“John Allen would agree with you on that score. He’s the vet you met yesterday. He’s had challenges with running the animal hospital, including an embezzling office manager. Setting up your own practice is like starting a small business. It takes tremendous time.”
“Alex told me you were a forensic accountant before you became mayor. You’ve had an interesting career.”
Maggie smiled. “My life has taken some unexpected turns, that’s for sure,” she replied simply.
Aaron set his coffee cup on the counter. “You know, ever since Alex’s accident, I’ve been wanting to thank you for taking such good care of him and Marc. Letting them move in while their house was being rebuilt after the arson fires, and allowing them to stay on while Alex recuperated. I was in residency and put in for a leave to come lend a hand, but Alex assured me it wasn’t necessary. Leaving my residency then would have been very difficult. I was prepared to come,” he added hastily, “but I’m grateful that I didn’t have to. Your kindness helped both of us. So thank you,” he concluded, holding her gaze.
Maggie smiled and patted his arm. “It wasn’t that big of a deal; I was happy to have them here,” she said.
Just then, Susan burst into the room. She stopped short, glancing from her mother to Aaron. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something? You two look pretty serious,” she said, starting to back toward the door.
“Nonsense,” Maggie replied.
“I was just thanking your mother for all she’s done for Alex and Marc. And me.”
“That’s my mom for you,” Susan said proudly. “We need to get rolling. The girls are waiting outside, and it’s chilly! Mom, better put Sam and Mike to work getting this place ready, because we plan to bring back the biggest Christmas tree in the county.”
***
Aaron and Susan pursued the perfect tree with relentless determination. Alex had equipped Aaron with a list of four lots to visit. They combed through each one, with Susan taking pictures and keeping notes on her phone. True to their word, the twins remained cooperative and patient, thrilled to be tagging along with their aunt and the man that they referred to between themselves as “her boyfriend.”
When they all got back into the car after completing their inspection of likely trees on the fourth lot they had visited, Susan dug her cell phone out of her purse. “Let’s look through the photos of the candidates and pick the winner.”
Aaron checked his watch. “Good plan. It’s almost eleven. We can get the tree, stop at Westbury Hardware on the way home for lights, and be back to Rosemont by noon.”
Susan leaned close to Aaron and the girls hung over the seatback as she scrolled through the pictures. “We’ve got the classic debate. Taller or fuller. Let’s take a vote.”
With a tally of three-to-one for a tree they had seen at the second lot, they set out. By twelve twenty they were pulling slowly up the drive to Rosemont with the fourteen-foot spruce tied securely to the top of Alex’s SUV and one hundred strings of lights in the cargo hold.
“Remember,” Susan turned to Sophie and Sarah in the backseat, “Gramma doesn’t know about the other lights. She’s only going to see the twenty boxes of lights for the tree. We’ll be decorating the inside and your dad, Sam, and John will be outside putting up lights. When it gets dark we’ll take her outside and surprise her.”
Sophie and Sarah squirmed in excitement. “We know,” they whispered in unison. “We won’t tell.”
Aaron smiled at Susan. “They look trustworthy to me,” he said, winking at them. “Let’s get started.”
***
By noon, the peace and orderliness of Rosemont were a mere memory. Maggie and Amy diligently sorted through all the boxes Mike and Sam brought down from the attic, laying out ornaments and decorations on every tabletop and chair.
Amy finally collapsed on the bottom stair and leaned against the railing. “I’m exhausted.” She pulled out a tissue and blew her nose loudly.
Maggie abandoned the box she was working on and joined her daughter-in-law. “Are you feeling all right? Coming down with a cold?”
Amy smiled. “No. Just the dust from all this stuff. You’ve got some wonderful things here,” she said, gesturing to the chaos surrounding them.
“I know,” Maggie replied. “More than I’ll ever use. If there’s anything you’d like, we can box it up and send it to you.”
Amy smiled and shut her eyes. Maggie regarded her carefully. She wasn’t acting like the dynamo she knew. “Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down? I can finish here. The others will be back soon. You’ll lose your chance for a nap if you delay much longer.”
