Page 128 of The Blessings of Christmas
“And how did he take it?” She almost hated to ask.
Miss Charlotte’s sweet face folded into a frown. “He was more upset than I expected. Vinny really thought we’d be making this official. Forever.” A wistful expression drifted over Miss Charlotte’s delicate beauty and disappeared. “But we’ve only been keeping company a few months or so, even though we went through grade school together.”
Were matters of the heart this rational? “Gee, Miss Charlotte. I’d love to have you for an aunt.”
Miss Charlotte reached out to squeeze her hand. “Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“Absolutely.” She wasn’t ready to give up on getting the two of them together. Not yet, anyway.
When Miss Charlotte went back to study the Christmas wishes on the tree, Melinda Sue and Genevieve joined her. Ifonly Dr. Darling and Phyllis could see this. All three women plucked a couple of wishes from the tree and tucked them into their handbags. Drawn to the activity, other customers joined them.
“If you could have your gifts ready by December 23rd, that would be great.” She picked the date from thin air. “Then I can take them to the clinic.”
“How?” Maisy whispered. “I thought you weren’t going to be here for the holidays?”
Well, there was that. Victoria had some serious thinking to do.
That Sunday,dinner was just as bad as Victoria had feared. Her mother had invited the Hutchinsons, along with their very eligible son. Probably a desperation tactic. The moment Victoria arrived, Mama dragged her up to her old bedroom, where long gowns were spread out on her queen-size bed.
“They’re beautiful, Mama.” But Victoria felt exhausted just looking at them. Really? Did Christmas demand this kind of expensive finery? So she would parade through cocktail parties, perch on velvet banquettes or stand against stone walls overlooking the Atlantic while cool breezes made her look like an ad inVogue?
What was the point?
And when had she started thinking like that?
“Maybe after dinner?” she said softly. She could hear voices downstairs.
“You don’t like them?” Mama wasn’t moving.
“Thank you for going to all this trouble, Mama.” Hugging her mother, Victoria wondered how many immunizations eachgown could buy. “They’re beautiful. And in blue, my favorite color. Maybe later?” She edged toward the door. They needed a sit-down discussion, but she was dreading it.
The evening went downhill after that. Facing Spencer Hutchinson II across the dinner table, Victoria didn't know what to say. Her grandmother’s silver shone against the white linen tablecloth, set with festive red napkins.
“So you’re home for the holidays, Spencer?” Her mother jumped right in as the gravy was making the rounds.
“From law school in Boston. Right.” Spencer had a killer smile. She remembered it from the halls of Country Day High School. When she was a freshman, Spencer was a couple years ahead. She’d adored him, and he didn’t even know she was alive.
“Are you studying any particular area of the law, son?” Daddy sank the serving spoon into the mashed potatoes.
How Victoria wished Daddy would not use the word “son.” Was that a deliberate wish on Daddy’s part?
“Estate planning. I figure I'll never run out of clients.”
“Oh, my. I should say so.” Mama threw Spencer’s parents an approving smile, as if their son had made a very wise decision. Although Victoria didn’t know exactly what estate planning was, she thought it had to do with people leaving obscene amounts of money to their children so they wouldn’t have to work themselves.
Again, when had her world spun around?
As Victoria helped herself to green beans, she smiled to herself, thinking of the canned beans at the clinic. She’d gotten used to them. It was the conversation that mattered, or so she’d discovered. Not the food, as long as there was enough to go around. Right now, she wished Friskie was at her feet.
“That sounds very purposeful, Spencer.” Her mother was staring daggers at Victoria. “Don't you think so, dear?”
“Purposeful?” She searched her mind. “Sounds as if you’re setting out to make big bucks.”
Her mother’s gasp brought her back to reality. She could almost hear the lecture after dinner. Those whohadmoney never spoke about money.
Looking pleased with himself, Spencer grinned at her across the table. “I’ll be profiled in the newspaper next Sunday as an Up and Comer.”
“Up and Comer? I have no idea what that is but good for you. Beans, Spencer?” Victoria extended her grandmother’s silver bowl across the table. Her face red, Mama was signaling to Daddy. Time to call in the troops, but Daddy was deep in conversation with Spencer’s father. Victoria had to talk to her father about the article. How could she have forgotten?
