Friday Dec 21 2018

On the night of the University Christmas party they had a light supper and went upstairs to get ready together while sipping on spritzers. They were both wearing slips and undergarments as they did their hair and makeup.

“I haven’t really gone out in such a long time Bobbie. I never really liked wearing much makeup.”

“Me either Mom but this is such a special occasion. How about I go get my BB cream and we gussy up a bit.”

They both applied a bit of concealer, and a little of the light weight foundation.

“I think you should go a little heavier on your eye makeup Mum.” She helped her put some cream shadow and eyeliner and some contrasting shadow to create a smokey eye. She helped her pencil in some darker brows and set it all with a little slightly sparkly setting powder.

“This is nice Bobbie, I don’t feel too unnatural.”

Bobbie did a similar treatment on herself with a different colour pallet.

“In good Orlov tradition, the final piece of getting dressed is putting on jewellery. I got these nice ruby earrings out of your jewellery box and picked this ruby studded chain to wear around your neck. It’s look great. I’m wearing all pearls. I have this short rope, a bracelet of pearls and diamonds and these pearl and diamond earrings.”

They felt good as they entered the party. They looked around and after a few moments, it hit her. Bobbie felt very alone, even though she stood next to her mom. It was like she lost herself as well as her husband and father and was now invisible. Nobody rushed up to greet them or invite them to a table. Nobody noticed them. She looked at Florence; she looked stricken. She grabbed her Mom’s arm and steered her over to the buffet.

They got a glass of the punch and Bobbie watched her mother put on her game face. Florence tapped her arm reassuringly and drifted over to a group of people.

So Mom was going to do her thing. Bobbie needed to sit down and looked around for a table. The room was decorated like a winter wonderland. The big round tables had twinkle lights stuffed into glass bowls and vases that sat on an elegant version of paper cut snowflakes in dusty pink, white and silver. It was pretty and it matched her dress she thought idly.

She walked over to a table where some old friends of Alex (and her) were sitting. The men stood up and everyone greeted her with murmurs and condolences. She was ready for this and smiled and allowed someone to push in her chair. She turned and started to talk with the woman on her right. She learned that their friend Donald lost his wife last month too. Bobbie didn’t know what to say when she turned to see Donald Goffery (Doggie) sitting down beside her. He didn’t look good.

He was well dressed but was pale and had a vacant stare and said, “Hi Bobbie, I guess misery loves company eh?”, and returned his attention to his scotch.

Bobbie thought way back to the little house on Chapel street where she and Alex hosted so many parties (soirees Alex liked to say). She remembered Donald Goffery (Doggie as he was called back then) mooning around about a girl he had just met. Doggie was a little short and skinny and was truly an awkward nerd but he and this girl were head over heels and eventually got married. Her dad owned the electronic parts store in town where they met. Most of Doggie’s friends hung around that store a lot and knew her and couldn’t figure out what she saw in him. They teased him mercilessly.

And there he sat, now an accomplished Mathematics professor and his heart was broken.

She patted his hand and said “I’m so sorry Doggie, I didn’t know she had passed. I missed her service.”

“She got worse after the last time you visited Bobbie and she went the same night they found Alex. I understand that you were thinking about other things. And I’m sorry I didn’t get to Alex’s memorial. She always liked Alex and it’s silly but I like the idea that she and Alex weren’t alone when they went through the ‘pearly gates’.”

“That’s a nice thought Donald, can I get you more punch?” Bobbie was almost in tears and had to get away. Doggie really was spreading the misery. She ran into her mother talking to the University president. “Hello Dr. Thurston, and Merry Christmas.” Dr. Thurston gave her condolences and returned the holiday greeting.

As she walked away she heard her Mother say, “Well, you should bring him by the house sometime.”

Bobbie went back to her table and spoke with Donald for a few more minutes and then her mother joined them.

“Hello Donald, I heard about Sally, I’m so sorry. It’s been a bad year for all of us. Bobbie, I’m a little tired, I think we should say our goodbyes.”

Later at home, they both agreed that it was a pretty good night but it was good to be home and they had some tea in the den where Bobbie worked on her Boxing Day spreadsheet.

Florence came down in her night clothes and robe and said, “I’ve lost your chain.”

Bobbie eyed her over her reading glasses and said “I’m sure you just put it somewhere safe Mom.”

“God Bobbie, don’t look at me over your glasses like that, you remind me of your father. I won’t sleep tonight if we don’t find it.”

“Do you think I look like Dad? We can re-trace your steps from when we came in the door. You had it on then because I saw it when you bent over to remove your boots.”

“You do look like your father sometimes. You have his eyes, you look like his sister Aileen but she had red hair. I did have it on when I got home. I took my coat off and then the shawl that I left on the table by the door.”

They went down the 3 stairs to the table.

“Oh there it is!”, cried Florence “I’m so relieved. I think I need to buy some costume jewellery. It would be much less stressful.”

Bobbie hugged her mother. “Do you think that you’re a little stressed that this is your first Christmas without Dad and maybe you never even really lost the necklace.”

Florence sighed. “Well it was misplaced at least. Yes, I miss Walter terribly, I suppose that’s what’s got me worked up. You seem so cool, you must feel the same way about Alex?”

“Yes, this Christmas is a lot different. It’s a lot different anyway because I’m here in Crow Harbour again. I keep thinking Alex is joining us later or something. When I see something nice, I keep thinking that Alex would like that and when I’m doing things, I think Alex will help with that. I’m still hit with little waves of being sad but they come less and less.”

