Maid for Martin (34 page)

“Good morning.” Lillian glanced at her watch and sat down at the table, joining her two favorite men. “What’s wrong with these children? You and Addison would have dragged us out of bed before first light to see what Santa left under the tree.”

Martin shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe we kept them up too late, or maybe they’re just spoiled and don’t appreciate Christmas like we did.”

Ethan let out a grunt. “Spoiled and pampered is the problem. I saw the toys those kids got to open just last night. I bet you’d be hard-pressed to find something they don’t already have.”

“I hope you don’t spoil your children, Martin, just because you can.” Lillian began to stir cream and sugar into her coffee.

Martin looked up. “Children? I’m not even married.”

“Your mother is just thinking ahead. As far as I can see you need to pick a woman and stick with her for a while, before you start thinking about children.”

“Ethan,” Lillian admonished.

“I’m right.” Ethan took a sip of his coffee and glanced to his son.

“He’s right.” Lillian could see Martin's smile starting to form. Lillian leaned in and kept her voice low. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“Maybe. Hopefully. I think I have things ironed out. I’ve talked to Celia and Randi. Now, I just need to keep moving in the right direction. If I can make it through this weekend without something else going wrong, I think things will work out.”

Ethan nodded. “I suppose you know you put yourself in this mess, by moving in with Celia in the first place.” Lillian thought about telling her husband to stop preaching, but she didn’t. She had to agree on this one.

“I know you won’t agree, but I’m not sure I would have learned some of these things if I hadn’t moved in with Celia.”

“You’re right,” Ethan began. “I don’t agree. You could have learned anything about the woman by just sitting down with her over a cup of coffee and asking her some rather simple questions."

Martin shrugged. “I guess you’re right. I just assumed we were on the same page, with children, and other things. I’ll not make that mistake twice.”

“Let’s hope not,” Ethan added.

“You’re so full of advice after the fact.” Martin said, picking out a doughnut. “What now? How do I keep from messing things up with Randi?”

“Well, for one thing, you don’t move in with her. You take it slow, court her, treat her with respect like I did your mother while we were getting to know each other. This generation has no clue what it’s like to sit down and just have a good talk. You need to ask the hard questions early on, so you don’t waste time, or lead people astray.”

“Ouch,” Martin said.

“He’s right.” Lillian took a sip of her coffee and then went on. “We dated for a year, steadily, before we even thought about getting married. I knew everything there was to know about this man before I brought him home to meet your grandma and grandpa.”

“I don’t know nearly enough about Randi, but I want to know more. I hope that we can all go out to dinner before you head home. Any thoughts on when that might be? You guys can stay as long as you like.”

Ethan looked at Lillian, and she smiled. “We were just talking about that last night. We were planning on leaving just after the New Year, but with all of the issues around this party, I think I’d like to stay at least another week, and your father has agreed.”

“Really?” Martin laughed and leaned back, drinking his coffee. Lillian’s heart welled up inside. She really hated living so far from her son, and at that moment Martin was like a little boy again. She missed seeing Martin on a daily basis, and she had to think if she’d been closer, none of this Randi-Celia fiasco would have happened.

She hadn’t told Ethan she wanted to move to the states. She really hated to bring it up, because she was worried he would say no. But if she didn’t move she would miss so much. In the next few years Martin would get married and have children. Her grandchildren.

There was Addison, too. The girl was feeling unsettled, and though she’d not said a word about it, Lillian knew her last child was about to fly from the nest. What she didn’t know was where she might end up landing. If it was the states, that would only confirm Lillian’s need to move here also.

Lillian looked at Martin. He was laughing and talking about trains. She just couldn’t imagine the heartbreak of spending the rest of her life so far away from her firstborn and her first grandchild. Not seeing him or her, take those first steps, hearing the first Nana. She took a drink of her coffee and hoped that her husband couldn’t see what was in her eyes.

She had the excitement of another chapter in their life, mixed with the dread of missing so much of her children’s lives. For the first time in her life she was actually thinking about asking her husband if he would consider moving.

She knew her husband, and knew how deep-rooted he was in the neighborhood. There was their church, and his side of the family that they would be leaving behind.

Lillian set down her cup and looked at the two men before her. They were now idly chatting about who was going to help put the toys together that were waiting under the tree.

She had an idea that her husband would say no to moving, at first, but when there were grandchildren coming into play he might think differently.

*****

Going to work and leaving Lester sitting on the couch watching TV wasn’t the easiest thing for Emma to do. She kissed him on the cheek and glanced at the set. “I promise I won’t work on Christmas day next year.”

“I don’t know, for what they’re paying you, just see if you can find me something to do there on the next holiday that rolls around. I’ll work and you can stay home.”

Emma laughed. “You don’t know your way around the kitchen.”

“I can cook.”

“Dear, I don’t think they want to eat fried bologna.”

“Maybe not. But you’re not cooking today either. I could do what you’re doing -- seat people and ask them if they want something else."

Emma shrugged. “You’re right, today we’re not cooking, we’re just serving. Still, you say you’d go, but what if you had to miss one of your precious football games or tennis matches?”

“What? You mean people work while sports are on?” Lester gave her a smile and took a drink of coffee. “I’m only kidding. A few days working these holidays and we could buy a new television. I’d miss a few games to have a jumbo screen.”

Emma nodded. “I bet you would.” She rose and turned when Lester spoke again.

“I’m not kidding, the next time they need a handyman around, let me know. I can fix busted pipes, little repairs around the house.”

