Home For The Holidays
The direct continuation of Change in the Wind
By Atonia Walpole
(Picture creations also by Atonia)
Part 1
Toni Thorne didn’t realize how much she missed her home until she’d been there for awhile. London was home for her and Terry but Virginia would always tug at her heart. Seeing Munchie was almost like coming home to her grandmother. She fussed about with Jacky and looked Toni and Terry over to see if there were any visible effects from living in London.
Thanksgiving had come and gone, not the big family celebration she’d planned. At the last minute one of John’s boys had come down with a virus and it spread to the others so they were unable to come. Jack never showed up. She’d heard nothing from him. She knew he was all right but had no idea where he was. Dino hung around for a week and then went back to Florida, complaining about the cold weather.
Christmas was only a few weeks away and the house had undergone a transformation as she pulled out all of her grandmother’s decorations, of which there were many collections. The trees would be delivered in a few days and she sat contemplating all the Christmases she’d spent at the House of Four Seasons with John Biebe. They were magical memories with a magic man. The last Christmas at the house had been a lonely and painful experience after John left her the second day into his season.
Toni left the pile of Christmas cards she’d been addressing and walked over to the window in the big reception area. It had begun to snow and she slipped out the door onto the front veranda, wrapping her arms about herself.
Terry stretched in his chair and stood up. He’d been working on a job in Bolivia with Dino but it was down time now. He went out of his office in search of Toni, the house seeming uncommonly quiet.
Toni turned as he opened the front door and stepped outside.
“You should put on a coat if you’re going to stand out here.” Terry came over and wrapped his warm arms around her.
“It’s snowing,” she smiled up at him.
“So it is. A white Christmas in the offing. The house is too quiet. Where’s Jacky?”
“Munchie took him with her to her church, some kind of children’s Christmas party today.”
“Ahh, that explains the silence. You’re kinda quiet, too. Something bothering you?”
“Oh…no, not really. Just…thinking.” She glanced at him with a little smile.
“About what?” he asked, thinking she was in a strange mood.
“Christmas…well, the Christmases I spent at The House of Four Seasons with John and the one I didn’t.”
“Oh…have you heard from him since Thanksgiving?”
“I talked to Donna. If nothing else happens they will be here for Christmas. I haven’t talked to John, not really since Rome.”
“Max told me something about that. It’s cold out here. Let’s go inside or at least get a coat.”
“I’d like to walk if you don‘t mind bringing me a coat out?”
Terry went inside and came out with their down-filled parkas. “Here you go.” Slipping her coat around her, he took her hand and they stepped off the veranda and began to walk around the house toward the dirt road that led down to the stables.
“You’re still quiet. Have you never gotten over John leaving you? Is that the problem?”
“No, it’s not that…I’ve lost him. Snow always signaled his arrival, you know…and you leaving so I was always sad/happy this time of year. I never wanted any of you to leave and it was only the arrival of the next that made it bearable. What a way to live and I did it for six years. Magic time but still the years passed.”
“Out of all four of us you’ve spent less time with John since we all came out. Maybe you need to see him.”
“Oh,” she laughed a little, “that wouldn’t be possible. He wouldn’t want it anyway. He’s well and truly a married man."
“So is Jack.”
“I know but it’s different with him. He still moves from his world to ours. I think he shuts it out or something. It has no bearing on what he does here.”
Terry smiled to himself. A simple matter of unfaithfulness in his mind. But then it was Toni and their particular circumstance. Maybe normal rules didn’t apply. He could never picture himself with anyone else. He thought about Max and how he was torn between Connie and Toni and considered himself a very lucky man to have her at all. He didn’t know about John…he just didn’t know.
John closed the door to the boat house and locked it, walking out on the pier he’d had built so he could bring his fishing boat in if he wanted to. The sky was gray and cloudy, probably more snow on the way. A wet flake hit him in the eye and he wiped it with his gloved hand. Snow and Christmas. He felt a tug at his heart almost like the drawing away feeling he used to get before he left for the House of Four Seasons. He sat down on the wooden bench next to the boat house and let himself remember Toni and what they’d shared this time of year. Five years they’d spent the season together. Most of the time he tried to block it out but seeing her in Rome in September had awakened something that had lain dormant inside him for a long time. He hadn’t always been able to be here for her when crisis arose. He had his family and Donna but he’d been a little surprised when she’d sent him off to Rome without some kind of confrontation. Maybe she was beginning to understand and he thought she should know there was nothing to worry about where he was concerned. He stamped his feet on the snow-covered pier and stood up. The thing was he no longer trusted himself.
Walking back toward the house for a moment he wished he could go back to the House of Four Seasons if it could be like it was before, when time stood still while he was gone. Being tossed out in the real world was not something he particularly wanted when he found himself there, but there was no going back. At least it got them out of Alaska and Donna seemed happier for that and that made life easier for him.
Max and Connie were over at Chambord having lunch with Aubrey Duncan and Penny. Penny had claimed Maxi and taken him off to see the lights on the Christmas tree.
“I suppose we’ll have to have an early Christmas since you’re trekking off again for the holiday.” Aubrey sipped his wine, a little put out that they wouldn’t be there Christmas day.
“We’re flying two days before Christmas, Dad, and won’t be back until Jan 2. We did spend Thanksgiving with you.” Connie nibbled on a piece of bread.
“We would have been here except for Maxi’s arrival. We missed going for Thanksgiving.” Max wasn’t concerned about Aubrey’s Christmas.
Aubrey slumped in his chair. “Guess it will be just Penny and me as usual unless that soldier of hers shows up.”
“I already have it on good authority that he will be here,” Connie grinned. “I understand he spends a good deal of time here…that he’s even looked into the need for a music shop in Bonnieux.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that. Penny’s all I got left and I’m afraid I’m about to lose her, too.”
“Oh poor Dad, all alone out here in his vineyard,” Connie teased him.
“You’re not alone. We’re only a stone’s throw away. I understand there’s a dual carriageway to and from our place and yours," Max grinned, pushing his plate back and stretching his arms over his head.
“I see I’m not going to get any sympathy from you two. I guess the Thornes will have a houseful if all of your family shows up. Are they all coming?”
“As far as I know. Jack hasn’t confirmed but he knows we’re all going to be there.”
“Hmm, his family is coming, too?”
“Oh, I have no idea.” Max bit his lip thinking of the possibility of that happening.
