Wed Dec 25 2019

It was her mother on the phone, “Hello Mom, Merry Christmas.”

Florence returned the greeting and told her that the socks Bobbie knit for her were lovely and thanked her. Then she assured Bobbie that she had stuffing ready as well as a broccoli and cheese casserole and that Jamie and Jarrod were planning to pick her up at 1, but she was bored and wanted to come over now.

“Maddy isn’t up yet, I was just going to put some coffee on before I check on her. Why don’t you come over now. Jamie can drive you home. You can leave the car here and I’ll get it back to you eventually. Is Linda coming now too?”

“Johnny can bring Linda; he’s picking her up for brunch.”

“Great, I’ll see you and your stuffing soon.”

This is good thought Bobbie. Mom can help me with the turkey. She put coffee on and went out to the living room. She turned on all the lights and the little train; the numerous presents were actually in her way. She sighed and really looked around. There was way too many gifts. So many people sent things for Maddy. Maddy was so little and didn’t need all of this. She thought of all the little girls with nothing.

She stood and made a decision. She got some big clear garbage bags and started loading the gifts into them. She separated her mother’s, Jamie’s, Johnny’s, Trixie’s, Barbs and Eddy’s gifts out and put them under the tree. She filled 3 large bags with almost 100 gifts and dragged them into the office. I’ll save these then donate them somewhere.

She felt better and the living room looked perfect. She went into Maddy’s room and said, “Merry Christmas Sweetie.”

Maddy stretched. “Did Santa come?”

Since it was their first Christmas together, Bobbie wasn’t sure what that meant to Maddy but she nodded. Then the elevator dinged. “Gramma Great is here. She wants to see what Santa brought you too. Let’s go let her in.”

“I have to pee.”

Bobby nodded and went to get her Mum at the elevator.

“Hi Bobbie, I brought some tea biscuits to go with coffee. Can you help me with all this?”

There was a cooler bag sitting on the elevator floor and Florence had a plate of biscuits in her hands.

“Sure thing Mom, come on in. You know where to hang your coat, I’ll get this stuff to the kitchen. Maddy just got up and is in the washroom.”

Florence met them in the kitchen. “Merry Christmas Maddy, did you have trouble falling asleep last night? Were visions of sugar plums dancing in your head?”

“I had to sleep or Santa wouldn’t come.”

Bobbie wondered where she’s heard that. Nobody needs that kind of stress. “I think Santa doesn’t care if you are actually asleep, he’s really quiet and you’d never hear him anyway.”

They went into the decorated living room. Maddy’s hands flew to her mouth as she saw the little train moving around the tree, the new lights on the mantle and bookcase and the little village with the little figurines. She went over and moved them around a little gingerly. Bobbie pointed to her giant sock, filled with presents and the 20 or so gifts under the tree. “Let’s get opening kiddo.” Florence snapped a picture.

Maddy hesitated, she didn’t know what to open first so Bobbie sat down on the floor with her and an hour later they were done. Maddy was quiet, taking everything in.

Bobbie stood and made sure all the paper was in a big recycle bag. “I’ll take this to the storage room; I’ll meet you guys in the kitchen.”

Florence got Maddy up in her highchair and pushed over to the island and they were eating jam and biscuits. Maddy had a glass of milk that had been warmed up and spiked with an ounce of tea, Florence had a cup of tea and Bobbie got a coffee.

‘I have to get the turkey going at 10 o’clock I think; I’m glad you’re here to help. Alex usually cooked the turkey.”

“I was just thinking that your father always cooked our turkeys too. I think between us we can figure it out.”

It occurred to Bobbie that her mom was missing her dad and that’s maybe why she didn’t want to stay at home alone.

Her mom opened the cooler with the turkey. “Are you only cooking one turkey, will you have enough turkey for boxing day too?”

“I decided to have shaved beef sandwiches this year, with beef from my ranch near River City. I got Mark to make them for me. They are in the restaurant fridge right now.”

“That sounds good Bobbie. I’d like to see that property sometime.”

Bobbie nodded, “I’m hoping to get a nice place built but I had to build a bunk house and barn for my ranchers and cows first and that took all my money.”

“You’ve got a lot of balls in the air, now where do you keep the turkey roaster.”

Eddy was the first to arrive. He was feeling lonely because it was the first Christmas with out Jen and his kids. They were with Mac, Jen’s new boyfriend, in Cap City with his family. “Merry Christmas. It’s just like any other day for me.”

Bobbie hugged him. “It’s weird not having the kids around for sure.  You’ll see them tomorrow, just try and make the best of today dear. I miss them too. Can you help us get this heavy turkey in the oven?” Between three of them, they got the turkey in the oven on time.

