He squeezed Fee’s hand. ‘Do you want to bring up our wedding plans to lift the mood a bit?’
‘With pleasure.’ She gently tapped her water glass then resorted to shouting. ‘Does anyone have any plans for the day after Christmas that they can’t break?’
‘Why?’ His mother stopped in the middle of scraping the last spoonful of sweet potato casserole onto Mikey’s plate.
‘Because that’s when we would like to get married.’
The noisy chatter eased off for a moment before immediately increasing in volume with a lot of yelled questions from those who were too far away from the main dining table to know what was going on. By the time everyone got the message a free for all ensued as they all tried to voice their opinion at the same time.
‘Right you lot be quiet.’ Hank held his hand in the air and Tom breathed a sigh of relief when his family got the hint and shut up. ‘Tom, give us a few details.’
‘We want a quiet, intimate ceremony at Black Cherry for immediate family only. The Sevier cabin isn’t booked and should be the perfect size.’ He nodded to Fee. ‘Your turn.’
‘Sarah, we don’t want a lot of fuss but do you think you and the girls could take charge of the food and decorations?’
His mother beamed. ‘Of course.’
‘Where’s Lulu?’ Fee craned her neck and Tom’s little niece jumped off Mary-Jo’s lap to race around to them. ‘Do you know what we need?’ Lulu stuck her thumb in her mouth and shook her head. ‘We need a bridesmaid who likes sparkly dresses and flowers—’
‘And rings?’ Lulu giggled.
‘Of course.’
‘I reckon I need a best man, Pop.’ Tom chimed in. ‘Are you up for the job?’ Only in his head did he add the word – again. Yesterday when he asked Fee who would give her away she said it was an outdated notion but rang Will Sawyer to ask him anyway and he couldn’t have been more thrilled.
‘I can manage that.’
‘My parents are planning to arrive in about three weeks to meet you all and help with the wedding.’ Fee’s voice wobbled. She’d been shocked when Maddy insisted on coming so early, explaining that she’d let her daughter down too many times.
For once he’d chosen the right words when he tried to ease her concerns.
As long as I end up married to you, sooner rather than later, the rest is irrelevant. I’ll listen to the craziness during the day and shut the door on it all at night to be with you.
‘We needed this today.’ His father’s smile struggled to reach his eyes. ‘Y’all raise your glasses and let’s have a toast to Fee and Tom.’
Amidst the loud cheers and whistles Tom’s throat tightened.
‘Mee Maw’s not really gone. Take a good look around the room. She’s here in every single one of these people who love you and each other,’ Fee whispered in his ear.
Later he’d tell her how much she meant to him but for now Tom contented himself with giving her a long kiss to the satisfaction of his rambunctious family.
‘Right that’s enough sloppy stuff,’ Mikey shouted. ‘The game’s about to start.’
‘Not until the dishes are done.’ His mother’s order wiped the smile off his brother’s face.
‘Yep, that’s right.’ Mary-Jo grinned. ‘Then you get to watch the kids while us girls do up the shop.’
Fee looked puzzled.
‘Family tradition. While the cafe is closed for the day the Thanksgiving decorations come down and Mary-Jo turns it into Christmas.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Do you mind helping?’
‘I’m not exactly creative but I’ll give it a try.’
‘Thanks. I expect you can hang giant plastic candy canes with the best of them.’
‘Will it be full-on Christmas from now on?’
‘Oh, yeah. Thirty-three days and counting.’
‘You’re as bad as Lulu. Don’t tell me you still expect a Christmas stocking at your age?
‘Of course and if you’re very good Santa will bring you something too.’
‘I’m pretty sure he brought mine early although he could’ve tied a red bow around your neck to make you look more festive.’
‘I’ll see what I can do later,’ Tom whispered.
‘One more thing before y’all get crazy.’ His mother held up a red velvet drawstring bag. ‘I’m gonna start with Fee and we’ll go around the table clockwise.’
‘What—’
‘It’s okay, honey. This is to find your Secret Santa pal.’ He explained that with the family growing so large they’d decided a few years ago to only give the kids proper Christmas presents. The grown-ups swapped names and bought that one person a gag gift. ‘It can’t cost more than five dollars and the more outrageous the better.’