“He has twin daughters and a son, I believe he said…”
“Yes, he does,” Max replied, wanting to get off Jack, “and John, of course, with his three. Should be a houseful of children.”
“Well, Christmas is for children anyway. I’m getting too old to worry about holidays.”
“Why so down in the dumps today, Dad?” Connie asked.
Aubrey sat up in his chair. “Oh, I’m not down, no, not at all. Just contemplating the future.”
Max made a suggestion he hoped he didn’t live to regret. “Um, Toni has a huge house, tons of room. Why not go to Virginia with us? I don’t think she’d mind.”
Connie quickly glanced at Max, surprised at the invitation. “You’d need to call her, of course.”
Part 2
It snowed all night and still it was coming down when Terry went down to the stables early in the morning to feed the horses and make sure their water wasn’t frozen. The stables were solid and warm enough, he decided but still he threw a blanket over each horse and secured it. Tom, their hired man, was sick with a cold so Terry was filling in where he needed to.
He shivered a little, hunching his shoulders up as he walked out of the stables. It was too damn cold. His thoughts went to Biebe. This was his kind of weather. He would love it. He wondered if it was snowing in Maine. He stopped by the pool and noticed the pool cover was sagging in the middle, covered in snow. Probably should have drained it instead of covering it up. Glancing up at the house he saw that no light showed from their bedroom. Toni would still be snuggled down under the comforter asleep. He smiled, thinking he might join her. His cold hands would surely wake her up.
Once back inside he heard Munchie in the kitchen, stamped the snow off his boots and toed them off in the tiled hall then went into the warm kitchen.
“G’Day, Munchie, got something warm?”
“Oh, look at you, half frozen! Come sit yourself down for some coffee. I’ve made a big pot of oatmeal this morning that ought to warm you up inside out.”
“Outside in would work for me, ta, luv.” He took a large mug of steaming coffee.
“You’ve been down to the stables? Poor old Tom’s having a time and won’t go to the doctor.”
Terry sipped his coffee, wrapping both hands around the warmth of the mug. “Have the doc come to him.”
“I doubt anybody will be going anywhere today in this weather. I’ve been watching the weather reports. Roads are all slick and froze up so you and Toni are not to go anywhere, you hear?” She set a plate of toast and jam in front of him with a big bowl of oatmeal.
Terry grinned, “I hear ya. No plans to go anywhere.” He tucked into his breakfast.
Munchie smiled. She liked to see a man eat, and she especially liked this man and became all motherly around him. Noticing his sock feet under his chair, she went out in the hall to the everything closet and brought him back a pair of fur-lined moccasins. “Slip your cold feet in these, Terry.”
“Ta.” He slipped the moccasins on. “I was wondering if you think you’ll need some extra help during Christmas with a houseful of people?”
“Oh, no, I’ll manage and Toni will step in. Ah, Terry, you should have seen Jacky yesterday at church with Santa Claus. He’s our minister but the right shape to play the red-dressed man. Sat right on his lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas…”
“Oh, yeah? What does he want?”
“He wants Tom’s train. Said it very plainly.
Terry chuckled, “Thomas the Train. He’s all into that now. Toni’s bought him the book and a video he watches.”
“He’s a little love and I don’t see near enough of him, you know. I know you have to work and all but still you ought to get home once in awhile. Gets awfully lonesome around here.”
Terry stirred his oatmeal. “That’s a question, Munchie, I’m not sure I know the answer to, where is home exactly. For me it’s London but I know this is Toni’s home. We probably need to come over more often, especially as Jacky gets older. It’s a good place here for him.”
“Where’s your Henry spending Christmas?”
“Skiing. He’s going to Switzerland with his mate’s family. I guess for a fifteen year old that sounded more exciting than a few weeks in the country. We outfitted him for his trip. That’s his Christmas along with a few pounds in his pocket.”
John and Donna had been to Freeport to do a little Christmas shopping and stopped off in Belfast for lunch and a trip to the butcher shop.
“This feels like Alaska,” Donna said as they crossed the snow-covered street.
“Not as cold,” John answered. “Are we done now…nothing else you need today?”
“No, I think we’ve finally covered shopping for everyone that we know of. Maybe I should buy a few extras you know, like for Henry…I don’t know if he’ll be there or not.”
“Let’s wait till we get there. we’ve got enough stuff to pack up as it is.”
“Well, I hate to…”
“Donna, they got covered malls in Virginia, heated covered malls where you don’t have to track through this muck to shop.”
“There won’t be much time, getting there only a couple of days before Christmas.”
“I’m sure you’ll have an opportunity to shop.” John unlocked the door of his SUV. “There’s the airport, too. take a few hoodies from Maine.”
“Oh, yeah, that would work.” She climbed in and buckled up.
“I hope Toni will like the sweater I picked out for her.” she was till worrying.
“It will be fine. She’s not hard to please.”
“When you were at the House of Four Seasons with her for Christmas, how did you shop?”
“We didn’t. Santa came and left presents under the tree,” he smiled. “Really, he did. One time I got a remote-controlled helicopter.”
Donna studied his profile as he started the vehicle and waited for it to warm up a little before setting off. “You liked it, didn’t you…you loved it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Christmas at the House with Toni…”
“Yeah, I did. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
“You didn’t have to say it.”
“You know what that was. It was all magic, had nothing to do with you or the boys.”
“We never knew.” She stared out of the windshield.
John pulled out of the parking place and into the street. “Why are you bringing this up now? It’s been three years, Donna, since all that was taking place.”
“I don’t know. It’s that time of year…when you would have been with her…and I didn’t know.”
“It matters this year? Oh, come on, Donna, don’t go there, okay? You understand all about what happened, the how and why of it, and just be damned glad it did or we’d still be back in Mystery without Claire.” John was aggravated that she would even bring it up.
Donna blinked back tears. “I know, I know all that.” She didn’t know why it was bearing on her mind today. He was right, of course…Claire would never have been possible. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re okay…you and me.” John reached over and placed his hand over hers for a minute. Had his own inner turmoil somehow reached her? He had to stop this…he had to.
Terry put more logs on the fire in the den and took a breath. The room smelled like pine from the white pine Christmas tree standing in front of the window. The sofa and floor and table tops were littered with Christmas ornaments and their wrappings. Jacky was helping mum decorate the tree. She’d given him a few unbreakable ornaments to play with. This was the third tree that had been decorated, one in the living room with her grandmother’s most precious objects, one in the dining room in blue and white and this one, the family tree she called it with a hodge podge of everything on it.
