Chistmas Ever After (23 page)
Read Chistmas Ever After Online
Authors: Elyse Douglas
She saw the tall firs and pines, the Christmas lights, the plastic Santa, reindeer and manger scene on the spread of snow, and noticed three cars parked in the circular driveway. Creeping forward, she gathered courage, then turned and stopped. She switched off the engine and sat in the stillness for a moment, slowly feeling the cold seep in. Finally, she pushed the door open and stepped out into the frigid night air, quietly closing the door behind her. Strolling down the walkway toward the front door, she heard music coming from the house. She couldn’t make out what it was, but it sounded festive. At the front door, she lifted her shoulders and gently relaxed them, then pressed the glowing yellow doorbell and waited. It seemed an eternity until the door opened and she looked into Gladys Hartman’s astonished face.
“Jennifer! I don’t believe it! What happened to you?!”
“Well… I…”
Gladys turned sharply and called. “J. D., get over here, now!”
Gladys came forward and gave Jennifer a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We were so worried.”
Gladys led her into the house and closed the door, just as J. D. Hartman came heavily across the living room, his face an expression of delighted shock.
“Jennifer Taylor!”
Jennifer folded her hands, but J. D. wrapped his meaty arms around her and gave her a bear hug, nearly squeezing the air out of her body.
“I don’t believe it! We were worried sick!” he said, holding her at arm’s length and looking at her. “Well… you look fantastic! Doesn’t she, Gladys!”
Gladys scrutinized her. “You look fabulous! I just love your hair!”
Jennifer worked to recover her composure. “I decided to accept your offer to have dinner… that is, if you haven’t had it already, and if the offer is still open.”
“Heck no! I mean, no, we haven’t eaten, and, yes the offer is still open,” J. D. said, boisterously. “It’s cooking now! Well, this is just perfect, isn’t it, Gladys!? I mean, how could this Christmas be any more perfect!”
Gladys folded her hands and clasped them to her chest. “It’s the best Christmas that I can remember, J. D.” Gladys faced Jennifer, struggling not to show emotion. “Jennifer… in addition to your being here, joining us for Christmas dinner, our son, Alex, and our grandson, Jason, are also here! They have come home.”
Jennifer froze. “I beg your pardon?”
J. D. stepped forward. “Yes, Jennifer. Alex and Jason showed up a little over an hour ago. They’ve been living in New York for the past seven months. We couldn’t believe it,” J. D. said, wrapping his arm around Gladys’ shoulder and pulling her close. “We just couldn’t believe it!”
Jennifer backed away. “Oh, well, I should be going then.”
“Going!?” J. D. asked. “What do you mean, going?”
“You’ll want to be with your son and grandson,” Jennifer said, craning her neck, looking for them. “You’ll want to get to know his fiancée.”
“Fiancée?!” Gladys and J. D. exclaimed, perplexed. “What fiancée?”
“… Alex is supposed to be married in June.”
J. D. and Gladys exchanged puzzled glances. “Really?”
Gladys said, “Jennifer, Alex didn’t tell us anything about a fiancée. He did tell us that he met a girl—a wonderful girl—he even said he was in love, but he didn’t say anything about getting married.”
“That’s because I was waiting for the right moment,” Alex said, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He wore a bright red sweater, jeans and brown cowboy boots. “Hi, Jennifer. I told Valencia the truth. I told her I fell in love with you. What else could I do?”
Jennifer turned slowly to meet him, struggling for balance. Their eyes met and Jennifer allowed her eyes to linger on his face, his hair, his eyes. She felt a desperate relief.
“I’m not in love with Valencia, Jennifer.”
Suddenly, Jason burst out from between Alex’s legs and charged Jennifer, yelling joyfully. J. D. and Gladys looked on incredulous, as Jennifer crouched and Jason rushed into her arms, nearly knocking her to the floor. She gave him a huge kiss and hug.
“I said I’d find you again,” Jason said.
“So you did, Jason. So you did!”
“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?!” J. D. asked, shooting glances first to Alex and then to Jennifer.
While Jennifer held Jason, Alex started toward her. “It’s all very simple, Dad, Jennifer and I met in New York and now we have a lot of things to talk about.”
Jennifer rose to her feet, smiling, clasping Jason’s little hand.
“Talk?” Gladys asked, her eyes glistening with happiness.
“Yes, Mom,” Alex said, gently touching Jennifer’s face. “Things happened pretty fast down there.”
Jennifer smiled. “Yes, wonderful things.”
J. D. stood amazed. “This is incredible! This is fantastic! This is… is…
Gladys interrupted. “…is wonderful!”
J. D. lifted his hands. “Then, what’s to be done?”
Jennifer lifted her face to Alex. He leaned and kissed her. Jason snuggled in between them, grinning up at his grandparents.
Gladys took J. D.’s hand and led him out of the living room. Just before they entered the kitchen, they turned to catch a final look. Jennifer and Alex were still kissing. Jason ran toward his grandparents. In one sweeping motion, J. D. joyfully gathered him up into his arms.
