Home at Last

by Judith Keim

  Lulu gave Cami a quick hug. “Thank you! That would be perfect. I can keep an eye on her and be there for her if any problems arise.”

  Cami sent her a worried look. “You sure she won’t be uncomfortable with me, considering the family history?”

  “I am. Apparently, my mother found out about you and your mother at one point pretty early in her marriage, but did and said nothing about it. Pretty surprising, but then my parents’ marriage wasn’t like most others. It was a political alliance.”

  “I’ll go out of my way to make certain she’s comfortable,” said Cami. “I know what a big step it is for her to make the trip and how much it means to you.”

  Lulu’s heart burst with love for her. “You’re the best sister ever.”

  They gave one another quick hugs.

  Later, when Melba and her mother heard the offer, they were both delighted. Lulu was especially happy to know that Melba would have some quality time over Christmas with her family without worrying about her commitment to be available to help Rosalie.

  ###

  As the days went by, Lulu grew anxious. Her mother was continuing to have good days. Lulu worried it might mean by the time her mother came to Chandler Hill, she’d be in a downswing of emotions.

  When Christmas Eve arrived, Lulu called Melba. “How is she?” Her mother was due to fly to Portland that afternoon.

  “Your mother is doing fine. The new medications she’s on seem to be working, and I think her being away from here will be a tremendous boost. I haven’t seen her this excited for a long, long time.”

  “I don’t want her too excited,” said Lulu, remembering how quickly one of her mother’s highs could change to a low.

  “This time it’s different, sweetie,” Melba said. “But if you see any changes, you know what you need to do.”

  “Yes.” Lulu and Melba had arranged to keep in touch with Rosalie’s doctor during her time away. He was pleased to know that she was going to be with Lulu for the holidays.

  ###

  Late that afternoon, Lulu paced back and forth inside the terminal at the Portland International Airport. She’d agreed to meet her mother in the baggage claim area. When she finally saw her mother among the group of disembarked passengers heading her way, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  Her mother was dressed conservatively in gray slacks and a soft-blue sweater coat. Large sunglasses covered her eyes and helped to keep people from recognizing her.

  Lulu rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her mother. During this visit, Lulu hoped to bridge the gap that still existed between them, especially after learning how much her mother had suffered being married to a man who didn’t love her.

  Her mother returned her hug and stepped back to look at her. “My! What a nice greeting! And you look so healthy and so happy. Being away from L.A. has been good for you.”

  “I love it here, Mom, and I’m hoping you will too. Wait until you meet Cami. She’s wonderful.”

  A momentary stillness on her mother’s features alerted Lulu that it would take a great deal of diplomacy on everyone’s part to get over the initial awkwardness of meeting her husband’s love child.

  “How many bags did you bring?” Lulu asked, taking a small carry-on from her mother’s hands.

  “I brought just one suitcase, but it’s rather big and heavy,” her mother confessed, giving her a sheepish look.

  “No problem,” Lulu answered cheerfully. At the moment she felt as if she could move mountains.

  ###

  The drive to the inn was filled with small talk. Lulu explained what little she’d learned about grape growing and how she was fascinated she was by it all.

  “All that hard work for a glass of wine,” her mother commented, giving her a smile.

  “Wait until you see the inn. It’s beautiful and another instance of a lot of hard work. I don’t know how Cami does it, but she’s very organized and good at keeping everything going.”

  Her mother remained quiet.

  They started up the long driveway to the inn. As they reached the top of the hill and her mother saw the inn, she let out a gasp of delight. “It’s beautiful!”

  Lulu and her mother exchanged smiles. “I’m so glad you agreed to spend Christmas here. I think it will be good for all of us. Cami is worried you might resent her, but I assured her that wouldn’t happen. Right, Mom?”

  Rosalie sighed. “It wasn’t her fault my husband fell in love with her mother.”

  “What happened, Mom? Why did you marry Dad?”

  Her mother pointed to the inn just ahead. “We’re here, sweetie.”

  “Okay, maybe another time. I’m trying to understand because I don’t want to make the same mistake.”

