Christmas At Pelican Beach (Pelican Beach Book 4)

by Michele Gilcrest

  Payton could’ve easily gloated in front of Rebecca, but she didn’t. She was mature beyond her years and sought to bring the best out of people and not the worst.

  “Ladies, can I interest you in some hot cocoa while you wait for us to prepare the tree?”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” I said.

  “Great. If you head over to the farmhouse, my wife will be waiting for you. She just made a fresh batch. We have a little gift shop inside if you want to take a look around. As soon as we have the tree mounted on the top of your truck I’ll come and get you.” Dave pointed toward a white house with a porch swing just across the yard.

  They set the old farmhouse up like a retail store inside. Every ounce of the place was decorated for Christmas. It felt like a workshop for Santa and his little helpers. The kids were busy digging for ornaments in wicker baskets, and the rest of us were sipping our cocoa while admiring all the holiday trinkets.

  “Abby, don’t you just love what they’ve done with the place? It’s so dreamy. If we stayed here all day, I still don’t think we’d get to see everything. I should bring Cole and Emmie next year,” Payton said.

  “Come to think of it, why didn’t you bring them this year? We could’ve followed each other in two separate cars.”

  “They had special plans to go Christmas shopping this morning. I was told that it was for daddys and daughters only. I wasn’t allowed to go.”

  “You know what that means.”

  “Yep. They’re shopping for me.” Payton smiled.

  Rebecca wandered around the store but continued to be more engaged on her phone than anything else. I overheard her making several calls about her rental house in Georgia.

  After having brunch in town, we headed back to Pelican Beach. The plan for the afternoon was to help Mom set the tree up and elicit help from Cousin Jolene to put on the finishing touches while we hung all the outdoor wreaths. Rebecca announced that she would leave early to prepare for her trip.

  “Do you think you could at least help us get the tree in the house before you leave?” I asked.

  “Yeah, as long as we get right to it. I have to get home and pack plus do a million other things if we’re going to make this flight in the morning,” she said.

  “Rebecca, is everything alright? You’ve been rather distracted all day.” Mom sounded concerned.

  “I’m fine. I just have a lot on my plate with the rental and a few other obligations. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Okay, if you say so. You just don’t seem like yourself, so whatever it is, I hope it gets resolved soon. While I have all of you here I want to confirm that we’re still planning for Christmas dinner at my house this year, right?”

  “Yes, Mother.” We all chimed.

  “Only if you promise to let us help you.” I knew that Mom would try to outdo herself as she had always done in the past. But there was no reason for it with three capable daughters. Each of us could bring a dish or two and help lighten the load.

  “Don’t you worry. There’s plenty for you to do. And, don’t forget we have Jolene to help this year.” Mom put on her glasses and started making notes on her memo pad.

  “How are things going with you two?” I asked.

  “She’s been a big help with your father. We bump heads occasionally, but that’s nothing new.”

  “That’s not what I saw the other day,” Rebecca mumbled under her breath.

  Mom lowered her head and looked over the trim of her glasses to address Rebecca.

  “Do you care to explain yourself?”

  “I said that’s not what I saw the other day. It looked as if she was drinking, embarrassing you, and airing out all of your dirty laundry. Surely, you remember. I tried to come to your aid, but you snapped at me and told me to hush and stay out of it, remember?”

  “Ahem.” Payton cleared her throat.

  Mom slowly turned around and looked out the passenger’s window. I continued to focus on the road but there was no mistaking that Rebecca’s comment created a little tension.

  “As I said before, we bump heads at times but she’s been a big help,” Mom concluded.

  The lyrics to my favorite Christmas song faded to silence. It was obvious that Mom wasn’t going to engage with Rebecca. Anyone with common sense would take that as a cue to leave the subject matter alone. At least that’s what we did as kids growing up. Whenever we touched on a sore subject the adults didn’t want to talk about, we left it alone. Well, at least Payton and I did. Rebecca was always on a mission to self-destruct.

  “Who’s ready to help put up the tree at Gram’s house?”

  I figured it was time for a change in subject. I’d do anything to help shift the mood back to all things merry.

  “Me!” The kids, Payton, and Mom were all for it.

  “As much as I’d love to hang out with my favorite niece and nephew, I should really get home.” Rebecca continued emailing and texting just as she had done all day.

  “Aunt Becca, don’t you want to help put the star at the top of the tree? If you don’t come, you’re going to miss out on the best part of decorating,” Aiden said.

  “Aww, I’ll get to see the star when I get back, buddy. Maybe you can take a picture and get Mom to send it to my phone.”

  “Okay.”

  “Rebecca, what’s Ethan’s parents doing for Christmas? You know they’re more than welcome to join us,” Mom said as I pulled up to Rebecca’s driveway.

  “I’ll check with him and let you know,” she said while opening the car door.

  “Okay, have a safe flight tomorrow. Let us know when you land safely.” Mom barely finished her words before Rebecca closed the door and began marching toward the house.

  “I wonder what’s gotten into her lately. I don’t even know why she bothered to come if all she was going to do was be on her phone and have an attitude most of the day.”

