Weaving the Strands

by Barbara Hinske

  “Do you live in Westbury, Susan?” Aaron asked, extending his hand to her. The two stared at each other for an awkward moment as they shook hands.

  “No. I’m from Southern California. Just visiting Mom for Thanksgiving.”

  “Do you get here often?” he pressed, holding onto her hand for a split second longer than necessary.

  “From time to time,” she said, deciding on the spot to turn the lie into a truth.

  Maggie and Alex exchanged surprised glances. Those two are really hitting it off.

  Maggie improvised.

  “Do you all have plans for dinner today?”

  What a ridiculous question, she realized. Who didn’t have dinner plans by eleven o’clock on Thanksgiving morning?

  Alex was as pleased about the sparks flying between Susan and Aaron as Maggie was.

  “Nothing definite,” he replied.

  “The three of you must join us at Rosemont. We have plenty of room, and that will give us all a chance to catch up,” she declared matter-of-factly. She turned to the Torreses. “How about you and Sam, Joan? What are you doing?”

  “I have to work the three-to-eleven shift,” she replied. “So we aren’t doing anything. I made a turkey when I was off yesterday and Sam has leftovers.”

  “Then it’s settled. You’ll come too, Sam,” she stated, putting an end to the discussion. She turned to John and Susan. “We’d better get back to the kitchen at Rosemont. See you all at four; dinner will be at five.”

  With the new Thanksgiving plans locked in, she headed off to congratulate the newlyweds and collect the rest of her brood.

  Chapter 37

  Maggie turned to Susan in the backseat as they were pulling away from Fairview Terraces. “So, Aaron seemed nice, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, of course he did,” she replied nonchalantly.

  “And he’s single.” Maggie had to restrain her glee.

  “For heaven’s sake, Mom.” Susan could barely control her frustration. “Is that why you invited them? When we were planning on a family dinner?”

  “You liked him. You can’t tell me there weren’t sparks,” Maggie retorted, stung by Susan’s tone.

  John glanced at Susan in the rearview mirror. “Your mom’s got a point. We all felt it.”

  Susan turned to stare out the window. “Well, okay. Maybe there were some sparks,” she admitted. “But what good are sparks when I’m in California, and he’s here? Why don’t I ever meet someone I might have a chance with?”

  “You don’t know how this is going to turn out. Don’t go discounting things before you have the whole story,” Maggie said, turning to smile at John. “You don’t want to miss something that might be wonderful for you both.”

  ***

  The afternoon passed in a blur of activity. Susan, Maggie, and Amy settled into an amiable routine in the kitchen, with Sophie and Sarah racing in and out, chasing the dogs, and generally making a nuisance of themselves.

  By midafternoon, Amy had had enough. She corralled both girls and told them to get their coats. She marched into the library where John and Mike, comfortably sunk into the leather chairs flanking the fireplace, were watching football on television.

  “Okay, you two,” Amy ordered. “It’s time to make yourselves useful. Why don’t you take the girls to the park? They’re driving us crazy.”

  “No, Mom. We don’t want to go out. We’ll be good,” came the united cry.

  John stood. “That’s a great idea. Let’s take Eve and Roman, and we can all go to the dog park.”

  Enthusiastic squeals told him that he’d hit the mark.

  Mike glanced up from the television to look at his wife and knew he wouldn’t be able to weasel out of this mission. He checked the score one last time and headed out the door with the others.

  ***

  By three thirty, the cooking was in full swing and dinner was on schedule. Maggie declared that she was going to her room to put her feet up for fifteen minutes, and they were welcome to join her. Based on her daughter’s incessant clock-watching during the last hour, she suspected Susan would want to touch up her makeup. Amy volunteered to stay downstairs to keep an eye on things.

  Maggie stuck her head inside Susan’s door shortly before four. “I’m going down now. Ready?” she asked.

  “Almost,” Susan called from behind her closed bathroom door.

  “Don’t worry about being downstairs when they arrive. You can always make a grand entrance.”

  “Mom, you’re being ridiculous,” she said as she opened the door and stepped out wrapped in a towel. “I just wanted to freshen up.”