Amy nodded and opened her eyes. “I think I will, just for a bit. I’ll be down before they get back.”
Maggie watched her slow ascent to the second floor, making a mental note to share her concerns with Mike.
***
Maggie cleared away the now-empty packing boxes and headed for the kitchen. She was overwhelmed by the mass of decorations in the living room that had to be dealt with. Why had she allowed Susan to open this can of worms? She didn’t feel like hauling the Thanksgiving leftovers out of the fridge. Instead, she reached for her phone and placed an order at Tomascino’s for enough pizza to feed the lot of them. With that accomplished, she summoned Eve and they both headed into the back garden to enjoy a few moments in the chilly sunshine, away from the musty smell that clung to everything from the attic.
As Maggie and Eve toured the mulched beds in the bottom garden, Susan and the twins crept through the front door, hoping that Maggie was busy elsewhere. Sam and Mike came around the side of the house to help Aaron unload the tree.
“Holy cow,” Sam said. “This is huge. Looks like it should be the White House tree.”
“I’m afraid we got carried away,” Aaron apologized. “We can cut a couple of feet off the bottom.”
“No way. If we can get it through the door, we can put it by the stairway. The ceiling there is two stories,” Sam insisted. “We can stand on the stairway to decorate the top.”
“How in the heck are we going to set it up?” Mike asked.
“Leave that to me,” Sam replied. “I’ve seen them install the big trees at the mall. The three of us can do this.” He motioned toward the back of the car.
After twenty minutes of careful maneuvering, the tree stood majestically in its spot, filling Rosemont with the unmistakable aroma of Christmas.
***
Rosemont buzzed with activity and laughter all afternoon. Maggie thought they had far too many lights, but Sam and Mike managed to get them all strung around the tree in no time. Amy rose from her nap when the pizza arrived, seemingly restored. Maybe Maggie had been worried about nothing after all.
John arrived shortly before two o’clock and disappeared after grabbing a couple slices of cold pizza. Maggie intended to search him out, but every time she tried to slip away, Susan or Amy asked her opinion about a decoration or the twins called her to help them hang ornaments on the tree. She noted that Sam, Aaron, and Mike were also missing in action. Wasn’t that just like men to leave all the decorating to women? Nobody was watching football, so she couldn’t imagine where they might be.
As the afternoon shadows grew long and everyone’s enthusiasm turned to exhaustion, the midday chaos was replaced by the glorious beauty of Rosemont, her halls decked in splendid abandon. At a quarter to five, Maggie climbed to the bottom landing and summoned everyone’s attention.
“Okay, everybody. I hereby declare that we are done! Rosemont looks perfect. We don’t need to put up another thing. Let’s get this mess cleaned up. Girls, you take the boxes to the garage. Susan, will you please run the vacuum? Amy can help me in the kitchen. I’m going to run out front to pick up the mail; I’ll be right back.”
“No!” Susan said, intercepting her mom at the door. “It’s cold out there and you don’t have your jacket. I’ve got a sweater on. I’ll go get the mail and bring it to you in the kitchen. It won’t take long to run
the vacuum, and then I’ll come help you guys in the kitchen. I’m starved, so let’s get some food going.”
“Fine,” Maggie said, eyeing Susan curiously.
Within the hour, all three women chatted amiably in the kitchen as they warmed up leftovers. Sophie and Sarah were setting the generous farmhouse table when Maggie’s phone rang.
“Sweetie,” she called to Susan. “Could you please answer that? I’m dealing with this turkey carcass, and my hands are a mess.”
Susan snatched the phone and stepped out of the kitchen. “Joan’s on her way over with a salad,” she said when she returned.
“Really?” Maggie replied. “Is Sam still here? I haven’t seen any of the men for hours.”
“Yes you have,” Susan lied. “They’ve been in and out all afternoon.”
“Sam and Joan are more than welcome to stay for dinner.” Maggie turned to Sophie; “Make sure you set enough places for everybody.
