by Tena Stetler
“Oh no, you don’t you little scallywag.” He swung the pup up in his arms.
Hayley nodded off in the recliner, so Kolby took the twins into their room then roused Hayley and said their good nights.
Pepper and Lathen ambled out with her parents and waved as they got inside their vehicle and started down the plowed road. Snow sparkled in the beams of the headlights giving everything that magical Christmas aura.
Returning to the cabin, they met Gwen and Brock on the porch.
“I’m going to walk Brock to his truck. Be right back,” Gwen said, her hand wrapped though Brock’s arm.
Lathen nodded and closed the door behind Pepper. After several minutes, Pepper tugged on the door handle to make sure it hadn’t accidentally lock. The door flew open. “Oh, geez, I’m sorry.” She quickly closed the door.
“Interrupt something?” Lathen raised an eyebrow.
“You could say that.” She scurried upstairs tugging an amused husband behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A Christmas Day Surprise and Celebration
The kitchen filled with laughter as Pepper eased the cooked yams in a pan with butter and sprinkled brown sugar over the top. She scooted to the side as Amy took the turkey out of the oven, basted it, and shoved it back inside.
“Another thirty minutes and the turkey will be done,” Amy declared.
Klaren wiped her hands on the holiday apron tied around her waist. “The spiral sliced ham is precooked so all we need to do is warm it a bit.”
“I just took the pumpkin pies out of the upper oven,” Pepper said. “Slide the ham in there; it’ll be warm through by the time the turkey is done.”
Lathen carried a tray of cut veggies and ranch dip to the table and checked on the rolls in the bread warmer. He reached for a basket and put a napkin inside.
“Don’t put those out yet; they’ll get cold,” she chided.
“I wasn’t,” Lathen retorted. “See, the basket is all ready for when you need it.”
Amy and Eli set the table with the silverware and china plates stacked on the counter.
“Hey, where’s Kolby and Hayley and our grandbabies?” Eli stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room staring down the hallway.
“They had a rough night. The babies slept through the festivities last night, but after everyone went to bed, they woke up and kept mom and dad up most of the night.” Pepper snickered. “Got their days and nights mixed up already.”
A truck’s engine rumbled up the driveway. “Are we expecting someone?” Amy stopped and glanced out the window.
“Yes. We invited Mike and his family since they don’t have anyone close.” Lathen crossed the room.
“Lynette, his wife is bringing homemade cranberry sauce.” Pepper wiped her hands on a towel, followed her husband to the door.
He pulled the door open as Mike had his hand poised to knock. “Merry Christmas. Come on in.”
Mike handed two apple pies to Lathen then sprinted back to the car.
“We are so grateful to you and Pepper. I made two apple pies from my granny’s recipe,” Lynette said, a sleeping child in her arms. “Mike went back to the car for the homemade cranberry sauce in the back seat.”
“Thank you,” Pepper and Lathen said simultaneously, then grinned. Mike handed Pepper a bowl of ice with a molded Christmas Tree of cranberry sauce. Lathen showed the couple to the dining room and made the introductions.
She set the bowl on the table, turning it this way and that. “How creative.” Pepper took the baby from Lynette as she shrugged out of her coat. Mike unfolded a combination crib and playpen against the wall next to the dining area. Pepper eased the child into the padded play area.
“You come prepared.”
“It’s the first time we’ve used it,” Mike admitted. “We don’t go many places.” His gaze fell to the floor then back to Lynette.
She smiled encouragingly. “But that is changing slowly. Molly’s colic seemed to have eased over the past couple of weeks.” Lynette sighed. “Makes going places with the baby so much easier.”
“Sleeping too.” The corner of Mike’s mouth turned up in a slight smile. “We really appreciate the invitation.” He shifted from one foot to the other, surveying all the people in the room.
Eli stepped up with an outstretched hand. “Those colicky babies are tough. Lathen cried the better part of two months.” He shook his head. “Thought I’d lose my mind.”
Lathen gave his father a hard stare.
“But…with the help of a couple of people. We got through it. And look at him now—still a pain in my ass.” Eli snorted.
