Between Land and Sea (16 page)

Chapter 30

Christmas Eve arrived.

Barbara found it hard to believe it would all be over in less than two days. She marveled at the amount of work that went into the holiday celebrations. She shook her head in amazement and wondered why humans repeated this process each year. Did they never tire of it?

She was in no hurry today. There was nothing left for her to do. Graham’s house was sparkling clean and decorated. Graham’s fridge and large chest freezer were filled with side dishes and desserts. All that was left was the turkey and the butternut squash soup. Graham proclaimed himself master of the bird and Gwen wanted to make the soup.

Graham had invited Barbara to spend the day with them, but Barbara declined and suggested he spend some time alone with Gwen and Peter. Graham did not object too strongly. She knew he was also nervous about his children’s reaction to her. They had never met any of his previous lady friends. None of the relationships had lasted longer than a few months, and he had usually found himself alone at Christmas.

She smiled as she recalled yesterday’s conversation with Gillian. The younger woman had just received a last-minute invitation to spend a week in St. Lucia. The new man in her life was handsome, rich, and slightly older. While Gillian breezed over that last fact, Barbara wondered just how much older, but she didn’t want to pry and upset Gillian. The younger woman had too many issues with aging and would not welcome any comments or questions regarding age differences.

Stewart Tobin. What was he doing for the holidays?

While she could still conjure up his perfect features and that megawatt smile that could charm the pants off any woman, she no longer obsessed about him each day. She knew that a decision would have to be made, but it didn’t have to be made now. There was no point squandering the precious present worrying about what may or may not happen in six months time. That last thought brought another smile to her face. She was starting to sound more and more like the self-help books she devoured on a regular basis.

Her tea was cold and the clock was ticking. It was time to get ready for dinner. Graham was typically very casual and he had informed her that his children would probably not dress up for dinner. Barbara decided that a dressy casual look would be appropriate, and, after some deliberation, wore a pair of black dress pants with her ruby red sweater set. She settled on silver jewellery instead of the pearls she usually wore.

She dressed warmly and walked over to Graham’s house. She rang the doorbell. A surprised Graham answered the door. “You don’t have to ring the bell. You can come right in.” He kissed her quickly and let her in.

Barbara smiled reflectively to herself. She could sense his unease and nervousness.

They were sitting in the living area. Four sets of eyes looked her way, and Barbara tried to pick out the children. Gwen was obvious. She was a dead ringer for her mother with long, blond silky hair and dark blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. The two young men looked very much alike, and Barbara couldn’t tell which one was Peter. Barbara noticed that they all had made an effort to dress up. No one was wearing jeans. Like her, they had settled on dressy casual: black pants and sweaters.

Graham made the introductions. Gwen nodded and the other young woman, Megan, flashed an encouraging smile. Both young men—Peter and Sam—got up and shook her hand warmly.
Three down and one to go
.

The pre-dinner conversation was light, dominated by Peter and Sam, who regaled everyone with their latest snowboarding adventures. As they spoke, Barbara carefully scrutinized Gwen. The younger woman was also watching her intently. Megan continued to smile but contributed little to the conversation. Graham was in the kitchen, attending to the bird. He had waved away her help and encouraged her to sit and chat.

The food was outstanding. While Barbara had inwardly chaffed at using only Marjorie’s recipes, she had to admit the final results were spectacular. And everyone at the table agreed. Gwen sighed contentedly and Peter praised both of them profusely, “Dad, Barbara, this is great. You’ve outdone yourselves.” He frowned and added, “I hope Dad didn’t tire you out.”

“Not at all,” Barbara said. “I enjoyed helping your father create this Christmas meal for all of you. It’s my first Christmas in Canada, and I’m loving every minute of it.”

Peter spoke enthusiastically. “We are very glad to have you here. I don’t think I’ve seen Dad this happy since . . .” A dark shadow crossed his face and everyone was quiet for a few minutes.

Barbara broke the silence. “I’m looking forward to trying out some winter sports tomorrow. Your father seems to think I can learn all of them in a day.”

“Start with snowshoeing,” Sam advised. “And then try some cross-country skiing.” He smiled wickedly. “And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could always try snowboarding.”

Everyone laughed. The young men were passionate about their sport and wanted to share it with everyone.

Barbara put up her hand. “I think I’ll pass on that last suggestion.” She turned to Gwen and Megan. “And what are your favourite winter sports?”

Megan answered for the both of them. “We like ice skating. But we’re game for all the others.”

