Family Blessings (Cisco Family)

by Fern Michaels

  The piles of presents under the tree suddenly seemed pale by comparison to Father Stanley’s Christmas present as everyone gathered around to peer into the basket.

  “My goodness, Drupi, you must have been really good to get such a present. It’s warm in here, and the fire is going. Take them out of the basket and let them play a little,” Cisco said, all smiles. “Freddie and Hugo won’t hurt them. Do they have names?”

  “Names?” Drupi dithered. “No. Not yet. Oh, dear, the fat one just peed on your carpet, Loretta.”

  Cisco laughed in delight. “So it did. Let’s just say your pup christened my carpet. Freddie did that when I first got her. Oh, oh, there goes the other one.” She laughed again. “Oh, Drupi, how wonderful for you.”

  “I wish I knew who it was that gave me these beautiful pups. I’d like to thank them. I’ve been wishing for years for a dog,” Father Stanley continued to dither, as the frisky pups scooted around the floor, Freddie and Hugo hot on their trail. When the fat one peed again, Freddie barked and nudged her toward the door.

  “It doesn’t matter. It simply doesn’t matter,” Cisco said happily, as Ezra mopped up the wet spots. “Now, I think we should get ready for dinner. Everything is piping hot and ready to put on the table.”

  Mass confusion reigned as everyone got in everyone else’s way, but finally dinner was on the table. Father Stanley bowed his head, said grace, then smiled at everyone. “Merry Christmas to you all.”

  Two hours later, in the middle of the cleanup, Cisco drew Sam to the side. “Put your coat on, Sam. I want you to follow me out to the barn.” Puzzled, Sam obeyed his grandmother, worry clouding his eyes. He didn’t ask questions.

  “My goodness, it’s cold. I hope we can make it to the church tomorrow for my wedding.”

  “Not to worry, Cisco, I’ll carry you if I have to.” Sam grinned. “What is it you want me to see, Cisco?”

  “This,” Cisco said, walking over to an old plank table. She pointed to a cardboard box. In the dim light, Sam could make out the lettering on top of the box. SAM’S HAPPY CLOTHES.

  Sam’s hands shook as he removed the cover and stared down at piles of neatly folded clothing. His old clothes. “You saved my happy clothes,” he said, awe written all over his face. “I guess I should ask, why?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I knew this day was going to come. I don’t know, Sam, I just did.”

  “I don’t know what to say. This is better than…than…my first bike, my first car. Damn, it’s better than anything in the world.” He hugged his grandmother so hard she begged for mercy.

  “I’m just glad the barn didn’t get destroyed in the tornado. Your father said it can be shored up and repaired in the spring. My first thought when I realized everything was gone was that the contents of the barn were intact.”

  “As Father Stanley says, God does work in mysterious ways. This,” he said, pointing to the box, “and Father Stanley’s pups.”

  Cisco smiled. Like she didn’t know who gave Drupi the pups. “We should go back inside. It’s time to open the presents.”

  Sam peered down at his grandmother. “We’re not leaving you, Cisco. We’ll always be here, but our lives are a little fuller, the hours more demanding. I’ll do a good job running the company. Sonia is so happy that she can operate the day-care center. Betty Thatcher is stepping in for Sara and Teresa Murray is taking over for Hannah. That leaves Dad.”

  Cisco linked her arm with Sam’s. “I got it covered, Sam.”

  “Merry Christmas, Cisco.”

  “Merry Christmas, Sam.”

  Inside, everyone was seated as they waited for Cisco and Sam. No one asked questions. The pups were busy tripping and tumbling through the piles of presents, tugging on the colored ribbons and chewing at the corners of the gifts. Freddie and Hugo looked tired as they did their best to keep track of their new charges.

  “I have to go outside for my presents,” Jonathan said. “Sam, want to help me?”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  They were back within minutes, Jonathan holding a cradle and Sam carrying a huge wooden paddle. Sonia and Cisco burst into tears at the same moment as everyone in the room ooohed and aaaahed over the detail on the cradle and the paddle.

  “Son, it’s an exact replica of the first paddle I used to stir the taffy when I started Cisco Candies. How can I ever thank you?”

  “I loved doing it, Mom. I scoured this state trying to find a copper pot like the one you had, but I couldn’t find one. I’ll keep looking. I know what the pot and paddle meant to you.”

  “Everyone, open mine next,” Hannah shouted. “Mine are the ones with the satin ribbon. C’mon, c’mon, I spent a whole month on them.” She held her breath, waiting for the first person to open their present. Sam won.

  “It’s a scarf,” Sam said. “You give me a scarf every year.”

  “And…”

  “And…and there are no holes in it!” Sam exclaimed. “Oh, my, God, Hanny, you made a perfect scarf! I don’t believe it.”

  Everyone chorused at once, “Mine’s perfect, too!”

  “Anyone can make a perfect scarf. I like the one where you sewed buttons to cover the holes. It’s a great conversation piece. I’ll save this perfect one for special occasions.”

  Sonia held up a baby blanket that was so exquisite she had tears in her eyes. “It’s the most beautiful blanket I’ve ever seen. I’ll treasure it, Hannah, as will our first baby.”

  Hanny glowed with pleasure.

