The Christmas Elf, A Secret-Santa Story

Chapter 12 - Family and friends

Sunday 18 December

Eileen woke with a feeling of well-being and the scent of pancakes and coffee in the air. She smiled up at the ceiling, delightfully warm and happy, soaking in the fact that she had absolutely nothing on her agenda for the day.

She padded downstairs to find, as expected, her mother flipping pancakes while her father sipped his coffee at the small table in the kitchen. He held out a mug to her and she didn't have to ask how he knew she had been on the way down when he poured it. Nothing escaped her father's notice. Nothing.

They had arrived after she got back from the pub and it had been too late for them to do much more than exchange greetings and hugs before all heading off to bed.

She gave both parents quick pecks on the cheek and told them good morning.

"Mmmmm....smells delicious!" she said to her mom. "What kind?"

"Decided to go wild and make both chocolate chip and blueberries," her mom answered.

Eileen eyed the growing stack of pancakes dubiously, "Are we planning to feed the neighborhood?"

Her mom laughed, "It's been a while since I had to cook for more than two...I may have gotten the proportions a bit wrong."

"I know the people to help get through that stack, especially since no one else gets up at such an ungodly hour to start cooking breakfast," she laughed.

She picked up the phone and called Claudia first. Her bleary voice sounded as though she had been woken up by the phone, "Please tell me I didn't wake you!" Eileen was mortified.

"Perish the thought," said around a loud yawn, "I am standing in my kitchen wondering if I'd really feel be a terrible mother if I gave Ella cereal and milk a second day in a row. The coffee hasn't kicked in yet so my though processes are a little scrambled."

Eileen laughed in relief, "Now that I can do something about! My mom is here and she's apparently decided to make enough pancakes to make up for ALL the mornings I haven't had them for the entire year. You guys wanna help demolish them?"

"Oh. My. God. You are an absolute angel! Pancakes are Ella's favorite."

A pause and then a whispered consultation on the other side, as Ella apparently asked her mother something.

"Sure, honey. I'll ask," Claudia's voice was distant for a second before she came back clearly on the line, "Ella wants to know if she can ask Mr. Jensen too."

Eileen eyed the pile of pancakes that had continued growing and laughed again, "Of course, she can. I was going to call him next but he might be more thrilled to get the invite from Ella."

As she hung up, her parents stared at her curiously. "What?!" she asked.

"It's good to know that you have a good relationship with your neighbors, honey," her mother said. "We always worry about you, you know."

Her father murmured his agreement. "Mr. Jensen is as solid as they get. It's too bad none of his kids live at home anymore. Must get lonely sometimes."

Eileen nodded. "At least they'll be home for Christmas, they've never missed a year yet."

A couple minutes later there was a knock on her door and her three guests were ushered in. They were all bundled in coats and hats against the cold but Eileen restrained herself from grinning at the difference in the attire that was under it.

Mr. Jensen was fully dressed indicating he had been awake for a while, maybe because he was an early riser like her parents. Ella was still in fluffy pjs that sported reindeer and Santa all over them. Claudia looked like she had made a hasty attempt at combing her hair, but it had clearly fought back because there were loose curls escaping her ponytail.

Eileen introduced Claudia and Ella who were both greeted with stacks of pancakes and an urge to sit and be comfortable. Her father shook Mr. Jensen's hand warmly, "Great to see you again, it's been too long. Not that I mind being surrounded by these lovely ladies, of course."

Claudia inhaled deeply, "Do I smell blueberry??!!" She sounded like a kid on Christmas morning.

"And do I spy chocolate chip??!!" Ella asked, in what was apparently meant to be an imitation of her mom's tone and question. The adults laughed as more plates were handed out and piled with favorites.

Soon her dad was chatting away with Mr. Jensen catching up on what they'd each been up to while Ella peppered Mrs. O'Connor with questions on how she had come to be so good at making pancakes.

Eileen found herself with a few rare moments to talk to Claudia alone. "So," she asked as she bit into a triangular layer comprising two blueberry pancakes sandwiching one chocolate chip one, "how are you liking the neighborhood?"

Claudia watched her in fascination as she sliced another neat triangle out of her 'pancake-pie'. "That's a very interesting idea...."

Eileen raised her fork to her mouth and sighed, "It is sooooo good. Wanna try?" She pushed her plate forward.

Claudia seemed taken aback at the easy familiarity but shrugged and leaned forward to slice a neat piece off. "Oh...wow! That is quite a burst of flavors! I think I'm gonna try this now!"

As she grabbed two more pancakes to assemble her own, she eventually answered, "It was kind of difficult at first – and I wouldn't say I felt like I had really 'come home' at the end of each day. But that's been changing in the last week or so. I think it may have started when a stranger took time out to do something nice for us, but I really felt it when Ella and Mr. J connected and then yesterday evening was like a lovely dream."

She sighed, her words and tone were even more solemn when she added, "I hope it stays like this. I know all too well how fleeting and fragile any kind of happiness can be."

Instead of trying to make light of the moment or jolly Claudia out of her contemplative mood, Eileen looked around at the spontaneous gathering of people and took the time to let it sink in. "Yes, I agree with you when you say happiness can be fleeting and fragile," she said musingly. "Unfortunately, nothing can stay the same forever but if we make the most of each moment; if we take the extra time to connect with each other and to do what we can to put a smile on someone else's face – I think that we stand a good chance of making it a long and lovely dream. Don't you?"

Claudia met her eyes and nodded slowly in agreement.