Page 61 of The Blessings of Christmas
The nursery. Amanda turned to mush every time she even thought about it. “Oh, it’s so beautiful, McKenna. Sometimes when I get home from school, I go in and sit in the rocking chair just to look at those peaceful blue-sky walls with the puffy white clouds. It’s just so relaxing. And the animals Harper added peeking from the clouds? Beyond beautiful.”
“And pretty soon, you’ll be sitting there rocking that new baby.” McKenna’s world always had a blue sky. Amanda loved that about her sister-in-law.
“You’re staying for dinner, Amanda, right?’ Maureen popped her head back in the living room. “No sense going home.”
“That would be great.” She wasn’t eager to go out in the snow again and didn’t know how she’d get home anyhow. “Connor’s working so there’s really no hurry.”
“Great. Harper, set another place.”
After Amanda helped pin up a few more crepe paper streamers, the group moved toward the kitchen.
Harper opened the cupboard and began to pull out the plates. “Nothing like coming home to make you feel like the baby sister again.”
McKenna poked her in the ribs. “Youarethe baby sister. For that, you have always been adored.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been your slave.” But Harper smiled.
Amanda loved their constant kidding and teasing. Being an only child thing was something she wouldn’t wish on anyone. She’d lucked out by marrying Connor. Unconditional support and fun were what she wanted for her own family.
If she had one. Thatif. She couldn’t get it out of her head.
When they sat down for dinner that night, Big Mike sat at the head of the table. Connor’s father was obviously pleased to have more of his seven adult children with him. They all bowed their heads and asked for the Lord’s blessing, although Amanda had a secret prayer in her heart that night.
“Connor working this weekend?” Big Mike asked, passing her the platter of corned beef.
“Yep. The cold seems to bring out a lot of fires.”
A retired fireman himself, her father-in-law gave a nod. “Space heaters can be dangerous. If people would only learn tocheck worn wires and keep the heaters away from their drapes, we’d all sleep easier.”
“Let’s not talk work tonight, sweetheart. Remember, you’re retired,” Maureen chided her husband, handing him a bowl. “Amanda, I’m going to give you a container of cabbage for Connor.”
While the five of them ate dinner, Harper filled them in about what was happening in Savannah. She’d been doing a lot of design work for Cameron, who redeveloped historic properties. Sounded fascinating. After their personal lives settled down, Amanda hoped they could visit her sister-in-law. But by that time they might have their baby.
Might have. That uncertain shiver rolled through her again.
“I got a whole new set of door knobs your fellow Cameron might like.” Big Mike helped himself to a second serving.
“He’s not my fellow, but awesome. Where’d you pick them up, a swap meet?” Harper’s face brightened. She loved talking about old houses.
“Yep. I was looking at some brass switch plates. You never know when someone in the family might need one.” The basement was stuffed with things the family “might need.”
“You’re never this concerned about the drapes or the bedspreads,” Maureen broke in. “Just anything that requires a hammer or a drill.”
The girls smiled. They all knew what was coming next.
Big Mike never blinked. “Houses are important, Reenie. So I asked this guy if he’d bundle the switch plates with these old doorknobs sitting there in an old shoe box. Done!” He thumped one hand on the table.
“The beauty of bundling.” Maureen gave her husband a look that told him he was brilliant.
“You’ve got the talent, Dad. That’s for sure. Now, could you pass the corned beef? I’m not quite finished.” McKenna curled her fingers toward the platter.
Outside, the wind had died and big puffy flakes melted against the large picture window. When Maureen brought out the platter of Christmas cookies, Big Mike moved into the family room and turned on the TV.
“No TV during dinner,” his wife reminded him.
“Dinner’s over for me, Reenie. I gotta know what’s going on around the city. Geez, will you look at those tie-ups?”
The TV showed an earlier snarl of traffic from the Edens Expressway to the Eisenhower.
