She hid the metal detector in the cabin that would have been occupied by the strings trio, if Chelsea weren’t the awesome sister that she had turned out to be. She returned the snow machine to the garage and crept upstairs. She was no sooner under the covers then she felt Killian wake up. “Baby,” he whispered. “Time to wake up.” She pretended to wake up. Her plan was to get the guests off to the ferry and head straight back to the warm depths of her bed. “I have a surprise for you—after we drop everybody off at the ferry we are flying to Ralph’s.”
“Today?” So much for catching up on her sleep. “Do I know Ralph?”
“Yes.” He rolled her over and gave her rump a vigorous slap. “I've got a surprise for you.”
The surprise would be if she could stay awake, she thought.
Lloyd had made himself busy churning out omelets in the lodge kitchen. It was his one culinary trick, and he was good at it. Hazel beamed as he filled and flipped omelets to order. Cass gratefully accepted the coffee her mother-in-law pressed on her. She was going to need it. Guests happily ate and then went to finish their packing.
Ben lingered in the kitchen. “I think we have a really good show,” he said.
“Good. It was a great wedding,” Cass said, hoping she didn't sound quite as dull as she felt.
“I will be back in January for the next one. I’ve suggested to Tabby that she hire Virginia to do makeup and hair for the series.”
“That sounds great.”
“I’m going to go ahead so I can catch you guys arriving at the dock, so I’ll say my goodbyes now.”
“We’ll see you in a month. Have a nice Christmas.”
The Fondest of Farewells
Amelia and Ed both hugged her goodbye at the dock. “It wasn’t what I would have picked,” Amelia said as her husband raised an eyebrow at her. “But that’s because you all know better than I do. It was perfect. I am so grateful that he is okay.” The elegant woman rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
Cass had to give credit where it was due. “I’ve never seen anyone ski so fast.”
Ed kissed his wife’s cheek. “She is pretty amazing.” Cass was actually sorry to see them leave.
Jacko shook hands with Killian. “See ya, mate.” He gave Cass a strong hug. “Sorry I was such a pain in the arse.”
“No worries,” she said, and meant it. “I know what it’s like to love someone so much.”
Her hug with Chelsea was long and genuine. “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”
Chelsea squeezed her hands and whispered, “Thank you, but I think not for much longer.” Chelsea nodded her head in the direction of her sister. Isabelle was lingering on the dock cradled in Danny’s enormous arms.
Cass asked, “So, what did you decide about law school?”
Isabelle gave a shudder. “That it’s not for me. I’m starting at Juilliard for my master’s in the fall.”
“What are you going to do with yourself till then?”
Isabelle nuzzled Danny’s shoulder. “Well, I am going to Iceland in January for the Strongman championships.”
“You are? That’s fan fucking tastic!”
“I agree,” said the giant. The cheerful guests all had nice things to say to Cass as they headed into the ferry that would return them to their lives in the city. Kimberly and Lindsay were the last to traipse down the dock, lingering enjoying the snowy vista. “You run a beaut of an establishment,” said Mr. Dr. in his broad Australian accent.
“We are so glad you were here,” said Killian.
“We’ll be back, we think we like the cold,” said Kimberly folding Cass into a strong hug.
“Come on, old man, we’ve got things we need to get done at home.” Hazel and Lloyd bustled away. Cass snuggled up beside her husband and watched the ferry pull away.
The Art of Blowing Baubles
Killian drove to Dean’s—the chopper field. Now that she thought about it, Cass was surprised that Killian didn't have his pilot's license. There was nothing he couldn't do. A large parcel from the post office in the back seat of his jeep caught her eye. “That’s for later,” he said. That had the potential to bode very poorly for her indeed. The blue leather paddle had come in the mail. That damnable Lexan had been brought in by Killian in a plain brown paper bag—you couldn't be too careful about what you let into your house, she thought, ruefully. Despite her near constant badgering to find out where they were going, he remained tight lipped. The chopper circled a small island. As they got lower, Cass could see a large fire filled outdoor furnace.
