by Andrea Hurst
Jude rushed around the kitchen, helping out with orders. Little Christopher seemed content and would be ready for his nap after lunch.
“Soup’s up,” Ryan said.
Jude picked up a basket with homemade bread and thyme butter to go with the soup and headed back. “Here you go,” she said as she placed everything in front of John.
He nodded but did not jump in with his usual gusto. Jude took a closer look. His eyes were a little puffy and red. She wondered if he’d been having trouble sleeping. And his always-bright smile was reticent today.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, you know, like always.”
John was getting well into his eighties, and the thought of losing him was intolerable. Jude probed a bit deeper. “Sleeping okay?”
John yawned. “Excuse me,” he said. “Sleep is not the problem. It’s Betty. She really has me hopping these days.”
Jude was confused. Betty and John? Had she missed something? “She does?”
A bright smile crossed his face at her strained comment. “Betty’s got me playing Santa at the animal shelter this weekend, and Gretel is to be Santa’s helper.”
Jude burst out laughing at the thought of John’s black lab in antlers and bells. “I am going to have to see this!”
“Just come by Saturday. We’ll be there. Lily’s helping out too. I know none of you girls have any extra time right now, so don’t worry if you can’t make it. Where’s your little one today?”
“He’s in playtime in back with Daddy so Mommy can do some work.”
John picked up his spoon and sipped his soup. “Not bad. Your Chef Ryan really knows his stuff.”
“That he does. And he’s a great dad, too.”
John sighed. “All of you ladies with little ones soon. I wish Maggie could have been here to see them.”
His eyes reflected the sadness his words portrayed. Jude placed her hands over his. “I do too. The holidays are always harder when someone you love is missing.”
He glanced up at her, his eyes moist. “Sorry for getting all sentimental on you. Been a bit rough the last few days. Even Gretel, who lives for food, has barely eaten lately.”
Concern for John intensified. His beloved dog was his best friend and his last link with Maggie. The two of them had loved and raised that dog together. And now the white fur eclipsing the black in the dog’s face and her slowing gait were certainly worrisome.
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “Lay it on me anytime. That's what friends are for. She’ll probably be just fine in a day or two. You know how dogs are—into everything. Now finish up your soup and I’ll plate up the largest brownie for you.”
“What do you put in those brownies, anyway?” he asked. “They are a guaranteed pick-me-upper.”
She winked at him. “My secret.”
Customers lined up at the cash register, and Jude rang up their bills and wished them a good day. Tables were thinning out and the clang of dishes being bussed signaled that lunch hour was winding down.
At two o’clock, Jude rushed back to the kitchen play area to bring Christopher up for his nap.
“Mommy,” he said, leaping up into her arms. “I know a new song.”
“Will you sing it for me?”
He sat up straight. “Got a baby bumble bee, Mommy is so proud of me.” His eyes gleamed as he lifted his hands and smacked them together. “Squish my baby bumble bee. Ick!”
“Oh my,” Jude said. She eyed Ryan. “Who taught you that?”
Christopher pointed to Ryan. “Daddy did.”
“Good job singing,” she said and pulled him into her arms. “Time to go upstairs.”
Christopher moaned and reached for his daddy. “Time to go, buddy,” Ryan said.
Jude took his hand and helped him get his little down coat on before heading out the back door and upstairs to their home. They’d only be a minute outside, but temperatures were at freezing. Nap time ahead, she told herself and smiled.
⌘
Jude stood silently at the doorway of young Christopher’s room and watched him drift off to sleep. His angelic face, circled by golden curls, looked so peaceful when he was asleep. Which wasn’t that often lately. They were lucky they could bring him to work with them and everyone enjoyed watching over and playing with him. She did her best to help Ryan out, rushing around greeting customers, taking orders, handling the bar and general front of café management. The waitresses did a fantastic job, but the café had become very popular through news exposure and Ryan’s excellent cuisine, so there was little downtime. Not that she was complaining. There were some slow times, but right around Christmas was not one of them. This year they would be closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day to spend time with family and friends. The thought of sitting around the Christmas tree, with a warm fire burning, along with her husband, daughter, Lindsey, and their little boy warmed her heart in a way nothing else could.
