Page 143 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
Sunny grabbed her nearby glass of sparkling cider. “Here’s to turning negatives to positives. And here’s to Mia.”
Everyone grabbed their glass and toasted their friend.
And later, as they gathered around Reggie in the dining room of the rehab center, they made another toast led by Molly. “To Reggie, getting better every day.”
Arianna wished she could say the same thing about her mother. “I have this awful feeling she’s not going to make it to Christmas,” she said to Sunny as the gang passed out pumpkin cookies to the residents.
“I’m so sorry,” Sunny said. “What can we do to help?”
“What can anyone do? I am working on being thankful that she’s survived this long, but it’s hard. You know, Christmas is her favorite time of year and I’m worried she’s going to miss it.”
“What if Christmas came early?” Sunny suggested. “What if we all came over and decorated the house tomorrow?”
Gratitude swelled Arianna’s heart. “Would you?”
“Of course. I’ll talk to Molly and Ava. Rae and Mom will want to come, too. We’re on it. Don’t you worry.”
“That will be great. We’re missing a few decorations. I never could de-stink the Christmas stockings we’d hung by the fireplace last year.”
“There will be stockings,” Sunny assured her.
The next afternoon a crowd of friends invaded Mia’s house. “What’s this?” Mia asked from her spot on the couch as they came in bearing bulging bags and boxes.
“Christmas decorating,” Sunny told her, giving her a hug.
Arianna’s heart squeezed as she saw her mother’s eyes light up. They would have Christmas, after all.
“We are going to turn this place into a Hallmark movie set,” Molly said, pulling out a ribbon garland.
“We heard you needed some new stockings,” said Sunny’s mom, and pulled out three red felt stockings, bearing appliques of mittens and trees. Arianna’s and Sophie’s names were embroidered on two. The third readGrammy.
“Those are charming!” Mia exclaimed.
Even Bella had come along. “I found a recipe for stovetop potpourri,” she said, holding up a grocery bag of ingredients for Mia to see.
“That’s really sweet of you. Thank you,” Mia said to her, and Bella’s face flushed with pleasure.
“Come on out to the kitchen and I’ll get you set up,” Arianna said to her.
“I’m sorry about your mom. She’s so nice,” Bella said as Arianna pulled a pot from the stove drawer.
Arianna sighed. “It’s hard. You assume people are going to be in your life forever and then, suddenly, they’re gone. It sure is important to appreciate them while they’re here.”
Bella nodded. “I know.”
Did she? Did anyone really get it? It was so easy to take loved ones for granted.
“We should make a video,” Arianna said to Sunny.
“Sure, if you want. How about when we’re done?”
Arianna shook her head. “No, let’s do it now, when we’re in the middle of it. I want people to see my friends in action, helping us.”
“Okay,” Sunny said, and fetched her phone. “We’re going to shoot a quick video. Is everyone okay with being on camera?” she asked the others.
“We’re going to be famous? Great,” joked Molly.
Everyone else was fine with the idea, so Arianna positioned herself front and center in the living room, while they moved around her, setting out candles and greenery, along with Mia’s beloved nativity set. The turkeys were gone from the tree and the vintage gold beads were getting strung on it. Christmas music played softly in the background, accompanying the chitchat and laughter.
