by Reina Torres
Epilogue
Mira’s second winter in St. Helena was gearing up to be her favorite holiday season. Even with the lack of snow, there was plenty of holiday cheer and childlike excitement to go around. Arranging the fur-lined hood of Velia’s costume, Mira gave the older woman a satisfied nod. “You look perfect.” Indeed, the woman’s cheeks were a cheerful rosy color even without cosmetics.
As Velia took in the near full length image staring back at her from Mira’s cheval mirror, she lifted her hands and smoothed them over her festival holiday costume. “I never fancied myself as Mrs. Claus, but I have to say I like the way it looks.”
Mira picked up a small pair of scissors from a nearby shelf, she had at least half a dozen around the room, and made quick work of snipping away any extra threads. “It’s not the modern day Santa look that everyone’s used to,” she explained, “more St. Nicholas than anything else. It fits the period of the gardens.” Dropping the stray threads into her wastebasket Mira gave the outfit one last look, doubt marring her expression. “I just hope the children aren’t confused.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, dear.” Velia gave her a wink as she took hold of the younger woman’s arm. “I got a quick look at the long coat you made for Santa and there’s no mistaking that jolly elf, especially,” she giggled, “with that sack of toys he’ll have hanging over his shoulder.”
“You saw him, hmm?” Mira saw the color rise in Velia’s cheeks. “How did you get that little preview?”
Turning to the side, but unable to completely hide the private grin that lit up her features, Velia tried to shrug away the question. “Mr. Vincenzo came over to talk to Teodoro about the mill, and I suggested that he dress at our house for the party.”
There was much more to the visit, if Mira was reading Mrs. Santini’s playful smiles and the flush to her skin. Since the olive harvest, Nico Vincenzo had been spending quite a bit of time with Velia, and everyone hoped that things would only improve between the two.
“That was a great idea.” Mira picked up her lint roller and went to work on the little capelet about Mrs. Claus’ shoulders. “That way he won’t have any wrinkles and it keeps him from explainling to the children why Santa is driving up to the party in a four door sedan.”
“It would probably confuse the children.”
“I doubt it would top the disappearance of Randolph the Reindeer,” Velia’s chuckle was one worthy of Mrs. Claus, “that was a doozy.”
Mira turned to look at her, one hand on the wardrobe door. “Randolph? What happened to him?”
“It was all a big misunderstanding when it came down to it,” Velia looked at the dress hanging inside and waved off the memory. “I’ll tell you all about it later, but first, let me help you get dressed.” As soon as Mira pulled the dress from the confines of the wardrobe, Velia took the hanger from her. “Better get on those under things first, oh, and your shoes,” she laughed, “I don’t see how you can move much after you have that corset on.”
“True, it’s a bit of a torture device.” Opening the other side of the wardrobe, Mira removed the stack of undergarments necessary to complete the look. Stockings, garters, chemise, corset, the list was daunting for most, but Mira was used to the lengthy preparation that she went through before each of the garden tours. “But, it’ll help to have a second pair of hands.” Mira stepped behind the dressing screen and quickly shed her own comfy clothes and started on her stockings.
She could hear Velia’s voice easily as she wiggled the first one over her knee.
“I’m glad you decided to wear this one, it’s really beautiful.”
Mira blushed in the privacy of her dressing area. “It’s probably my favorite of the lot. The fabric is so soft, it feels like silk.” Velia’s sigh and the rustling whisper of fabric said that she'd found the garment just as delightful as Mira had promised. “I was hoping for a violet purple, or perhaps a soft sky blue,” she added as she started on the second stocking, “but, I saw that mossy green and I had to have it.”
“Sometimes things are just meant to happen.” The slight gap between the fabric panels and the wooden frame of the screen allowed Mira a glimpse of the room beyond. Velia held the dress against her own. “I think we’ll be quite the pair today. I hope you’ll take a few photos with me later.”
Peering around the corner of the screen, Mira gave her neighbor a broad smile. “Of course! You know how I am about pictures.”
The two ladies shared a laugh as Mira ducked back behind the screen.
“I’m planning on getting a few photos of you and Teodoro when he gets here.”
A soft swish accompanied the rise and fall of a chemise, visible above the screen, as it descended over Mira’s upraised arms. “You know, I never did ask him where he was going. Do you know?”
“It’s actually my fault, dear.” Velia’s voice held a lilting tone as she continued on. “There were some things I asked him to pick up in San Francisco and one of them wasn’t ready until this morning. But don’t you worry, he’ll be here.”
Mira fastened the tiny button at the rounded neckline of her chemise and reached for the corset.
