No Place Like Home (Holiday Classics) (11 page)

“I think I’m going to like your mother. I hope to get to meet her someday.”

“Sooner than you think, Hannah. She’s coming for New Year’s. Your grandmother told Joel and me about your dad. Don’t be too hard on him. From what your grandmother said, it seems he lost his way there for a bit. My dad kind of went off the deep end when my brother and I left home. He summed it up later by saying he felt like we didn’t need him anymore. We did, just in a different way. Anyway, your father is here now, so be happy.”

Hannah nodded and smiled. Zach took it as an open invitation to kiss her. It was the sweetest kiss of her life. She said so. Zack laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I think there’s a waiting line for this taffy. Look!”

Hannah laughed out loud. “Merry Christmas, Zack.” She waved her arms to invite the birds closer. “Merry Christmas to you guys, too.” She reached for Zack’s hand to lead him back to the house.

In the whole of her life, she’d never been so happy.

The kitchen was once more a muddle of bodies scurrying about. Each one had a job to do. Cisco issued her orders like a general, “Henry, set the dining room table. John, replenish the fires. Hattie, baste the turkey. Sara, wash the candy pot. Sam, you can dry and put everything away. Alice, you and Jonathan take the dogs out. Joel, you can peel the potatoes. Sonia, you cut up the salad. Ezra and I are going to sit here and have a cup of eggnog. When all your chores are finished, we’re going to sing some carols, then we’re going to decorate the tree.”

“When can we open one of our presents?” Sam asked.

“When I say so and not one minute before,” Cisco responded smartly.

Cisco felt Jonathan’s hand on her shoulder. She reached up to cover it with her own. “Mom…”

“It’s all right, son. You’re here now. Our family is all together. That’s the only thing that matters. Now, show Alice where the path is to take the dogs. Sam shoveled it earlier.”

“This is a right nice family you have here, Loretta,” Ezra observed. “I’m thinking I’d like to be a part of it. Gets lonely up on that hill with just Hugo for company. I think I might be spending a lot of time coming down here to get him since he seems so sweet on Freddie. We’re of an age where it seems to me we shouldn’t waste a whole lot of time.”

Cisco chuckled, a rich sound of happiness. “I just might take you up on that offer. Did you bring me a present, Ezra?”

“I did. I made you a birdhouse that looks just like this house. Even painted it the same. When those grandchildren of yours hired me and told me what a special lady you were, I got right to work on it. I even wrapped it up. Did you get me a present?” he asked craftily.

“Of course. I knitted you a muffler and put your initials on the end. And I made you a cap to go with it.”

Ezra beamed his pleasure.

Cisco smiled and smiled.

When the kitchen door closed for the last time, Cisco announced that it was time to adjourn to the living room. “Fetch the ladder, Sam. We’re ready to decorate the tree.”

They all gathered around the magnificent spruce tree. It was Hannah who started to sing “Silent Night,” the others joining in. They were off-key, but no one cared. Sam swung into a lusty rendition of “Jingle Bells,” and the old cottage rocked. Everyone knew the words.

The eggnog continued to flow, the fire blazed, and smiles were the order of the day.

Authority ringing in her voice, Sara said, “We do the ornaments assembly line–style after we string the lights. I unwrap them because they’re precious, Hannah puts the hook on them, Cisco tells the story behind each one, then Dad and Sam hang them on the tree.”

Jonathan said, “String out the lights and let’s test them. I hope somebody brought extra bulbs in case some of them burned out. Oh, here’s a fresh box. We need the other ladder, Sam. One for the back of the tree and one for the front.”

Sara moved away to open a battered cardboard box of ornaments. Joel held the box while she ripped at the masking tape to reveal a nest of tissue-wrapped ornaments. She looked up when Joel nudged her arm and pointed to the mistletoe hanging in the center of the doorway.

In a way it was an awkward kiss because they were both on their knees leaning over the box. In another way it was absolutely perfect and natural.

It was a wonderful kiss that spoke of promises yet to come. When Sara opened her eyes she saw Joel smiling at her. “I liked that,” he said softly.

“I did, too. Can we do it again later? Sam hung mistletoe all over the house.”

“Ah. A brother-in-law to be proud of. Oh, God, did I just say that?” Joel’s face turned pink, to Sara’s amusement.

