A Magical Christmas (22 page)

He pulled her along to the center of the graveyard, pointing in a direction that meant nothing to her. “That way,” he told her, “is Washington, D.C.” He spun her around. “That way is Dixie.”

She arched a brow. “We are being traditional, right?”

“I’m showing you family problems. You know, of
course, that Wainscotts have lived on this property a very long time.”

“I imagine that’s why you all offer this quaintly traditional Christmas,” she replied wryly.

He ignored her teasing tone. “Well, once, a long, long time ago, the nation was in turmoil. I grant you, it’s in turmoil often enough, but this was real bad turmoil. Like nothing that’s happened before or since.”

“The Civil War?” she said, playing along with his story.

“Well, to folks in my uniform, it was the War of the Southern Rebellion. But the son of the house got into this terrible fight with his father. They didn’t see eye to eye. And so the son rode away, angry. He took the time to kiss his mother quickly, and ruffle his kid sister’s hair, but he never even said goodbye to his father. He rode away. And he killed lots of Rebs in gray, but not once in all the long days of war did he ever go into battle without a sick feeling of horror that he might kill his own father.”

“Oh, God! He didn’t, did he?” Christie cried.

“No,” Aaron said. “But it was almost as bad. Oak River Plantation was taken over by Union forces. And some Southern cavalrymen had been taken—they were to be hanged. His father was among them. He’d actually escaped the lottery for the
hanging, but there’d been a boy in his company who would have died if he hadn’t stepped in. Anyway, the son rode up just in time for all hell to break loose.”

“Oh, how awful. What happened? Did they get to see one another again?”

Aaron nodded gravely. “Just for a few seconds. People were converging with mixed loyalties; someone thought it was an attack; people started firing. There was an awful lot of bloodshed and many people died. And to make a long story short, the father and son never made up what had happened between them.”

“That’s a terrible story! So sad.”

“I’m telling you, you can’t imagine. The whole family had been up in arms against one another. Arguments over the big things—like the war itself. Then more arguments over the house, what people were doing. In the end, when they all tried to set it straight, they died trying to reach one another.”

“Aaron, there is no war today.”

“Doesn’t matter. The best of lives can be a battleground at times.”

“My parents’ marriage is a battleground,” Christie murmured.

“Well, the father and mother here died in one another’s arms, hit with some of the same bullets.”

“That’s horrible; it’s awfully sad. Don’t tell me such terrible things—how can they help me?” Christie demanded.

Aaron grinned broadly, planting his hands on his hips. “Well, you don’t part from people in anger, Christie. That’s the point here. Think about it. Would you really want to walk away from your folks and possibly never get to see them again? You just don’t know what can happen. There are no certainties in life.”

“What if you can’t get a point across?”

“Christie, I don’t think you’ve really tried.”

“I thought I had,” she said.

“Maybe you should try again, a little harder.”

She shrugged. “Maybe. But you’re really exaggerating.”

He smiled, shaking his head. He sat upon an above-ground tomb and patted the cold stone beside him. “I’m not exaggerating, believe me. But it’s Christmas Eve. Sit down. Tell me what you want for Christmas.”

She sat beside him. “I need a new compact disc player, a curling iron, and—” she broke off.

“And?”

“I want my folks to miraculously get along, I want my brother to quit being such a dope—and I want them to like Jamie.”

“It can happen.”

She glanced doubtfully at him.

“It’s Christmas. I mean, it’s the season for belief in the unseen, for blind faith, right?”

Christie nodded slowly. She smiled. “You still believe in miracles?” she asked.

His smile was very deep and charming. “I’m here every Christmas!” he assured her enigmatically.

The air was cool, but the sun was out. Christie lay back on the stone tomb, and they kept talking. It was nice to talk, nice to have a friend. Nice to tell him about Jamie. And nice to know, even in the company of this dazzling young man, that what she felt for Jamie was real. With Aaron, she could even spend the day believing that it could work out. As he said, it was Christmas. She’d believed in Christmas all her life. In blind faith.

“Keep telling me what you want for Christmas,” he told her.

