Home for the Holidays

Joshua Dowd rolled into the sleepy town of Lincoln, Maine. It’s be twenty long years since he’s been back.With his father being sick, this might be the last time to say goodbye. David Dowd was never easy to live with. Maybe that’s why Joshua left home at seventeen.

Joshua stopped his BMW on Main Street to gaze up at the sixty foot Christmas tree the town alway sets up with a manger scene below it. Joshua got the email from an old friend that his father was dying. Joshua never responded. Joshua drove down Maple Street to look at his childhood home that his parents still live in. The lights were on in the kitchen. Dad always made the best animal shaped pancakes, when he wasn’t hitting me.

Joshua drove down to Elm Street to find the diner he used to frequent in high school. It was the only one in town, that he remembered. He arrived at Lincoln Diner. It was all boarded up. Much like a lot of businesses that shut down during the Covid pandemic. He turned to go back in his car and saw a sign called Mandy’s Place. He walked over and sat in a corner booth.

“Welcome to Mandy’s Place.”, said a young waitress. “My name is Jennifer and I’ll be your waitress. Can I start you off with coffee or tea?”

“I’ll take a coffee, black. Thank you. Say, how long has this place been open?”

“Just two years. After the diner closed own. My mom got a settlement and decided the town needed a new place to eat.” Jennifer left to get the coffee while Joshua Dowd looked over the menu.

Joshua ordered the breakfast special after getting his drink. He had a strange feeling he was being watched. He looked up to see a beautiful woman around the age of thirty-seven standing over him with his food.

“Well I’ll be. If it isn’t Joshua Dowd. How long has it been? No phone calls, emails or letters.”

“Hi Amanda.” 

“After twenty years, all I get is a hi.” 

Joshua stood up to give Amanda a hug. She slid in the booth across from him. “What brings you away from the Big Apple.

“My father mostly.”

“Have you two make up yet?

“No. I doubt we ever will?”

“Listen Josh, life is too short to hold grudges. Go home and see your father. I know for a fact, he never got over you leaving. He loves you.”

Joshua didn’t know what to say. “I might.” Joshua wiped his forehead with his hand. He felt warm. “Let’s change the subject. What have you been up to?”

“I own this diner. How about you.?”

“I spent a year living out of my car before someone gave me a chance. I worked my way up the ladder and now own Dowd toys. You look great Amanda. We were always the popular kids in high school. Do you remember our senior prom.”

“Of course. We arrived in a white stretched limo.”

“Nothing to good for my girl.”

“You also took me to the park where we went stargazing.” There was an awkward pause between them. “What have you been up to lately Josh?”

“After high school, I dreamed of being a professional football player. As you could tell, that didn’t happen. So I ended up in New York. I did a little bit of traveling. Spent a year in Florida. How about you? Did you ever go out west to be an actress?”

“No, I didn’t go. I stayed here to take care of my daughter. Her grandparents help out a lot, with food, a play to live and down payment of this diner.”

“Are you married then?”

“Never married. I assumed you would have been the one to ask me to marry you.”

“I’m sorry. I just needed to get of of that house?” Joshua looked out the window to see fresh, cold, soft snow.

“I too have hit rock bottom. With the help of family and friends, we made it.”

“Seeing you here today has be refreshing. I should’ve taken you with me.” 

“Me too. Is there any chance that you’d stay in town.”

“I have a factory to run. Hundreds of people depend on me. I just can’t.”

“You could always sell it and come back here.”

“Where would my employees go then?

“I don’t know, but I still love you Josh.”

Amanda reached over to snatch a french fry from his plate. “Remember how we dipped our fries in milkshakes growing up. I used to dab the shake on your nose and we’d laugh about it. We were free spirited back then. What happened to you Josh. It seems your shutting everyone out of your lives.”

Josh continue to look out the window as the town starts to come alive. “I haven’t changed. I failed in a lot of my endeavors and certainly let people down. They were expecting so much from me.”

“Who did you let down?”

“My mom, dad, even you.”

“The good thing about coming home is, you can always start a new life. I’m still in touch with your parents and they want to see you more than anything. Want me to call them for you?”

“I’m leaving in the morning, but I’ll be back. I’ve made a lot of money in New York, but I was miserable. No friends or family. Any interaction I had was money and power driven. That’s not how I was raised. I was raised to lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. Let me make a few phone calls first.”

Joshua took out his phone and dialed up his attorney. “Dave, how are you doing? Listen, get the ball rolling, but I want to sell the factory. However, whoever buys it, has to keep my employees on until they find a new job if they choose or one year. Whichever comes first. I’ll be back to New York tomorrow to sell the condo. I’m moving back here. This is my life. This is who I am.” Joshua hung up. “I’m ready to go see dad now.”

Amanda smiled. “Jennifer honey, can you give grandma a call and tell her your dad is ready to be picked up.”