  Gift opening took another hour before it was time to head to church for midnight mass. While everyone was getting dressed, Cisco led her son out to the kitchen. “I have something for you, son, but first I want to thank you again for the paddle and to tell you how sorry I am that you didn’t get to follow your dream. It’s so strange how at my age I am learning new things every day. I also want to thank you for all the hard work you did with the houses. I’m not sure, Jonathan, that I ever truly knew building was such a passion with you. So, now that I know, I’m firing you and giving you this,” she said, extending a long white envelope.

  Jonathan’s hands trembled as he opened the envelope to look at the deed to the fifty-acre parcel of land on the other side of the valley. “Mom, are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Jonathan, I am more than sure. Giving you your dream, even if it is at this late date, gives me great pleasure. Merry Christmas, son.”

  “Merry Christmas, Mom.”

  The Wedding of the Year got off to a slow start because of the heavy snow. The men of the Cisco family spent three hours pulling vehicles out of snowbanks and rescuing stranded guests. Ezra was so tired, he had to be helped down the aisle, and Jonathan had to hold him while he said his vows. The vows were no sooner over than Ezra perked up and waltzed down the aisle with his new bride, singing at the top of his lungs. Cisco joined in as did all their friends. They were still singing as they put on winter coats and galoshes to trek from the church to the auditorium, where the whole town turned out to toast their wedding.

  The Trips and the townsfolk had helped decorate the auditorium the day before the wedding. Huge red bows, garlands of balsam and white satin bows were everywhere because that’s what Cisco had requested.

  Huge buffet tables were laden with turkey, prime rib, and shrimp. It was all what Cisco and Ezra called down-home food.

  The music was provided by half the high school band, the half that pretended they were musicians. They were loud, off-key, and the singer didn’t have the words down pat, but no one minded. Drupie was called into service when some of the older members wanted to slow dance. He cranked up his ancient Victrola and pulled out his equally ancient scratchy records. No one minded that either.

  “Group picture! Group picture!” Jonathan shouted. A mad scurry followed as Cisco, Ezra, Jonathan, the Trips, and their spouses stood in front of the Christmas tree.”

  “Oh, Cisco, it was such a great idea for all of us to wear these little red capes with the white bunny fur an
d these matching Santa hats! Now this is a wedding!” Hanny cried happily.

  “Wedding outfits can be so boring,” Cisco said. “I wanted to dress mine up a little. It is Christmas! Wait! Wait! Freddie! Hugo!”

  Both dogs raced across the auditorium, wearing red-and-green neckerchiefs and matching Santa hats, to stand in front of the bride and groom.

  “Now, we’re all here! Hit it, Drupie!” Cisco shouted as she boldly waved her hand to show off her new wedding ring.

  Everyone in attendance begged to have a copy of the picture sent to them. Father Drupie promised to put copies in the back of the church, where they could be picked up after Sunday mass.

  Cisco broke tradition then because everyone stood in a circle. She tossed her bridal bouquet of poinsettias high in the air. Alice caught it simply by reaching forward and snagging it from Stella Abernathy, who pouted all evening because she didn’t catch it.

  Fred, the lead trombone player from the school band, and his Merry Minnows, struck up a chorus of a song no one could identify, but the guests started dancing, and one and all, had a rousing time.

  Epilogue

  IT WAS A PERFECT JUNE DAY WITH A SUMMER BLUE sky and golden sunshine. A light breeze caressed the boat’s passengers as they maneuvered THE MADELINE BAKER, also known as Zack and Joel’s boat, into its slip.

  Hannah, brown as a berry, jumped onto the dock just as her cell phone rang. The others stopped to listen when they heard her say, “Who is this? What? Can you speak more clearly? Sam! Is that you, Sam? It is you. Okay, we’ve established you’re you. What’s wrong? Wrong, Sam? What’s wrong? You helped! You!

  “Oh my gosh! How much? You have to be kidding! You aren’t kidding! When?”

  “What?” those standing on the dock shouted.

  Hannah turned around, her face alight with happiness. “Hold on a minute, Sam. Sam and Sonia are the new parents of twin boys, six pounds each. They were born an hour ago. Sam helped during the delivery. Sonia is fine. Sam’s a wreck. He’s going to send us the newborn picture digitally as soon as we can hook up our laptop computers.”

  “We’ll be there, Sam. We’ll be the ones with bells around our necks. Nice going, little brother!”

  “We’re aunts,” Hannah said hugging Sara. “You guys are uncles! The christening is in three weeks. We have to go back for it. Sam said he’s going to call the boys Frick and Frack. Sonia said no he isn’t. He will. You wait and see! Oh, this is so wonderful!”

  Arm in arm, the foursome walked up the dock to search out a hotel.

  “Our family is growing,” Sara said happily.

  “Oh my gosh. We have to find a store. I need to make another blanket!” Hannah said.

  “Whatever you want, honey, whatever you want,” Zack said, reaching for her hand. “When are you going to tell them we’re next?”

  “Any minute now,” Hanny gurgled with happiness. “Any minute now.”

  Sara turned, “Joel and I have something to tell you two.”

  “Oh, no, you aren’t beating us to it. We’re pregnant!” Hannah shouted.

  “So are we,” Sara said, doubling over with laughter.