CHAPTER 4 | Deck the Halls
CHAPTER 4
Deck the Halls
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“A re you sure we can’t help with decorations?” James asked Max, who balanced precariously on a ladder in the diner’s dining room.
Alice piped up next to her husband. “I mean, it’s kind of our thing.” She smirked, referencing Buckeye Falls’ fall festival and how they met.
Max chuckled, reaching out to clip a length of garland over the counter. “These are great, seriously. Evan dropped off some decorations from Beckett’s farm, so we’re all set.” He added one more tack to the wall before coming off the ladder. “You guys hungry?”
Alice nodded, patting her stomach. “Yes. Is my favorite waitress working today?”
“Only until the end of the week. When this place closes for renovations, I’m retiring,” Helen said, emerging from the kitchen with a tray of drinks. She was clad in her uniform, smirk firmly in place. “Have a seat, kids. I’ll be right with you.”
“What?” Alice’s jaw dropped as James helped her to a booth. Max followed them with a pair of menus. “Helen can’t retire. She just can’t.”
James patted his wife’s hand as he slid into his side of the booth. “Alice, I’m pretty sure it’s a free country.”
Max tapped on the front of the menu where the daily special was written. “I’m not about to tell you how old she is, but let’s just say it’s time.” Turning to Alice, he asked, “Ginger ale?”
“Yes, please. Although I might need something stronger to get over the shock.”
Helen appeared at the table, two ginger ales at the ready. “Oh calm down, kid. You knew the day was coming.” She slid their glasses across the table and put her hands on her hips. “I’m approximately three hundred years old, and eventually I’d like to put my feet up.”
“But no one takes care of us like you do, Helen,” Alice protested, swigging from her drink.
Helen leaned in and winked. “Don’t tell anyone, but there are these people called waitresses. Max can hire someone a third my age and you’ll get your meals before they’ve had a chance to cool.”
“Well, I’m still going to pout about it.” Alice stuck her tongue out and fell back in her seat. James covered his grin with his menu, intent on avoiding his wife’s mood.
“Pout all you want, kid. I’m looking forward to enjoying my golden years without being on my feet and using Icy Hot all the damned time.” Helen stretched her back and the sound of her bones popping echoed throughout the dining room. James couldn’t hide his grimace.
Alice slapped her menu closed and crossed her arms. “But who will take care of us when we’re here? No one knows how I like my eggs or how James like his...” She trailed off, the wind leaving her sails.
James lifted an eyebrow and suggested, “Steak?”
“Yes! How James likes his steaks.” Alice snapped her fingers triumphantly.
Helen muttered something under her breath and tucked her pencil behind her ear. “Over easy and medium rare.”
Alice pointed at the older woman, and said, “This is why we need you.”
Helen leaned in again, and whispered, “Just pretend you’re at any other restaurant the next time you’re back. I’m guessing most waitresses don’t memorize every patron’s order.”
“Exactly! That’s why we come here.” Alice slapped her hand on the tabletop.
“I thought you came here for the fabulous food and time with your bestie,” Mallory quipped from behind Helen. She was clad in winter gear, pair of braids spilling out from under her wool cap. Maybelle was tucked against her chest, her plump cheeks rosy from the cold.
The sound Alice emitted could have broken glass. Helen winced and backed away like she we being robbed. James shook his head, already attuned to his wife’s sound effects. “Mal!” Alice scrambled from the booth and pulled her friend into a hug, careful of the baby. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” she stage-whispered. “Is this her?”
Beckett joined them, weighed down with the carrier and diaper bag. “No, it’s a stunt baby we picked up for outings.”
Alice pointed at him and laughed. “Nice try. I can see her puff of red hair from here.”
At her friend’s words, Mallory frowned. “I think it’s getting darker every day.” She peeled off Maybelle’s tiny little beany, showing off a shock of strawberry blonde curls.
James stood, joining the group and leaning down to see little Maybelle. “She’s cuter than I remember.” He clapped Beckett on the shoulder. “Congratulations, she’s a doll.”
“Thanks, man.” The tips of Beckett’s ears turned red, but the loving smile he gave his wife and daughter could have melted the paint from the walls. The guy was a ball of love.
Before James could offer the other side of their booth to their friends, Alice shoved her coat and purse away and waved down Helen for a highchair. “Helen, we need you, please!”
