Authors: Samantha Lovern
“Thanks, sis. I missed you guys and wanted some family time. There will be plenty of time to meet Celia.” Martin smiled and dodged the bullet for now. He knew by the look on his mother’s face that it was just a reprieve from what would come later.
They ordered their meals and seemed soon to fall back into their old pace of conversation. They talked about his dad’s friend who was having surgery, and how he hoped to be here by Friday or at the latest Saturday.
They talked about his sister and a new guy she was dating, but Martin could tell that Addison couldn’t wait to be alone with him so they could talk more openly.
He knew that she had wanted to move to the states for a long time, but that she hated to leave their mother. He felt more than a little guilty that he’d not been back home to spend time with the family, but he was working.
It wasn’t like he was just out here taking it easy, living in the lap of luxury. Acting was hard work, and you were always trying to look for the next part, and sometimes the good ones were few and far between.
A few times during dinner, when their mother commented about an upcoming date, or even a wedding that might be in the near future, Addison would get this stressed look and become fidgety. Martin gave her a reassuring smile when he could, and at one point when his mother excused herself they had a chance to speak.
He didn’t waste any time. The moment his mother was up from the table he looked at his sister and spoke. “So what’s up? Did you dump this guy and not have the heart to tell mom?”
“You don’t mince words, do you?” Addison shook her head and looked at her plate. “It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?” Martin leaned back, thinking of his own dilemma with Randi and Celia. “You have to begin somewhere, so what’s going on? Is he still in the picture?”
“Kind of. He’s an American, a lawyer. Mother doesn’t know that part yet. The way she talks you’d think she’s met him, but she hasn’t.”
“So, she’s not prejudiced, or at least she didn’t used to be.” Martin smiled but his sister looked up quickly.
“No it’s nothing like that. It’s just that in a few months the firm he’s working for is going to move, and I haven’t told Mom. She has no idea. I don’t know how to break it to her that I may be moving with him, or moving to the states, with or without him.”
“Wow. When did all of this come about?” Martin glanced over his shoulder to see if his mother was coming back. She was not, so they went on with their conversation.
“I don’t know. A few months ago, I guess. Raffaello mentioned it was a possibility that he’d be transferred. I didn’t give it that much thought, but now, here I am. He’ll be moving to Los Angeles or New York after the first of the year, and he’s invited me to come with him.”
“Oh, I see.” Martin leaned back as the waitress took his plate. Once she was gone he spoke. “So he’s asking you to move with him, but he’s not asking you to marry him.”
“Man, you always did seem to have a knack of figuring things out too quickly, but, yes, that’s it.”
“And you don’t want to tell mom, because you might be taking him up on his offer, or you’re embarrassed. You don’t want her to think about what you’ve been up to already,” Martin offered.
“That’s none of your business, or hers. Besides, I’m supposed to be the perfect one. Men have it easy. She knows you and Celia are shacked up, but does she say anything, or refuse to come to your house? Why, if she even had a clue that I’d slept with Rafa, which by the way I’m not admitting to, she wouldn’t speak to me for months.”
“Hey, what can I say? I’m her pick.” This won Martin a slight kick under the table. “Ouch, that hurt.”
“You deserve worse, even if you are right. And down deep I know it’s not because you’re her pick, it’s because I’m the girl. All of these years of women’s lib, and advancements, even women still look at things differently.”
“Well at least our mother does.” Martin began, “She gave me a lecture that I needed to be sure and not be messing around while she’s in the house.”
Addison smiled, “She really said that?”
“Yes, not those exact words, but I got her meaning.”
“That had to be embarrassing.”
“It was, but I did say I would behave myself. At any age you don’t want to disappoint your parents.”
“Tell me about it.” Addison sighed. “I guess this isn’t going to be the best Christmas on record for us.”
Martin glanced over his shoulder to see their mother returning, then looked to his sister. “You don’t know the half of it.”
Chapter 28
Siblings
Lillian knew her children would need time alone to catch up, so she took her time in the ladies' room. She washed her hands and checked her hair. She even thought about calling her husband, but changed her mind.
Being here without Ethan was unsettling. She seldom traveled without her husband of thirty-five years and she didn’t enjoy being away from him. They were a perfect match and she didn’t feel whole when he wasn’t by her side.
Ethan’s dear friend, Charles Spencer, was having heart surgery, and she’d only received one update so far. If he hadn’t called by eight she would check in. It worried her that something would happen to keep her husband from joining her in California.
Over their years of marriage they’d never been separated on Christmas Eve. Not all holidays were as special as the celebration of the Savior's birthday, but it was the one day out of the year that they always made sure nothing happened to keep them apart.
She could think back to many close calls. The birth of her sister’s first child, the year Ethan’s mother fell, and of course, five years ago when Ethan was stranded at a friend's house during a power outage. The electricity came on just in time for him to finish Christmas Eve deliveries and get home for their midnight ritual.
It was a romantic tradition they’d started years ago. No matter what hectic Christmas events were happening, at midnight the two of them would slip off to be alone. A smile came to Lillian’s lips. They’d shared a Christmas kiss for so many years; they just couldn’t break that record now.
She pushed the negative thoughts from her mind and smiled at her own reflection. She would just keep her faith high that nothing would go wrong, and that she and Ethan would be able to continue their loving practice.
Lillian stepped out of the restroom, going back to the table. The first thing she noticed was her children’s body language. How many times had she seen them this way?
Martin was leaning forward, arms on the table, and Addison also was leaning in. They would be speaking in low tones, and checking over their shoulders so that no one would hear a word of their conversation.
