In Memory (30 page)

It was a small yellow heart on a silver chain. Instantly, I reached for the blue one around my neck, feeling the smooth su
rface underneath my t-shirt. W
anted that
yellow heart
. W
anted to give it to him, so that we would match.

After we’d all gone to bed, I went to Terra’s ro
om, and knocked on the door. U
sually don’t enter her room at all, so the knocking seemed important.

“Yeah? Come on in!”

O
pened the door; she was reading in bed. “Oh, Aerian, love. What’s the matter?”

“
Er
… I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

“Sure thing.” She put her book down and motioned for me to come sit on the bed.

I complied, sitting down at her feet. “You know that one necklace in
Gran’s
stuff? The little yellow heart?”

“It was actually one of Mum’s things, but
yeah…?”

“Can I have it?”

She looked at me curiously, “Why do you want it?”

“Well…” T
ugged the blue heart out of my shirt, holding up the chain for her to look at, “Noah gave me this one, so I want to return the favour.”

Terra’s eyes widened as she looked at the necklace, “Why, it’s damn near the same necklace! It’s even got the same fastener!”

She shuffled out of bed, hurrying over to her dresser, rummaging through the
jewellery
box for a few seconds before extracting the heart. “Here.” She placed it in my hand, holding it between hers and mine. “It’s fate or something.”

I chuckled, “I guess so. Thank you.”

“Ahh, you’re such a sweetheart. I’m a lucky sister.”

Then we gave each other a hug goodnight, and I went to bed.

S
tored the necklace in a little red box that sewing needles came in. It’s in my top drawer, between my socks and underwear.

66 Days, 23 December, Tuesday

W
rapped
Noah’s tiny heart up today. F
ound a small gift box in the huge gift basket I won at the Christmas party, and placed the heart in it with a sort of solemn ceremony.

We also listened to Noah play the piano today. I’m surprised we haven’t done this for a while. Terra presented him with a book of Christmas themed sheet music, and he proceeded to play each song in order.

The way he played the Carol of the Bells made a shiver rise all over my body. For a Christmas song, it sure is eerie.
Eeesh
.

It was mesmerizing watching his face and hands, the subtle movements in both as he struck out the powerful melody through the keys. Each touch was beautiful, and terrifying. He made the tune haunting and melancholy, adding flourishes where necessary to add more resonance.

As the tune picked up towards the end, he moved with the crescendo, his rhythmic swaying increasing. It was so easy to get caught up in his musical storm. It felt like lightning was bursting from his fingertips with each keystroke, following the thunder of the preceding notes. The high notes accompanied the low rumble like rain drops, spattering the song with cheerful splashes.

It was something beautiful.

A
lso had to start preparing for Terra’s Epic Party of Love
and Music, as she called it. Made approximately ten million
perogies
. Tomorrow, I’m cooking the huge ham I bought the other day, with pineapple and cloves. It’s an old trusty recipe.

Then I moved on to the dessert and snack type food, which Noah came and helped me with. (He was napping while I made the
perogies
and such.) Together, we made an apple crisp, a batch of chocolate muffins, and several types of teeny sandwiches.

D
unno
what else to make. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll make up some cocoa and maybe some
juice or something. D
epends on who shows up, and what they bring to drink.

D
id wonde
r about Noah’s sister today. W
onder wha
t she’s doing for Christmas. C
an’t imagine May would be doing anything with her father. But then again, maybe she does. Noah did mention that he is the only one his father really despises. Maybe May has a wonderful relationship with her father. Somehow, I doubt it though.

Maybe she stays with a friend.

I’ll ask Noah tomorrow.

65 Days, 24 December, Wednesday

Christmas Eve

Today was such a hectic day.

I’m really looking forward to the serene calm that tomorrow promises.

Today started off kind of slow, which was nice, because it gave me time to get all of the supper preparations completely taken care of.

As we were preparing stuff for the presentation of the snacks, I took the time I knew we wouldn’t have later to ask Noah about what May did on Christmas.

“Oh, she often goes elsewhere. I believe she goes to the local shelter to spend time with the families there.”

I swallowed, “
Er
… she just takes off on her own?”

“Yes, she has done this for three years now.”

“When she was four, she’d just go by herself, out in the snow, to some shelter somewhere?”

“Of course not. I went with her every time, save for last year, which I don’t really remember.” He stirred up the pudding mixture with extra gusto, “She is capable by herself, it is obvious now that she no longer needs my company.”

“Well she might not need supervision, but I wouldn’t say she doesn’t want your company.” I reached to the top cupboard to get the little
dessert cups, and he gasped. R
ealised I was on the ladder
, and reaching up, just like…
hopped off the ladder, placing the cups on the counter and touching his shoulder, “It’s cool. I’m okay.”

“It just took me by surprise. Excuse me.”

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat, “So… is there any chance of having May come over here then?”

“You want to invite her as well?”

“Well yeah, it’s a family thing after all.” I smiled, and he looked at me curiously.

“Family means something other than blood relations to you, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm… yeah. The people who love you, and support you, and are always there for you are your family. Blood doesn’t really have much to do with it. I think love and experiences together trump blood any day. Biology doesn’t make a family.”

