by Vicki Keener
She whispered as they walked down the curved staircase hand in hand. “We're the last ones to arrive again, judging by the voices coming from the dining room.”
He squeezed her hand and said with a smile, “We're the only ones with a good reason to linger in bed.”
“Aren't we proud?” She grinned.
“Damn straight. A peacock has nothing on me.”
“Good morning and Merry Christmas,” Angelica said. The family greeted them as Cray and Angel walked to the buffet to fill their plates from the numerous chafing dishes.
“Isn't it a beautiful day?” Angelica said.
Birch laughed and said, “It's overcast and threatening snow.”
Mona said, “Honest to Pete, Birch, when you're in love every day is beautiful.”
“How would you know?” Ladd asked.
The happy couple filled their plates and took a seat side by side as the siblings bantered. Mona said, “For all you know, I'm madly in love and haven't announced it to my nosy brothers yet.”
Gwen said, “Mona, is that true? Your father and I want to meet him. Is he spending Christmas with his family? Will he call you today?”
“Answer Mother,” Ladd said.
“He's probably obligated to spend Christmas morning with his children,” Birch said with a smirk.
“Oh, dear, please don't tell me you're in love with a married man,” Gwen said.
“Mona is not in love with a married man or any man,” Cray said. “Mona is saving herself for her ideal mate.”
Mona laughed out loud and said, “Thank you, Cray. You've always been my protector and defender. The first and last born got all the beauty, brains and manners. The rest should have been drowned at birth.”
Alex said, “Mona, your mother and I love you children equally.”
“I understand, Daddy. It's your obligation to love your children and you do it splendidly.”
“Well, it wasn't always easy,” Gwen said and the siblings howled with laughter.
“Did you call your parents about the wedding?” Alex asked Angelica.
“No. They're six hours ahead of us in Oslo. I'll call them when we finish breakfast.”
“Be sure to impress upon them how anxious we are to meet them and how much we love you,” Gwen said.
Angelica smiled and said, “I will, Gwen, and thank you.”
Lake and Ladd, who were dressed for the day, offered to clear the food and clean the kitchen while the rest dressed.
“If I may use your computer to call my family we can Skype so you can meet and chat with them,” Angelica said.
Birch said, “Good deal. I'll set it up on Dad's computer and hook it to the TV so we can get a good view of each other.”
Mona groaned. “Angel, he can't wait to get a gander at your two sisters if they look like you. Otherwise he wouldn't be so helpful. Are your sisters married?”
“Of course they look like Angelica. Why else would they be mistaken as triplets?” Birch said.
Angel laughed and said, “None of my siblings are married and we do resemble each other, but the disparity in age made me wonder why people mistook us as triplets when we were little. Bekka is three years younger than me and Darja is four years younger than Bekka.”
“How old is your brother?” Mona asked.
“He's thirty and a terrible flirt and a tease.” She grinned. “Come to think of it, you'll get along fine with your personalities.”
Mona said, “Birch, I'll help you get Skype and the TV ready.”
As Cray and Angelica left the room to go dress, they listened to Lake say to Mona, “How old is Angelica?”
“Aha!” Mona said, “you want to figure out Bekka and Darja's ages.”
Cray and Angel laughed as they ran upstairs. Inside the bedroom, Cray pulled her close to him and said, “Isn't it nice that we found each other and no longer need to search for our mate?”
“It's wonderful, darling. My sisters will take one look at your brothers and they'll force my parents to make the trip for our wedding.”
“But you only have two sisters and I have three brothers. How will that work?”
“Birch will be attracted to Darja and she will give him a run for his money. Wait and see.”
“You think Mona will like your brother Dirk,” Cray said.
“They'll like each other and have a good time together, but I predict a fling rather than a long-term relationship. Dirk at thirty is not interested in permanence and he is my father's heir apparent for the store. He'd never relocate to the States and I can't envision Mona wanting to leave here.”
They continued to talk while they dressed for the day in casual clothes, jeans and turtleneck sweaters. “That takes care of two of your siblings. Who will Bekka prefer?”
Angelica paused, tapped her index finger against her bottom lip and said, “I'm not sure. She runs deep and is difficult to read. I didn't get a feel for what makes Lake tick.”
“Lake is your age and is hung up on a girl he dated through high school and for the first two years of college. Her name is Marcy. Marcy had it rough being raised by a single mother. Lake took her to a rock concert where she met one of the band members and two months later she ran off to California to be with the guy. He's never gotten over it.”
“Cray, that's fifteen years ago.”
“Yes, it is. It could be that he's never gotten over her betrayal and he projects that on every woman he meets and won't learn to trust.”
“That's sad. Bekka had a similar situation, but I never heard the entire story, just bits and pieces when I went home to visit. Bekka considers me an outsider and not privy to affairs of the heart. She did complete her studies to be a nurse a few years ago.”
“I thought you said your sisters will encourage your parents to come here.”