“I’ve figured it out,” she quipped.
“You did?” He looked a trifle crestfallen.
“Yup—you have brought me to the blacksmith to umm, get horse shoes?”
He grinned and kissed her lightly. “You got me.”
They landed a short walk away from the forge (she thought it was a forge). Dean settled down to eat a sandwich and listen to some music on his iPhone while he waited for them.
“Hey!” she exclaimed
“Yeah?”
“Why isn’t there snow here? It’s not that far away from home.”
“I love that you called it home.”
“It is my home. Now answer my question, science nerd.”
“Island is too small—the salt mist from the ocean melts it all. That and the Aleutian stream.”
She looked around, nothing but dry land. “What stream?”
“It’s a current in the ocean.”
“Oh, that Aleutian stream,” she deadpanned. He kissed her forehead.
They had come abreast of the workshop. A weathered first nations man in a leather apron came out to greet them. Killian introduced them. Ralph was not inclined to chat—he nodded towards the workshop and ushered them in. He flipped on a light switch. Cass gasped. Ralph blew glass. There were great swaths of blown glass ornaments hanging from the ceiling beams. Vases and sculptures lined the shelves. Ralph handed three large boxes to Killian who handed them to Cass. “It’s early, but it’s for Christmas.”
“Should I wait to open it?” she asked, having zero intention of doing so.
“Yeah, right,” he said and laughed. “No—open them now.” The box was heavier than it looked. Cass caught Ralph’s eye and when he nodded it that it was okay, she slid the box onto the counter and opened the lid. Unbleached tissue paper seemed to fill the box. As she pushed it aside she saw them. Christmas ornaments. There was a chef’s toque done in white glass. Purple eggplants, red peppers, a perfectly pink glazed ham. There was a perfectly formed copper colored saucepan, an exquisite whisk made of colored glass strands. There seemed to be a number of ornaments made in the shape of wooden spoons. She sincerely hoped that as far as anyone else was concerned, they were just another kitchen staple. Dozens of ornaments made just for her. She couldn't even try to hold back tears. She opened the second box. In shades of white and silver glass there were wolves. Killian loved all the wildlife of his native home, but wolves held a special place in his heart. He had actually left Slick Trench to go to university and become an expert on them. “See,” he said, “these are for our very own tree. It’s us.”
She opened the last box. Curled around a spool was a long garland of green leaves and dusky blue berries. “Huckleberries!” she cried. “I love it so much.”
Killian looked around curiously. “Isn't there one more?”
Ralph shuffled towards the door. “Finished it this morning.”
The tree topper wasn't wrapped yet. Cass turned it over in her hands and her gentle tears turned to happy sobs. It featured a mother bear and two cubs looking up at a star.
It was dark by the time they landed at the chopper field. Killian drove them home and Cass imagined the tree that she was going to put in their bedroom. It would be a tight fit. But no way was she waiting a year to use these perfect ornaments. As they were carrying their precious cargo into the lodge, Cass thought of the other box. “Hey, what is that?”
“Come o
n.” He opened the door for her.
She followed him into the family room. Hazel and Lloyd were stretched out on the couch with It's a Wonderful Life playing on the large screen TV. Meghan, Lloyd’s daughter, had arrived. She was stretched out on the floor in front of the brightly lit woodstove. It was homey, dozy, and oddly dim. No garish lights were flashing. She turned to look at the tree. The colored lights had been replaced with hundreds of tiny white lights. It bore no ornaments. A basket of ornaments sat on the coffee table. “What happened?”
For the first time ever, Hazel seemed subdued. “I owe you an apology.”
“What? No you don't.”
“I do. I should have thought that this is your house now.”
“It’s yours too.”
“Well, the old man,” Hazel said, reaching back to squeeze Lloyd’s butt cheek, “hasn’t ever had a tree in his own place—so we put one in our cottage.” She gestured at the pine in the corner. “This one is for you two.”
