by Karen Nappa
"Mother." Connor tried to look stern but failed miserably when the three most important women in his life all burst out laughing.
Before Elaine could be escorted back to the living room, the doorbell rang and Abby rushed to answer it. She beamed as she returned to the kitchen with Mary, Dan, Laura and James. James was carrying four bottles of wine, and Laura placed her basket with three pans of her homemade rolls ready to bake on the countertop.
James turned to Mary and said with an easy smile, "Tell me you have pies in those boxes Dan is carrying," as he took them from him and placed the boxes next to the basket on the counter.
"The whole family is here now," Abby said.
"Where's Tim? Isn't he part of the family?" Dan asked.
"I think he's upstairs with his new video game," Suzie answered. "Abby, would you go get him, please?" The small kitchen overflowed with people and introductions.
Connor was happy to see his mother fitting right in with the family, and soon, she and Mary were in an animated discussion about yarn and the relative merits of knitting and crocheting.
Laura helped Suzie get dinner under control before they joined the others. In the living room, the children were waiting eagerly to open the presents everyone had brought.
Suzie looked at everything and felt overwhelmed. "You shouldn't have," she said to the room at large. "You really shouldn't. The children don't need all of this stuff."
Before she could go any further, Elaine interposed, "Christmas is about giving, and you can't fault us for giving to those who appreciate things most."
"B-but, we've just met." Suzie looked like she was about to tear up. "We weren't expecting anything like this."
"Nonsense, dear," Elaine continued. "I've been hearing about you all for several months now. I couldn't not bring presents, and I'm sure the rest of your family feels the same. Anyway, these are just tokens and thanks for inviting me today."
"I give up," Suzie conceded as Tim and Abby let out cheers.
"Dan and I go first." Mary spoke up before anyone else could. "Abby, this is for you."
Abby took the package and made quick work of the wrapping paper. Inside, was a kit titled, How to Knit . She ran to her grandfather and Mary to give each a hug. "Thank you Granddad, Miss Mary. This is wonderful. Will you teach me? Can I call you Grandmother now?"
"Abby, I-I…" Mary turned to Dan. "I think we have to share our news now. Abby, I would be pleased and proud if you want to call me Grandmother. You've only jumped the gun a little bit. Your granddad and I have decided to get married. We were going to announce it at dinner."
Abby jumped into Mary's arms for another hug. "This is awesome. I've been wanting you to be my grandmother for a long time now."
"It seems we've given an extra present. Is this one all right with you, Suzie, Laura?" Dan asked as both women headed to give him and Mary enthusiastic hugs.
Laura said, "I am so happy for you both. It's all we could have wanted for you, Dad."
Suzie hung back while Laura spoke. Her eyes watered a little. "Daddy, it was really hard when Mom died and I miss her still, especially at holidays. But Mary has brought so much joy into your life that I'm happy to welcome her into the family. You're the grandmother I've always wanted for my children."
The four of them shared a group hug as everyone else gathered close. Connor and James both pulled out handkerchiefs and blew their noses as Suzie and Laura returned to their men. Elaine had pulled a tissue from her purse and was dabbing at her eyes when Tim asked, "Why is everyone but me and Abby crying?"
Suzie knelt down in front of him and took his hand. "They're happy tears, Tim. Sometimes, when you feel really strongly about something, it comes out as crying. Nothing is wrong; in fact, something is really, really right."
Tim reached out and hugged Suzie and then his grandfather and Mary. "I'm really happy for both of you. I agree with Abby. I'd like to call you Grandmother, too."
"Now I feel like I'm really a part of the family. Thank you, Tim. It means a lot to me that you feel that way. I think we should get back to presents. Would you give Tim his present, Dan?" she asked.
"Here, my boy. I hope it's a fitting addition to your collection."
"A roundhouse! Great! We can finally finish the depot. I've been wondering how long it would take me to save up for it. Thanks, Granddad, Grandmother."
Laura spoke up next. "Tim, I hope you like what Uncle James and I got you. It's a little out of your usual."
