Christmas at the Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #2)(35)
“Why don’t you come to my house? It’s only me and my mother and I’m cooking. I’d love to cook for you too. It will be fun.”
Gina was very tempted. “Are you sure she won’t mind?”
“Yes, I’m sure. My mom will love you.”
“Okay. I’ll come. What can I bring?”
“Nothing. Well, maybe a bottle of wine if you want, something red.”
“I can do that.”
Gina picked up an extra shift, working Tuesday night which was usually her night off, because they added a last-minute Christmas party. She didn’t mind doing it. Customers generally were in a very good mood this time of year, and they were more generous than usual.
She finished up her shopping during the day and picked up a good bottle of wine to bring to Jared’s mother’s house. She also planned to pick up a bouquet of flowers for her and she had something in mind for Jared. She’d stopped into Mitchell’s Book Corner and was thrilled when she saw that they had signed copies of Dennis Lehane’s newest release. She remembered that Jared had said he was a favorite author.
She was looking forward to working Christmas Eve. They would be closing early, at eight o’clock, and many of her regular customers had said they’d stop in either for a drink at the bar or for dinner too. She was planning to go to the nine o’clock Christmas Eve service, and she was secretly hoping for snow, just some light flurries. There was something magical about snow falling during the Christmas Eve service.
Christmas Eve was a busy day at Mimi’s Place. They had reservations all day, with lots of people coming for early dinners so they could make church services. Mandy, Jill and Billy were working the day shift and Gina and Emma and Paul were on for the evening shift. They’d see Emma on Christmas Day, though, as the restaurant was closed and Mandy was having everyone over.
Abby, Kate and Kristen Hodges came in for lunch and Mandy chatted with them a bit before they left. While she was visiting at their table, Connie Boyle walked by and joined her daughter at a table by the window. Mandy knew that Connie’s daughter was in town for Christmas as Connie had told her how much she was looking forward to seeing her.
“You know,” Abby said, once Connie was out of earshot, “I’m pretty sure that Connie anonymously donated money to the pantry so we can buy a new freezer.”
“Really? Why do you think it’s her?” Mandy asked, though it didn’t surprise her. She knew that Connie had the means to make a sizable donation. Her second husband had left her quite well off.
“She was one of the few people who knew that we needed a new freezer and what it would cost to replace it. And I think she’s helped other people too. I’ve noticed that often soon after Connie hears about someone that needs help, help arrives. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s helping in other ways by bringing people together.”
Mandy thought of Connie suggesting that Cory’s company might be a good place for Stacy’s husband and asking Emma if there was room in the walk-in freezer. And the mysterious donation made to the young mother with the burst pipes.
“I suspect you may be right.”
* * *
After Abby and her sisters left, Mandy stopped by Connie’s table to say hello, and Connie introduced her to her daughter, Miriam.
“She’s my oldest and lives in Wellesley. My other daughter is out in California, and we see her every other Christmas.”
They chatted for a bit and Mandy said, “I heard the food pantry received a generous donation and now they can buy a new freezer.”
Connie smiled. “Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?”
“It’s a wonderful thing, whoever did it.”
Connie was quiet and then said, “You know many years ago, when I was a young widow, I was struggling. My water heater had burst and that took most of my savings. I had a choice to make, pay my mortgage and have no Christmas presents or pay it late. I really didn’t want to pay it late because having good credit is so important. I told your grandmother I’d decided to pay the mortgage late because I couldn’t imagine not having gifts for my girls and a nice holiday dinner. I received a bank check in the mail that week that covered my mortgage and left me with enough money to have a special Christmas. I knew it was your grandmother, though she never did admit it. She didn’t want the credit, she just wanted to help as best she could.”
Connie smiled. “That always stayed with me. I think it’s a good way to be, if you’re able to do it. Don’t you think?”
Miriam reached out and squeezed her mother’s hand. “You and Rose were quite a team for many years.”
“We were, weren’t we?” She looked up at Mandy. “You can’t tell a soul. I’ll deny it if you do. But your grandmother and I teamed up many years after that. We had so much fun helping where we could and not just at Christmas. Just little things, nothing too outrageous. It made us feel good and useful. I still miss your grandmother,” she admitted.
“I do too. Thank you, Connie, for all that you do, and Merry Christmas to both of you.”
Mandy opened the oven and slid in the tray of mac and cheese that Paul had given her when she headed home on Christmas Eve. He’d made a little extra because he knew Brooke and Blake loved it, and Mandy had complained that they had no interest in eating what the rest of them would be having, lobster casserole and filet mignon. Soon she’d put the filets in to roast. The lobster was already cooked and tossed with butter, breadcrumbs, parsley and a drizzle of good sherry. It just needed a few minutes in the oven to heat up. She knew Jill and Billy were looking forward to it—and she was too.