Down Memory Lane ✓

19- The Fireplace

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The Fireplace

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I DIDN'T ask why Jane hadn't called out for help when the sheer amount of work to do was suffocating her. I just set out to help with whatever I could, because she needed it.

We got so absolved in all the work that I forgot about my phone switched off in my room. Dad came back soon enough and got to work on the decorations. He was quite the creative person, saving us the hassle of renting someone to help with decorations whenever we were planning something.

Everything was coming together, and I had to stop and marvel at the way Dad had transformed our house in the little time he had. He was coming down the ladder after hanging some Christmas lights when I asked, "Dad, why did you become a banker?"

He frowned at my question, so I went further. "I mean, you're so good at decorating and setting things up. One could say I got my creativity from you. So, what's all that creativity doing in a bank?"

His head tilted slightly as his hands rested on his waist. He looked from the lights to me and back to the lights. His eyes remained on them as he said, "My dad was a banker."

My shoulders slumped. That was not the answer I was expecting. Dad always cheered us on to do what we loved. The thought that he was doing something he didn't love while cheering us on tugged at me.

"Was that why you became a banker?"

"My dad was my role model growing up, and he always looked so cool," he chuckled and shook his head like he couldn't believe he was saying this and then added, "So I wanted to be like him."

It was silent for a while as he moved to turn on the switch and a varying blend of yellow, green, and red danced around us, bringing Christmas to life.

I don't know where the words came from, but I said them regardless as my eyes remained fixed on the lights.

"Mum was my role model." My statement made him whip his head to look at me. I kept my eyes on the lights as I went on. "But I don't want to end up like her. Does that make sense?"

He came over and gave me a side hug as his eyes went back to the lights with both of our eyes shining and not only from the lights that reflected on them.

"That makes perfect sense. You can love her, but not all of her. You can share her laughs but not her mistakes. No one is perfect. Not me, not your mother, or Jane. I know you're not totally happy with what our family has become, but sometimes, life throws things at you. Life whips things up and when the dust settles, it looks like a mess. Until you see it differently. Then it becomes a beautiful mess."

"Just like the lights?" The colors kept changing, and I still hadn't figured out the pattern.

"Just like the lights." He leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "Now that the lights are up and running. Time to wrap up some gifts," he said and rubbed his hands together. I could feel the glee coming off of him and in my eyes, he had transformed into a young child excited for their first Christmas. He was always like this. Even during the first Christmas we had as a family without my mom.

As I watched him walk away, a smile took residence on my face. But just as soon as it formed, it dropped.

Crap!

I had been so consumed with everything going on I forgot this was Christmas! I had to get something for them.

How was I gonna get out of all this work and head out? It was snowing outside and the weather forecast claimed it could get worse this night. If I was to go out, I needed to find an excuse and get everything done quickly. The sooner I finished, the more I was out of snow, the better. I wouldn't want to get snowed out.