How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake (Home for the Holidays - Book 2)

by Gina Henning

  Aurora waddles in the room with her hand over her stomach. Her face is pale. “I’m so sorry, I’m going to have to miss this…I think I might have a bit of food poisoning, I’m going to go and rest.” Aurora turns and heads back towards Luke’s childhood bedroom.

  “Oh dear.” My mom’s shoulders slump. “It’s okay, Ma, she’ll be fine, go ahead and start. I’m just going to go and check on my little flower petal.”

  “Is Mommy okay?” River asks no one in particular.

  “Yes, River, she just has a tummy-ache.” Winter smoothes River’s hair. They climb up onto the couch and snuggle up with my mother’s Santa Elvis throw.

  Brian comes down the stairs wearing his tool belt. “Game night?” He pushes the power button on his electric drill. “I’m ready to nail this.” He laughs.

  Megan saunters in from the kitchen with several wine glasses and an opened bottle. She pours out a generous amount and hands it to Jack. “Here you go, this will help ease you into things.”

  Jack grins. “Thank you.”

  My dad stands in front of the fireplace and clears his throat. He’s wearing the hunter green polo shirt I got him last year for Christmas and a pair of khaki pants. He motions a peace sign.

  “Two words.” Winter says.

  He points at her and then his nose and nods. He leans down and pretends to shovel something and toss it over his shoulder.

  “Shoveling snow!” Winter shouts.

  Everyone cheers. Winter’s face beams and she hops off the couch and runs towards my mom who hands her a candy cane and the stack of cards. Winter takes the card off the top deck and frowns.

  She shrugs her shoulders and trudges to the front of the fireplace and motions a peace sign.

  “Two words.” I smile at her.

  Winter nods and touches her nose. She then sticks up one finger.

  “First word.” Brian says.

  Winter nods and waves her arms around pointing at the room.

  “Christmas?” My mom cocks her head to the left.

  Winter nods and touches her nose. She motions a peace sign.

  “Second word.” Brian says. He’s definitely ready to play tonight.

  Winter stands in front of the fireplace for what seems like an eternity. I’m not sure if she has gotten stage fright, which would be a rare thing, or if this is part of her interpretation of the second word.

  “Christmas Lights.” Jack says with a grin.

  Winter jumps up and down. “Wow, impressive, how did you know it was lights?” I brush his arm.

  We are all eyeing him in amazement.

  “She was blinking her eyes intermittently like a display.” Jack takes a sip of his wine.

  “Well, go on up there, smarty-pants, it’s your turn,” Megan says.

  Jack glances at me. I nod at him. He gets up and files to my mom who hands him a candy cane and the deck of cards. Jack inspects the card he has chosen and then back at me.

  He makes his way to the fireplace and motions a peace sign.

  “Two words.” Brian says.

  “Brian, you’re on fire tonight.” My mom beams at him.

  Brian grins and nods. Jack does not wait to give us the first word sign. He is skating on my parents’ floor. I know the clue is ice skating but watching him slide around is too funny to put a stop to. Winter is giggling on the couch and River has fallen asleep.

  Jack stops in front of the mantel. “Seriously, nobody can get this?” He cocks his head to the right.

  “Oh dear, try once more and we’ll all think really hard.” My mom smiles.

  Jack skates all around the room, brushing against me long enough to pinch my side. I jump.

  “Ice skating.” I laugh.

  Jack leans into my ear. “We might have to work on your charade skills.”

  I stroll over to my mom and pick a card and candy cane. I nod. This is a good one. I move to the fireplace and motion four fingers.

  “Four words,” my dad gets out before Brian.

  I nod and point to my dad. I bend down and pretend to pick things up off the ground and then toss them at my family. I duck from time in between each throw.

  “Having a snowball fight,” Brian says, his face full of pride.

  “Nailed it!” I laugh.

  Winter is now asleep on the couch with River. I peer at my mom. “We should probably get them to bed.”

  My mom nods and Megan stands up. They each pick up a child and leave the room.

  My dad stands up. “Time for me to get to bed too, good night.” He pats Jack on the back.

