“You must be Gina. Come in, dear. I’m Ellen.”
Gina stepped inside and noticed two things immediately. The house was breathtaking, with soaring high ceilings, and windows that gave the effect of being on the water. But the overall feeling was more cozy and warm than imposing. Soft white sofas and chairs had colorful knit throws over them in pretty ocean shades of blue and green.
“It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me join you both.”
“I’m glad you could join us. Jared’s in the kitchen, cooking up a storm.”
Gina handed her the flowers and she smiled. “That’s so nice of you. They’re lovely. I’ll put them in some water. Let’s head into the kitchen.”
Ellen led the way down a long winding hall. When they reached the kitchen, Jared looked up from something he was stirring on the stove and smiled.
“Hey, there.” He saw the bottle of wine. “You can set that on the counter. Or if you want, open it and we’ll have some with dinner.”
“I’ll get an opener.” His mother opened a drawer and handed one to Gina.
Gina noticed a real fireplace with a roaring fire. It was two-sided so you could enjoy the fire in the kitchen and in the adjacent dining area, which also faced the ocean and had incredible views. It was a little windy out and the waves were higher than usual with frothy white tips.
“Tell me what you think of this, if you think it needs more salt.” Jared passed her a small spoon of something brown and fragrant, some kind of meat in sauce.
She swallowed the bite and wanted to swoon. “What is that? It doesn’t need anything, it’s perfect.”
Jared looked pleased to hear it. He gave his mom a taste, too, and she gave him two thumbs up.
“It’s Osso Bucco. And I’m just stirring a risotto to have with it. It’s almost ready. I figured we’d relax with some wine and cheese and crackers first.”
His mother set a cheese tray with several different kinds of cheeses and crackers on the kitchen’s island, so they could help themselves while Jared finished up. Gina poured a glass of wine for everyone, and after his mother urged her to have some cheese, she spread a familiar-looking aged goat cheese on a cracker.
“Is that Humbolt Fog?” she asked.
“It is. I remember you said you like that one.” It was her favorite cheese—firm like goat in the middle and runny like Brie on the edges. She’d mentioned it briefly to Jared a few weeks ago and was surprised that he remembered.
“How long have you lived on Nantucket, Gina?” his mother asked.
“Not that long. A little over a year.”
“How do you like it so far? Do you think you might stay? A lot of people move here, but it’s not for everyone.”
“I did question if I’d made the right decision a few times after I moved here, during the winter months when it’s so quiet. But now I love it. And after the crazy business of summer, I appreciate the peace now in the colder months.”
“I couldn’t agree more. We used to come here for summer vacations and when Jared’s father and I divorced about ten years ago, I kept the Nantucket house, but I didn’t move here right away. I didn’t think I’d want to be here year-round, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
Jared set a sizzling cast-iron skillet in the middle of the island and warned them not to touch the pan. Six steaming Oysters Rockefeller sat on a bed of salt rocks. Gina wasn’t a fan of raw oysters, but she loved them prepared this way, with spinach, an anise-flavored cream sauce and a sprinkle of seasoned bread crumbs.
“Jared makes the best version of these that I’ve ever had,” his mother said. “Honey can you grab the hot sauce, please?”
A moment later Jared set a bottle of Hawthorne Hot next to the oysters and his mother added a few drops to her oyster. Gina liked hot sauce, so she did the same and took a bite. The flavors were intense and so good. She knew the liqueur used that gave the slight licorice taste was Pernod and there was the perfect amount in the oysters. She reached for a second one, added the hot sauce and took a closer look at the label. Hawthorne Hot was one of the top-selling hot sauces in the country and in fine print, she noticed that it was made in Massachusetts. She glanced at Jared.
“Are you related to the makers of this sauce?” She figured it was a long shot, but the last name wasn’t that common.
He nodded. “Dad started the business right out of college. He couldn’t find a hot sauce that he liked, so he made one and the rest is history.”
“I had no idea.” She realized that Jared’s family was wealthier than most, by far. Yet she’d had no idea. He wasn’t at all showy about it, like Alex.
“I don’t mention it, really. I think I got my love of food from my dad, though.”
His mother smiled. “He definitely did. Jared used to love to help me in the kitchen.”
Jared plated up the Osso Bucco and risotto for each of them and they ate in the dining room, with the merrily glowing fireplace and soothing views of the ocean.
“Jared, this is so good.” It was the first time she’d experienced his cooking. She knew he was talented because she’d heard people rave about the dishes he made at the restaurant. But this was better than anything she’d had there. “When you do eventually open your own restaurant, people are going to love it.”
“Thank you. I’m not in a hurry. I figure three more years or so working with Paul and then I’ll start to seriously think about doing something.”
His mother looked slightly concerned. “Will you stay on Nantucket? Or are you thinking of somewhere around Boston?”
He put her mind at ease. “Definitely Nantucket. I have no interest in going to Boston. I think what I want to do will work here.”
“I’m sure it will, and you know I’m happy to have you stay here. When you’re ready, honey, I know your restaurant will be a big success.”
“You two are good for my ego.” Jared beamed at both of them. “Save room for dessert.”
