Tis the Season

by Jill Sanders

  “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

  Blake’s eyes moved up to his. “Yes.” She smiled at Suzie. “I like your sister.”

  He chuckled and pulled Blake into his arms. “So do I. I’m sorry for whatever your mother said to you.”

  Blake shrugged. “It’s not the first she’s made me cry and it’s probably not the last time”

  “No, but it should be.” He pulled back a little and motioned for his sister to get lost. Suzie started heading towards the house. “I gather she thinks we’re a waste of time?”

  She closed her eyes and nodded. “She thinks I should, and I quote, ‘Have my fun with you, then move on.’”

  He smiled. “Good idea, except for the moving on part.”

  He saw a whisper of a smile, then she sighed and rested her forehead against his chest. “She thinks I’m a failure. That my business is a joke. That I’ve indulged myself long enough and that I need to move back to LA with her so I can make a real living.”

  “What brought it on?” he asked.

  She looked up at him. “I was getting you a present.” She bit her lip. “She… didn’t approve.”

  “Oh?” He glanced towards the Jeep.

  She laughed. “It’s not there.”

  He sighed and frowned. “Well, then, who cares what she thinks. I’m sure I’m going to love it even more knowing she doesn’t approve. I love you so much, even knowing she doesn’t approve. Even if my family didn’t approve of you, which they totally do, I’d still love you.”

  Her face softened. “I love you too. No matter what anyone thinks, that will never change.”

  Chapter 16

  The following day, Blake rushed around the massive house making sure everything was perfect. Since Matt’s family owned the best restaurant along the coast, the entire meal was being prepared by the staff of the Golden Oar, so Matt’s kitchen was now occupied by some of the best chefs in town.

  She busied herself with making sure everything was in place before his family started arriving. When Matt walked into the room, she frowned over at him.

  “Do I need to babyproof this room?” She glanced around the living room.

  He laughed at her. “They’re a week old.”

  She waited. “I’ve never really been around babies.”

  He chuckled again and walked across the room to take her shoulders.

  “Stop stressing. Everything’s perfect.” He leaned down and kissed her. “And no, babies don’t start getting into things until they’re about six months old.” He kissed her again.

  She glanced around again. “Do you think we’ll have enough space at the table?” She glanced at the long tables set up in the living room. The formal dining room would only hold about eight and last count, they would have twenty-one and two infants.

  She’d put two long folding tables next to one another in the living room and had added folding chairs that the staff had brought up from the restaurant. She’d topped the tables with red tablecloths. The white plates, silverware, crystal glasses, and pressed white napkins were all perfectly placed. She’d added a few holiday centerpieces she’d thrown together with baskets, holly, and decorations. In the main one, she’d added a tall glass candle holder that she’d purchased from Classy and Sassy. The deep red candle would be lit along with the cream-colored tapers just before the guests sat down to the meal.

  She had tealights set around the house in various places, and all of the Christmas lights were on and slowly blinking.

  Matt had turned on the Christmas music and had a fire going in both fireplaces. The bar upstairs was fully stocked as well. Turning circles, she bit her lip, wondering if she’d forgotten anything.

  “Stop stressing.” Matt walked over to her. “Everything looks amazing. You look amazing,” he added.

  She was wearing a white sweater dress with black boots, while he wore jeans and a white sweater with blue snowflakes on it.

  “You are missing one very important item,” he said, frowning down at her.

  “Oh?” She looked around. “What?” She could hear the worry in her voice.

  He chuckled as he walked over to the fireplace and pulled down two Santa hats. He set one on his head and placed the other on her head. She reached up and adjusted it.

  “There, now we’re ready.”

  She leaned up and kissed him, just as the doorbell chimed.

  “That would be our first guest.” He took her hand and they walked across to the front door.

  Blake stood back as his family flooded into the house. It was as if they had all carpooled up the hill together. When her father walked in next to Matt’s father, she smiled at the way the two men seemed to get along. Then her mother stepped into the house. Matt took her coat and hung it in the hallway closet.

  The look on her mother’s face was reserved, but Blake knew that all it would take was one small detail to set her off. The argument the day before hadn’t even been one of the worst ones they’d had that year.

  What had hurt the most was the way her mother had talked about Matt and his family. As if they were just a speed bump in her life, slowing her down from getting where her mother wanted her to be.

  Her entire body stiffened as her mother made her way into the living room. She watched the woman, all of the others around them forgotten.

  “Blake.” Her mother gave her air kisses.

  “Mother.” She nodded. “You can put those packages down by the tree.”

  Her mother set the handful of small boxes she’d been carrying at the base of the tree, small gifts she’d purchased for the Jordans for their hospitality. She hadn’t put too much thought into them, but they were expensive nonetheless, since her mother didn’t do anything half-assed.

  “Blake, Matthew,” Matt’s father broke into the crowd. “How about a tour before we begin?”

  Matt was beside her now, his arm wrapped around her waist. “It’s all Blake… and Parker.” He turned to his brother-in-law, who had a sleeping baby in his arms.

  “Go head, I’ve seen it. I’m on baby duty.” He chuckled.

