Spirit of the Revolution (25 page)

Carolyn let go of the breath she unknowingly held. Her shoulders wilted as she nodded. “I was going to tell you, I swear, just not now. I didn’t want anything to ruin the first Christmas in your house.”

“I promise you, nothing will ruin it,” Jo replied. “Unless he hurt you. He didn’t, did he?”

“No.” Carolyn shook her head and dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand. “You don’t need to go in that direction. As far as he knows, I remain unaware of his actions.”

“Tell me what happened.” Jo placed her empty glass on the table and gave Kay her undivided attention.

“Well, the night I attended your concert, I got a text from Ray right before it ended. I didn’t call him back until after I headed out to my car,” she said. “He apologized for calling so late, but asked if I could meet him at the lab. The artifacts from his Anasazi dig site in New Mexico arrived. He said they’d be much safer with me than in his garage overnight. So, of course, I said yes. I arrived about ten minutes ahead of him and got the lab unlocked. I turned on the lights, booted up the computer, you know, that sort of thing. Finally, he drove into the parking lot, and I hurried out to meet him. He got out of his truck and told me I’d probably need to get my largest cart. He collected a great many things this season.”

“He usually does,” Jo said.

Carolyn nodded and then cleared her throat. “Before I could go inside to get it though, Paul emerged from the passenger door. I wished you could’ve seen the show he put on, Jo. He really exaggerated a limp when he walked toward me. After he grimaced, he said he didn’t think he could help very much getting everything unloaded and inside. He pointed to the wrong foot, if you can believe that. He said he suffered a sprain when he stumbled into a pothole while they loaded the artifacts into the truck.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, and the charade was so obvious. I couldn’t imagine Ray buying into it. But then, he knows nothing about the letter, or his attack on you, so he probably didn’t look for it,” she said.

“Anyway, I think he created his so-called injury to keep me outside and busy while he searched my office. Therefore, since he wanted in so badly, I aided his effort. At least that way I didn’t have to worry about him coming back later, breaking into the building and damaging my lab or office in his quest to find the letter.”

“Smart,” Jo said, repeating Mathias’s sentiment aloud.

“So, I told him he could wait inside my office where he’d find it more comfortable. You should’ve seen his smug little smile. It almost made me gag. He jumped at the offer. I had my computer on and logged into the system. I’m sure the moment he discovered that, he sang out a halleluiah, because I couldn’t have made his task any easier. Of course, he had no way of knowing he would find nothing during his desperate search. I stayed outside just as long as I could possibly stretch it, to give him the time to do a thorough search.” Carolyn scrunched her shoulders together.

“About halfway through, he rushed down the hallway and peeked at us through the window. I don’t think it occurred to him that we could see him. Ray even made a derisive comment. Anyway, I still ‘fussed’ over the artifacts, so he darted toward my office once more—funny. The man probably wanted to see how much time he had left to search.”

“Did he seem disappointed when he left?” asked Jo.

“Oh, yes. He looked very disappointed.” Carolyn picked up her glass, looked down at the contents, and swirled the cider around in circles. “But he also looked determined. I don’t know what that means. You should probably stay on your guard, Jo. He might try to come back here, since he got nothing from me. Do you have an alarm system?”

As a series of threats to Paul Sanders life and limbs reverberated throughout the room, Jo simply nodded to keep the laughter from spilling forth. “Don’t worry. I happen to have the best available.”

They continued their visit for another hour, leaving the threat of Paul Sanders behind. Then, as the shadows of early afternoon fell through the windows, Carolyn glanced at her watch.

“I’ve got to go before the plane takes off without me.” She looked over at Jo and said, “But I really hate leaving you here all alone.”

“I won’t be alone, I promise,” Jo replied. “Just make sure you give your mom and dad a kiss for me. Give hugs to all of your siblings, and give my love to everyone else. Except Jared, you can just punch him in the arm. I’m sure he’s done something to deserve it.”

Carolyn laughed as she rose to her feet and hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “No doubt about that. In fact, my little brother deserves far more than he gets. Now, are you sure that you’re not going to sit here all by yourself on Christmas Eve? Swear it, Jo.”

