Page 21 of Once Upon a Christmas Carol

After the past few days of decorating and caring for her aunt, Carol was grateful for a peaceful day at the farmhouse.

With snow all around outside, Christmas decorations strewn about, and a glowing fire inside, it was the perfect setting for relaxation.

Except a certain something was niggling in her mind until she finally had to give in to it.

Just get it over with , she told herself. She would call her mom.

For starters, she planned to question Mom about the false accusations she’d made against Maria.

She hoped to do it in a controlled and nonconfrontational way, but she knew it would be a challenge.

Although it might be easier if she initiated the conversation instead of waiting for her mom to call and catch her off guard again.

So, while Maria was napping in the early afternoon, Carol slipped upstairs and called her mom.

The phone rang so many times, she wondered if perhaps her mother really had disowned her. And if so, there was not much she could do about that. She was about to hang up when her mom’s groggy voice muttered “Hello.”

“Oh, you are there.” Carol tried to corral her thoughts again. “So you’re still talking to me, after all.”

Her mom just grunted.

“Did I wake you?”

“Not exactly. I was about to get up.”

Carol knew it was past noon in Arizona but had the wisdom not to mention it. “Well, I talked to Maria about the things you told me, and it seems there’s another side to the story.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“No, but I know enough about memories to know that people can experience the same situation and remember it completely differently.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard about that.”

“Anyway, Maria explained that you were, uh, actually a teenager when she married Don.”

“I never said I wasn’t.”

“I thought you said you were a small child.”

“Well, if that’s what you think you heard, maybe it’s your memory that’s wacky.”

Carol bristled but held her tongue.

“All I know is that Maria was very selfish,” Mom continued. “She left me high and dry, and I had to fend for myself. It was very hard. Very traumatic.”

“Maria was twenty-seven, Mom. She’d taken care of you for most of her life. It was time for her to live her own life.”

“What about my life? Being left alone?”

“You were almost seventeen. When I was that age, you used to leave me home alone with no parent in the house, sometimes for days at a time. In fact, I think I was even younger when you decided I didn’t need a full-time parent around.”

There was a brief pause. “You were very mature for your age.”

“Thank you, but maybe I didn’t feel mature.”

“Did you call just to make me feel guilty, Carol? I already have a splitting headache and do not need your—”

“I’m sorry. That’s not why I called. Mostly I wanted to clear things up with you after Maria told me her side of the story. And just for the record, she was very gracious toward you. In fact, she even blames herself for how you grew up.”

“Well, she should! Not that I believe her. She probably just said that.”

“I believe her. She really wishes she’d done things differently.” Carol refrained from saying how she wished she’d been tougher on her baby sister.

“Hmm, if that’s true, I guess it’s reassuring ...Not that it changes anything.”

“Well, that’s between you and her. I only called to say that I don’t like you trying to turn me against Maria. She’s my aunt and I love her. But I love you too, Mom.” She had to control herself from adding, “Even when you’re acting like a selfish egotistical narcissist.”

“Humph. Well, I suppose that’s worth something.”

Carol waited for the next barb.

“And for what it’s worth, I love you too, Carol. And I’m not disowning you as my daughter.” She laughed. “Don’t worry, I haven’t taken you out of my will ... yet.”

Carol forced a feeble laugh.

“Have you changed your mind about the Bahamas? I got to thinking last night that it’s not too late. We could just stay longer and—”

“No thanks. To be honest, the Bahamas don’t even interest me now.

” She stood to gaze out her window. “You should see it here, Mom. It’s so beautiful.

Snow everywhere, blue sky, fresh air. And Maria’s farmhouse is charming.

So peaceful and restful. We’re going to an old-fashioned Christmas dance tonight.

And we’ll have neighbors and friends here for Christmas Eve dinner.

Italian food too. I wish you could come, Mom. I think you’d enjoy it.”

There was such a long silence on the other end, Carol wondered if her mom had hung up. But perhaps she was more worried that her mom was actually considering coming. Despite the invitation, Carol wasn’t sure having her cantankerous mother here would be too nice for anyone.

