The Christmas House (15 page)

     The grandfather clock in the dining room chimed seven times.

    
The doorbell rang. David ran up the stairs from the basement and flung open the door.

    
“Jack and Wanda are here!” he said with a noticeable level of excitement in his voice. He ran to the front door and opened it.

    
“Happy Thanksgiving Carters!” shouted Jack and Wanda.

    
“Hi Uncle Jack and Auntie Wanda!
What’s that stuff?” David asked looking at a bottle that Jack held in one hand.

    
“It’s nectar of the Gods to be poured into tall stem glasses. It allows us adults to raise our glasses in thanks for another year,” Jack replied as he handed the bottle of champagne to David.

     “What about me?” asked
David.

     “Well darlin, you can have the tall stemmed glass too, but yours will be filled with milk,” Wanda said as she took off her winter coat and hung it in the front closet.

    
“Kewl!
I get to drink milk out of a fancy glass!” David said.

     Michael and Arianna walked in from the kitchen and greeted Jack and Wanda.

    
“Happy Thanksgiving!”
Arianna said.

     “In the ten years that we have lived here, I have never seen the outside of this
house decorated so beautifully. It’s magnificent.
Crowds of people just stop and stare.
You guys did a great job,” said Wanda.

    
“Michael and David did most of the work. I just can’t believe how different the house looks, with and without the decorations,” Arianna responded.

    
“This house looks great. I haven’t been inside to see what you have done to the interior since the end of September. What a transformation!” Jack said.

    
“Well, it was a long and hard struggle, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The only rooms left to remodel are two of the spare bedrooms upstairs and the basement,” Michael replied.

    
“You should be very proud Michael. This house never looked this good. I am so happy for the both of you,” Wanda said.

    
“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of Miss Martha Kennedy,” Arianna replied.

     Michael came into the room from the kitchen with some drinks.

    
“Hear, Hear." "Let us raise our glasses in the first of many a toast to Martha Kennedy.”

    
They all took their drinks and clinked their glasses together and said, “Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless Martha Kennedy, may she rest in peace.”

     From a distant they heard a baby’s laugh.

   
“I hear my little sweetie. Where is she, in her playpen?” Wanda asked.

    
“Yes, I think David is playing with her. He adores her so much,” Arianna replied.

     “Well Mike, how about the grand tour?” asked Jack.

    
“Walk this way,” Michael replied as he started to walk bent over and dragged his left foot behind him. Jack imitated Michael’s posture. Wanda smacked Jack in the back of head and he yelled, “Ouch!”

     As Michael and the Stevens walked through the house, Jack and Wanda commented on every room. Although they saw the renovation at certain stages, this
was the first time they had seen each room completely finished. Wanda was very excited about the new kitchen that now boasted new appliances, cabinets, counter tops and indirect lighting that gave the room a special mood. Jack was totally impressed with the family room where a large entertainment center featuring a large screen television was
a football fans dream come
true. When tearing out the walls of the living room and master bedroom, Michael uncovered that wood-burning fireplaces in both rooms had been built over for some reason. He contracted a stone mason from work to rebuild the fireplace mantles.

The master bedroom was without a doubt the most noticeable transformation. Michael knocked out the walls on both sides of the bedroom which enlarged the once 14’ x 17’ foot room to 33’ x 17’. He used part of the space to create a private master bath with a large tub, separate shower and a two basin marble vanity. The other bathroom, that was down the hall had also been completely remodeled, and was now designated as the "kids” bathroom. The house truly had been transformed into a Better Homes and Gardens feature home.

     As the tour of the house came back to the dining room where it started, Arianna was setting casserole dishes of stuffing, potatoes, beans, yams and corn on the dining room table. Jack and Wanda took their seats as Michael brought Nicole in from the family room and strapped her into her high chair. David was still missing.

    
“David, dinner is ready!” Michael shouted.

     David came running down the stairs from his room, which like the rest of the house had been totally redone. David’s dream of having two rooms was a reality although his second room was not fully renovated as of yet. Even with the combination of three rooms into one for the master bedroom, the house still boasted 5 bedrooms.

     “Wow, look at all this food!” David proclaimed as he entered the dining room and took his seat.

    
“Looks like there is enough food here to feed an army!
Do you need any help Arianna?” Wanda asked.

     As Arianna walked into the dining room with a large 27-pound turkey she replied, “Nope, this is the last of it, but I will accept that offer if it’s made again at the end of the meal when it’s time to clean up.”

     “My pleasure,” responded Wanda.

    
The dining room table was perfectly set with white china and gold plated utensils.
Maroon colored candles in gold candleholders and a flower arrangement of rustic holiday hues accented the table properly. The turkey was a golden brown and as the steam rose from it, Michael stood.

    
“Let’s say a little prayer.”

    
“God, thank you for the blessings on this house and the friends among us, Amen.”
Michael said.

     “Now, a toast,” Arianna said as she stood as well.

     “For all of the good fortune that has found us this last year. For new friends and a new daughter we give thanks. For a son that has become a great little helper and for a husband that I love with all of my heart, I give thanks,” she said.

     Michael leaned forward and kissed her softly. As he turned back toward the table, he picked up a carving knife and fork and asked, “Who wants white meat?”

