My Year with Grandma

Company Christmas Party

Every year, Gram hosted a Christmas party for the folks that worked at the farm and everyone in the family helped put it together. Melinda, Nyssa and Grace handled the snack trays, May peeled and cut potatoes and yams, Jimmy Dad prepped the turkey, the prime rib and the ham for baking. Since Gram's arm was in a cast and my mom is a disaster in the kitchen, they watched over the kids in the living room while I helped Alexis and Backus make the pies. Brittany and Josh brought up rolls they made this morning and Gram said some other folks will be bringing side dishes to share. I'm guessing there are going to a lot of people here considering how much food was being prepared.

Josh and Mackerel were in charge of setting up the party room which was really just the big open basement Gram's house had. By the time they were done with it, it looked like a scene from a holiday romance movie, complete with a large, well-decorated tree in the far corner near a storybook fireplace. In the center of the room was a baby grand piano and along the wall was the other instruments I assumed would be played at the party. I was surprised to see a cello, as no one had played one during my time here. Violins and violas, yes. Guitars and bass? Yes. Piano and flute, naturally. Heck, Jimmy even graced us with a harmonica once, but no cellos. My curiosity was quite piqued, to say the least.

Piqued. Now there's a word I never would have used before. It's crazy how much I have learned and changed over this year. My hair has grown to my shoulders, which is the longest I've had it since grade school. I cook, which I never did before. My vocabulary has expanded exponentially. Most of my piercing holes have closed and for the most part, I don't miss them. I've managed to not only catch up but, get ahead in school to the point that I could graduate by the end of next fall semester. And Josh and I have spent a lot of time together lately which has kept my mind off Jude almost completely. I hardly recognize myself anymore and that's okay. I like the new me.

I leaned against the wall of the basement just watching Josh and Mackerel work, lost in a sea of what-ifs. I wondered if everyone who ever fell in love did the same thing. I briefly thought of a younger version of Gram staring at Pops as he worked or May goo-goo eyeing Jams. With the last wreath put in its place, the boys walked in my direction stopping only long enough for Josh to ask me if I liked the set up. The doorbell rand before I could answer. Mackerel looked at his phone. "And so, it begins. Merry Christmas!" he said as he bounded up the stairs.

"You ready for this?" Josh asked.

"I think so. You?"

"Yeah. I've been here for this every year."

"Joooosshh!" A rather shrill, annoyed woman's voice rang out. "Where you at? Come get your son!"

My eyes widened a bit at the woman's words. Was there another Josh she was looking for? No. The panicked look on his face said as much. "Well, shit. I'll explain this later." He said as he trudged up the stairs. Oh, I followed. I had to see this for myself.

"Josh! I ain't got time to wait for your lazy ass. Get in here!"

I followed him into the foyer and found the source of the shrill screeching. A young, brown skinned woman with long, beautiful braids stood there with a boy about two on one hip and her hand on there other. She was gorgeous. And very annoyed. "Hey, Jenessa. What brings you out this far?"

"You need to take your son."

"Okay. But I thought I wasn't supposed to have him until Christmas Eve. That's still six days off."

"Well, you need to take him now. I's got things to do. I gots a job interview on Monday and can't be having a crying little two-year-old punk ass kid messing it up for me." She set the boy down on the floor. "Go to your daddy, Levi." The boy happily complied and ran into Josh's arms. He looked just like Josh, but with a tan. Too stinkin' cute for words.