Part 30 (1/2)

Sydney looked down at the front yard. Christmas decorations were everywhere. She shut the window and closed the curtain.

When she arrived home earlier, she had been so curious about the car sitting next to Meredith's Jag, she hadn't noticed any of the decorations on the house, nor did she notice the ones scattered around the front yard and bushes.

The sound of voices caught her attention. She tossed her robe on the bed, grabbed an old pair of grey sweats and a t-s.h.i.+rt and quickly got dressed. She made her way over to the upstairs rail and looked down into the family room. Her house was a flurry of activity with moving bodies. Everywhere she looked there seemed to be a person. Several were in the process of hanging decorations around the windows, while others were busy wrapping garland and lights around the oak rails, which surrounded both staircases in the foyer.

A young man and woman carefully slid a fifteen-foot blue spruce tree across the floor. They positioned it so that it sat directly in the middle of the large oval picture windows that overlooked the large lake near the back of the property. Two men dressed in overalls brought several boxes over to the couple. While the young man began wrapping the tree with lights, the young woman began the tedious task of sorting ornaments.

Sydney couldn't believe it. In the short time it took her to take a shower and talk with Mr. Saunders, her house had become organized chaos. The front door opened and a line of men and women dressed in white caterer uniforms marched through the foyer and down the main hallway toward the kitchen.

She slowly walked over to the spiral staircase that ran down into the family room. She took the steps two at a time and stepped onto the landing.

”You're home,” Edna shrieked, her voice full of excitement. Before Sydney could respond, the older woman rambled over and threw her arms around Sydney's waist, wrapping her in a big bear hug. ”Let me look at you,” Edna said, holding Sydney at arm's length.

Edna, I've only been gone six days,” Sydney said, laughingly.

”I know, I know, but six days is an awful long time.”

Sydney leaned forward and kissed Edna on the cheek. ”Well, it's good to see you too,” she said and meant it. Edna had been her housekeeper for the past eight years but she was more than that to Sydney. She was like a second mother and had been more of a mother to Sydney than her own ever was.

Sydney smiled at the way Edna looked. She was wearing a white ap.r.o.n over a red velvet dress that hung just above her knees. The sleeves and hemline of the dress were trimmed with white fur. She laughed at Edna's red booties, complete with to furry red b.a.l.l.s where they laced up. Edna had pulled her grey hair up in a bun and pinned it to the top of her head. Sydney thought the short, rotund woman looked like Mrs. Claus and she was unable to control the giggles that escaped he throat.

Edna placed her hands on her hips, pretending to pout. ”Are you making fun of me?” she asked.

”Um, no, I think you look adorable, Mrs. Claus.”

”Well, thank you, that means I'm in good company,” Edna grinned, making her blue eyes twinkle.

Sydney made a sweeping gesture toward the family room with her hands. ”What's with all the decorations?”

Edna placed her hands on her hips again. ”Sydney Welsh, I swear I don't know about you sometimes,” she said with a shake of her head.

”What?” Sydney asked, frowning.

”Do you know what today is?”

”Thursday the sixteenth.”

”And what is tomorrow?”

Sydney's right eyebrow shot upward. ”Uh, Friday.”

”And what are we doing on Friday?” Edna patiently prodded.

”I'm going to work, coming home, having dinner, same as any other Friday.”

”I'm talking about tomorrow night,” Edna said with a stamp of her foot.

Sydney thought about it for a moment and then it dawned on her. ”c.r.a.p, I forgot all about it.”

”I don't know how. It's only the biggest and best Christmas party ever,” Edna teased.

”Ah, you're too kind, Mrs. Claus,” Sydney teased back.

”Yes I am. I'd love to stand here and chat but I have a house to get decorated and I need to check on Fred Rick,” Edna said, turning toward the kitchen.

”Say hi to Mr. Claus for me,” Sydney yelled.

Edna stopped and looked over her shoulder. ”I sure will,” she said with a wink before disappearing behind the closed door.

Sydney dodged several workers as she cut across the floor to grab the stack of mail from the coffee table. Tomorrow was the seventeenth, the day she chose for her annual Christmas party. With everything that had been going on, it had completely slipped her mind. A glance around the expansive family room, made it clear that Edna and the rest of the staff had everything under control.