Definitely a hard nut to crack, thought Barbara. She decided not to dwell on Gwen’s coolness toward her. Thankfully, Graham appeared with the three pies—pumpkin, lemon meringue, and apple. The young men took a piece of each, Graham went for the pumpkin and apple, Gwen’s eyes lit up at the sight of the lemon meringue, and she urged Megan to try it as well. Barbara helped herself to a small piece of the apple pie.

Afterward, they gathered around the piano and sang carols. Graham and Gwen sat together at the piano and took turns playing. Gwen was at her happiest and her blue eyes lit up with pleasure each time she looked at her father.
Definitely a daddy’s girl
.

Suddenly, Peter stood up and announced, “It’s ten-thirty.” He looked expectantly at Graham and Gwen.

“We like to open our gifts early,” Graham explained. “We used to do that so we could go to Midnight Mass afterward.” He winced as he realized the full impact of what he had just said.

Gwen and Peter avoided looking at each other. Sam and Megan had surprised looks on their faces. Comprehension dawned as Barbara remembered one of Graham’s stories. A devout Catholic, Marjorie had talked him into converting. Gwen and Peter were baptised into the faith and attended mass regularly with Marjorie. After her funeral, they had stopped going to church; they no longer wished to worship a God who had allowed their mother to die at such a young age.

Barbara looked encouragingly at Graham. He recovered quickly and said, “All right, so who wants to go first?” He looked at Gwen and Peter.

Gwen pointed to Peter. “I went first last year. Let him start.”

Peter leaped toward the tree and zeroed in on the largest gift addressed to him. Everyone laughed and he held up his hands. “I know, I know. I peeked and looked beforehand. I know where all my gifts are.”

They spent the next hour admiring and commenting on each other’s gifts. The young men started tinkering with the latest iPad and the young women exclaimed over the clothes and perfume they had received. Barbara and Graham sat together and opened their gifts. Graham was pleased with the blue ski sweater, and Barbara was thrilled to find an emerald green wool dress in her box. She had seen the dress in Elaine’s shop but had hesitated to buy it. Even on sale, it was too expensive for her budget. Elaine must have mentioned the dress to Graham. She was truly blessed to have such wonderful people in her life.

Chapter 31

The next day was filled with activity.

Barbara was surprised by the number of people at the Carden Conservation area. While she had already hiked a few of the shorter trails with Graham, she was impressed by the variety of winter sports offered. Sam and Peter took off with their snowboards as soon as they got out of the car. Gwen sidled up to Graham. “I’ve been looking forward to trying out the orange trail with you. I think I’m up to the challenge.”

Graham glanced back at Barbara. “I don’t think Barbara can—”

Megan intervened. “I’m going to take it easy for today. I’ll snowshoe with Barbara for a while. Why don’t the two of you get that trail out of your system and then come back and join us?”

What a sweetheart, thought Barbara. She thoroughly approved of this young woman and hoped that Peter would pop the question soon. Barbara smiled gratefully at Megan and followed her lead. She picked up snowshoeing very quickly and found herself able to keep up with Megan.

“It took me two years to finally accept my stepmother,” Megan said. “Gwen will come around. Just give her some time.”

Barbara said nothing and watched as the freckled, brown-eyed young woman stopped to munch on a protein bar. She took out her own trail mix and offered some to Megan.

Megan shook her head and continued. “When Marjorie was sick, Gwen took time off work to be with her. She was there right until the end. While she and her father have always had that special bond, it was cemented then.” She sighed. “It bothers Peter sometimes, but he doesn’t say anything. You’re the first real rival she’s had for her father’s affections.”

“I would never dream of coming between them. I admire and respect the relationship that Graham has with Gwen, and Peter of course. He talks about his children all the time, and he really wanted to give them a nice Christmas this year.”

“He succeeded, with your help of course. I think that’s what bothers Gwen the most. She wanted to be the one to resurrect all of Marjorie’s Christmas traditions.”

“She had many opportunities to do so,” Barbara said. “She could easily have come up a week before Christmas and helped her father.”

“Yes, she could have,” Megan said. “But there’s more to it than that. Since Graham started talking about you, she’s been having the strangest dreams, nightmares really.”

“About her mother dying?” Barbara asked.

“No. She’s been dreaming about . . . you’re going to find this bizarre.” She suddenly looked worried. “I hope you won’t say anything to Graham. She’s only confided in Peter and me.”

Barbara promised and urged her to continue.

“She’s been dreaming about mermaids,” Megan said. “She talks about a green-eyed, red-headed gorgeous creature who leaps out of the ocean and takes her father down into the depths. She has her way with him and then brutally tosses him back on the shore.”