“I will, but they have some guys they use for that. If one of them is sick at some point or can’t come in, I’ll keep you in mind.” Lester leaned back and smiled.

“You do that, and before you know it we’ll be kicked back watching a fifty-seven-inch monster.”

Emma gave a quick wave and walked out the front door and to her car before Lester came up with more ways to spend her holiday cash.

She drove along, happy that there wasn’t much traffic as she listened to Christmas tunes on the radio. She was in a good mood and couldn’t wait to get this day behind her so she could go see the grandkids.

She had no idea what awaited her as she pulled into the driveway of the Taylor mansion. She threw up a few prayers and stepped out of the car, walking inside, ready for just about anything.

Much to her shock, she learned after talking to Ann and Randi that everything was fine. According to Ann, the children had all opened their gifts, the mess was cleaned up, and everyone was getting dressed for dinner.

Randi let her know the caterers would step through the door at any minute, and once the meal was on the table Randi would slip away to have dinner with her folks.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to stay around? I don’t want to leave you in a pinch.” Randi was setting out the silverware, wrapping it in napkins. She glanced up and Emma laughed.

“Yesterday I had to all but beg you to stay. I assume something has changed, something that would cause you to want to hang around a bit longer.”

“Kind of. I wasn’t going to bring it up. You never know who might be listening.”

“True.” Emma placed all of the silverware on a tray and waited for Randi to finish with the children’s silverware and napkins. “Not even a hint? You can speak in riddles. I’m pretty smart.”

Randi laughed and kept working on the silverware as she talked. “Well, it’s kind of like getting a new pair of shoes for Christmas. You kind of hate to just toss the other pair out to the street.”

“I understand. Do the old shoes know yet?”

“You’re not as good at this as you said?” Randi laughed laying some extra napkins on the tray. “And yes, he’s talked to her, and I trust him to do the right thing.”

Emma nodded and picked up the tray. “Well, are you going to try on these new shoes?”

Randi bit lightly on her bottom lip and then smiled. “Yes. I think they just might fit.”

“Oh, did someone get new shoes for Christmas?” Ann asked as she came into the room. “By the way, I think the caterers are here.”

“Good, I’ll go out and meet them. Randi, place these on the table for me.” Emma turned to go toward the door.

“Who got new shoes?” Ann asked, following Emma out the door. Emma laughed as she pushed the button that opened the garage door. The door slowly began to rise.

“Randi got the new shoes.”

“What kind?” Ann asked, walking out to the catering van with Emma. “I got some great-looking tennis shoes, but mom never buys me name brand.”

“Oh, the ones Randi got are top of the line,” Emma laughed, and took one of the lighter trays from the van. “Grab a tray and come on. We have plenty of work to do.”

Chapter 60

Man to Man

Since Lillian had offered to help the ladies in the kitchen and Addison was off somewhere with Raffaello, Ethan had some time to kill. He moved to his stack of gifts, grabbed his box of Macanudos, and walked out on the veranda to try one out.

He was as dressed as he was going to be for dinner, dark slacks and a white shirt. Very few times in his life had he sported a tie, and now was not going to be one of those times. Dressing up was for special occasions, such as a wedding or a wake. The others could do as they wished. He enjoyed being comfortable.

It was close to noon, so it was a bit warm out, but he didn’t mind the outside heat, or breaking a good sweat. Ethan was no stranger to hard work, dirt, or a long day’s work. He’d been a working man all of his life, and when he retired at age sixty he really didn’t slow down that much.

Ethan loved staying busy and helping around the neighborhood. He didn’t do as much heavy lifting as he used to, but he didn’t mind helping when there was a need. He’d been a carpenter all of his life, and considered it a hard-working honest profession. He also loved the smell of lumber, and it was a way to kill some of the long hours in the day.

Lillian stayed busy too. She’d never had a full- time job and that had suited him. He wouldn’t have minded if she’d wanted to work, but she preferred staying at home and running the household while he . . . as the Americans said . . . 'brought home the bacon'.

Laughing at his own play on words, Ethan cut off the end of the cigar, discarded it in a nearby trashcan, and lit up. He took a few puffs and glanced at the box of cigars. He was sure his gift alone had cost Martin more than it should have.

Ethan didn’t smoke regularly but he did enjoy a fine cigar now and then. He took a few steps and heard a door open and close. He turned to find Martin coming out to join him. Martin too was not a tie kind of person, and he was wearing tan slacks and a dark maroon shirt.

His hands were also stuffed into his pockets, a sign that he was a bit on the nervous side. Martin walked over, looked out over the yard, and spoke. “I thought you might like those. Did you see the look mom gave me when you opened them?”

Ethan laughed. “Yes, and that’s why I’m out here, while she’s busy helping with the food.”

Martin laughed and rocked back on his heels once, another sign that he wasn’t feeling at ease. Even though he’d not been around his son on a regular basis over the last couple of years, he could still read him like a book. “Are you worried I’m going to give you a lecture?”

“Aren’t you?”

“I could, and you might even need it, but I think you’ve learned your lesson. If you haven’t, I’d be more than happy to—”

“No, that’s just fine.” Martin interrupted as he moved to lean against one of the concrete pillars. “You’re right. I’ve learned a lot on this one. That’s for certain.”

“I would hope so. And I also hope you’re not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Do you really know that much about this young woman? Do you think she’s honest in telling you that she had no idea who you were?”

Martin shrugged. “I have to admit the thought did cross my mind. I’m normally a pretty good judge of character, so I’d have to say I just don’t think it’s in her to be that conniving or to lie, as far as that goes.”

“You can miss things, though. You were wrong about Celia.”