“This is, after all, a very special day.”
Later, Mira held a pinecone securely in her hand as little Sally Michaels tied a piece of yarn around its wide bottom. She waited patiently as the little girl wiggled the brightly colored yarn around the oddly shaped little ‘petals’, finally tying the ends together in a little loop. Once it was done, the little girl dripped craft glue in loops and down over the sides of the cone.
“Now the last part,” Mira gave her a big grin, “pinch some of the snow onto the glue.”
Sally pinched white flakes of snow from the plastic bowl onto the glue. “It’s not cold,” the little girl giggled, “but it sparkles like snow!”
“That’s part of the magic.”
One of the mothers sprinkled a little bit of it into her hand and held it up to the light. “It’s not plastic is it?”
Mira shook her head. “No, it’s all natural,” she leaned closer to the mother and whispered, “ground sea salt.”
The mother’s shocked expression turned to an easy smile. “It is magic.”
Satisfied at the snow on her ornament, Sally dusted her hands over the plastic bowl and launched herself from her chair to give Mira a hug around her neck. “Thanks, Miss C.”
It was a miracle beyond the magic that she managed to hold onto the ornament, but Mira hugged her back and sent her on to the next activity. One of the high school volunteers took the ornament and hung it up with a nametag, freeing Mira to stand up and stretch her legs.
Regan DeLuca paused beside her, holding her Holly’s hand. “Mira, I just wanted to stop and thank you before we go and see Santa.”
Holly grinned up at her mother showing a toothy grin that had a little empty space in the bottom row. Turning her beaming face to Mira, she rocked back on her heels, swishing her skirt around her knees. "Thanks for all the fun, I made something for Nonna."
"That's wonderful," Mira bent down to look Holly in the face, "things you make are the best gifts."
It didn't seem possible, but Holly's bright grin became a megawatt smile.
Someone stepped up behind Holly, slacks and refined leather shoes visible. Mira stood up slowly so she wouldn’t hurt her neck looking at the taller man. "Hey, Gabe, nice to see you again."
The DeLuca patriarch gave her a broad grin. "We had to bring Holly and Sophia to see Santa." He turned to look at his youngest, held carefully in the arms of her great grandmother who beamed with pride.
"I think this is going to be my new favorite event of the year," Mira turned to look at the scene under the arbor, "and I believe Santa and Mrs. Claus are really enjoying their vacation from the North Pole."
It did seem to be true. Santa was having an animated conversation with a young boy who was sitting on his knee while Mrs. Claus leaned on Santa's shoulder to join in on the fun. Decorated with some festi
ve evergreen boughs, large velvet ribbons, and sparkling pinecones, the arbor looked right out of a holiday ad in a family magazine.
As Mrs. Claus handed the boy a peppermint candy cane, Mira turned back to Gabe and his family. "You should go see Santa, looks like he's available now."
Regan turned and her expression changed slightly, a little bit of confusion coloring her features. "Actually," she smiled and nodded toward the arbor, "I think Santa's calling you over."
"Hmm?" Mira swung around to look at Santa and he was indeed gesturing to her.
The S-curved corset pinched her just the slightest bit through her chemise. Over the last few weeks she’d been wearing her Edwardian dresses more and more, even with the chill in the air, tour numbers were on the rise. With Harper’s help in marketing, her little Heritage Gardens had become quite the hit with locals and tourists alike. Shay had been right when she said that the ladies would want their own dresses, and the City Council was already hard at work coming up with an event that would showcase their own heritage and give them an excuse for the figure flattering dresses from the WWI era.
With a quick sweep of her hand, she settled the corset back in place as she sought to reassure Holly. "I'm sure he's just-," she had intended to say that he was just waving, but out of the corner of her eye she saw that Mrs. Claus was now gesturing to her as well, "I'll just be a minute. Why don't you see if you can wrestle the baby from Chiara and bring the girls, and we'll make sure all of you see Santa."
Crossing the grass, Mira made her way to the happy holiday couple. "Hey, how is everything going?"
Velia gave her a wink. "Just wonderfully."
Santa nodded. "We're having a wonderful time with the children." He took Velia's hand in his and the older woman's cheeks flushed with a becoming pink. "It's good practice for the time when we have some new babies to spoil."
"Well, that sounds like something to look forward to." Mira gave the two a big smile wondering how long it would be before Nico got around to making everything official between them. Stella and Teodoro were already close, having grown up together in St. Helena, but the Santini boys were likely to have a stepsister join the family before summer. Mira looked back at Regan and her family. "And,” she smiled, giving Holly a big wink, “you have two little girls waiting to see you." She started to back away to give them room.