Barbara paled. “She must have a vivid imagination. A bit unusual for a bank manager.”

“She’s dabbled a bit in Wicca, Reiki, and some of that New Age stuff in the past,” Megan explained.

Another New Ager
. These people were starting to get on her nerves. She pointed to her hair. “As you can see, I don’t have the red hair.”

“But you’re gorgeous with mesmerizing green eyes.” Megan blushed. “Sorry, that’s what Gwen said last night after you left.”

“To Graham?”

“Oh, no. She would never, ever say or do anything to upset her father. I’m sure you’ve noticed how she is around him. I’m willing to bet that he’s oblivious to all of this.”

“At some level, perhaps,” Barbara mumbled. She believed that deep down Graham was aware of his daughter’s attachment to him. But he was powerless to change it or maybe he didn’t want to loosen her grip on his emotions. One thing was certain. Gwen Scott was watching her closely, waiting for any slip-ups.

Barbara shivered and suggested they return to the lodge for hot cocoa and tea.

The children left earlier than planned on Boxing Day. The Red Car driver called and asked for an earlier departure because the Weather Network had predicted a massive snowstorm for later in the afternoon. Barbara arrived at Graham’s house as they were putting the luggage in the Red Car. Megan, Peter, and Sam hugged her tightly and thanked her again for the Christmas Eve dinner. Gwen nodded in her direction and then turned to give Graham a last hug. Her eyes were wet and her father consoled her. She was the last to get into the van.

Barbara and Graham stood outside together, waving until the van was out of sight. Barbara saw tears shimmering in Graham’s eyes. She squeezed his arm and whispered, “They’ll be back soon. I heard Megan talk about coming for Easter.”

A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “We’ll do lamb then, with some Greek dishes. I’ll have to read through some of Marjorie’s recipes from that last Easter dinner.” His eyes misted over again.

“But first let’s get through this Open House.” She looked at her watch. “We’ve got less than an hour before the guests start arriving. I don’t want to be arranging trays and answering the door at the same time. So let’s get going.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He followed her inside and listened as she gave directions. Within no time at all, an impressive number of cheese, fruit, and dessert trays were arranged in the dining and living rooms. Barbara poured the eggnog mixture and punch into two large bowls. Graham put out a few bottles of red and white wine.

Barbara touched up her makeup and smoothed down her new green dress, complimented by her pearl necklace and matching earrings. She took off the comfortable slippers and put on her high heels. The doorbell rang.

She joined Graham and welcomed the elderly couple who lived next door. For the next three hours, a steady flow of visitors came through Graham’s house. Barbara found herself busy with little time to think of anything more than meeting Graham’s friends and restocking the food tables. She was literally run off her feet and was happy to see the last guest leave. She sank into the sofa and slipped off her heels.

Graham laughed and sat down next to her. “That snow storm kept a lot of people off the 401. I think we were the alternate activity for a lot of them.” He frowned. “It’s too bad Gwen and Peter had to leave so early. They would have loved seeing everyone. Next year, I’m going to insist they stay until the twenty-seventh.” He turned and looked questioningly at Barbara. “So, what did you think of Gwen and Peter?”

“They are such lovely young people, a credit to you and Marjorie. I see Gwen’s resemblance to Marjorie and Peter is a lot like you. It’s nice to see him getting along so well with Sam. Megan is such a sweetheart. She’s kind and considerate, and I do hope that Peter will marry her.”

“I’m hoping they’ll both marry soon,” Graham said. “Peter is thirty and Gwen is twenty-nine. When I was their age, I had a wife, two children, and a mortgage.”

“These are different times, Graham. I think it is better that these young people wait before making long-term commitments. It’ll make for fewer divorces in the future.”

“I guess you married young as well.”

Barbara did the quick arithmetic. “Yes, I was twenty and still in university.” She shuddered. “I can’t imagine today’s twenty-year olds making that kind of commitment.”

“I agree. Twenty is too young, but thirty is old enough. I know that Gwen is hoping for a proposal soon. She’s got her career on track now and I think she wants to have a couple of babies before she turns thirty-five. Unlike my free and footloose son, she’s got her biological clock to consider.”

“It’ll happen when they’re ready,” Barbara said.

“Readiness is all,” he mumbled.

Barbara could see the regret and indecision in his eyes. If they had been at her place, they would have headed straight for the bedroom. He wasn’t ready for that here, not in a house where Marjorie’s spirit still roamed freely.