Gina helped his mother clear the plates and tidy up in the kitchen. They decided to wait a bit on dessert, have some coffee and play cards for a bit. His mother got a pen and paper and they had a blast playing the game pitch for several hours until dessert sounded like a good idea and Jared jumped up to get it. He returned a few minutes later with slices of rich chocolate cream pie in a buttery shortbread crust, with fresh whipped cream and shaved chocolate curls on top. They all cleaned their plates, then went into the living room and watched the classic Christmas movie A Christmas Story together.
“Gina has never seen this one. And even though I’ve seen it a million times with you, I still missed a trivia question on it.”
“Oh? What was the question?”
“What was the name of the next-door neighbors, whose dogs ate the turkey?”
His mother laughed. “The Bumpuses. Did you really miss that?”
“I really did.”
“That’s okay. I still love you,” she joked.
They settled in to watch the movie and when it finished, Jared’s mother excused herself and said she was going to go lay down for a little while. Gina understood totally. It was tempting as she was so full herself and feeling lazy after sitting for the past few hours, so she nodded gratefully when Jared offered her another cup of coffee.
“If I don’t see you again later, it was lovely to meet you,” his mother said. “I’m so glad that Jared invited you over to share the day with us. And thank you again for the flowers.”
Gina thanked her as well and after his mother went upstairs, Jared said he’d be right back. He brought two fresh coffee cups and returned a moment later with a gift bag with her name on it. It was stuffed with tissue paper and tied with a silver ribbon.
“It’s just something little. I saw it while I was shopping and I thought of you.”
“Oh. Hold on. I got you something too.” Gina hopped up and returned a moment later with his gift and handed it to him. He looked surprised and pleased.
“You go first,” J
ared said.
Gina carefully pulled out the tissue paper and reached inside the bag and pulled out a brush set. The new brushes she needed and hadn’t gotten around to getting yet. There was also a selection of watercolor paints in gorgeous shades. She felt her eyes grow damp. It was such a thoughtful gift.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I need these.”
He grinned. “I know. And I had a good guess that you probably had been too busy to get them.”
“I can’t wait to use them and to throw my old ones out.” She laughed. “Okay, your turn.”
Jared unwrapped his gift and opened the book and saw Dennis Lehane’s signature.
“This is awesome, thank you. I haven’t read this one yet. I’ve been meaning to get it.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Let’s take a walk. I’ll give you the tour, and we can stretch our legs.”
He led her around the downstairs rooms through the more formal living room, by an office, and into the room he said was his favorite—a library with bookcases lining all the walls and several plush leather chairs strewn about the room, all facing out the huge wall to ceiling windows that overlooked nothing but ocean. It was serene and beautiful and cozy at the same time.
“It would be easy to spend hours in this room,” Gina said.
“I have. Many times over the years. Come over here and see this view.”
Gina walked to where Jared stood by the window.
He took her hand and looked serious for a moment. “I’m really glad that you came today. There’s no one I’d rather spend the day with. I love spending time with you.”
“I feel the same way. I always have fun and just love being with you too.”
“Look up.”
She did and laughed. There was a sprig of mistletoe taped to the window.
He laughed. “Smooth, huh? I thought you’d like that.”
“I do. Very much.”
He kissed her then, and this time it wasn’t a short kiss.
Chapter 18
The children were up early on Christmas Day—which meant that Mandy was up early, too. But, she didn’t mind. The excitement of her children was contagious, and she loved to feel the magic of the day through their eyes. She’d been up late the night before, finishing up her wrapping and chatting with Jill and Billy. Their time with her had gone so quickly and they only had one more week together before they headed home to Manhattan on New Year’s Day. They wanted to be on Nantucket for New Year’s Eve and home the next evening to go into the office and see the team on Tuesday.
Jill and Billy heard the commotion and Mandy could hear them getting up too. She went downstairs to the kitchen first, to start the coffee then into the living room where the kids were sitting on the floor holding their overstuffed stockings. Mandy got the other stockings down and handed them to Jill and Billy when they joined them.
“Okay, you can go ahead and look inside now,” Mandy told them. She had fun with their stockings, and it was a mix of things they needed like socks and underwear and stuff they liked—candy, small toys, and books they’d requested. She and Jill stuffed each other’s stockings with their favorite things. She’d gotten a bag of York Peppermint Patties for Jill and mini Reese’s cups for Billy and they’d gotten her a bag of gummy bears. Mandy got them both soft, fuzzy socks and wasn’t surprised to find a pair from them as well. Jill knew how she loved her warm socks.
When the stockings were emptied. Mandy told the kids to wait one moment and went and got coffee for the three of them.
“Okay, now you can open your gifts.” They gratefully sipped their coffee and watched the kids open their presents. Mandy went around and scooped up the piles of wrapping paper and ribbons and stuffed everything in a giant trash bag. Once the kids had opened all of their gifts and were playing with a new game she’d given Blake, Mandy, Jill and Billy exchanged gifts. They’d agreed to just do something small because none of them needed a thing.
Mandy got cashmere sweaters for both of them, rose pink for Jill and hunter green for Billy. She also got each of them a book, the newest Danielle Steel for Jill and a Lee Child mystery for Billy.