  “You’ve showered and washed your hair,” Maggie observed. “That’s a bit more than freshening up. Will you be ready in time for dinner?”

  “Of course I will,” she replied. “Now go downstairs and let me finish. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

  ***

  Alex, Marc, and Aaron arrived promptly at four o’clock, with Sam Torres on their heels. They were milling around the fireplace, Mike taking coats, and John handing out glasses of wine when Susan descended into the living room. Maggie thought how lovely and natural her daughter looked; her shiny blond hair cascading over the back of her slender black dress. She snuck a surreptitious glance at Aaron and was gratified to see him zeroed in on Susan. Marc caught Maggie’s eye and winked conspiratorially.

  Mike turned to his sister. “Actually, Susan is the family expert on wine. She goes up to Napa a couple times a year, don’t you?” Susan nodded and joined in a lively discussion of the merits of domestic wine.

  Maggie intercepted John as he tried to slide into position to watch the football game. “A word, please,” she whispered earnestly in his ear. “Did you see how she gussied herself up for dinner? That’s because Aaron is here. This isn’t like her. I want to make sure they have the chance to get to know each other.”

  John nodded absentmindedly, one eye on the television.

  “You can get back to your silly game in a minute,” Maggie said, gently pulling his face to hers. “I didn’t make place cards, so I want you to help me make sure that Susan sits with Aaron at dinner. Okay?”

  “Don’t you think you should let things take their course?”

  “No, I most certainly don’t. That’s why I’m putting you in charge.”

  Knowing when it was wise to retreat, John shook his head emphatically. “I’ve got it, loud and clear. If I have to pull a chair out from under someone, if I have to use an old football tackling move, I’ll make sure they sit together.” He brushed the top of her head with a kiss. “Now relax, and enjoy your party. Everything’ll be fine.”

  ***

  John was right. Everything was better than fine. The food was delicious and her only oversight was leaving the second pan of rolls in the oven until they resembled hockey pucks. For as frustratingly ill-conceived a meal as Thanksgiving, where there were far too many last-minute, labor-intensive dishes on the menu, it had turned out well. Best of all, Aaron sat next to Susan without any intervention from John or Maggie.

  When the meal ended, everyone helped clear the table and clean up the kitchen. Even Sophie and Sarah helped, while Roman and Eve curled up together, snoozing on the hearth rug. They finished in record time.

  Maggie was bringing coffee into the living room when Amy looked at her watch and reluctantly announced that it was bedtime for the twins.

  “Aw, Mom,” Sarah whined. “Can’t we stay up? We’re being good.”

  Susan broke in, “Do let them, Amy. Let’s all play a game! What’ve you got, Mom?”

  Maggie paused, not sure she had any games at all. She suddenly remembered the old set of dominos she’d run across during her day in the attic. “I don’t know exactly where it is—or even if it’s complete—but there’s a set of dominos in the attic.”

  “Fabulous!” Susan leapt up. “I’ve been itching to get up there all week.” Aaron smiled at her and got to his feet. “You’re a little overdressed for attic rumm
aging. How about I go with you? You direct me and I’ll retrieve them.”

  Maggie struggled to stop herself from beaming ear to ear.

  “Back in a flash,” Susan said as they tore up the stairs with Sophie and Sarah bringing up the rear.

  ***

  The group downstairs relaxed comfortably by the fire, sipping coffee and trading observations about the surprise wedding and plans for the upcoming holidays. Maggie finally put down her coffee cup and announced that she was going upstairs to check on the domino seekers. She added, half-kidding, “I hope they didn’t get locked in.”

  She made the turn at the landing as Susan and Aaron were slowly descending the attic stairs in single file carrying a dusty old trunk between them.

  “Mom,” Susan gasped before Maggie could speak. “You won’t believe what we found up there.”

  “Dominos?” Maggie asked lamely.

  “No. Gosh. We forgot about those,” she said with a chagrined sigh. “We found tons of the most glorious antique Christmas decorations.”

  Maggie moved to let them pass as Susan said excitedly, “This is full of ornaments. Wait until you see them.”