“There are no more after this one, right?” he asked.
Toni peered through the branches at him. “Only the cookie tree in the kitchen but I think Munchie is going to do that one. Sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies all decorated. The kids will love that.”
Terry smiled, “Is this the way your grandmother decorated? Are you following in her footsteps?”
“Sort of. She had a tree in every room, all different themes. I’m not going to subject you to a tree in the bedroom. Besides, Millie would be perched on the top of it.”
“I notice she likes to perch on my feet at night. Every time I move she moves.”
“Your turn, honey. The star on top, please…” Toni stepped back to admire her handiwork and Terry’s fine form reaching to the top of the tree with the gold star. He’d been working out at the gym regularly in London and it showed.
Terry stepped back and caught her eye, giving her a slow smile. She responded blinking her eyes slowly. Words were not always necessary, especially between them.
“Okay, Jacky, are you going to put yours on the tree?” She squatted down by the little boy flying the brass airplane around. “He’s taken flight,” she observed.
“Not another one. Show him where to put it and let’s get this room cleaned up. There’s nowhere to sit.”
“But if he wanted to…follow in your footsteps…” Toni looked up at him.
“One’s enough. Henry’s already headed in that direction. Would you allow it?”
“Not on your life!” Toni directed Jacky’s ornament. “I have enough to worry about with you.”
Terry began stuffing tissue back in the storage bins. “I’m a big boy now, Mummy.”
Toni’s grin was hidden by her hair falling over her cheek as she leaned over helping Jacky right his plane ornament.
Part 3
December 23rd the house began filling up. John, Donna and their three children arrived at lunchtime and by three o’clock Max, Connie and Maxi with Aubrey Duncan, Penny and Jean Paul arrived.
“Oh, we’re not staying,” Penny hugged Toni. “Jean Paul is taking me to New York for Christmas.” She smiled, reaching behind her for his hand.
“How wonderful for you,” Toni smiled in return, “and how good to see you both again.”
“Bonne Noel,” Jean Paul hugged her. “We have a 7:00 flight out of Richmond and so we thought to come out and see you while we are here.”
Aubrey visibly impressed with the historic house was doing a 360, taking it all in.
Max finally made it through the crush at the entry and found Toni. “Hello, love.” He hugged her tightly and kissed her.
“Hi, Max,” Toni smiled hugging him back. “Where’s Maxi?”
“Oh, back there somewhere…oh, Donna has him.” He turned back to her. “It’s good to be here…I love this house.” He met her eyes for a moment and turned away to greet John.
His eyes said much and she smiled to herself and went to find Connie and hopefully Maxi.
Terry had cornered Jean Paul. “Dino’s not going to make it here for Christmas. Says it’s really heating up in Bolivia. I’ve been following it closely, Jean. I just wanted to give you a heads up. May not be necessary, but if it comes down to it, we’re on.”
“How soon? Do you know yet?”
“No, could be in the next two weeks. Just, um, keep yourself loose.”
“Oui, I will be back in Paris on the 27th. Where is Dino?”
“He’s on site working with Tomas.”
Toni drifted by. “I do hope you’re not talking business.” She’d noticed their serious expressions.
“Ah, busted,” Terry smiled. “Get you a drink, Jean Paul?”
“No, no, Claire!” Donna took a porcelain reindeer out of her hand and set it a little higher on the bookshelf and moving her over to where Jacky was empting his toy box in the den. Her brothers found the video games and were busy with the TV after John got them started.
Where did you find that?” John asked Connie, who had an eggnog in a small cup.
“In the kitchen. The table is full of goodies and eggnog.”
“That’s me then!” John headed down the hall.
Toni had Maxi, who was a little over a month, old carrying him around and loving on him. Max, she noticed, was giving Aubrey a tour of the house.
Penny came up with a cup of eggnog. “Isn’t he the best little thing! Hardly ever cries.”
“He sure is a sweetie. I can’t get over his hair. I guess because I’m so used to Jacky’s blond curls. He’s beautiful.”
“I wish we could stay. It looks like it’s going to be a great Christmas here. You’re missing one.”
“Jack, yes. I suppose he may show up yet. Oh, I wish you could, too, Penny, but New York will be exciting.”
“I’ve never been but Jean Paul has.”
Toni smiled, “So how serious is this between the two of you, or is it too early to tell?”
“Oh…I don’t know,” Penny grinned slyly. “I’m sold.” She sipped her eggnog.
Connie and Donna were on the sofa in the den talking. John was nibbling around the table in the kitchen.
“There you are.” Toni walked in with Maxi.
“Quite a spread here.”
“Munchie’s been busy. I told her not to bother trying to do a meal today so she cooked a ham anyway and biscuits to tuck it into.”
He looked up at her. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, doing fine, and you?”
“Same here. Sorry about Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, well, kids get sick. I’m happy you could all come for Christmas.”
“Yeah, me, too. Let me have that little guy.” John took Maxi and Toni filled a cup with eggnog. “Max’s baby…”
“Um hm. I think he’s quite proud of him,” Toni smiled.
“Food,” Aubrey said, walking in with Max. “I really like your house, Toni. Very impressive.
“Thank you, Aubrey, and help yourself. There are plates stacked on the sideboard.
“I wondered who kidnapped my son,” Max smiled, finding a plate.
“Ah, well, it wasn’t me. Toni had him…good looking boy.” John moved away from the table, rocking Maxi in his arms.
“We think so,” Aubrey answered. “I want to thank you, Toni, for allowing me to come. I know Max made the invitation without asking.”
“Oh, Aubrey, you’re family! We’re happy to have you join us.”
“You’re a doll, Toni. Saved my arse,” Max whispered as he brushed by her going to the table.
“Hey, luv, I’m taking Penny and Jean Paul to the airport if you wanna say bye.” Terry stuck his head in the kitchen door. “Max…keys?”
“Oh, yes.” Toni handed her half eaten biscuit to Max, who took it in his mouth while fishing keys from his pants pocket.
Toni walked out on the porch with them, saying good bye. “Be careful, darling.” She kissed Terry, who took them in the rental. She walked back to the den. “Want me to sit with the kids while you two go get something to eat? The guys are in there so…”
“Sounds good to me.” Donna got up.
“I’ve been around the table once. A very nice selection of foods, Toni,” Connie complimented her.
“Munchie and I have been busy. There’s something cooked for the kids, too, mac and cheese and some chicken tenders. I figured that would go down for them.”