  Brian takes in his surroundings. “I’ve got to finish a thing I was working on. Night, you two.” He grins.

  “Night,” we both say in unison. Our knees bump. I steal a glance in his direction. His eyes are on me. I take in a deep breath and lean across him to reach for my wine glass. He kisses me.

  “Jack!” I tip my head to the left.

  “Sorry, your lips were right there, calling out to me.” A sly grin flashes across his face.

  “I’m sure they were.” I roll my eyes at him and smile. “Thanks for coming tonight, it means a lot to me.” I rub his biceps.

  “I enjoyed it. Your family is something else,” Jack laughs. “But if you’d held out any longer on saying ice skating, I was going to bring you in as my partner on the rink.”

  I laugh. “That’s against the rules!”

  “You weren’t much of a rule abider in the past.” Jack takes a sip of his wine. He’s right, over Thanksgiving anytime we were in the kitchen together at Vintage Estates he insisted I wear a goofy hairnet. I profusely refused. It became a ridiculous point of contention between the two of us.

  “Maybe. But some rules are more important than others.” I take a sip of my wine.

  “True. Listen, I’ve got to go out of town tomorrow, here are nine and ten.” He reaches underneath his jacket and hands me two brown paper packages, one is considerably larger than the other.

  “Thank you. Where are you going?” I take the packages and place them on the table.

  “Dallas. I’ll be back in a day. I just need to tie up some loose ends.” Jack stands up.

  I follow his cue and escort him to the door.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I manage to say.

  “No, not really.” Jack leans in and kisses me gently on my lips. “No peeking, follow the rules and open them in order.” He leans in once more and kisses me. He turns and strides towards his car. I close the door. My heart is following him on a bumpy road of confusion. I want to open my parents’ door and shout that I’ll go with him. But it would be rather odd and over-dramatic. The brown packages are sitting on my parents’ end table. I pick them up and climb the stairs with a handful of presents and a heart full of sadness.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tap-tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap. “Lauren, are you awake?’ The creak of my door opening is not a comforting sound. Neither is the voice of the person who is trying to awaken me. I scrunch my eyes closed, then open them. Aurora is standing over my bed. I shake my head. She is still standing beside my bed staring down at me. I am not dreaming or having a nightmare.

  “Aurora, is something wrong?” I sit straight up in my bed. I’m concerned, did something happen to my parents or grandmother?

  “Yes, Lauren, something is very wrong.” Aurora tugs on a purple-braided strand of hair.

  “What is it?” I jump out of bed. I’m immediately more in control of the situation standing on two feet.

  “Lauren, listen, I know everyone in this family likes to shelter you and, for the most part, I have abided by that. But I can’t any further. Not if your grandmother is giving up her inheritance.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder, the plastic bottle caps on her braids make a jangling sound.

  “What do you mean?” I scratch my cheek. I’m utterly confused and, further, this is the first time Aurora has ever confronted me - and in private.

  Aurora bows her head and glares directly into my eyes. “
I didn’t want to tell you.” Her eyes fill with tears.

  “What is it?” I grab on to her arms.

  “Lauren, I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh.” I let out a deep breath. This isn’t the most shocking news I’ve ever heard, it was actually more shocking for her not to have mentioned it until now.

  Aurora’s cheeks suck in and her eyes squint. I suppose “oh” wasn’t the best response.

  “I mean congratulations!” I smile.

  Aurora bites her lip. “Yes, congratulations are in order. Twice. We’re having twins.” Her stare is piercing even through her tear-filled eyes.

  “Wow.”

  “Lauren, children are really expensive.”

  “They are.” I blink several times. I still am not a hundred percent certain I’m not dreaming. This seems so surreal.

  “Well, we haven’t even begun saving for them.”

  She tosses her hair over her shoulder and the plastic clings to her netted top. She pulls it free and stares at me.

  “That’s okay, they aren’t even born yet, there’s time.”

  “Listen, if your grandmother is wanting to hand over any cash, then shouldn’t it be to her own family?” Aurora brushes the sides of her arms.