  “I’ll join you. I’ve been dying to get a look around,” Sara chimed in. She started to hand the other baby to her husband, and everyone laughed. Then Megan Jordan walked over and took her grandbaby from her daughter.

  “I’ll take Ellie.” She smiled down at the child. “Any excuse to hold my granddaughter.”

  For the next forty minutes, Blake showed Matt’s family around the house. She noticed that her mother and father stayed behind with Parker. She was thankful that her mother hadn’t come along so she could start to relax a little.

  When they walked through the upstairs recreation room, drinks were poured and handed out. She finished the tour in the upstairs room that used to be the nursery. The conversation turned to their ghosts, and this line of conversation continued as they made their way back into the main room.

  “What’s this about a ghost?” Of course, her mother had zeroed in on their conversation.

  “This house is haunted,” Sara said with a smile, “by parents who had their daughter stolen from them on her first birthday.”

  “Really?” The tone of her mother’s voice told everyone in the room she doubted it very much.

  “Yes,” Blake said strongly. “I’ve seen them both. I’ve even talked to Emogene.”

  “Emogene?” his father repeated.

  “Yes. We’ve talked to their daughter, Anna Beth. She lives in a nursing home not far from here.” Matt walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “She was stolen during her birthday party. When everyone from the party rushed around to look for her, checking outside, her mother, Emogene, was murdered in the house.”

  “How horrible,” Blake’s mother said under her breath.

  “A year later, the father, Dr. Phillip Stratton, hung himself. The loss of his family was too much to bear.”

  “What happened to Anna Beth?” her mother asked, suddenly sounding interested.

  “She’d be
en taken by a local woman who had snuck into the house that night. She had been a maid here but had been fired when she was caught stealing. Emogene walked in on the woman rummaging through her jewelry box and holding the baby. She stole several jewelry pieces that night along with their daughter. Anna Beth was raised by the woman in Portland until she was ten. Then she broke her arm one summer and the local doctor had a friend fill in for him after the birth of his son.” Matt turned to his uncle. “Your grandfather is the one who called the police and told them he’d found Anna Beth.”

  “My grandfather?” Matt’s uncle asked. “He never told me.”

  “How horrible that the family was ripped apart,” her father said, walking over and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “I know what it’s like to not have my daughter around all of the time. Halfway around the world.” He sighed and hugged her tighter. “I can’t imagine not knowing you were safe while you were away from me.”

  She leaned up and kissed his cheek. The room was silent, then one of the babies started crying.

  From there, the mood lightened, and the talk turned to the holiday meal. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was brought in and drinks were filled, and soon the conversation split into several smaller groups.

  She was thankful that Suzie seemed to keep her mother at bay. She talked about how her mother had broken into modeling. It was an interesting story, but Blake had heard it more than a dozen times.

  Her father and Matt’s father chatted about the fishing trip and retirement.

  “I think we can call this a success,” Matt said to her softly as he took her hand under the table.

  “Yes.” She sighed. “I agree.”

  “Oh,” Lacey said, gaining everyone’s attention, “it’s started snowing again.”

  Everyone turned towards the large windows. Outside, the gray sky turned lighter as big fat flakes fell slowly.

  Several people carried their drinks to the windows and watched the snow fall as the table was cleared away.

  “It was pure genius to have them here today.” Blake nodded to the staff who moved quickly to pull the tables away so that the room was now cleared. The chairs were pushed against the walls so that seating was still available.

  “My sister has promised to sing.” He smiled down at her. “My father is going to play the violin.”

  “He plays?”

  “He does. So do I,” he answered, surprising her.

  “You should have told me. I would have designated a music room.”

  He chuckled. “I play, I didn’t say I like it.”

  She smiled. “My mother made me take flute lessons one summer. She claimed it would help fatten my lips.” She rolled her eyes. “I hated it.”

  He sighed and looked across the room. “So far so good.” She followed his eyes and nodded.

  “Everyone.” Suzie gained everyone’s attention. “I have a special Christmas treat.” She nodded to Todd, who walked into the front hallway to retrieve his violin.

  Everyone took their seats. Blake sat next to Sara as she nursed Ethan. The baby’s sucking noise was the only sound as Matt’s dad got ready.

  When Suzie started to sing, the entire atmosphere changed. She sang a few Christmas carols first, asking everyone to join in on the chorus.

  For the last song of the evening, she said, “This is one of my own.” She smiled nervously. “One I’ve actually recorded.”

  Several eyebrows rose. Then she started singing, and Blake got teary when the lyrics talked of the bond between a mother and daughter. Matt’s hand took hers as the room grew fuzzy. He handed her a tissue and she wiped the tears away.

  The room grew silent again, and a loud, shocked gasp caused everyone’s eyes to turn towards the doorway.

  A young child, no more than a year old, stood in the doorway. The little girl’s pink dress swayed in an eerie way, as if wind was blowing it around.

  “Anna Beth,” Matt said under his breath. He moved to stand up, but Blake held him still.

  “Look.” She motioned to the doorway.

  There, as his entire family and hers watched, Emogene and Phillip Stratton walked through the doorway. Emogene bent down and picked up the young girl, hugging her as Phillip engulfed them both in his arms. Then the parents’ eyes turned to Matt and her as they faded.

