CHAPTER TWO
“Hi,” two elves, one male and one female, stood in the hallway and saluted me smartly, “we’re here to tuck you in.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. You have the wrong room.” I started to shut the door when Nana tugged on my arm.
“Don’t go!” Nana yelled. “You have the right room.” She pulled them inside and turned toward me. “Surprise! This is for you and Dee Dee. Isn’t it the greatest thing since sliced bread?”
Dee Dee, her eyes the size of saucers, stared straight at the pixies. “What in the world?” She turned to Nana. “You did this?”
“Yes, I did. Now you two quit acting like a couple of ole fuddy-duddies and get with the act. I thought this would be a great idea. Trixie, you take yourself way too seriously, so I decided you needed a little laughter in your life.”
I looked at Dee Dee and tried to telepath my thoughts. She shrugged as if to say she had no idea Nana planned this surprise. I winced at the idea of her capers already starting. Nana was going to be a handful, and I wasn’t sure Dee Dee could rein her in. Now that the elves were here I guess there wasn’t much to do but acquiesce and endure a tucking-in by a pair of Santa’s helpers.
“Okay, Nana, you win. Let’s get this over with.” I shot Dee Dee a serious look. “That means you too, friend.” We endured the next twenty minutes while the elves read us nighttime stories and sang Christmas carols. By the time they left, I’d mellowed quite a bit. Maybe Nana knew more about me than I gave her credit for. Dee Dee assured me we’d laugh about this in the morning. I hoped she was right.
I slept fitfully, dreaming of elves rocking me to sleep as I lay in a giant cradle. Nana popped into the fantasy as an elfette. She kept laughing and saying to the other elves, ‘isn’t she cute? That’s my grandniece.’ Then she cackled and disappeared until she made another surprise appearance. Then Dee Dee wound up in the cradle with me donned in her red kitty pajamas. Believe me when I say it was one crowded cradle.
Beau made a grand appearance wearing a suit of armor. He literally lifted me from the cradle and into his arms as he spoke softly in my ear, “Let’s go home, honey.” When I woke to a room filled with sunlight I sensed someone staring at me. I turned to see Dee Dee propped on her elbow in the next bed. Her hair reminded me of a porcupine in defensive mode. Should I tell her?
“What were you grinning about? Or is it too steamy to tell me?” Dee Dee laughed at her witty comment.
“No, it’s not too steamy – not to say I’d tell you if it was. I had this crazy dream about elves and I thought I’d be in their clutches until Beau came and rescued me.” I thought how this wasn’t far from the truth. A few years ago, my then husband, Wade Middlebrooks Montgomery III, decided to check the grass on the other side of the fence. He found his true love on the internet, and after 20 years of marriage he announced his departure to California to meet the blonde bombshell he’d met in a chat room.
Shortly after he arrived in the sunny state he discovered that all things on the internet are not as they seemed. His soul mate turned out to be a 300 pound bimbo who conned men. He returned to Atlanta with a chip on his shoulder and a destroyed marriage.
Left with a bankrupt heart and an empty bank account I ran home to Mama with my tail between my legs. She took me under her wings and helped me through the difficult times.
Dee Dee wore a sweet smile. “Isn’t it amazing how our dreams replicate real life? Beau is a real life knight in shining armor and you are one lucky damsel in distress.”
Nana’s gray head popped up from across the room. “You got that right. If I’d been just a few years younger I’d have given you a run for your money.”
“A few years, Nana?” I loved to tease my great-aunt. Since moving back to Vans Valley, Nana and I had formed a bond. When Mama was young she lost both parents. Nana, her mother’s sister, stepped in and raised her like her own. When Nana’s husband died and she nose-dived into a deep depression, Mama insisted she move in with her.
Mama quickly discovered Nana’s personality had changed as she’d grown older. She used to be prim and proper and would never draw attention to herself. Now Nana’s behavior had put Mama in a tizzy more than once. Mama thought she might have the beginnings of Alzheimer’s, but I’d decided Nana knows exactly what she’s doing and uses her age to get away with her outrageous antics.
Albeit, it still took the patience of Job to be with Nana any length of time. Mama and I took turns keeping an eye on her. I didn’t mind bringing her along on my trips to give Mama a rest, as long as I had Dee Dee to help.
“Hmph, watch it Missy,” Nana’s endearment for me when she meant business.
“Come on, let’s go find something to eat. I just need a little something, I’m not very hungry.”
Dee Dee and I exchanged knowing glances. Nana usually ate like a dog with worms and could give a grown man a run for his money. But, according to her, she ate like a bird. I agreed, since a bird eats all the time.
Dee Dee placed her arm around Nana’s shoulder and pulled her close. “I’m with you Nana. My stomach is yelling ‘feed me, feed me.’ She turned toward me. “Trix, have any ideas where we should eat.”
“I don’t think I’ll eat with y’all this morning. They’ll be serving breakfast pastries at the workshop. I’d better get going if I don’t want to be late.” I felt bad leaving Dee Dee with the responsibility of watching Nana, but she assured me they’d be fine.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo is located downtown, so the drive to the workshop wasn’t far. At the end of Main Street I could see the unique glass building that housed the Aquarium. It stood high above the skyline like a sentinel guarding the historic city. I took a right on Third and then turned onto High Street leading to the artsy area known as the Bluff View Art District. The streets wove through the hills of the quaint area. A young couple on bicycles rode past me.
A charming bed and breakfast had been chosen for the workshop venue. I looked forward to learning as much as I could about magazine writing. More than two years had passed since I’d started working for Harv, and I’d learned a lot on the job, but I was eager to expand my knowledge. I knew Beau would take care of me, but memories of being without money haunted me.
My phone played a jaunty melody. I answered it, expecting Harv to be the caller.
“Hi Sweetie, you got there yet. How is it?”
I released a big sigh. Nana! “No I’m not there yet, I’m still looking for the right house. I’ve got to go Nana. I can’t talk and look, too.” Ever since Nana had acquired a phone for seniors, sporting large numbers and speed dial, she jumped at any chance to make a call. More often than not I was the recipient.
“Okie dokie, be sure and let us know when you get checked in and scope out your room. I want to hear all about it. Dee Dee and I are on our way to look at Christmas decorations. We might even ride the Duck.” I couldn’t imagine Nana riding on the Duck, an apparatus that looked like an army tank that went from riding on wheels to floating on the river. But then she’s surprised me more than once.
“Okay, have a good time and I love you,” I said.
“Love you, too. Now don’t get into any trouble.”
We hung up and I returned to the task of finding the venue for the workshop. We planned to spend the night so we could have late classes and get up early and start all over. Talk about intensive! I already knew there were several bed and breakfasts in the Bluff District. The District itself is small and encompasses only a couple of blocks. As I intently surveyed my surroundings I spotted a Victorian era house. The sign in front read The James R. Jones House, Bed and Breakfast. That was it! I slammed on my brakes and backed up since I’d passed the narrow driveway.