The Trust

Chapter 27: The Emperor

I love the Christmas season. The treats, the warmth, the lights. Family togetherness. A few days off from all your cares, nothing to worry about except whether the turkey will come out dry. No matter what's going on in my life, the tree is up, baking starts and my mood is lifted as of December 1.

The downtown is lit up like New York City this year. Fresh decorations are hung everywhere, and giant candy cane-shaped lights adorn every lamp post. I'm a little bitter that the Grey Harbour town council couldn't find funds to support our turkey drive to assist local families this year but found the money for holiday lights. But I must admit the effect is stunning, bringing me back to Christmas in the 1980s when I was a kid.

Donations are down generally to the shelter, and I can't figure it out. Each year, even those without much dig deep to support it at Christmas time, ensuring everyone gets a food hamper and other comforts for Christmas Day. The hampers are thin this year. We're down 30 per cent from last year in donations and I don't know why. If Father Jake didn't come through with a mysterious anonymous donation, we wouldn't be able to give out anything. 

When my bonus arrived in my bank account, I paid enough on my credit cards to keep the wolves away from the door, put some aside for Christmas and the new year. I also gave $500 to the shelter for the Christmas drive. I wish I could give more, but that's all I can spare. I can't stand the thought of people being alone without a warm holiday meal, or parents not being able to give their kids presents. It keeps me up at night.

The first snowflakes of the year spin down from the sky and I shiver and button my coat at the neck. Down by the harbour is the coldest spot in town and that's where they've deciding to have this Douglas Day nonsense. I was going to boycott it, but I'm too curious to stay home, so I'm going. Plus, it's the only way I'm going to get a glimpse of my family.

No one is speaking to me. Mom packed a bag and moved in with Julie and I don't know if she'll be back.

One by one, family members suddenly were too busy to drop in for a cup of tea. I'm being excluded from family meetings and gatherings. And when I went onto the Douglas Family Facebook group to have some pictures of my grandparents printed and framed for my relatives, I realized I'd been kicked out and blocked. Apparently, being the only one to resist my uncle's constant pressure to send him thousands has gotten me booted from the family. It hurts.

I've asked Jake to meet me at the tree lighting ceremony for support. Maybe if I see them in person, I can talk some sense into them.

It's my mother's cold shoulder that hurts the most. All my life she's been in my corner, no matter if I'm right or wrong. Since my Dad left, mom Julie and I have had a tight bond; it's been the three of us against the world. But now Mom barely speaks to me and when she does, she's daydreaming about what she'll do with all her money once she receives it. I'm sick over it, and how much debt she and everyone have gone into to fund this bullshit. But I've stopped trying to change her mind or anyone else's. For my own mental health, I've had to let go of trying to convince them it's a scam, I'm wasting my breath. But I'm confused and sad. I don't know if my relationship with my family will ever be the same. Why can't they all see what I see?

Julie is the only one who hasn't turned her back on me but even she is trying to convince me that everything is legit. The difference is, my sister doesn't get mad at me when I refuse to change my mind. She's ride or die, that one. But she's given my uncle $20,000 for his surgery, or lawyer fees or whatever – her share and Mom's. So I can understand why she's so adamant to believe this is real. To consider anything else would be horrible.

When I arrive at the park, it's transformed. Lights are everywhere including on the new gazebo. A giant screen is set up and there are stations around the park serving hot cider and food. I walk the perimeter noticing the fancy finger foods — chicken skewers, tofu and vegetable cups, shrimp cocktail, beef tartare. The locals are gobbling them up and going for more. These piddly finger foods cost a fortune — I book all the catering for our work events and I know how much per person it costs for a couple of stuffed mushrooms. Someone's gone all out.