  “Merry Christmas,” whispered across the silent room.

  “Well hell!” Riley said, breaking the silence. “I need a drink, who else needs one?”

  Matt’s cousin stood up and wobbled her way towards the bar area as everyone nervously laughed.

  “Was that…”—her mother glanced over at her—“a joke?”

  Blake laughed. “If it was, it’s on us.” She sighed and looked over at Matt. Then it dawned on her. “Anna Beth?”

  He pulled out his phone. “I’ll call and check on her.” He stepped out of the room.

  A glass of wine was placed in her hands and she sipped it, waiting for the news as everyone quietly chatted.

  “We’ met earlier.” One of the twins who owned the local pizzeria approached her. “Carter.” He held out his hand for hers.

  “Right, I met you before, on the day of the robbery or… whatever it was over at Classy and Sassy.”

  “Right.” He nodded.

  “Your brother is engaged to Lilly,” she added.

  “Yes. I just wanted to thank you for inviting us today.” He nodded over to where his brother stood. “I think we’re going to head out.”

  “Oh.” She stood up. “There’s still dessert.” She nodded to the table along the wall, which was filled with goodies.

  “Thanks, but we’re going to get down the hill before it gets too bad.” He nodded to the doorway.

  “Alright, Matt will be…” She turned to the doorway as Matt walked in. The look on his face told her that it was true—Anna Beth Willis had joined her parents.

  “Leaving?” he asked Carter and shook his hand.

  “Yeah, Lilly’s taking a to-go plate of desserts.” He nodded over to where his brother and Lilly were filling up a few plates with cake and pie. “Thanks for letting me tag alone.”

  Matt nodded. “You’re family. Anytime.”

  As everyone else filled up on desserts, he pulled her into the hallway. “Anna Beth slipped away today.” He sighed and hugged her.

  “She’s with her family now,” she said into his chest.

  “Come on, let’s go have some pie.” He pulled her back into the noisy room.

  After everyone had a sufficient sugar high, they sat around and exchanged gifts. The family was too large to buy everyone gifts, so they had drawn names during Thanksgiving dinner.

  Later, as everyone was leaving, Blake realized there were still presents under the tree.

  “Did we forget someone?” she asked Matt, nodding to the packages.

  “No, those are ours.” He smiled.

  “Ours?” She frowned. “From whom?”

  “My parents, aunts, uncles.” He shrugged. “Gifts for hosting the party. We’re supposed to open them tomorrow morning.”

  “They didn’t have to get us anything else,” she said.

  “It’s tradition. Whoever hosts gets something extra.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “Well then, who am I to break tradition?”

  That night, they sat around the tree, sipping hot chocolate, nibbling on the leftover pie and cake, and talking about the lack of ghosts in their haunted house.

  “I have a present that can’t wait until morning,” she finally said. “Your father arranged for it to be delivered and… well, to be honest, it just can’t wait anymore.”

  “Okay,” he said with a smile. “As long as you open mine first.”

  She narrowed her eyes and thought about it. “Okay.” She smiled.

  Matt walked over and sat down in front of the tree. “Come on over here.” He motioned to the spot on the rug next to him.

  She walked over carrying her drink and set it down on the fi
replace, then sat next to him. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  “Cover your eyes first.”

  She did but spread her fingers so she could peek out.

  “No cheating.” He covered her eyes, and she laughed.

  “Here.” He set a box in her hands. It was heavy and when he pulled back his hand, she smiled down at the pretty red box.

  “Your cousins’ store?” she asked, knowing very well that Classy and Sassy had had specialized boxes made for the holidays.

  “Best store in town.” He smiled. “Go on, open it.”

  She did, pulling back the lid. White tissue paper filled the box. At the bottom of the box was another box, this one smaller.

  Pulling it out, she held her breath and pulled back the lid to the ring box.

  “Okay, I didn’t actually purchase this at my cousins’ store. It’s been in my family for a few generations,” Matt admitted.

  The blue topaz matched the one she wore around her wrist, on the bracelet Matt had given her less than an hour earlier when everyone was gathered around them.

  “It’s…”

  “Blake…” He took her free hand in his. “It’s like you said, forget everyone else, let’s focus on us. Here. Now.” He took the ring and held it out for her. “Let’s start something new together. Marry me.”

  Her eyes met his green ones and held. So many emotions welled up in her chest. She wanted to run, to scream, to jump with joy. Instead, she nodded and swallowed. Then finally managed a weak, “Yes.”

  Epilogue

  Matt had never been more nervous in his life. Until she said yes, he had held his breath. Then it all whooshed out of his chest and he pulled her in and kissed her. He slid the ring on her finger with shaky hands.

  “Wow,” she said looking down at the ring. “Wow.”

  He chuckled and kissed her again. “Whatever your gift was, it can wait…” He started to pull her closer, but she shook her head.

  “No.” She stood up, suddenly determined. “It can’t. Stay here.” She started to leave the room, then turned back. “Cover your eyes,” she said, narrowing her own. “No peeking.”