It was a great game. She told him all the petty little things she wanted, and went on to the bigger things. “World peace,” she told him. “No more starving children anywhere. No more diseases. What do you think? Will I get my Christmas wishes?”

“We sometimes get more than we asked for,” he told her.

She laughed. The afternoon passed pleasantly.

*   *   *

The house was completely decked in holly when Julie and Ashley returned to it after the ride. Clarissa Wainscott had been busy, Julie decided, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen now.

“We have to get costumes,” Ashley reminded her. “In the attic.”

“Yes, but Mrs. Wainscott isn’t here right now.”

“She told us just to go up. Come on, Mommy, please.”

“Okay, let’s check on Jordan first, though.”

Jordan had been dozing. He woke up when his mother and sister came in. “Hey! How were the horses, Ash?”

“I love horses, Jordan.”

“So do I, squirt.”

“Jordan, did you help Mrs. Wainscott decorate with all that holly?”

“I’m afraid not. I fell asleep.”

“You feel better?”

He nodded. To Julie’s surprise, he hugged her. “Yeah, I feel real good.”

“I’m glad, honey. Jordan, I’m not going to push you right now, but you’ve got to promise that if you’re having problems with anything, you’ll let your dad and me help you.”

“Together?” Jordan asked softly.

“Jordan, no matter what, we both love you more than anything.”

“Sure,” he said quietly.

“By the way, have you seen your dad?”

“Not since this morning.”

“We’re going to go up to the attic and find some costumes, and you’re coming,” Ashley told him.

“Oh, I am?”

Julie nodded. “Sure. Let’s go find stuff and get all dressed up. It will be fun.”

She, Ashley, and Jordan went up to the attic. Ashley seemed to know her way around. There were trunks everywhere with all manner of apparel in them. Jordan, who had at first seemed to think it was babyish to dress up, began trying on jackets, frock coats, and high hats with great enthusiasm. Julie found a dress for herself, and a handsome old-fashioned pin-striped jacket for Jon.

Christie arrived, happy and flushed from her ride, when they were still digging into trunks.

“Christie, we’re finding costumes.”

“I know. I was out with Aaron. He told me to come back and find something to wear. It all starts at sunset, he told me. Mom! This stuff is great! Look at this dress… can I take this one?”

“I imagine so,” Julie said a little uncertainly. “You all must be very careful with these things.”

“We will, Mommy. Promise,” Ashley vowed solemnly.

“Think your dad will like this?” Julie asked the kids.

“Sure,” Christie said. She glanced at her watch. “Where is Dad? It’s getting late.”

“I guess he’s been out on the ice all day,” Julie said.

“Maybe you should go out and find him, Mom.”

“I need to get Ashley cleaned up and dressed—”

“I’ll help Ashley,” Christie said.

“Jordan could go—”

“I’m still a little shaky, Mom. I’m trying to keep my strength up for the party tonight,” he improvised.

Now that was a truckload of bull, and Julie knew it. But all three of her children were looking at her. She didn’t know how to tell them that she wasn’t angry at their father then, she was just feeling awfully awkward around him. Wanting to try, maybe, but afraid to do it.

“I want Christie to help me dress,” Ashley said stubbornly.

“Mom, please go find Dad,” Christie said quietly.

“Sure. Sure. You all get ready, and whenever it starts, go on down to the party. Dad and I will be along. And you, young lady—Ashley Radcliff—you stay with your sister and brother.”

“I will.”

“And you two keep an eye on her.”

“Promise,” Christie said.

Julie left the house, hugging her arms across her chest. It had gotten colder since she had come in. It was going to be dusk fairly soon, and after that, it would be dark almost immediately.

She walked briskly, coming down to the pond area. Jon was still there.

Alone.

He was skating beautifully. Around and around the pond. Skating came naturally to him, and in the last two days he’d managed to make himself look like a pro. Julie stood by the ice, watching him, for a very long time. Once, she had been far more adventurous.

More fun.

She would have been out there with him.

Christie was wonderful that night. She ran a shower for Ashley, helped her into the old-fashioned dress, and was gentle with her hair. “Okay, squirt, Jordan is dressing, and it’s getting late. Can I trust you for just a minute while I get dressed?”

“Can I sit on top of the stairway and watch for people to come?” Ashley asked.