Mike chuckled. “He’s a great guy.”
“Don’t say that too loud. Don’t want to feed his ego,” Eli whispered conspiratorially, a devilish grin spread across his lips.
A haggard-looking Kolby dressed in rumpled jeans and green sweater shuffled into the room. Behind him, Hayley appeared with dark circles under her eyes and her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed in black sweats and red and white sweatshirt. “Sorry we’re late, the twins were up most the night. They didn’t disturb your sleep, did they?” Hayley glanced at Gwen, then Pepper and Lathen.
“Didn’t hear a thing,” Pepper said. Gwen nodded.
“Hey, did Brock leave this morning?” Lathen asked.
“Nooo—actually, he is going to stay ’til after the new year. Dylan’s still weak, especially after helping with the bird rescue. Besides, he wants to follow me back to Salem. Guess the roads are still a bit rough in spots.”
“Good idea. Is he coming to dinner?” Pepper couldn’t keep the smugness out of her voice.
“I was going to ask if that would be all right. And you can just wipe the smirk off your face Pepper McKay—uh—Quartz.” Gwen fisted her hands on her hips.
Pepper raised her hands palms out. “What?”
“Of course, he’s welcome. If Dylan doesn’t need him to help her,” Lathen said.
“No, they are going to the in-laws today. I told Brock if he didn’t hear from me, to come on over.”
A vehicle pulled to a stop in the driveway.
“There he is now.” Gwen took a couple quick steps, then sauntered across the floor.
Pepper giggled. “Gwen just admit it, more than “friends” is going on here.”
“Don’t you dare say anything.” Gwen whipped around standing in front of the door.
Pepper made a zipping motion across her lips, eyes sparkling with mischief as Gwen opened the door.
“Don’t you dare,” Lathen cautioned. Soft laughter rippled through the group.
“Just in time. Dinner’s ready,” Klaren called out, rounding the large dining table heaped with turkey, ham, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce, and other scrumptious trimmings.
Chair legs scraped on the polished hardwood floor as everyone sat down. Lathen at the head of the table carved the turkey. Pepper’s dad passed the plate of ham slices followed by the bowl of orange marmalade spice glaze. The candied sweet potatoes and deviled eggs were the favorite side dishes of the group.
After dinner, Eli and Lathen arranged additional chairs in the living room around the fire. Klaren and Amy took orders for either apple or pumpkin pie to go with coffee or tea as everyone settled in the living room. Duncan and Pepper put the leftovers away and loaded the dishwasher.
Low mummers of conversation wafted through the room as Pepper sat back and took it all in. She’d never been happier in her life. Her family had more than doubled in the last few months.
Hayley left the room to attend to the fussing twins with Kolby hurrying after her.
Lathen leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek, whispering in her ear then pushed up from the couch. “Mike, can I have a word with you?”
Mike looked uncertainly from his boss to Lynette. “Sure.” He got to his feet and followed Lathen down the hall to a tiny office.
****
Lathen closed the door behind them and motione
d for Mike to have a seat across the desk from him. Mike stared at the floor and nervously fidgeted in the chair, his mouth set in a thin line.
“You’ve done a very good job here at the Center. The animals respond well to you. Are you enjoying the work?” Lathen paused waiting for Mike to meet his gaze.
It took a couple of minutes for Mike to raise his gaze to Lathen’s. “Yes, I love working with the animals, working with my hands and the income has been a life saver for Lynette and me.”
“That’s great.”
“But…” Mike interrupted in a resigned voice.
Lathen shrugged. “But nothing. Mike, I’d like you to join our team. Pepper and I decided to cut your probationary period short and offer you a full-time permanent position beginning tomorrow, with an increase in pay. You’ll be salary rather than hourly. Will that work for you?”
Mike sat silent for a few minutes, shook his head. “A permanent, full-time salaried position?” He repeated.
Lathen relaxed back in his chair, slid several pieces of paper across the desk toward Mike. “Yes, with health benefits, paid holidays, retirement plan, and paid time off—two weeks after the first year. You may have to work a few holidays if Pepper and I take time off, but you’ll be well compensated.”
