Page 45 of The Holidays with Dr. Mitchell
“Jakey, Jakey,” Alex said as his wife, Bree, chuckled at the men’s exchange, practically setting themselves up to go to war right here and now. “Let’s all just relax and enjoy the holidays. Bree and I are only here for the night. In the morning, we’re heading to Austria to meet with an architect, and then we’re going back home to the kids.”
“Why are you two bailing out on this festive occasion? Austria is just a hop, skip, and a jump away?” Jake asked, a little bummed since all these guys were as close as brothers.
“We’ve been super fortunate to work with Lyle’s Architect Firm, and I’ve been working for months on my drawings, hoping we could merge on an exciting project, which includes restoring castles and ruins. If all goes well, our firm will be known overseas,” Bree excitedly answered.
“That’s wonderful, Bree,” I said. The woman had immense talent and skill when she was left to design and allow her passion for architecture to breathe through her. That’s what was wonderful about her and Alex getting together. He took over the executive part of the business she carried on for her father so she could focus on what she really loved like she had before her father passed away. Getting this opportunity was a dream come true for my sweet friend.
“Yes,” Nat said. “My fabulous bestie has finally hit it big, and it’s about damn time the rest of the world gives her the recognition she deserves.”
“Well, I’m notthatbig, but I love the castles, and being a part of this project would be my dream. If things go well, we may have the twins flown out to us, and we’ll stay over here for the next month or so. It depends on how it shakes out,” Bree said, smiling at her husband.
Seeing everyone happy and in love was enough for me to call it Christmas and leave it here. It would suck having Alex and Bree leave, but I knew we’d make the most of it. I’d have lovedit if all our friends could’ve come, but I also knew how difficult it could be to pull off such trips around the holidays. Luckily, we usually managed to pull off some miracles and get together for New Year’s Eve, which was always a highlight for me, but I wished we could’ve all been together in this magical place this Christmas.
“Looks like you found an easy way to get out of the shit you started,” Jake said, pulling me out of my dreamy thoughts.
“Last I checked, I’m a brilliant man,” Alex said, offering a cocky grin. “So, when I was afforded an opportunity to collaborate on a perfect prank against you two, knowing I would be leaving right after I got to watch you find out about it, I didn’t hesitate to be a part of it. The icing on the cake is that it worked out perfectly for Bree to spend time with the ladies for a bit before we rush off to Austria.”
“And itafforded you the opportunityto wonder now how we will nail your ass after you get back from the lovely country,” Collin said.
“Indeed,” Alex said, too confidently.
“Let’s go eat. I’m starved,” Jim said. “I had the chefs prepare various dishes I’m sure everyone will enjoy. If we stay here and continue to talk, we’ll keep the wheels turning in Jake and Collin’s heads, and I’m not in the mood to deal with fake fire alarms every night until we leave,” Jim smirked at Jake and then turned to guide us through the area where our kids had disappeared through.
The grand table was spread with a bounty of food. Candles were lit in their candelabras down the length of the long table, with silver chargers and crystal wine goblets at each place setting. A side table held a gingerbread village that looked like it was assembled by a team for a baking competition, alongside tiers of cookies and cakes. Big red ribbons and giantgold ball ornaments hung from the ceiling, and lights twinkled everywhere in the room.
“It looks like Jim called the White House holiday decorators and had this place turned into some magical Christmas land,” Collin said with a laugh.
The kids were playing a board game on the floor next to a fireplace in the corner of the grand dining hall next to a decorated Christmas tree, which had to have been twenty feet tall.
Everyone remained quiet and awestruck by the opulent, festive dining hall. We were seated at the table while the staff filled our crystal wine glasses, and a different set of staff tended to our children. I would’ve felt bad about not spending more time with them since we arrived, but they seemed to forget we existed, so I thought it best to let them enjoy themselves for now.
Jim stood and raised his glass while the wait staff stood against the wall, waiting for any requests.
“It is my greatest honor to be able?—”
“That’s enough of that. You can sit,” Jake said, standing from where we sat at the table across from Jim and Avery. “It is indeed an honor, and that is for sure,” he said, smiling at Avery, who we all knew was responsible for the idea of spending Christmas together like this. “And you, Mrs. James Mitchell. You have indeed outdone yourself with all of this,” he glanced around the great hall. “I’m speechless about all this?—”
“This glorious and beautiful holiday décor?” Collin said to help Jake.
“Ah, yes,” Jake said, smirking at Collin. “Thanks, man.”
“It’s nothing,” Collin dramatically answered. “The ego-death has brought out a more appreciative side of me, you know?”
“Idoknow,” Jake answered. “I feel it so deeply. All of this,” he looked back at Jim, silently studying his brother’s next move.“If it weren’t for my big brother, helping me to see life through a different?—”
“Lense?” Collin finished Jake’s sentence while we remained silent, wanting to know where this would go.
“Lense, yes. It’s like my outlook on everything is entirely different now. I feel connected to the earth and, dear God.” He raised his hand, gesturing at the windows that spanned the walls behind where we sat. “Look at all of that. Majestic, inspiring, and so much more than I deserve.”
“Here! Here!” Collin added.
What the hell are they planning?I thought, knowing this wasn’t genuine. This was Jake getting ready to pull some crazy shit, and Collin knew what it was.
“All of that leads me to feel the Christmas spirit in a way I haven’t since I was a young boy.”
“The inner-boy thing?” Collin questioned Jake as if he didn’t know where my husband was going with this.
“Yes. It took a shit-ton of shit leaving my system to find that inner boy of mine,” Jake looked back at Jim.