  “Aurora, why are you speaking to me about this? Why not to Grandmother? Besides, I spoke with grandmother yesterday and she made no comments about handing over any money.” I tug on my pajama top. I want out of it and this room, it is all too claustrophobic.

  “Oh.”

  “Where did you get this idea?”

  “I don’t know, I guess it’s the hormones.” Aurora’s shoulders slump. “I just heard that Vintage Estates was not doing well and thought Grandmother was going to try and fix it.”

  “Ah, yes, she is concerned about Vintage Estates, but her way of helping…” I glance down. “She wants me to move back here and try and fix the financial side of things.” With that last bit I immediately regret saying it. I shouldn’t have shared this with anyone. Jack and I haven’t even talked about it.

  Aurora glances at the floor. “I don’t think you should do that, Lauren, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.” She pushes past me and out of my room.

  Great, now Aurora knows about my grandmother’s idea without me speaking with Jack. This isn’t good. I open my door and the hallway is empty. I go back in my room and grab my toiletry bag. At this point I don’t even care if the shower is like water torture. Brian has a knack for “fixing” things and his most recent improvement to my parents’ house is a new showerhead. Which doesn’t work the way it should, but rather makes for a horrible bathing experience.

  It’s been two days since I’ve seen Jack. We’ve spoken over the phone a few times and plenty of somewhat flirty texts, but that’s it. Yesterday, I opened up day eight. Eight maids-a-milking a pretty white ceramic ornament with eight old-fashioned maids milking cows. I hesitated turning it over for the longest time. I finally worked up the courage and it simply read “An endless supply of cream is what I will bring.” Underneath the ornament in the package was a bag of freshly ground coffee from Whole Foods. When I went to the refrigerator that morning I found actual cream. I’m not sure how he pulled that one off, but to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

  My phone vibrates from my nightstand and I pick it up. It’s Brianna.

  “Merry Christmas Eve Eve Eve!” she sings into the phone.

  I laugh. “Let me guess, mimosa time?”

  “No, silly! Egg nog for the win! So, give me the scoop. What’s in the box?”

  I scrunch up my nose. “Creepy.”

  “Brad Pitt is never creepy, take it back.” Brianna says.

  “Right, I know Brad Pitt is never creepy. Okay, let’s see.” I rip off the paper and ribbons. “Oh, it’s gorgeous.”

  “Okay, well since we aren’t Facetiming, do share. Give me the deets.”

  I hold up the ornament. “It’s like a scene from The Nutcracker. Nine ladies dancing, they are sparkly like new fallen snow.” I take in a deep breath. “It’s so pretty.”

  “That does sound pretty, what’s on the back?”

  I turn it over. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  I glance at it again. “Nope, nothing.”

  “Check the box again.”

  I sift through the tissue paper and something pokes me. I shake the box and its contents onto my bed. Staring up at me are two tickets to The Nutcracker. I gasp.

  “What’s in the box?” Brianna screeches into the phone.

  “Two tickets to The Nutcracker. For tonight.” My mouth drops to the floor.

  “Wow, he is really going all in. Does he know that’s your favorite ballet?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t think so.” I shake my head. “It really doesn’t matter. This is beyond believable.”

  “Yeah, so what are you getting him?”

  My shoulders slump and I sigh. “I got him an engraved cake stand. Before his mom died, every year she would make the family a Red Velvet Cake on Christmas Eve. So I thought I would do that for him this year.” I sigh. I’m not sure if this is a good-enough gift anymore and, what if Megan’s right, what if Red Velvet Cake is too difficult for a non-baker like me?

  “Oh, Lauren, that is so sweet. Even if you eff it up, it’s the thought that counts.”

  “Thanks for your vote of confidence, I seem to be collecting so many of them.” I tsk.

  “No seriously, you’ll be fine and he obviously appreciates thoughtful gifts. Alright, I’ve got to go and intervene. My mom and grandmother are arguing over the table setting already.”

