Ronan: To the Moon and Back

30. That Time of Year

 Rae feels bitter when she wakes up a week before Christmas, too early for the sun to be up yet. Thankfully she thinks, as she slowly pushes herself out of bed, she only has one shift at the diner today and can spend it serving people in the midst of finishing up their shopping. Handing coffee to impatient people while they tap their toes with their designer shoes and thinks that's the most important thing about Christmas. She some times hates the holidays. Rae wishes for good health to Ronan...and maybe a new coffee maker.

By the time Rae gets to the diner, she's shivering in her coat, little snow flurries stuck in her braid and sprinkled atop her beanie. Another co-worker of hers hands her a mug of steaming coffee, which she takes gratefully after pulling off her gloves and warming her fingers on the mug itself.

"You know just how to treat a lady, Max." Rae sighs, inhaling the strong aroma.

Max waves his hand in the air. "Yeah, yeah. Go warm up those cinnamon buns, why don't ya."

"Love of my life, you are." Rae teases.

She runs into Jasper, the owner of the self named diner himself, and immediately knows it's going to be a busy morning. He tells her he's baked a fresh batch of festive pastries and asks if her mother would like some. Rae tells him he should drop them off at her work himself, and if Jasper blushes a little at that, she just smiles kindly.

It's full on snowing by the end of Rae's shift. It's almost peaceful looking. The freshly fallen powder, white and glittering, makes the city sparkle under the streams of sunlight poking through the snow clouds. Until a car speeds past and almost splashes Rae with half melted, dirty slush. She steps back and unlocks her car, sighing as she get in. 

There was a time when Christmas was Raelyn's favorite time of year; filled with joy, laughter, baking and the smell of balsam. Filled with beautiful songs and the brightest of smiles from unwrapped toys. Times spent with family and friends, enjoying the meaning of the day while with each other company. At least, it was like that three years ago.

Now, however, it's filled with hospital visits, carefully monitored excitement, tight budgeting, and sacrificed trips to out of town family homes. Filled with somber faces, and fakes smiles, and the smell of antiseptic. Sounds of beeping machines and the haunting cries at night. It's not as if Rae hates it now, no. This time of year has just lost most of it's magic, most of it's hope. Rae takes out her camera from her new bag and snaps a few photos of the city, frowning when she puts it back. She just wishes that this years Christmas will be better than the previous.

The drive over to the Hospice is a little slower than normal, people driving a bit more cautiously. She finally parks, and swallows the bitterness she felt since she woke up. An unexpected (like they're ever expected) spasm clenches at her chest momentarily. Rae winces, then gets her self control back and ignores how her chest feels. Tightening her petticoat around herself for extra warm, she steps out of her car and right into a puddle of the same kind of slush she was nearly hit with earlier.

"Honestly." Rae groans, shaking out her foot and thoroughly soaked shoe. "Fuck the snow."

***

"He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it came! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling; 'How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!' And he puzzled three hours, 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. 'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more.'"

As it turns out, one of Ronan's favorite Christmas stories is the Grinch. He begged his sister to read it to him once more, and as Rae turns the page during her third reading, Dr. Ramsy taps on the open door.

"Good afternoon, Raelyn." He greets kindly, then smiles at Ronan. "What are you doing today, Ronan?"

Ronan looks up from the pictures in the book at the sound of his name, smiling back brightly. "Ra-Ra is reading to me. See!" He points a small finger to the pictures. "Mr. Grinch!"

"Isn't that just lovely! That's my favorite book. Are we feeling any better today?" Doctor Ramsey asks cheerfully, checking the heart monitor next to the bed.

"Uh-huh! My head hasn't hurted all day." Ronan giggles then pats the book. "But the Grinch was bad. He pretended to be Sandy Claws!"

Rae can't help but to stifle a laugh; because she's pretty sure Sandy Claws gets kidnapped in The Nightmare Before Christmas and Ronan just can't fully pronounce the name. She drops a fond kiss on his beanie clad head. Ronan simply twists his head puckering his small lips and stretches to reach her cheek. Rae leans down and get a sloppy kiss to her face.

"Well, that silly ol' Grinch will be on the naughty list, won't he?" Ramsey states. He turns his attention to the nurse, Annie who just came in with a tray of food. "How about you help Annie eat your lunch, while I talk to your sister. Is that alright?"

Ronan nods, climbing off his sister's lap and stealing the book from her hands, as he settles back against his pillows. Doctor Ramsey motions for Rae to follow him out of the room, bidding Ronan a goodbye.