Bobbie talked to Maddy about her mother and gave her a picture for her bedside table that Maddy could say goodnight to and talk to if she wanted. Of course, a picture can’t talk back but it might make it easier to remember Etta. Maddy was too young to understand but she kissed the picture goodnight. Bobbie wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but she found some comfort having Alex’s photo by her own bed. She would wait and see.

Around 2 on Tuesday morning, Bobbie turned her phone off right after she offered to drive Johnny to the TV station in the morning.  She had to get some sleep and she had to get Maddy rolling early too. Maddy and Suzy had non-speaking roles as small elves. She fell asleep with her mind ticking through things Johnny shouldn’t forget.

Johnny must not have slept at all. He was ready when they picked him up, and had a big box of props he loaded into her car. He thanked her for the drive and they headed to the TV station. Everyone was there and everybody was very excited, so it was overwhelming. When they got on set Johnny began organizing them. They set up some tables, arranged props, and right before filming pandemonium broke out. The kids were just too amped up. The boys were chasing the girls, and the girls were shrieking and throwing props at them. Suzy was crying and pulling on Niko to try and get her to stop and Maddy was in a corner with her back against a wall quietly fidgeting with her Elf hat. Eddy got his boys calmed down and briefed them about the part they had to play and June hugged Niko and patted Laura’s head and got them sorted.

Bobbie picked up Suzy and held her against her shoulder and took her over to Maddy. She put Suzy down and hugged both girls. She told them it was all going to be quiet now and the kids went back to stand at the low table that represented their North Pole work bench. Bobbie had to stay with them to keep them on track.

Then filming began. The camera man got 15 minutes of film and they wrapped it up.

Eddy said, “All right guys, hop in the car and I’ll take you to school. We can make it for the first bell.” Niko and Laura wanted to wear their Elf hats.

June took Maddy and Suzy and Bobbie left Johnny at the studio.

Bobbie got back to her apartment and then spent the rest of the morning organizing Christmas Party dates. By lunch time she had several confirmed. She had to meet with Joan and Mark.

June texted and said the girls were quietly watching an old Disney movie and she was trying to knit a baby sweater and needed some help. Bobbie texted back that she’d help when she picked up Maddy in the afternoon.

The elevator dinged and it was Joan and Mark.

“Hi guys, we have our work cut out for us with Christmas parties.”

Mark nodded. “Mink told me that lots of people were setting up group lunches on the reservation app too.”

“So, they aren’t booking a party, they are having a Christmas lunch. Maybe we could make the lunch special a Christmas dinner, like we will be preparing for the parties.”

Mark nodded. “We’d be serving meals we were already preparing. I’ll order more turkeys.”

Bobbie was thoughtful for a moment. “Mark, is everything going well with the beef supply? Eddie had us over for dinner and said he bought extra beef from us.”

“He asked me to make extra; I don’t usually prepare more than I can use.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, of course.” Bobbie sensed she offended Mark a bit. She had to be more careful when his ex-teacher was in the meeting.

Joan frowned. “We have to make the menu for the parties a little bit special. We can make a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and include appetizer and dessert.”

Bobbie nodded. “A Christmas dinner can be a lot of food. We need a light appetizer. What is a good dessert. I was thinking pumpkin pie.”

Mark said, “I love making pie but I’ve got a lot on my plate with the turkey dinner in the restaurant, all the parties and increased traffic at the market stall and dinner takeaways.”

Joan nodded. “We can get the pies from a bakery. Or even a big box store. They have great pies; and they’re big.”

Bobbie perked up. “Do you think we can get pie at PriceCo? Would they be a steady supply?”

Joan nodded. “They make those pies right on site and I know the head baker. I can get whatever we need.”

“Oh, Joan that would be a relief. Mark, do you think we need some temporary staff to help with the market and takeaway? That would leave you to the main restaurant stuff. I could check with Rose and Brit, they are finished their exams. I’ve already been talking to Rose.”

Mark answered, “That would be such a relief to hand off the market. What I really need is a new dishwasher. I think Jane would be great at making Chili, baked beans, lasagne, and sourdough bread; all the food for the market and takeaway fridges.”

Bobbie nodded. “I agree, Jane’s talent is wasted as a dishwasher. We’ll promote her and give her a raise. Where am I going to get another dishwasher? I’ll ask around, we’ll need one soon. Well thanks guys. I’ll update Will about Jane and find a dishwasher.”