"This says it's the Orient Express. Wow! I don't have any European trains. Abby, we'll need a whole new set up for this. I've read a little about it and it's a really cool train."
The present giving continued. James and Laura gave Abby a set of pastels and two drawing pads, one black and one white. Laura explained to Abby that she could get lots of special effects with the delicate chalks on black paper. She, too, wanted to try them out right after dinner. She said it was a tie between the pastels and her knitting lesson.
Connor gave Tim a new soccer ball, which Tim thanked him for with some enthusiasm. Abby received Rebecca, one of the American Girl dolls. "This is great, Mr. Connor. My friend Emily has Maryellen. Now we can play with them together."
Elaine finished the children's gift giving with a book on historic railroads that had Tim almost as excited as the Orient Express. She had a hand-knitted wool scarf and mittens for Abby. Elaine had knitted them in Carmichael colors, but Abby was more excited because they matched her winter coat.
"Last, but not least," Connor said as he pulled out one last box and handed it to Suzie with a flourish. "I hope ye like it, rùnag."
Elaine was taken aback to hear Connor using the Scottish endearment, but she quickly covered her reaction.
Suzie opened the box to reveal a beautiful woolen shawl that she immediately recognized as the Carmichael tartan because it matched Connor's kilt. "It's beautiful, Connor. And so soft." She pulled it out of the box and wrapped it around her shoulders. "This will be perfect to keep me warm on chilly nights." She gave him a chaste kiss to show her appreciation. Her eyes downcast and blushing, she handed him a package. "It's nothing so fancy, but it's practical and I hope you'll like it," she said.
Connor opened the present to find a box with a Guess logo. Inside the box, sat a wristwatch. The blue silicone strap and the blue dial with rose-gold Arabic numerals and index hands almost matched the Carmichael colors, and Connor kissed Suzie for her thoughtful gift.
A timer went off in the kitchen reminding Suzie of dinner. "Laura, would you get everyone's drink preferences?"
"Sure, sis. We have a red zinfandel and a sauvignon blanc. They both go well with ham. Also, there are milk and water. Tim, Abby, could you show everyone where they can wash up and then to the table? Abby made place cards so everyone can find their seat."
As everyone made their way to the table, Suzie and Laura brought out the meal—ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, coleslaw, and Laura's homemade rolls with jam and butter. When the wine had been poured, the food out, and everyone seated, Suzie said, "Dad, would you return thanks, please?"
"Of course, dear." Everyone joined hands as Dad said a simple table blessing thanking God for the birth of his Son, for food, friends and family, and ending with a simple "Amen."
James said, "Let's all raise our glasses in celebration of this holy day. Merry Christmas!" They all clinked glasses and wished each other "Merry Christmas."
Connor proposed the next toast, "To Dan and Mary, may you have many happy years together and be an example to us all."
"Here, here!" Dan called as glasses clinked again.
Everyone was surprised when Tim got up to propose a toast of his own, "To Mom and Aunt Laura and Grandmother Mary for all the wonderful food." Again, everyone toasted.
When nobody else spoke up, they passed the food and all got down to the serious business of eating. No one spoke for the next ten minutes or so until Connor broke the silence. "This is marvelous food. I second Tim's praise of all the c
ooks."
Elaine chimed in, turning to Suzie, "I understand you own a café? After cooking every day at work, aren't you tired of it when you get home?"
"Not at all. It's a different kind of cooking at work. My job there is mostly the bakery. We have a wonderful chef who handles most of the meals. I do desserts and the bakery. The place is busy at lunch and we've added breakfast, which is catching on quickly. We're right downtown, so we get most of our traffic from people who work there. We also do catering and that's picking up, too, since we added baked goods to the menu. I was running around like crazy yesterday, delivering things. I almost didn't make it home in time for church."
"How interesting. I don't usually think much about the schedules of restaurant people. Is the place open today?" Elaine asked.
