STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (20 page)

    He squeezed her hand and said with a smile,
“
We're the only ones with a good reason to linger in bed.
”

   
“
Aren't we proud?
”
  She grinned.

   
“
Damn straight.  A peacock has nothing on me.
”

   
“
Good morning and Merry Christmas,
”
Angelica said.  The family greeted them as Cray and Angel walked to the buffet to fill their plates from the numerous chafing dishes.

   
“
Isn't it a beautiful day?
”
Angelica said.

    Birch laughed and said,
“
It's overcast and threatening snow.
”

    Mona said,
“
Honest to Pete, Birch, when you're in love every day is beautiful.
”

   
“
How would you know?
”
Ladd asked.

    The happy couple filled their plates and took a seat side by side as the siblings bantered.  Mona said,
“
For all you know, I'm madly in love and haven't announced it to my nosy brothers yet.
”

    Gwen said,
“
Mona, is that true?  Your father and I want to meet him.  Is he spending Christmas with his family?  Will he call you today?
”

   
“
Answer Mother,
”
Ladd said.

   
“
He's probably obligated to spend Christmas morning with his children,
”
Birch said with a smirk.

   
“
Oh, dear, please don't tell me you're in love with a married man,
”
Gwen said.

   
“
Mona is not in love with a married man or any man,
”
Cray said. 
“
Mona is saving herself for her ideal mate.
”

    Mona laughed out loud and said,
“
Thank you, Cray.  You've always been my protector and defender.  The first and last born got all the beauty, brains and manners.  The rest should have been drowned at birth.
”

    Alex said,
“
Mona, your mother and I love you children equally.
”

   
“
I understand, Daddy.  It's your obligation to love your children and you do it splendidly.
”

   
“
Well, it wasn't always easy,
”
Gwen said and the siblings howled with laughter.

   
“
Did you call your parents about the wedding?
”
Alex asked Angelica.

   
“
No.  They're six hours ahead of us in Oslo.  I'll call them when we finish breakfast.
”

   
“
Be sure to impress upon them how anxious we are to meet them and how much we love you,
”
Gwen said.

    Angelica smiled and said,
“
I will, Gwen, and thank you.
”

    Lake and Ladd, who were dressed for the day, offered to clear the food and clean the kitchen while the rest dressed.

   
“
If I may use your computer to call my family we can Skype so you can meet and chat with them,
”
Angelica said.

    Birch said,
“
Good deal.  I'll set it up on Dad's computer and hook it to the TV so we can get a good view of each other.
”

    Mona groaned. 
“
Angel, he can't wait to get a gander at your two sisters if they look like you.  Otherwise he wouldn't be so helpful.  Are your sisters married?
”

   
“
Of course they look like Angelica.  Why else would they be mistaken as triplets?
”
Birch said.

    Angel laughed and said,
“
None of my siblings are married and we do resemble each other, but the disparity in age made me wonder why people mistook us as triplets when we were little.  Bekka is three years younger than me and Darja is four years younger than Bekka.
”

   
“
How old is your brother?
”
Mona asked.

   
“
He's thirty and a terrible flirt and a tease.
”
  She grinned. 
“
Come to think of it, you'll get along fine with your personalities.
”

    Mona said,
“
Birch, I'll help you get Skype and the TV ready.
”

    As Cray and Angelica left the room to go dress, they listened to Lake say to Mona,
“
How old is Angelica?
”

   
“
Aha!
”
Mona said,
“
you want to figure out Bekka and Darja's ages.
”

    Cray and Angel laughed as they ran upstairs.  Inside the bedroom, Cray pulled her close to him and said,
“
Isn't it nice that we found each other and no longer need to search for our mate?
”

   
“
It's wonderful, darling.  My sisters will take one look at your brothers and they'll force my parents to make the trip for our wedding.
”

   
“
But you only have two sisters and I have three brothers.  How will that work?
”

   
“
Birch will be attracted to Darja and she will give him a run for his money.  Wait and see.
”

   
“
You think Mona will like your brother Dirk,
”
Cray said.