“That is an interesting philosophy.” Noah nodded, “Yes, people make their own families. Blood ties are merely a starting position. If one chooses to neglect these blood links, and be happy with another family who cares for and loves them, then it is their prerogative.”

“Yeah! Exactly!”

“I am unsure of how we would contact my sister, though.”

“Hm, could we call your house?”

“I would not advise it, but that seems to be the most express method of contacting her.”

“
Y’know
… I’ve got an idea.”

“What?”

“She’s psychic, right?”

Noah gave me a bemused look. “Uh… I suppose.”

“Well maybe she already knows we want her to come over, and any minute now, she’ll knock on the door.”

We waited, as if we would hear the knock seconds after I said that.

She didn’t, but someone else did about an hour later. It was Sean and Murray, bringing a case of some kind of lager, and a huge bottle of wine. They both had their trademark instruments with them, Sean with his flute, and Murray with the guitar.

Terra came thundering down the stairs, wearing the sundress I made her, except this time she had a big red flower in her hair. She hugged both Sean and Murray, and led them into the living room, where Noah and I were just setting up the TV trays with various snacks.

Upon looking at Noah, they both smiled, and heartily shook his hand. Sean said something like “Good to see you’re doing well,” to which Noah nodded and blushed a bit.

As more and more of Terra’s friends arrived, I became a sort of doorman/gift receiver, and Noah was working as coat check.

We made a good team, and we now have a huge pile of coats, mittens, scarves, and liquor. It seems to be the customary gift for all of these people.

However, Terra’s older friends, the ones who run the pub, came in with a fruitcake.

Now, I’ve never understood the point of fruitcake. Terra loves it, and usually is the one to eat it all. I prefer the braided bread, with icing sugar and cherries on it. It’s my
favourite
Christmas treats.

Anyway.

As soon as Terra assured me that no one else was coming, Noah and I joined the happy hullabaloo in the living room. Terra kicked her friend Allen to the floor to give Noah her chair, where he sat down with numerous apologies to Allen.

Allen assured him it was completely okay, and that the bloke with the busted ankle earns the throne.

We all chatted and ate snacks, and I had to learn to take compliments gracefully as everyone loved my cooking.

They lit up a bunch of candles and put them in the window, and then dug into the raisin bread. It was just like how it was before. The nostalgia was refreshing.

Then someone, I think it was Halley, dug out Murray’s guitar and gave it a strong strum. That prompted everyone to grab the nearest instrument and start up a tune.

Terra played the piano, and I just clapped my hands, having just enough musical ability to keep rhythm. (I’ve officially given up on piano, by the by.)

We all sang a few Christmas tunes, and laughed at parts when everyone forgot the words, like in Good King
Wenceslas
. Which sort of became “Go King
Wensday
”. I don’t even know why we tried to sing that one.

Noah laughed a lot. Every time I heard him laugh, it sent a jolt of happiness all through me. My heart must have been buzzing with the feeling, thrumming out a cheerful beat to the musical sound of his laughter.

After we ran out of songs, Terra got up, and took Noah’s hand, leading him to the piano.

“Everyone!” she cleared her throat, “Listen to this! He plays the most haunting Carol of the Bells ever! You’ll love it!”

She tapped him on the shoulder, and he began. Everyone went silent, listening to the resounding power of each of the notes he hit.

F
elt a strong surge of pride in my chest, that he, the one everyone was looking at, was my friend. It was a good feeling.

Part way through the song, everyone began humming and singing along with his music, adding more depth to it. It was almost overwhelmingly beautiful.

Then it occurred to me. He’s probably never been part of a
big group like this before. W
ondered what he must
be
feeling, was it happiness or embarrassment? Or both?

After the song finished, everyone clapped, and he took a sort of half-bow from h
is place at the piano bench. H
urried beside him, eager to get an accurate read on his emotions. I took his hand as I sat down, immediately getting a rush of euphoria and excitement at the contact.

“That was wonderful.” He sighed,
as another song started up. T
hink they were making it up as they went along, something about mistletoe.

“You had fun?”

“Yes, it was a brilliant experience. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.” He squeezed my hand, “I’m having a really great time.”

“I’m glad.” I grinned, patting his knee a couple times.

“And the mistletoe passes over, and over, and
overrrrr
….!!!!”
The group sang out loud, and we looked up to see Terra holding a sprig of plastic mistletoe above our heads.

G
aped, looking from the mistletoe to her, and then at the expectant looks from everyone.

“
Er
…” I began, cut off when I felt Noah’s fingers turn my head, and his lips firmly planted on mine. This was my
favourite
kiss out of any so far. There was nothing hiding behind it, no pain or fear, or sadness.
Just happiness and love.
The best kind of kiss.

A cheer erupted from the crowd, and the song continued. “
Overrr
the hills and far
awaaaayyy
!”

“That’s a different song!” someone roared, and laughter and music filled the room for a good long while.

Eventually, at about one, the room started to clear out, and we exchanged hug
s with pretty much everyone. H
ugged Sean at least four times, because he kept coming back for various things he forgot.

F
ell asleep on the couch between an empty po
pcorn bowl and a poinsettia. D
on’t know why that was on the couch.