Page 8 of Once Upon a Christmas Carol

While Victor was creating a gorgeous green salad with colorful peppers and gorgonzola and a few other interesting ingredients, Carol set the dining room table. Finished but not satisfied that it was festive enough, Carol asked Maria if she could bring a few things down from the attic.

“You know, to decorate the tree.” She pushed up the sleeves of the heavy sweater Maria had lent her. For the first time today, she was almost too warm.

“Maybe you should change into something a bit more comfortable first,” Maria suggested. “Unless you’re planning to go out for some cross-country skiing tonight.”

Carol laughed. “No thanks, but that’s a good idea.

” On her way to the attic, she stopped by the guest room and changed into a plaid flannel shirt she’d borrowed.

Tucking it into her pants, she took a moment to bundle her thick hair into a ponytail, then trekked up to the attic, which—other than a spilled box of greens and lights—was impressively organized.

Not sure what to bring down, she boxed up the garlands and spilled decor.

Then, after taking everything to the living room, she returned to randomly select a couple more boxes and brought them down too.

Spotting some interesting items, she decided to give the dining room table a holiday flair. She knew Maria would like it. She was just lighting some candles amid some sparkly ornaments and faux greens when Victor appeared with two glasses of red wine. “One for Maria and for you, if you like.”

She reached for the goblet. “I like.”

“Great!” He handed it to her, then called into the living room. “Soup’s on, Maria.” Then he headed into the living room to help her from the chair. Once she was on her feet, he held out the wine like a carrot before a donkey. “The feast awaits, your highness.”

Maria just laughed, but the sparkle in her eyes suggested she was enjoying the attention. But her face really lit up when she came into the dining room. “Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed. “This is beautiful! Carol, did you put this together?”

Carol shrugged. “They’re your ornaments and candles and things.”

“Well, I’ve never arranged them like this. It’s so pretty.”

“And dinner is coming,” he said as he helped her to the head of the table.

“I really do feel like royalty,” she said, sitting down.

“Good.” Carol took the chair adjacent to her. “After your rough morning, you deserve a break.” She wrinkled her nose. “Just not a broken arm.”

Victor returned with the steaming lasagna and colorful salad, then went back to the kitchen for a couple more things.

When they were all finally seated, he lifted his glass in a toast. “Here’s to Maria getting better soon.

” Then he turned to Carol with a more serious expression.

“And here’s to Carol getting to her final destination in time for Christmas. ”

They all clinked glasses and then Maria bowed her head to ask a blessing and to express gratitude for her young friends helping her in a time of need.

She echoed Victor’s toast by praying that God get Carol safely to “where she needs to be for Christmas.” Interestingly, neither of them had mentioned the Bahamas . .. and more and more Carol wondered.

“For someone who despises Christmas as much as you do, you’re certainly being a good sport, Carol,” Maria said as Victor served the lasagna.

Victor actually dropped the serving spatula. “What? Carol hates Christmas?”

“Well, hate is a strong word.” Carol set her wineglass down with a thunk.

“I’m sorry, Carol.” Maria looked contrite. “I probably spoke out of turn.”

Carol shrugged self-consciously. “Well, it’s not something I usually advertise. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone before.”

“Not even your parents?” Maria asked.

“No, they wouldn’t understand.”

“But why?” Victor returned to serving lasagna. “How could anyone hate Christmas? I mean, I get that the holiday gets a little extreme with materialism and pressure and all that. But it’s Christmas.”

Carol wasn’t even sure how to answer.

“I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t have said anything,” Maria repeated.

“You see, Christmas is Carol’s birthday, and I think it wasn’t a particularly happy day for her growing up.

” She paused to fork her salad. “Her parents’ marriage was, well, a little rocky.

And besides that, this poor woman has been decorating houses for Christmas since Halloween. ”

Carol was surprised how well Maria could explain her feelings toward the holiday. Apparently she’d been listening better than Carol realized and was actually sympathetic.

“Well, I guess that makes sense.” Victor still appeared concerned. “And considering all that, you really are being a good sport, Carol. Stuck in Michigan with weather like this. It must be a real letdown compared to the Bahamas.”

She suppressed the urge to confess she had already rebooked her flight. She didn’t want to spoil this lovely meal. “It’s not such a letdown. I’m actually enjoying this unexpected visit with Aunt Maria,” she told him. “It was way overdue.”

