Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Helen took the opportunity to go back over everything she’d told her granddaughter so far. Stella was right—she’d done quite a bit of elaborating--and it might be difficult to remember all of the details. She realized Memory hadn’t asked her where she was visiting from, so she decided to tell her St. Charles, Illinois, if she asked since it also had a reputation as a town where the people loved Christmas, and she’d mentioned owning a Christmas shop. Helen thought she had everything sorted out so that by the time the customers left, she was ready to launch phase two of her plan—if she could call introducing herself and blundering through a conversation phase one. So far, she hadn’t done anything to help Memory have a meet-cute with Dakota. In fact, Helen hadn’t even met Dakota yet. She’d have to be patient.
“You know, dear, I’ve noticed you don’t have much of a staff,” Helen said, looking around the shop. “Or any staff.”
“Nope, it’s just me,” Memory said with a shrug. “I handle everything now that.... Now.”
“That must be so difficult for you,” Helen said, shaking her head. “How do you take a lunch break—or even go to the bathroom?”
Memory’s eyes bulged, and she began to giggle. Helen realized she’d probably crossed a boundary there, if she had been speaking to someone she just met, but Memory replied, “Quickly.”
“Well, you know, honey, I’m going to be in town until Christmas. I’m guessing that is your busy season. I’ve got plenty of experience running a shop just like this one. I’d be happy to help you out a few hours a day. Give you a chance to eat your lunch and run some errands.”
Memory stared at her for a few moments, as if she were searching for a response. “Oh, Ellie, that’s so nice. Really. Thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t afford to bring on any help right now. I wish I could.”
“Oh, who said anything about paying me?” Helen countered. “It’ll give me a chance to be useful again, and give you a chance to do all the things you never get to.”
“I don’t know....”
Helen could tell Memory was considering it, but she didn’t want to impose. To Stella, she said, “Now would be a great time to bring that family back in.”
“A little warning would’ve been helpful!”
Despite her comment, the family of four came through the door, the girls even more energetic now that they had some sugar in them, their sticky fingers reaching for everything. Memory excused herself again, and Helen got to work. If she could show Memory how useful she could be, how could she say no to letting her stay on?
While Memory was distracted, Helen hurried to the back, flew through the stock room door, and looked at the inventory. “Any idea what she was going to display next?” she asked Stella.
“Uh... those Santas there. She was going to hang them on the tree where the candy cane ornaments are just about all sold out. She’s shipping the rest of the candy canes, so don’t open those.”
“Perfect,” Helen muttered. She put her handbag down on the floor and lifted a box of the ornaments onto the dolly without actually picking it up at all. “This floating inanimate objects business is pretty snazzy.”
“Just be careful not to get caught.”
Helen wrinkled her nose and then took the ornaments out, glad that Memory was busy trying to help the family pick out a tree topper while she also kept the little girls from breaking the snow globes. With the few waves of Helen’s finger, all of the ornaments were placed perfectly on the tree, and no one was the wiser to her corner cutting.
While Memory was still engrossed, Helen straightened another display that was out of order, alphabetized the ornaments that had names on them, color coded the plush animals on a shelf in the back, and made sure all of the mugs had their handles to the left—in the span of about five minutes. Then, she took the dolly and the empty box to the back. Not quite sure what Memory was planning to work on next, she decided not to touch anything else. “You can make them go now,” she said to Stella. “Oh, but make sure they buy something.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of free will?” Stella muttered, but when Helen came back out front, the family had several items up at the cash register, and Memory was ringing them out.
“That will be $256.22,” she said, and Helen recognized the look on her granddaughter’s face—she was trying not to smile. Helen caught her eye and gave her a wink, glad to see she’d gotten a big sale, even if it might’ve been slightly coerced.
“Maybe you can make them find a $100 bill in the parking lot,” she suggested to Stella.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees, Helen.”
“Bye now, thanks again. Merry Christmas!” Memory waved at the family as they made their way back outside, a gust of cold wind blowing in with the opening of the door that left Helen shivering, despite the fact that she’d never taken off her coat. She should’ve been sweating—if she’d actually exerted herself at all doing all of the work she’d just completed.
“Well, that was a nice sale,” Memory said with a smile. “I’m sorry—did you find what you were looking for?”
“You know, I think I did,” Helen said, grinning at her granddaughter. “What do you say? Can I spend some time working in your shop?”
Memory’s eyes went past her, to the shelves behind where Helen was standing and the tree with the new ornaments hung. “How did you.... Did you.... You hung all of these ornaments while I was helping them? And straightened the mugs? The plushes—the ornaments with the names? Ellie—how did you do that so quickly?”
