by Nancy Fraser
“No, of course not. The staff take turns, year on, year off, and work Christmas Day. At a premium I might add.” He slipped into his jacket. “This year we lucked out. It’s our regular chef’s turn to work. So, supper will be a work of art.”
“Your father was very kind to call last week while you were away and invite Millie and me for Christmas. When I mentioned we’d planned to have Frances here for dinner, he didn’t hesitate to invite her as well. I’m pretty sure she’s as excited as Millie is about seeing the inside of Barrett House.”
“It’s just a house,” he told her.
“Ah...no. It’s a mansion with tennis courts you can see from the road and, I believe you said stables, and at least one swimming pool.”
“Just one,” he confirmed. “We wouldn’t want to appear pretentious.”
“No,” she said, laughing without restraint. “You certainly wouldn’t.”
Chapter 10
“MOMMA, WAKE UP! IT’S Christmas!”
Cass rolled over in her bed and pushed her disheveled hair from her face. “Are you sure?” she said sleepily.
“There’s a big box, and a stocking, and everything.”
“Everything?” Cass repeated, a yawn stretching the muscles in her cheeks.
She forced herself out of bed, silently admonishing herself for spending half the night messaging back and forth with Rick.
“Well then,” she said, holding onto Millie’s hand as her daughter tugged her toward the tree. “I guess we’d better see what Santa brought.”
An hour-and-a-half and two cups of coffee later, Cassidy gathered wads of balled up wrapping paper and unravelled bows. Frances had joined them halfway through Millie’s frantic unwrapping, bringing a few extra packages to add to the excitement.
“I really love the sweater,” Cass said, smiling at her friend. “I’ve never been able to master knitting needles. I envy your talent.”
“Oh pish, tosh,” Frances responded. “I’m pretty sure there’s nothing you couldn’t do if you put your mind to it.”
“Momma promised she’d make pancakes for breakfast,” Millie chimed in, her attention finally drawn from the new additions to her ever-growing doll house. “With chocolate chips.”
“That sounds delicious,” Frances agreed. “I’m glad I woke up with an empty stomach.”
“While I get started on things,” Cass said, “perhaps the two of you could move some of Millie’s new things to her bedroom.”
“Be glad to, my dear,” Frances responded. “Come on, Milsie-doodle, you can tell me how your wish-stick is working out.”
“Don’t take too long, you two.” Cass called out her warning as she walked away. “We have to get ready to go to the Barrett’s for another Christmas celebration. His driver is picking us up at noon.”
CASSIDY, MILLIE AND Frances stood wide-eyed and gap jawed in front of the Barrett family home. Festive garlands circled all ten windows, five on each side of a huge oak door. A wreath of pine, lace and tiny crystal bells hung at the entryway.
“I’m almost afraid to knock,” Cass admitted.
“I’ll do it,” Millie offered, rushing the stone staircase. When she couldn’t reach the brass knocker, she pounded her fist against the thick wood.
The door opened, and a very proper looking woman stood on the threshold. “You must be Miss Keen and family. I’m Doris, the Barrett’s house manager. Please come in.” She stepped back and motioned them forward.
Millie went inside first, stopping short to turn a circle in the marble foyer. “Wow! This room is bigger than our whole apartment.”
Cassidy glanced up, as Millie had, and smiled when she saw Rick standing at the top of the staircase. “Doris will take your coats,” he said as he was coming down the stairs. “I think my dad’s waiting for us in the library.”
He led them across the marble floor and opened the closest door, ushering them inside.
“Holy macaroni!” Millie exclaimed. “Your tree is nearly as big as the one in the square.”
“Just about,” William Barrett said from his chair by the fireplace. “Come on in and make yourselves comfortable.”
Cass inhaled deeply, the smell of hardwood burning in the fireplace mixed and mingled with the pine scent of the fresh tree. A hint of cinnamon filled the air as well.
“I’ve asked Doris to have tea and coffee brought in,” William said. “In case you’d like some.”
