“Sheila thinks we’re using rabbit ears and talking through tin cans and strings,” Natalie quipped.
Orene’s laugh was contagious.
“I don’t think it’s that bad, but there’s no high-speed internet. I checked the last time I was here. I was willing to buy it for y’all if it was available,” said Sheila.
“It’s not. We barely get decent cell service,” Natalie said as Sheila’s phone rang.
Sheila glanced at the screen. “Sorry, I need to take this.”
She answered, turning her back on Orene and lowering her voice to talk to her associate. When the call had concluded, she apologized again and said, “Just something quick they needed me to confirm.”
“I hope you’re not going to be getting calls the whole time you’re here.” Orene pursed her lips. “Bad cell service and slow internet may test your patience while you’re here, but I promise you… slowing down is good for the soul if you give it a chance.”
“I don’t think I’ll be here that long.” Sheila sat in one of the chairs next to the table. “It would take months for me to actually slow down.”
Orene gently squeezed Sheila’s neck muscles as she walked by. “You are as tight as a slingshot. I’m not going to give up on you, though. I’ve taken a liking to you this past year.”
“Thank you. I think the world of you too. In fact, I have a wonderful Christmas gift for you. I’m going to go get it from my car. I can’t wait for you to open it.” She got to her feet.
“No, ma’am.” Orene wagged her finger. “You can sit right back down. No presents will be opened until Christmas Day. I have a strict rule about that.”
“Oh come on,” Sheila complained. “I can’t wait that long.”
Orene looked over at Natalie. “Is she always like this?”
“Ever since I’ve known her. She always insists I open my present early. Then I end up getting two presents, because she wants me to have something to open on Christmas Day too. She’s festive like that.”
“We’ll work on that, Sheila,” Orene said. Then, with a click of her fingers, she waved her hand for them to follow. “You can put my gift under my tree. You’ve got to see it. I’m so proud of it. Come look.” Orene darted toward the living room, her pint-sized figure swishing with each step. She turned and reached her arm in the air in a flourish in front of her Christmas tree.
Natalie and Sheila stopped dead in their tracks.
“I can smell the fresh-cut evergreen from here,” Sheila said from the hallway.
“That’s because it’s a balsam fir. My favorite.”
The extravagant tree filled the whole corner of the room. “I think we have a winner. We may as well not enter the contest, Natalie.”
“Orene!” A shocked Natalie walked over for a closer look. “You have been holding out on me. I’ve been here all day, and you didn’t show me this? You did this all by yourself?”
Orene cocked her head and grinned, pride pouring from her tip-to-toe. “Always do.”
“How did you put the topper on? And the tinsel. How tall is that tree?”
“I have no idea. The ceilings are eleven foot. I make sure Jesse has his brother, Joe, cut me a tree just the right height for it to be on the stand and have room for the angel. I don’t care if he has to prune it six ways to Sunday. He knows what I need, and he always comes through.”
“Okay, that explains where you got the tree, but were you up on a ladder?”
“I was. I’m quite capable.”
“But…”
“Oh, quit fussing. I’ve been doing this forever. My sweet husband, God rest his soul, built me a ladder with railings on it like those librarians use for the tall shelves. It’s big and heavy, but the firemen come over and bring it in for me. It beats rescuing kittens from trees. They really don’t mind.”
“Amazing. Well, this is the most elegant tree I’ve ever seen,” said Sheila. “And the most tinsel I’ve ever seen. Where did you even buy all of that? You hardly see silver tinsel in the stores anymore.”
“I put each strand on the limbs one piece at a time, and take it down the same way. Some of that tinsel is older than you are.”
“Tell me you’re kidding,” Sheila insisted.
