Around the Table

Aromas of Christmas fill Gloria's house, food is warming in the oven, the tree looks immaculate, and presents are piled perfectly. And soon she’d have the table set for her family, plus a guest. She’d invited Tim to join them this year; she didn’t want him to spend it alone. She looks at the clock, two hours, she had two hours. "Felix, can you bring me the last of the Christmas settings? I want to have to table set before they get here.''

Her husband's chuckle came from behind. "Already was on my way." He kisses her cheek and hands her the tote, "Everything looks lovely, dear." He glances at the table spread, "Looks like you have everything handled. I'm going to shovel to walk before everyone gets here."

"Perfect. Once this is done, I’m going to curl up with my book till the kids get here." She places a hand on the chair set for Tim; she hadn't heard whether he was coming or not. Had she set him beside Eve on purpose? It was an old habit. Once, Gloria had hoped that Tim would ask Eve out, but that was before his mother passed. Gloria thought he’d been testing the waters earlier that year. But that was months ago, and she wasn't sure Tim's grief would ever let him see past one day at a time. Which broke her heart a bit. Eve deeply cared for Tim.

With the table set, Gloria curled up in her chair and got lost in her Christmas book. She didn't even notice when Felix joined her in the living room until she heard his favourite record fill the room.

She sighs happily, then she hears the boys yelling in the drive. She puts her book down and meets the boys at the door. "Hello, you two! Are you excited for Christmas?" They cheered and raced to find Grandpa in the living room.

"Hi, mama." Carol hugs her.

"Hi, baby." Gloria squeezes her tight.

"Hi, Will." Gloria releases her daughter and gives her son-in-law a brief hug.

"Merry Christmas, Mom." Gloria leads them to the living room. The boys eagerly looked under the tree.

"Mommy, can we open something now?" Ted asks excitedly.

"We can't, Teddy! Auntie Eve isn't here yet." Franky explains.

His brother huffs and plops on the floor. “But Auntie Eve is ALWAYS late!” The family laughs at the boy's frustration. Gloria hands them both a small, new toy to play with while they wait.

Eve couldn't have been more than fifteen behind them, but by the boys' reactions, it could have taken hours. "Antie Eve!" Franky runs to her.

"We can open presents now!! Ted yells.

"Boys! Let your aunt take off her coat before you crowd her. Carol joins her sons in the entryway. "Hey, big sis."

"Hey, girly." Eve hugs her sister. "Boys, can you take these to Gran so she can find a home under the tree?" She hands the boys a few presents, and they race off. The two sisters join their family in the living room. Gloria gets up to greet her oldest daughter. "Any word from Tim?"

Eve shuffles, "Not yet, but the invite was for dinner. So let's let the boys open gifts." Gloria feels her face fall, but gets started on Christmas fun.

After a few hours, all the gifts are opened and wrapping paper and bows are everywhere. The boys are tossing paper at their dad and grandpa. Gloria is about to have the girls help her bring the food from the kitchen when Eve's phone rings, and she slips out on the back porch to answer.

Gloria's stomach drops. What if that was Tim? His mother had been a good friend; she wanted to give him a sure place to exist in his grief.

Carol stands, and Gloria reads the cue, and they start to put food on the table. Eve joins them in the dining room; "Deary what happened?"

“Tim isn't coming. He just can't get out of bed today." Eve grabs the green beans and sets them on the table, and then removes the place setting and chair for Tim without being asked.

Gloria feels her face fall. "Oh. Well, we'll have to send him a plate of food."

"Of course, Mama, I can take a plate tonight." Eve nods.

Carol gives Eve a look, and Eve shoots her little sister a glare in return. Gloria pretends not to notice the silent conversation happening between her daughters.

"Uncle Tim isn't coming!" Franky whines. Clearly, he'd been looking forward to Tim's presence. Gloria looks at Carol, trying to decide who will explain it to him, when Eve kneels in front of him.

“I know, bud, you wanted him to join us, but Uncle Tim is dealing with very big feelings today, and he can't get out of bed.”

"Is he sad because of what happened to Grandma V? Ted asks, joining his brother."

"Yeah, he is. Tell you what, after dinner we'll dig out Grandma's craft supplies and make some feel better cards, alright?"

The boys nod and race to the table, and everyone finds their seats. Gloria watches as Carol thanks her sister for reacting so well and quickly. “I just told them what you or Mom would have said.” Gloria smiles to herself; she really has raised wonderful daughters.

The empty chair in the corner catches her eye. She wishes Tim could feel safe here; had she pushed too hard? Were the cookies and invite too much?

Apparently, she'd been too quiet. Eve took her hand, pulling her away from the spiral, "Mama, he felt seen. He wanted to come, but he just can't today. He'll be here on New Year's like always. He promised."

The family enjoys the meal, and as Gloria brings out dessert, Felix hands each household a smaller pillar candle. He lights the Christ candle in the center of the Advent wreath.

Eve lights her candle from the Christ candle first and sets her candle in place. "Take this light,"

Will takes his family candle and does the same as Carol says, "And share it year-round." Giving her boys a squeeze on the shoulder as they focus more on desserts than the family ritual.

Gloria lights hers from the Christ candle, "Let this light warm and guide you." She glances at the empty chair.

Felix takes the candle that would have been Tim's and lights it the same, “All throughout the year."

The family shares a smile and carries on with their evening. Once Eve gets the boys busy making cards. She pulls Carol aside and hands her another gift. Gloria hides a smile as Carol gives her sister a surprised look, “What else did you get me?”

“Mom mentioned you said something about a broken ornament.” Eve winks at Golria.

Carol unwraps her gift to find a shadow box with a red and white striped Christmas ball, featuring a collection of photos from the Christmases they spent in their apartment together behind the ornament. “Oh Evey…” She hugs her sister.

Shortly after that, it becomes clear it's bedtime for the boys, so Carol and Will gather everything into the car. Gloria makes a plate of food and a plate of dessert for Tim, and Eve tucks the cards the boys made between the plates.

Soon, the house is quiet again, and Felix wraps his arms around her. "Feel okay, love?"

She glances at the candles still lit on the table, she thinks about the lights that went home with her girls and the light that would be shown at Tim's house tonight, and she sighs contentedly. "I am, it was a wonderful day."