“Uh-huh. Okay, everyone, stop gawking. It’s time to put on the ornaments. The last thing to go on the tree is the star. Dad climbs to the top of the ladder and hooks it on. It’s not a big fancy ornament. It’s papier-mâché, and our mother made it. It has a lot of nicks and flaws in it, and it’s kind of tarnished, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without that star. Would it, Dad?”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Jonathan said. “Well, let’s get to it.”

Cisco sat down next to Alice, who was watching the ornaments being put on the tree. “He’s just like you said he was, Mrs. Cisco. My dogs like him, too.”

“That’s a lovely sweater you’re wearing,” Cisco said.

Alice smiled. “That’s exactly what Jonathan said. He told me to call him Jon. This is all so wonderful. You have such a nice family, Mrs. Cisco. You must be very proud of them. Are you really going to move your company to Larkspur?”

“I am indeed. Even the corporate offices. That means Jonathan has to move back here. I don’t foresee a problem. Merry Christmas, Alice.”

“The same to you, Mrs. Cisco.”

“Everyone get ready!” Jonathan called out. “I’m going to turn on the lights. Get ready to oooh and aaah.”

The tree was breathtakingly beautiful. The guests ooohed and aaahed on cue.

“Present time!” Sam shouted. “Please, Cisco, just one.”

“All right. Just one each.”

The young people were ten years old again as they dropped to their knees before a mountain of presents and shook, rattled, and poked at the gaily wrapped packages.

In the end, the Trips chose the three identically wrapped presents from their father as their choice. They cried and blubbered as they wrapped their arms around their father. Cisco smiled indulgently as she opened her birdhouse. Ezra was right, it was an exact replica of her cottage, right down to the three different chimneys. She turned to him and patted his hand. “We’ll hang it tomorrow and fill it with suet. How do you like your muffler and cap?”

Everyone clapped when Ezra pulled on the cap and tied the muffler around his neck. He looked at Zack, and said, “Now, young fella, we both have one.”

Zack undid the bright red bow on his package and pulled out the knitted cap that had a tail to it. He fingered the softness of the yarn, then tried to straighten it out. He pulled it on, the cap leaning drunkenly to the side. “I love it! It matches my scarf.”

“I’ll make you a sweater,” Hannah said generously.

“I can’t wait,” Zack said.

The timer on the stove rang. Hattie took charge. “You young people continue with your gifts while the rest of us get dinner on the table.”

Jonathan reached for Alice’s hand. “We don’t fall into that young people category. That means we have to help with dinner.”

The Trips smiled at one another as they watched their father and Alice walk out to the kitchen. “It’s perfect, just perfect.” Sara sighed happily. “This is the best Christmas ever!”

“How long are you going to be here?” Joel asked.

“Till January 20, then we head back to school. Cisco is going full steam ahead with the move, so we’ll be back for good in May.”

“How would you like to take in a movie next week?”

“I’d like that. I really would.”

“Do you believe in love at first sight, Sara?”

Sara looked over at the papier-mâché star in its nest of tissue paper. “My mother and father fell in love the minute they met each other. I guess my answer to your question is, yes.”

Joel looked around. “Do you realize everyone here is paired off? Even the dogs. Do you think this is a coincidence, or do you think…?”

“I think it’s whatever we want it to be.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s how I feel. Thanks for that baby book. That was very thoughtful of you. I love kids.”

“I love kids, too. I love animals and I love my family and I love the whole world. Thanks for not saying anything about how I look. I really worried about what you would think. Hannah did, too.”

“Your grandmother explained everything to us.”

“Isn’t she the greatest?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Hey, whose turn is it to take the dogs out?” Sam bellowed.

“Yours!” Sara and Hannah bellowed in return.

Sonia was on her feet in the blink of an eye, searching for her coat and Sam’s.

“Don’t look at me, Sam, I’m not loaning my scarf and hat to you!” Zack fell over laughing at the look on Sam’s face. “If we get married in the wintertime, I can wear it to the wedding,” he said to Hannah.

In the kitchen, busy as they were, they all stopped for a moment to listen to the wild laughter in the living room. Cisco looked at her son and smiled.

“Merry Christmas, Mom. Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas!” the young people shouted from the living room.

L
oretta Cisco thought her heart was going to burst right out of her chest. Just two short years ago, she’d stood here with her family in exactly this same spot and watched the ground-breaking ceremonies for the new Cisco Candies factory. Now, she was here with her family, her dear friends, her employees and some of the town’s dignitaries waiting for her son Jonathan to cut the yellow ribbon that would signify Cisco Candies was, after a short hiatus, once more making candy. But this time they were making it in Larkspur, Pennsylvania.

