Welcome to Serenity

by Sherryl Woods

  Tom had been right, her cheeks were glowing and her hair was mussed, but in a way that some women paid a lot of money to achieve. She straightened her clothes, washed up and replaced the lipstick that had been lost to his kisses. In exactly two minutes, she returned to the living room.

  “Will I do?”

  “You’re gorgeous,” he assured her.

  She rolled her eyes at the biased comment. “Thanks, but you’d better find an explanation for our tardiness that has absolutely nothing to do with what actually happened.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll tell her that we left a bit late, got stuck in traffic.” He led the way along a path to the brightly lit house.

  It was a rare warm evening for this time of year, and music and laughter poured from the open windows and the French doors that led to the terrace. They slipped inside through the open doors.

  “Well, there you are!” his mother said, zeroing in on them at once. “I thought perhaps you’d forgotten the way home.” She frowned as she surveyed Jeanette, but her greeting was polite enough.

  “Thank you for including me,” Jeanette said, even though Mrs. McDonald looked as if she’d just tasted a slice of lemon. That sour expression was getting to be way too familiar.

  “Tom, you need to find your father and let him know you’re here. There’s someone he wants you to meet.”

  “Okay,” Tom said. He started to reach for Jeanette’s hand, but his mother stepped between them.

  “Jeanette will be just fine with me. I’ll see that she meets everyone, though I imagine she’s met quite a few of them since they were regulars at Chez Bella.”

  Tom froze. “Mother, if you’ve done anything to deliberately make Jeanette feel uncomfortable...”

  “She’s a guest in my home,” his mother said stiffly. “McDonalds do not embarrass their guests.”

  He gave her a hard look, then nodded. “I’ll take your word on that.”

  Jeanette watched him walk away with dismay, but since there was no other choice, she drew herself up, plastered a smile on her face and said, “Your decorations are beautiful, Mrs. McDonald. I love the nutcracker theme. I’m sure you’ve been working on it for weeks.”

  It was true. This room absolutely sparkled with twinkling, multicolored lights. It was filled with the fragrance of evergreens, even though Tom had told her the boughs on display were artificial, and the nutcracker theme had been carried out with enthusiasm. There were hundreds of them on the tree, larger ones on the mantel and life-size nutcrackers at the entrance to the room.

  Across the hall the decor—from what she could glimpse of it—was the Sugarplum Fairy with pale pink, purple and silver ribbons woven through the boughs and accompanied by thousands of tiny white lights.

  Jeanette had been in department stores with less attention to holiday detail.

  “This house has always been a showcase during the holidays,” Mrs. McDonald said proudly. “It’s a tradition I’ve been happy to continue.”

  “Are your daughters here? I’d love to meet them,” Jeanette said.

  “Not tonight. This is a business dinner, not a family celebration,” she said pointedly.

  Jeanette winced at the distinction and the less-than-subtle implication that she wouldn’t have been included had it been for family.

  For the next half hour she endured curious glances and cool greetings from women who’d once told her some of their most intimate secrets. They weren’t used to meeting her on an equal footing and it was plainly awkward for all of them. Not that any of them were outright rude. They simply didn’t know what to make of her presence, especially without Tom by her side and past gossip about the lawsuit threat from Mrs. McDonald still ringing in their ears.

  Jeanette held her head up, chatted briefly and then found her way to the bar, where she asked for a glass of wine. She took it onto the terrace, intending to stay only long enough to regroup, when she heard raised voices coming from another room. Since Tom’s was one of them, she drifted in that direction.

  * * *

  “Dad, how many times do I have to tell you that I am not joining a law practice in Charleston?” Tom demanded heatedly. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that conversation was for Dwight Mitchell and for me?”

  “And do you know what a fool you’d be to turn him down? Mitchell and McLaughlin is one of the oldest, most prestigious firms in Charleston. In the state, for that matter. If you join that practice, you’ll be set for life, not just financially, but for whatever political career you want to pursue.”

  “I’m not going to practice law and I’m not going to run for office,” Tom said emphatically. “I don’t know how to make that any clearer.”

  “When are you going to stop making decisions just to spite me?” his father retorted.

  “Dad, my decisions have nothing to do with you. I’m doing work that I love. Please accept that so we don’t have to keep having this conversation.”

  “And the same thing is true of Jeanette? You really care for her?”

  “You know I do. I want you and Mother to get to know her. She’s very important to me. So are you, whether you believe that or not. I’d like us all to get along.”

  His father sighed heavily. “I want that, too. I just had such high hopes for your future, as did your mother.”

  “Dad, I’m working toward the future I want. It’s a perfectly honorable one, even if it’s not the one you would have chosen for me. That’s what matters. And I’m with a woman I love, a woman who makes me happy.”

  “Even though she’s not one of us?”

  Tom laughed. “Because she can’t trace her ancestors back to English royalty or whatever the hell matters so much to Mother? Come on, Dad. Mother’s always been a bit of a snob, but not you.”