   
“
They'll like each other and have a good time together, but I predict a fling rather than a long-term relationship.  Dirk at thirty is not interested in permanence and he is my father's heir apparent for the store.  He'd never relocate to the States and I can't envision Mona wanting to leave here.
”

    They continued to talk while they dressed for the day in casual clothes, jeans and turtleneck sweaters. 
“
That takes care of two of your siblings.  Who will Bekka prefer?
”

    Angelica paused, tapped her index finger against her bottom lip and said,
“
I'm not sure.  She runs deep and is difficult to read.  I didn't get a feel for what makes Lake tick.
”

   
“
Lake is your age and is hung up on a girl he dated through high school and for the first two years of college.  Her name is Marcy.  Marcy had it rough being raised by a single mother.  Lake took her to a rock concert where she met one of the band members and two months later she ran off to California to be with the guy.  He's never gotten over it.
”

   
“
Cray, that's fifteen years ago.
”

   
“
Yes, it is.  It could be that he's never gotten over her betrayal and he projects that on every woman he meets and won't learn to trust.
”

   
“
That's sad.  Bekka had a similar situation, but I never heard the entire story, just bits and pieces when I went home to visit.  Bekka considers me an outsider and not privy to affairs of the heart.  She did complete her studies to be a nurse a few years ago.
”

   
“
I thought you said your sisters will encourage your parents to come here.
”

   
“
They will.  Both of them, but it will be Darja who exerts the most pressure.  She's wanted to come to the States for years, but without a work Visa she can't stay long enough to find a job and apply.
”

   
“
Have you helped her?
”

   
“
No.  I love her, but she needs to do this on her own as I did.  Darja flits from one idea to the next and none of them are solid.  I won't put myself in the position of recommending her for a job only to have her decide it's not what she wants.
”

   
“
You're tough.
”

   
“
You'll see why when they visit unless she's changed and I doubt it.
”

    Cray and Angelica entered the den and Cray said to Mona and Birch,
“
Did you two get everything ready for the big reveal?
”

   
“
Angelica, the floor is yours,
”
Mona said. 
“
I'll round up the rest of the family for the introductions.  This is going to be fun.
”

    Angel placed the call and Darja answered. 
“
Darja, Merry Christmas.
”

   
“
Merry Christmas to you, Angie.  I told everyone you'd call and I had the computer ready and waiting.  Who's that handsome guy beside you?
”

   
“
Is Bekka there and the rest of the family?
”

   
“
Yes, Bekka worked the early shift, but she's home now.  Dirk is taking a shower.  He got called out to a fire.  He volunteers.  He'll be here in a minute.  Hold on, I'll call the family.
”

    When they gathered around the computer screen in Norway, Angel said,
“
Merry Christmas to all of you.  I love you.  Bekka will you translate what Mama and Papa don't understand?  Thank you.  I have the most wonderful news.  This gorgeous man beside me is Cray Phillips and last evening I accepted his proposal to marry him in May.
”

   
“
Did he give you a ring?
”
Darja asked breaking through the words of love and congratulations.

    Angel laughed and said,
“
He did.  Want to see it?
”
  She held her hand in front of the camera and oohs and ahhs filtered through the speakers. 
“
I'm with his family and I want to introduce you to them and them to you.  Please, put Mama and Papa in front of the screen.
”

    Cray stood making room for his parents and Angel handled the introductions.  Gwen said,
“
Mr. and Mrs. Andersson, we love your daughter and are so happy to welcome her to our family.  They will be married in May.  That's a beautiful time of the year.  Angelica wants her mother with her at the time of her wedding as does every bride and she wants her father to escort her down the aisle.  Please say you'll join us.  We'll make all the arrangements.
”

    Angelica listened to Cray chuckle at his mother's sales pitch.  She turned and smiled at him.

    Bekka spoke, 
“
Mrs. Phillips, our parents offered a strong maybe and thank you for the invitation.
”

    Alex stepped front and center. 
“
Bekka, please stress to your parents that we want the entire family to attend as our guests.  It's a long trip so your family should spend a minimum of two weeks with us.  We'll take care of everything, including the plane fare.
”

    Bekka spoke to her parents in their native language and turned to face the camera again. 
“
My parents are overwhelmed with your generosity and thank you for your gracious gesture.
”
  She smiled and said,
“
They're discussing who can take care of the store as we speak so I'm confident in saying we will be there.  I don't want to miss my sister's big day so I will put in for leave as soon as we know the dates.
”

    Alex and Gwen hugged each other in front of the camera and Gwen said,
“
Oh, we can't wait to meet you.  We'll have so much fun together.  Bring good walking shoes because we want to show you the sights.
”

    Bekka laughed and said,
“
I'll pass the word and thank you again.  Angie, I'm so happy for you.
”

    Angelica sniffled and started to cry.  In a shaky voice, she said,
“
I love you all so much.
”
  She stood and walked to the middle of the room.