Cass was touched, truly touched. Hazel gestured towards the basket. “These are ones I thought Killian would like to have—but you don't have to put them on the tree.”
“Of course, we will put them on the tree.”
Killian held out the unopened box. “Open this. Wait—I need to go find a knife.”
Cass shook her head. “No, you don't. Wait here.” She took the stairs two at a time, which damn near killed her; she was nothing if not “indoorsy.” She jogged back with the Swiss army knife. “I was going to give you this on Christmas morning,” His grin more than made up for the fact that once again, she had bupkis for him to open in two days. He flipped it open with his thumb and expertly sliced the package open. Cass opened the letter that was folded and sitting atop the bubble wrap.
Sweetheart, remember how I always said I had to buy three of every ornament since you and Scott would probably break one? Cass did remember that, and more than once her mother's prediction had come true. “That was only partly true. I knew, even before I could bear to acknowledge it that someday you and your brother would set up your own homes. These are the ornaments I have been collecting for you ever since you were born. Scott will get his set when he is ready for them.
There was the Eiffel Tower ornament they had gotten in Paris when she was ten, the Big Ben from London when she was in high school. She paused to admire Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the year she and Jen had been in Seussical in middle school. She continued reading.
Daddy and I have plenty of them. I’ve included a few new ones too. Cass unwrapped some tiny frames. They held photos of her best friend Jen and Jen’s young children, Sadie and Oliver. There was one of baby Victoria, the child of her friend Mimi and Cass’s ex fiancé. It wasn't a simple network, but it was one based on love. Scott’s picture showed her younger brother proudly in his University of Michigan Law School sweatshirt. There was a picture of her parents laughing on a golf course. There was a picture of Cass and Killian at their own wedding.
When they had the tree decorated, it was exquisite. “That is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen,” Cass said.
“Are you going to say that every year for the rest of our lives, Mrs. Nelson?”
“You bet your ass, Mr. Nelson.”
When she was hauling the boxes out to the trash she realized that there was a small package left in the box from her mom. Wrapped under the tissue was an index card.
Honey—you must have ordered this for K before you moved back—your landlord called me. So here it is. Love you Mom.
Considering some of the things that they had purchased online, Cass had a moment's trepidation. She hadn't ordered a butt plug or tawse or anything had she? Thankfully, a silver hip flask engraved with KAN, rolled out of the tissue.
Christmas morning was the first time she had ever seen Killian nervous. Torsten had proposed to Libby the night before. Since she had said yes, the Pritchett family was joining the Nelsons for dinner. Since Killian had broken an engagement to Libby off a decade earlier, it had the potential to be “frosty.”
While they were getting dressed, Killian handed Cass a wrapped package. “Hey baby, I got this for you in Anchorage. You should open it up here.”
Gulp. “Is it something to punish me with?”
“Nope. It’s something to reward me with.”
“There is a surprising amount of overlap of those two things.” She giggled. She opened it, and discovered a corset and tiny G-string panties. She ran her fingers delicately over the velvet ribbons. “I know, you’re going to say that a redhead never wears red…”
She was not going to say anything of the sort, think yes, say no.
He gathered her into his arms. “I happen to know for a fact,” he laid a quick slap onto her bottom, “that I love how red looks on you.”
Hazel and Lloyd wandered over still in their pajamas. Meghan dramatically stomped the snow off her Uggs as she came into the kitchen. Over cups of coffee, they exchanged gifts. Cass had gotten Lloyd a pair of fleece-lined slippers with a note. Our kind of footwear—Indoorsy!
She had gotten a series of BBC romances for Hazel. She envisioned long cold evenings watching Pride and Prejudice with her mother-in-law. “Perfect,” said Hazel. She handed Cass a small package. The tag said, For my first daughter. A dainty, red Swiss army knife was wrapped inside. Cass was reminded once again, of how perfectly they rounded each other out. The romantic, and the tough, the indoorsy and the outdoorsy. Perfect. Hazel had also gotten a Swiss army knife for Meghan, but this one was specifically made for an accountant. It looked like a traditional red knife, but it contained a hole-punch, a staple-puller, scissors and things that might be useful in a desk. Hazel had engraved it “To my darling second daughter.”
