Restoring Christmas Page 4

  It must have been about 10 p.m. when the girls heard a knock at the door. Gretchen was teasing that it was probably a singing telegram sent by Adrienne’s then-boyfriend, Gabe Perkins. But the mood changed immediately when Adrienne looked into the eyes of Sheriff O’Doyle. The world stopped at that moment – Adrienne didn’t even hear what the Sheriff said. It was as if someone was holding their hands over her ears - the words were muffled. But she heard the few words that mattered: “car accident,” “nothing anyone could do,” and “so sorry.”

  From that December, four years ago until this very day, Adrienne and Gretchen’s childhood home in Connecticut had been empty. The joy it once brought was in stark contrast to the aching sorrow it now invoked.

  Christmas of that year was not a celebration, nor had any Christmas been since. The sisters quickly drifted apart – each other a reminder of what their family was and would never be again.

  Adrienne reached McMurphy’s and took a deep breath before pulling open the heavy door. Stepping inside she was greeted by the sound of pop Christmas music, groups of jovial men and women talking and laughing loudly over the noise, and the smell of stale beer and popcorn. But it was warm, and for that Adrienne was thankful.

  She spotted her sister quickly and saw that Gretchen had saved her a seat by putting caution tape around one of the bar stools. This made Adrienne want to laugh, and cry, at the same time. How did they let it get this way? Why did they focus so much on their differences?

  Adrienne weaved a path through the crowd to make her way to the bar. Arriving at the tape-wrapped bar stool, started ripping the tape enough so she could fit on the seat.

  Gretchen heard the ripping tape from across the bar and whipped around yelling, “Hey! That seat is spoken for . . .” Stopping mid-sentence once she saw it was Adrienne. The two locked eyes, both with their guard up waiting for each other's reaction.

  “I’ll have a vodka tonic with a twist of lime please,” Adrienne offered a small smile.

  “Vodka. Must have been a rough night. You’re here earlier than I expected – dinner not go so well?”

  “That’s the least of my worries. How are you doing? Your hair is so long!”

  “Yeah, it is. Why, do you not like it?” She put down Adrienne’s drink.

  “No, that’s not what I . . ..”

  “Excuse me, bartender? Could I get a Heineken and a glass of red?” A middle-aged man interrupted the sisters.

  Adrienne sat and nervously sipped her vodka tonic as she waited for Gretchen to make the man’s drinks. This was going to be even harder than she thought.

  “So, what are we going to do?” Gretchen said as she walked back over to Adrienne.

  “I have no idea. I don’t have $25,000 – do you?”

  Gretchen made a face that said, what do you think?

  “Right,” Adrienne continued, “I could try and sell some of my stuff.”

  “Adrienne, you are not going to be able to sell $25,000 worth of stuff in thirteen days.” Adrienne nodded in agreement. “I was thinking maybe we could go back to Chestnut Ridge and talk to someone? Maybe someone will give us a break?” Gretchen offered.

  “I can’t imagine going back there,” Adrienne said quietly.

  “What? I can’t hear you!” Gretchen yelled over the noise.

  “Nothing. Forget it. You’re probably right – we should go back and see what we can do there. I wonder what the house looks like.”

  The two sisters looked at each other, a thousand words passing through their silence.

  “We should go soon. We don’t have much time to figure this out,” Adrienne said.

  “Let’s go tomorrow. Can you get off work?” Gretchen asked.

  “Well, tomorrow is Saturday, so I can go. Can you get off work? Isn’t Saturday one of your busiest nights?”

  “Yeah, but I can get someone to cover for me. Are you going to come pick me up? Do you remember where I live?”

  “I don’t have a car, Gretchen. How do you suppose I come pick you up?”

  “Rent a car.”

  “Right. Of course, that’s my job. Always have to be the responsible one. You probably don’t even have a license, or any money, or a working credit card . . . Geez Gretch, some things never change.”

  “Don’t start with the high and mighty act, okay? At least I’m doing something I love, not like you – working for some corporate machine like a robot.”

  The two women were standing, red-faced and rigid, their faces only inches apart.

  “Is everything okay over there ladies?” Another one of the bartenders asked.

  “It’s fine,” Gretchen backed away. Then she turned back to Adrienne, “So are you going to come get me tomorrow or what?”

  “Do you still live in that dungeon?”

  “Funny. Yes.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Merry Christmas!” Adrienne said sarcastically as she threw a few dollars tip on the bar and grabbed her coat.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Adrienne pulled the rental car up next to the curb in front of Gretchen’s apartment building at 9 a.m. the next morning. It was probably the only time of day when the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood was anywhere close to quiet. She packed an overnight bag in case they wanted to stay the night, but the thought of sleeping in the house back in Chestnut Ridge made her stomach hurt.

  She honked twice -- Gretchen better be awake. It would not surprise Adrienne if Gretchen were in her tiny apartment sound asleep. But much to her surprise, Adrienne saw the top of Gretchen’s head coming up the stairs from the basement apartment. She was carrying a bulging bag that looked homemade, and another small black leather bag.