Mike’s eyes glistened. He turned his face away for a moment. When he turned to face Lathen, a full smile curved his lips. “Yes, sir.”
Lathen reached his hand into the desk drawer, pulled out an envelope, stood and handed it to Mike. “Merry Christmas.”
His eyes rounded as he carefully took the envelope. He turned it over and over in his hand staring down at it. Then turned his gaze to Lathen. “You have no idea how much all this means to me. Thank you.”
“Oh, I’ve been there, and you’re very welcome.”
After a soft knock, the door opened, and Pepper slipped in the room. “Everything all right in here?”
“Perfect.” Mike took two steps toward her and threw his arms around Pepper. “Thank you so much!”
“You’ve earned it. We are proud to have you as part of the team.”
As Mike got up to leave, Lathen’s phone rang. “Who the hell would be calling on Christmas Day?” Mike exited and quietly closed the door.
Pepper quirked a brow, hand on her hip. “This is a wildlife rescue, twenty-four/seven business. Remember?”
He looked at the screen and blew out a breath. “It’s Ray.”
“Merry Christmas, Lt. Commander.”
“Merry Christmas to you too. Thought you’d like to know. The info your team obtained and the total destruction of the financial conduit your worm shut down has resulted in several insurgents’ strongholds falling and hundreds of lives saved. There was no exposure of our forces nor knowledge of who’s responsible. Excellent job.”
“Of course, you expected nothing less.”
“Thanks for your help, though you did uncover deficiencies in our cyber training.”
“Now there’s a surprise. As I said the military is way behind the private sector in cyber security.”
“If you’re interested in instructing…”
“I’ve got my hands full, and you’ve got some good guys. But if you get in a bind again, we can talk about it.”
“Fair enough. Enjoy your holiday.”
“You too.” Lathen disconnected the call and relayed the conversation to Pepper.
****
There were no new arrivals at the Center, which pleased Lathen. He loved the work, but they were full and would need to add additional staff after the first of the year to accommodate the growth so there would be no lack in care for the residents.
Lathen called a quick meeting the day after Christmas, Alec’s first day back. “I wanted to let you know that Mike has agreed to a full-time permanent position with the team. Judy and Rick will be part-time employees during their time off from college, starting today. Pepper and I will be gone for a few weeks in the spring for our honeymoon. By then we should have any new staff trained ready to fill in during our absence. Any questions?”
Alec shook his head. “Your family’s still here, so…”
“The Center is in your capable hands for another week. We’ll be helping out when time allows.”
“Got it.” Alec grinned and slapped Mike on the back. “Come on, we got work to do. Judy and Rick, take the seabird aviary and check the marine habitat.”
The remainder of the week proved to be peaceful, the melting snow made it easier, but sloppier to get around to the Center’s inhabitants, who were doing well.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The New Year Arrives and With It Hope for a Bright Future
Lathen kicked back in the double rocker recliner with his arm around Pepper, the flames reached high into the fireplace as he swirled red wine in his crystal glass against the firelight. Beside them, the sixty-inch television screen showed New York Times Square a few minutes from the ceremonial ball drop. Eli and Amy sat at one end of the high-back couch, watching the TV intermittently and talking quietly with Klaren and Duncan. Hayley sat on the edge of the single rocker recliner holding one of the twins, as husband, Kolby held the other while sitting on pillows spread across the floor in front of the fireplace. Brock and Gwen grabbed a couple of pillows for themselves. Gwen leaned against Brock, his arm slung lazily over her shoulder.
Ember and Tonk sprawled out in front of the front door, snoring softly. Timber lay next to the canines, ready to pounce each time Ember’s tail twitched. A behavior that had earned the pup a warning growl and a swipe from the alpha of this pack earlier in the day.