‘Oh, right. I hadn’t thought about presents.’ A shadow flitted across her face. ‘I don’t know—’
‘Don’t fret. We’re doin’ all this together remember?’ The relief in her eyes lifted Tom’s heart to his throat. Whatever it took he would always be there for her. Being thankful today was easy.
Chapter Forty-Six
For a full fortnight after Thanksgiving they enjoyed the lull before the storm. Fee helped Tom to add simple decorations to all the cabins that were booked for the Christmas season. They kept it natural by using fresh cut greenery, pine cones and shiny holly laden with plump red berries. It seemed there was an unwritten rule in Pine Ridge that it was compulsory to hang Christmas decorations on every available spot. The town turned into a colourful, brightly lit wonderland. Even the police department didn’t escape despite Hank grumbling that it wasn’t professional to have an inflatable Santa Claus wearing a jaunty uniform cap outside the door. She’d seen far more elaborate decorations in cities around the world but the joyful, unsophisticated nature of Pine Ridge’s efforts appealed to Fee.
Every time they saw Lulu the little girl updated them on how many nights she had to sleep before Santa Claus finally came. They often joked that she would quite possibly burst with excitement long before the 25th of December.
But the previous week everything had changed when they collected her mother and Will from the Knoxville airport. They’d turned down Tom’s offer of a cabin at Black Cherry or Sarah Chambers’ guest bedroom on the grounds that they were used to being independent and would be fine in the Pine Ridge motel. Despite their differences Maddy and Sarah clicked the first time they met and united in their determination to thwart Fee and Tom’s plans for a simple, quiet wedding. They tried to distract their mothers and eat up more wedding planning time by taking them on several sightseeing trips around the local area. Out of desperation they even braved the appalling traffic jams around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to see the fifteen million Christmas light display in the Smoky Mountain Winterfest. Fee’s eyeballs burned for days after that one.
‘We’ve created a monster,’ she sighed. ‘You’ve heard the media’s habit of mashing celebrity couples’ names together these days? Well I think our mothers qualify. I can’t decide whether Saddy or Marah sounds best.’
‘Honey, hold onto the fact that when all this stuff is behind us we’ll be married and that’s all that really matters.’
‘I know you’re right but I didn’t expect—’ Fee succumbed to Tom’s kisses and pushed tomorrow’s wedding dress shopping expedition from her mind. She’d put it off up to the point where she thought Sarah and Maddy would kidnap her and drag her to the nearest mall. The fact it was now only five days until their wedding and she still had nothing to wear forced her to give in.
‘Yeah well there’s a lot we didn’t expect, sweetheart.’ Tom’s lopsided smile warmed her heart. ‘Most of it’s good.’ He nuzzled into her neck and his stubble tickled her skin. ‘Whatever you buy I’ll love it and love gettin’ you out—’
‘Behave yourself.’ She slapped his hand away, the one exploring under the hem of her jumper. ‘At least until later.’ Fee sighed. ‘Any minute now our wonderful parents will be arriving for dinner and we’ll be back to talking about i
nteresting topics like flowers and wedding cake.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll show you interestin’ later.’
I’m sure you will.
Fee started to despair. She’d spent most of the day being herded around every bridal shop in Knoxville. Despite the fact she was within waving distance of forty, both women had similar visions of her in an elaborate white dress complete with veil. To please them she’d tried on a multitude of traditional wedding dresses until even Sarah and Maddy were forced to admit the futility.
‘There’s one more store Mary-Jo told us to check out,’ Sarah announced with firm determination and Fee got the hint she’d better not object. ‘She said the Bridal Bar has some cute dresses. If you can’t find something there we’ll be forced to go to Nashville tomorrow.’
The thought of enduring another round of shopping was chilling but the daylight was starting to fade along with Fee’s enthusiasm.
‘Get back in the car,’ Sarah ordered.
