Fated Memories (18 page)

“
Eathen, if you wake her before she’s ready, she’ll be cranky all day.” She yanked her foot beneath the covers. “Go back to bed and wait for her to wake up on her own.”

As she felt the bed sag beside her, Charlotte pulled the covers away from her face to view her husband grinning at her. “I was talkin’ ‘bout your bed, Eathen.”

“
I know. I thought as long as I’m already here, I’ll stretch out and wait for her to wake up. Go on back to sleep.” He settled the covers back up over her. “I’ll get her when she stirs.”

With an exasperated sigh, Charlotte turned onto her side to fall back to sleep.

“
Awright you sleepy haids, it’s time ter sees whut ole Santy done lef’ fer eve’body,” Hattie called out.

Snuggling closer to the warm body lying next to her, Charlotte opened her eyes to find herself wrapped in the arms of her husband.

“
Good morning,” Eathen brushed his lips across her cheek.

“
Eathen, what do you think you’re doin’?” Charlotte disentangled herself from his lusty embrace. Then seeing Hattie standing in the center of the room, her arms filled with a squirming Jessie, she squealed, “Why is everyone in my room? And why did you wake her, Hattie? I just finished tellin’ her father to leave her until she woke up on her own, now you go and bother her.”

“
Miz Charlotte, Ah din’ wakes her. Ah heerd her movin’ ‘round in der, sos Ah peeked in an’ sho nuff, der she wuz,” Hattie kissed a loud smack on the side of Jessie’s face, “jes’ waitin’ fer ole Hattie ter come gits her.”

“
Then I guess it’s time for everybody to get up and see what old Saint Nick left for them,” Charlotte laughed, flinging back the covers and snatching up her robe from off the foot of the bed.

“
Wait, Charlotte! I want to light the candles on the tree before you bring Jessie in.” Eathen scooted past her.

“
She sho gwing ter bes surprised w’en she sees all dem presents unner de tree.”

“
There was a lot more I wanted to get for her, but I think she’ll be all right with what little she did get. After all, like you pointed out,” Charlotte finished tying the robe around her waist, “she won’t know the difference.”

At the sight meeting her eyes, Charlotte drew in her breath. Where there had been but a few presents stacked beneath the tree the night before, she now saw everything from rocking horses to doll houses, complete with enough dolls to keep even the most fussy child happy.

“
Looks like ole Santa thinks the Thorntons have the best little girl in the whole world.” Eathen helped the toddling baby onto the nearest rocking horse.

“
My god, Eathen!” Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief, “what did you do, buy every toy in the store?”

“
Of course not. I had to leave some for our neighbors. Hey,” he cried, diverting her attention away from him, “she ain’t the only one who got presents. I think you’ll find yours and Hattie’s names on a lotta them packages too.”

“
Doan bes scoldin’ him no mo’, Miz Charlotte, jes see whut der is fer us.” Hattie settled her large bulk into a chair nearest the tree.

Throwing up her hands, Charlotte plopped down into the chair next to Hattie, focusing her attention on the large decorated pine trimmed with mauve-colored ribbons and her prized glass-blown Christmas bulbs Eathen had ordered for her from Vienna, Austria some years back. The subtle movement of Jessie’s rocking shook the heavy boughs, setting the colored glass bulbs into motion. As they twirled, each caught the soft light from the flickering candles. She was so moved by their beauty, she felt some of her anger at Eathen fade. Charlotte lifted a large and lovely package to her lap, viewing the name printed in bold letters on the small tag.

“
This one’s for you, Hattie.” She handed the wide-eyed woman her gift.

“
It bes awmos’ ter pretty ter opens, Miz Charlotte. But ah’ll force mahseff,” she laughed, ripping the beautiful paper away. Lifting away the lid, she peered inside and drew in her breath. “Mist’ Eathen, Ah doan b’lieve mah eyes!” She withdrew a delicately-crocheted red shawl.

“
I’m glad you like it, Hattie,” he told her, watching Charlotte as she peeled away the tape from each side of a brightly ribboned gift.

“
I never saw anyone open a present as slow as you, Charlotte. You got to be the most patient person in the world.”