“Wonderful,” Frances said, her comment aimed at William. “I would love a cup of tea.”
Millie stood in front of the brightly decorated tree, pretending to examine the dozens of ornaments, while secretly—or perhaps not so secretly–scanning the beautifully wrapped presents beneath.
“Momma,” Millie said excitedly, “this gift has my name on it.” She poked at the box with her fingertips but didn’t pick it up. Her eyes grew wide, and she beamed a smile in Rick’s direction. “This is the bestest Christmas.”
Cass gave a quick thought to the four small packages tucked neatly into her tote bag. She knew it shouldn’t matter about size or cost, that it was the thought that counts, but she worried over Millie’s reaction to such an elaborate celebration.
“I can see those wheels turning,” Rick whispered, taking a seat on the arm of her chair. Nodding toward the tree, he added, “You think we’ve gone a bit overboard.”
“A bit?” She let out a long sigh. “I’m not able to give Millie overly expensive presents. I don’t want her thinking this is going to be the norm.”
“Would that be so bad?” he asked. “I’ve no intention of letting either of you get too far away from me.”
As enticing as his words sounded, Cass knew one day he’d be headed back to the city, leaving Dickens and her in the dust.
“How about we open presents before it’s time to eat?” William suggested. He moved closer to the tree, taking the end spot on the plush leather sofa. “Millie, can you help us hand out the gifts?”
Eager to help, Millie flew to his side. “I could pretend I’m one of Santa’s elves.”
Cass and Frances moved closer to the tree as well, with Rick taking a seat on the floor so he could hand the presents to the overly excited elf.
“Here,” he said, handing the first present to Millie. “Please take this to Frances, from my dad and me.”
They all waited patiently, or somewhat patiently in Millie’s case, for Frances to unwrap her gift of an intricately designed pashmina shawl.
“Oh, my lord,” Frances exclaimed. “This is lovely.” Turning her attention in the Barrett men’s direction, she gave a sincere, “Thank you.”
Rick pulled another box from beneath the tree. “This one says...uh...to Millie the Magnificent from Mr. Bob.”
Millie snatched the box from Rick’s outstretched hand. “That’s me!”
Rick chuckled as Millie tore into the large gift.
Cass knew the moment she saw the emblem stamped with the current year on the outside of the box that it contained a new Holiday Princess doll. Despite Millie’s earlier disappointment over the doll’s ‘yellow’ hair, she had no doubt her daughter would love her present.
Millie slid the lid from the top of the box, her eyes widening, the slight quiver of her lower lip tugging on Cassidy’s heartstrings.
“She’s beautiful,” Millie said softly. Lifting the doll from inside the tissue, she added, “And she’s got brown hair just like mine.”
Cass shot a quick glance in Rick’s direction, his attention given fully to her daughter, a smile lighting up his face. Her heart melted as quickly as a snowflake on a warm winter’s day. If she’d had any doubt over the fact she’d fallen in love with Rick Barrett, it disappeared just as quickly as the ill-fated snow.
William Barrett coughed slightly, clearing his throat. “I have it on good authority, one of Santa’s elves made it his personal job to recreate this Holiday Princess doll just for you.”
Still clutching the doll, Millie threw herself into William’s ar
ms, pressing a kiss to his weathered cheek. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Oh look, here’s another big box,” Rick said, drawing Millie back to his side. “It’s for your mom, also from Mr. Bob.”
Millie took the package from Rick’s grasp and brought it to her, then stood close by while she unwrapped the gift. Another Wil-Bar custom made box appeared, this one a bit older, the emblem faded. Cassidy’s hands trembled slightly as she peeled back the lid to reveal a first edition doll.
“No,” she whispered, her voice choked with the threat of tears. “It can’t be.”
“Momma, look! You got a doll too.”
“How? I mean...” She stumbled over the words. When she raised her head and blinked to staunch the threat of tears, Rick was there at her side.