Mrs. Pritchett had made her loathing of Killian crystal clear on the few times Cass had met her. After going steady most of their lives Killian and Libby had gotten engaged. After the invitations had gone out, Killian had called off the marriage. It had been the biggest scandal to rock Slick Trench since the “Salmon war of 1830.” In a small town, memories are long. Libby had moved on with her life. Her mother had not. Until now. Apparently, she was prepared to forgive Killian since his younger brother was marrying Libby. She hugged him to her copious bosom and even kissed Cass on the cheek. “I cannot wait to eat your cooking. Everyone says it’s amazing.” Okay so maybe she wasn’t quite the ignorant cow that Cass had previously believed.
While Cass was in the kitchen doing the fast tango required to get the Yorkshire pudding to loft perfectly, Hazel came in. “Listen. I love Libby. Always have, always will. I watched her grow up, her mother was my best friend for twenty-five years.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
Hazel reached for her hand. “None of that means that you were not meant to be a Nelson. For Killian, yes—but for the rest of us too.” Cass felt her breath rush out of her. Killian wasn’t the only one who had been nervous. “I love you, crazy Hazy.”
“I love you too.”
They tucked into dinner. Standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, and cranberry apple chutney filled their plates to overflowing. “Oh hey, bro,” said Torsten, using the term he and Killian always used for each other. “It can’t replace the one Dad gave you, but I got you a new knife.” He reached the slender silver knife towards his brother.
“Oh thanks, but, bro, Cass found mine.”
“In the snow?” said Libby. Libby was too honest to pretend that Cass was not a klutz.
“As a matter of fact I did,” the redheaded chef retorted. “And I actually recognized moose tracks.” So there, Miss Wilderness Pants, she thought.
The moose was news to Killian. “Did you make a lot of noise and scare it away?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened,” Cass said, taking a large bite of Yorkshire pudding.
“So did you only see the tracks or the moose?” asked Libby.
Killian laughed. “Well, it would take a special kind of stupid to have a moose sneak up on you.”
Everyone around the table laughed. Mrs. Pritchett joined in. “They only weigh a thousand pounds and have feet like dinner plates!”
Torsten held his arms out like they were antlers. “And they are so aerodynamic in the forest.”
“Hush,” said Hazel. “Even a city girl like Cass couldn't back into a moose.”
“Go ahead and laugh,” thought Cass. “I might poison all of your desserts.”
Torsten took a sip of his wine, and sent the knife across the table to his brother. “Just look at it K.”
Killian did, turning it over in the light of the chandelier. “It’s engraved.” He looked across at his younger brother. “Yes. Yes, I will.” He handed the knife to Cass. It bore the legend, “Will you be my best man?” Hazel held up her glass. “Torsten Johann and Libya Marie.” Libby cringed.
Cass turned. “Libya? Like Gaddafi, Libya?”
“No,” snapped Mrs. Pritchett, “like her grandmother, Libya.”
Libby set down her wine glass. “It could be worse. I have a cousin named Sassy.”
“You go on up, I’ve got to get something,” Killian said.
She checked her email and was delighted to see pictures of Jen’s family. Sadie was bustling around a play kitchen. (We hope she will grow up to be just like her Auntie Cass) read the note. Oliver was happily eating the ear of the stuffed moose that Cass had sent him. Mimi had also sent a photo of tiny baby Victoria Joy cradled between her parents. Stephen was wearing a Santa hat. She was logging off when Killian entered the room. He had a bottle of champagne, two glasses and a small bucket of clean snow under his arm.
Red Velvet: A BBW Romance (The Cass Chronicles Book 5) Page 7