Vince frowned. “It’s a good thing Dylan’s a small dog or we’d need a bigger yard.”
Caprice put her hand on her brother’s arm. “Do you like the house?”
“I do.”
“Then calm down. Roz doesn’t require a mansion to be happy. You know that what she needs has nothing to do with space or the color of the walls. You have to talk to her about this and use those lawyerly communication skills you’re so proud of.”
“I will. I just want your opinion first. Can you look at it with me tomorrow morning?”
“I can. Around ten?”
“Ten it is. I guess we’d better get back inside. They might start without you.”
But before she opened the door to go inside, she asked him, “We have much to be thankful for, don’t we?”
“We do,” Vince agreed. “Roz is the best thing that’s happened to me in my adult life.”
“And Grant’s the best thing that’s happened to me.” She raised her hand for a high five, and Vince matched the gesture vigorously.
Then they went into Everybody’s Kitchen to start serving.
Chapter Three
When Caprice opened the door from the side porch into her childhood home Thanksgiving evening, she felt such a sense of welcome and roots. That’s what she wanted for her own family someday. This home held so many memories that they bubbled up every time she walked into it. Tonight, with Grant’s arm around her, his other hand holding a leash with Patches, she felt true happiness. She savored the moment. That elusive feeling wasn’t something you could capture just any time you wanted it.
When they heard voices pour out from inside, Grant looked down at her and she looked up at him. “Just another De Luca gathering,” he said nonchalantly.
Grant had become accustomed to those. He’d been her brother’s roommate at law school and often came home with Vince on weekends. Once a month the De Luca family gathered from wherever they’d scattered for a family dinner. Everyone brought something.
Her parents always accepted Grant. He’d been out of their lives for a while after he and Vince had graduated . . . after Grant moved to Pittsburgh, met Naomi, married her, and made a life there. But tragedy had befallen him. He’d lost a child and his marriage. When he’d somewhat recovered, he moved to Kismet and became Vince’s law partner. But it was really only in the last few months that he’d begun healing from the ghostly shadows of his past.
Last month, when he’d asked Caprice to marry him, she’d joyfully said yes. But since they were both Catholic, since her faith and her family’s faith meant a lot to her, and his was beginning to mean more to him again too, they’d decided to go through the annulment proceedings for his first marriage. It wasn’t that his marriage had never happened. Of course, it had. But they were hoping the church would agree that the sacramental part of the marriage hadn’t been present. Naomi wasn’t Catholic, and they’d been married by a justice of the peace. She’d been pregnant when they’d married. After the drowning death of their daughter, Naomi had an affair. All appropriate grounds for annulment, as Caprice’s parish priest told them. Caprice hoped Father Gregory was right.
But if the annulment didn’t come through?
They hadn’t asked each other that question, but they knew in their hearts they loved each other. They knew what they wanted their lives to be. They shared the same values, and they would be together.
Entering the De Luca house, Grant released Patches from his leash and the cocker joined Lady, who was sitting in the living room to the left of the side entrance. Where Lady was a golden buff color, Grant’s dog was cream-colored with brown ears, brown circles around his eyes and nose, as well as brown patches on his back and flank. His fur was curlier too.
Megan and Timmy, Bella’s oldest children, immediately crouched down with the dogs, petting and talking to them. Joe was holding Benny, who was getting bigger day by day. At ten months, he was crawling as fast as Lady could run, and soon he’d be walking.
Caprice noticed Grant’s gaze go to Benny and Joe, and she suspected the bittersweet feeling that was probably running through him. He desperately missed the child he’d lost. But he was looking forward to the future. So was she.
Her mother came to embrace her.
“Happy Thanksgiving, honey.” Francesca De Luca gave Grant a hug too. Hugging as a family was an integral part of the De Luca legacy. Her mother said to Caprice, “I have to supervise in the kitchen. Nana’s filling the cannoli with your cream. Come on in as soon as Dad takes your coats.”
In the next second her dad was there, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek and shaking Grant’s hand. Then he took their coats and hung them in the foyer closet. Roz and Vince were settled in the living room talking with Dulcina and Uncle Dom as were Mack and his wife. They all waved and called hellos.
“Where’s Nikki?” Caprice asked.
“Brett got held up at the station with some kind of report, but she’s with him and she texted,” Bella informed them as she came into the foyer and gave them both a hug. “They should be here in about five minutes.” She took Caprice’s hand. “Come on. While we put everything on the table, I can tell you about my latest projects, and you can tell me about that historical house you’re decorating. I hear it’s fabulous.”
When she was with Bella at the community center, Bella only had the pageant on her mind, and they had talked about little else.
Grant took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I guess I’ll see you at the dinner table.”
When she looked at Grant with his black, wavy hair, his intense gray eyes, and his broad shoulders, she knew her attraction to him was much more than skin deep. It was soul deep. “At dinner,” she said.
They hadn’t had a chance to talk, either. They’d both pulled up outside at the same time. They’d kissed and hugged and then come up the walk together without saying anything. Words just hadn’t seemed necessary. Sure, they did have a lot to discuss with plans for Christmas and plans for their wedding. But they’d get to it.