“It’s from the vault. We always set aside a few each year. This one’s been around since the beginning.”
“She’s beautiful,” Cass exclaimed, fingering the long, dark curls. She pushed herself from her chair and, as her daughter had done, gave William a hug and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
William nodded and coughed again. “A beautiful doll for a beautiful lady,” he said gruffly.
Before Rick could hand out the last gift from beneath the tree, Cassidy gave Millie two of the four gifts from her tote. “These two are for Mr. Barrett from me, you, and Frances.”
William opened the gifts, the first one a fine woolen scarf, the second a monogramed leather wallet.
“These are wonderful, ladies,” he said. “Thank you very much.”
“And these go to Rick,” she instructed, handing Millie the last two packages.
Rick tore into his gifts, nearly as eagerly as Millie. Lifting the obviously handmade keychain from its wrapping, he asked, “Who could have made me this fantastic keychain?”
Millie beamed. “I did,” she said. “Frances helped.”
He grinned and pulled Millie into a big bear hug. “Thank you, sweetheart.” Nodding in Frances’ direction, “And you too, Frances.”
RICK TOOK HIS TIME with the second box, unwrapping it slowly, finally withdrawing the silver picture frame from within the tissue paper. His breath caught when he stared down at the picture of Cassidy and Millie, posing happily beside a snowman dressed up in one of Millie’s knitted caps and scarves.
He lifted Millie up into his arms and then sank on the floor beside Cassidy’s chair, pulling her into his embrace as well. “This is the nicest gift I’ve ever received,” he told them and, in that one moment, he realized it was true. Never had a gift moved him in such a profound way.
“Last gift,” Millie said, holding up the funny shaped package. “And it’s for me.”
Rick laid his hand over Millie’s smaller one, halting her progress at unravelling the curly ribbon holding the ends closed.
“Before you open that, Millie, I need to talk to you for a minute—in private. If it’s okay with your mom.”
Millie glanced in her mother’s direction, and Cassidy nodded.
Rick took Millie’s hand in hers and led her across the room to the far corner so they wouldn’t be overheard.
Cassidy, he noticed, kept glancing in their direction.
“So, what do you think?” he asked when their conversation was nearly over. “Would it be okay with you?”
Millie literally threw herself into his arms. “Okay? It’s one of the things I asked for with my wish-stick.”
“Good,” he said, returning her tight hug. “But remember, it’s a secret.”
They returned to their spot in front of the tree, and Millie began unwrapping her last gift. She stared at the tag, turning it over in her hand. “To Millie. From Rick.” When she’d finally peeled back the outer shell, she said, “It’s a piece of paper with stuff written on it.” Holding it up to her mother, she asked, “What does it say?”
Cassidy took the brown parchment from Millie’s hand. “It’s a treasure map.”
Millie snatched the map back, and studied it closely “Like pirates?”
“Yes,” Rick confirmed. “In order to find your last gift, you have to follow the map.” Pointing toward the door, he hinted, “I think we go this way first.”
Millie led the way, followed by an obviously curious Cassidy, with him close on their heels. His father and Frances brought up the rear.
“Which way now?” Millie asked, holding the map up for everyone to see.
“I’m pretty sure we have to go through the kitchen.” Cassidy explained, glancing at hand-drawn directions. She slowed down until he’d caught up, and quietly asked, “What have you done?”
He gave a shrug of his shoulders and smiled. “Just making a little princess happy.”
She made an exaggerated show of rolling her eyes, the now-familiar gesture drawing his grin.
Sighing deeply, she whispered, “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
CASSIDY HAD A SNEAKING suspicion where they were headed, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. If she was right, Rick was about to become her daughter’s bestest friend of all time. Ever. And she was about to become the one Millie would drive crazy with her requests to visit Barrett House as often as possible.
They’d reached the mudroom overlooking the outside patio when Doris, the stoic house manager, met them at the door with their jackets. “You’ll need these, if you’re going outside.”
Cass could have sworn the woman nearly cracked a smile.