Lathen looked around the room and wondered at the calm scene around him. Not so long ago, in fact it was last New Year’s, estranged from his family, he’d finished an emergency repair at the Seacrest Inn, returned to his sparsely furnished cottage, and crashed on the bed. He shook his head slowly. If someone at that time would have told him one year from that date, he’d be married, reunited with his family, and co-owner of Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehab, he’d have laughed his ass off. Yet, here he was, so lucky. Even when a military special assignment reared its ugly head a couple weeks before the wedding, Pepper had been supportive. Further assignments as an independent contractor would be discussed on a case by case basis, no guarantees, a solution he and Pepper agreed they could live with. Pepper’s voice roused him out of his thoughts.
“Okay, so tomorrow after the late brunch, are you all taking off from Bar Harbor airport?” Pepper shifted in her chair so she could see everyone. “Gwen, you and Brock are driving to Salem. Right?”
“Yep,” Gwen said.
“I believe that’s the plan.” Amy smiled over at Elijah. “We are going to take Klaren up on her offer to spend a couple days in Colorado before returning to Alaska. Traveling with the twins, changes things.”
“Yes,” Hayley said in a hushed voice. “We really appreciate the offer.”
“No problem. We have plenty of room.” Klaren winked at her husband. “Pep, do you need a hand with the brunch preparations tomorrow?”
“Nope, got it covered.” She cut her gaze to the TV and pointed. “Looks like it’s almost time.”
All eyes in the room turned to the television.
Pepper reached over and caressed Lathen’s arm, her gaze catching his and holding it. She mouthed I love you, leaned over, and brushed her lips over his. The music on the TV grew louder to announce the beginning of the ball drop at midnight.
Lathen pushed up from the recliner and took the bottle of champagne from the ice and poured it in seven fluted crystal glasses sitting on the table behind the couch. The bubbly liquid glinted in the firelight as he poured. He took a small bottle of sparkling white grape juice and poured it into the eighth glass, passing it to Hayley. Carefully he extended a glass to Kolby who held Colton Elijah. The baby seemed intent on sleeping through the welcoming of the New Year. Amber Moon fussed in Hayley’s arms when she shifted to toast the New Year with the others. The glasses made a tinkl
ing sound when the group touched rims in a toast to the New Year. Pepper grinned and waved her arm above her head, bright colored confetti burst through the air, floating to the floor, magically avoiding everyone’s glasses but covering their hair, and clothes. Ember and Tonk raised their heads to glance at the confetti spreading across their fur. They got to their feet, dark eyes narrowed at Pepper, shook, and stood at the front door.
The huge grandfather clock Klaren and Duncan had given their daughter and son-in-law for a wedding gift chimed midnight in deep resonating tones. Lathen’s smile was so wide he thought his face would crack. He took a sip from his glass, sighed, and swirled the bubbly liquid around in his glass again. This past week had been a happy whirlwind. He was thankful that Ben had moved to the west coast with his brother, just as Brent had indicated in their conversation Christmas Eve.
After midnight, Klaren and Duncan said their goodbyes, scooped up Timber, and promised to return early morning for the family brunch. Eli and Amy grabbed their coats and wandered out the back door to the cottage on the property. Amber’s fussing became a loud wail alerting everyone to her desire to be fed at which time her brother joined in.
“Let’s take a walk.” Lathen took hold of Pepper’s arm and in a flurry of movement grabbed their coats from the pegs on the kitchen wall. After helping Pepper into her parka, he shrugged into his and followed Eli and Amy out the back door. “Goodnight,” Pepper and Lathen chorused and turned down the path to the pond bathed in the silver light of a full moon. Ember and Tonk trotted beside them.
The ground around the pond was still warm from the spell cast by the McKay ghosts for the wedding. The heat flowed up the enchanted wood keeping the bench Lathen had made for Pepper warm. He motioned for her to sit down. This was also the bench he’d knelt before her and asked Pepper to be his bride in front of her parents and a crowd of McKay ghosts on Halloween night. A thick mist crawled across the surface of the pond, several ghostly forms appeared on the shore along with Ashling’s familiar silhouette leaning against her favorite pine tree near the water. Waves softly lapping at the shore could be heard among the murmurs of the ghosts.