  Silence fell for a moment, then Mr. McDonald spoke, his tone weary. “You’re right. I have no room to talk. My ancestors worked hard for what they achieved and then my father nearly squandered everything with his drinking, his gambling and his affairs. I’ve spent my life trying to restore what he almost lost. It wasn’t about the money. It was about our reputation. That’s all I care about, Tom. I want our good name to continue, to matter in Charleston the way it once did. Your mother took a huge risk when she married me after all my father’s scandalous behavior. I promised her she’d never have cause to regret it. Lately, she’s been embarrassed to show her face.”

  “Given the amount of entertaining the two of you seem to be doing during the holidays, she can’t be too embarrassed,” Tom replied. He hesitated. “Dad, Jeanette’s been hinting that there were things you and Mother had been keeping from me, things that would explain why all of this matters so much to you. Is this it? Is it because of Grandfather?”

  “He nearly ruined us, not just our finances, but our reputation,” his father said. “I know you think all the things your mother cares so much about are frivolous, but they matter because we’ve had to fight so hard to get them back.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you really, son?”

  “I think I’m starting to.”

  “Cut your mother some slack, okay?”

  “If the two of you will cut us some,” Tom agreed. “I love Jeanette. I intend to marry her, if she’ll have me.”

  “Please, don’t do this, Tom. It will kill your mother.”

  “Only if she refuses to take the time to get to know Jeanette. In the end, that will drive us away,” Tom said. “I guarantee you that. Dad, I’m sorry about what Grandfather did, but it has nothing to do with me. It was in the past. I’m sure people have forgotten all about it. I’ve certainly never heard a word said against him.”

  “Because your mother and I didn’t want you or your sisters to know. We did everything we needed to do to live down the mess my father had created, and eventually people forgot or a
t least allowed us to put it behind us. You have a legacy you can be proud of. A lot of the credit for that goes to your mother for taking a chance on me.”

  “Dad, I’ve always been proud of you. I don’t always agree with you and I can’t live my life to please you, but that doesn’t negate the way I feel about you.”

  His father’s expression was weary as he gestured around the room. “All of this was supposed to be yours.”

  “I don’t need it,” Tom said gently. “I’ve found what I need. I have work I enjoy, a woman I love.”

  “And you won’t reconsider?”

  Tom shook his head. “No. This is the life I want. Can you please try to accept that?”

  “I’ll try,” his father replied, sounding defeated. “Go on back to the party. It’s almost time for dinner. Tell your mother I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Dad, I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I really am.”

  “Don’t be. I know better than most that a man has to choose the path that suits him. My whole life has been spent trying not to take the one my father took.”

  Tom stood beside him, hesitant. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  His father smiled ruefully. “I’ve weathered worse setbacks than this one. Go on now. I’ll be right along.”

  As Tom reached the door, he called out to him. “Son?”

  “Yes?”

  “Just so you know, I like your young woman. I’d hoped that you’d find someone right here in Charleston and I felt I had to try to make that happen, but in the end this is your decision. Jeanette has backbone. If you do decide to marry, I hope you’ll be as happy together as your mother and I have been.”

  As Tom stepped outside, he saw Jeanette just going back inside the other room. He followed, and when Jeanette tried to slip inside, Tom caught up with her.

  “You heard, didn’t you?” he demanded.

  She nodded. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I went outside to get some air and I heard raised voices.”

  “I’m sorry about some of the things my father said.” He smiled. “You did hear him say, though, that he likes you.”

  “I heard. It actually means a lot, because I know how hard it was for him to say it.” She smiled brightly. “Now all I have to do is win over your mother.”

  “We could do that another night,” he suggested. His gaze held hers. “Want to get out of here? This house suddenly seems unbearably stuffy and overcrowded.”

  Jeanette was tempted, but good manners dictated they stay. “I’d love to, but I don’t think we should. Your mother will be offended. That’s no way for me to win points.”

  “Actually she’d probably be relieved. There’d be a lot less tension over dinner.”

  She shook her head. “Nice try, but we’re staying.”

  He leaned down and stole a kiss. “The things I’m willing to do for you,” he murmured. “First the Christmas festival, now this.”

  “If that’s all you ever have to do for me, you’ll be getting off lightly.”

  A maid announced just then that dinner was being served. In the dining room, with its glittering chandelier, polished silver and sparkling crystal, white tapers shimmered amid clusters of bright green holly. The meal went surprisingly well. Not only was Mrs. McDonald civil, but Mr. McDonald actually made a real attempt to include Jeanette in the conversation.

  Perhaps it was the wine, combined with the excellent rack of lamb and decadent chocolate dessert, but there was plenty of laughter. Everyone seemed perfectly mellow by the time coffee was served.

  On the way into the living room, Tom leaned down to Jeanette. “Can we make our excuses now? It’s getting late and we do have to be at the festival first thing in the morning.”

  “You sound surprisingly happy about that,” she noted.

  “Amazingly enough, I’m feeling happy about it.”

  She beamed at him. “That’s what I like to hear. Let’s say goodbye to your mother.”

  They wove through the crowd until they found her, her cheeks glowing with the success of the party.

  “Mother, I have to apologize,” Tom said. “We need to duck out early.”