“I swear.” Jo crossed her heart. “Some friends of mine—who live here in this community—are celebrating the holiday with me.”

Shortly after Carolyn’s departure, Sam clapped his hands and said, “Well, let’s get this show on the road. We’re wasting precious holiday hours.”

“I’ll second the motion. Movies first?” asked Alex

“Movies first,” said Mathias. “Come on, Jolena, you can tend to the dishes later; there aren’t that many of them to worry about right now.”

Jed ambled over to the shelf and selected the movies they saved for this occasion. Without undue effort, he slipped
It’s a Wonderful Life
into the player.
A Christmas Story
followed, which made her ghostly companions snicker and hoot with laughter. However, the dialogue between Scrooge and the ghosts of
A Christmas Carol
tickled them more.

“I really enjoyed watching all of those movies and I vote to make them part of our annual Christmas traditions hereafter,” William said as Jo scooped the movies from off the table.

“Hear, hear.” Alexander raised his pewter mug high and the others followed suit. “However, I think I enjoyed
A Christmas Carol
the best.”

“Well, why wouldn’t you,” Jo teased as she put the movies back on the shelf. “That movie has the scariest ghosts in it.”

“If you call that scary. Nonetheless, I especially liked the part where Marley walked through the door and Ebenezer Scrooge, quaking with dread, asks the ghost what he wants and Marley simply says
much
.” William shot his companions a wicked grin. “Too bad we didn’t think of that, ourselves.”

“It certainly would’ve added to some of our mischief a time or two,” Sam replied. “Who would ever think that such a simple word would cause the living so much apprehension?”

“I can’t believe you guys.” Jo shook her head ever so slightly. “Pray tell, did you have nothing better to do with your time than plot terrifying ways to rid yourself of unwanted guests?”

“‘Guest’ is hardly the proper word for them, Jolena,” Jedediah said. “I swear they were nothing more than a bunch of beetle-headed interlopers, the lot of them.”

Jo laughed over Jed’s description of all the former homeowners. “Well then, I feel really special the ‘fearsome five’ made me feel so welcome and allowed me to stay.”

“We allowed you to stay because you are special.” Mathias gave her a wink and playfully tugged on a lock of her hair.

The look he gave her when he made the comment melted her from head to toe, and she found it almost impossible to concentrate on the rest of their activities thereafter. Still, she somehow made it through all of the games they chose to play which included the most hilarious round of Classic Clue she ever had the pleasure of participating in. The boys didn’t just state their whodunit theories. They completely acted them out.

They shot, beat, stabbed, and hung each other repeatedly in their quest to solve each case, and while in complete costume, no less. She played as Miss Scarlet, Mathias as Colonel Mustard, and Sam played Professor Plum. Jedediah provided a rip-roaring Mrs. White, Alexander chose a haughty Mrs. Peacock, and William wanted to play a very frumpy Mr. Green.

Then when the games finally ended, Jo read them her favorite Christmas Eve poem, “’Twas the Night before Christmas,” followed by the reading of the nativity story, which traditionally ended the Michaelsson Christmas Eve festivities and now ended theirs.

Then, before she climbed into bed, she informed Mathias he would have to spend his night somewhere other than the library. She told him she wanted her Christmas present to remain a secret and no one could go into the room until invited to do so.

After securing his promise they would do as she asked, she snuck the painting into the library and placed it on the outermost wall above the settee. She then covered the face and edges with colorful Christmas wrapping and some large ribbons and bows, to make it easy for them to unwrap. Excitement overtook her as she stood back and examined her handiwork. She could hardly wait for morning to come.

She found it nigh on impossible to fall asleep. Exhilaration and anticipation settled into her being as she climbed into bed and the feeling reminded her so much of her childhood Christmases when she anxiously awaited her visit from Santa Claus.

Yet, somewhere during the night, she must’ve fallen asleep because all at once she found herself waking to the sound of some of the more lively Christmas carols. They originated from her stereo, down in the family room. The songs got louder and louder as the minutes ticked by. Finally, when she could no longer stand to hear one more rousing chorus of “Jingle Bells,” she opened her bedroom door. “Okay, boys, I’m awake. I’ll be down in just a minute,” she called out.

