Page 19 of Even More Christmas Magic and Romance (Holiday Hiccups #3)

Nineteen

I WOKE UP the next morning feeling refreshed.

I stretched and put a hand on Stanley’s side of the bed.

Since it was Saturday, I hoped he’d sleep in, but the sheets were cold.

He likes to act like he isn’t worried about his parents, that he believes they’ll work things out.

However, at night, he’s been tossing and turning more than usual.

I don’t say much because I believe in him.

I have faith that Stanley will get through these trying times and come out the other side stronger than ever.

I glanced around the bedroom and immediately felt my mood lift when I saw my dresser.

It was the perfect place for a set of vintage, ceramic figurines, a tiny Santa and Mrs. Claus.

They were gifts I received as a child. An aunt sent them to me, along with a little deer that has a Christmas wreath around its neck.

Looking at the rosy-cheeked, happy faces of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, I remembered how much the holiday season meant to me.

I thought about my family, and the presents I wanted to give them.

It was time to go Christmas shopping, to find something special for each of my loved ones. Since we all decided not to buy anything expensive for each other, I had a challenge in front of me. I had to find the perfect Christmas keepsakes, and they had to be cheap. But I was up for a treasure hunt.

As I attempted to get out of bed and found I was slower than normal, I was reminded of our baby.

The holiday season was a time to dream about our child and what it would be like to be a family of three.

I had a smile on my face when I went downstairs.

I was definitely letting a festive vibe take over my feelings.

I found Stanley in the kitchen, sitting at the table, sipping coffee. He looked up as soon as I came into the room.

“I thought I heard the stair squeak,” he said as he got up and kissed me.

I laughed. “That darn squeak! I wanted to surprise you.”

“Surprise? Really?”

“Well, maybe it’s not a surprise, just an idea I had.

I thought we could go browsing in those quaint shops in the older part of town.

I want to find little gifts for everyone.

” I put my arms around Stanley and pulled him as close as possible.

“Afterwards, we could lunch at that little French café. Doesn’t that sound romantic? ”

Stanley hesitated. “It sounds great, but maybe we could do it another time. My mom called early this morning and asked if I could meet with her and my dad. I think she wants me to be there when she has another talk with him.”

I blinked back. The Bickerman situation had raised its unhappy head once again. I scrambled to hide my disappointment. I had to say something to Stanley and fast. “Of course, I understand,” I said. When I heard myself, I knew my voice was completely lacking in sincerity.

“Glory, I can tell how much you were counting on this outing. So I could call my mom back and—”

My hand shot up in protest, and I pulled away. I had to dig deep and act like an adult. I was going to have a baby depending on me soon. I had to support that baby’s father. “No, your mom needs you. Besides, I just had another idea. I’ll call my dad and invite him to go shopping.”

“Are you sure? You’re okay with switching plans?”

I threw my shoulders back, getting into my mature role.

“One hundred percent sure,” I insisted. As soon as the words were spoken, I felt a little kick from the baby.

It made me wonder. Did my unborn child know when I was making things up?

Of course not. Baby is simply reminding me to stay relaxed no matter what.

I reached up and gave Stanley’s cheek a kiss. “Let’s both have a wonderful day.”

While Stanley started breakfast, I called my dad. He said he’d be happy to go shopping with me. He still had a number of presents to buy. However, later that afternoon, he’d promised to go to Mitzi and Jack’s house. He was going to babysit little Jackie.

By ten-o-clock, I was showered, dressed and sitting in Dad’s car. I inhaled deeply, enjoying his cologne. Its woody, spicy fragrance helped me get back into a holiday, shopping mode.

As we got on our way, Dad glanced over at me. “How’s Stanley?”

“He’s fine. He’s meeting with his parents.” Even as I said it, I couldn’t help but feel the holiday season could be spoiled. The Bickermans and their unhappiness could ripple through our family and wreck the festive season I loved.

Dad glanced over at me again. “Glory, you have a very expressive face,” he said.

“I do?” I flipped the visor down and looked at myself in the mirror. “Oh great, I look almost as unhappy as I feel.”

“It’s alright,” Dad said in a firm, assertive tone. “It’s better if your feelings are expressed than hidden away.”

“But I don’t want to feel this way,” I argued back. “You and I are going Christmas shopping. I want to be excited about our time together.”

We were still in my neighborhood, and Dad pulled the car over to the curb and parked. I didn’t comment. I stared down at my big belly and avoided Dad’s eyes.

“I think you’re upset about Stanley’s parents,” he said.

I looked up and glared back. “If I am, is it wrong to want them to be happy? Is it too much to ask that they put aside their problems and enjoy the holidays?”

“Maybe the holidays are a time when people want exactly what you want, but it’s also a time when problems come up to be explored,” Dad said.

“For many folks, it’s the time of the year when the problems finally get so painful, we can’t just stuff them away.

But maybe that’s the part of the holiday season we ignore. ”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Gloria, what is it that you love about the holiday season?”

I knew the answer in an instant. “What I love most of all is getting together with family. Summer barbecues are great, but there’s a coziness about the holidays, a feeling of celebration. What about you, Dad? What do you like about this time of year?”

“I agree with your idea of family togetherness. It might also be the reason the Bickermans are having their difficulties right now. They have family around them. Last night both Stan and Barbara were in a place where they could safely express their feelings.”

I knew Dad was right as soon as I had a flashback of my past behavior. “When I’ve had meltdowns during the past two holiday seasons, I wasn’t alone with my feelings. You and Mom and Stanley were all there for me.”

