Chương 59: Cranberry Season (December) Part 6
"There is nothing like having the right partner," Carol said, handing Lisa some more garland.
"I never understood that," Lisa told her, fastening another section. Carol handed her another bow. "I could never understand what people needed a partner for. Believe me, I have learned. Fabian has been a rock, and I appreciate him. And yes, I tell him all the time."
"Good. That's important." Lisa came down the ladder and she and her sister moved it forward a few feet. Then she climbed it again.
"However," Carol said, "you have to tell him the bad stuff, too."
"I do that too," Lisa smiled. "There's not a lot, really."
"That was the hardest thing Steve and I learned," Carol confessed. "Not to let things fester inside. There are ways to soften things so they won't hurt."
"I know. Throughout our relationship I have treated Fabian like a friend, which he is." She laughed and reached for the bow Carol was handing her. "It started out that way because I honestly didn't know how to treat him like a boyfriend. I've never really had one, and didn't know how to act. So I just kept it as friends. It's easier to just keep it that way."
Now Carol laughed. "Scooter, you have accidentally discovered the key to an excellent relationship," she said. "Start as friends and build. Have you been to Steve for counselling yet?"
"No -- we were planning that for after the new year when things settle down a bit. For Steve. Not necessarily for us." Lisa rolled her eyes.
"You know, I envy you sometimes," Carol said, handing her another bow. Lisa fastened it, then descended the ladder so they could move it again.
"In what way?" Lisa asked, leaning on the ladder and looking at her sister.
"When I was a teenager, I fantasized a lot about weddings, kids, all of that. You never seemed to do that."
Lisa smiled and climbed the ladder. Carol handed her some garland.
"I never really expected any of this to happen to me," she said. "I liked guys here and there, but honestly none of them inspired any sort of fantasy life. By the time I met Fabian, I think I was out of practice."
"You were always more grounded than I was," Carol nodded.
"There's another thing." Lisa looked around, then descended the ladder a little ways to say softly, "What happened to Amy really did affect me a lot. I don't think I was really afraid it would happen to me -- it was more like watching one of my friends get thrown into the deep end of life. And so early that it cured me of any fantasies I might have about it. I was Amy's friend, and close enough to see it all. Rather than want it for myself because of fantasy, I stepped back because of reality."
"I guess that would be sobering," Carol said, "but I'm not sure that in the same situation it would have cured me. I probably would have had rose-colored glasses about it."
"Annie and I stepped up for Amy more than once so she could enjoy herself," Lisa told her sister as she ascended the ladder again. "We both took care of Ryan whenever she needed to get out. She says it saved her sanity."
"It probably did," Carol agreed, handing her another bow.
"It also showed us that we weren't ready. I can honestly say that I am now." She smiled. "Now I get dreamy and fantasize. Look." She pointed over to the large Christmas tree at the rear of the sanctuary. Fabian held three-year-old Tuesday Mowery at arms' length and she very carefully placed the angel ornament on top. He swept her down at a rate that thrilled the little girl, and she squealed. Carol laughed.
"That man breaks hearts wherever he goes," she said. "He definitely has the Mowery girls sighing over him." Lisa laughed.
"It's not just the Mowery girls," she said. "You should see the treatment I get from the high school girls now that he's been teaching history. Awww. Look at that. He's going to make an excellent dad." Fabian gave Tuesday a hug and set her gently on the floor.
"So are you going to be sitting at the kitchen table at Thanksgiving next year?" Lisa blushed.
"I don't think Fabian would object," she said, "but I'm hoping that things are a lot more settled before we decide to have a baby."
"They will be, Scooter. By the time you and Fabian are ready to start a family, they will be."
There are malls, outlets and box stores an hour away in Newtown or Oxbow. Some people go there and shop. But most people stay in town. Especially around the holidays.
Fabian didn't usually like shopping all that much. He preferred to have a list, know what he wanted, buy it and leave. Living and shopping in Twin Mills, though, was a different experience. It was like shopping in a Christmas card, or a Christmas carol. There were lots of people he knew out and about, taking care of their Christmas shopping. The town was tastefully decorated in a lot of fairy lights. One special decoration that Lisa had pointed out to him was the menorah in the window above the diner. It was glass with small oil candles -- Lisa thought it looked like an aquarium with little flame fish. Fabian loved it, too. In the town square was a large tree from the game lands. The sidewalks still showed signs of the snow that had fallen the night of the church greening. A gang of teenaged girls passed by him, said hello, and passed by in gales of giggles when he responded, "Merry Christmas, Ladies." Then he noticed Ella Wright struggling with several bags from Kendall's and a few from other merchants along Main Street. She was trying to unlock her car and keep from dropping her packages.
"Hey -- let me help you with that!" Fabian called, and crossed the street quickly. He took a few of the shopping bags from her so that she had a free hand to unlock the car.
"Hello Fabian! Thank you so much!" Ella smiled. "How are you doing?" He helped her put the bags in the back seat of the car.
"I'm doing just fine. I'm out looking for a few things for my family. How are you?"
"Wonderful. Have you seen my new grandson?"
Fabian grinned.
"I have. Lisa and I went to visit right after he was born. He's adorable."
Ella put her purse and the few parcels she carried into the passenger seat.
"How is Lisa?" she asked. "I haven't seen her in a while."
"She's good," Fabian told her. "Very busy. Starting her own business. Tonight she's helping out at the bazaar at St. Mark's. A lot of the craft-folk that displayed at the autumn fair have stalls at St. Mark's. Including my mother, if you're still looking for something for those grandsons of yours." He grinned broadly.
"I should head over there," Ella said. "I really liked that addition to the midway this past October."
"A lot of people did," Fabian nodded. "I believe the plan is for the crafts to stay in the autumn fair. I'm not sure what's been decided about the summer midway."
"Do you have Lisa's present yet?"
"Oh, yes. I've had it for a while. I just need some things for present family members. The future family members are taken care of."
Ella got into the driver's seat.
"Thank you so much, Fabian! Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you! Tell Abe I said hello."
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