"No, since most of our clientele is from downtown people, we're not only closed on major holidays, we're only open Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm. Our catering is just delivery and set up jobs. We don't do full service. So far, cash flow is really good. Better than I hoped or believed it would be. Thank heavens for your son. If it weren't for his help, I'd still be working in the lab developing new varieties of frozen dinners. No need for me to keep going on about work. There must be more interesting things to talk about."
Abby turned to Elaine and asked, "Did you make my hat and scarf, Mrs. Carmichael?"
"Yes, I did, Abby. I hope you'll get lots of use out of them."
"Grandmother Mary gave me the kit to learn how to knit and she said she'd start teaching me later. Would you help, too, please?"
"I would be delighted," Elaine said. "If that's all right with you, Mary?"
"It depends. Do you throw your yarn?"
"Only when I'm frustrated or doing color work. I learned continental style. You?"
Mary chuckled. "The same. We'll be good to go then." Mary turned to Abby. "There are two main styles of knitting. Continental, which refers to Europe and which we'll show you today, and English or American, which involves wrapping, or some people call it 'throwing' the yarn. It can be good to know both later on, but you should stick to one until you feel really good at it."
The three continued to talk about knitting and what sort of project Abby wanted to start with.
Meanwhile, the men had started discussing the Chiefs' chances in the playoffs. James said, "I'd like the odds a lot better if they weren't likely to end up against the Patriots. Their record the last few years is hard to beat."
Laura interrupted them, "I don't know how you can keep watching and supporting a game where concussions happen so often that men are dying from brain injuries."
"Laura has a point," Dan conceded. "But football is big business, honey, and the NFL has changed the rules to pay more attention to head injuries."
"High school and college ball are also doing better," James said.
"But the culture of the players is to play through the pain, whatever the cause." Laura was determined to get through to them.
"Every sport has its risks, Laura. Soccer players get concussions from heading the ball," Connor said. "I'd like to see changes to football that would make it safer, but it's hard to do. The powers that be in football think the audience will lose interest, and they can't have that."
"I know," Laura said, "but I hate to see such pointless waste of life. I'm sorry. I don't mean to put a damper on the conversation. Sometimes I can't help myself."
"It's okay, honey," James said. "You make good points, but it's hard to give up on a game we grew up with."
Dan changed the subject to the upcoming baseball season and their expectations of the Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals, Dan's favorite team.
The food was pretty much gone by this time and everyone was ready for pie. Mary had brought three this year, blueberry, cherry, and mincemeat. Suzie and Laura brought out the pies and whipped cream and asked what everyone wanted.
Before anyone else could say, Abby asked, "Is there meat in the mincemeat pie, Grandmother?"
"Not in mine, dear. The filling is dried fruits like raisins and apples, with lots of good spices. Originally, it did have meat in it and was a savory pie, but gradually more sugar and fruit got added and kind of squeezed the meat out. Some people still make it with minced beef, but mostly, it's just fruit now. I like it a lot, myself, but not everyone does."
"Then I'll try it," Abby said decisively.
Josh could see people moving around in the kitchen and hoped that meant that their big family dinner was over and Tim would be able to come out. He'd been by himself all day and could use some company. He walked up to the back door, knocked, and put his hands back in his pockets before they could get any colder. Mrs. Kaspar answered right away. "Merry Christmas, Josh! Come in out of the cold."
"Thanks, Mrs. Kaspar. I know it's Christmas and all, but could Tim come out?"
"He can, but why don't you come in for a while instead? You look cold, and Tim got a new video game for Christmas I'm sure he'd like to show you." She turned to a beautiful woman Josh didn't know and asked her to get Tim. "Would you like something to eat, Josh? We just finished, but there are lots of leftovers. Take off your jacket, sit down here and let me get you a ham sandwich."
Josh didn't take off his jacket, but he sat down to wait for Tim and the promised sandwich. Mrs. Kaspar pulled the ham out of the refrigerator and, with the ease of practice, put together three sandwiches for Josh. "Did you have a nice Christmas?" she asked.