  Her mother studied her. “I’ll find a time to answer your questions. I promise.”

  Lulu drove past the inn to Cami’s house and parked in the driveway. “Here’s where you’ll be staying. It’s nice and peaceful. If you want more activity, it’s close by.”

  “Perfect,” said her mother. “I think I’m going to love it.”

  Lulu paused a moment to study the house. A huge wreath hung on the dark-red door. Mini-lights twinkled from the shrubbery that softened the base of the house whose gray-painted clapboards blended in with its surroundings, making it appear to be a natural part of the scene. Battery-lit candles flickered in the windows, offering a warm welcome.

  “What a lovely home,” said Lulu’s mother, surprising her.

  Compared to their house in California, this one seemed simple, small. Lulu had loved it the first time she saw it. But she’d always thought the house in L.A. was something her mother had chosen.

  Her mother noticed her look of confusion. “Another story for later.”

  “Okay.” Lulu shook her head. Apparently, this was another instance that proved she didn’t know her mother at all.

  Cami opened the front door.

  Sophie ran toward the car at full speed, her short, crooked legs moving as fast as they could.

  “Here’s Sophie. And there’s Cami,” Lulu announced.

  Her mother sat in the passenger seat staring at Cami. “My God,” she whispered. “It’s remarkable how much the two of you look alike.”

  “Come on. Let’s go meet her.”

  Lulu unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. Hurrying to her side, she held onto her mother’s arm. Together they walked toward Cami waiting for them on the front porch. At Lulu’s wave, Cami approached them.

  “Hello, Mrs. Kingsley, I’m so happy you could make the trip to Chandler Hill. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

  “Thank you. And please, call me Rosalie.”

  Lulu beamed at them as they shook hands.

  Sophie barked and looked up at Rosalie with dark eyes, wagging her tail so hard her backend moved back and forth.

  “Ah, Sophie is it? Hello.” Rosalie bent over and patted the dachshund’s head and gently rubbed her ears.

  Lulu smiled at them. “I think you’ve made a friend, Mom.”

  Rosalie turned to Lulu. “A good beginning, don’t you think?”

  The tension that had pinched her neck eased a bit. Lulu shot Cami a hopeful look. “It’s going to be a good visit. I can tell.”

  “Rafe, Drew, and I have been looking forward to it,” Cami said, smiling at Rosalie.

  “Rafe is Cami’s grandfather and Drew, her fiancé,” prompted Lulu.

  “Oh, yes,” said Rosalie. “I remember hearing you say that.”

  “Here comes Rafe now,” Cami said, and they all turned to watch him make his way toward them.

  Observing the smile on his handsome face and feeling a surge of love for him, Lulu ran to greet him. They hugged, and then Lulu led him by the hand to her mother.

  “This is Rafe,” Lulu said proudly. “He’s been wonderful to me.”

  Rafe gave Rosalie a little bow. “I’m pleased to meet you. I hope during your stay here, I’ll have the opportunity to show you around.”r />
  “Thank you. I’d like that,” Rosalie responded in a cheery voice that pleased Lulu.

  She and Cami exchanged silent looks. Maybe, thought Lulu, this visit will be even better than I’d hoped.

  When they went inside, Sophie stayed right at Rosalie’s heels.

  ###

  Sitting at the dining room table, Lulu filled with a whole new appreciation for her sister and Cami’s grandfather. Each made sure Rosalie was part of the conversation. Drew, sweet guy that he was, tried too.

  Rafe talked about his family, how they’d lived in the valley for generations, and how he’d always wanted to have his own land to grow grapes.

  “He’s been very successful at it,” said Lulu. “Cami too.”

  “I couldn’t go wrong,” said Cami. “As Nonnee used to say, I’m a Chandler and a Lopez.”

  “I see,” said Rosalie. “After hearing about your grandmother and meeting Rafe, I’m certain it’s a wonderful combination.” She smiled at Rafe.

  “What a surprise she was to me. You can’t imagine my joy.” Rafe’s cheeks flushed with emotion. “Guess this old man is getting sentimental in his golden years.”