“Yes, and family doesn’t just mean people who are related. Family can include people you feel comfortable with whether they’re related or not.”

“Like Stanley,” I chirped. “He was a stranger at first, and yet he was just the person I needed during my identity crisis.”

Dad gave me a knowing look. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, but like you said, Stanley was there. And look how happy you two are.”

“I was so lost during that time. I never expected something good to come out of it all. What a surprise it was when Stanley and I fell in love.”

Dad shrugged. “When your Mom helped me with learning to cook, I could tell how happy she was. After years of us growing apart and seeing her just going through the motions when she was with me, I was grateful to see her change and find a life she loves.”

“But aren’t you jealous? I think you still love her.”

“Love her? I do, but I guess we have separate paths.”

I let out a breath I’d been holding. “It’s strange, but after talking about it, the holidays sound bigger somehow. And if you’re right, it’s a time of the year when there’s more room for all of our feelings, the happy and unhappy ones.”

Dad laughed. “And after the holidays, we get a new year to try out and practice what we learned.”

I sighed. “For me, after the holidays last year, I felt like I had let go of a lot of stuff.” I smiled at my dad. “And, best of all, I had you back in my life.”

“I feel the same way,” Dad said with a warm, affirmative tone in his voice. “Now, is it time to shop and buy some presents?”

I nodded and let myself anticipate finding some treasures on our shopping trip.

By the time we arrived and parked in the part of town that’s mostly picturesque, little shops, I was back in touch with my animated kid-self again.

That meant looking through shop windows and admiring the assortment of colorful decorations.

One window had lights all around the edges and a snowy backdrop.

A beautiful, Christmas tree with lots of tinsel, white lights and wooden ornaments sat in the middle of a miniature train display.

The tree’s ornaments included rocking horses, jolly Santas, elves holding candy canes, bells, and tiny Christmas trees.

I grabbed Dad’s arm. “We have to go in here. I see so many gift possibilities.”

Dad stared at the old-fashioned train engine. It pulled a half dozen passenger cars as it went round and round on a track. “What do you think? Is little Jackie too young for a train set?”

I gave his arm a tug. “Maybe so, but in a few years—”

Dad nodded. “I’ll check with Mitzi and Jack and ask them what they have in mind for a present.”

I patted my belly. “I don’t care if I have a boy or a girl, but I do know that my child will have a wonderful granddad.”

Dad frowned back. “Do you really mean that? I should have been there for my own kids more of the time.”

“I thought we got that all settled. It was a different time, and you did what you thought best for your family. So did Mom.”

Dad continued to stare at the shop window. “Anyway, I’m glad we have this time together.”

“Then let’s not spoil it by thinking about the past.”

Dad turned to me and frowned. “Glory, you can be so wise. You’re going to be a great mother.”

I hoped he was right. “Will you babysit for our baby too?”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve already learned a lot about babies after being with little Jackie.”

“From what I can tell, Mitzi is a great mom.”

Dad leaned in. “Actually, Jack was the steady one when they had the baby. He said Mitzi was very nervous at first.”

I squinted back at him. “My brother Jack? How would he know anything about taking care of a baby?”

“He took some baby care classes for fathers.”

I had a moment of confusion. I still thought of Jack as my little brother. In truth, he’s six-foot-two inches tall and a very competent lawyer. “I wonder why Jack never said anything about taking classes to me.”

Dad looked away. “I can’t answer that because I don’t know.”

“Geez, maybe he could have said something to Stanley.”

Dad immediately stared down at me. “Glory, are you afraid Stanley isn’t prepared to be a father?”

His question made me aware of how easily I go into worry mode.

It wasn’t a habit I wanted to pass on to my child.

“Please, forget I said that. Stanley has been very interested in being a part of baby care.” I looked at the shop window again and the many twinkling lights.

Everything was so festive and yet I was getting sidetracked by stressful thoughts.

“Dad, why do I worry about everything? Did I inherit a worry gene?”

“Gloria, there have been many times when I’ve seen you happy. So maybe it’s a combination of things that have you more worried right now.”

“That’s true. For one thing, I keep hoping I don't mess up being a mom.”

“Just remember, you won’t be alone. You have Stanley and a family who are always going to be there for you.” Dad laughed. “And you have a brother who has a lot of hands on experience with a baby.”

I giggled. “So you’re saying I can call Jack at two in the morning if I’m unsure of what to do?”

Dad hugged my shoulder. “Absolutely! Now let’s go inside this shop. You said you wanted some little gifts for people and those display ornaments look like they might fill the bill.”

When we returned to Dad’s car, I was content with my morning adventure.

I not only bought some wonderful ornaments, I purchased some little wooden Christmas figures.

I hoped they might be keepsakes for family members.

I particularly liked a tiny sled full of presents, a smiling drummer boy, a rocking horse and a deer with little antlers.

By one o’clock, we were sitting at a table in a French café. Like the little shops we’d been visiting, the eatery was beautifully decorated with swags of glitter and greenery around the ceiling, a corner Christmas tree with golden ornaments and pinecones, and vintage lanterns on each table.

Dad and I both ordered a fresh salad, followed by the café’s specialty, Quiche Lorraine.

For dessert, I indulged my sweet tooth with a special eggnog crème br?lée.

I savored every bite of the rich custard.

Christmas sprinkles made the crisp caramel top layer extra special.

Dad decided on the mille-feuille. The flaky puff pastry and pastry cream looked so delicious, I had to have a bite.

We left the café feeling satisfied and content. I was grateful for my time with Dad. He’s so much wiser now than he seemed to be when I was growing up.