“Thomas’ classes are supposed to start soon.” Jennie reminded Matthew.
“Well, he can come with us and show us how well he can do his sums while we shop,” Mathew grinned.
Soon they all bundled into the carriage and were on their way to town.
The town was bustling with people. Women shopped and gossiped as they walked along the wooden porches of the storefronts. The scent of chestnuts roasting and popped corn filled the air as they passed street vendors who hawked their warm treats.
Matthew gallantly carried their boxes back to their carriage and stowed them as a light snow began to fall. Thomas was given a cone filled with the still-warm popped corn, dusted with confectioners’ sugar, while his uncle bought himself a cone filled with buttery popped corn and a bag of roasted chestnuts for the women to enjoy on their way back to the house.
Thomas chattered about the sights he saw, including a man who played Christmas carols on a trumpet near to the mercantile. He was also proud that he had given his shiny nickel to a group of church volunteers accepting donations to buy gifts for children who were not as wealthy as he was.
“It is a true gift, given in the spirit of Christmas.” Jennie was very proud of her step-son.
“I wanted to spend it on candy canes, but then I thought of the children who couldn’t have a present at Christmas. This way, they might have a present for themselves.”
“That was a very selfless thing for you to do, Thomas,” Matthew said, giving his nephew a tight hug.
“You’re a very good lad.” Laura smiled at Thomas, who beamed happily.
They arrived back at the house, tired and hungry, but with quite a lot of work left to do.
Cook fed them a simple stew. Afterwards Matthew helped to set up the tree.
Matthew had secretly bought a whole bag of plain popped corn and handed it to Laura and Jennie, who got their sewing needles and strung the popped corn into garlands while Thomas and Matthew hung the pinecones on the tree.
When each popcorn garland was finished, the boys hung them over the branches of the Christmas tree. The sweet scent of the pine and the popcorn was strong in the room. The tree was very pretty but it was missing one thing.
“We need a star on the tree top,” Jennie suggested.
“Or an Angel,”
“I think an Angel might be a good idea,” Laura agreed with Matthew.
“Can we make one?” asked Thomas.
“I don’t see why not. Let me go get some paper from your father’s study, I’m sure he won’t miss a piece.” Jennie stood and headed out into the hall. She opened the door to Colin’s study then stopped abruptly.
Colin was slumped, drunk in his chair, an empty bottle of whiskey atop the desk. A small locket was clasped tight in his hands with a miniature picture of his first wife open in the locket. His eyes were closed and he was lightly snoring.
She slipped quietly out of the study and returned to the scene of warmth and happiness.
“Matthew, can I get your help here with something, please?”
Matthew nodded and followed her to the study.
“Oh dear…” he said softly. “Well, let’s get him to bed then.” He lifted one of Colin’s arms over his shoulder and maneuvered his body upright, letting Jennie get under the other.
“Are you all right to take his weight?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she said softly, as they staggered under Colin’s weight out of the study and down the hall to the master bedroom.
Jennie pulled his boots off and removed his coat. The stench of the alcohol cloyed against her nose. He opened his eyes briefly and put his hand to her cheek.
“The tree is so pretty this year, Catherine, so pretty, just like you,” he slurred then closed his eyes and returned to his drunken slumber.
Jennie smiled wanly, her heart tightening in her chest. How could she compare to her husband’s first wife?
She covered him over with the blankets and placed a kiss against his temple, Matthew holding the candelabra for her as they left the bedroom.
Thomas was put to bed and the milk and cookies for Saint Nicholas were put by the fireplace in the sitting room, waiting on him to arrive and deliver his gifts to the good children of the house. Matthew smiled as Jennie kissed Thomas on the cheek and tucked him in to bed.
“You are a good mother and one day you will have your own babies to love and care for,” Matthew said as she closed the door to Thomas’ bedroom.
“Gracie and Thomas are my own, though a baby to grow up with them would be a blessing.”
They walked back towards the nursery.
“I’ll take care of Gracie tonight, if you and Laura would like to have some time together,” Jennie offered with a knowing smile.
“Am I that obvious in my pursuit of the lovely Laura’s hand?” he asked.
“You make those puppy-dog eyes at her every opportunity you get. It’s cannot be missed!” Jennie grinned as she entered the nursery and took over the cuddling duties. Laura smiled and left with Matthew, taking his hand as they walked down to the parlor.
Jennie settled down in the rocking chair with Gracie sleeping soundly in her arms before she too fell asleep.
Chapter 9 – Breakthroughs
Jennie was awoken by Laura’s frantic shaking of her shoulder. Gracie whimpered in her arms as she awoke.
“Jennie, come quick!” she said,
“What is it?” Jennie asked.
“You need to see this! You won’t believe your eyes!”
Jennie got to her feet, handing Gracie off to Laura so she could quickly rinse her face in the washbasin right there in the nursery, then the two ran to the sitting room.
Thomas was sitting on Colin’s shoulders, a delicate angel in his hands. Jennie watched as he set the pretty angel atop the tree.
“There we go! Good boy.” Colin took his son in his arms and hugged him. “Now that Angel is your mother. She loved Christmas so much and she can spend it with us every year atop the tree.”
Jennie watched the beautiful moment, tears brimming in her eyes. Suddenly feeling like a true outsider who had no right to be there, she quietly excused herself and walked quickly away. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she fled the warm family scene. She left the house and ran out to the barn, forgetting to gather her coat against the snow falling outside.
Jennie climbed up to the hayloft and sat in the open door at the top, her legs dangling over the side as she looked out at the beautiful snow-covered fields beyond the house. Hot tears trickled down her face as she wept with a mixture of happiness and desolation.