  “I think it’s sweet,” said Rosalie.

  Conversation turned to the weather. A warm front was hitting the area.

  “Perhaps you’d like a tour of the vineyards,” Rafe said to Rosalie. “After our usual Christmas breakfast, you might need a good walk.”

  “Cami makes a mean hollandaise sauce for the eggs benedict,” said Drew. He grinned at Cami. “She’s a great cook.”

  “I think that’s the reason he’s marrying me,” she teased.

  “You know better,” said Drew giving her a grin that could only be called sexy.

  Lulu chuckled with the others at their antics. She wanted a man to look at her the way Drew was doing now with Cami. Her thoughts flew to Miguel and away. It was obvious he had no serious interest in her.

  “Did you hear about Miguel?” Drew asked Rafe. “He’s going to Chile for three months or more. Being the only single guy of the four of us at Lone Creek Winery, he’s agreed to travel there to work with a wine grower we know. We want to see if there’s a way to come up with a new, distinctive wine for Lone Creek, something that would set us apart from everyone here.”

  Rafe’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know about it, but it would, I think, be an interesting trip. He’ll be able to see parts of the process first hand.”

  “You might even want to visit him there,” said Drew. “Now, that you’ve started to travel.”

  “My grandmother had a fear of flying which is why Rafe’s first trip to Europe was last summer,” Cami explained.

  “Oh, I see,” said Rosalie. “I used to do a lot of traveling in my younger years, but grew to detest being part of an entourage.”

  “Understandable,” commented Rafe.

  While they chatted, Lulu’s thoughts returned to Miguel. Three months was a long time to be away, proving to herself that he didn’t care enough to try to spend more time with her.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Christmas Day was as the weatherman had predicted—unseasonably warm with a bright sunny sky. A gift, he’d called it, and Lulu agreed.

  She got up and hurried into the shower, anxious to see what the day held. She’d carefully selected Christmas gifts for the family and couldn’t wait to hand them out.

  Dressed and ready to go, she walked into the kitchen to find Cami in her pajamas setting the table for breakfast. Cami turned to Lulu with a smile. “Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve invited Becca and Dan and Miguel for breakfast. Nonnee always liked having a crowd, and I do too.”

  “It sounds wonderful. Too many of my past Christmases have been pretty lonely. Can I help with anything?”

  “No, thanks, unless you want to fix a cup of tea or coffee for your mother and take it into her.”

  “I’ll be happy to do that,” said Lulu, glad for something to do. This would also give her an opportunity to gauge how her mother was faring.

  She fixed a small tray with a cup of hot tea and a plate with a couple of pieces of toast and knocked on her mother’s door. When she heard no answer, she pushed the door open and gaped at the dark, cold room and the empty bed.

  Her heart bumping in her chest, she set the tray down on a bureau and went in search of her mother. As she hurried toward the bathroom, she noticed a movement outside and observed her mother sitting on the deck outside her room.

  Lulu stepped outdoors. “Good morning, Mom. How are you?”

  Her mother looked up at her with curved lips. “I’m fine. I’m enjoying the quiet, peaceful scene. It’s so lovely.”

  Lulu sat down beside her mother and studied her. “Are you feeling all right?”

  Smiling, her mother nodded. “I’ll let you know if I start to go in either direction. I promised you and Melba that I would do that. But, thanks.”

  “I brought you some tea and toast. Let me get some for myself and I’ll join you.”

  Her mother’s eyes lit with pleasure. “That would be nice, sweetheart.”

  Pleased, Lulu hurried into the kitchen.

  “Is your mother okay?” Cami asked, noticing her fixing the tea.

  “She’s wonderful. Grab a cup of coffee and come say hello to her.”

  Cami followed Lulu out to the deck and pulled up a third chair. “Good morning, Rosalie. Isn’t it a beautiful morning?”

  “Perfect,” Rosalie said. “I feel like I’m in a place far, far away from my usual surroundings.” She smiled at Cami. “I have you to thank for that.”

  “I’m so glad you could come and stay here.” Cami spoke in a wobbly voice. “I was worried you’d blame me for something my mother did.”