  Hearing their labored progress, John joined them on the stairs. “What in the world? Here, let me take this end,” he said to Susan. She backed away, and Aaron and John muscled the trunk down the remainder of the stairway. Maggie pounced on it as soon as they set it down, throwing open the lid with Susan at her side.

  Susan was right; nestled in tissue paper were brightly hued blown-glass ornaments of intricate design. Maggie had never seen anything like them.

  “Didn’t you find these when you were up there, Mom?”

  Maggie could only shake her head.

  “There’s tons of this stuff. It was all in the far corner. Behind the hotel silver. I guess that stopped you in your tracks,” Susan said, giving her mother a knowing glance.

  “Aaron and I decided we’re going out to buy the biggest Christmas tree in Westbury tomorrow and we’re going to bring all of this stuff downstairs and decorate Rosemont like it hasn’t been in years. Sophie and Sarah are coming, too,” she said, smiling at her nieces. “Anybody else up for this?”

  “I’m off tomorrow,” Sam finally answered. “I could help set up the tree. But I don’t want to intrude on family time.”

  “Nonsense,” Maggie and Susan said in unison. “You’re family,” Maggie smiled at him. “You, too, Alex and Marc. John? Are you working tomorrow?”

  “Half day,” John replied. “I can come over after that.”

  “It’s settled then,” Susan said, beaming at the others. “We’ll get started early. Let’s gather here at eight thirty.”

  Maggie regarded her daughter with admiration; what an organizer she was.

  “Should we bring breakfast?” Alex asked.

  “Don’t worry about food; we’ve got enough leftovers for an army,” Maggie assured him.

  “Dad,” Sophie said from the stairway, “we’re going to bed. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

  “Good point. See you all tomorrow,” Alex said, giving Maggie a hug. “Today was wonderful. Thank you.”

  Maggie raised an eyebrow and slanted her gaze to Aaron and Susan, huddled in conversation in the corner.

  “Remarkable, actually,” Alex continued. “He’s normally so shy. Susan’s having quite an effect on him. Who could blame him?” he said with a smile, then looked to the corner. “Break it up, you two. You can continue plotting tomorrow. Right now, we need to get out of here, and let the Martins get to bed.”

  Aaron turned reluctantly and followed Alex and Marc to their car. Mike stretched and turned off the TV. He extended a hand to Amy and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s see what our girls are up to. Good night, John,” he said, shaking his hand.

  ***

  Maggie sighed and moved into the warmth of John’s arms and rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s been a wonderful day,” she said, her voice dreamlike. “Could you believe that wedding? It really affected me.”

  John nodded.

  “Me, too. What a hopeful, courageous thing to make that commitment at their ages. Makes one think, doesn’t it?” he said, pulling back to look into her eyes.

  He kissed her slowly.

  “Big day tomorrow. I’d better go. Will you be all right here? Need any more help?” he asked, glancing around the room.

  “Nope. I’ve got it. I’m not working tomorrow. Just go home and get a good night’s sleep.”

  She turned him toward the door and gently ushered him out.

  Chapter 38

  Sophie and Sarah were up early, excited about the day ahead. It was not yet seven, and Maggie couldn’t hear any signs of life stirring from Susan’s room. Mike had pledged Maggie a lifetime of gratitude if she would let them sleep in. She remembered the fatigue of parenting all too well; she didn’t miss those days. Especially since Paul had rarely pitched in to help.

  Maggie put her fingers to her lips, motioning the girls to keep quiet. “Let’s have hot chocolate in my bed,” she whispered. “You two go get yourselves propped up with pillows. I’ll feed Eve and bring a tray back upstairs with me. We’ll make secret plans for the day.”

  They both looked intrigued at the prospect.

  “Keep quiet. We don’t want the others to hear,” she said softly as she and Eve trailed off to the kitchen.

  By the time she returned with three steaming mugs and a bowl heaped with mini-marshmallows, the girls had rounded up a pen and paper.

  “Here,” Sophie said earnestly, thrusting them at Maggie. “We’d better make a list.”

  Maggie smiled. The apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree. She and Mike were both consummate list makers.