Christmas Eve

A few days later it was Christmas Eve and Bobbie was excited to visit her family and had Christmas stockings finally all ready. She was so busy she was feeling a little empty now that all the decorating was done, all the presents were wrapped and all the meals were planned. The moment she slowed down and tried to relax, she began to miss Alex again.

She sat on the bed and remembered how Alex loved dropping off gifts on Christmas Eve. They would drive in to Crow Harbour to see Jamie and both of their parents. When the kids were little, they’d bring Charlie and Eddy along to visit but insisted on spending Christmas morning home in Citadel City. Usually, by the time they pulled back into in their driveway it was late and the boys were asleep. They’d carry them upstairs, still sleeping, and then go downstairs pull out all the Christmas surprises for under the tree. Then they would pour a drink and sit by the glow of the tree and chat. It was Bobbie’s favourite part of Christmas.

Also when the kids were still little, they used to drive back to Crow Harbour to Bobbie’s parents to attend their Boxing day Levee. At the McNally house it was really just meant to be a drop in party. They invited their whole family and it was usually very busy.

When Eddy and Charlie got bigger, they wanted to spend more time home with friends too, so Alex and Bobbie had their own version of a Boxing Day party, in Cid City, for a few years.

Just outside Crow Harbour, Walter had a long standing tradition with his own family on New years Day. His parents celebrated their wedding anniversary. The whole family attended that party too.

So Christmas and New years was all about family, and now it was so hard not to think of how many family members were gone. Alex and his parents were gone and her Dad and his parents and 3 of his 7 siblings were gone too.

Bobbie had her children and her grand children and her friends and her mother and brother and his partner. Her remaining uncles and her cousins were still there too. She was grateful for them all.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her mom called out for her to hurry. Bobby finished putting on her boots and went out to the car. They went to the hospital where Florence was so well known and joined their family for the kids’ Christmas party.

The lobby of the hospital was all decorated and the nurses at the check in desk wore Santa hats. Florence seemed to know one, chatted for a moment and told her they were going to the cafeteria to see Santa.

Hospital staff were milling about talking to patients with IV’s and in wheel chairs. Kids were racing around and Bobbie picked out the table where Charlie and Eddy and their families were sitting. Eddy’s boys looked great and were dressed in their dress pants and pull over sweaters, different colours of course. They were looking for a reason to escape sitting at the table and raced over to Bobbie and Florence.

“Hi Gramma and Gramma great, we;re sitting over here.” Each twin grabbed a hand and led them over. Laura and Niko jumped up and grabbed their hands too.

“I see you have a lot of help getting to the table. Who knew the kids would be so nice? I think they’re really tired of waiting for Santa.”

“We saw him in the parking lot,” said Bobbie “He should be here soon.” Mostly to the kids hanging on to her hands. Maybe Walt Jr. and Clay can go get me and Gramma Great a drink?”

“Sure boys, you can go get some juice for Gramma and Gramma Great.” Eddy was wearing a sweater over scrubs. “He must be on call,” thought Bobbie. His wife Jenny was dressed in a red pants and a green sweater and Bobbie recognized her nice Emerald earrings. Charlie was dressed in a crazy Christmas sweater and June had a sparkly semi-crazy Christmas sweater on. Suzi sat on the table in a green velvet jumpsuit looking judiciously around at the drinks and paper plates around her.

“Suzy looks like she’s planning something, maybe she wants to come visit Gramma for a minute.” She sat happily on Bobbies lap and watched the people around her.

Niko and Laura both had fancy Christmas dresses on and went with the boys to help get drinks and snacks. They came back with paper plates full of chips and cheesies.

Santa arrived and the room got quiet…for a minute. Kids and parents holding kids began to line up. Charlie picked up Suzy and swung her to his shoulders and went and lined up with the other kids.

They were in line about 20 minutes. They got their pictures taken and emailed to their parents and got a treat bag with candy and toys and cheese strings and yogourt tubes to trick them into actually eating something.

The party was over around 2 and Florence and Bobby returned home to rest and regroup for the evening visits to drop gifts off to their family.

They first stopped at Jamie and Jarrod’s. Bobbie was glad to see that Jarrod’s parents were there too and they had a nice chat. Bobbie handed Jamie and Jarrod their Christmas stockings. Inside there were many little gifts that Bobbie had been working on for months. They swore they’d wait until morning to open them. Bobbie also had some nice bottles of wine in the car and gave one to Jarrod’s parents so they didn’t feel left out.

On their way out Florence said she hoped they’d all be able to come to their Boxing Day party.

Next they stopped at Eddy’s. Clay and Walt Jr were drinking eggnog and watching the ‘Grinch that stole Christmas’ and Laura was freshly bathed, ready for bed and having a snack. The kids jumped up and hugged Bobbie and then Florence. Bobbie placed their socks and gifts under the tree and said she hoped Santa would be good to them. Grandma Great suggested she take them upstairs and read them a Christmas story and they trouped upstairs.

Bobbie, Eddy and Jen shared a drink by the lit Christmas tree lost in their own thoughts.

Bobbie looked at them and said “This year is so different.”

Eddy nodded and said “This was one of Dad’s favourite times of the year.”

Bobbie said “Alex loved to give gifts and loved his family. We’ll pull though this year holding on to good memories.”

“And make new memories too,” added Jen.

Bobbie raised her glass and said, “To new memories.”

Her mom came downstairs and said “Laura is asleep but the boys want their parents.”

Bobbie hugged Eddy and Jen. “We should go now anyway. Try to have a merry Christmas and we’ll see you Boxing Day.”

Then Bobbie and Florence headed home. They didn’t stop at Charlie’s they would see him and his family tomorrow, Christmas day.