She slipped off her shoes, curled up on the couch, and pulled a wool throw over her. While her son blessedly took his nap, she managed to grab one too. Jude hated to admit she needed afternoon naps. Being over forty, a café owner, wife, and mother to a two-year-old could be exhausting at best. But she was content. Rain coated the large picture windows that faced out to the cove. Tiny strings of lights glowed around the windows and made the room sparkle. Four stockings, soon to be filled, hung at the fireplace. Her eyes fluttered shut and she drifted toward sleep.
What was that sound in the distance? It was pulling her back, no! The incessant sound of a text message. She’d put the volume up to high to make sure she could hear it in the restaurant in case she was needed in the kitchen. With a sigh, she leaned over to see if it was important.
“Do you have a minute?” Lily asked.
Jude was awake now so she texted back. “What’s up?”
“Confirming brunch plans for Christmas Day. You’re bringing quiches and scalloped potatoes. Will that work?”
Jude searched her memory for any reason why not. Ryan made a mean quiche, so she confirmed. “You finally made up the menu,” Jude said with a laugh.
“This is definitely it,” Lily texted. “Oh, invited Marco and Becca too so they would not be alone. I’ve lost track of the grand total.”
Lily was taking on a lot, like her Grandmother Maggie used to do when she owned Madrona Island B&B. Everyone was coming this year, it seemed, and they all wanted to be together. “We’ll come early to help,” Jude texted back.
“You’re the best,” Lily replied. “Xoxoxo.”
Jude placed the phone back down on the table and lowered the volume a little. She remembered her worst Christmas on the island after her daughter Lindsey had left to live with her father. Maggie had wrapped her in her loving arms and insisted she join them for Christmas. She was quite a woman, Maggie. Madrona Island B&B under her management had been voted one of the top ten B&B inns in the Pacific Northwest. And she treated her friends even better. How they all missed her.
Jude’s mind flashed to Christmas Eve. It would be a simple evening. Ryan had planned a small dinner at home for just the four of them and to open some of the presents as a family together. Ryan was taking care of the menu and Lindsey would help, so Jude was off the hook. Toys of every size and shape were bought, wrapped, and hidden well, along with gifts for all her friends and their children. They’d decided on small gifts for adults and to make this a kid-friendly Christmas. She just had to keep the café traffic moving and stay rested and sane until they closed the doors for the holiday
She glanced at the clock. Christopher would probably still sleep at least another half hour. Jude tried to doze off again, but her mind raced and so did her heart. Once the thoughts started coming like this, there was no peace, or sleep either. Lily was spread thin; running the B&B, chasing after her almost-five-year-old, Gwyn; and their son, Jason, had just entered his teenage years.
Grandpa John had always been everyone’s rock,
but his memory seemed to be drifting lately, as well as his heart.
And then there was Kyla. Worry number one was Kyla’s delivery; Lily and Jude had to be at their best for their friend. The woman had overcome so much during this pregnancy. It will only be a few days now, Jude assured herself, and everything will be fine.
Jude sat up and took three deep belly breaths. Count your blessings, she reminded herself. It was impossible to be grateful and fearful at the same time.
The patter of little feet brought a smile to her face.
“Mommy, I’m thirsty.”
She looked at her sleepy son, his hair askew, toting his favorite blankie, and knew one of her biggest blessings was standing right in front of her.
⌘
From the porch, Lily watched Ian drive off with their golden-haired daughter, Gwyn, buckled up in the car seat in the rear. Gwyn had requested her pink knit hat and gloves to match her puffy pink down jacket for the excursion to the Swings Park. It was hard to turn down a request when those dark eyes, so much like her father’s, stared hopefully into Lily’s.