“Claire’s eating from the table now, thanks, Toni.” Donna took Claire with her.
Jacky, having lost his playmate, went over to attack the boys with the video games.
“Jacky, come back here! Look what mummy’s got…” Toni found an ornament in the sofa.
An hour later Terry arrived back from the airport with a passenger. He’d found Jack wandering around the lost luggage department.
He pulled up in the drive. “Did you put a tag on it with your name or anything?”
“A tag? No, it was only a canvas bag and I had intended to take it on board but the bins were full. I should imagine they just tossed it.”
Terry chuckled, “Guess you’ll have to go shopping, mate.”
“Hmm.” Jack opened the door and got out of the vehicle.
“Look who I found!” Terry raised his brows and grinned at Toni.
“Jack!” Toni got off the sofa and ran and hugged him. “However did you get here?”
“I flew from London…all by myself,” he grinned and hugged her tightly.
“Sans luggage. Lost it,” Terry said, removing his outer coat and heading for the everything closet.
“Luggage or not, I’m so glad you’ve come!” She received a kiss and held onto him, not wanting to let him go, but Jacky was waiting.”
“My little man! Oh, Pet, he’s grown!” Jack picked him up and hugged him.
Munchie appeared in the door. “I’ve refilled the table. Toni, do you want me to take the children and feed them?”
“Oh, would you, Munchie…boys…Mikey, you’d better go eat while the invitation is still open.” She got John’s boys out from in front of the TV and Jack handed off Jacky to her.
“Would you like to eat something, Jack? There’s a table full of things in the kitchen.”
“I would, yes. I was fed something in little compartmented plates, not sure what it was. Twice they offered me food.”
“Airplane food is not real, Jack,” Terry said, leading the way to the kitchen.
Part 4
The next morning it was off to the mall and they all went, much to Toni’s surprise. It was going to be a madhouse on Christmas Eve and she dreaded it, but with the whole family going it just might be fun.
Once in the parking lot Max handed Jack a credit card. “Happy Christmas, Jack.”
Jack looked at the plastic card. He knew what it was. He’d seen the others use them but this one had his name on it. “It’s mine?”
“Yes, it is. You always have a time with money when you come so I thought I’d get you a card.”
“American Express,” Jack read. “I’m not an American.” He looked up at Max.
“I should have got you a MasterCard,” he grinned and slapped him on the back. “It spends, Jack.”
John was giving his boys some terse instructions about behavior and consequences while Donna unfolded the stroller from the trunk for Claire.
Toni noticed the exchange. “Terry, we should have thought about that a long time ago.”
“Max has come through at last. Good for him. I assume he’s picking up the bill when it comes.” Terry set Jacky’s stroller down and plopped him in, buckling it good and snug around him.
“That sounded a little Scroogey to me.” Toni locked the car.
“Somebody has to play the part. Are we all assembled and ready to attack?” he asked, looking around the group.
“Let’s do it!” John laughed.
Aubrey took charge of Maxi’s stroller and got in line with Terry and John, who were also pushing babies.
Max took Jack in a men’s store and outfitted him. “I’ll never wear all this, Max. What will I do with it all?”
“You’ve got something for most any occasion, Jack. I would suggest you leave it with Toni when you go back. She’ll get it to you wherever you appear next and need it.”
Jack handed the clerk his plastic card. All he had to do was sign his name, which he did with a flourish and took his bags.
Terry took him into a shop and bought him two pieces of luggage and made sure he filled out the name tag while standing in the store. He used their London address. “Canvas is okay when you can carry it, Jack, but airlines are getting funny about that now. It’s best to check it when you get your ticket.”
“Thank you, Terry.” Jack gave him a look and packed his recent purchases in the luggage to carry though the mall. “I begin to feel like a small child being taken around by his elders.”
“You do very well, mate, to get around as you do in this world.”
Jack took a breath. “There are more people here today than in all of England.” He always had a hard time with the noise and pace of life out here.
“You’re not to follow me in here!” Connie turned on Max as she was about to enter Victoria’s Secret.
“That’s right! No men allowed!” Toni looked at Terry, who grinned at her.
“It’s an eye candy store, mates. Spend lots,” he winked.
“Donna, I’m taking the boys down to that toy store on the corner. Meet you there.” He gave her a kiss and set off.
“Toys, well, why not?” Aubrey followed him with Maxi.
“He can’t even see a toy yet.” Max narrowed his eyes. “He already has a room full at his Papa’s.”
“I like toys. Let’s take Jacky.” And so Terry and Max also went to the toy store.
Jack hesitated, looking at the window displays at Victoria’s Secret. He smiled to himself. Eye candy, indeed! He decided to wait for the girls.
He smiled when they came out laden with bags. “The boys have followed the children to the toy store. I waited for you. I like this store better. Did any of you get one of those?” He nodded his head toward a merry widow.
“You’ll just have to wonder, won’t you, does she or doesn’t she have that on underneath her sweats?” Toni laughed and took his arm.
“I got one of these.” Connie showed the barest bit of lace over the edge of a bag.
“And I got one of these.” Donna did the same thing, teasing him.
“Ladies, you embarrass me.”
Toni laughed out loud.
Max, John and Terry were spelling each other in the toy store while one at a time they dashed over to the jewelry store across the aisle. It was Terry’s turn with kids, Max wasn’t back yet and John had just left. Aubrey was showing Jacky and John’s youngest how to work a mechanical toy down the aisle.
“Jacky’s out of his stroller?” Toni looked at Terry, wide-eyed.
“You couldn’t keep him in it in here, luv. I got him the Thomas the Train set he wants. It’s up at the counter being wrapped. Max got him the ride on train thing. We’ll have to make a run to the car before he sees it all.”
“Where’s Claire?” Donna asked, seeing her empty stroller.
“John took her with him. He’ll be back in a tick.”
“Oh, let's go buy for Claire…girly things.” Toni and Connie went around the aisle looking for pink things.
Jack, seeing John in the Jewelry store, walked in and slowly moved around the counters. He saw something that caught his eye. It was an aquamarine ring bringing back memories of the one he gave Toni, the one and only season they had together, when he’d married her for eternity. He bought the ring.
“What did you buy?” John had several things on the counter he was buying, one a small gold locket for Claire.
“I bought a ring for Toni. You don’t think that’s inappropriate, do you?”
“Not if you want to give it to her. I got this for her.” It was a necklace, two entwined hearts with diamonds. “It reminded me of something.” He signed the receipt.
