Page 63 of Promise Me This Christmas
It was weirdsitting down for Christmas breakfast with the rest of their guests.Each place setting had a little Christmas stocking containing a Bramble House–themed Christmas ornament and a small box of Copper Mountain chocolates.
“Oh my gosh, what a cute idea.”Amy said, vowing that going forward she would continue this tradition.
Chet set Robin up in his high chair and gave him a sectioned orange and bran muffin to eat.Amy had already fed Robin his oat cereal and then they’d let him open the presents they’d piled for him under the Bramble family Christmas tree.As expected, he’d been most thrilled with the wrapping paper and ribbons, with the cardboard box containing his train coming in a close third.
“Good morning,” Gibson said as he took his usual chair.He sounded almost pleasant and even smiled at Amy when she wished him a Merry Christmas.
Next down to the table was Kris, followed by Ethel, whose brown eyes held an extra sparkle.“I’ve had such a lovely stay here at Bramble House.But after six weeks in hospital and rehab, I finally get to go home today.”Her gaze moved to her granddaughter’s empty chair, and it seemed to Amy that her smile got even brighter.
Amy exchanged a secret look with Chet.When he’d made his final nighttime check of the house, he’d told her he thought Larkin was spending the night in Carson’s suite over the garage.
“Her coat is in the anteroom,” he’d said.“But her bedroom door is ajar, and when I checked, the room was empty.”
Peter came out of the kitchen, his lanky form covered by one of Jo’s white aprons.He deposited a thermos of coffee on the sideboard, then asked if anyone wanted a special coffee.
When Kris ordered a double Americano, Amy raised her eyebrows.“Really, Kris?You always go for black coffee.”
“Yup.But I’m hitting the road right after breakfast, driving to Phoenix, and I need a good jolt of caffeine.”
“Ready for some desert sunshine and golfing?”Chet asked.
“Yup.And ready to see my wife.”
“You sound happy your stint as Santa is over,” Ethel said.
“I love it, but it takes a lot of energy.”
“I hope you’ll be back again next year?”Amy said.She was surprised when Kris merely shrugged.
“Not sure.I might be getting too old for this gig.”
“It won’t feel right if you’re not here next Christmas,” Amy said.
“Things change, my dear.Sometimes you have to roll with the punches.”
It was exactly eight o’clock when Larkin and Carson finally showed up.Their body language and flushed, laughing faces, made it extremely obvious that things had changed between them.Amy reached for Chet’s hand and gave it a squeeze.Oh, how she remembered the magic that came with falling in love.She was happy for her brother.And it was obvious that Ethel was equally happy for her granddaughter.
By the time Carson had poured both himself and Larkin a cup of coffee, Marjorie came out of the kitchen.She, too, was in one of Jo’s aprons, with her hair pulled back in a bun.Amy hadn’t seen the woman look this happy since she and her husband had checked in.
“Welcome to Christmas breakfast at Bramble House,” Marjorie said proudly.“We’ll be serving individual bacon and sausage quiches, cottage cheese blintzes, and baked Anjou pears.”
“That sounds amazing, Marjorie,” Amy said.
“I hope you enjoy,” Marjorie replied modestly.
Together she and Peter brought out the plated food, and once everyone else had been served, they took their places at the table too.
Amy tasted everything and was impressed.“So delicious.Thank you, Marjorie and Peter.At the beginning of this week, I was worried Christmas would turn out to be a disaster—and because of Shelley it almost was.I want to thank all of you for helping to turn it around.”
“Speaking of Shelley,” Larkin said.“She made a comment that none of us knew who you really are, Gibson.I’ve been wondering what she meant by that.”
“Good memory,” Amy said.In the heat of the moment, she’d forgotten that comment, but now that Larkin had raised the question, she was very curious to hear the answer.
“I wondered when someone was going to ask me about that.”Gibson wiped his mouth with the corner of his napkin before continuing.“Have you heard of theTraveling America with Gib: One Bed and Breakfast at a Timepodcast?”
“I haven’t.”Amy glanced around the table.Everyone else was shaking their head except Peter.
“I have.I plan all our trips so I’m always on the lookout for a new bed and breakfast to try.So you’re Gib.I thought your voice sounded familiar.”