  “Mom, do you think it might have anything to do with the way you spoke to her when she was trying to help you the other day? I’m not taking sides or anything, but she really seemed offended,” Payton said.

  “Offended? Oh, please. I was preventing her from making things worse. Jolene doesn’t need anyone to egg her on once she’s had a few. She can be a wrecking ball without having help from Rebecca. Plus, I wasn’t going to stand by and let her give me the third degree about a stupid remark made by Jolene.”

  “Okay, I can’t help it, Mom. I’m still trying my best to understand your reasoning behind having Jolene at the cottage. Is she really as helpful as you say she is? Or are you just afraid that if she leaves we’re going to throw you and Daddy in a nursing home?” I was convinced it was the latter. I just had to put it out there to see what Mom would say. If I were in her shoes, there’s no way I could put up with that woman on a regular basis. Jolene would drive me to check into a mental institution.

  “Come on, tell the truth, Mom. Is that your fear?”

  “No, Abby. For heaven’s sake, I’m not worried about anybody throwing me into a nursing home.”

  “Okay, fine. Well, at least tell me you’re happy, and she’s not taking over and running amuck.”

  “She’s not. We had a nice little talk recently to help set things in order.”

  “Okay. You mean, set things in order, as in, she’s going to stop drinking?” Payton asked.

  “Well, I didn’t say all that. But we definitely have an established agreement that’s working for all parties involved. Now, if we could ever so kindly change the subject, I would greatly appreciate it. The only thing that’s on my mind is putting up the finishing touches of my decorations. Once the tree is trimmed and the wreaths are hung, I’ll finally start to feel like things are in order for Christmas.”

  “Okay. You won’t hear another word from me unless it has to do with Christmas and decorations,” Payton said.

  “Christmas, decorations, and more hot chocolate and cookies!” Maggie said.

  “That’s right. More hot chocolate and
cookies. How could I forget?”

  Payton

  With only nine days left until Christmas, my assistant Natalie and I were working hard to prepare the store for the new year. It was hard not to daydream and get lost in the holiday spirit, but so much needed to be done. I stared over at the electronic Mr. and Mrs. Claus in my window display while trying to orchestrate my to do list.

  “Payton, can I interest you in some coffee? I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling awfully sleepy this morning. Maybe it’s the overcast skies that’s making me so tired.”

  “You know what, Natalie, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I might need a large cup so I can wake up and stop staring at Mr. Claus shaking his rear end.”

  “Ha, no problem. One large cup coming right up.”

  The coo-coo clock chimed to announce it was 9:25 a.m. I never did figure out how to get that clock to act right, but it still added charm.

  For the past six months, Natalie had been working as my full-time assistant. I don’t know where I’d be without her. She was detail oriented and reliable… the kind of employee every business owner dreamed of having. My only wish was for her to live a normal life. Natalie’s mother was terribly sick, so she spent most of her time caring for her when she wasn’t working with me. If only she could get out every once in a while. I think it would do her some good.

  I glanced over to see her climbing a tall ladder with a feather duster in hand.

  “Hey, Payton. When I’m done with these shelves, what did you have in mind for me to work on today?”

  “Well, since it’s so slow I thought we could look at marking down some of our inventory. I can make a note of the new prices in the system while you make the adjustments on our website.”

  “I’ll get right on it.”

  “Oh, and maybe we can run a few specials for the new year. Once January 1st hits, everyone will be more concerned with gym memberships and resolutions more than anything else.”

  “Ha! Don’t worry. It won’t last long. Just as quickly as everyone makes a resolution they usually forget about it. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of photoshoots in the new year to keep you busy.”

  “True. Natalie, I know your birthday is coming up soon. Are you making any plans to celebrate?”

  “Not really. I’ll probably stick close to home to look after Mom. Maybe I’ll pick up some takeout on the way in, but that’s about it.”

  “I don’t know her very well, but I’m sure your mother would want you to have a little fun. We should plan something together, like ice skating. Maybe we could even take a drive and see the Christmas lights on Main Street on the way to the skating rink. Please say yes, it’s my treat!”

  “It sounds nice, but I can’t. Even if I went, I wouldn’t be any fun. I’d probably just feel guilty.”

  “Oh, but the views of the Christmas lights are spectacular. At least take the drive with me. Your mom could even come along if she’s feeling up to it.”

  “We’ll see. Some days are better than others.”

  Most days Natalie put on a good show at work, but I had a feeling things were worse than she was letting on.

  “What about celebrating with a simple cake here at the store? It’s better than doing nothing.”

  She cracked a brief smile.

  “That might be nice.”

  “I don’t want to pry, Natalie. Just know that I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to. I’d hate to see your birthday and the holidays come and go without you having some level of enjoyment. This year my family is celebrating Christmas at my parents’ house. We’re planning to make it a big celebration. Mom’s philosophy has always been, the more the merrier. Even if it’s just for a little while, we’d love to have you stop by.”

  She climbed down the stepladder, while still holding the duster in hand.