Jack looked at him a moment. “Yes, I know…”
Max came up to them, already having paid for his. “Are we all doing the same thing?”
“What do you mean?” John asked him.
“I saw all the rings as I’m sure you did, too. I couldn’t get her the eternity ring because Terry just bought it but I found this.” He pulled out another ring with three diamonds. “It’s a yesterday, today and tomorrow ring, so the saleslady tells me.”
“Very nice, Max, and very true.” Jack looked at it, admiring the sparkle. “Colored diamonds on the side.”
“Hmm, I got Donna earrings and Connie a diamond tennis bracelet. I may have to go back to London and make some money.” Max bit his lip.
“Oh, yeah, right! Like you’re hurting.” John pocketed his purchases.
“I like to keep a certain level of comfort. Are we all done here?”
“I’m sure Terry is hoping we are.” John walked back across to the toy store with Max following.
Jack lingered a little longer and bought gold bracelets for Donna and Connie. He liked buying jewelry. A rose gold locket caught his eye. It was a timeless piece and therefore he could take it with him for Sophie. He even had it engraved, ‘with all my heart J.A.’. She would like that.
The girls took the kids to the food court so the guys could load the cars. Aubrey went with the girls to help keep up with Mikey and Josh. But once they had food in front of them they were fine.
“Have you bought anything, Dad?” Connie asked.
“Bought toys for all the kids. They’re all great fun. Jacky and Claire get on well.”
Toni had noticed the same thing. They played together much better than kids that age should. She wondered a little about that. Could Claire be touched with magic, too?
Donna had noticed. “She plays better with him than she does with the kids at the play center we take her to a few days a week. Her brothers are too old and play too rough.”
Toni made a mental note to ask her about Claire…when they could talk.
“What else do we need to buy?” Connie asked.
“I need to find something for Terry and Munchie.”
“I need to shop for Max, too, although I have no idea what to get him. He has everything.”
“So does Terry, but I do know of a book he wants so I’ll get that and then I don’t know. Guys are so hard to shop for. They buy what they need and don’t usually want things like we do.”
“What about Jack? Should we get him something?” Donna asked.
“We should,” Connie agreed.
“That’s a little difficult. It has to be something he can take back with him or consume,” Toni explained.
“Mike wants to go play the machines. Okay if I go with him?” Aubrey asked.
“Sure, if you have the quarters.” Donna leaned back, talking around Connie. “I swear I think he’s going to be in the gaming business. He’s all tech toys right now. We’ve got him a laptop for Christmas.”
“Oh, well, we got him some new games that just came out this season for his X Box.” Toni hoped that was okay.
“He’ll love it.”
“Toni I don’t think your tree is going to hold everything that was bought today. We brought gifts from France, too.”
“We have three trees. Somehow it will work.” She smiled, feeling happy.
Part 5
The children were at least in bed by 9:00 and Toni, Connie, and Donna brought out the wrapping paper and tags and ribbon to wrap the things that hadn’t been wrapped at the mall. They went in Terry’s office to have a little privacy.
Toni had bought Terry a little notebook computer, something small he could carry if he wanted to, and the book he wanted. She sat down at his desk to do her wrapping. He had a message flashing on his screen from Dino and she was very tempted to open it but she didn’t. She wrapped his gifts and took them to the living room and stashed them under the tree where she found other things already there, small boxes that looked promising. Once Connie and Donna were finished, she found him in the den with a drink and his brothers.
“Terry, you’ve got a message flashing from Dino.”
Terry looked up at her and got up out of his chair. “I’d better go see what it is then.”
Something cold like fear went through her for a brief moment and then she decided it was probably just a Christmas greeting or something…something. She headed for the drinks cabinet and poured herself a drink.
“Come and sit down, Toni. You’ve been running all day.” John moved over on the sofa.
“I have but it’s been fun, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was fun but it’s not over. Santa has to come tonight. Man’s work is never done.” He sipped his drink.
“Are you going to dress up, John?” Max asked him, grinning.
“No, I expect all good little boys and girl to be asleep.”
“It may be a long night,” Toni said.
“Jack’s the most Santa-like. He could dress up?” Max took a drink from his glass.
Jack raised a brow. “I did not purchase a red suit today…sorry. Why don’t you dress up like the man? You’re the one wanting him to come.”
“I’m not big enough. Wouldn’t fit.”
“I’m too tall and slim. Wouldn’t do for me to try it.Kids would see right away I wasn’t Santa,” Aubrey chuckled.
“Toni, Jacky’s out.” Munchie came in, checking to see if anything was needed.
“Thanks for putting him to bed, Munchie, and for the dinner. That was lovely.”
“Always a tradition in this house to have oyster stew on Christmas Eve, no matter what else is on the menu…oyster stew was the beginning.”
“A fine tradition it is, too. I add my compliments.” Jack gave her a little bow.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m up to bed then. There will be breakfast at ten and for them that can’t wait that long you’ll find something to see you till then. Dinner will be at four, sit down in the dining room. Don’t wear your pajamas.” Munchie winked at John, who liked his sweats.
“Go on to bed, Munchie. You know Santa won’t come until you’re asleep.” Toni smiled and got up and hugged the woman. She was going to make sure the ‘traditions of the house’ were carried out tomorrow.
Toni walked out in the hall. Terry hadn’t come back and she hesitated a moment then walked to his office. He’d left the door ajar and was staring at his computer, waiting on someone to come back at him.
“Terry…”
He motioned for her to come to him and pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her. “In three days I need to be in Bolivia.”
“No…no!”
“Yes, I’ll have to leave the day after Christmas…sorry luv.” He held her tight against him.
“You can’t go…we have a house full of people!”
“The victim is a woman. How long would you have me wait?”
“Oh, Terry…oh, honey.”
“I know…it’s what I do, Toni, luv. No tears.” He wiped her eyes with his fingers.
“No tears…not now, not tonight. I just hate it, hate it!”
“It has to be this way.You knew what you were getting.You knew all along. Be strong for me.”
“I will. I promised you that the last time. I love you, Terry, so much.” She held him.
“Go make me a drink. I’ll be in there in less than five minutes…don’t say anything tonight.”
“I won’t…you can when you’re ready.” She kissed him softly and left his office. Pulling herself together, she went back to the den and made his drink. “He’s coming in five minutes,” she turned and smiled brightly.
Donna was back in the den but Connie was still feeding Maxi upstairs. Somebody had started the CD player with Christmas music.