In the kitchen, Caprice hugged her Nana. “I hope you’re not overdoing.”
Nana gave Caprice a disgruntled look. “What overdoing? It’s Thanksgiving. Of course, I’m going to overdo, and I’m going to overeat, and then I’ll have to take medicine the doctors gave me. But I’m going to have a good time doing it.”
And so it went, until Nikki and Brett arrived and they were all seated around the huge mahogany table in the dining room with the cuckoo clock striking six. Little Benny batted his fists against his high-chair tray. Bella was explaining to Megan and Timmy that the candlesticks holding the green tapers on the table were the same ones they’d used for Thanksgiving since she was a small girl.
Her father clinked his knife against his water goblet and stood. “We want to welcome all of you. We are grateful for so many things: that Nana celebrated her seventy-sixth birthday this month; that Caprice and Grant have announced their engagement; that Dom is already making a success of his pet-sitting business; that Nikki’s business has picked up once more and she’s busier than she’s ever been. I know you all have blessings to be grateful for. So now let’s bow our heads for just a few minutes and think of all those things.”
They all did and even Benny was quiet, studying the adults and then his brother and sister, as if sensing something special was happening.
Finally, Nick De Luca said, “Let us all join hands.” He then said the grace that Caprice had learned and recited since before she was in kindergarten.
Brett Carstead, Nikki’s date and a detective on the Kismet police force, was seated next to Caprice. As she passed a bowl of stuffing to him, she asked, “Are things quiet down at the police department?”
“As quiet as they get for Kismet. I had a late call last night. A man tried to rob a convenience store, but he didn’t try to take money. He was attempting to take food for his family.”
“What happened?”
“Once in a while, when we think it’s for the grea
ter good, we bend the rules a little. No harm was done. It was shoplifting at its best, so to speak. The store manager took pity on the guy and gave him day-old bread and a canned ham. We took him down to the station though and tried to figure out his situation, not that I’m a social worker or anything. But we told him about the food pantry at Everybody’s Kitchen. He had the convoluted idea that accepting help from them would hurt his pride more than stealing if he could get away with it. I talked to him for a while, and I think I finally made him see that for his family’s sake—he has two kids—he needs to do more than shoplift.”
“No job?”
“Not right now. He said he’s willing to take anything, so I gave him the number of a temporary job counselor. I sure hope he uses it.”
Although Brett Carstead was straight-laced and usually a by-the-book kind of guy, she could certainly see what Nikki saw in him. He was a good man. His work could be an impediment in their relationship, but that was for them to work out if they could. For now, Caprice was just glad he was here with Nikki.
Conversation ran around the table and leapt across it. The holidays were in the air, and there were side conversations from preparation of gifts to attending the parade on Sunday to figuring out a good time for Christmas dinner when Dom would be free from pet sitting. He was booked solid already and was hoping to make room for an hour for dinner with the family.
Right there at the table, he asked, “Dulcina, will you come back again with me for that holiday?”
Caprice’s neighbor smiled at him shyly, ducked her head, and nodded. Caprice heard her say in a low voice, “You know I’d be glad to.”
Dulcina, Roz, and Nikki said they’d ready the desserts and bring them in since everyone else had gotten the rest of the meal ready.
Grant leaned close to Caprice. “You know holidays like this are unusual for me. Whenever I had dinner with my parents and my brother, an argument always seemed to break out. Sometimes Holden and Dad would go at it. They could never just agree to disagree.”
“And where did you step in?”
“I guess I tried to be the mediator. With Holden, I argued. But with Dad, I always just tried to make peace.”
As Brett stood to help Nikki carry cups and saucers from the sideboard to the table, Grant took Caprice’s hand under the table and settled it on his knee. His voice low, he said, “I got a phone call this morning from my parents. We wished each other happy Thanksgiving, of course, but they made a request. They’d like us to come to Vermont for a visit after the holidays. How do you feel about that? Can you take a few days off?”
“Can you?”
“I can manage it. I’d like you to see where I grew up. I can even teach you cross-country skiing. I’m not sure how successful my parents’ visit was when they were here last month, but they’d like to see you again.”
“I have to get to know your parents, Grant. Once I do, maybe we can get a little closer.”
“My mom wants us to stay at the farmhouse. There really aren’t many hotels in the area. In January, it’s going to be drafty, but there is a fireplace and a woodstove.”
“I’m not a hothouse flower,” she teased. “And I do have good winter clothes. Do you think we can take the dogs?”
“I’ll talk to them about that. There’s plenty of room for them to roam, and they’re fairly well behaved. I don’t think Mom and Dad would object.”
“Will your brother be there?”
“He’s a medical systems rep, so he’s often on the road. But it’s possible he could be there.”
“Will you be all right with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Grant asked, a bit defensively.
“Because sometimes I get the feeling you and your brother don’t always get along . . . that maybe there’s something between the two of you.”
“Old stuff,” Grant grumbled. “Old stuff that he doesn’t want to let go of and always seems to come up. I keep hoping he’ll grow out of it. Or grow up.”
