Page 23 of The Nutcracker
I shoved towers of boxes aside.
I moved a stack of old chairs piled on top of each other.
I pushed aside a frayed rolled-up rug and found my grandparents’ old record player.
I carried it into the light, lifted the lid and saw the RPM45 record already sitting on the turntable, ready to be played—
Buddy Holly’sEveryday.
Chapter Eleven
I staggered through the doors of Cedar Village, juggling the box of decorations and record player in one arm while dragging the cumbersome Christmas tree behind me with the other. Before I left the house I switched off the stove and poured the roasted chestnuts into a bowl that I carefully wrapped in several towels to keep in the heat and their delicious smell, adding the wrapped bowl to the decorations box.
The moment I walked in Nurse Jillian looked up from her clipboard and hurried to help me.
“You look like you could use a hand.”
“Thanks. And Merry Christmas.”
“Is it Christmas? I couldn’t tell,” she joked. “I’m guessing you want to do some last minute decorating in your grandmother’s room?”
“If that’s okay?”
“Anything that’ll help your Grandma is fine by us.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She’s settling in just fine. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you.”
“I hope so. I’ve got a surprise for her.”
As we walked through the door to Grandma’s room her face lit up at the sight of me. “Jordy, Merry Christmas darling.” She was sitting in the armchair by the window watching the low-hanging clouds pass by.
I beamed. She remembered me. She remembered it was Christmas Day. She was clearly having a morning of clarity. Now all I needed her to do was remember her beloved husband.
I propped the Christmas tree in a corner of the room then helped Nurse Jillian set the box of decorations and the record player on top of the dresser.
My grandmother was already getting to her feet to hug me.
“Oh Jordy, I’m so glad you came.”
“Of course I came. I just got a little side-tracked on the way.” I turned to Jillian and said, “Thanks for the help.”
She nodded. “The new doctor is here. I know he’d like to meet you. I’ll see if he’s available.”
As Jillian left the room, my grandmother gave me a concerned look. “What happened to your nose?”
I touched my finger to the cut on the bridge of my nose. “Nothing. I’m fine. I just bumped my head is all. Never mind that, I brought you a few things.”
The first thing I did was take out the bowl of chestnuts. I carefully unwrapped the towels and as the last one unveiled my surprise, the waft of freshly roasted chestnuts filled the room.
Grandma took a deep breath and her eyes shimmered with delight. “Oh chestnuts. How we loved the smell of chestnuts roasting in the house at Christmas time, you and me and… that gentleman who used to visit all the time.”
“He wasn’t just a gentleman who came to visit, Grandma. Do you remember his name?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’m sure it’ll come to me.”
I reached into the box again and this time pulled out the teddy. “What about now?”