Lillian only wished her children trusted her with their secrets as easily as they did each other, but that was siblings for you. They had their own way of trusting.
Lillian sat down, looking at her two children. It seemed hard for them to carry on with their conversation. Addison was looking through her purse. Martin sipped on his coffee and kept looking at his phone.
She wondered what they had been talking about that put them in such strange moods. Breaking the ice, she spoke. “You have a lovely home, Martin. You’ll have to give me a tour tomorrow.”
“Sure, we can do that.” Martin’s comment was short and to the point. He smiled and took another sip of coffee, then set the cup on the table. As he had done when he was younger and was agitated about something, he sat tapping the edge of the mug with his finger.
Lillian was determined to go on talking. “The decorations are breathtaking. I love the trees and the garland. Celia surely has wonderful taste.” Lillian glanced up as Martin let out a short laugh.
“She didn’t do any of the decorating. The house does look wonderful. It was her idea to have three trees, but Randi and the other temporary help did all of the decorating.”
Lillian straightened and shook her head. “I can’t imagine not doing my own decorating. She didn’t do any of the trees? That’s half the fun of Christmas.”
“Not everyone is like us, mom.” Addison said. “Maybe Celia is too busy with work, or other chores.”
Lillian waited, but Martin seemed unsure of what to say. He looked at his all-but-empty cup and spoke. “She has been busy helping her friend Sue revamp her apartment, but Celia doesn’t have a job.”
“I see. Well, there‘s many things to do this time of year. There’s charity work, social events, shopping and cooking. Does she have dinner planned? I’d love to help with some of the cooking. I can make dessert.”
Once again Martin seemed to become fidgety. He leaned back, resting one arm on the table. “I think we’re having the dinner catered. Celia isn’t really . . . ”
“Christmas diner catered. Really? Is there something wrong with the kitchen?”
“Yes. Celia doesn’t know where it is.” Martin laughed for the first time.
Addison laughed, but stopped when Lillian looked her way.
“I get the joke, but really, why would we cater Christmas dinner?”
“She doesn’t cook, mother. She wouldn’t have the first clue of what to do with a turkey.”
“I do. I can cook the main course. I’ve never heard of such nonsense. Addison and I can help.”
“Help?” Addison began. “It sounds like we’d have to do all of the work. Mom, there will be a lot of people to cook for.”
“Addison’s right. Celia thought it would be best this way. The family can spend time with each other and . . . ”
“We can spend time with each other in the kitchen, while baking pies, and cooking. I’ll see to it, dear. You won’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll start preparing a list of things I’ll need when we—.”
“Mom,” Addison interrupted. “Don’t you think we should allow Celia to do things the way she wishes? After all, it’s her party and her family will be there too. Maybe they’re not the cooking type.”
Lillian looked at Addison. “I mean no disrespect, but this is Martin’s home, and I think it’s a shame not to have a good home-cooked meal for one's family. I won’t be asking anyone to help who doesn’t want to pitch in.”
“What about what Martin wants?” Addison kept her voice low but Lillian could hear something in her daughter’s tone. Something was going on with Addison and had been for a few weeks, but she had no idea what.
Lillian looked at Martin. Maybe she was coming on a bit strong. “Fine. I’ll leave this up to you, son. Do you want the dinner catered, or would you rather have a good home-cooked meal?”
Chapter 29
Changes
The shocked look on Celia’s face said it all. Martin knew she’d throw a fit so he wasn’t surprised by her expression. “She wants me to what?” Celia shook her head. “No way. I am not going to do the cooking for this many people. Your mother’s lost her ever loving –”
Martin shushed her and put his hands on her arms. “Keep your voice down. She’s here, you know.” Martin pulled the garage door that led into the house closed and his brow furrowed. “I don’t want her to hear us talking about this.”
Celia shook her head and stepped back. “I don’t care what she hears, and just for the record, I’m not cooking for anyone.” Celia pushed past Martin, aiming for the door, but he shook his head.
“You don’t have to cook. Neither does your family. But I’m not going to tell my mother that she can’t cook Christmas dinner. If you’re worried it won’t be satisfactory, there are no worries there. Matter of fact, it will more than likely be better than anything the caterers come up with.”
“Is that a jab at my choice for Christmas dinner? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You think I should be cooking and cleaning. Well, I’m not that kind of a woman. What good is all of your money if you don’t use it to enjoy life?”
“I have never asked you to do anything around here, have I? Do I complain when you don’t lift a hand? Do I say anything that I had to hire full-time help to keep things running?”
“No, but I can tell by your tone you think I should be doing something.”
“Something, yes. I don’t expect you to clean a house of this size. I don’t even expect you to cook every day, but now and then it would be nice to eat something besides take-out. I’m tired of eating out.”
Martin knew deep down that they should have had this conversation earlier in the week. This party was a mistake. Shame Randi hadn’t come along a week earlier. Celia wasn’t ready to cave in yet. She began to plead her case again.
“I get tired of eating out too. But to be honest I don’t know how to cook a full-course meal. If you want fried eggs and ham I can handle that. But I am not up to cooking for a house full of people.”
Martin nodded. “You don’t have to do any of the cooking, and we can cater some of the meals, but not Christmas dinner. It’ll be fun. Everyone can pitch in.”
“Fun for you, maybe, but how will it look? I promised my family a wonderful Christmas. I didn’t invite them all over here to cook. We talked about this, and it was settled. Now you’re starting to change things. You can’t do that.”
Martin crossed his arms. “I see what you’re saying, but I’m sorry, the plans have changed. Your family can pitch in if they want. If not, we’ll manage.” Martin gave her a quick smile and walked past her, going to his motorcycle.