“Susan,” she said distractedly, “help the girls with that, will you?”
“Hello,” Joan said as she entered the kitchen.
“Hi, Joan,” Maggie said over her shoulder while she and Amy were removing pans from the oven and placing everything on the kitchen island.
“Bring the plates to the end, here,” Maggie told Susan, wiping her brow. “We’ll serve buffet style. Girls, go find your father and the others and tell them dinner is ready.”
“They’re right behind me,” Joan said as Mike, Sam, and John entered the kitchen.
“What have you been doing all day?” But her question went unheard as the hubbub of greetings and chatter filled the kitchen.
“Everybody grab a plate and dig in!” she said, raising her voice and managing to make herself heard. “We’re eating in the kitchen tonight.”
***
Maggie was pleased to see that everyone enjoyed generous helpings. Thanksgiving food is always better the next day, she thought as she rose from the table, picking up her plate and reaching for Mike’s when Marc stepped in.
“You’ve been working like maniacs around here today. You sit. Alex and I are going to clean up,” he stated firmly. “It’s not up for discussion.”
“I should at least get the coffee started and set out the pies,” Maggie said, attempting to get up once again.
John gently pulled her back down. “In a minute. Let’s wait a bit. Everyone agree?”
She scanned the group assembled at her table. Clearly no one was in a hurry. Maggie relaxed back into her seat.
“So what did you guys do today?” she asked, turning to John.
“We did a bit of outside work,” Sam said jumping in. “As soon as they’re done cleaning up, we’ll show you.”
“Won’t it be too dark if we wait? It’s almost too dark now,” she said, looking at Sam with a quizzical expression.
“No. You’ll be able to see,” he replied nonchalantly.
“You’ve done an incredible job in here,” Joan interjected, diverting Maggie’s attention. “Amy told me you found all the decorations in the attic. They must have been there for decades. I don’t ever remember Rosemont being decked out for the holidays.”
Joan discussed the attic finds with Maggie until Alex returned to the table, declaring that they’d completed KP duty.
John jumped up, rubbing his hands together. “Okay, everyone. Get your coats on. We’re heading outside.”
“Really?” Maggie asked, eyeing him suspiciously. “What have you been up to?”
“You’re about to find out,” Sam replied, barely controlling his glee. “Don’t stand around here dawdling. Everybody, get your coats and get crackin’.”
John took Maggie’s hand and held her back. “We go last,” he said softly.
“You’ve been decorating the outside all day, haven’t you? I wondered what you were up to. I was getting suspicious, but didn’t want to risk spoiling your surprise.”
“Well done,” John replied. “That’s one of the things I love about you; your generous spirit.”
Maggie’s head snapped up as she regarded him with surprise and delight. He’d said the “L” word!
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “They’re so excited out there they can hardly contain themselves. Let’s go. And act surprised.”
Maggie smiled. “You think you need to tell me that?”
Arm-in-arm, they stepped across the threshold. John walked her to the center of the group, huddled in the dark night on the far side of the driveway.
“One, two, three—Merry Christmas!” Sam yelled as he, Mike, Alex, and Marc connected the strings of lights. The façade of Rosemont burst into illumination, with white lights tracing every dormer, peak, and gable. Lighted wreaths hung in every window.
The assembled group gasped, then broke into a boisterous round of applause.
“Say something,” John whispered in Maggie’s ear before he realized she was crying. “It appears the unflappable Maggie Martin is completely undone; reduced to tears,” he told the crowd.
Sophie and Sarah rushed to their grandmother for a hug.
“Isn’t is wonderful, Gramma?” Sophie gushed.
“We knew about it all day long, and we didn’t say a word, did we?” Sarah said proudly.
“You are the best secret keepers ever,” Maggie said, finding her voice. “And you are the most caring, remarkable group of friends and family a person could ever have,” she said, moving to the front steps. “Rosemont looks spectacular. I don’t know how to thank you all.”