“
Dat be de truth.” Hattie wrapped her new shawl around her shoulders, running her hands over its softness. “Ah kain tear mine open fas’ nuff.”

“
Me neither, Hattie. Soon as I have Jessie all settled with her toys ‘round her, I’m gonna come see what old Fat Boy left for me under that tree.”

“
Ah doan know whut ole Santy lef’ fer you, but der be two unner der frum me.”

“
Eathen,” Charlotte spoke up. “Where in the world did you find this?”

“
I didn’t find it anywhere, Charlotte.” He moved over beside her. “I had it made for you.” He watched as she ran her hands over the small box. “Do you like it?”

“
It’s beautiful,” she whispered, staring at the small carved ranch house surrounded by lawn that had been placed inside a thick glass ball.

“
If you look close, you’ll see it’s just like our ranch. Now turn it over. See, it sprinkles snow. And on the very bottom, there’s a little knob with which to wind it up.”

Within moments the tiny keys picked out the soft strains of a popular country song.

“
What a beautiful idea, Eathen. And, how very thoughtful of you.”

Leaning down, he placed a light kiss on the side of her neck. “Do you forgive me for all the presents I got for Jessie?”

“
I think you went a little overboard, but I guess this one time won’t hurt.”

“
We never went all out for Christmas before, Charlotte. Oh, we each gave presents and had a nice dinner and decorated the house.” His eyes skimmed over the lit tapers, placed one on each side of an old fashioned sleigh and reindeer as they skimmed over the cotton-made snow on the mantel. And higher up, the large wreath with pine cones and holly berries, wrapped with ribbon and sticks of cinnamon, hanging on the gray-stone chimney. The sight never failed to give him a feeling of warmth. His blue eyes lingered on the little girl who continued to rock back and forth. “Now that Jessie’s arrived, everything’s changed.”Getting to his feet, he kept one hand on Charlotte’s shoulder. “I couldn’t wait for mornin’ to get here so we could show her everything she had waitin’ for her under the tree.” His voice rose with excitement. “I even enjoyed buyin’ for you and Hattie.” Eathen grinned as she looked up at him. “Funny how havin’ a young’un in the house makes a person act so silly.”

“
Jessie’s changed this household a lot.” Charlotte smiled, as her daughter slid off the low-to-the-floor rocking horse to toddle over to another of her toys. “We waited a lotta years for her, Eathen. I guess we earned the right to enjoy her. But I am serious when I say I want her to grow up with values. If you lay everything at her feet, she’ll grow up believin’ the world’s hers for the askin’.”

“
When she gets older,” Eathen’s deep voice rang with conviction, “I’ll make sure she knows the difference. For now, we’ll blame it all on Santa. That way, she’ll grow up knowin’ she has to behave or, come Christmas, she won’t find anything under the tree for her.”

“
Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie handed him a present then returned to finish opening one of her own, “aws dat chile has ter says is, Ah wants, an’ you gits. An’ doan be foolin’ yo’seff dat she doan knows it needer.”

“
Hattie, Jessie’s only a baby. I think you’re givin’ her too much credit. Granted,” Eathen held up a hand as he saw Hattie cock her head sideways to stare at him, “she is my daughter, but even then she’s too little to know how to manipulate her daddy.”

“
You’re forgettin’ one important factor here, Eathen. Jessie may still be a baby, but she’s a female.” Charlotte laughed. “That makes all the difference.”

“
Since you put it that way, darlin’,” the lines at the corners of his eyes deepened, “I’ll have to admit, you could have a point, Hattie. And by the way, thanks for the shirt.” He placed the long-sleeved denim shirt back in the box to lay it aside. “I’ll make a promise right now, not to buy her anymore toys until Easter. How’s that?”

“
We’re gonna hold you to it, Eathen. And if you break your promise,” Charlotte gestured to Hattie with a hand filled with wrapping paper, “you have to buy us both a big expensive present.”

Eathen leaned in close. “We don’t have to wait until then. All you need to do is pack your bags and join me for a trip to Helena.” Eathen nuzzled her ear. “We’ll stay at the best hotel, have our meals sent up to our room, and finally take that honeymoon we never could afford when we were first married.”