  “You shouldn’t honk your horn this early in the morning! Would it have killed you to come knock on my door? Not everyone is up at 6 a.m. showered and perfectly put together – some people have to work late you know?”

  This is going to be a disaster.

  “Good morning to you too. I’m stopping to get a coffee; would you like anything?”

  “Um, no thanks.”

  “I’ll buy you something.”

  “In that case, I’ll have a chai tea latte and a cranberry scone.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Adrienne pulled up to a coffee shop. The great thing about driving around the city early on a Saturday morning – parking spots!

  “While I’m in ordering, pull up the GPS on your phone so we know the best route.”

  “I know how to get home.”

  “I know how to get home too. I’m just wondering about traffic and the fastest route out of the city. Just do it please!” Adrienne sounded exasperated.

  The drive out of the city was relatively easy . . . and quiet. Adrienne focused on the road and Gretchen stared out the window watching the city go by in a blur. Both girls were lost in their own thoughts about going back to Chestnut Ridge. Just as they were about to get onto Route 95 North, a Christmas song came on the radio. Gretchen quickly reached for the dial and switched he station.

  “Well that’s something we can agree on,” Adrienne said.

  “There had to be something,” Gretchen said, and the two sisters smiled at each other.

  “What’s in the black leather bag?”

  “It’s my camera. I call her Heidi – she’s the only thing of value I own.”

  “You have a name for your camera? Wow, you’re further gone than I thought.”

  “You can tease me all you want; Heidi and I are not bothered by it.”

  “I can’t believe we’re going back to Oak Street. It’s been so long. It’s strange, so many years at that house full of joy – our entire childhoods. Our crazy teenage years and weekends home from college . . . so many happy memories,” Adrienne then switched gears. “Yet, all I think about is December 22nd. I can’t get past it.”

  “I know. It’s not fair. So much of it isn’t fair. I always felt so lucky living there -- I love that house on Oak Street. We had our family and great friends, and then Christmastime i
n Chestnut Ridge . . . I wonder if the town is still so Christmas crazy.”

  “I was wondering the same thing. Remember that year when our house was part of the Chestnut Ridge Christmas Home Tour and mom was a giant stress ball trying to make everything perfect?”

  “Of course! Every square inch of the house was covered in garland and twinkle lights. It was blinding,” Gretchen giggled.

  “And then right when everyone was about to arrive, Mom forgot about the gingerbread cookies in the oven and the whole kitchen filled with smoke,” Adrienne started to laugh.

  “And all the smoke alarms went off, and she and Dad were running around frantically waving brooms and towels in front of the smoke alarms,” Gretchen was laughing so hard it was difficult to get the words out.

  The two sisters laughed until tears were running down their cheeks and their stomachs hurt. It felt so good.

  Before they know it, the exit off the highway for Chestnut Ridge popped into view. Adrienne looked over at Gretchen, “Are you ready?”

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Adrienne drove slowly down Main Street, trying to take it all in. In lots of ways not much had changed, but in other ways the downtown had grown more than they could have imagined. There were twice as many shops and restaurants lining the quaint tree-lined street. Colorful lights were wrapped around every light post, storefronts were decorated with elaborate Christmas-themed displays, wreaths hung above every window, and people bustled along the sidewalks. It was more Christmas-y than the sisters remembered.

  “Wow. This is . . ..”

  “Yeah, right? Do you remember it being this . . . over-the-top?” Adrienne asked.

  “They have definitely stepped it up a couple notches.”

  Soon the street sign for Oak Street was upon them, and Adrienne took a slow right turn. They both quietly looked out their windows at the houses they had known their whole lives: The Millers, Jacobsons, and Katz families. Mr. and Mrs. Burns were still putting up the giant inflatable Santa in their front yard. There was a lifetime of memories on this picturesque street in this beautiful small town. And one of those thousand memories overshadowed all the rest.

  Adrienne almost drove right past 22 Oak Street, and not because she didn’t know exactly where it was on the street, but because she didn’t recognize it.

  “No. Way.” Gretchen’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

  “What have we done?” Adrienne whispered, unable to take her eyes off the house. The two girls sat and stared at the once proud and beautiful home, which was now in shambles. The classic Georgian colonial now had chipping white paint which left gaping holes exposing wood, half the shutters were crooked, and one had completely fallen off and sat in the bushes, shingles were falling off the roof all around the three dormer windows, one of the pillars holding up the portico on the front porch looked like it might collapse on anyone who dared approach the front door, the gutters were overflowing with leaves, and the grass was knee-high. It looked . . . empty. Neglected. Sad.

  “And I thought my apartment was a dump,” Gretchen said.

  “Oh, it is.”

  Gretchen shot Adrienne a dirty look, “Let’s go in and see if the inside looks as great as the outside.”

  The girls walked up the stone pathway that their father laid by hand one summer while Adrienne was in middle school. Turning the knob and preparing for the worst, Adrienne held her breath, and could feel Gretchen doing the same.

