Page 5 of Once Upon a Christmas Carol

“Not at all.” Maria shook her head. “I’m thrilled to meet you.” She checked Carol from head to toe now. “You’re a very pretty girl too, Carol. You look like a real Banducci.”

“Thank you. I never thought I looked much like my mom.”

“No, she takes after your grandma. She wasn’t Italian. But you definitely resemble the Banducci side of the family.”

“Thanks.”

“Come on in by the fire.” Maria led her into the living room. “Fortunately, I got it started before I fell. It’s still warm but on its way out. I didn’t much feel like going out for a load of wood.”

“I can do that for you,” Carol offered. “I’d like to be helpful while I’m here.”

“Not in that getup.” Maria frowned at Carol’s inappropriate footwear. “My goodness, is that what you’ve been wearing out in this snow?”

“I, uh, I thought I’d be in the Bahamas by now,” she admitted dismally.

“Well, you must be freezing. You’ll catch pneumonia in those things.”

“Unfortunately, I only packed summer clothes and not many of those. My options are limited, but I can still get some wood. Just point me in the direction and—”

“Not until you get some warmer clothes on. Follow me,” Maria ordered, leading her through the comfortably furnished room. They approached a closed door. “Open that.”

Carol obeyed, then switched on the light to see an attractive master bedroom. “Pretty room,” she commented as Maria went to another closed door.

“Thanks. I redid the whole room for our fiftieth anniversary a couple years ago. Open that.” She waited as Carol did as asked.

“Get one of those sweaters from that shelf, or a sweatshirt, or whatever suits your fancy,” she said.

“And see those fleece-lined slippers on the floor in the corner? Don got them for me last Christmas, but I hardly ever remember to wear them. I’m not sure if they’ll fit you right, but they should work for the time being. ”

Carol pulled out a warm-looking Nordic sweater with a snowflake design. “Is this okay?”

“Sure. Take whatever you like. Take a flannel shirt too. Then we’ll find you some warm socks in the dresser. I’ve got blue jeans, too, if you want. You actually look about my height. They might be a little baggy on you, but you can belt ’em in if you need to.”

Carol, fully loaded down with winter clothes, followed her aunt back to the living room, where Maria pointed to the wood-carved staircase.

“There are more bedrooms up there. The first door on your right is already made up for guests, not that I’d planned on anyone anytime soon.

I just like to keep it ready. The room faces south, so on a clear day, it gets lots of sunshine in the wintertime.

I’d suggest you get yourself set up in there. ”

“I’ll just be a few minutes,” Carol called from halfway up the stairs.

“Perfect. How are you at making coffee? I’m missing my morning java.”

“I’m a pro,” she called back. “I’ll hurry.”

“Take your time. That fire’ll keep for a bit.”

Just the same, Carol hurried. The guest bedroom was charming with its white metal headboard and patchwork quilt in varying shades of sage green and lavender.

As she sat in an old oak rocker and tugged the warm clothing over her chilled limbs, she checked out the room more.

The celery-green walls were decorated with handsome pastoral prints of sheep, pastures, and peaceful landscapes.

The braided rug gave warmth to the golden hardwood floors, and the antique oak armoire, topped with a large, white pitcher of dried lavender, added even more personality.

Old-fashioned perhaps, but this motif worked nicely with the old farmhouse.

It didn’t feel overdone or flashy like Carol’s mother liked to decorate. Aunt Maria had good taste.

Carol glanced at her image in the mirror above the dresser.

Maria’s clothes were a bit loose but not bad.

She nosed around the other upstairs rooms, hoping there would be a bathroom, and was rewarded with a big bathroom that was just as handsome as the guest bedroom.

The sage-and-lavender theme continued. Only instead of green, its walls were a very pale shade of lavender.

The white claw-foot tub and cushy towels were very inviting!

Even if she was only here overnight, it would be an enjoyable visit.

She rushed back downstairs and found her aunt in the kitchen, struggling to fill a coffee carafe. Carol intervened. “Let me get that going for you.”

“Thanks.” Maria stepped back. “There are coffee beans in that glass jar there and filters in the top drawer. Do you know how to use a grinder?”

“You bet. I always grind my own beans too.”

“Don used to say the only good coffee must be made within five minutes of grinding.”

“Smart man.”

“Looks like those clothes are working for you,” Maria observed from where she’d seated herself at the kitchen table.

“You were right. We are nearly the same size.” Carol paused as she ran the grinder.

“By the way, I have to compliment you on your decor upstairs—and all throughout your house, for that matter. I really like your taste.” As she filled the filter and got the coffee brewing, she told Maria about her job in interior design.

“I’ve mostly been doing staging though. Not exactly the career I’d hoped for, but I guess I’m paying my dues.

” She told her a bit about all the holiday decorating she’d been doing the past couple of months.

“That’s one reason I wanted to go to the Bahamas,” she confessed.

“To escape all the ‘deck the halls fa la la.’ I guess I’m not a real fan of Christmas. Never have been.”

“But you’re a Christmas baby.” Maria’s brow creased.

“Though maybe that makes some sense then. Anyway, that’s very interesting that you got a degree in interior design.

” Her tone sounded a bit dreamy. “I always loved interior decorating too. If I’d gone on to get a degree, I might’ve pursued something like that.

Don used to make fun of me. He’d say that he couldn’t be gone from the house for more than a day out of fear that I’d have our house rearranged and redone before he got back.

” She chuckled. “But at least I’m a DIY gal.

I never pay anyone for something I can do myself. ”

“Well, you’ve done a good job,” Carol said as she wiped some stray coffee grounds from the obviously upgraded marble countertop. “Now point me to the firewood.”

“First I’ll point you to my snow boots.” Maria stood slowly, wincing in pain.

“Are you okay?”

“Well, it definitely hurts. I have an elastic wrap I might let you help me with after you get the wood in.”

“Hopefully I can still remember the first aid class I took in college.”

Maria led the way to a back porch and pointed to several pairs of boots lined up by a worn wooden bench. “Take your pick.”

“These look warm.” Carol picked up fleece-lined boots and then sat on the bench to put them on. “Since your slippers fit perfectly, I’m guessing these will too.”

“And get yourself a parka,” Maria nodded to a row of coats hanging on hooks.

“That green one with the hood is the warmest. Just make sure to zip it up before you go out.” She sighed.

“I’m sure glad you can help me, Carol. I’ve always been so independent.

Notorious for not allowing anyone to help me.

Even Don.” She looked down at her arm glumly.

“Maybe the good Lord is teaching me a lesson, forcing me into an uncomfortable situation and making me needy.”

Carol wanted to echo “me too.” It felt possible that the good Lord was trying to teach her a lesson about neediness too. It was hard to admit it, even to herself, but this longing deep within her felt like a cry for family.