In an attempt to quiet her pounding heart, Charlotte reached for another package. “I don’t think we need to go that far, Eathen. I’ll trust you to keep your word.” Glancing at Hattie, she said with a shaky laugh, “Come on, let’s get these presents open before Jessie falls asleep! We still need to get the turkey in the oven too, or the McKennahs’ll be here and gone before it’s done.”

Hattie nodded as she saw Eathen turn away to lift another log onto the fire.

“
I’m tryin’ to change, Charlotte.” He stood up, dusting his hands off on his jeans. “But you sure don’t make it easy on a man.” Eathen walked over to pick up his sleepy-eyed daughter.

Jessie yawned a contented yawn, then stuck a half-eaten candy cane back into her mouth, and Charlotte felt her heart soften towards the man she still loved. Without giving herself time to think about what she was going to say, she declared, “Eathen, perhaps, a trip to Helena would be all right. I’ve always wanted to go there.”

All the places he had dreamed about showing her, such as the biggest and best hotel in Helena, the one with the huge chandelier imported all the way from Europe that hung in the restaurant, the fine wines he could introduce her to and, best of all, a room all to themselves, without any interruptions, ran through his mind. His big face broadened into a wide smile as he walked back over to her. With Jessie held against his chest, he reached out and, with his free hand, pulled Charlotte up and into his arms. “Since everything I say here of late seems to come out wrong, I’ll just say thank you, Charlotte.”

“
You know, Eathen? This is the first time in all the years we’ve been married you actually thought about your words before you said them.” A little smile played at her mouth.

Returning her impish grin, he replied, “Now that I see the results, I’ll choke before I ever forget it!”

***

A steady cold December wind blew throughout the day, its chilling reach finding its way through the heaviest of winter wraps to remind even the most stalwart of travelers the dangers of its icy touch.

Repeated loud banging on the front door echoed throughout the big house.

“
Ah kain git mahseff hyah no faser!” Hattie wheezed, yanking open the heavy oak door.

“
Christ, woman!” Frank ran a gloved hand across the frozen mucus hanging from his bulbous nose and stiff mustache. “A body could freeze to death, ‘fore you got around to answerin’!” he growled, brushing past Hattie and leaving his wife and young son standing on the doorstep.

“
Come on in hyah wid dat chile, Miss Sarah,” Hattie ushered them into the house.

“
Thank you, Hattie. Its so cold out it hurts to breathe.”Sarah shivered, running gloved hands up and down her crossed arms.

“
Aw, quit your snivelin’ and get in here,” Frank told her, already divesting himself of his thick-lined coat. “Stomp the snow off them boots too, ‘fore you track everything up!”

“
Yes, Frank, we did.” She pulled her shivering son through the door.

“
Merry Christmas everyone!”Eathen greeted them, walking into the parlor.

“
That the best you can offer?”Frank turned from hanging up his coat. “After we come all the way over here in the cold?”

“
Ah gots coffee wahmin’ on de stove,” Hattie spoke up, ignoring Frank’s unsubtle hint.

“
Coffee!”Frank pulled his gloves from his hands, cramming them into his coat pocket. “I need somethin’ a lot stronger’n coffee to thaw out!”

“
Frank, dear, you promised you weren’t gonna drink til’ later,” Sarah plucked at his shirtsleeve.

“
Don’t start, woman,”Frank shrugged her hand away, his stomach tightening as he saw the way she cowered beneath his words, “or I’ll take your scrawny butt right back to the house.”

“
Yes, Frank,”she stooped to unbutton her son’s coat to pull it off his shoulders, “I’m sorry.”

“
Little Frank, get them boots off, then get over here and say hello to Mr. Thornton. At least act like you got some manners, even if you ain’t!”

The boy dropped to the floor, undoing the rubber boots to tug them from his feet. As his mother held out her hand, he grabbed it to pull himself up. He drew the side of his hand beneath his nose then wiped it on the pant leg of his jeans as he walked across the floor to hold out his hand. “M-m-merry Christmas, M-mister Thornton,” he stuttered, bowing his head.

“
Merry Christmas, son,” Eathen ruffled the boys’ mop of dark red hair.

“
Damn kid can’t talk for nothin’,”Frank growled, casting a disgusted look on the boy. “I don’t know why I let her talk me into draggin’ him along.”