by Maggie Ryan
“Maybe it’s a wedding present,” Dottie offered.
“Can’t be. There’s no way any package from England would arrive in two weeks. It took us months to cross the ocean,” Opal said.
Jewel groaned as she discovered a second layer of paper as well as loops of twine holding the box secure. An envelope was tucked underneath the string.
“Here, let me,” Enrique said, slipping his dinner knife beneath the twine, cutting it free and passing the envelope to Jewel.
Jewel thanked him and pulled out the letter, her smile growing as she read it. When she set it aside and lifted the lid of the box, she didn’t just smile, she squealed, her eyes sparkling as she looked up.
“It’s my things… my… my favorite doll from when I was a little girl. Oh, and ornaments.” Lifting a card, she read it and when she lifted her face again, there were tears streaming down her cheeks. “She says they are… are ones my mum loved when she was a little girl.” She pulled a book from the depths and opened its cover.
“Jewel?” Gabe said softly.
“Gram sent this to me one Christmas. She attended an event to raise money for the Manchester Athenaeum.” Seeing the blank looks on their faces, she giggled. “It is an institution in England that is dedicated to education and the pursuit of knowledge. Gram was a firm believer that education was very important. Anyway, she was very impressed with one of the speakers. A Mr. Charles Dickens and evidently he was quite taken with her as well. Mr. Dickens spent weeks wandering about London, conceiving the idea for his book. When it was published, he sent a copy to Gram… this copy.” She turned the book so that the others could see the inscription.
“A Christmas Carol,” Opal read out loud.
“Is it a songbook?” Onyx asked.
“No, it’s a story about Mr. Scrooge and three ghosts…”
“Ghosts? I thought Opal said it’s a Christmas story,” Dottie said.
Jewel smiled. “It’s an amazing tale. I remember reading it for the first time and… well… I’ve loved it ever since.”
“I’d like to hear this story,” Lupe said softly. “Would you read it to us?”
“Are you sure you want…”
“Yes,” their voices chorused.
Gabe smiled at the joy on his love’s face. “All right. You all help Nettie clean up while Jewel hangs her ornaments on the tree. Then we’ll light the candles and listen to a story.”
“We shouldn’t light the candles until tomorrow,” Jewel said, “it’s tradition.”
“How about we start a new tradition?” Gabe suggested.
“I’d like that.”
The couple left and Gabe and his parents handed her each ornament from the box, the men hanging a few themselves on the higher branches. It took a while to light all the candles and yet, when they were all glowing, Gabe said, “You’re right. Hanging all that tinsel was worth it. The tree is beautiful.”
The group gathered, settling into chairs, all smiling as Jewel cleared her throat and opened the book. No one stirred as she read the tale of a man whose life was changed from the visits of three ghosts. A man who learned that life lived without love was worthless. That money shouldn’t be hoarded, but shared. As she closed the book gifted to her by the most beloved member of her family back home, her new family clapped and clapped.
“I think we have yet another new tradition,” Gabe said, and Jewel had to agree.
As Gabe blew out the lamp and joined her in bed, he pulled her close. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough. You’ve given me the greatest gift a man could ever want… you as my wife and my family here to share our happiness with.” He kissed her and added, “I just wish your gram could be here as well. To see that you are happy.”
“She knows,” Jewel said. “I write her every week. She’ll soon know that I’m not only happy, I’ve married the man of my dreams.”
“I hope she’ll approve of me.”
“Well, you’ll know soon enough,” Jewel said, bending to kiss him. “She said that she’s coming to visit in the spring.”
“Then we’ll make sure we have returned by then.”
Jewel turned in his arms to face him. “Returned? From where?”
“Mexico. I want to show you my country, my home. My parents want to come to Culpepper to live. Papa isn’t getting younger and it’s hard to run a ranch alone. And, mi madre, has already fallen in love with you. She told me she feels blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.”
“I… I love that. I love your parents.” Jewel moved to kiss him. “What do you think about asking them to help with Elena’s foundation?”