The older woman came back with drinks for the young parents and a highchair for Maybelle. “Get this out of your system, kid. Most people don’t find you as charming as I do.” She poked the baby in her belly and sauntered off, leaving Beckett to set up a place for his daughter.
“So, how have things been?” James asked, tugging Alice into the booth so Mallory could sit. Excitement radiated from the two women, as they tittered on about everything and nothing.
Beckett, as well accustomed to Mallory and Alice’s hijinks, settled into his side of the booth and drank from his water before answering. “Short answer, fabulous. Slightly longer answer, exhausting, terrifying, and exciting.”
James rubbed his chin. “I can only imagine.”
Just as Beckett opened his mouth to say something, Maybelle spit up all over her blue snowflake onesie. “And this is why I packed four outfits for a two-hour sojourn.”
Alice grimaced, pointing to Maybelle as she waved her tiny arms in the air. “Is that normal?”
Mallory scoffed. “This is actually light. You should have seen the mess she made at Ev and CeCe’s place yesterday. They’ll be washing puke out of that blanket until their own babies arrive.”
James smiled sympathetically. “Sounds like we almost missed the Buckeye Falls Baby Boom,” he quipped.
“I wouldn’t say we missed it,” Alice retorted, winking at her husband.
Despite their love for their nieces, nephews and friends’ children, the only titles Alice and James were interested in were aunt, uncle, artist, writer, husband, and wife. The child-free discussion happened long before they got married, and Alice and James were happy with their choices. As much as their friends wanted children was as much as Alice and James wanted their careers and travel. Everyone was where they were supposed to be, and that was a comforting notion.
Twenty minutes later, their little fivesome munched on club sandwiches and Maybelle enjoyed her clean onesie that was covered in tiny reindeer. “Tell me about your show in Toronto, James.” Mallory shook a baby bottle like she was making martinis, deftly swapping Maybelle’s pacifier for her lunch.
“You didn’t even break eye contact,” Alice remarked, pulling a piece of bacon free from her sandwich and eating the whole strip in one bite.
“Mal’s a natural, not that I’m surprised.” Beckett kissed her cheek, then turned back to James. “The show went well?”
James wiped his mouth with his napkin, resting his hand on Alice’s knee. He squeezed it twice before answering. “It went really well. It was my first time doing a show with all statues, but it was a lot of fun.”
Mallory whirled her arms in the air, making a corkscrew motion. “Were these the pieces you guys showed us last year in your house? The ones that looked all swirly.”
James’s face cracked into a megawatt grin that made him popular on social media. Even middle age didn’t blunt his attractive face; something his agent and wife both loved. “Yes, the swirly ones. I still painted the wood once it was warped and set, but it was a departure from my normal paintings.”
“Addy said it was one of James’s most popular shows. He already has three requests for the new year.” Alice beamed at her husband, clearly sharing his agent’s enthusiasm.
When they’d gotten together, James was at a professional crossroads. He’d ended his first marriage, which was great for him personally and disastrous professionally. Alice had been his muse, inspiring him to create colorful paintings that sold faster than he could paint them. In their private moments, when he was in the studio working and she was curled up in her writing nook drafting ideas, James felt a peace like he’d never known before. Alice simultaneously made life chaotic and calm, and he’d never change a thing.
“How long are you in Buckeye Falls for this time?” Mallory asked, snaking a hand out to snatch Beckett’s last French fry.
Alice cocked her head, mentally scrolling through her calendar. “Through January, then it’s off to Chicago for a book signing and then to New York so James can meet with some gallery owners.”
Mallory laughed. “You guys keep getting busier and busier.”
“Yeah, I don’t know how you do it.” Beckett agreed, handing his wife a napkin for Maybelle’s latest spit-up. “We have a farm and a baby, and I can’t even remember what day it is. Throw in jetlag, and I’d be all thumbs.”
James nudged Alice and winked. “You get used to it. Fortunately, Alice is basically a human alarm clock.”
Helen appeared with two to-go boxes and the check. “Here’s a mixed box of Christmas cookies, courtesy of your sister-in-law,” she said to Mallory. “And here’s the check. I don’t care who pays, but I’ll take it up at the register.” She backed away from the table after patting Maybelle on the head.