“They will. Both of them, but it will be Darja who exerts the most pressure. She's wanted to come to the States for years, but without a work Visa she can't stay long enough to find a job and apply.”
“Have you helped her?”
“No. I love her, but she needs to do this on her own as I did. Darja flits from one idea to the next and none of them are solid. I won't put myself in the position of recommending her for a job only to have her decide it's not what she wants.”
“You're tough.”
“You'll see why when they visit unless she's changed and I doubt it.”
Cray and Angelica entered the den and Cray said to Mona and Birch, “Did you two get everything ready for the big reveal?”
“Angelica, the floor is yours,” Mona said. “I'll round up the rest of the family for the introductions. This is going to be fun.”
Angel placed the call and Darja answered. “Darja, Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, Angie. I told everyone you'd call and I had the computer ready and waiting. Who's that handsome guy beside you?”
“Is Bekka there and the rest of the family?”
“Yes, Bekka worked the early shift, but she's home now. Dirk is taking a shower. He got called out to a fire. He volunteers. He'll be here in a minute. Hold on, I'll call the family.”
When they gathered around the computer screen in Norway, Angel said, “Merry Christmas to all of you. I love you. Bekka will you translate what Mama and Papa don't understand? Thank you. I have the most wonderful news. This gorgeous man beside me is Cray Phillips and last evening I accepted his proposal to marry him in May.”
“Did he give you a ring?” Darja asked breaking through the words of love and congratulations.
Angel laughed and said, “He did. Want to see it?” She held her hand in front of the camera and oohs and ahhs filtered through the speakers. “I'm with his family and I want to introduce you to them and them to you. Please, put Mama and
Papa in front of the screen.”
Cray stood making room for his parents and Angel handled the introductions. Gwen said, “Mr. and Mrs. Andersson, we love your daughter and are so happy to welcome her to our family. They will be married in May. That's a beautiful time of the year. Angelica wants her mother with her at the time of her wedding as does every bride and she wants her father to escort her down the aisle. Please say you'll join us. We'll make all the arrangements.”
Angelica listened to Cray chuckle at his mother's sales pitch. She turned and smiled at him.
Bekka spoke, “Mrs. Phillips, our parents offered a strong maybe and thank you for the invitation.”
Alex stepped front and center. “Bekka, please stress to your parents that we want the entire family to attend as our guests. It's a long trip so your family should spend a minimum of two weeks with us. We'll take care of everything, including the plane fare.”
Bekka spoke to her parents in their native language and turned to face the camera again. “My parents are overwhelmed with your generosity and thank you for your gracious gesture.” She smiled and said, “They're discussing who can take care of the store as we speak so I'm confident in saying we will be there. I don't want to miss my sister's big day so I will put in for leave as soon as we know the dates.”
Alex and Gwen hugged each other in front of the camera and Gwen said, “Oh, we can't wait to meet you. We'll have so much fun together. Bring good walking shoes because we want to show you the sights.”
Bekka laughed and said, “I'll pass the word and thank you again. Angie, I'm so happy for you.”
Angelica sniffled and started to cry. In a shaky voice, she said, “I love you all so much.” She stood and walked to the middle of the room.
Cray took her seat in front of the camera. “Angel is overjoyed and a bit overcome with happy tears. Allow me to introduce the rest of my family.” He introduced his brothers and Mona and they shared pleasant conversation among the two families.
Darja sat down in the chair in front of their computer in Norway and said, “Cray, please let me talk to your brother Birch since you're taken.”
Birch moved forward and pretended to shove Cray out of the way. “I'm here, sweet lips.”
“Hi, Birchie, baby,” Darja said. “It sounds like we'll meet in person in a few short months. In the meantime, I advise you to dump any current girlfriends because I'm staking my claim on you for two weeks the month of May.”
“There's no one in sight at the present, you sweet thing, and I'll keep it that way until you're in my arms.”
Mona made a gagging sound and Cray laughed while he put his arm around Angel and hugged her. “Looks like they're making a connection from thousands of miles away.”
Darja said, “Birch, before we get too far along in the conversation, my pesky brother wants to know how to text your sister.”
Mona stuck her face in front of the camera and spouted the information. Birch said, “Not gagging now I see.”
“Quiet, Birchie, baby.” She laughed and so did he.
The rest of the families wandered from their respective rooms, leaving Darja and Birch to get further acquainted.
“What a lovely family you have, Angelica,” Gwen said.
“The siblings of both families are much the same. I believe that's why I feel so at home among you.”
“Please leave your parent's phone number with us,” Gwen said, “I'm sure as the wedding plans progress, you'll keep your mother apprised, but we mothers love to discuss these things between us. Will the language barrier be a hindrance?”
“My parents pretend not to understand as much as they do. We kids used English that we learned in school in front of them to keep things from them. It took us a while to realize they were aware of everything we said because they were one step ahead of us. They continue to do it and I don't know why.” She laughed and said, “Habit, I guess. You'll be surprised what a chatterbox my mother is when the two of you talk. Gwen and Alex, I do so appreciate your efforts to smooth the way for their visit. I'm convinced it made a difference in their decision.”