  Inside the house it was as if time stood still. Framed family photographs lined the walls and the piano sat in the corner covered in dust. In fact, every square inch of the place was covered in dust. The grand center staircase that Adrienne and Gretchen waltzed down in their prom dresses looked drab and faded - a shadow of its former self. The girls walked from room to room, each step echoing in the silence. It was cold and dark with the drapes closed tight. Gretchen stopped in front of a framed photograph she had taken of the house. It was the Christmas the house was being featured in the Home Tour, and the house looked gorgeous from the street. Gretchen took a photo of it at night, all lit up and covered in garland – wreaths hanging from every window. She had the photo framed and gave it to her mom for Christmas that year. Her mom hung it in the family room every Christmas after that. The last Christmas in the house four years ago, no one ever took it down.

  The girls met back up in the living room in front of the fireplace.

  “This is bad,” Adrienne said, eyes wide.

  “Really bad. What are we going to do? Maybe it looks so dilapidated that no one will want to buy it at auction?”

  “People always want to buy on this street. It’s a coveted location. It will sell.”

  “I can’t imagine some other family living here,” Gretchen said quietly.

  “We can’t let that happen. We’ve got to think of something. First, let’s get a fire going and I’ll run into town to get us some cleaning supplies, food, wine – you know, the essentials. While I go shopping, why don’t you see if there’s any firewood out back in the shed.”

  With an initial plan decided on, the girls set off with a sense of determination. Gretchen went out back for firewood and Adrienne drove the few short minutes into town. She parked on Main Street in front of the small grocery store, Peas & Pickles. The sidewalk was full of energy and excitement. People shuffled by the Salvation Army Santa Claus on the corner, the tinkling of Santa’s bells mixing in with chatter and laughter. The smell of gingerbread and coffee wafted out of the Dreamy Bean coffee shop next door, and children ran by sucking on candy canes, their eyes shining with anticipation. The Christmas spirit was alive and well in Chestnut Ridge – and it was contagious. Adrienne remembered back to her childhood when she walked this very same sidewalk full of wonder and couldn’t help but catch some of the spirit of the season.

  On her way into Peas & Pickles, Adrienne was hit hard by a running child, who at full speed completely knocked her into a stand of poinsettias perched outside the grocery store. Doing her best to avoid knocking the whole stand over, Adrienne turned her body and saw the ground coming up on her fast. Just as she was about to eat pavement, she was suddenly saved by someone who caught her under her arms and steadied the rack of plants at the same time. Once Adrienne got her bearings, she took a deep breath and turned to thank the stranger. Stunned, Adrienne realized she was staring right into the bright blue eyes of Gabe Perkins, her former boyfriend.

  “Gabe?”

  “Adrienne?”

  “Oh, my goodness, thank you so much! You saved me! How are you? It’s been . . . It’s been a long time,” Adrienne rambled nervously.

  “It sure has. How have you been? I hear you are still living in the city, working for some big-time financial firm on Wall Street.”

  “Well, it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. Believe me. And how about you? Last I knew you were in Law School? Is that right?”

  “Yeah, graduated, thankfully,” he laughed. “And now I have my own practice here in town – see right over there next to the bank?” He pointed across the street.

  “That’s you?! Wow – so exciting! Congratulations! I’m really happy for you, Gabe.”

  “I see you’re back in town for the holidays. That’s . . .surprising.”

  “I know. We haven’t been back since . . .well, we haven’t been back in a long time.”

  “We? Who’s with you?”

  “Gretchen. Just the two of us.”

  “That’s so great that the two of you are here together. You know, there’s no place like Chestnut Ridge during the Christmas season.”

  “Well, isn’t that the truth. This town is surely one of a kind. Unfortunately, it’s not really a happy reason that we’re back. Have you heard about our house?”

  “I have. It was posted in the Gazette,” Gabe pointed to a rack holding copies of the local newspaper outside Peas & Pickles. “I am really sorry, Adrienne.”

  “They put it in the paper? I can’t believe this is happening.”

 
; “Look, I have a meeting right now, but maybe I can help. Why don’t you stop by my office later – around four?”

  “Really?!” Adrienne clapped her hands together with hope. “That would be so amazing, Gabe. Thank you.”

  “No promises. But I’ll see what I can do.”

  Adrienne and Gabe said good-bye and Adrienne walked into the grocery store. In a fog, she strolled through the aisles of the store. Her mind swarming with memories, emotions – this town, the house, Gabe . . . she was shocked by how good it felt to be here - to be home. She was filled with a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. And although part of her wanted to break down in tears, part of her also wanted to jump with joy.

  After getting her groceries and cleaning supplies, Adrienne popped into Corked, the wine shop across the street from Peas & Pickles. She picked out a few bottles of Cabernet, loaded everything into the car and headed back to Oak Street.

  Back at the house, Gretchen had started a fire and was sitting on the couch looking through some old albums.

  “What do you have there?” Adrienne asked as she walked the grocery bags into the kitchen and dropped them on the counter with a thud.

  “It’s an old Christmas album.”