  “Okay. That’s what I like to see,” she said, carefully placing the hot mugs on her nightstand. “Where shall we start?”

  When Susan drifted in an hour later, they had made lists of things to do, things to buy, and assigned names to tasks.

  “Very organized,” she said, turning to the twins. “Did you help Gramma with this?”

  They nodded in unison.

  “I don’t see your names down here. You’re going to help, aren’t you?”

  Sarah couldn’t contain herself any longer.

  “We want to go with you and Aaron to pick out the tree. See, we wrote our names there. But Gramma made us erase them.”

  She shot a resentful look in Maggie’s direction.

  “She said that two’s company and three’s a crowd.”

  “Whatever that means,” Sophie chimed in. “Besides, we’d be four, not three.”

  She joined her sister in giving Maggie the stink eye.

  Susan laughed. “Of course you can come. Just promise me that you’ll stay with me; no wandering off.”

  “We know,” both girls cried in unison.

  “We never wander off,” Sarah said reproachfully.

  “Aaron will be here soon; you’d better get ready. And wake up those lazy parents of yours,” she said with a wink.

  “Are you sure you want to take them with you and Aaron?” Maggie asked as the girls bounded down the hall, calling to their parents.

  “Quit matchmaking, Mom. For heaven’s sake, he’s a nice guy, but nothing’s going to happen between us. We’re geographically incompatible.”

  Maggie studied her daughter. “You can’t fool me, young lady. You’ve styled your hair and put on your full makeup. You wouldn’t do that if you weren’t interested.”

  Susan rolled her eyes but didn’t attempt to contradict her mother. “We’ve all got to get cracking around here. You too, Mom,” she said, eyeing Maggie’s pajamas and slippers. “People will be here soon.”

  “Okay, Sarge. I’ll be right down. Go figure out where you’re going to put the tree. I’ll have Sam and Mike move furniture around, and we’ll bring down the other Christmas decorations from the attic. When you get back with the tree, we can start decorating.”

  “Perfect. We’ll need lights. There w
eren’t any that I saw.”

  “Even if there were, they’d be too old to use. I’ll give you money to buy new ones.”

  “Will do, but I don’t want your money. Alex told me last night that he and Marc will buy the tree as a thank-you gift, and I’ll spring for the lights.”

  Maggie smiled. She was unaccustomed to being the recipient of such thoughtfulness. It felt good.

  “We should be back by noon,” Susan said, tapping her fingertip on her teeth. “With everyone helping, I think we’ll get the tree up and the inside decorated by suppertime.”

  “That’d be incredible. I never thought about getting this place all decked out,” Maggie said thoughtfully. “Since I’ll be in California for Christmas, I planned to put a wreath on the front door and leave it at that.”

  “That’s just crazy, Mom. You and Rosemont deserve better than that,” Susan scolded gently as she turned toward the door.

  ***

  Maggie was setting out bowls of Greek yogurt, granola, and bananas for breakfast. That, plus coffee and orange juice, was the best she could muster this morning. The twins were finishing up their Fruit Loops as Mike and Aaron came through the kitchen door, Eve yapping at their heels.

  “Good morning,” Maggie said. “I didn’t hear the doorbell.”

  “I saw him pull up and let him in. Amy’s still asleep, and I didn’t want the bell to wake her,” Mike replied.

  “Would you like some breakfast?” Maggie asked, motioning to the counter where everything was laid out.

  “Just coffee for me, thanks,” Aaron answered. “Ready to go?” he asked the girls. They nodded in unison. “Where’s your aunt?” he asked, scanning the kitchen for Susan.

  “Probably upstairs making herself beautiful for you,” Sophie answered, rolling her eyes.

  Maggie cut her off. “Sophie, run upstairs and tell Susan that Aaron’s here. Sarah, bring me your cereal bowls, then go get your coats. You’ll need your hats and gloves, too.”

  Maggie turned to Aaron and smiled. “We didn’t get a chance to talk much yesterday. Will you be joining another practice or starting your own?”

  “I’d like to join an established practice. I like being a doctor, not an office manager. I don’t want to deal with the business end of it all.”