Ten minutes later they stood on the pavement outside the Bridal Bar and Fee almost danced with joy. The mannequin in the centre of the window wore Fee’s dream dress. The ice-blue, tea-length lace dress sprinkled with light-catching diamante, soft ballerina style skirt and scooped neckline was the first she’d been able to imagine herself wearing.
‘That’s the one.’ Fee pointed and Sarah and Maddy exchanged unreadable glances before smiling and nodding. ‘Fingers crossed it fits.’
‘It will,’ Maddy declared and for some nonsensical reason Fee believed her mother.
Five minutes later she stared at her reflection in the mirror and bit back tears. I don’t do pretty. It’d taken Tom’s generous love to make her understand she didn’t have to make a choice between being strong and feminine.
‘Come on. Don’t make us wait any longer,’ Sarah shouted.
She stepped out of the dressing room and the look on their faces was worth every aggravating moment of the whole day. Fee hoped Tom would be equally struck dumb.
Tom leaned against the door post and blew on his hot coffee, gazing out over the frost-tipped landscape. He strolled over to one of his terracotta pots and plucked a dead leaf from his favourite dark wine Lenten Rose. Sturdy enough to survive a cold East Tennessee winter but colourful enough to make a statement. He smiled at the idea Fee might describe him the same way. They didn’t have any snow on the ground yet but the forecast and dull, grey sky held strong hints that Fee might get her hoped for white wedding.
As Lulu would say “Only three more sleeps, Uncle T”. After he lost Gina, and himself for a long while, he was convinced he’d never marry again but now he couldn’t wait to make Fee his wife.
‘You’re up early.’ Fee wandered out to join him, tugging on a soft grey jumper over her pyjamas. ‘You’ve finished the patio furniture haven’t you?’
‘Yeah.’ He didn’t apologise for leaving her alone in bed because he knew she understood. ‘That’s it for now. I won’t get a chance to do any more. There’s too much goin’ on.’ He could hardly wait to see his little niece’s face when she saw the completed dolls’ house for the first time.
‘Why on earth would you say that? We’ve only got a school Christmas pageant this afternoon, the Pine Ridge Christmas carol concert at six o’clock.’ She ticked them off on her fingers. ‘There’s a Christmas cookie swap at the church tomorrow morning which you still need to make cookies for because I’ve been reliably informed that shop-bought ones are totally not acceptable—’
‘There are three dozen of my famous Reindeer Ears in a plastic box all ready to go.’ Tom popped a kiss on the top of her head. ‘You’ve forgotten to mention attending the midnight Christmas Eve service, filling our stockings and wrapping presents.’
‘The positive spin to put on all of this is that assuming I survive the festivities we finally get to the best part.’
‘Eating all of my mama’s great food?’ Tom knew he deserved the sharp jab in his ribs but he’d made her smile which was all that mattered. ‘Oh you mean that weddin’ thing we’ve got goin’ on?’
‘Yes, Thomas Michael Chambers that “wedding thing”.’
‘Roll on Christmas is all I’m gonna say.’
Fee stirred from sleep as Tom kissed her shoulder, his breath warm on her bare skin.
‘Merry Christmas, sweetheart.’
‘What time is it? It’s still dark outside.’
‘Six o’clock. I thought you were never goin’ to wake up.’ She watched him reach down to the bottom of the bed and drag up an overstuffed red and green knitted stocking with her name embroidered on the top.
‘Are you sure you’re forty years old and not four? I’m pretty sure Lulu isn’t any more excited than you today.’
‘Sure she is,’ Tom scoffed. ‘My bet is she woke Mary-Jo at least a couple of hours ago. When I was little Pop would threaten not to cook his Christmas morning chocolate chip pancakes if we woke them up before five but he never followed through. Go on and see what he’s brought you.’
How could she not respond to his boyish enthusiasm? Fee pulled the gifts out one at a time and his, or rather Santa’s, thoughtfulness touched her. Small packets of healthy nuts and dried fruit. Red, fluffy socks because her feet were always cold. Her favourite perfume. A pack of leather-bound notebooks. A beautiful antique silver travel alarm clock. In the toe of the stocking she discovered a sheer, red lace bra and a matching thong.
