Page 75 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
‘Dare I ask what the others were?’
‘She said if I was having any difficulty getting to sleep to get you talking about the Chambers’ family history and I’d be out like a light in five minutes. Apparently I’m to cover my ears when you’re watching footballand your team is losing because you’ve got a foul mouth. Do you really want me to go on?’
‘Probably not.’ His dry comment made her smile. ‘You hit it off didn’t you?’ Tom couldn’t hide his wistfulness.
‘Yes and I’ve never experienced that before. I tend to get on better with men because I’m not girly. My mother’s the same way.’
Working out how to reply was tricky. Tom sensedFee was searching for a way to change without betraying who she was deep inside.
‘It’s okay.’ She patted his hand. ‘I don’t expect you to wave a magic wand and solve all my problems in one go. You’re doing pretty good so far. Let’s not push our luck.’
‘So are you goin’ to take me up on my offer to go shoppin’?’
Fee’s shrewd blue eyes bored into him. ‘I do believe I will.’
‘Great.’Liar. ‘Right let’s get goin’.’
For once they didn’t talk on the drive down to Pine Ridge and Fee only broke the silence when he drove past the Mockingbird Cafe.
‘I see Mary-Jo’s been busy.’ Every trace of Halloween had been eradicated apart from the orange plastic pumpkins which were doing double duty for the cafe’s new Thanksgiving theme. Straw scarecrows and Pilgrimcut-outs were dotted over the front and linked together with bright fall leaves. Flashing orange and yellow lights completed the transformation.
‘Yep, she sure has. Mee Maw always says Thanksgiving is her favourite holiday.’ Tom gripped the steering wheel so hard he was surprised it didn’t buckle. ‘I mean used to say.’
‘Why did she love it so much?’
He pulled into the onlyparking spot left anywhere near the house and realised they were the last to arrive. ‘She said it combined her two favourite things in life – plenty of good football to watch and the chance to feed her family. We always went to her house on Thanksgiving Day.’ Tom swallowed hard. ‘We’ve all helped out with the cooking over the last few years when she couldn’t manage as well but…’
‘It stillwon’t feel right not to gather around her table.’
Fee’s simple statement punched him in the gut.
‘No, it won’t.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Yeah, I know and that means… everything to me.’ He pulled her to him for a few precious moments. ‘We’d better get inside before Mama sends out a search party.’
The second they stepped into the house Lulu came barrelling out of nowherewearing her Halloween pirate costume and brandishing a plastic sword.
‘UncleT did you know Mee Maw’s gone to heaven and she’s an angel now with wings and a halo?’ She bounced up and down. ‘I want wings and a halo too. If I ask Santa Claus will he bring me some?’
Tom swept her into his arms and buried his face in her red curls. He’d break down if he tried to answer and the lastthing he wanted was to scare her.
‘Mama says it’s only fifty days until Christmas and she’s made me a thing to count them on. Is fifty a lot, UncleT? I want it to be Christmas now!’
‘It’ll go really quick if you’re a good girl.’ Fee promised.
‘Do you want to see my new dolly? She cries and wets herself.’
‘Wow, that’s awesome. I’d love to.’
Laughter bubbledup inside him at Fee’s disingenuous statement.
‘You go and be with your family.’ She whispered close to his ear. ‘They need you and you need them.’
He caught the fleeting touch of envy and despite being swamped by grief Tom knew she was right. Fee never sought sympathy but he felt it anyway. Later he’d try to put it into words.