She turned to Joan and Alex. “Since I’m going to be in California for Christmas, why don’t you use the house? Come here as much as you want; have your families over.”
“Actually, Mom,” Mike said stepping in. “We’ve been talking.” He pointed to Amy and Susan. “With your permission, we’re all planning to come to Rosemont for Christmas. And everybody here is invited to Christmas dinner.”
Maggie’s heart swelled with joy. No two ways about it—she loved having her children in her home for Christmas. “What about the girls?” she asked. “I thought they wanted to be home for Christmas?”
“It was their idea,” Amy supplied, giving Maggie a hug. “We all want to be at Rosemont.”
***
Later, after Amy herded the girls upstairs to get ready for bed and the others lingered over a last bite of pie in the kitchen, Aaron caught Susan’s eye. Raising his coffee cup slightly, he nodded in the direction of the front of the house. She gathered her sweater around her shoulders and followed him outside. They turned and looked at Rosemont, resplendent in her holiday décor.
“I was awfully glad to hear that you’ll be back at Christmas,” he said, turning to face her, the lights bathing her upturned face in a soft glow.
Susan smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat. “Will you be with Alex for the holidays?”
“Now that you’re going to be here, I will be,” he replied happily. Susan shivered and Aaron put his arm around her, drawing her close. “You’re very special. You know that, don’t you?” he whispered against her hair.
Susan tried to read his expression but he had his back to the house and darkness shielded his face. “I’m so glad you’ll be in Westbury. I was hoping.”
Aaron kissed her then, a slow, leisurely kiss. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I want to know more about you.”
Susan drew back to tell him she felt the same way, and sneezed instead.
“I’d better get you back inside,” Aaron said, pushing her gently toward the door. “I don’t want you being sick for Christmas.”
Chapter 39
Loretta Nash looked up from her computer screen when the front door of Haynes Enterprises opened late in the afternoon on the Friday after Thanksgiving. She quickly closed out of Pinterest, where she had been researching DIY Christmas gifts, and opened up an accounts receivable report as the balding, stocky man approached her desk.
“May I help you?” she asked pleasantly, walking around her desk to intercept hi
m as he made his way to Mr. Haynes’ office. Who did he think he was barging in here? she thought.
Chuck Delgado paused, allowing himself a lascivious glance along the shapely body of this tall, curvy blonde. He was too self-absorbed to notice the look of revulsion on her face.
“I’m here to see Frankie,” he answered. “But first, I’d like to meet you,” he said, offering his hand. “Charles Delgado. People call me Chuck.”
Loretta half-turned, pretending not to have seen his outstretched hand, and replied, “Let me see if he’s expecting you. Do you have an appointment, Mr. Delgado? I don’t see you on his calendar.”
Cheeky broad, Delgado thought. “I don’t need no appointment. We’re old friends. And we’re both councilmen,” he stated, proudly throwing his shoulders back. He resumed his progress toward Haynes’ office.
“Would you have a seat while I check with Mr. Haynes?” she stated firmly, gesturing to the sofa along the wall by the entrance.
“I told you, I don’t need no appointment,” Delgado growled as he continued to walk.
“Sir, please wait,” Loretta raised her voice slightly. Haynes came to his door.
“It’s all right, Loretta. Thank you,” he said in the calm, slow manner he used when he was coiling and about to strike. “What brings you here today, Charles? Come in.”
He motioned Delgado to a chair in front of his desk then turned to Loretta, who was unsure of what she should do next. “I’m sorry, I tried to stop him,” she mouthed.
Haynes’ expression relaxed for a nanosecond.
“Can I get you some coffee?” she asked.
“No. We’re fine.” He turned and then looked back. “Why don’t you go on home? The phones have been quiet all afternoon; everyone’s out Christmas shopping.”
“Thank you, Mr. Haynes. My kids would love that. I appreciate it very much,” she said, even though she knew instinctively that he wasn’t being kind but simply wanted to get rid of her. He was hiding something that had to do with this creep Delgado, she was sure of it.
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