The best part, she decided, was the old warehouse she’d purchased, then renovated for the company’s headquarters. On a good day, if the weather conditions permitted, and her knees held out, she could take Freddie for a walk and visit both places.

Her cup indeed runneth over.

She reached for Ezra’s hand. As Hattie put it, they were keeping company these days. She smiled because it sounded so wicked.

“It looks to me, Loretta, like your family is the happiest family in the valley these days. I’ve never seen your son so relaxed and contented. I’m thinking that’s because of Alice and those two pups of hers. Do you suppose they’ll marry?” Ezra asked.

Cisco looked up at her beloved mountains, all the way to the top of the tree line. “I think Jonathan is going to take it slow and easy this time around. The Trips gave their seal of approval, so that’s a plus. Alice is in no hurry either. They have a deep, comfortable relationship, the kind you and I have, Ezra.” Ezra nodded approvingly.

The Trips rushed over the moment the ribbon cutting ceremonies were over.

“The first shift starts at seven tomorrow morning,” Sam said. “I think John and Henry are going to sleep in the factory tonight. They’re arguing over which one is going to turn the switch on. I think it’s going to be Hattie because she looks like she has a secret. They do like to devil one another. It’s beautiful, Cisco. Everything is new and modern. All your employees are happy to be here, not to mention the hundred and fifty new employees from town. Best move you ever made, Cisco.” Sam wrapped his arms around his grandmother.

“I think so, too. We’re open and ready for the Christmas season. It seems strange to say that in the middle of summer. Are the orders coming in?” Her voice sounded more anxious than she intended.

“Hot and heavy,” Hannah said. “New orders are coming in every day. “We aren’t going to miss a beat.”

“Sending out all those brochures we had made up, all the renderings of the new building, was a stroke of genius on Hannah’s part,” Sara said. “She did it all. People like warm and cozy. People like comfort and stability. They love small towns. Customers like knowing we sponsor Little League and give out scholarships. It makes them feel like they’re part of our company. It’s a win/win situtation, Cisco,” Sara said.

“Well, I think Ezra and I can head back to the house now. I can see I’m leaving my company in good hands. I just wish you three would get married already,” Cisco sniffed.

“New Year’s Day is the big day. That’s just a few months away. You know what? I can’t wait myself.” Sara gurgled with happiness as her eyes sought out those of her intended. Joel waved.

“Sonia’s whole family is coming from the Ukraine for the wedding. They don’t speak
any
English. None,” Cisco said.

“Now, that’s where you’re wrong, Cisco. Sam is teaching them via the Internet. He said by the time they get here they will be fluent.”

“Want a ride home, Cisco?” Hannah asked, her hand in Zack’s.

“It’s magnificent, Mrs. Cisco. I want to thank you again for moving your business here. It would have been hard courting a girl who works in New York.”

Cisco laughed. “I kept that in mind the whole time.”

“Mom, are you leaving already? Aren’t you going to stay for refreshments?” Jonathan asked.

“No, son. You do the honors. You’re the boss now. Ezra and I have some things to do back at the house. I promised to bake him a blackberry pie. Freddie and Hugo are waiting for us.”

Her family watched her walk away, her hand in Ezra’s. Tears rolled down the Trips’s faces. Jonathan bit down on his lip so he wouldn’t cry the way his children were.

“Why do I feel like this is the end of something?” Hannah cried.

“Look, she’s just walking away from us,” Sara sobbed.

“She doesn’t need us anymore,” Sam said, his voice so choked up, the words ran together.

Jonathan finally found his voice. “She’s always been the wind beneath our wings.”

Alice did something then that stopped all of them in their tracks. Hands on hips, she eyed them one at a time. “Shame on all of you. How selfish can you be? These are not Loretta’s golden years. These are her platinum years. Didn’t you hear what she said? She said she promised to bake a pie for Ezra. Right now that’s the most important thing in the world to her. The dogs are waiting for them. She was there every step of the way for all of you. She gave you this,” Alice said waving her arms about. “It’s her turn now. It would be nice if you could be happy for her.”

Bug-eyed, the Trips stared at Alice. “You sounded just like Mom when you said that,” the Trips said in unison.

“That’s exactly what Margie would have said,” Jonathan said quietly.

Cisco turned around and waved. “See you on Sunday for dinner,” she called.

“Okay,” they shouted as one. “We’ll be there.”

And they would be there, because there is nothing more important in the world than family.