Gabe wondered how much love one heart could hold as his seemed to be filling more every day. “I think they’d be honored. And, Papa has experience with running a business and my mother will continue her daughter’s gift.” He kissed her deeply and then said, “Your gram has an incredible granddaughter. I love her already.”
“She’ll love you too, Gabe. How could she not when I love you with all of my heart?”
Chapter 24
The festivities began with the sun’s rising. Gabe and Jewel entered the kitchen to find not only Nettie, but Lupe busy at the stove.
“Your mother shouldn’t be cooking,” Jewel said but Gabe snagged her around her waist and pulled her back.
“Don’t you dare stop her,” he said with a grin. “If I’m not mistaken, she is making one of my favorite meals.”
“What’s that?” Jewel asked, watching the woman reach into a basket. “Your favorite breakfast is eggs?”
Gabe gave an exaggerated look of shock. “Eggs? I’ll have you know that those aren’t just any eggs. They are huevos rancheros.”
“I see,” Jewel said, not having an idea of what the difference was until she took her first bite and gave a smile. “You’re right. These are delicious!”
Gabe and his parents spent the morning talking. Jewel would join them for a few minutes and then jump up to check on “just one more thing.”
After a light lunch, Lupe insisted she wanted to help and she, Anna, and Nettie directed the gems in the final preparations of dishes that were soon beginning to grace one of the many tables. Gabe, his father and Moses took delivery of the new bed that Jewel had ordered. Though it took up most of the bedroom, the moment that the gems had smoothed the quilt over the mattress, Nettie had run into the room and jumped onto the middle of the bed.
“Look at all this room!”
Moses had laughed heartily and giving the group a grin, he joined her, grabbing her around her waist and falling back. The others left the room, Gabe pulling the door closed.
“What I want to know is how on Earth did those two ever fit in the other bed?”
“Lovers always find a way,” Jewel said with a smile.
Amy worked with Enrique behind the bar, making sure that everything was in its place and ready to go. Jewel had insisted on a large punch bowl being placed on one end which would be filled with lemonade for those who didn’t wish to partake of alcohol.
As the hours flew by, it was Amy who reminded Opal and Jewel that they needed to get ready. “After all, what’s a wedding without its brides?”
The two women found themselves in bubble baths, being attended to by the gems as every inch of their skin was scrubbed and their hair washed. Both sat on stools before the fire as Amy brushed and dried Opal’s hair and Onyx worked on Jewel’s. Dottie stuck her head out the bathing room door and informed Charlie that he could tell the grooms that the women were vacating the room.
Instead of going to her own room, Jewel followed the others up the back stairs where she and Opal would get dressed for their weddings.
Amy pulled the dresses the brides had chosen from the armoire. Jewel would wear a deep red and Opal a dark green. They weren’t worried that neither color was considered traditional. They weren’t traditional women… much less brides. Jewel had just pulled on her stockings when a knock came.
“Jewel?”
“Stay
out!” Amy yelled, rushing to the door. “You’re not supposed to see the bride until the wedding!”
“I saw all of the bride this morning,” Gabe said, his chuckle making Jewel smile. “I just wanted to give her… you know our gift?”
“Oh, I forgot,” Amy said. “Wait a minute.” She put the dresses back in the armoire and pulled her robe from a hook and handed it to Jewel who was sitting in her new corset and stockings. “I don’t care what he says, I want him to be surprised. Put that on.”
Jewel did so, looking at the gems who all seemed very excited. “Ladies, it’s just a corset.”
Opal giggled, her own robe already on. “All right, Amy, let him in.”
Gabe’s entry had Jewel saying, “Gabe! You haven’t bathed yet?”
“Don’t fret, querida. It doesn’t take a man near as long to bathe as it does a woman.” He approached her and clarified his statement. “At least not when he is being forced to bathe alone.”
“You’re not supposed to be alone,” Opal interjected. “John is supposed to be cleaning up as well.”