  “It’s been a lovely evening,” Jeanette said with sincerity. “Thank you again for including me. I’m sorry we have to go, but our Christmas event starts again early tomorrow morning and we both need to be there.”

  “I thought that was last weekend,” his mother said, turning to Tom as if she’d caught him in a lie.

  “It kicked off last weekend,” Tom explained.

  “It lasts for two weeks and it’s one of the town’s biggest events of the year,” Jeanette told her, ignoring Tom’s less than subtle poke in her ribs. “You should drive over. There will be vendors there all day. Church choirs will perform. The tree’s already lit in the town square, the stores are decorated, and it’s really beautiful at night.”

  “It sounds charming.”

  Jeanette listened closely for a derisive note in her voice, but she sounded as if she meant it. “You really should come,” Jeanette persisted. “Tom’s worked really hard on it and the tree is amazing.”

  “Perhaps we will,” she said at last. She turned to Tom, her expression oddly hesitant. “Would that be okay with you?”

  Tom summoned a smile. “Of course. Jeanette and I will be around somewhere. Be sure to look for us.”

  “And thanks again for tonight,” Jeanette said.

  His mother hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “I’m happy you could come,” she said, the words awkward but seemingly sincere. Then she stood on tiptoe to kiss Tom’s cheek. “I’ll tell your father about the festival. Hopefully we’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Mother.”

  Outside, Jeanette heaved a sigh of relief. “I can breathe again.”

  “Me, too,” Tom said, loosening his tie.

  “It wasn’t as awful as I was afraid it would be,” she admitted.

  “I think my parents were really trying.”

  She reached for his hand. “So do I.” She studied his face, then asked, “Did you mean what you said to your father about marrying me?”

  He grinned. “Ah, you heard that, too.”

  “It’s not as if you whispered it in his ear. So?”

  “It’s definitely on my agenda,” he said. “But when I get around to proposing, it will not be in my parents’ driveway. It will be in a romantic setting.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “Good to know.”

  * * *

  When Dana Sue needed help decorating Sullivan’s for the holidays, Jeanette was the first to offer to pitch in. When Maddie mentioned that they ought to have a Christmas event at the spa for their clients, Jeanette volunteered to plan it. Then she decided to throw her own holiday party, her first in her new home. She bought fancy invitations, spread out every one of her cookbooks looking for the most festive recipes and bought a tree that barely fit into her living room. Tom actually lugged it in for her without complaint, though he begged off before it was time to hang the first decoration.

  On the Monday after the invitations went out, Maddie pulled her aside. “Let’s have a cup of tea,” she said, guiding her onto the patio where the sun had created a pool of warmth and allowed them the privacy Maddie obviously wanted.

  “Okay, what’s going on with you?” Maddie asked. “I got the invitation to your party.”

  “You’ll come, won’t you? Cal and the kids, too?”

  “Of course, we’ll be there, but sweetie, do you think maybe you’re going a little overboard with the whole Christmas thing? You spent all your spare time for two days helping Dana Sue decorate Sullivan’s. You planned our party, which was a huge success. And now you want to do your own party. Is this about making up for lost time, or are you doing some kind of in-you
r-face thing as a test for Tom?”

  Jeanette blinked at the question. “That’s crazy. Why would I test Tom?”

  “You tell me.”

  Jeanette sipped her tea and thought about what Maddie was asking. Had she gone overboard? Was she testing Tom? She didn’t think so. “Tom and I have been doing okay ever since we went to see his parents. I finally feel as if we have a real chance.”

  “Okay, then you know what I think?” Maddie said. “I think you’re trying to fill a void. What you really want is what you used to have with your parents. Is that possible?”

  Jeanette hadn’t considered it, but now that Maddie had voiced the idea, she realized it was exactly what she was doing. After so many years, she’d finally recaptured her own love for the holiday season, but she wanted more. She wanted things to be the way they’d once been. Of course, that wasn’t possible, so she was substituting all these other activities for what was going to be missing from the holidays—her family.

  “Things are so much better with my parents,” she said slowly. “We’ve been talking at least once a week, but they haven’t said a word about Christmas. I don’t think they’re ready to deal with that yet.”

  “Have you asked them? Maybe invited them here?” Maddie suggested. “It might be easier for them to get back into the holidays in a new place where they can create brand-new memories. You know they’d be welcome at Sullivan’s on Christmas Day with all the rest of us.”

  “I could at least ask, I suppose,” Jeanette said.

  “And if they turn you down, just remember it has nothing to do with you. It’s all about what they can handle.”

  “You’re right.” Jeanette nodded. “I can do this. If I’ve reached out to Tom’s parents, I ought to be able to strengthen my bonds with my own.”

  Maddie grinned. “Not the same. You had very low expectations where they were concerned. The way I heard it from Tom, that they even showed up last Saturday for festival was nothing short of a miracle. Miracles don’t ever seem to be that easy with your own folks, not with all that emotional baggage.”

  “True, but I owe it to them and to myself to try,” she said decisively. “I think I’ll go inside right now and call them.”