  The dial tone goes off in my ear. Okay! I stand up. I’m completely showered, however I need to put on my makeup. I pick up the tickets: seven o’clock in Austin. It’s ten o’clock now. I go to my closet. The only thing close to attire suitable for the ballet is my high school prom dress. Can I get a hells no? I would rather wear jeans. Well, no, I wouldn’t rather wear jeans. But I would rather pull a Scarlett O’Hara and make something out of my curtains than wear my high school prom dress. I laugh. This is obviously not the case either as I am not a seamstress, nor do I have staff that can make me a dress in a hurry. I close my closet door and sit at my vanity. I rifle through my cosmetic bag and pull out my jet-black eyeliner. I line my eyes, put on some beige-with-a-hint-of-sparkle eye shadow over my lids and deep brown in the creases. I swipe on at least five strokes of mascara, but who’s counting? Not me. There, one quick glide of lip-gloss and I’m ready to go. I stride towards Megan’s room and tap on her door.

  “Megan?”

  “She’s downstairs.” Brian says through the white door.

  “Thanks.” I creep down the stairs, careful not to trip, and find my mom and Megan at the table.

  “Morning, morning!” I give them both a hug.

  “Morning, what’s got you all chipper? The spirit of old saint nick or is it a different jolly guy?” Megan smiles.

  “Yes I am all chipper, because I’m going to see The Nutcracker tonight!” I flash the tickets for them to see.

  “Oh and balcony seats, how swanky.” Megan raises an eyebrow and nods. “Wait, what are you going to wear?”

  “Exactly, I’ve got to get to the mall, ASAP. Do you want to come?” I grab my mom’s “I’m Going Pecans” mug from the cupboard. Every year I wait to see her use it and she never does. It’s either her Price is Right mug or her Best Grandma mug given to her by Winter and River a few years ago with each of their handprints.

  I stride to the refrigerator and grab some of the cream from Jack. I’m warmed all over.

  “No doubt about it, I’ll go and grab my purse. The mall is going to be nuts.” Megan traipses up the stairs.

  My mom is working on her newest Suduko puzzle. I hope she hasn’t got any of the ones I ordered for her for Christmas. They were a labeled as rare on eBay, hopefully this is the case. I sip my cup of coffee and real cream. Megan returns to the kitchen.

  “Let’s go, we’ve
got to get Cinderella a dress, because there is no assistance from the animals here.” She points to the window which faces the backyard.

  Aurora, Luke, Winter, and River area all wearing animal face costumes and prancing around the backyard. I lean in to get a better view.

  “Come on, I’ll explain in the car.” Megan grabs my arm and we snag my mom’s keys from her purse and trot out to the driveway. Megan is driving. Which is not a surprise. I can’t think of a time where I have been the driver other than when she visited me in Baltimore and even then she tried to wrangle the keys from me with an excuse about testing out my car “to see how it runs.”

  “Okay, I think we should check Macy’s first. You don’t want to go all ball gown, but definitely cocktail, okay.” Megan backs out of the driveway.

  “Got it!” I salute her.

  Megan laughs. “Hey, I’m just trying to help.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it, I do.” I rub her arm.

  Megan drives like a maniac to the mall, zipping around cars and just avoiding hitting a pedestrian before I have to put on the brakes. “Megan, you almost hit that guy!” I grab her arm. “We’ve got plenty of time. Slow down.”

  “Right, look at this spot.” Megan veers the car into a space right in front of Macey’s. “Come on, no time for dawdling.”

  “Yes, and apparently no rest for the wicked!” I laugh. We rush through the glass doors and stop in front of the signs.

  “Dresses are this way.” Megan grabs my arm and we rush through the hustle and bustle of shoppers. “Okay, you scour this area and I’ll take this one.” Megan points with both her right and left fingers. I’m surprised she didn’t gouge me in the eye. I go to my designated area and work my way through the dresses. I find a cute black lacey cocktail dress and place it over my arm. I push through all the satin, silk, lace, and polyester, searching for more options. A red frilly number, not too gaudy. A hunter green with variously colored sequins? No, I don’t want to look like a Christmas tree. A pretty taupe satin dress. Gorgeous, but wrong for my skin tone.

  “What have you got?” Megan taps me on the shoulder. I turn around. She has a pile of dresses in her arms. I hold up the black lacey cocktail dress.