Santa shifted slightly on his oversized chair and held up his pointer finger encased in the thick white glove. "Wait. I almost forgot, there’s a gift… just for you, my dear."
“Thank goodness he didn’t get completely sidetracked.” Velia reached behind his chair and picked up a box, putting it in Santa's hands. "He saved me the trouble of reminding him."
Giving his ‘Mrs.’ an indulgent wink, Santa held out the box and waited for Mira to take it from him. "This didn't come from Santa's workshop, my dear, but it is just as precious as the woman receiving it."
Mira looked down at the shining paper and velvet bow wrapped around the gift. She was touched, her emotions warming her from the inside out. "Thank you, Mister Vincenzo, I... I-"
"Tell her the rest, before she cries." Velia's words were filled with laughter even though her own eyes were watering.
Mira struggled to recover some of her composure and tried to make a joke to lighten the sentimental mood. "Besides, shouldn't you wait until I'm sitting on your knee."
"If you did that, Mr. Vincenzo and I might have to have a little talk." The voice and its wry tone brought an instant smile to her lips.
"Teo, I-" Mira turned and drew up short. Dressed from head-to-toe in an Edwardian suit, Teodoro Santini looked every inch a gentleman. She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch the collar of the coat with her fingertips. When she felt the fine wool against her fingertips she looked up into his face with a bright smile. "Where did you get this?"
Teo spared a look at his beaming grandmother. "Nonna found it. Don't ask me how, but it seems like my grandmother and her friends have quite the knack of finding just what I need.”
"Is this what you were picking up in San Francisco?" She flattened her palm on his arm, enjoying the feel of the fine fabric over his strong muscles. "Velia told me you were doing some errands and I was worried that you'd miss this."
"I wouldn't," he smiled and trailed his fingertips over her cheek, "I had to be here when you got my gift.”
"So this is from you?" She turned her attention to the box, pulling the ribbon free and then working the top of the box open with a wiggle. What she saw inside the box lifted her heart into her throat.
"To do this the right way,” he took a step back, “maybe I should offer to let you sit on my knee..." Mira barely managed to breathe as she looked at Teo, down on one knee in the grass beside the arbor. "For the next fifty years or so."
She withdrew the little leather box and blinked as if it’s vintage metal clasp held all the answers. When Teo undid the clasp with a twist of his fingers and lifted the lid all she could manage was, "It's beautiful."
"Just like you, Mirella." Teo's voice rumbled in his chest as he took the box from her hand. When he removed the ring he held it in his fingers and it caught the midmorning sun. "This is the ring that my grandfather gave to Nonna for their Fiftieth Anniversary." The olive colored peridot sparkled in the sunlight. "I'm hoping it will bring us some of their joy. Marry me?"
She looked down at Teo, dressed in a fancy pinstriped suit, holding out a ring and she couldn't manage to move, let alone say something intelligible. It still humbled her, the look in his eyes when they were together, as if she was just as much his dream as he was hers. She knew he was waiting for an answer, so she gave herself the push she needed to reach for a happiness she’d never thought would be hers.
“Yes.” The word left her lips in a rush that seemed to stir the rest of the scene into action.
Santa drew Mrs. Claus into his embrace, and Holly bounced up and down on her feet as her parents leaned in for a kiss, with Baby Sophie between them. Teodoro pulled Mira into his arms, nearly lifting her off of the ground to meet his lips for a kiss.
Under the watchful eye of some of their closest friends and family, Teo slipped the ring on her finger, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand before he released it. Then they were suddenly surrounded. Everyone was eager to congratulate them on their engagement, but the most special blessing came from Mrs. Claus herself.
Making her way through the crowd, she took Mira's left hand in hers and looked at the ring on her finger. "When Teodoro came to me, I knew," she leaned closer and kissed Mira on both cheeks, "I knew this should be the ring for you." She looked up at her grandson with a wistful smile. "I know that Sandro would be so proud."
Mira relaxed, enjoying Teo's warmth at her side. When she moved to St. Helena, she had been running from scandal, looking for a place to hide. Back then, with the fear and anguish in her heart, she hadn’t realized that she wasn't merely running away, she was finding home.
Dedication
Marina Adair
I want to thank you for everything! Your amazing personality, your incredible talent! How amazing to write in a world that I have enjoyed as a reader. So many lovely souls inhabit St. Helena thanks to your imagination. I am truly so touched by your generous soul and consider myself blessed to have you as a friend. I hope this story and the ones to follow do you proud!