Josh thought for a moment about his day. His mother and Ethan had been passed out when he woke up and he had managed to scrounge peanut butter and bread and get out before they woke up. He wished he had a warmer coat, but his worn gray jacket was the best he had. He'd been in the treehouse bundled up in the sleeping bag to keep warm while he enjoyed Pawn of Prophecy , the first book in David Eddings' Belgariad series. He'd read it before, but it was like an old friend. "Yeah, it's been a good day."
Tim came in and sat down across from Josh. "Can I have another piece of pie, Mom?"
"Two wasn't enough? Sure, it's Christmas. What kind do you want this time?" Mrs. Kaspar turned to Josh, "What kind of pie would you like? We have blueberry, cherry and mincemeat. Tim is on his third piece, so don't be shy if you'd like more than one."
"Um, could I have blueberry and cherry, please?" Josh was hesitant. He didn't want to wear out his welcome here.
"Absolutely. Pie is good for growing boys," she said. "Tim, which do you want?"
"I'll try the mincemeat. Abby said it was good with the whipped cream."
After Tim's mom served them and started the dishwasher, she left to join the adults and Abby in the living room.
"I got the new Spiderman game for Christmas. Do you want to play?" Tim asked.
"That sounds like more fun than practicing soccer," Josh said.
"We could do that, too. I got a new ball. My other one is still in good shape. You want it?"
"Can I keep it in the treehouse?"
Tim shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, if you want to. It's your treehouse, too."
Josh finished off the food in record time, thinking again how lucky Tim was to have such plenty. "Let's go see the game. I bet I can beat you."
"You wish, "Tim responded.
In the living room, Suzie found the others enjoying what was left of the day. Mary and Elaine were on either side of Abby, providing helpful instructions and praise as she worked to avoid dropping any stitches and keep control of the yarn. She was concentrating so hard that she didn't look up with her mother came in. "How's it going?" Suzie asked the three of them.
Elaine spoke first. "She's a natural. It's like her hands were waiting for the needles and yarn."
"Elaine's right," Mary said. "I've never had a better pupil."
Abby beamed at the praise.
"Can I see?" Suzie asked.
"As soon as I finish this row, Mom. I have one more stitch. There. What do you think?" She held up a rectangle about four inches wide and six inches long. The edges were neat a
nd even.
"What's it going to be?" Suzie inquired.
"It's a scarf for Rebecca." If I do well, I get to learn the purl stitch next and then something called stockinet stitch. It looks different than this garter stitch. Did you know there were so many different ways to knit, Mom?"
"I did not," Suzie replied. "I'm very impressed that you do."
"I think you've got it down now, Abby. When it's as long as you want it, let me know and I'll show you how to bind it off," Mary said as she stood up. She turned to Dan. "I think it's time we got going, dear. I need to check on the laundromat. If it's empty, we'll close up early for the day."
"I keep telling you to retire," Dan said, the old argument continuing.
"I'll quit when I'm good and ready, Dan Turner, and you might as well stop badgering me about it." Mary was adamant.
Suzie stepped in, "Please don't argue on Christmas. Especially after you just got engaged."
Dan turned first to Suzie. "I'm sorry, dear. I don't want to disrupt our Christmas. I just get frustrated about Mary's working when she doesn't need to." He turned to Mary. "Why are you so determined to keep working?"
Mary paused for a moment before answering. "Dan, I love you. I'm looking forward to being married to you, but that laundromat has supported me for over thirty-five years. I've never had to depend on a man for anything, and when I retire, I'm afraid I'll be and feel dependent on you. I promised myself I would work as long as I could so I would be able to survive my retirement. I gave up on finding someone to share my life with a long time ago. You are my greatest blessing, but I can't handle changing everything at once."
"Do you think maybe you could retire when we get married? If I knew that you had a time in mind, I could let the subject go."
"That sounds like a very reasonable compromise. I'll think about it, Dan. Now let's get out of here and leave the young people to the rest of their Christmas." Mary turned to the room. "Goodbye all. Thank you for the wonderful meal, Suzie, Laura. We'll see you soon."