Grace looked at the tangled boxes of lights in disgust. “Who took down these lights last year, a chimpanzee?” She asked.

“No, a chimp would have been more careful.” Reverend Addams said. He laughed, “They were already boxed up when we came back to take them down last year.”

“Whoever did this isn’t fond of Christmas or Hanukkah either judging by the way this menorah was thrown in with the Christmas decorations,” Beverly Tinkham chimed in. “It could use a good cleaning for sure. Look at the hardened wax drippings.”

Reverend Addams smiled. The volunteers in the Community Outreach Program at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church were a blessing, but he needed to get them focused on decorating the Senior Living Facility instead of complaining. He decided redirection was the best alternative.

“Beverly, why don’t you take the menorah into the kitchen and give it a gentle scrub? Malcolm, can you give Grace a hand untangling the lights? The Townsend brothers will be here with the tree in about an hour.. I’ll take these decorations out to the volunteers in the community room. Thank you all so much for helping! We couldn’t do it without you. I know it’s more work this year. Remember, a little hard work is good for the soul.”

The reverend dropped off the boxes and headed down the left corridor. He knew the number of the room well. Titus Dunnwitty lived in 17B. He shared that room with his wife before she was moved to the Alzheimer’s floor last year. Knowing that she wouldn’t be coming back was hard for Titus.

He knocked softly on the door. “Titus, It’s Jason Addams. May I come in?” Jason heard murmuring and footsteps. Mr. Dunnwitty slowly opened the door.

“Hello, Reverend. Here to spread some holiday cheer?” His tone was sarcastic.

“How are you feeling Titus? I haven’t seen you at Sunday services in a few weeks, and you haven’t been returning my calls. I wanted to check in and see how you are. I should have come earlier, and I’m sorry.”

Titus waved a reluctant hand toward the small loveseat motioning for the reverend to sit. He sank into a nearby recliner.

 “How are you? How are Emily, Connie, and Miles? Will you be spending the holidays together?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking even if it is part of your job. Emily is in her own world. She barely recognizes me. I’m going up to see her later this afternoon. Connie stopped visiting about five months ago because she couldn’t bear to see her mom like this. Miles is in South America working on some big business deal. Em and I are spending Christmas and Hanukkah right here just like we did last year.”

Titus’ jaw tightened when he mentioned last year, and he looked away.

“It’s nice that you celebrate Hanukkah with Emily. I’m sure it brings her great comfort. I’m sorry to hear about Connie is there anything I can do?”

“Our families weren’t crazy about us getting married, but we didn’t care. She never asked me to convert. I didn’t ask her. We celebrated all the holidays, and we let the kids choose for themselves. Connie chose Judaism, and Miles chose none of the above. I wish Connie would talk to Rabbi Schulman.”

“If it’s okay, I know Rabbi Schulman. We play on the same basketball team in a rec league. I could give him a little heads-up and suggest he and his wife, Amy reach out to Connie. Amy’s father has Alzheimer’s. Her family lives in Michigan, but they’ve found ways to stay connected.”

Titus looked surprised. “Someone to talk with might be just what Connie needs. Thank you.”

Jason nodded. He looked around the room. It wasn’t large, but it was homey and tidy. You can take the man out of the Navy, but you can’t take the Navy out of the man. Everything was in its proper place. Titus was wearing pressed khakis, freshly polished shoes, and a starched long- sleeved white dress shirt. It wasn’t like Titus to be so sloppy putting away the Christmas decorations. Jason sensed there was a story there.

The entertainment area where they were seated was open to a kitchenette with a small peninsula. He could see a door to the bedroom and private bath. It was nicer than most of the apartments he’d lived in before becoming an Episcopal priest.

“The volunteers and I are here to help decorate. Will you be joining us this year?”

“No. Em is the decorator in our family. She’d send me up the ladder to hang the lights, but that was the only thing she delegated. Who knew a Jewish girl from Jersey would love decorating for Christmas so much. I had to put my foot down when it was time to take them down and put them away. She hated seeing them go.”

“Is that why you took the decorations down last year?”

“You knew that was me?”

“Process of elimination. The staff knew we were coming, so it wasn’t them. You’re one of the few residents who could go up and down a ladder enough times to do it. I’m curious why you did.”

“Does it matter? Saved you a few trips up and down that ladder. Besides, it was time. The holidays were over.”

“Didn’t anyone ask you what you were doing?”

“The night shift is pretty laid back. Nobody notices an old man in here unless he’s having a heart attack or a stroke.”

“I’ve known you and Emily for a few years now, Titus. Everything you do is by the book and well organized. These decorations were just thrown in boxes. Grace Perkins and Malcolm Byers are in the basement trying to untangle the lights before the tree arrives. This wasn’t something you did because you were bored.”

Titus looked down at his lap.

“Em was having a rough night. She kept asking where her parents were because it was time to light the menorah. She didn’t recognize me, and she couldn’t understand why there were Christmas decorations in her parent’s house. I told her a neighbor was playing a joke, and I had come to take them down. After I got her settled. I passed the community room on my way back here. I couldn’t stand looking at the decorations. The ladder and boxes were set out next to the Christmas tree for you to use the next day, so I started shoving things in. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I just needed them to be gone. The next day, Em was fine, and she wanted to know where our beautiful decorations were.”

“It’s okay, Titus. You don’t have to go through this alone. We have support groups at the church. I know you felt like you weren’t ready for one, but there’s always room if you change your mind. I want to help. What can I do?”

“Thanks, reverend, but I think maybe I should be the one helping today. I made a mess for your volunteers. The least I can do is help untangle some lights.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that, Titus.”

“Maybe after we’re done, we can visit Emily together. She might not remember you. She might not even remember me, but it would be nice to have the company.”

“Thank you Titus, I’d like that. Mrs. Palmer put out some spiced cider and refreshments for the volunteers. Why don’t we raid the refreshment table on our way to the basement?”