“Sure! Just don’t move until I come for you.”

Ashley raced out along the hallway and plopped down at the top of the stairs.

Mary was coming tonight, and she was anxious to see her.

As she sat, she could see how shadows fell even inside the house while the sun was setting. It didn’t seem that the electricity was on; maybe it wasn’t needed. Someone had set out a zillion candles and they seemed to burn brighter as the sun fell.

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Jesse Wainscott, very handsome in his rakish hat and frock coat, came in the front door.

“Clarissa!” he called hoarsely.

Mrs. Wainscott suddenly appeared at the door of the drawing room where they had come the first night. The two looked at each other. They looked at each other in such a way that Ashley realized she wasn’t breathing. They looked at each other with so much hurt, and so much happiness.

Then they went rushing toward one another. Gliding, flying… racing.

He swept her into his arms and kissed her.

“Excuse me,” Ashley heard, and she turned. Mary was there. Mary put a finger to her lips as she tiptoed past Ashley down the stairs.

“Mommy, Daddy?” Mary called at the landing.

And then she went racing to them, too, just as the door opened and a young man came in.

The brother, Ashley knew. Christie’s friend, Aaron.

They greeted one another, laughing, hugging, talking, hugging again.…

“Our guests will be here any minute,” Clarissa said.

“Yanks arriving,” Jesse said with a grin.

“Rebs all over the place,” his son answered with mock sadness.

They laughed, and Ashley found herself leaping up just as the door opened and a host of people entered the room. They came from the night, from the darkness, and in minutes the house seemed to be full, and music was playing and handsome men and women were sweeping the floor in beautiful circles as they danced and danced.…

“Whoa, squirt! Will you look at all that?”

Jordan had come to the landing. He reached down for her hand. “Come on, Ash, let’s go see if we can try to dance to that, huh?”

She didn’t answer him. She just followed him down to the party.

“Jon!”

Jon had spent the entire day on the ice. Thinking. Wishing. Praying.

It was Christmas. Maybe a man never got too old or too worn out to pray for the best on Christmas.

He heard his name called and turned, saw Julie, and smoothly glided over to where she stood.

“Hey! How was your day?” he asked her.

“Great! But the day’s almost over. I picked out a costume for you; is that okay?”

“That’s wonderful. Thanks.”

“We should go in and clean up now. It’s almost dark.”

“Almost. Not quite.”

“You’ve gotten good.”

He gazed at her, brows arched. “Thanks. Why don’t you come out with me for a few minutes.”

“I told you… I’m afraid.”

She was afraid, but she hadn’t said no. Jon suddenly felt that it would be very important for them to spend time together, alone, now.

Afraid, but leaning on one another.

“I was hoping you’d come out,” he admitted to her huskily. “I left some skates for you by that tree stump at the pond’s edge.”

“Jon—”

“Please.”

He turned away from her, gliding swiftly out on the ice, spinning around the center.

“If I come out, will you come in?” she shouted.

“Yes!”

Jon could hear Julie muttering to herself. She walked around to the fallen tree where they had sat last night. She found the skates he had brought.

She laced them on as Jon slowly glided back to her.

She looked up at him, blue eyes very soft and pretty as she warned him, “You’re going to owe me for this one.”

“It’s almost Christmas. Give me this present, for old time’s sake.”

She hesitated and repeated, “I’m afraid.”

“We’re all afraid. Take a chance. On me.”

“If I stumble—”

“I’ll catch you. Trust me,” he told her.

She smiled hesitantly, then stood and accepted the hand he offered her. She wobbled out onto the ice. She started to slip. He held her securely. She was all right.

“You’re not bad,” he told her a second later as they moved over the ice. “Not bad at all for a Florida girl.”

“Thanks.”

With one arm around her steadying her, Jon carefully followed her strides with his own. In a few minutes, they were synchronized as they moved across the ice.

“You okay?”

“Sure.”

“Really?”

“No. I’m going to fall on my butt any minute.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I already did that.”

“Jon?”

She was very serious then, her eyes wide and magical and very young, and he hadn’t thought that he’d ever live to see her looking at him the way she was looking at him now.