WRITER ON THE BEACH

SATURDAY SHORT STORIES

Lora Lee Taylor told the caller, “I am on a do not call list,” and slammed her phone down. With a snort of disgust, she maneuvered her way back to the stove to stir the chili she’d probably regret making later. It had become too spicy for her stomach to handle, but there was a few things Lora Lee refused to give up. And a bowl of chili and a shot of whiskey now and then was one of them.

She eased herself down on a chair at the kitchen table and tried not to think about the holidays. People made too much of a fuss over them, and it had become all about the bottom dollar. She took another spoonful. This was just another day, she kept telling herself. At seventy, she had her health and all the money she needed for another lifetime. There were times she felt lonely in this big old house. If she regretted anything, it was her decision not to marry Doc Winston. Poor as a pauper back in the day and everyone thought he was after her fortune. She smiled at the memory. Lora Lee knew he wanted her because she was the best-looking woman in town.

A chuckle escaped her parched lips, and she took a sip of her tea. Even now she didn’t look half bad for her age. Still had her own teeth and a full head of silver hair. Her tongue still told the truth, whether people wanted to hear it or not, and her mind was still sharp as a new blade. But for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why they broke things off. Something about him telling her she was too stubborn for her own good. Damn right she was and no man was going to tell her what to do, no matter how charming Doc had been. Now, he was just an old coot; never married and still practiced his old remedies that still worked better than any new pill on the market.

But if she would have married him, there would have been children and now grandchildren would be running around this house. “Nonsense,” she sputtered, the last thing she needed was a house full of spoiled brats.

The doorbell rang and Lora Lee stopped eating, “Dang it, can’t eat in peace even on Christmas Eve. The doorbell chimed again, “Hold your horses, I’m coming,” she yelled leaning harder on her cane as she walked. Not bothering to look through the peephole, she swung the door open. “If you’re selling Girl Scout cookies, I don’t want any.” She stared down at the little girl, with big brown eyes and dark hair.

“I’m not selling anything,” she shook her head in denial.

“What are you doing here all by yourself? Where’s your mother?”

“My momma is at home, just a few blocks away.”

“You’d better run along or she’ll be worried about you.”

“She’s already worried. That’s why I’m here. She’s real sick.”

“Where’s your Daddy?”

“He’s out of the country on a special mission, fighting for our country.”

“Doesn’t she have a doctor?”

“No, do you think you can go over and check on her? None of the other neighbors are home.”

“Come inside while I get my things together. What’s your name?”

“It’s Holly,” she said proudly.

“What kind of a name is that?”

“It’s pretty and I like it.”

“You’ve got yourself a sassy little mouth. Did anyone ever tell you that?”

“I take after my daddy.” She giggled.

“I’m going to have a talk with your momma about letting you roam all over the neighborhood and knocking on stranger’s doors.”

“You’re not a stranger. You’re a neighbor.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I don’t know your mother and she doesn’t know me. We’re not friends.”

“You’ll meet her now and then you can become friends.”

“I don’t need friends. I need to be left alone and in peace.”

“My momma says everyone needs friends. There’s the house,” Holly pointed and as soon as the car stopped, she opened the door and ran rushing inside the house with Lora Lee following behind.

Lora Lee found a beautiful young woman, an older version of her daughter sitting up in bed, holding her stomach and moaning in pain.”

“Lord have mercy, what seems to be the problem?”

“I’m cramping and I’m spotting. I can’t lose this baby,” she sobbed. “I’ve had miscarriages before. I couldn’t bear it if I lost this baby.”

“I’m calling an ambulance. You need to get to a hospital.” Lora Lee pulled out her cell and called Doc Winston, “It’s Lora Lee. Don’t have time for idle chatter; never did, if you remember. Meet me at the hospital. Not for me you dumb fool. I’ve got a pregnant lady going into hard labor.” She snapped her cell shut and patted the woman’s hand. “You’re going to be fine. Doc Winston will see to that.”

“I can’t thank you enough. How did you know I needed help? My phone is dead and I couldn’t move out of bed to get the charger.”

“Your daughter told me.”

“I don’t have any children. This will be my first.”

“You don’t have a little girl around five or six years old?” Lora Lee looked around the room.

“God willing,” she gasped in pain, “She’s due on
Christmas Day. That’s why we’ve named her Holly/”

Lora Lee smiled, “Trust me, you’re going to have a smart, sassy little girl with curly hair the color of velvet and the most beautiful brown eyes you’ve ever seen.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I believe in Christmas miracles again.” Lora Lee heard the sirens and gave a silent prayer of thanks. And maybe she’d invite Doc Winston over for a Christmas dinner. He always did like her cooking.