‘I had no idea Santa was such a naughty man.’ She dangled the lingerie from her fingers and watched Tom’s cheeks darken. ‘We need to leave by nine, right?’
‘Yeah.’ His raspy voice made her smile. ‘Which gives us plenty of—’
‘But you haven’t opened your stocking yet.’
‘I can wait.’
Fee dropped the incriminating items on the bed and fumbled around the floor for the dark green velvet stocking she’d hidden there last night. ‘Here you go. I can’t have you thinking Father Christmas forgot you.’ It hadn’t been easy to shop when she’d rarely had a moment on her own. He didn’t seem to mind the rather generic chocolate, whisky miniatures and socks she’d tucked in there but his smile broadened when he reached the toe.
‘I assume these aren’t for me?’
‘Yes and no. There’s a scene in Poldark when Ross buys Demelza a pair of white stockings tied with satin ribbon and he … puts them on her.’
‘Interestin’.’
‘I thought so.’
‘I sure hope Mama’s whipped up extra cinnamon rolls this morning.’
‘Why’s that?’
Tom eased her back down on the bed. ‘Because some folks are gonna work up a mighty big appetite by then.’
‘I hope your folks won’t think we’re a bunch of crazy loons.’ Tom tried not to fret. He’d run through the usual Chambers’ family Christmas Day routine with Fee and knew she’d had a quiet word with Maddy and Will to warn them what to expect. Everyone opened stockings at their own houses before arriving at Hank and Sarah’s by mid-morning. The rest of the presents were opened there and Tom warned her it’d be a free-for-all. There was no system and it was every man, woman and child for themselves. A huge lunch was served around one and once the men finished cleaning up they all gathered round to watch the classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life.
‘They’ll love every minute.’ Fee gave a wry smile. ‘Will’s pretty normal really. Mum on the other hand …’
‘Not so much.’
‘I often think she wrote the book on crazy. One year we ate vegan nut loaf in a freezing cold caravan on a cliff in Dorset because Maddy was working with a group trying to save a beached whale. Another time she was going through a pagan phase and we celebrated the Winter Solstice instead.’
‘Different.’ Tom parked the truck and unloaded their presents from the back. ‘We’re lucky Mikey and Sandy are both off work today. That almost never happens. Of course Pop is on call but hopefully nothing happens to drag him away.’
‘It’ll be a house full.
’ He caught the hitch of concern in her voice.
‘You’ll do okay.’ Tom winked. ‘Think about tomorrow. That’s what I’m doin’.’
The front door flung open and his father yelled for them to hurry on in before all the cinnamon rolls were eaten. He didn’t need telling twice.
Across the room Mary-Jo gave a brief nod and Tom disappeared towards his mother’s sewing room. The previous evening he’d set up the dolls’ house and worked with his cousin to get the tiny furniture in place. This morning he’d sneaked in the miniature wreath he’d made to hang on the front door which had ended up being a joint effort because Tom needed Fee’s slender fingers to fashion the tiny red bow. Mary-Jo was going to explain to Lulu that one of her presents was in a different room because it was too big to go under the Christmas tree. He stationed himself by the wall ready to plug in the dolls’ house lights when Lulu opened the door. Tom crouched down out of sight.
‘Merry Christmas, Lulu.’ Mary-Jo’s laughter alerted him and Tom pushed in the plug, quickly standing back up to catch her reaction.
For a second the little girl didn’t move or make any noise. Tom watched her eyes widen.
‘Is it mine?’ The disbelief and wonder in her voice tied his heart in knots. Mary-Jo nodded and Lulu shrieked and jumped up and down, bubbling over with excitement.
‘Uncle T made it for you.’
Lulu broke away from her mother and flung herself at him. Tom swept her up into his arms and succumbed to her wet, sloppy kisses. He was surprised her squeals didn’t burst his eardrum.
‘You want to take a look at your new house, pumpkin?’ He softened his voice and started to tell her all about the different rooms as he carried her slowly around the table. When he set her down on the floor and Mary-Jo came to join them everyone else piled in to take a look and he eventually managed to extricate himself from the crowd. Tom slipped behind his mother to join Fee over in the doorway.
Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat Page 25
