Short, sweet and not all that satisfying. But at least she’d checked in.
“Okay, Cookie, we’ve heard from everyone,” Catherine said to the dog.
That was it for family time, and a meager helping of time it had been. But no pity parties. Catherine had someplace to go. She wouldn’t be alone.
She dressed in slacks and a red sweater, then went bold and settled a Santa hat on her head. She loaded up her presents for Denise and her daughter and the granddaughters, along with the Black Forest cherry cake, left Cookie to enjoy the chew toy Santa had brought her and drove the few blocks to her best friend’s house.
The mixed sounds of squeals and Christmas songs playing on the TV were almost loud enough to drown out the doorbell, but not quite. A moment later the door flew open and there stood Denise’s granddaughters, wearing matching red velveteen dresses, ruffled socks on their feet, their shoes already off. Ten and eight, they were bouncing up and down with excitement. Eleanor, the oldest, held a new iPad and Pearl Ann clutched an American Girl doll.
“Merry Christmas, Aunt Catherine!” they chorused.
“Look what I got,” Eleanor said, holding out the iPad for Catherine to see.
“I got this,” said her sister, determined not to be left out of show-and-tell.
Denise rounded the corner into the front hall. “Good grief, you little heathens. Somebody offer to help her with her things.”
“Sorry,” Eleanor said. “Can I help you?”
“You can take this bag of presents,” Catherine said to her.
“Ooh, presents,” Pearl Ann squealed, and reached for the bag.
“I’m helping her,” Eleanor said, and grabbed it.
“I want to help,” protested Pearl Ann.
“Would you like to take the cake out to the kitchen?” Catherine asked.
Pearl Ann nodded soberly and held out her hands, and Catherine gave her the cake carrier.
“Don’t drop it,” Denise cautioned.
Pearl Ann nodded, and started walking slowly toward the kitchen, her sister shadowing her, the guardian angel of cakes.
Denise smiled fondly, watching them. “Those girls,” she said, shaking her head.
“Are adorable, of course,” Catherine finished.
“Yes, they are. Here, give me your coat. Did you hear from your kids?”
“Oh, yes, everyone checked in.”
“They’d better do more than check in next year or they’re going to hear from me,” Denise said. “Go on in. Carrie brought her fabulous Christmas tree appetizer and there’s actually a few bites left. If you hurry you might get one.”
In addition to the appetizer, Denise’s daughter, who had been a single mom for the last two years, had brought along a new boyfriend. He seemed like a nice man and Carrie’s smile was lit up like, well, Christmas. Catherine thought of Sierra, whose marriage was ending. That was life for you. Somewhere a relationship ended while somewhere else a new one began. Maybe, down the road, Sierra, too, would find someone who would make her smile look like Christmas.
The day included a huge meal with a standing rib roast taking center stage, a hunt for miniature candy canes and other tiny Christmas treasures Denise had hidden around the house, as well as a game of Trivial Pursuit and some singing of carols.
They were about to cut the cake when Charlie dropped by with a gift for her. Her daughter looked at him suspiciously and then at her mother when Charlie informed Denise he had reservations at the Space Needle for New Year’s Eve.
“How about joining us, Catherine?” he suggested.
“I’m sure you’d like that,” she scoffed.
“Of course I would,” he said. “Two beautiful women, one for each arm.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for one empty arm,” Catherine told him. Something was definitely blooming between those two and she had no intention of stunting the growth of what could turn out to be a very special relationship.
Thoughts of Rudy tried to intrude, but she pushed them firmly away. She had plenty of good people in her life. She was fine just as she was.
Altogether not a bad day, she thought later as she drove home. Not the Christmas she’d have planned but a nice one, anyway. It was also nice not to come home to an empty house. Cookie was there to greet her. And she’d only chewed up one sofa pillow. Yes, not a bad day at all.
Catherine spent the rest of the night on her couch, reading, Cookie snuggled by her side. A quiet finish to the day, much as it would have been if Bill was still alive. She could live with that.