Caprice was wondering how she could help Grant when her cell phone in her pocket played “All I’ve Got to Do.”
Grant glanced around the table where everyone seemed occupied with something. Mack was speaking with her dad and his wife had gone to the kitchen with Nana. Joe had taken Benny from his high chair, and Benny was crawling after Lady. Megan and Timmy had wandered into the kitchen just because they were tired of sitting. Caprice’s mom was at the sideboard, sprinkling powdered sugar through a small strainer onto the cannoli.
“You probably have a few minutes,” Grant suggested, “if you want to see who it is.”
When Caprice pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the screen, she was surprised to see Sara’s number. “It’s Sara,” she murmured. “I think I should take this.” She swiped her screen and put her phone to her ear. “Sara? Is anything wrong?”
“Denise called. She thinks she has two couples interested in our home already, that the sale could happen fast. They’re coming to the open house.”
“And you don’t think that’s good news?”
“I don’t know what I think. I’m still not sure we should sell. Even more sure now.”
“Why is that?”
Sara hesitated, then she went on. “When I saw Chris this morning before he got out of bed, I realized he has bruises on his ribs and back. He’d come into bed after me the past few nights, so I didn’t realize it before. When I questioned him, he just said it’s nothing for me to worry about. Well, of course it is. I’m trying to convince him to go to the doctor, but he says he doesn’t have time and he’ll heal. After the parade, he wants to go looking at the condo units again and write a check for a down payment to hold one so we’re ready to move when the house sells. I don’t want to think about doing that over the holidays. But he’s so insistent, Caprice.”
“What would you like me to do?”
“I don’t know. I just know I’m confused and not sure we’re making the right decisions. Should I go through with the open house?”
Caprice had to consider her client’s concerns. But Sara was only one-half of her client. Chris was the other half. She had both of their wishes to take into consideration, as well as the time and money involved. And Denise Langford had also put time and effort into getting the house ready to sell.
“Do you think selling the house is a possibility?”
Sara went silent, then finally she answered. “I agree with many of the points Chris has made. It’s a lot for us to handle, and maintenance and gardening isn’t getting easier. So yes, it’s a possibility.”
“I hate to see you stop this from happening now, causing more discord for you and Chris when it’s something you might want to do. My advice is go through with the open house and see how it feels to look reality in the face. Imagine moving out and having someone else move in. Get a feel for the people who come to look at your home. Have Denise introduce you to the couples who are really interested. The point is, if a contract comes in and you still have doubts, or you’ve decided altogether not to sell, you do not have to accept it. You can pull out at any time. But I think you ought to give it a chance to work, and maybe Chris is right about looking at those condos. If you can see the life he wants to build with you, you might look at the whole process differently.”
She heard Sara sigh. “I knew you could be reasonable about this and talk me down. And I know you’re right. Everything’s just been piling up and making us all ready to jump out of our skin.”
“Do you want Dad to talk to Chris about going to the doctor?”
“I don’t want to upset him any more than he is now, especially with the parade on Sunday. He looks forward to that so. After Sunday, after the parade and looking at the condos, I’ll see how he is. Maybe we’ll have another talk about him getting a checkup.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
“Thank you, Caprice. I’m so sorry to interrupt your Thanksgiving.”
“How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Despite
the tension between Chris and me, I think our kids all had a good dinner. With Ryan and his wife Serena, Deanne, Maura and her husband, we had a quiet dinner but a nice one. They all left about two hours ago. Chris is out back in his workshop. I was just stewing about everything I can’t fix.”
“A mother and a wife’s prerogative,” Caprice agreed.
Sara actually laughed. “Put that way, it sounds absolutely silly. Thanks again, Caprice. Will you stop in tomorrow?”
“What time will you be there?”
“I’ll be at the store in the morning, but I can be here in the afternoon.”
“Then what if I stop over around two o’clock? Will that suit?”
“It sounds perfect. I’ll see you then. Happy Thanksgiving.”
After Caprice ended the call, Grant looked troubled. “A client who doesn’t want to sell? Isn’t it a little late for that?”
“It’s never too late. Terms have been written into the contracts that don’t make them binding until everyone signs.”
“I know there are always loopholes.”
“I’m just hoping we don’t need loopholes,” Caprice responded.
Everyone was coming back to the table again. Grant pointed to the tray of cannoli and the pumpkin and apple pies. “I say we think about dessert now and worry later.”
That was a philosophy she could live with . . . for today.
* * *
After another discussion with Chris, Sara decided to go through with the open house on Saturday. She’d taken everything into consideration and decided it was for the best. Besides, as she told Caprice, they might not even get an offer on the house.
Sara hadn’t mentioned Chris’s medical condition again, and Caprice wondered where his bruises had come from. It sounded as if someone had beaten him up, but he wasn’t talking and apparently Sara wasn’t pushing.
The open house started as any other. The servers had dressed in red satin blouses and black slacks. Nikki and Caprice had both decided not to go for a period theme even though it was a historic house. They believed a modern Christmas in a house full of charm and warmth was a better way to portray the house for a Christmas Delight theme.
Slay Bells Ring Page 4