Page 38 of Two Hearts Reunited

“And Santas, reindeer and snowmen too,” Brian said. “Everything looks great. We’ve got room for a pretty big tree, so every year, we’ll add even more.”

“I think it looks beautiful,” Eric said approvingly. He’d bought a few special ornaments too, but his were engraved and ready for family pictures.

Just then, Brian’s cell phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket, checking out the caller ID. “Uh, oh. It looks like one set of parents will be arriving soon.”

“Hello,” he said. “Mom. How are things going? Another thirty minutes then. How soon would you like to eat?”

As he listened, Brian grinned at Ashley, who was getting ready to run into the kitchen.

“Okay, we’ll do that,” he said, disconnecting. “She said that they ate before they left home. She talked with your mom and they’re about an hour behind them, so she thinks that you might as well wait a little longer.”

“Okay, Ashley. Don’t panic,” Anya urged. “I guess we could slice the roast beef right away and get the gravy going in about an hour. We can heat the roast beef while the other things like the potatoes and wild rice casserole are in the oven.”

“Okay, I’m leaving it up to you, Anya. Let’s have another wine cooler before they get here,” Ashley said.

“Don’t get plastered,” Brian advised, laughing. “You don’t want to feel bad tomorrow. You’ve got a turkey that needs to go in the oven too.”

“I won’t be as worried then. Mom will insist on taking over, and I think I’m just going to let her do it for a change,” Ashley said, grinning as she held her wine cooler bottle in the air.

“Give me about five or ten minutes to slice the beef and I’ll be right back with more wine coolers. All you need to do is take it easy,” Anya said, grinning.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Ashley agreed, sitting in one of the chairs near the fireplace.

Eric stood, giving Brian and Ashley a wink after Anya left the room. “I’m going to give Anya her Christmas gift. When would you like yours?”

“You didn’t have to get us anything,” Ashley said, pursing her lips.

“Sure, I did. You guys are putting me up for the next month,” he said, heaving a sigh. “I’ve got to report back to base in three to four weeks though. They’re going to let me know the date after the holiday.”

Brian frowned. “That’s too damn bad. Afghanistan?”

“More than likely. Everything is up in the air at the moment,” he admitted. “Let’s not mention that yet in front of Anya, or even Mom.”

“I hear you,” Brian answered.

“I’ll give you two your gift after dinner,” Eric said with a smile. “I’m pretty sure you’re both going to like it.”

Heading into the kitchen, he gave Anya a smile where she stood over the stove. “We need some Christmas music out here, don’t we? I’ll be back in a minute. I have something for you.”

“I’ve got something for you too,” she called out.

When Eric went downstairs, he paused when he noticed that the kitty was resting on his bed. “I haven’t seen you around at all, but I know you’ve been sneaking in bed with me. I suppose you’re waiting right now.”

Looking up, his eyes meeting Eric’s, the kitty answered, “Meeeoooooow.”

Eric rolled his eyes, reaching for the gift bag that held Anya’s ring.

“See you later, kitty,” he answered.

He halted at the base of the staircase, when the kitty let out another longmeeeooooow.

“You’re sure talkative. I wonder why you’re always hiding?”

Laughing, he headed back up the staircase, where Anya was just finishing up in the kitchen after slicing the roast beef.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“You probably haven’t seen their cat? He likes to sleep with me at night. He’s already in bed, waiting,” Eric said dryly.

---