“Good afternoon, Ms. Scott. Merry Christmas Eve.”
I opened my eyes to see Regina Blankenship standing behind the receptionist’s desk, her smile as bright as always. My heart started to race, and I looked around to see the immaculately decorated hallways of my grandmother’s retirement home. The staff always went all out for Christmas.
Confusion swept across me and all I could do was turn back to Regina and stare at her. She had her dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail and she had on her jingle bell earrings that she only wore on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Time either didn’t exist or I was losing my mind.
The last thing I remembered was falling asleep on my couch. Regina’s forehead creased and she stared back at me with concern. “Lydia, are you okay?”
Was I?
The clock on the wall said it was eight thirty, and I could see the sun shining in through the windows, so I knew it wasn’t night. That meant there were several hours that I couldn’t account for. I couldn’t remember what time I woke up or how I even drove myself to my grandmother’s place.
“I’m fine, I think,” I ended up saying.
I was about to say something about her wearing her Christmas earrings early this year, but someone called out my name.
“Hi, Lydia. It’s good to see you again.”
I jerked around to see who it was, and my mouth dropped when I saw it was Margaret Grant, dressed in a pair of red scrubs with a sprig of mistletoe pinned over the left pocket. I didn’t know she worked at my grandmother’s retirement home.
“Hey,” I said, glancing from her to Regina. Regina smiled at us and grabbed a black notebook off the desk before walking away. I focused back on Margaret. “I didn’t know you worked here.”
Margaret’s brown eyes twinkled. “I don’t.” She flourished her hands out to the side, her brown curls bouncing around her shoulders. “But in your dream, I do. I kind of like wearing scrubs. They’re comfortable.”
I glanced down at my ugly Christmas sweater and jeans; it was the same sweater I wore two Christmases ago. Every year, Violet and I would make our own to wear on Christmas Eve. It was a tradition we started and wanted to continue for the years to come. Our grandmother loved seeing how crazy we could get with our designs.
“If I’m in a dream, it would make sense because I sure don’t remember getting here. I swear I was just on my couch watchingThe Nutcracker.”
Margaret giggled, but her face was completely serious. “Oh, you were, Lydia. And now you’re here.” She pointed down at my sweater. “Do you remember when you wore that?”
I grabbed the hem of my red sweater and pulled it out so I could see the whole front. There was a giant Christmas tree in the middle with puff balls, glitter, and a variety of shiny ornaments all attached to it with tons of presents underneath.
“I’m pretty sure I wore it on Christmas Eve two years ago,” I replied, trying my best to comprehend what was going on.
If I was in a dream, it felt all too real. I’d never had one so vivid before. It was as if I was really standing in the hallway talking to Margaret. I could smell the Christmas tree just down the hall, that sweet scent of pine I never grew tired of. There was even a familiar warmth surrounding me that I felt before when I was at the fountain.
Margaret leaned against the desk and smiled when she pointed at the small calendar on the counter. “You’re absolutely right. It was two years ago.”
When I focused on the calendar, it wasn’t the current date - it was Christmas Eve, two years previously. Margaret was right. “This is so weird,” I whispered more to myself than to her.
Margaret laughed. “I’m sure it is, child. You’ve been given a second chance to find what it is you’re looking for. On this day two years ago, you missed an opportunity that could’ve changed the course of your future.”
My dream was getting stranger by the second.
“This is insane,” I said, shaking my head and laughing at the ridiculousness. “What are you talking about? How is being here going to give me a second chance to find what I’m looking for? I don’t even know what that means.”
Margaret patted my hand and batted her eyelashes. “Lydia, dear, you’ve been blind for way too long. It’s time for you to open your eyes and see what’s going on around you.” She grabbed my hands and squeezed. “What did you wish for at the fountain?”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “How did you know I was there?”
She squeezed my hands again and the warmth I’d felt that night embraced me like a hug. “I know a lot of things, child. I was there. That’s why you’re getting a do-over. Two years ago, you had a chance at love, but you completely ignored it. That’s why I want you to really be in the moment here. You deserve to find the one you want to give your heart to and get theirs in return.”
That was exactly what I wanted and the exact words I whispered that night. All I could do was stare at her in shock. I wanted this dream to be real more than anything, but that wasn’t the way the world worked. But at least I could possibly find true love in my dreams. Or maybe this whole scenario was my mind playing tricks on me. I could see my dream leading me to anelderly gentleman as a joke, as a way of sayingHey, you waited too long.
“This guy isn’t a resident here, is he?” I asked.
Margaret let my hands go and tilted her head back, bursting out with laughter. “That’s a good one. But no, he’s not a resident. I promise your potential match isn’t an old man.” That was a relief. She nodded toward the hallway where my grandmother’s room was. “Go and enjoy your day. Your grandmother’s waiting for you. I think she’s ready to beat you at cards.” She winked at me and walked away, disappearing around a corner.