Joan moved toward the door. “And I’ll lock down all the pumpkin pie in Crow harbour and hire someone to peel potatoes. I make a potato stuffing.”

Mark waved. “I’ll order more turkeys and tell Jane the news. We grew summer savoury in the garden that can go in the stuffing.”

Bobby thanked them and they left. Bobbie turned to her calendar of Christmas parties. Then she opened the restaurant reservation calendar. Those big reservations should show up on the party calendar so Mark could plan for them. She wrote a little batch file that would, for the month of December, register a group reservation over six and populate the number of people and date on the party event calendar with the description and the actual link to the reservation. She hoped it would work.

She looked at her phone and realized it was time to go get Maddy so she closed her computer and headed for the closet to get her coat.

She got to Charlie and June’s at 3 o’clock. Laura and Niko were already home from school.  Bobbie had some treats left over for her meeting that they could share. She got in and set the box of treats on the counter. Hi June, are the little ones still sleeping? Now where is this baby sweater?”

Bobbie studied the sweater and June went through the box of treats. Maddy and Suzy came downstairs and got a treat and Laura and Niko came in the door from school and also got a treat. 20 minutes later the boys came in and finished the them off.

Wally finished eating. “The snow out there is perfect snowman snow. We should make a snowman.”

Everyone got ready and they all went out to make a snowman. Bobbie helped Maddy and Suzy and June stayed inside to make hot chocolate and tea.

Around 4PM, the temperature dropped and Bobbie sent the kids inside. While she was cleaning up the toys, she slipped on an icy patch and since her hands were full, she couldn’t break her fall. As she pitched forward onto her knees, she heard a crunch and felt a sharp pain in her knee. Her left knee landed on a hard piece of ice and she rolled on her back to catch her breath. At this moment Eddy pulled in to pick up his kids.

He jumped out of his car looking concerned. “Mom, what are you doing out here?! What happened, are you all right?”

Bobbie sat up. “I was playing with the kids and I just sent them in and I wanted to tidy up and I slipped on the ice. I banged my knee pretty good but I’m sure I’ll live. Can you just help me up?”

Bobbie leaned on Eddy and they went into the house. Eddy led her to a chair and knelt to take off her boots. “Now Mom, let’s see this knee.”

Bobbie pulled off her snow pants, that were a little short as they were borrowed from June, and pulled up her yoga pants. Eddy leaned over and looked at her knee. “Nice socks Mom, they match your green and blue knee.”

“Do you think it’s just a bad bruise?”

“I didn’t say that. You need an X-ray. I can call the hospital and get you in right away. It would be done in a half an hour.”

Joanne walked into the kitchen with the kid’s empty hot chocolate mugs. “Maddy is watching TV and playing grocery store with Suzy. She’ll be fine for half an hour.”

They got to the hospital and met Charlie in the emergency room. He looked concerned. Mac and Jen came in too. Bobbie felt like an imposition on everyone. “I’m so sorry guys, I just slipped on the ice, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Mac, who was the orthopaedic surgeon asked her to sit down. “Now let’s see Bobbie.” He looked at her knee and poked around the edge of her knee cap. When she didn’t flinch, he probed more. Then he felt the edges of the knee cap. Then he pressed on her knee cap.

Bobbie flinched, “Ouch!”

Mac stood up. “I don’t think there is much ligament damage and I don’t think there is any breakage. I think it’s a deep contusion that might even have bruised the bone. It will take a while to heal. For the first few days try to stay off it, and remember RICE. Rest, ice, compress and elevate. Then be patient with it.”

Eddie frowned. “So, you’re saying she doesn’t need an x-ray?”

We can see the external bruise already and an X-ray wouldn’t show if knee cap bone is bruised. That would take an MRI and I don’t think we need that right now.”

Charlie nodded. “I think we have to defer to Mac on this one Eddy.”

“You’re right. She’s walking better. Let’s go back to Charlie’s, Ma.”

Bobbie got back to Charlie’s and June served the kids supper and insisted that Maddy should try again to stay the night. Bobbie hoped Maddy wouldn’t get homesick this time and told June she’d work on knitting the baby sweater and wait by the phone while she rested her knee.