  “Oh, my dear, that’s not your fault. But like I’ve told Lulu, I’ve known for years all about Edward and the woman he loved. Ours was an arranged marriage of sorts. Unlike your grandfather, Rafe, Lulu’s grandfather was an opinionated, dominant man who was ambitious for his son. My father and he were business partners and didn’t always see eye to eye. But when my engagement was unexpectedly broken by my fiancé, the father I adored convinced me that I could do great things for the world with Edward by helping him reach his goals. But, truth be told, neither of us was ever more than a little in love. “

  “Why didn’t you leave him, Mom?” Lulu held back tears.

  Her mother’s eyes widened. “How could I? I had you and then Teddy. And after Teddy died, I was too broken ...” she stopped talking, and in the silence that followed, unspoken words fluttered between them like butterflies searching for a place to land.

  “Another time, if you’re willing, I’d like to know more about my father,” said Cami softly, breaking into the quiet between them. “Right now, I don’t know what to think about him.”

  “Another time,” Rosalie agreed. She stood and drew in a deep breath. “I think I’ll go and prepare for the day. If I’m to go walking with Rafe later, I guess I’d better wear comfortable clothes.”

  “Yes,” said Lulu. “I can’t wait for you to get to know him better.”

  Cami picked up Rosalie’s dishes from the table and headed indoors with her, leaving Lulu with her thoughts.

  Hearing her mother’s story, Lulu was determined to hold off on any plans with Will. If in a few months she was still interested, she’d begin work on his campaign.

  ###

  The others were due to arrive at eleven. Lulu carried her gifts into the living room and set them down by the live tree in the corner of the room. Cami, Drew, and she had decorated the tree with family ornaments. Nonnee’s Santa Claus collection lined the mantlepiece, and candles and other decorations were carefully placed around the room. Lulu admired the simplicity.

  Observing her mother reading on the couch, Lulu picked out one of the gifts and carried it over to her. “Before the others come, I’d like you to open this.”

  Her mother’s eyes widened. “For me?”

  “Yes. I hope you like it.”
Lulu’s stomach churned at the thought of her mother’s rejection.

  Cami walked into the living room with Drew. “Opening presents?”

  “This is a special one I wanted my mother to have before our guests arrive,” said Lulu.

  The three of them watched as Rosalie carefully unwrapped the gift. Staring at the label on the box, she lifted her face to Lulu. “Me? Really?”

  Unsure whether her mother liked it, Lulu blurted out. “I remember you used to take photographs of Teddy and me. I thought you’d like to photograph the scenery around here and get interested in photography again. It’s a very simple digital camera to use.”

  “Why, Lulu, I didn’t think you’d remember that. How thoughtful. This is the perfect place for me to begin again.” She hugged her. “You might have to show me a few things about it. But, I’d like to try. Somewhere at home, I have boxes of photos of some of the people your father and I met.”

  Lulu felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. If she could get her mother interested in things outside the home, she might feel better, be more positive about life. She turned to Cami.

  “Can I give you your present now? I can’t wait.”

  Cami grinned. “Sure. I love surprises.”

  Lulu handed Cami the package and squirmed as Cami ripped the paper off. When Cami opened the box and saw the silver and gold pendant on a silver chain, she turned to Lulu and grinned.

  “You have the other half?”

  Lulu pulled the half-heart pendant out from under her sweater. “They match perfectly.”

  Cami’s eyes filled. “What a thoughtful gift. Thank you so much!” She hooked the chain around her neck and hugged Lulu. “Sisters forever.”

  “Sisters forever,” responded Lulu, still finding it hard to believe that her wish of long ago was finally true.

  Rafe arrived, and more gifts were exchanged.

  When Rafe saw the gift Cami and Drew gave him, he laughed out loud. “You want to get rid of me again?”

  “We know how much you liked the river cruise last summer. We thought you’d like another one,” said Cami.

  “I would,” Rafe said, easily. “Yes, indeed.” He turned to Rosalie. “Ever been on a river cruise?”