“I agree. It was overdue.” Maria lifted her wineglass. “Here’s to enjoying what time we have while we have it, right?”

“Vivere il momento!” Victor exclaimed.

“Yes!” Maria nodded. “Live in the moment.”

“Salute!” Carol chimed in with one of the few Italian words she could remember, and they echoed her toast. As they ate, she realized she hadn’t had a meal this delicious in ages.

Maybe never. Despite her mom’s Italian heritage, she had never cooked anything like this.

And Carol had never really learned the art of cooking herself.

As a single woman, she usually stocked her freezer with microwaveable meals or got by on salad from a bag with a bit of protein on top. Nothing to brag about.

“This was so good,” she said after clearing her plate.

Victor reached for the lasagna pan. “More?”

“No thanks. I’m stuffed.” She sighed with contentment. “And I’m not exaggerating when I say this might be the best meal I’ve ever eaten.”

“Really?” He looked surprised. “It’s just lasagna and salad.”

“The lasagna was fabulous ... and the salad was amazing.”

“Well, thanks.” He grinned.

“Thank you,” she told him.

“Thank you both,” Maria said. “I wish I could offer you dessert.”

“If you don’t mind my imposition, I noticed you have some chocolate gelato in the freezer.” Victor was already gathering plates. “And I could make some espresso.” He paused by Maria. “If you still have your espresso maker.”

“I do. I keep it in that appliance cabinet,” she told him, pointing.

“Right. I’ll go throw something together.”

“Let me help.” Carol picked up the lasagna dish and salad bowl and followed him back to the kitchen.

Then, as he made espresso and dished out gelato, complete with some little shortbread cookies he found in a cupboard, she rinsed the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher.

She closed the appliance door just as Victor finished arranging an attractive dessert tray.

With arms crossed in front of her, she looked on as he set dainty spoons next to the Christmassy cocktail napkins he’d found in a drawer. “That looks very professional.”

“Too much?” His smile looked a little cheesy. “After all my years in the restaurant business, it’s hard to do anything halfway.”

She smiled. “I think it’s very nice.”

He picked up the tray, then paused to look at her. “Well, I thought since it’s your last—and only night here—why not make it special.”

She felt her brows arch. “How did you know I rebooked a flight for tomorrow?”

“I just figured.” His eyes darkened. “I’m sure Maria is disappointed.”

“I haven’t told her yet. I wanted to make this evening a happy one.”

He brightened. “Good for you.”

She held the swinging door open for him as they returned to the dining room. Maria beamed at both of them. “How lovely!”

The visit remained fun and friendly as they enjoyed dessert and espresso. When they were all finished, Carol insisted on cleaning up. “I might not be much of a cook, but I’m good on cleanup.”

“Okay,” Victor agreed. “I’ll escort Queen Maria back to her throne, then I can start bringing down some Christmas ornaments and things for the tree.”

As Carol took the tray of dishes to the kitchen, she heard Maria chatting merrily with Victor.

And even though Carol felt a little deceitful for keeping tomorrow’s travel plans to herself, it was worth it to hear the happiness in her aunt’s voice.

Besides, she rationalized as she put the last of the things in the dishwasher and turned it on, who knew what tomorrow would bring?

Perhaps the weather would trap her here longer—and really, would that be such a bad thing?

As she left the kitchen, she overheard Maria and Victor talking.

“So, are you still dating Victoria?” Maria asked.

“I guess you could say that.” Victor’s answer sounded a little evasive, but maybe he didn’t like Maria prying into his personal life. Carol paused in the dining room, still listening.

“You two have been dating for quite some time,” Maria persisted. “Any plans to make it permanent? Any diamond rings showing up for Christmas?”

“Oh, Maria.” Victor sounded a little exasperated. “You still hoping to marry me off?”

“You could do worse than Victoria.” Maria’s tone sounded slightly sarcastic.

“Really? I thought you never cared for her.”

“I said you could do worse,” Maria teased. “Not that you couldn’t do better.”

Victor just laughed, then inquired about a box of ornaments he’d seen upstairs, clearly changing the subject. “They’re interesting but look pretty old. Do you want me to bring them down?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. They were Don’s mother’s. We put them up while she was alive, but they never really fit in with the ones I like to use. Still, they’re probably vintage so I hate to get rid of them.”