Mandy opened her gift bag from Jill and Billy and noticed that they were both trying not to laugh.
“What is it?”
“You’ll see,” Jill said. Mandy smiled when she unwrapped the first gift. It was an identical cashmere sweater to the one she’d given Jill, but a different color, pale lavender. It wasn’t the first time they’d given each other the same gift.
“Great minds,” Jill said. They’d been shopping together and had both admired the sweaters. Their other gift to her was a gorgeous framed print of one of Kristen Hodges’ seaside paintings. Jill knew that Mandy liked Kristen’s work as she had an original watercolor in the living room.
“I thought you might like that for your bedroom or maybe your office?”
“I love it, thank you.”
Mandy put out the traditional Christmas morning coffee cake, cinnamon walnut by the Boston Coffee Cake company. Mandy had never even tried to make coffee cake because this one was so good, and it wouldn’t be Christmas at her house without it.
They spent the morning relaxing, while the kids played with their new games.
Around eleven thirty, Jill and Mandy went to work in the kitchen. Jill peeled potatoes while Mandy made a garlic mixture to rub all over the prime rib before putting it in the oven to roast. They also had leftover lobster casserole and shrimp cocktail from the night before and she was going to make a big salad. Billy wandered in and offered to help, but Jill shooed him away and suggested he see what was on for Christmas movies and they’d be in shortly to join him.
It didn’t take them long in the kitchen and they settled on the sofa with Billy just as the movie It’s a Wonderful Life began.
Two hours or so later, there was a knock on the door, just as the movie was ending.
Mandy got up and opened the front door. Emma and Paul came in, with cheeks rosy from the cold and holding bags of gifts. Emma stopped short when she saw Mandy’s damp eyes.
“Is everything all right?”
Mandy nodded and smiled. “Clarence just got his wings.”
Emma laughed. “Of course.”
The kids came running when they heard Emma’s voice and hugs were exchanged all around, followed by more gifts. Mandy had gotten Emma and Paul both comfy flannel pajamas. Emma loved pajamas. And books for both of them—the newest Nora Roberts suspense for Emma and a John Grisham legal thriller for Paul. Jill got them a wine rack for their kitchen and a few bottles of really good wine. Emma and Paul gave each of them a luxurious plush bathrobe and fuzzy slippers, which Mandy and Jill both had recently said they needed.
Emma opened one of the bottles of wine, a cabernet, and let it breathe for a little bit, until they were ready to eat. They had it with dinner, and it was silky and rich, deliciously complementing the garlicky prime rib.
Jill raised a glass to toast everyone. “To being together. This past month has been wonderful.” She looked at Billy. “I know you told your mom we’d come next Christmas, but we might need to find a way to do both. It was really special being here for December and working in the restaurant. It made me feel more a part of it, and I’m really proud of what you all have done with Mimi’s Place.”
“Thank you and I’d love to see this be a new tradition, too, having you both come for the month of December. I’m so glad that you did.”
“Me, too. It’s been fun working with you both and just spending time with you. Paul and I were recently saying that we need to plan a trip to New York soon too.”
“I’d love that. We have plenty of room, so you’ll stay with us. And we’ll show you all around and maybe see a show or two.”
After they finished eating, Paul put out an apple pie he’d made that morning and they had that for dessert before collapsing in the living room to relax and watch more Christmas movies.
A few hours later, Matt came by. His kids were home, so he d
idn’t want to stay long, but he did want to see Mandy alone for a moment before they went to visit with the others.
“I have something for you. Can we go somewhere private where it’s just the two of us?”
“Of course. I have something for you too. He waved at everyone as she led him into her office and closed the door. It was a small room, but she loved it. She often sat in one of the comfy plush chairs and read a book and enjoyed the ocean view. Today it was cold and gray outside and she thought she saw a hint of flakes starting again.
She handed him his gift bag and said he should go first. He smiled when he pulled out the coffee table book on fishing that she and Jill had found.
“This is great, thank you.”
“There’s something else in there.”
He reached in and pulled out the sweater she’d chosen for him. She’d thought of him instantly when she’d seen it in the store. It was sturdy but soft and the color, a deep teal, was flattering on him.
“I love it. Thank you.”
“If you want to exchange it, there’s a gift receipt in the bag.”
He smiled. “I don’t need to exchange it. Now open yours.” He handed her a very small box.
She unwrapped it carefully and was stunned to see a breathtakingly gorgeous ring inside. It was a sapphire, surrounded by tiny diamonds on a platinum band. It was beautiful and a much bigger gift than what she’d given him.
“This is lovely, but it’s too much. You shouldn’t have.”
“I wanted to. I consulted my kids about this. I know you’re nowhere near ready to think about getting married again. So, this is a promise ring. I wanted you to know how serious I am. You’re it for me, Mandy. I’m in no rush, but when you’re ready for an engagement ring, just let me know. Until then, I wanted you to know how much you mean to me. I hope you like it.”
She felt her eyes grow damp again. “I love it. I really do. It’s so generous of you. And I’m very serious about you too. I told my sisters a while back that there’s no one else I want to date. Just you.”
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