She didn’t even hear him come up the creaky wooden ladder. Nor did she know he was there until she felt him place his own coat around her cold shoulders.
“Why did you leave?” he asked her.
“It wasn’t my place to be there,” she said sniffling.
Colin eased a clean handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her.
He placed his arms around her, pressing his lips against her temple. “You are my wife. Of course it is your place to be with us at Christmas. It is you who reminded me that Christmas is about family, about love and being together,” he sighed.
“I was filled with both blinding anger and indescribable happiness when I saw Thomas enjoying himself so much decorating the tree with you all when I returned home early last night. I did not trust myself to speak and went straight to my study to drown my normal Christmas grief since Catherine died the only way I’ve known how.”
“Jennie, I have not been a very good husband since we married,” Colin admitted. “I have been brusque, rude, abrupt and uncaring about your feelings. I’ve even tried to shut you up by being threatening in my manner. I promised to cherish and love you but I have failed in this.” Sadness tinged his voice.
“My first wife, Catherine... I loved her fiercely. Every time I saw you, I felt guilty about marrying you. It felt like I was betraying her and it was like I suddenly could never control my anger a
round you. I am very sorry. Please forgive me, Jennie. Though I cannot say now that I love you with the same fierceness, I still have a feeling of love for you. And it grows more as I let go my anger over Catherine’s death and allow myself to be grateful for this new beginning.” His voice was thick with emotion.
“I can’t be your first wife, Colin, but I can be your second. And I can be the mother of your children from this day onward.” Jennie took his hand and placed it on her stomach.
She hadn’t told anyone except Laura, but she had taken ill over the last week in the mornings. Laura had taken one look at her and confirmed her suspicions. She looked at Colin, the meaning of her words apparent in her gaze.
“Truly?” he asked, his hand stroking her stomach gently. Jennie nodded and saw tears gather in his eyes.
“Truly.”
Colin pulled Jennie into his arms, resting her head against his shoulder and stroking and kissing her hair.
“Jennie, it is almost too good for a horrible brute like me. I’ve treated you so badly and all you have done is love me and my son in return. And now this heartwarming news of another baby on the way, and on Christmas Day.
“I also have another gift for you but it is under the tree.”
“I have one for you as well, but let’s get yours first so we can give each other our gifts at the same time, as it should be.”
Jennie nodded. Colin gently raised her head so she could see his eyes then lowered his face to kiss her sweetly on the lips.
For the very first time, Jennie felt his love radiating through her. Her body melted and Colin shuddered and kissed her even more deeply.
Finally both Jennie and Colin paused and came up for air, Jennie blushing and Colin running his hands through his hair.
“Well, we will have to continue later in the privacy of our bedchamber, Mrs. Williams,” Colin grinned.
“I agree, Mr. Williams,” Jennie grinned back. “Shall we go find those presents now and prevent everyone from sending out a search party to find us?”
Colin chuckled and Jennie let him help her up. They climbed down the ladder and headed back into the house where the warmth and light of their home’s Christmas spirit greeted them.
Jennie entered the sitting room with Colin and all heads turned from watching Thomas open his gifts to their entry. Jennie headed to the tree and took the small, gift-wrapped box from underneath the sweet smelling boughs and handed it to Colin. He reached into his pocket and handed her a similar small velvet box tied with a ribbon.
She waited for him to open his gift before she pulled the ribbon from hers and opened it.
Within the velvet box, set upon a small satin cushion was a golden locket, not unlike the one he had clutched in his hands the night before. She held it up in the light. Inscribed on the back were their initials CW & JW. Colin Williams and Jennie Williams. Upon the front was a set of two hearts, the middle edges intertwined. She smiled at him, tears in her eyes.
“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
He reached forward and took the locket from her, unhooking the chain and placing it around her neck. “Now it’s beautiful, just like my wife.” He caressed her cheek gently with his hand. Jennie blushed. It was more attention than he’d ever shown her and she enjoyed it unabashedly.
“Now open yours,” Jennie pointed to his as yet unopened gift.
He smiled and unwrapped the box, finding a silver pocket watch with his initials inscribed on the front. “Look inside,” she urged.
Colin looked at her and then popped open the watch’s cover. Inside was a portrait of Thomas, smiling proudly. Colin was overcome. He wiped a tear from his eye and took Jennie into his arms. His lips found hers and he kissed her gently at first, then with a deeper tenderness as his arms wrapped tightly around her.
“Hey, you aren’t under the mistletoe!” Thomas said.
The boy ran over to the sideboard where the sprig lay, ready to be hung over a door frame but forgotten in the rush to get the tree decorated. Being careful not to cut his hands on the barbed edges of the leaves, he stood on the sofa behind his father and held the sprig over his father’s and step-mother’s heads as they kissed.
Matthew laughed and took Laura in his arms, pressing his lips against hers. Thomas noticed, jumped down and ran out of the room, returning quickly with the mistletoe torn in two. He jumped back up, holding out both in his hands, one over each couple’s heads.
They might not have been a conventional family but Colin had finally found the spirit of Christmas again through his new bride and the love with which she showered him and his son. Jennie, in her turn, found in Colin a caring, loving husband and father and a wonderful turnaround for her sister’s miracle Christmas baby, little Gracie, whose future was now secure.
*** The End ***
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Christmas Mail Order Bride:
Jennie’s Christmas Baby Turnaround!
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Jennie's Christmas Baby Turnaround (Christmas Holiday Western 1) Page 4