Dakota shot past her and as he ran down the stairs, she added, “While you’re waiting, would one of you let Dak out for me and give him that big ham bone in the refrigerator? It’s his Christmas present.” She donned her white jogging suit with royal blue trim before she raced down the stairs where the boys all waited, with broad smiles on their faces.

“Merry Christmas, Jolena!” they bellowed in almost perfect unison.

“Merry Christmas, to all of you,” she sang out.

“Since you woke up so late, I think you’d better get started on those presents,” Alexander said pointing to the gifts she received from her family and friends. “You might not get through them today if you don’t.”

“She might not get through them anyway,” Jedediah said.

“Don’t be absurd.” She flung a lock of hair behind her shoulder. “First of all, it’s not late. And second, if I choose, I can have that stack unwrapped in under fifteen minutes, I guarantee it.”

“You’re on,” bellowed Sam. “Let’s see, it’s now nine o’clock so you have until quarter after the hour.”

“No, wait—I want you guys to open your present first. So, I need you to gather in the library, if you please.”

Despite their protests, it didn’t take much coaxing to get them upstairs. Then, once they entered the library, she motioned them toward the desk, turned her computer on, and activated the slide show she prepared some time ago.

“Before you open your Christmas present from me, I need you to see this slide show first, because it will explain my gift. Nancy took the pictures you’re going to see when she and her family visited.” Jo winked at Mathias then turned her screen around where everyone could see it and selected the start key. She fastened her gaze on each of the boys in turn so she could drink in their priceless expressions while their images flashed across the screen.

“Why, we look no different than anyone else in these photos,” Sam murmured as he kept his gaze fixed on the screen.

“But how is such a thing possible?” asked William as he finally turned around to face her.

“I really don’t know.” Jo shrugged and said, “Believe me; I didn’t question my good fortune, either. I’m just grateful to have them.”

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Jo shot a glance at Mathias, wanting to give some kind of warning to the scene Brady painted. She cleared her throat. “I’m not going to insult anyone’s intelligence by pretending you don’t know this is a painting,” she said gesturing toward it. “However, the idea for this particular painting originated from the pictures you see on my computer. I took these photos to an artist in the mall. He studied them for a few days, and then painted the scene
his
mind created.”

She walked to the other end of the room, pointed to their gift and said, “So, Merry Christmas to all of you, and whenever you’re ready?”

Alexander grinned as he faced his companions. “All right lads, on the count of three, then?”

“Three,” Sam hollered out and amidst their laughter, the wrapping floated toward the floor. Total silence followed the rustle of the paper’s gentle landing.

Chapter 20

After the silence, their expressions of joyous excitement and surprise filled the room. At once, they surrounded her and each in turn, gave her an exuberant ghostly hug and a feathery light kiss on the cheek. Their reaction to the painting pleased her no end. Mathias seemed especially delighted with the way the artist portrayed him—with her. She found herself blushing and smiling all at the same time.

“Thank you, Jolena,” Mathias said, as at last, he turned away from the painting. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say you couldn’t have found a better gift to give us. We’ll forever cherish it.”

Another round of rousing “Hear, hear” followed his statement. She smiled and said, “I’m glad you all like it.”

“Like it?” Alex shook his head. “We love it, Jolena.”

“That we do, and I know we would all love to remain here all day and enjoy our wondrous gift. At least, I know I would,” Sam said as he winked at the boys. “But, I think it only fair Jolena now has a turn to open the presents that await her downstairs. The task will only take her fifteen minutes, or so she says. Then, once she’s finished, we can all come back up here. Maybe we can try some of that eggnog the TV commercials keep going on about and see if it’s as good as they say.”

“What?” she asked, “Not happy with your ghostly ale?” Amidst their laughter, they vacated the room and headed toward the stairs.

Minutes later, she sat cross-legged on the family room floor with her gifts piled haphazardly in front of her. She glanced up at the clock and swept a hand toward it, drawing their attention to the time. “All right, are you ready for this?” She rubbed her hands back and forth, expelled a deep breath, and grabbed the first package in front of her.