Terry came in, took his drink from Toni and sat back in his chair, pulling her down on his lap where she sat with her back against his chest.
“Oh, we’re getting cozy,” John grinned.
“Don’t you wish,” Terry said, looking around Toni’s head.
“We could get cozy, too.” He looked at Donna and put his arm around her.
“I’m not getting cozy with Jack. I think I’ll go up to bed,” Aubrey declared. “See you all in the morning.”
Jack laughed, “I’m always the odd man out. Good night, Aubrey.”
“Sorry, Jack, I think I’ll wait for Connie.” Max got up and went to the drinks cupboard again.
“All of you staying for New Years?” Terry asked.
“We’re flying out on the 27th,” John answered. "I don’t think you could stand a week with my boys here.”
Terry looked at Max. “Connie and I were planning to stay until after New Years. Aubrey’s going back the day after Christmas.”
“I’m presently without a ship…I can stay.” Jack looked at Terry and raised his chin. Something was up.
“Good, just getting an idea.” Terry took a drink from his glass.
“Something…planned?” Max asked, taking a seat on the end of the sofa by John. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it.
“Oh, bloody hell! I wasn’t going to say anything tonight.” His arm tightened slightly around Toni’s waist. “I’ve got to leave on Boxing Day for Bolivia. It’s a serious situation. The hostage is a woman. Dino’s calling for help. There’s nothing else I can or would do but go.”
“Bollocks…sorry, Terry. Do we need to leave? Is that what you want to happen?”
“No, Max, I’m not running anybody off. Probably better that you stay as long as you’d planned to.” Toni was quiet on his lap but she wasn’t crying. He was proud of her for that.
“Of course, Terry, anything we can do you need only to tell us,” Jack said.
John watched Toni’s face. She had a little smile she was fighting. “We’re still going home but if you need me, Terry.”
“Thanks,John. We’re okay here, aren’t we, luv?”
“Yes,” she managed and took a drink from her glass.
“Well, all right then. It’s Christmas Eve, music is playing, we’ve bought everything there was to buy, got good liquor flowing, let’s get mellow.” Terry was ready to get mellow, put it all out of his mind until he had to put it back.
“Sounds good to me. I can get mellow.” Max took another drink from his glass. “What time do you think the fat man will arrive?”
“You really think he’s coming, don’t you?” John teased.
“If you don’t believe, he won’t come…do you believe in magic?”
“I believe in magic,” John agreed.
“Do you believe in magic, Donna?” Jack asked.
“Yes, I do. I’m living proof that it exists. We all are, especially you, Toni. You summoned that magic.”
“I wasn’t magic. I had no idea it even existed when I arrived there at the House.”
“Ah, but you were. You just didn’t know it. The grandfather that you never knew…”
“You picked up on that first, didn’t you, Max?”
“I didn’t know about your grandfather but I knew your grandmother knew who I was when I met her at the end. It was Terry who proved that for you. What about your aunt? Is she still living? I thought she knew something, too.”
“She is and I want to go see her while we’re in the country, Terry. She’s, um, not able to get about anymore, pretty much housebound, but her mind is as sharp as ever.”
“We can do that when I get back or you can go while I’m gone.”
“No, I’ll wait until you come home and we’ll go together.” She was intensely aware of him against her back. Her body rose and fell with his breathing.
Terry was very aware of her, too, especially her bum against his crotch. He couldn’t stand up if his life depended on it right now…oh, he could but…
Toni turned her head and looked at him. “I think Santa baby better make his appearance pretty soon,” she said very quietly.
“I think you’re right or something else is going to make its appearance.” He licked the rim of his glass and she couldn’t look at him anymore after that.
Someone had begun humming to Good King Wenceslas. It was Jack and Toni looked over at him and smiled. Max picked it up. He knew the words and began singing along with the music. Terry surprised her singing a verse along with them. John didn’t know the words but he was smiling along with Donna, listening to his brothers' baritones.
Connie paused at the door until the song had finished. She clapped, “Very nice, gentlemen. I’ve had a look and all children are asleep. Thought I’d let the sleepy Santa’s know.” She went to Max and was pulled into his lap.
“Who’s sleepy? Not me…Maxi down for awhile?” Max let Connie take a sip of his drink.
“Mmm hmm. So we’ve got about five hours, maybe six. He’s doing very well lately.”
“I doubt any of us have five hours. First one wakes up, all the kids will be up. We’ve had to go down and run them back to bed at 4:00 in the morning. So once Santa comes you’d better sleep while you can.” John’s voice of experience had them all nodding.
“You’ve got the most clobber to bring in. You go first and show us how it’s done.” Max settled back on the sofa, pulling Connie against him.”
“All right.” John placed his drink on a table and rose from the sofa with Donna. They went out to the trunk of their rental.
Max, taking the opportunity, dumped Connie down on the sofa and kissed her. He was in a playful mood.
“Are you in your cups?” she asked, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
“Only slightly. Just far enough.”
“Max, really…!”Jack headed for the drinks cabinet again.
Toni looked at Max. He was slightly ajar, shirttail coming out, tie lost somewhere in the house, no shoes. She knew exactly how he was when he was slightly in his cups…she loved him.
“Are you jealous, Jack, because you have no woman?” Max looked up through a fringe of hair.
“I do have a woman but she’s far, far away, my Sophie.”
“Have you never thought about bringing her over with you, Jack?” Toni asked.
“That would not do. It simply would not. She would not understand at all and I would not want to muddy her mind with the possibilities. She remains at Ashgrove and I shall see her soon.” He took a drink from his glass.
“Shh,” Donna cautioned, carrying in several bags of toys. Something in one of the bags was talking.
“Oh, dear! Is it alive?” Jack stepped out of the way and found a chair.
“How will they know who’s lot is who’s?” Max asked.
“They know,” John said, bringing in a large box, “and then what does it matter, you know? They’ll sort it out. I think Claire’s will be a little different.”
Part 6
The women went upstairs after all the toys were out. The tree in the living room was designated as the adult tree and that’s where the brothers placed their gifts, small, important, exquisitely-wrapped boxes from the jewelry store and a few things from Bath Works.
“Somebody’s already been in here. I see a gift for Terry,” John said, sorting out his boxes.
“Terry doesn’t need anything,” Terry said and smiled.
“None of us NEED,” Max said.
“Oh, look! Jack gets a gift, three. Wow, you must have been a good boy.” John looked up at him and grinned.