They stepped out onto the cobblestone walkway with Millie leading the way. They passed the pool, the tarp covering dusted with snow, then stepped out onto a narrow path.
“How much longer until we get to my present?” Millie asked.
Rick made a show of taking the map from Millie’s hand and holding it up to the faint sunlight. “If I’m reading this map correctly, it’s just around the corner in that red building over there.”
When they reached their final destination, Rick pulled open the heavy door. Lifting the map up again, he read the last of the instructions. “It says here to count four brown doors. Not the black ones, just the brown. Can you do that, Millie?”
She nodded eagerly. “I’m the best counter in my kindergarten class, and I know all my colors.” Pointing to the first brown door, she began her task. “One.” She passed the next door and then another black door before reaching another painted brown. “Two.” Then the next. “Three.”
They’d nearly run out of doors, the next few painted black. Millie stopped suddenly, and asked, “Where are we? Why does it smell funny in here?”
Cass fought back a laugh, and suspected Rick was doing the same.
“It’s a stable,” Rick said. “It smells that way because there are animals in here.”
“Animals?” Millie’s head came up, her eyes widened. Pointing toward the last door, she announced loudly. “Four. We’ve made it to my treasure.”
Rick grasped the latch and lifted, pulling the stall open to reveal a spotted horse. “Millie, meet Max, your new pony.”
Her daughter’s squeal of delight echoed through the huge barn, causing more than a few of the horses to whinny in response. “He’s mine. Really?” she said, lifting her tear-filled eyes in Rick’s direction.
“Yes, Millie-the-Magnificent. He’s all yours. Do you think he’ll fit in your bedroom?”
Millie anchored her hands on her slim hips and shifted her gaze to Cassidy. “He knows our apartment is little, doesn’t he?”
Both Frances and William burst into gales of laughter. Rick, Cassidy noticed, was biting hard on his lower lip, holding in his own reaction.
“I’m pretty sure he does, sweetie. But maybe there’s another place for Max to live.”
Millie’s mouth fell open and, if it were possible, her eyes widened even more. “Oh, I get it, Mr. Rick.” She spun around in the barn. “He’s going to live here just like—”
Rick spoke up, interrupting whatever Millie was about to say. “
Would you like to sit on him for a few minutes?”
Millie nodded and Rick lifted her onto the pony’s broad back. She ran her hands along Max’s smooth coat. “He’s so soft.” She leaned forward and gave the patient pony a hug.
“We’ll need to get you fitted for a proper saddle after the holidays so you can learn to ride,” Rick explained.
Cassidy slid into the stall next to her daughter and gave Millie’s leg a nudge. “I don’t remember hearing a thank you.”
Millie stretched out her arms in Rick’s direction and he pulled her from atop her pony. She hugged his neck tightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, thank you, a million times thank you.”
They made their way back to the house, Millie talking non-stop about how she couldn’t wait to learn to ride, and how her friends in kindergarten were going to be so jealous.
Cassidy tucked her arm into Rick’s and pulled him close. “You do realize you’ve created a monster.”
Rick shot her a look of feigned surprise. “Surely you don’t mean Millie? She’s not a monster—just one very happy little girl.”
RICK DREW A LONG, DEEP breath, almost positive he’d never been so nervous in his entire life. His father joined him in front of the fireplace, and commented, “Nice touch with the pony, and a great first step at winning over both the mother and the child.”
“Thanks, Dad. In case you hadn’t noticed, I was far more comfortable gifting a horse than I am about the last part of my grand holiday plan.”
His dad’s laugh helped relieve his fear. Somewhat.
“You do look a little green around the gills. I don’t think you have anything to worry about though. I can’t remember ever seeing a couple look at each other they way you two do.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Dad. You and Mom used to share some pretty intense gazes.”
William heaved a deep sigh. “Your mom would have loved Cassidy and been absolutely beside herself over Millie.”
“They have definitely put my life on a course I never expected,” Rick admitted.