“Well, you paint a pretty picture, darling, but I’ll pass. At least for this year. Maybe someday. You never know.”

“Maybe you and I will take a vacation together someday,” Carol added with forced enthusiasm. She couldn’t actually imagine how complicated a trip like that could get. Most likely it would never happen anyway.

“Well, I hope you and Maria have a good Christmas together.” Mom’s tone sounded flat again. “And in case you’re interested, your stepfather has been a bit nicer to me lately. Apparently, he didn’t really want me to fly the coop after all.” She laughed, but it sounded hollow.

“Thanks. You have a good Christmas too.” Carol swallowed hard, surprised that she suddenly felt tearful. “You and Ed are in my prayers.”

Mom cleared her throat. “Well, I guess that’s a good thing. I suppose we heathens need it.” Again, a hollow laugh.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, Carol Louise.”

After they hung up, Carol really did cry.

Not long and hard and painful. Just a good cleansing sort of cry.

She knew she’d forgiven her mother, and there was a certain release and freedom that came with that.

But it was also bittersweet—the realization that Mom was Mom and she always would be.

Carol might as well beat her head against a wall as expect her mother to change.

Finally, she washed her face with cold water and, thinking they might have a long night ahead with the cotillion, took a nap.

When she woke up, the sky was already dusky, but according to her phone, it was barely four.

The plan for tonight, according to Maria, was to have a light dinner, then get dressed before heading out to the Grange, where they would arrive early enough to make sure everything looked just right before the big night.

After cleaning up the dinner things and helping Maria to select her own outfit for the evening—a dark green silk blouse and sleek black pants—Carol went upstairs to dress.

It was a rather simple affair. Just the dress, a borrowed slip, and the boots with a pair of warm socks underneath.

But when she saw her hair hanging limply over her shoulders, she decided to do something.

After pinning it up in a loose bun with a few soft tendrils hanging down, she applied a bit of makeup.

Not too much, just a little color for her lips and cheeks and a touch of eye shadow.

She had packed minimal jewelry for the Bahamas, but eventually settled for her favorite silver hoops. Plain but pretty.

She went downstairs to find Maria partially dressed and fumbling to open a jewelry box. “Can I help you?” Carol offered.

“Yes. This latch is stubborn. Like me.” Maria chuckled. “I wanted something in there for tonight.”

“How about I help you finish dressing first?” Carol suggested.

“Yes. Managing buttons and zippers is a challenge.”

“There.” Carol finished the last blouse button, then picked up the jewelry box. “What are you looking for?”

“For starters, my squash blossom pendant and some earrings I like to wear with this blouse.” She reached in for the pieces and waited as Carol helped her put them on.

“You look very pretty,” Carol told her.

“For an old lady, anyway. But thank you.” Maria crossed to the closet door mirror to inspect herself.

“And there’s another old necklace in that box.

You might have to dig a little. It’s nothing too elaborate or expensive.

Don got it for me on our first Christmas.

It’s a silver chain with garnet drops, and it went nicely with the Gunne Sax dress. ”

Carol extracted and untangled a chain that seemed to fit the description. “It’s pretty.”

“Needs a bit of polishing.” Maria pointed to a small flannel square. “Give it a rub then.”

Carol polished the silver chain until it shone, then took it over to the mirror and put it on. “It does go nicely, but it’s special. I don’t think I should wear it tonight. What if I broke it or lost it?”

Maria waved her good hand. “Never mind about that. Like I said with the dress, I’d rather have these things go to good use than be hidden away forever.” She suddenly blinked as if seeing Carol for the first time. “Oh, my dear girl. You do look lovely.”

“Thanks to my fairy godmother.”

“You’ll be the belle of the ball tonight.”

“More like a wallflower.”

“Trust me, you look nothing like a wallflower.” She pointed to the alarm clock by her bed. “Now, if we want to be there in time to check on everything, we need to get moving pronto.”

****