  “That’s kind of you, Payton. I haven’t really been in the Christmas spirit this year. When I’m here at the store it helps to take my mind off things for a little while. But mostly, we haven’t been playing music, decorating, or doing anything that reminds me of the holidays. We don’t even have a tree this year. And I definitely don’t have any nice clothes to wear to your family gathering or gifts to bring. I thank you for thinking of me, though. It’s awfully nice of you.”

  Natalie’s words broke my heart. The last thing we cared about was appearances or gifts.

  “Awe, Natalie, my invitation doesn’t come with strings attached. We’re not looking for gifts and nobody is getting dressed up. Well, I take that back. Cousin Jolene might wear a bunch of floral prints from top to bottom, and Mom will be the only one with pearls on, but the rest of us like to hang out in jeans.”

  Natalie laughed.

  “Does she really wear that much floral print?”

  “She wears that much of any print. Then there’s the beehive hairdo and let’s not forget her accent. If you think it’s funny now, wait until you meet her in person. Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.”

  “She sounds funny.”

  “She’s more than funny. I probably should be embarrassed to have you around her, but I’m praying she’ll behave herself in front of company.”

  “I’m sure it will be fun. But, again, I’ll have to wait and see how Mom feels. If she’s up for it, then we’ll be there.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’ll let the family know to prepare for extra guests just in case.”

  She brought the laptop closer so we could work on the markdowns.

  “Natalie.”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s one last thing on my mind.”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “Earlier you mentioned something about not having a Christmas tree.”

  “Oh, it’s no big deal. This year things are a little tight, but we’ll be fine. As long as Mom and I have each other. That’s what’s most important, right?”

  “Yes. Always. But… I couldn’t imagine a Christmas without a tree to celebrate with. I could be wrong, but I bet you feel the same way. I guess it’s all about the memories you create more than anything else. If you would allow me to, I’d love to help you find the perfect tree.”

  “I couldn’t, Payton. It’s a sweet gesture, but you’ve already done so much for me. The last thing I want to do is become a charity case.”

  “I don’t think of you as a charity case at all. Honestly, I think you are a strong young lady who’s holding it all together. But that doesn’t mean that every now and again someone can’t do something nice for you.”

  She shook her head as if she were going to resist.

  “Just hear me out, and if you don’t like my idea, I promise I won’t mention another word about it.”

  “Okay.”

  “Look at that coo-coo clock hanging on the wall.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And this rotary phone, and the Christmas tree. Oh, let’s not forget Mr. and Mrs. Claus,” I said while pointing to the decorations around the room.

  “What about it?”

  “Do you remember me telling you where it all came from?”

  A smile slowly rose on her face.

  “The thrift shop?”

  “That’s right! My absolute favorite place to find little odds and ends.”

  “Payton, you’re a genius. How come I didn’t think of this!”

  “I don’t know. Sometimes you just need to open up and talk, girl. That way you can bounce a few ideas around. I think I told you a long time ago about my little hobby. I love collecting vintage items from the thrift shop. I get excited at the thought of wandering around and looking for treasures. The last time I was there, I saw plenty of Christmas trees. Some were six to eight feel tall. Why don’t we head over there after work to see what we can find?”

  “I guess I could go look. Mom would definitely be surprised if I came home with a tree.”

  “I bet she would. It would be my pleasure to treat you to it. I’m sure they have garland and even a wreath or two if you’re interested.”r />
  “Payton, after all you’ve done for me, I just don’t understand it.”

  “And you don’t have to. Just say yes… please.”

  “Yes, I’ll go. We’ll see about the tree when we get there.”

  “Okay.”

  Later that evening we left the thrift store with a tree, several ornaments, and new lights for Natalie. I even found a vintage Christmas village to set up at the store. As if I needed any more decorations. I helped Natalie carry the tree up to the front porch of an old two-story house. I wasn’t sure who they were renting the place from, but it looked as if the landlord hadn’t painted or replaced the siding in years. A part of me wanted to stick around to meet her mother and see her reaction. But, since Natalie appeared to be in a hurry to get inside, I thought better of it and wished her a good evening.

  The melody of Dad’s diesel engine hummed all the way to my parents’ driveway. I’d recently started driving his car to keep it in good running condition. We were hoping to sell it soon to someone who was into maintaining classic cars.

  Outside the front door, I could hear music blaring to the tune of Santa Baby. It didn’t take much guessing to figure out who the culprit was.

  I lifted the needle to my parents’ old record player. They were probably one of the last few generations in the family that preserved and played records. Jolene was sitting upright in my father’s chair with her head hung over, fast asleep with a glass in hand.

  “Cousin Jolene, wake up,” I whispered.

  “Huh? What you say? Shoot first, ask questions later!”

  “Cousin Jolene, you must be dreaming. It’s me, Payton.”

  “Payton?”

  “Yes, Payton. Where is everybody? And why are you sitting out here playing the music so loud?”

  “Well, howdy to you, too. I was just entertaining myself and having a little nightcap before I head upstairs. Helen and William went up already. I tell you, those two go to bed with the chickens. I’m more of a night owl. Hey, what time is it, anyway?”

  “It’s seven o’clock. Way too early for anyone to be in bed if you ask me, but what do I know.”