Maddy came into the kitchen and hugged Eddy. “Merry Christmas Uncle Eddy. Do you want to see my presents?” Eddy poured himself a coffee, grabbed a biscuit and followed her into the living room.

The next to arrive was Jamie. Bobbie hugged him. “Merry Christmas Jamie. Where’s your better half?”

Jamie frowned. “It was last minute but Jarod took his brother Dwight to see their parents down south.”

“And you’re not with them?”

Jamie’s frown deepened. “Ahh, no I’m not.”

“Oh Jamie, I don’t need details. It sucks to have fights around the holidays. Come on in and have some coffee and one of Mom’s biscuits. Eddie and Maddy are in the living room.”

“Mom brought biscuits?”

Bobbie put some Christmas music on and everyone just puttered around while Bobbie and Florence peeled potatoes, carrots and turnip. Bobbie was checking on the turkey when the elevator dinged and Johnny, Aunty Linda, his sister Marla and her son Kirby stepped out.

Aunt Linda and Florence sat on the edge of the kitchen island, chatting. Johnny, Charlie, Eddy and Kirby found some sports to watch in the theatre room. Maddy went into her room for a nap and Bobbie and Marla got the dining room ready and the table set for dinner.

Around 2pm, Maddy woke up and Bobbie gave her a quick bath and got her dressed in her new Christmas dress. Bobbie made it using fabric from a thrifted pair of green jeans for the bodice and red and green cashmere sweaters for the skirt and ruffles. Bobbie made an almost matching one that she put in Suzy’s stocking in knowing that June would let her wear it today. She just finished braiding Maddy’s hair when Charlie, June, Suzy and Niko arrived.

Maddy and Suzy showed off their new dresses and June and Gramma great took pictures and then the girls went into the living room and started playing house.

June sat on at the island looking very pregnant and chatted with Florence and Linda. Florence was keeping an eye on the boiling veggies and Bobbie finished up the table.

Soon they were taking the turkey out of the oven and the stuffing and the broccoli casserole went in to heat up. They let the turkey rest and after a few minutes Bobbie moved it to a large platter and proceeded to make gravy. She dumped the turkey drippings into a fat separator and used a bit of the fat to braise some finely chopped onions in a big pot. She had a bottle of cold turkey broth, made by Jane, from the restaurant and stirred a ¼ cup of gluten free flour in the cold broth. Then she dumped the rest of the cold broth and the new hot turkey drippings into the pot and let it cook together.

Everything was ready. The stuffing and hot casserole where on hot pads on the island and the mashed carrot and turnip and potatoes were prepared and on the stove. Bobbie had the pile of plates and decided to seat everyone and said she would serve them. She asked Marla to help and everyone else sat at the table. Maddy and Suzy were at the table in their respective high chairs and Suzy was on one side of them and Florence on the other. Including the highchairs, there were 13 at the table. Bobbie hoped it wasn’t bad luck.

Everyone was served and enjoying dinner when June gasped. Florence put down her knife and fork, “Is everything all right June?”

“I don’t know.” She gasped again, “I can’t be in labour, it’s too soon.”

Florence arose from the table. “Come with me dear, I’ll have a look at you.”

Florence took June into a bedroom. A little while later they emerged. “Her twinges are false labour; her body is just getting ready for the main event. There’s nothing to worry about but she should to go home and put her feet up. Bobbie why don’t the girls all stay here tonight and Charlie can cut a couple pieces of that pie to go and then, take June home.”

Bobbie blinked, thankful that her mother was so reassuring and clearly feeling useful in that moment. “That’s a good plan Mom.”

Charlie and June hugged their girls good night and; the girls didn’t seem too sad about staying at Gramma’s. They got Bobbie to take the small table from the corner of the theatre to the living room where they insisted on having their dessert.

The adults sat around the dining room chatting. Marla and Kirby left and eventually it was just Bobbie and Johnny left at the table. “Well Johnny, it sure is different this year with Marla and Kirby here, and I bet Linda was happy too.”

“She is glad they live here and thinks I’m a good influence on Kirby. Imagine?!”

“I think you are a good influence. Do you ever see Mitch and Sidney? You were a good influence on that kid too.”

“Mitch has a new guy. I think he’s married. Sid doesn’t think much of him. He’s in the same class as Kirby and they are friends, so he says over with Kirby quite often.”

“That’s nice of you Johnny.”

After a while, Johnny got up and helped Bobbie gather dishes. Then he hugged her and left. Bobbie got the girls ready for bed. Suzy and Maddy stayed in Maddy’s room and Niko wanted to have her own room so she could read one of her new books. Bobbie got them settled and went back to the dishes. It took her quite a while. She wanted to get everything cleared up because she was having the boxing day party tomorrow.