closed her curtains before we started this jamboree.”
“Sort of asleep,” Brody repeated.
“She came awake long enough to tell me closing the curtains at sundown was a first sign of dementia.” Marilee’s smile split her face in two. “I swear, that woman does love to moan.”
Brody took his time unloading the final truckload.
Sunset highlighted the trees rimming Emma’s lawn.
The single magnolia was so burnished by the late afternoon light it looked like painted porcelain.
The wind had gentled to nearly nothing, faint puffs now veering slowly to the south.
The temperature was dropping, but Brody was fairly certain the next morning would soon warm nicely.
Marilee directed the crew, a job she clearly relished. Brody helped steady a ladder as two students strung lights from higher branches. Then Olivia bounded into the garden with Mia and Cameron in tow. His sister hugged him and demanded, “This was all your idea? Really?”
“It sort of sprang from small beginnings.”
Olivia embraced him more tightly still, then let their mother take her place. Mia inspected him carefully, then asked, “You’ve already gone to see your father?” When he nodded confirmation, she demanded, “How did it go?”
“Better than I could have ever hoped.” He decided on the spot to tell both ladies, “We’re taking Emma for a sail tomorrow. Would you like to come?”
“Can’t,” Olivia said. “We’re driving to the in-laws for an early Christmas stuffing.”
Mia asked, “You’re sure there is room for one more?”
“Mom, the boat is forty-five feet. Yes, there’s room.” To Cameron, “You’re more than welcome to join us.”
She patted her stomach. “This is as far from home as I’m allowed these days.”
“I’d love to come,” Mia said. “Whose boat is it?”
“Mine, if I take a new job.” Brody took a big breath. “And quit racing.”
“Son, really?”
“It’s all early days. But this is one option.”
Olivia demanded, “Since when?”
“The new offer arrived two hours ago.”
Olivia pretended to be cross. “You’re keeping me from getting all red in the face and shouting at you for holding back. Again.”
“That’s the idea.”
Which was good for a third hug. “Look who’s growing up.”
Marilee called over, “Mind you don’t damage those goods. I’ve pretty much decided I’m going to plant my brand on this one.”
Her husband snorted. “Am I supposed to pretend I didn’t hear that?”
Marilee winked at Mia. “Pretend all you like, hon.”
Brody fell into step with Cameron, who smiled at him and said, “Don’t mind me. I’ll just waddle around a bit.” She moved slowly, one hand on the small of her back. “I never understood the meaning of swollen until now.”
He brought a rocking chair from his cottage porch and helped her settle. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our latest conversation, trying to understand the meaning of home.”
“And?”
Brody waved toward the people, the joy. “Being part of this moment is as close as I’ve ever come.”
She stroked her middle, a slow thoughtful motion.
“Attachment theory plays a major role in the sort of transition you are experiencing. It happens when you can accept that you are truly safe, when you’ve established a secure base.
This means you can be confident these elements will be part of your tomorrow.
You see life and people and circumstances from a new perspective.
You can be flexible. Take chances. Learn new things. ”
Brody was still mulling that over when his phone rang. He checked the screen and saw his old boss was the caller.
He stepped away. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”
“Brody.”
He turned back to find Cameron smiling. A first in this new lifetime. “It’s nice to see you making such progress.”
“Thanks.”
She wasn’t finished. “Nicer still to play a part in this transition.”
“I may have spoken out of turn. You and your lady caught me off guard.” Jacob Whitinger cleared his throat, again, a third time. Then, “I’m the one placing this call. Not some minion in legal or HR. Making amends. Trying to, anyway.”
Brody walked away from the people and the Christmas cheer. None of it meshed with what he was hearing. He could imagine the arguments Jacob and his HR minions had been through, coming up with something this close to an apology, probably the first Jacob had made in years. “I understand.”
“There’s no way you’re getting everything you want. That’s not how the world turns. So here’s what I’m offering.”
His phone chimed with an incoming text. Brody put Jacob on speaker, drew up the text, and saw it was from Rae: She was on her way over, but had been forced to stop because the Atlanta firm’s CEO had called and upgraded his offer with the requested signing bonus.
Shepphard Creighton was, as Rae put it, talking Christmas turkey.
Jacob continued laying out his own terms. As he did, Brody’s phone chimed a second time. Rae’s new text further outlined Creighton’s offer. Brody stood and did his best to accept how two major groups were vying for his services at the very same time.
Three of the women and a couple of students chose that moment to start singing. The tune was “All I Want for Christmas.” They were, in Brody’s opinion, quite good.
Jacob felt otherwise. “What is all that racket?”
Brody replied, “Christmas.”