The rain had stopped for a few days, and scattered sun, despite cooling temperatures, made the park a perfect destination to get some outside time. The little animal rides, assorted swings, and slides attracted a lot of children with their parents, and had become one of Gwyn’s favorites. Lily almost tossed her to-do list aside to go join the adorable pair, but the amount of work to put on a Christmas this size and keep the inn guests stocked with hot apple cider and cookies was not going to get finished if she did not get down to business today. At least she got most of her shopping done the last few days.
She wandered back inside to warm her hands by the fire, and thought about the news Ian had given her this morning. In a very tough competition, he had just been notified that his painting won first place in the Artist of the Year holiday event in New York City. That was the good news. The not-so-great news was he had to fly to New York for the gala event on December 23rd. Lily was invited as well, but there was no way she could leave that close to Christmas. She was basically down one wingman with Kyla ordered to bed, and the three friends had barely found time for tea in the last month. She wondered how her grandmother, in her late seventies, had handled the holiday rush. From what everyone had told her, Christmas at the inn with Maggie was quite spectacular. Lily wished she could have been here, but that time had long passed. She was here now.
Her eyes drifted over to the antique china cabinet that housed the inn’s last guestbook, the one Grandma Maggie had left behind for Lily to find. It had been filled with recipes and photos and was as special to her now as when she’d first arrived. So much had changed over that last—what was it—about five years. She was happy now, more than she ever thought possible, and Lily hoped her grandmother would be proud of what she had accomplished here on the island.
Mind back to work, she told herself. Just thinking about her roll top desk, overflowing with papers in the B&B office, made her start for the kitchen. Perhaps she needed another cup of coffee. She’d barely taken a step when she heard a knock and the front door creaked open.
“Yoo-hoo, anybody here?” echoed the familiar voice of her perky neighbor, Betty.
“I’m coming,” Lily said, reluctantly leaving her list behind.
Betty was bundled up in a red plaid wool jacket and cap. Even she was not immune when the temperatures started to drop.
“Good afternoon,” Betty said. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.” Her bright blue eyes lit up the room.
“Never,” Lily said. “Come on in. Can I get you some coffee?”
Betty waved the offer away. “Had my one cup this morning. I won’t take much of your time.”
Lily motioned to the parlor where the warm fire blazed and hissed against the glass door of the wood burner. “Let’s sit in here.”
Betty took the rocker by the stove. “I remember when you couldn’t get a fire started to save your life,” she said with a laugh.
“So do I. But thanks to you, I’m a pro now.” What would she have done back then without those two endearing sisters next door?
Betty’s gravelly laugh was contagious, and Lily found herself relaxing for the first time in days. She reminded herself that Christmas was about family and friends, not working herself to death. Everything would get done, or it wouldn’t. Either way, she’d be surrounded by family and friends, and that was all that mattered.
“Have you seen what the animal shelter is offering this weekend?” Betty pulled a flyer out of her coat pocket and handed it to Lily.
Lily read the flyer aloud. “Bring your pets for a picture with Santa and benefit homeless animals.” John had warned her this was Betty’s new project. How could she turn that down? Lily squirmed just a little at adding one more thing to the busy weekend.
“And guess who’s playing Santa?” Betty grinned. “Grandpa John.”
“He’ll make the perfect Santa. I hear Gretel is going to be an elf.”
Betty’s eyes shone. “I did think of that. A pretty good idea if I must say so myself. Either that or a reindeer.”
The flickering fire cast shadows along Betty’s weather-wrinkled face. That woman never let anything stop her.
“So, what do you need us for?” Lily asked.
“What we really need is a photographer. Our volunteer came down with pneumonia, and with Ian being an artist and all, we hoped he could fill in.”
Lily thought a moment. Ian would love the idea. He took photos of his art for catalogues. “I don’t think it will be a problem, but let me ask him.”