Shrugging, Helen said, “I told you, I have a lot of experience.”
“But... I never brought that box out of the stock room,” Memory said, pointing her finger at the Santa tree.
“No, but... the door was propped open, and I just assumed, since that box was closest to the door, that’s the one you wanted out next.” Helen had done it again—overstepped. With any luck, Memory would fall for her explanation again.
“The door was propped open? Are you sure? I’m almost positive I closed that. I never leave that door open.”
“I’m sure.” Helen held her arms up, trying to act nonchalant. “Stella—make sure that door is propped open, please!”
“Could you give me even a minute without having to come to your aid?”
“I thought you wanted to keep your job.”
Memory was pushing through the swinging door to the back, and Helen rushed behind her, praying she’d see a propped open door. Sure enough, there was a box sitting against the door, holding it next to the wall.
“Huh....” Memory said, putting both fists on her hips. “I swear I made sure that was closed this morning.”
“Why don’t you have a look around and make sure there’s nothing missing, and I’ll go wait on that customer?”
“What customer—”
Before Memory could finish her sentence, the bell on the door dinged and Helen shot off, shouting a warm “Merry Christmas! Welcome to The Memory Box. How can I help you?”
Helen caught herself gaping as she looked at three of her good friends from church—Esther, Mable, and Georgeann. They wouldn’t recognize her of course, so she had to pretend she didn’t know them.
“Hello,” Mable said, peering at her over the top of her glasses. “Where’s Memory?”
“She’s in the back. I’m Ellie. I’m going to be helping out here for the rest of the season.” She chuckled merrily. “How can I help you ladies? Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“I heard Memory’s got these lovely candy cane ornaments,” Georgeann said, the three of them still looking at her curiously, as if they weren’t sure they could trust a stranger with their departed friend’s granddaughter.
“Yes, yes, they’re right over here,” Helen said, motioning with her arm. The trio followed her across the room. “Aren’t they lovely? Handmade.”
Memory came back in through the swinging doors and watched as Helen convinced her friends to buy a half a dozen of the ornaments each, as well as several other items. By the time they approached the cash register where Memory was waiting for them, all three of the women had an overflowing basket. Helen knew they could each afford it.
What she didn’t understand, though, was why Memory couldn’t afford to hire anyone to help out at the shop. While the salary Helen had drawn as an employee was modest, business seemed to be booming when she’d passed, and Memory was working so hard to get the online shop running. She’d left a little of her savings to Bryce and Kirsten, but she’d left the majority of it to Memory because she knew it would be needed for the shop—and for upkeep on the house. She’d never been good at that. Joe had done a much better job of making sure things around the house were in order. Memory could see to it that everything was repaired, though, with the money she’d left and the life insurance policy.
“We hope to see you at church Sunday,” Georgeann called to her as the three ladies headed out.
“I will be there,” Helen promised waving, as Memory came around the counter.
“Well, you’re a natural,” she said, folding her arms and smiling at Helen. “Nothing was missing back there. So weird....”
“Oh, honey, the older I get the more I forget everything. I mean, I’m not even sure where I put my bag.”
“It’s in the stock room,” Memory assured her.
“Good, good. Do you ever just... set something down and then walk off and forget it?”
“All the time,” Memory admitted.
Helen giggled. “There you go.” Of course, she knew that about her granddaughter. She’d once found her phone in a container of margarine. It shouldn’t be too hard to convince Memory that she’d propped the door and just didn’t remember it, but Helen would have to be more careful about how she used her magic.
“Well, if you’re sure you want to help out, I’d love to have you,” Memory said with a friendly smile. “Of course, if you change your mind, I understand.”
“I would be tickled pink!” Helen exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Ha! Ha! Where can I put my coat?”
Chuckling, Memory said, “I’ll show you.” She gave Helen a quick tour of the back, telling her all the things she already knew about where she could put her purse and coat, where the microwave and the bathroom were, and even gave her an apron. “It was my grandmother’s,” she said. “You’re taller and... slimmer. But I think it will fit.”
Helen took the familiar apron, almost laughing at Memory catching herself, talking about her shape. “I would be honored to wear it. Thank you, dear.” Helen slipped the strap around her neck and tied it at her waist, glad to be back in the place she loved so much, even if it was just for a few weeks and no one would know it was her.
She followed Memory up to the front. “I’ll show you how to use the cash register.”
“I think it’s the same as the one I had,” Helen said. Since it was the exact same one she’d had, she was pretty sure she could handle it. As Memory showed her how it worked, Helen couldn’t help but grin. If getting Memory and Dakota together was as easy as getting her granddaughter to let her help out at the store had been, she’d have them falling in love in no time.