Chapter 11
“I will not be on Birchie baby's team,” Mona said an hour later as they chose teams for a game of Trivial Pursuit.
“Come on, Mona,” Birch said, “I'm good on the sports questions and you excel at history. However, if you don't stop calling me Birchie baby I won't be responsible for my actions.”
Mona laughed. “You didn't object when Darja called you that.”
“Did you get a good look at that Cupie Doll? She can call me anything she wants as long as she calls me.”
Mona leaned over and whispered in Birch's ear. “Get out of here,” he said howling with laughter.
Cray shook his head and Angelica grinned. Gwen and Alex entered the den and Gwen said, “Children, do you mind if your father and I don't join in the game? The Baxters recently moved to an assisted living home and their son who was visiting got called away for an emergency. He's a doctor. They invited us to see their new place. In truth, I suspect they're lonely and trying to decide if they made the right decision.”
“Go, Mother, we're fine,” Lake said. “Give them my best.”
“Thank you. The refrigerator is full of good things to eat. Help yourself. We'll be home later and we'd like you to spend another night with us.”
Mona said when they listened to the front door close behind their parents. “She still calls us children.”
“Yes,” Birch said, “and you'd be getting your mouth washed out with soap if she heard what you whispered to me.”
Angelica, Cray and Mona played against the three brothers. They were rowdy and loud with plenty of laughter throughout the game. Angelica enjoyed the obvious love between the five Phillips siblings. The male team won the game and before they started another, they adjourned to the kitchen for a late lunch or an early supper.
Ladd and Angel made sandwiches while the rest set the table and got a variety of delicious food from the refrigerator and set it on the table. Ladd said, “Will you tell me about your sister Bekka?”
“Oh, of course. She's a quiet girl and I didn't think she had goals, but it turned out she did. When she graduated from high school, she went to work in a secretarial position, lived at home, saved her money and a few years later she enrolled in nursing school. It surprised everyone because she never mentioned her desire to be a nurse. I imagine she realized that our parents couldn't help her financially, so she kept her goals to herself. If I had known, I would have helped her as much as I could, although I had my hands full putting myself through college and graduate school.”
“Is she involved with anyone?” Ladd asked.
“Not to my knowledge. She doesn't discuss those things with me when we talk. I'll ask Darja. As you might guess, nothing gets by her.”
“I'm attracted to her calm, quiet, refined demeanor. I'd be happy to keep her company when she visits us.”
“Why don't I give you her direct contact number and the two of you can get to know a bit about each other before you meet?”
“I'd like that. Thank you. The four of you seem so different.”
Angel laughed and said, “I could say the same about the five of you.”
Ladd smiled and said, “Yes, that's true. You've made my brother very happy.”
“Cray has made me delirious with happiness, Ladd. We've both waited a long time to find the right one.”
“How did you know so fast?”
“I ponder that. A lot. I'm convinced it can't be articulated. It just is. Does that make sense?”
Ladd laughed. “Not really.”
She laughed in return. “No, of course, it doesn't. We both recognized it instantly. I doubt love happens that way too often, but for us it did and I don't question it. We're not kids and we experienced li
fe before meeting. That helps I'm sure, because we knew it when it happened. I'm talking in circles, aren't I?”
“What do the philosophers say about love?”
“If falling in love is as old as time, the ancient philosophers didn't wax ecstatic about it. In fact, they seldom mentioned it and when they do it's cold and clinical. Modern philosophers and that includes almost anyone who has something to say on any subject get flowery and downright sappy. I teach both to my students.”
“I'd love to sit in on one of your classes sometime.”
“You're more than welcome to audit a class.”
“Hey,” Cray said, walking up behind Angel and encircling her waist, “you're monopolizing my future bride.”
“I'm picking her fertile brain,” Ladd said.
“On what subject?”
“Oh, this and that,” Angel said turning in his arms to face him and kiss his lips.
Cray said returning her kiss. “I'm letting you off easy since I'd rather kiss you than talk.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Did I tell you this is the best Christmas of my life?”
“Ditto, darling, and I've had some wonderful, fantastic Christmases, but this tops them.”
At ten that night Alex and Gwen arrived home, said good night to the younger group and went to bed. The four men and two women decided to play Texas Hold 'em for nickels and dimes. They laughed and played while Angelica kept winning. At midnight the doorbell rang and they looked at each other.
Mona said, “I fold, I'll get the door.” Mona opened the door and found Marcy Potter on the porch. “Marcy?”
“I'm sorry to come here so late. Is Lake here?”
Mona opened the door further and said, “Yes. Come in. We're in the den playing cards.”
Marcy stepped over the threshold and stood in the foyer. “Would you ask him to come here?”
“Marcy, what's wrong?”
“I need to talk to Lake.”
“Okay, I'll get him.” Mona entered the den and said, “Lake, there's someone here to see you.”
“At this time of night? Who?”