“I promise, neither one of the brides will be marrying a stinky groom.” Gabe shook his head and pulled a box from behind his back, his eyes finding Jewel’s. “This is from all of us,” he said, looking around the room. “From the gems here and from all the gems who’ve come and gone. We wanted you to have it for your wedding… to know that you’ve touched all of our hearts.”
Jewel accepted the box and lifted the lid. “Oh… oh, my… it’s beautiful.” Her fingertip touched each jewel that had been set in a band of gold. “Opal, Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Ruby…” Tears begin to slide down her face as she continued. “Rose, Pearl, Crystal, Coral, Jade, Lapis, Diamond, Coal, Amber…” her voice was shaky but her joy was obvious as she touched the remaining stones. “Silver, Onyx, Sunstone, Sapphire, Topaz, Emerald.” She lifted her eyes which were shimmering. “You even included Garnet.”
“Everyone wanted to be a part of this,” Gabe said. “And you are the gold… the band that holds us all together.”
He lifted the necklace from the box and she turned her back to him, lifting her hair as he fastened it around her neck. The gems shimmered in the light, the gold gleaming against her skin. Her hand reached up to press against it.
“It’s beautiful,” the gems said.
“It’s love,” Jewel replied, turning to hug and kiss each one of them, knowing she’d never forget this moment, the thought and the love that had gone into a gift for her.
Gabe kissed her and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “No crying, my love. It’s your wedding day.”
“Not if you don’t go take a bath,” Amy said brusquely, tugging on his arm, bringing them all back to the reality of needing to get ready. Despite her efforts, Gabe didn’t even budge but he did give her a grin.
“Careful there, Amy, I am still Mr. Gabe.”
“No, you’re the groom. Now, go!” Jewel corrected.
Opal took Jewel’s hand as they stood at the top of the stairs. “Can you believe this?”
“No,” Jewel said. “I never dreamed that when I left England, I’d find such joy. I never imagined I could find a family or a man who stole my heart.”
“Neither did I,” Opal said, squeezing Jewel’s hand. “I love you, Juliette.”
“I love you, Ophelia.”
Strains of the wedding song reached their ears and they looked at each other and smiled. “Ready?” Opal asked.
“So very ready,” Jewel answered and together, the women descended the stairs, hand-in-hand, moving together through the aisle left by the crowd who’d gathered to celebrate the day. When they were steps within reaching the stage, they gave each other’s fingers a final squeeze before moving apart to join the men who were waiting to claim their brides.
Lawrence Black stood in front of the Christmas tree, the candles flickering to reflect in the shimmering eyes of the brides. Opal and John exchanged their vows first, but did not yet share the traditional kiss. When the reverend smiled at her, Jewel took Gabe’s hand and stepped in front of him.
“Do you, Juliette Christina Marie Gardner, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“Oh yes,” Jewel said, her eyes locked onto Gabe’s. When he grinned and his dimple appeared and his eyebrow lifted, she giggled. “I mean, I do.”
Lawrence grinned and turned to Gabe.
“Do you, Gabriel Emmanuel Enrique Alberto Miguel Vasquez take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“Absolutely, I do,” Gabe said. “She has my heart, my soul, and now, finally, she has my name.”
Jewel blushed, the crowd laughed and the reverend shook his head. “Not yet,” he said, gesturing for Opal and John to join them. Lifting his eyes to almost the entire population of Culpepper Cove, he said, “By the powers invested in me by the new state of California, I pronounce you husband and wife. Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides.”
Both men not only did so, they then lifted their brides off their feet and kissed them again… and again.
Applause erupted along with hoots and hollers. By the time Jewel’s feet touched the ground, she was a bit light headed. Seeing Gabriel’s parents beaming, Nettie glowing, and her gems smiling, she felt incredibly blessed. A bit overwhelmed, she looked up at her new husband who grinned down at her and winked.
Lifting his head, he raised his hand and waited for the crowd to quiet. When it did, he grinned. “My wife wishes to speak.”
“Gabe!” she hissed softly, “I can’t!”