James snatched the ticket and tucked it in his shirt pocket. “Hey,” Mallory protested. “We invaded your lunch, it’s the least we can do.”
“Save the money for a new outfit for Maybelle.” Before Beckett or Mallory could thank him, Maybelle produced a sound that would make any fifth grader snort with laughter as she filled her diaper.
“Holy crap.” Alice coughed into her fist. “Is she for real right now?”
Beckett’s head fell back as he laughed, his red hair falling off his face. “This is nothing. You should come by after strained pears day.”
Alice pinched her nose and shuddered. “Hard pass.”
Mallory made to get up, but Beckett put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m up, you stay and relax.”
“I won’t argue with that,” she said, pulling Beckett down for a quick peck before he disappeared into the restroom with Maybelle and her atomic diaper.
Sensing the girls wanted a few minutes alone, James pulled himself to standing and held up his cell. “I’m going to pay Helen and call Addy quick. She’s been texting about one of the pieces from Toronto.”
Alice mouthed I love you as he waved at Mallory.
Finally alone for a moment, the women leaned in and started giggling. “You guys seem really good,” Alice said, relieved that motherhood hadn’t changed one of her favorite couples.
Mallory flushed but nodded. “I was about to say the same thing about you and Mister Fancy Pants Artist. You’re still loving the traveling?”
Alice nibbled her bottom lip while she pondered her answer. “Yes, we both love the traveling. But I’m only now realizing how much I’ve missed.”
Mallory waved off her friend’s concern. “Alice, you’ve only been gone three months, and we were so busy I couldn’t have seen you as much as I wanted to anyway. Between getting the farm bakery ready and everything with Maybelle, it’s been go, go, go.”
“Okay, you’ve assuaged my guilt. Thanks, Mal.” Alice reached across the table and took her friend’s hands in hers. “She really is a gorgeous little doll.”
Mallory shimmied in her seat and beamed. “She really is. She has my nose for sure, and her eyes are definitely like Ev’s.”
Alice giggled. “Clearly she inherited her father’s hair. What a little carrot top.”
Mallory rolled her eyes. “Yes, okay, fine. She has Beckett’s hair. I wanted a little mini-me with boring brown hair, but I guess I’ll have a little red-headed princess.”
“Speaking for redheads everywhere, I’m offended.” Beckett appeared at the table, a sleeping Maybelle resting on his shoulder. “I’m going to take her out to the car and settle her in. You ladies take your time.”
“You’re the best, Beckett. Don’t listen to this person,” Alice teased, kicking Mallory under the table.
“Love you both!” Mallory singsonged as Beckett left with the baby and the box of cookies he’d taken without his wife noticing.
“Any chance you’re free for a little retail therapy this week? Not only do I need to do all my Christmas shopping, but I could stand for a new outfit.”
Mallory clapped. “Yes, dear Lord, yes!”
“When is good?”
Pulling her phone from her purse, Mallory scrolled through her calendar. “Tomorrow my parents are taking Maybelle to have a grandkids day, so I’m free all afternoon.”
“I’ll meet you at Frick and Frack at noon,” Alice said.
“It’s a date.”
Both women scooted out of the booth and hugged each other.
“It’s so good seeing you, Alice. I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you more,” Alice agreed. While she wasn’t short on friends, she didn’t have any friends like Mallory. Keeping their girl time on the schedule was important to Alice, and she looked forward to playing catch-up with all she missed.
On their way out, Max waved from the counter. “See you ladies on Christmas!”
“Looking forward to it,” Mallory said, as Alice quipped, “You couldn’t keep us away.”
Stepping out into the winter chill, Alice felt around for her scarf. “And I think I left everything in the car,” she groaned, her forgetful nature still in tack.
Before Mallory could reply, both of their cars pulled up to the curb. James lowered the window, tossing a hat and scarf at his wife. “Here we are. Can’t have you turning into a popsicle.”
“You guys are still too freaking cute,” Mallory said, pulling Alice in for one more hug. “See you tomorrow.”
Beckett lowered the driver’s side window and waved as Alice got into the car. James had already turned on the heated seats and was playing her favorite Christmas station. “Ready to go home and write for a bit? Addy gave me some ideas for the next show, and I’m eager to get working.”
Alice leaned across the car and kissed James, taking her time to savor the flavor of his cinnamon gum. “Take me home, husband.”
“Anything for you, wife.”