Tomas was caught in the covers. The cat wriggled and wriggled, waking up Carole, who smiled at this usual state of chaos. She lifted up the edge of the duvet and Tomas jumped out, waddled to the kitchen and began to eat its breakfast.
Carole looked at her watch. She always wore her watch to bed. She had gotten into this habit a long time ago, after accidentally sending a watch through the washing machine with her sheets. She never used bedside tables except for art supplies and sewing things. Her bedroom was full of projects. Anabelle had never gone into Carole's room, but Tomas loved being there. The cat would sleep on the pile of drawings, the pieces of material, or the unmade bed.
Light could not come through the heavy drapes, but Carole sensed that the sun was shining. The snow reflected the light in an almost unearthly, piercing manner when the woman opened the curtains and blinds.
Already, the day had begun in earnest outside. Carole noted it was almost eleven in the late morning. She rolled over and decided that she really had nothing much to do today, and would stay in bed a bit longer.
Tomas, finished with wet food and water, slowly walked back into the room and jumped up on the bed. The cat sat by Carole's head. It was time to be irritating. Tomas was a creature of habit.
Carole smiled. She needed time to adjust to a quieter life, one without her "little mum" Anabelle, who had kept her orderly and on time. Well, Carole knew she would have to deal with life in a new way. How fast her life had changed. How quickly she had to adapt to being alone. This was the first day, Christmas Eve.
The cell phone rang. "Hello? "Carole, this is James. Would you like to go out for a simple brunch? I thought maybe you would need some company." Carole said she would be delighted and slipped out of bed to get dressed. She smiled at herself. She was vain and knew it. Unlike Anabelle who dressed because she had to and did it with great objectivity and detachment, Carole loved clothes and material, hats and bags, shoes and coats. Her life's work as a designer spilled out into everything she did.
She met James downstairs and outside, for some reason she could not put into words, and standing in the sunlight in front of the double glass doors,she saw him drive up. James was early, as Carole anticipated, and they went to a small coffee place with fantastic pastries. James, however, was fasting.
"Do you always fast on Christmas Eve?" Carole was curious. He answered, "My parents were very traditional Catholics. We belonged to a group which held the practices of the pre-Vatican II Church. In the old days, Christmas Eve was a day of abstinence and fasting, so we kept the old practice. Just habit, really."
Carole felt bold. "Father Andrew became a diocesan, a secular priest. Did he break with your parents? I had met them long ago, if you remember. When Andrew and I were teens"
James nodded. "Well, to be honest, they were not happy. They did not believe the Novus Ordo was invalid, but they did think Andrew would follow the good priests in our group. It was hard on Dad especially. But, you know Andrew. He is so humble, so charming, they accepted his decision and supported it. I am glad, as both of them died within a year of his ordination."
"I am sorry, James.I lost track of their lives when they moved away from Seaview to Florida." The young man poured a second cup of coffee. "They died in a car accident. They did not even have the last sacrament. That was so hard on both of us. You can imagine. Dad had just retired. Because of circumstances, we buried them in their new plot in Florida. It was all so odd. The rest of the family is up here.. You know Dad had been in the military"
Carole said nothing. How strange that such two excellent men could not have had the comfort of the last sacrament for their parents. How odd.
"I have always accepted the accident as an accident, but not Andrew." James stopped and stared at Carole.
"Don't worry, James. You should have heard some of the conversations Anabelle and I had over the years."
James looked earnestly at Carole. "This must be hard for you. I mean, it all happened so fast. And more things are going to happen which involve us all, more than peripherally. I hope I can be of some help for you, but I am not sure how at this point."
The woman smiled. She had been correct in her assessment of this good man. A Single for the Lord, if she knew how to read people. "Thanks James, but you will have to return to Washington, and I am up to my ears in my work here, as you know."
James smiled. "You have my phone number and do not be shy about calling me. Really. You have my private number. Anyway, the Congress is on break, as you know, and I shall stick around here for a month. I am concerned about Andrew's business. I shall make sure we meet a few times, if you would like that."
Carole felt genuinely relieved."You know, I think I need a new friend right now. Thanks, James, really."
"Well, let's go, and I shall see you later." The two left and James dropped Carole at her main shop. She had two. She had to make a sign that the shop would be closed until January 2nd. Her shop assistant wanted time off and Carole did not need to be open the week after Christmas. No one had ever returned any of her beautiful hand bags or other things.
The other shop was already closed, as Carole had shut it up for the holidays yesterday. It was very small, like a boutique, carrying a sampling of her larger collections. But, she did sell many things from that shop. It was called Bijou DaisyChain.
Today, under normal conditions, both shops would have been opened, even the main shop at least until noon. But, the assistant did not mind staying until about five, so Carole was content for her to be there. The assistant was not a Catholic or a Christian, so this day was not special to her. But, as her family always vacationed after Christmas, the girl was happy to work at a place which was never opened for the twelve days of Christmas. Carole knew her clientele. They would not be around the town either, and all the mail items were being handled by another company who bought her things.
Today was very different. Carole messed about the shop for awhile, but really had nothing to do there. She would be working on new designs over the holiday and making new things. It was a "down day".
"Hi Carole, someone was in here looking for you earlier. A man."
Carole looked surprised. She was surprised. She really did not have any male friends. She had been with James and, David, well, he was on his honeymoon day.
"Did he leave a name? Was he a buyer?" The young assistant answered no to both questions. Carole grew a bit uneasy. After all the talk last night and ten days ago, and a month ago, she did not like to think of any event out of the ordinary.
"I am going home. Make sure you lock up and cover everything for the break. I made this sign for the window. And, here is a present for you, dear." Carole handed the assistant an envelope with a sizable financial gift." The young woman gave her boss a quick hug. "Thanks, Carole. I know the routine. See you in January."
"Make sure you turn on the security system." Carole yelled as she left to go home. The walk to her flat was just a bit more than a mile. Yet, Carole felt that she just wanted to get home as soon as possible. She took a bus and in minutes was in the elevator going up to her flat.
She unlocked the door and saw that Tomas had been waiting for her by the door. Another new thing---the cat had never done that before-a new life, Carole thought, but not an easy one.
To be continued...