Betty stood. “Don’t want to keep you. Just let Ian know it’s all set up to print at the shelter, and you and Gwyn can help with placing the pets with Santa.”
Lily walked Betty to the door. “You can count on us. It will be a cherished family memory and help out the animals too.”
“Can’t thank you enough. Saturday morning at the shelter.” She reached for the door. “I’ll get out of your hair now.”
Lily took Betty’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for including us.”
Betty’s eyes glistened. “My pleasure.”
After Betty left, Lily felt refreshed and ready to face her list. She checked her phone and found a message from Ian to let her know he was taking Gwyn to Island Thyme Café for a peppermint hot chocolate. That left her plenty of time to get this holiday rolling.
⌘
“Let’s sing a Christmas song on the way,” Lily said to get them all in the holiday spirit. The heat was going full force in the car as a light, icy rain coated the windows. It may not have been the best day to go to out, but Santa was expecting them at the animal shelter. And Betty too. Grandpa John and Gretel had driven separately so as not to spoil the surprise for Gwyn. Jason sat in the back with his grumpy look, unhappy to be dragged along.
“How about ‘Jingle Bells’?” Gwyn asked from the backseat. She was dressed in a red velvet dress with lace trim, and her long blonde hair was in braids today with matching red satin bows.
Ian started up the chorus and Gwyn chimed in.
“Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh,” Lily sang.
“Hey!” yelled Gwyn.
Lily turned to smile just in time to see Jason roll his eyes. “Too early for singing.” He turned and stared out the window.
Jason’s first year as a teenager was certainly challenging, and Lily and Ian were at a loss as to where their sweet little boy had gone.
“Oh c’mon,” Ian said. “Don’t be a Grinch.”
“Dad…” Jason rolled the word with annoyance.
“How was Gretel this morning?” Lily asked to change the subject.
“Not great. She wouldn’t even take a cookie from me. And those antlers looked ridiculous on her.”
Lily turned to Ian and held back her laugh. She guessed that hanging out with his parents wasn’t as cool as it used to be either.
⌘
When they arrived at the shelter
, volunteers wearing holiday garb led them to the lobby. A floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree decorated the lobby, along with stuffed animals wrapped in red velvet scarves or bearing antlers. Lily walked over and read off some of the wish-list ornaments hanging from the branches. Each one included a request for animals spending the holiday without a forever home. It broke her heart and she wished she could take them all home with her. She made a mental note to discuss getting a pet or two with Ian, and then rolled off two tags and put them in her purse to add to her shopping list.
While Ian and Jason set up the camera, Grandpa John took his seat in the velvet-covered Santa chair, and Gretel, faux antlers and all, nestled at his feet.
Lily whispered in Gwyn’s ear, “Do you want to go sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?”
Gwyn frowned. “He looks like Grandpa John.”
Lily hugged her daughter close. “Santas often do.”
“Ho ho ho,” Santa bellowed, practicing his part for the day. He patted his knee. “Are there any little girls or boys who want to come up and tell me what they’re wishing for this year?”
Gwyn searched her mother’s face for approval. Lily nodded toward Santa. “Go on.”
While Ian snapped some shots, Lily watched her little girl walk hesitantly toward Santa and stop right before him.
“Come on up on my lap,” he said, giving her a jolly smile.
Gwyn obliged. She pointed to Gretel on the floor beside him. “That’s my grandpa’s dog.”
Santa winked at her. “Your nice grandpa is letting me borrow Gretel today. All my reindeer are getting ready for Christmas up at the North Pole.”
Gwyn smiled. “She’s a nice dog.”
“Yes, she is,” he said. “Now tell me, what do you want for Christmas?”
Lily leaned in close as a crowd was starting to form a line behind her. She did not want to miss this important information about Gwyn’s wishes.
Lily’s daughter looked straight at her and Ian with her most charming smile, and before an audience of shelter volunteers and community donors, she said, “A puppy of my very own! A gold one.”