Gladys looked at J. D. and whispered. “They won’t be talking long, J. D.”
He whispered back. “They aren’t doing much talking right now, Gladys.”
They looked at each other, then to Jason, and then they nodded once, in final agreement, before retreating into the kitchen.
EPILOGUE
It’s December 10
th
, and I’m sitting in the back office of Cards & Stuff Café writing this, while Angela and Alex are taking care of the customers. A few minutes ago, I heard Mrs. Stanton’s exuberant voice, asking for a second cappuccino, and I’m sure Alex told her that she should cut back, because he’s been telling her that ever since the shop reopened in early April. He’s the only person who can get away with telling her that, because she loves him, and has loved him ever since he was a child. When she learned that Alex and I were in love and were going to be married, she dropped all the charges against me (telling me privately that she hadn’t really hurt herself) and even offered us a loan to help rebuild the shop. We declined, of course, but we did take her up on the offer to pay the high school kid, Rick Haymore, extra money to come by and shovel the walk at 6 o’clock in the morning on snowy days, so it’s clear for her to walk at 6:30. That put her in charge of the whole operation and took us off the hook.
Alex and I were married on February 1
st
. The month of January was like a whirlwind. On January 2
nd
, Alex and I started securing loans, an architect and contractors for the rebuilding efforts. We were delighted and very moved when so many people in town came forward, offering time, labor and materials, and within a little over three months, the shop was ready for the grand opening.
Around the same time, I also learned that I was pregnant. The baby is due on Dec. 24
th
, an auspicious day for sure.
Around the middle of February, just after our one-week honeymoon in New York, Alex began teaching history again at the high school. Sometimes he gets so excited and enthusiastic about his teaching that he keeps us both up until midnight, discussing his ideas, the students and all the things he wants to accomplish. His enthusiasm is contagious. We grow closer every day and are constantly discovering new and wonderful, and sometimes frightening things about each other. He does, in fact, dribble soup down the front of his sweaters and he often finishes my sandwiches when I’m not looking. But then, he has to put up with my cold feet, even in summer, my inclination to take pills at the slightest hint of any illness or sniffle, and my persistent tardiness, which I’ve tried to correct at least 100 times.
Alex and his father are making improvements in their relationship, although they still vehemently disagree on politics, sports, child rearing, food and religion. Okay, so it’s a work in progress.
Jason is a handful, and a treasure. I’m also discovering new things about him every day. One thing is a constant: he’s an adventurer and a wanderer. He roams the woods and fields and knows every stream, animal hole and cave within a mile. He talks to deer and raccoons and runs with the birds in spring and autumn, arms outstretched and flapping. Alex and I are convinced that he’ll grow up to be a forest ranger, a smoke jumper or an environmentalist, because he loves the earth with a passion that constantly amazes and inspires me.
The Hartmans love the shop. Gladys often volunteers in the gift shop, bookstore and café, and has been known to drink two or three espressos in an afternoon. She gets so wired that sometimes she dances to the Latin CDs that Angela purchased and plays in the late afternoons when the shop fills with teachers and students. J. D. says she makes a spectacle of herself, but I’ve seen him come by, sneak a peek at her rotating hips, and grin pleasurably if he thinks no one is looking.
Dale, the hairdresser, moved to town in August, just as Mrs. Wintergreen had predicted. He loves it, and his shop is thriving. His prices are high, and I’ve argued with him about that many times, but he still gives me a better haircut than anyone else I’ve ever gone to, so I give in, albeit under protest. He and Angela began dating in October and, although it seems like an odd match to me, they seem happy together. Angela says he’s very fond of Mariah, and he is teaching Angela new makeup tricks. She thinks he’s “the one.” I hope so.
As I’m writing this, snow is beginning to cover the pines and blanket the ground. I remember, so distinctly, nearly a year ago when I walked to Harvey’s Pond and met Mrs. Wintergreen. I have not seen her since, although Jason said he spoke to her just after Thanksgiving, when she passed through town on her way to Boston. He said she asked about me, and she told Jason to tell me that an open heart is the greatest of gifts. Jason thought it had something to do with open heart surgery, and although I’ve explained it to him, he likes the surgery idea much better.
Christmas Ever After
is selling well in the shop and online. I have an eReader and Alex hates it, often declaring that I’m “a traitor to real books and book publishers everywhere.” Alex and I wrote the book together, mostly on weekends, and whenever we had a few spare moments. I don’t pretend to understand how it all happened, but it did happen, and I wanted to write it down and share it with others.
I hope you enjoyed the story. Perhaps it will resonate with you and give you some of the discovery and happiness that I experienced. Whatever you believe, and wherever you find yourself this Christmas, I sincerely hope it is the merriest of Christmases, filled with great blessings, joy and love.
Jennifer Taylor Hartman
The End
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