Page 5 of Merrily Yours
“Go to sleep, killer.”
“I love you, Baby Bardot.”
“I love you too… daddy,” I tease.
“Weirdly, I didn’t hate that.”
He twirls a curl around his finger until we both drift off, happy to be home for the holidays.
“Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family."— Charles M. Schulz
I left my sleeping wife in bed this morning as I slipped into my fleece lined house shoes and made my way to the kitchen. It’s quiet this early, but the house feels more alive when some of the kids are staying here. I have a feeling Bex, Anders, and Ben will sleep as late as Elaine. Jules is the only one who has ever gotten up with me, but he won’t spend the night here until Christmas Eve. Elodie might join me soon, but she’s a pretty good sleeper, too.
I brew a large pot of coffee and grab the paper off the front porch. All Sassafras residents get their town gossip from theSassafras Gazette—a paper that is as old as the town itself. I like that we still get a physical paper, so I get my town news from thatand then readThe New York Timeson my iPad when I want real news.
Settling into a stool at the kitchen island, I open the paper and start reading. My phone chimes next to me, and I look at it to see a text from Julien asking if I’m awake. I’m not a big texter, so I pick up the phone and call him instead.
“Obviously, that’s a yes,” he answers.
I laugh at the moodiest of my four children. “Yes, Julien, I’m awake. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I wanted to come over and have coffee there but didn’t want to wake you if you were sleeping in.”
“I can’t remember the last time I slept in,” I reply. “Come over, Son. I’ll have a mug ready for you.”
“Thanks, Dad. Anyone else up?”
“You know the answer to that question.”
He huffs. “Yeah, I do. Okay, well I’ll see you in a bit. Need me to grab anything on the way over?”
“No, I was going to make some cinnamon rolls, but we have all the ingredients. See you soon.”
We hang up right as the first pot of coffee finishes brewing. I grab a mug from our collection of mismatched holiday cups and savor the rich aroma that comes with the first sip of coffee of the day. There’s nothing quite like it. Bex, Jules, and I drink our coffee black—as God intended. I pull another mug down for Jules but wait to fill it until he gets here.
I’m perusing the top stories of the day in Sassafras town news when I hear a car door slam out front. Peeking out the window, I spot Jules. His hair pulled back in his signature low bun, scowl on his face. I pour his coffee and set it on the counter in front of the stool next to me.
He lets himself in and gives my shoulder a squeeze when he gets to the kitchen.
“Thanks for making coffee,” he says, our mutual appreciation for the drink evident in his sincerity.
“Of course.” We sit in silence, both taking the occasional sip. I read the paper and Jules spends time in his own head, a place he prefers. He doesn’t talk much, but he’s wise beyond his years when he does open his mouth.
“TheSassafras Gazettesays The Coffee Shop is going to be up for sale soon.”
Jules takes another sip and rolls his eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it. There’s been rumors of Ethel and Albert selling for years, and they never actually do.”
I nod. “I don’t know. This could be the time. Albert is getting older and that place could use a change of ownership…” I let the thought linger.
Looking at me out of the corner of his eye he says, “Are you implying something, Dad?”
“What would I be implying, Julien?” I ask.
“I don’t know, maybe that I should take over The Coffee Shop?”
“Wow! That’s a great idea!” I reply, really committing to the bit. “I think you would make an excellent business owner. But you are really happy in your current job, so maybe I’m way off here.”
Jules is a music teacher at the high school, and I know he’s been unhappy in that position for a while. He enjoys teaching private lessons to students who want to study their craft, practice, and improve. Most of the high school students are not that way, however, which has been incredibly draining. He’s always talked about owning a small business—giving back to the town that has given him so much.