“I am always a good lad.” He handed his boxes over for John, who was arranging around the tree.
“Terry, this trip you’ve got to take…you’ll be all right?” Max asked.
“Of course I will. You don’t go into something like that thinking you’re not going to come out of it okay.” He said the words but he knew there was always a possibility. He leaned over the chair back. “Look, not that I'm worried but because of the kind of work I do…if ever…if something should happen to me…Max, it’s up to you.”
“Bloody hell, man! You’d better come out unscathed.” Max looked over at him.
“I plan to.” Terry looked back and smiled. “It would have to be you and I know how complicated that would be for you, so I plan to come back.”
“Right, Max doesn’t need complications. He makes enough of his own,” John observed and grinned.
“You understand, don’t you, why it would have to be Max?” Terry looked from Jack to John.
“Perfectly. I would not want to take them back to my time, my world. It could be done but there is the medical and other things I would not subject them to.” Jack sat back on his heels. “John has enough to contend with. It wouldn’t work for him.”
“I could make it work.” John sat back on the floor, arms on his knees. “I could do that.”
“It would be easier for me…well, not easy but I could manage it. Bollocks, Terry.”
“Yeah, well don’t worry your pretty little head about it, Max. I just wanted to get this out…you know.”
Max met his eyes for a moment, Terry’s steady and open, his conflicted. He nodded his head. “You know I would.”
“Right then,” Terry looked at his watch, “Merry Christmas. It’s half past midnight. If Toni’s asleep, I’m going to wake her up. She likes that you know,” he grinned and stood up.
Just after six the next morning Mikey sneaked down the stairs and found Santa had been and raised the house. Dressed in pajamas, robes and slippers the sleepy household trouped down the stairs. Toni went to the kitchen to put the coffee on and found Munchie already in there in her battered old quilted robe and hairnet. She shooed Toni out to be with her family and prepared a tray of coffee to bring into the wide entry.
Terry came in with Jacky in his footed jammies and set him down. He stood there a moment, eyes wide at the display and then walked over to his train and looked back at his daddy. “Tom’s train,” he said with a smile.
“Jacky’s train,” Terry answered him.
Claire had no problem finding her things and was busy pulling things out of boxes. Jacky rode his Thomas train over to her and she stopped and had a look, pushing a few buttons he showed her how to push to make noises. He was interested to see what she had, too.
Shouts of ‘wow, oh look, just what I wanted’ filled the room as John’s boys dug into their treasures. Toni brought Terry a cup of coffee and sat on the arm of his chair with hers.
“There’s coffee in the hall,” she said.
Max, still not fully awake, stumbled toward the doo,r passing Aubrey who was the only one who had dressed before coming down.
“What a din! It must be Christmas,” he grinned and came in, stepping over wrapping paper and toys to find a chair. He thought about next year when Maxi would be in the middle along with the rest of them. He’d stopped to say hello to Connie, who was feeding him before bringing him downstairs.
John was down on his knees, helping his youngest boy with a hand held game. Donna went for coffee.
After the rush of excitement was over and all presents had been opened and proper thanks given, Munchie appeared in the door, dressed, her tight gray curls fluffed out and said she’d stay with the children if they wanted to go into the living room for a bit. Aubrey stayed with her, holding Maxi.
“Who wants to be Santa?” Toni asked and Terry went down on his knees by the tree and began calling out names and handing gifts around. He saved his gift for Toni until last and handed it to her with a kiss.
Toni opened the little box and took out the eternity ring. She knew what it was and while it was similar to the one Max had given her at the House, it was Terry’s ring and with tears in her eyes she handed it to him to slip on her finger.
“I’ll never take it off,” she said and kissed him.
“You might want to. There’s bigger and better things in those boxes.” He pointed to the pile in her lap.
“Not better,” she said and began opening the boxes one by one, each ring and the necklace she put on, the significance of each one not lost on her. She had tears running down her face when she finished.
“Gosh, if I’d known jewelry was going to make you cry I would have bought chocolates,” Max said and bit his lip, his own emotions close to the surface.
Toni laughed a little. “You are all so precious to me.”
“Jack, this is not…not the ring, is it?”
“No, Pet, but it’s close.”
“John, this was your own design…”
“I guess I wasn’t as original as I thought,” he grinned. “Do you like it?”
“Oh, yes!” She touched the hearts at her throat.
“Max…”
“It’s a yesterday, today and tomorrow ring.”
“I know…I recognized it.” She couldn’t speak. After she regained her composure,she added, “Well, I’ll be blinding everyone everywhere I go with all my sparkles because I intend to wear them always.” She looked down at her hands, Terry’s ring worn over her wedding band, Max’s next to it and Jack’s on her right hand. “Thank you all so much.” She began opening other gifts the girls had bought her. They’d all bought something for the other in Victoria’s Secret and the men were interested in all of their things.
“We should model them for Jack,” Connie said, tongue in cheek.
“Oh, no!” Donna laughed. “He’d be so embarrassed, wouldn’t he.”
Toni looked up at Jack. His face was flushed a little but he had a wicked grin and look in his eye. Modeling for Jack would lead to…other things. She opened a bag from Body Works.
They gathered up their gifts for Munchie and went back to the den to relieve her and let her have her Christmas, too.
At 10:00 they were all showered, dressed for the day and seated around the big round kitchen table. A separate table had been set up for the children, Jacky’s high chair was being used by Claire, and Munchie had pulled out an old wooden highchair that had belonged to Toni’s Dad. It still bore the faded teddy bear on the back.
“I must say this is the best Christmas I can remember since my girls were little,” Aubrey said, raising his glass of juice.
“Hear, hear!” Jack agreed.
“This is one fine family,” he continued. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”
“Thank you, Aubrey,” Max smiled. It had been a spontaneous moment for him when he’d invited him but it had turned out well.
“We’re glad to have you,” Terry said and meant it. He liked Aubrey Duncan.
Part 7
Having filled themselves with the best Virginia breakfast Munchie could make, they scattered around the house and outside. The sun was out but it was cold and snow still covered the ground. Terry crunched down to the stables with Jack to tend the horses.
Toni and Connie and Donna picked up the den, stuffing boxes and wrapping paper in to large trash bags. Donna was thinking about Terry leaving.
“Toni…if there’s anything you need or anything I can do while Terry’s gone…”
“Thanks, Donna. I’m going to try and tough it out on my own this time. I promised him the last time I would.”