      As they started to eat, Wanda commented, “Hmm, this turkey is as tender as any vittles I have ever had.”

     “And these yams are really great. I love the miniature marshmallows on them,” Jack said.

     “We’re glad that the both of you could join us for this holiday. Thanks for being great neighbors,” Michael said.

    
“Our pleasure Mike.
Besides, you fixing up this old house
has
increased the value of my house by at least 25%,” Jack replied.

     “Jack! What a thing to say!” exclaimed Wanda.

     “It’s okay Wanda, actually Jack is right,” replied Michael.

    
“It’s the least we could do to repay you for the generosity you have given to us over the last few months. You are welcome here anytime. I hope you realize that.”

     Jack put down his fork.

    
“Well we would like to make an invitation to you as well. Since you have been so busy with this house and the new baby, you didn’t have a chance to take a vacation
this year. Every few years Wanda and I spend Christmas in Florida. We are going there this year and we would like for your entire family to join us. My treat,” he said.

     “Jack, are you serious?” asked Arianna as she passed the potatoes to Wanda.

     “You bet I am. We have a home that we rent down in the Flagler Beach area. It’s as large as this house and has more than enough room for all of us. The weather is really nice down there in December and it’s right on the ocean. It’s also only an hour away from some of the largest amusement parks in the world. What do you think about that David?” Jack asked.

     David was kind of quiet and didn’t respond.

     “David, Mr. Stevens asked you a question,” said Michael.

     “We wouldn’t be here for Santa Claus?” David asked.

     “Santa will find us in Florida David,” Jack replied.

     Arianna also seems somewhat concerned. “I don’t know Jack, I just started my new job and we are finally back on our feet financially. How long would we be gone?” she asked.

     “We would leave Christmas Eve at around 4:00 p.m. and return January 2nd at around noon,” Jack said.

     Arianna replied, “Wow, that’s a long time. We’d be there for both Christmas and New Years.”

     Michael said, “Hon, we don’t have any family to be with during the holidays. You know how we both get around this time of the year. Maybe it would better if we got away for a while. God knows, we could use the rest.”

    
“I don’t know Michael,
it’s
out first Christmas in this house as well as Nicole’s first Christmas too. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the offer Jack, it’s very generous of you to ask us to join you, but I think we better stay home this first year,” Arianna replied.

     David spoke up, “I think we should stay home too. I don’t think Santa will find us in Florida.”

     Michael laughed and continued to state his reasons for wanting to go.

    
“I just think it would be nice to
lay
out on the beach and get some sun instead of shoveling snow. If we stay here, I will just work.”

     Arianna thought for a minute.

    
“Well I’ll have to see if I can get off of work. Maybe we could go for a few days but I would like to ring in the New Year back here at home,” she said.

    
“That’s not a problem. How about you fly down with us on Christmas Eve and come back on the 30th? That will give you 6 days and you will still be back in time for New Years.” Jack said.

     Arianna responded, “That sounds okay with me. I know Michael needs to get away from the non-stop schedule he has been keeping for the last 6 months. I guess we do deserve a vacation.”

     “And it won’t cost you a penny. The entire trip is on us. Your money is no good with me, understand?” Jack said.

     Michael replied, “Our money is never any good with you Jack. How much do I owe you anyway? You know I do have some money now. I can pay you back.”

     “Mike, you would be paying me back in full if you would join us down in Florida. You two have become our best friends. I would really like to be able to spend some quality time with you that doesn’t involve hammering or sawing. How about golf? Wow, something fun to do. What a concept!” Jack replied.

    
Over the next few hours, the dinner continued with basic conversation in reference to the house, work and kids.

     The grandfather clock chimed eleven times. Jack and Wanda took note of the time and started to say their good-byes.

     As they grabbed their coats from the front closet and departed through the front door, Jack said, “Thanks again for having us over. It was great. I will get back to you later this week with the itinerary for the Florida trip. If there aren’t any changes, let me know so I can make the plane reservations.”

     
“That’ll be great Jack. Talk to you later this week. Night Wanda,” Michael replied.

     “Good night you all, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite,” Wanda replied as she walked down the front walkway.

    
Michael closed the front door and returned to the dining room to help Arianna clean up the mess that was left behind. She had already cleared most of the table and was in the kitchen washing dishes. Michael picked up coffee cups and glasses from the dining room table and brought them to the kitchen near the sink.

     “You really want to go to Florida don’t you?” Arianna asked Michael.

     “I think it would be good for all of us. I know David is concerned about missing Santa Claus, but let’s face it he is going to find out pretty soon that Santa doesn’t exist. I was surprised he still believed in ghosts last month on Halloween. I think I was around his age when I finally realized that life’s little fantasies are just that,” Michael replied.

     “A little cynical aren’t we Michael?” Arianna replied.

     “Not cynical, just realistic. You of all people should know that. You lost your folks when you were only 12. As you have said on numerous occasions, that type of situation will really make you grow up fast.”

     “Grow up yes, but I never stopped believing in fantasies and dreams. Sometimes I still believe in Santa Claus.
Maybe not as the jolly fat man that is portrayed in the legend, but as a special spirit that looks over us and brings us intangible gifts.
Not jewelry or clothes; but patience, love, understanding and hope,” Arianna concluded.