Her eyes widen as if she hadn’t realized how close we lived to one another. “Neighbor,” she whispers. “That’s right.”
She’s so out of it.
“Have you eaten breakfast?” It’s a little after eight, so I assume she hasn’t as we re-enter the house.
“I got up to feed Charlotte. Randy’s still asleep, but I suppose he’ll be up soon and hungry. I should get?—”
“Sit,” I insist, pointing at the couch. “I’ll make us some breakfast.” Thankfully, after Shanice went to bed, I was able to order some groceries from a late-night grocery in town.
I don’t think much of it as I turn on a Christmas playlist on my phone and begin dancing along while I chop up some mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese to put into scrambled eggs for Shanice and me.
I scramble an egg with a little salt and pepper for Randy.
Some cut up fruit, chicken sausage, and toasted sourdough bread later and three plates are around the table, ready for us. Just in time for Randy to wake up.
“Morning, baby,” I say as he rushes up to the dining table after Shanice cleaned him up in the bathroom.
“Good morning, Grandma. Merry Christmas!” he says excitedly.
Raising an eyebrow, I look over at Shanice. The tiniest smile plays on her lips.
“He’s been greeting us like this every morning since December first,” she tells me. “I keep reminding him that Christmas is only on the twenty-fifth.” She leans in and pulls his head back to kiss his forehead, making him giggle.
There’s a twinkle in Shanice’s eyes and a small smile when she stands back up. It doesn’t completely eclipse the sadness, but for the first time since she arrived, she’s not full of total despair.
“Why don’t we decorate for Christmas today?” I say, suddenly.
Shanice’s brows raise. “I thought you decided not to go all out for Christmas anymore.”
“That was the first time I’d seen him smile.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as Joel’s words about his first Christmas after his wife died come back to my mind.Christmas decorations won’t fix what’s broken in my daughter’s life, but it will put a smile on her and my grandkids’ faces.
“Can an old woman change her mind?” I ask with a grin.
“Grandma not old,” Randy says, making us burst out in laughter.
“My favorite grandson.” I scoop Randy up and nuzzle his neck, making him squeal.
After putting him in his chair for breakfast, I head to the counter to grab my phone, turning up the Christmas playlist while Shanice takes Charlotte out of her playpen.
We all eat and sing along to the music while Randy and I also discuss exactly where the Christmas tree should go.
CHAPTER 30
Ellyn
“We should wait until Aunt Meghan arrives tomorrow to do the tree,” I say while staring at the bare Christmas tree that now stands in the corner of my living room.
“Aww,” Randy whines, giving me that cutest, poutiest face.
Shanice, the kids, and I spent the morning going from store to store picking up Christmas decorations, stockings, and even secret gifts for one another.
After lunch, we did some of the decorating on my porch, but much of the lawn decorations that we purchased have yet to be put up.
Next, we proceeded inside and decorated the living and dining areas with some garland hanging from each of the entrances, replaced my coasters with Christmas candles and other decor for the holiday.
I even purchased a four and a half-foot artificial tree, which Shanice helped me assemble and spread the branches.
