Page 32 of The Naughty List
After we say goodbye to Wanda, we make our way to the parking lot.
Jonah turns to me once we reach his Rover. “So Lydia is…”
“My mom,” I tell him. “I look a lot like she did at my age. He gets us confused. That was one of the ways we realized he was sick. He started calling me by her name and only her name. Then he got lost going to a grocery store he’d been going to since I was a kid.”
“I’m sorry,” Jonah says evenly. “I imagine that’s tough on all of you.”
“It’s worse on my brothers. He doesn’t have any sons so he doesn’t have anyone he can connect them with. When they visit, he thinks they’re doctors or therapists here to hassle him. He isn’t very friendly toward either of them unless Mikey is in uniform.”
“Seemed friendly enough to me.”
I smile as he opens my door for me. “He recognized you. He must’ve been a fan. I never knew he even watched any UFC fights. He’s never really talked about his time in the military before either.”
Once we’re both inside the vehicle, he hesitates but I can tell he wants to say something.
“What?” I wait impatiently for him to find the words.
He stares out the windshield for a long moment before speaking. “It’s really nice that you visit him, Hollis. That you do it even though he doesn’t know who you are. Most people wouldn’t keep trying so hard.”
I don’t think of it as trying hard. It’s just what I do because I love him and he’s my family. Before I can respond, Jonah’s phone makes a dinging sound. He glances at the screen.
“Your car is ready.”
“Seriously? That was quick.”
He nods. “My mechanic friend just texted me. It was the alternator but they had a rebuilt one on hand to replace it.”
“Did they say how much?” I have money in my account but I haven’t bought any of my family members Christmas presents yet.
“I have an account there. They put it on my tab,” Jonah says without looking at me.
“I’ll pay you back, Jonah. Just let me know what I owe you.”
He turns on the radio. “Don’t make me listen to anymore Christmas music on the way back and we’ll call it even.”
Once we’re back in town at the garage where my car is, Jonah makes sure it starts before going inside to talk to his friend.
While he’s in there, I text my mom a quick update on Gramps.
A few minutes later, Jonah returns and leans down into my window. He hands me a folded piece of paper I expect to be the bill from the mechanic.
It isn’t.
It’s a flyer of some sort. With a picture of Santa on it.
“What’s this?”
“You’re first official personal assistant assignment. Bring cookies. Dress like an elf.”
“Um, okay.” I actually have an elf costume from the Tavern’s Christmas party last year. I knew that sucker would come in handy again one day.
Carefully, I read the words printed in black ink. A group home for children not far from here is getting a visit from Santa tomorrow night.
“Join us for milk and cookies with Santa, ” I read aloud before glancing up at him. “It’s says six P.M. Do the elves need to arrive early?”
Jonah retrieves his car keys from his pocket. “Up to you. Just don’t be late.”
He’s halfway back to his vehicle when I step out of mine.