He just chuckled as he bent down. “Querida, these are our friends, our family… they aren’t expecting a formal speech…”
She smiled and turned to face their guests and made her speech which consisted of two words, “Let’s eat!”
Hours later, with full stomachs, sore feet from dancing, and voices a bit hoarse from singing carols, the guests began to leave. Jewel and Gabe stood by the doors, thanking each one and receiving best wishes and congratulations. Every child left with a gift and a sack of treats. Gloria thanked them for the globe, books, and slates that would make learning easier and more fun for the students. Jewel felt a bit bruised from all the hugs but had enjoyed watching Gabe giving the evil eye to any man who seemed to squeeze a bit too hard or do more than peck her cheek.
“On behalf of my parishioners, thank you for the piano that will be coming,” Lawrence said.
“While I agree that it’s a nice gift, what you did today trumps it. Thank you, Lawrence, for officiating at our wedding.” Gabe said, shaking the reverend’s hand and then giving his wife, Amber a hug and kiss.
“It’s my pleasure,” Lawrence said. “I’d wish you the best, but I have no doubt that you already have it. Just don’t ever forget the vows you exchanged today.”
“We won’t,” Gabe said, his tone turning serious. “I’ve never meant what I said more than I did when I made those promises and slipped the ring onto her finger.” Lawrence slapped him on the shoulder, leaving the newlyweds alone.
Once all their guests had gone, Gabe scooped his bride into his arms.
“Gabe, we still have things to do. This place is a mess…”
“The gems will take care of everything.”
“But, your parents…”
“Had their own wedding night and will understand,” Gabe said, striding across the room. “I’ve shared you long enough, wife. It’s time for me to unwrap my Christmas present.”
“I-I don’t have another gift for you,” Jewel stated.
“Yes you do. Once I unwrap you, I will be enjoying my present every day for the rest of my life.” He gave her that smile that had her nipples hardening and her bloomers moistening. Once inside their bedroom, he set her down.
/> “I love you in this color,” he said as he began to unbutton the dress. He kissed her flushed cheeks. When the dress slid down her body, he stood back, his eyes raking up and down her body Grinning, he nodded. “Yes, red is definitely your color.” He slowly pulled the laces of her corset which was as red as her dress. Tossing it aside, he bent to kiss her rosy nipples. Her petticoat and bloomers followed, then he bent to remove her boots and stockings. After kissing a path up her body, he stood.
“Oh, I forgot, I have another gift for you.”
“Gabe, the only gift I need is for you to get as naked as me.”
He grinned and returned from where he’d pulled something out of a drawer.
“What on Earth is that?” she asked, her brow furrowed at the sight of a jar filled with… “Are those berries?”
“Yes,” Gabe said, giving the jar a shake. “A berry for every kiss I’m planning to steal tonight.”
“Gabriel, did you steal those from the mistletoe? No wonder I ran out of fresh pieces!”
“Hmmm, who was it that said you shouldn’t ask questions about a gift, you simply say thank you and enjoy it?”
Jewel took the jar and tried to count the berries, her efforts thwarted when she realized her husband was stripping off his clothes. He stalked towards her and her nipples puckered harder, her quim beginning to leak before he ever touched her. Taking the jar back, he removed the lid, plucked a berry from the jar and tossed it on the floor.
“One,” he said, bending forward to kiss her. When he lifted his mouth from hers, Jewel reached into the jar.
“Two and three,” she said, tossing them to the floor and then rubbing her fingertip across her nipples which he instantly bent to kiss. She moaned, her back arching as he drew each bud into his mouth and suckled.
They’d tossed twenty berries onto the floor before Gabe picked her up and carried her not to the bed, but lifted her to sit on top of the dresser.
“Gabe…”
“Shh, you just keep count of my kisses,” he said, lifting her legs over his shoulders, two more berries flying as he kissed the insides of her thighs. Gabe lifted his head and grinned. “You can keep your spotted dick, this is my favorite dessert.” His mouth settled on her sex and by the time she exploded, she’d dumped the entire contents of the jar over his head.