“Where is he going?” Connie had missed it all the night before and Max hadn’t said anything to her.
“He’s leaving for Bolivia tomorrow. There’s a woman being held hostage and Dino has asked for his help.”
“Oh, Toni…same goes for me if there’s anything or if you want to come and stay with us, please do. The invitation is there.”
“I think I’ll stay here, Munchie’s here, you know.” She sat down in a chair. “I know this is what he does, and I have to let him be who he is, but…it’s hard.” She looked down at her jeweled hands. “I’ll be okay.” She wasn’t going to give in to tears.
“Is…Jean Paul going, too?”
“I think so. His whole team is going, so yes. It means they’re going in for rescue, the talk is over.” Toni ran a hand through her hair.
“Penny will be upset, I’m sure.”
“Tell her to call me. I’m getting a little better at this now.” She smiled weakly and got up, picking up a bow she spotted.
Max and John were out on the front veranda with John’s boys, playing with remote controlled vehicles.
“What Terry said last night, and God forbid it should ever come to that, what the hell would you do, Max?”
“Oh, fuck I don’t know…maintain two households, split myself in two.”
“That’s the problem. None of us are free to do…what we’d want to.”
“Would you want to, John?”
“Hell yes, in a heartbeat.”
“But you had a chance and didn’t.”
“Years have passed, Max, but I still love her.”
“There was a time I would have…moved everything out of the way for her but my life is too complicated now with Connie and Maxi. Just pray he comes back all of a piece. If he doesn’t then I’ll do what I have to.”
“Hey stop that, Mikey, you’re gonna break it!” John went after his son.
“Terry, do I need to stay here with Toni, because I can.”
“I don’t know, Jack. She seems to think she can handle it on her own. I’d like it if she could. If you’re going to stay until New Years you’ll know by then what kind of condition she’s in.” Terry filled a feed trough with oats. “You can decide that. I trust you.”
“I may stay a few days after Max and his family leave. It’s easier when there’s a lot of people around you but when they all go home…then reality will sink in.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s when she gives up and goes to bed. Don’t let her do that. Make her get up and get busy doing something if you have to send Munchie on holiday. Don’t let her sink into that pit, mate”
“No, it’s not a good place to be. I’ll do what I can for her.”
Terry looked up, empting his bucket. “That’s all I can ask for.”
“What is it Claire?" Donna bent down and Claire ran to the hall.
“I think she wants you to follow her.” Toni straightened up and pulled her trash bag out of the den.
Claire ran to the back door. “The door’s open who’s outside?” Donna opened the door.
“Where’s Jacky?” Toni asked and went to the kitchen where Munchie was putting something in the oven.
“I’ve not seen him in here. I thought he was with you in the den, with the little girl.”
“Jac-kay!” she called out. Toni ran through the house and opened the front door and then to the back door where Donna was already outside following Claire through the snow.
“She thinks this is a game or something. Won’t stop long enough for me to catch her,” Donna said.
“Jac-kay!” Toni called again. “You haven’t seen him out here?”
“No.” Donna stopped for a minute and Claire took off again. “Claire, come back here!” She was running now down towards the pool.
“The stables,” Toni said and set off running. Donna’s scream brought her up short and she turned to her left, heart in her mouth. “Jacky!” She could barely get a breath.
Jacky had climbed out on the pool cover which was heavy with snow so that the edges of it dipped into the water every now and again in places.
Donna held onto Claire, who was pointing out toward Jacky.
“Oh, my God!” Toni screamed.
“Jacky!” How had he gotten outside without anybody noticing? Had he opened the
door? She began pulling off her boots with every intention of walking out on
that cover and getting her son.
“You aren’t going anywhere!” Terry grabbed her arms. It was Jack, now bootless and coatless who stepped onto the cover, fully expecting to go under and he did but he came up with Jacky. He’d caught him as he slid towards the water. He was a little damp around the edges but fine and laughing, having a great time.
Later all dried and dressed and having a warm drink, Jack chuckled at the boy’s daring do. “He’s his father’s son, no doubt about that,” he said to John, who shook his head.
Terry came downstairs with a dry Jacky, who must have got a dressing down. He had his thumb in his mouth when he was brought to Jack, who took him.
“He has something to say,” Terry said.
Finally a small, “fank you,” was heard.
“When you learn to swim you can go in the water but not before. You are not a fish. You are a boy, a very small boy,” Jack explained.
Terry left him with Jack and went to the back door to have a look at the latch.
Munchie had made a pot of tea, as much for herself as for anybody else. Her hands were still shaking as she picked up her cup.
“You know that makes me think about where we live. I’m gonna fence it in so Claire doesn’t get to the water,” John said bouncing her on his knee.
“If it wasn’t for Claire I’m not sure we would have found him…before…” Donna bit it off.
“What do you mean?” Max asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
“She came and got me and led me to the pool, she did. Now how she knew he was there I don’t know.”
Max knew but he wasn’t going to voice it here in front of Munchie. “I suppose a fence around the pool is in order and possibly a walk around the property to see what else needs protection from Jacky.”
Munchie spoke up, “If he was here more often he’d know where his boundaries lie.”
“I’m afraid, my good woman, that this boy is so like his father that boundaries are to be climbed over, scaled or dug under. There’s no help for him except a few years and a little common sense which he will learn by doing the wrong things first.” Jack smiled and ran his hand through Jacky’s curls.
Having satisfied himself over the back door latch, Terry went back upstairs to their room where Toni was desperately trying to get herself together. She’d changed her clothes, washed her face and brushed her hair, but the shaking inside and out had not stopped. The sight of Jacky out on that pool cover and then Terry leaving tomorrow was trying to tear her apart.
He opened the bedroom door and came over to her where she sat on the bench in front of her dressing table. He met her eyes in the mirror.
“The lady of the house is required downstairs. Tradition has it that dinner is to be served at 4:00 and Munchie is having herself a cup of tea at the table in the kitchen while food simmers on the stove and burns in the oven. We have a houseful of guests, even if they are family, they have to be fed, the table has not been set and John’s boys are eating the candy dishes dry.”
“You want me to put my big girl britches on and deal with it, don’t you?” she smiled slowly.
“You got it, luv.”
Toni took the hand he laid on her shoulder and kissed his palm. “Okay.” She stood up. “Get out of my way.”
“That’s my girl.” He grinned and gave her bottom a smack as she passed by him. It wasn’t time yet to think about tomorrow when he would leave her. He’d think about that…tomorrow.
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