CHAPTER 9 | Visitors of Christmas Present
CHAPTER 9
Visitors of Christmas Present
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“I t’s snowing,” Ginny said, jaw on the floor at the kitchen window. “I can’t believe Mrs. Sanders was right.” She turned off the faucet, hung the damp wash rag on the sink, and pulled out the canister of dog food.
Zippy, recovered from his paw and stomach woes, was ready to eat. His legs tippy-tapped across the floor as Ginny scooped his kibble. When the bowl was full, she slid it over to the hound, chuckling when he didn’t dive right in. “Sorry, bud. We’re back to normal portions.” Zippy cocked his head, sniffed, then tucked into his breakfast.
Henry and Josie shuffled into the kitchen, matching sleepy expressions. “Merry Christmas,” Josie said as she poured two glasses of orange juice.
“Merry Christmas, you two.” Ginny hugged her children, savoring the closeness for a moment before pulling back.
Not much of a morning person, Henry flopped onto a stool and rubbed his eyes. “Merry Christmas.”
Giving a glass to her brother, Josie leaned against the counter. Her gaze snagged on the window, and she gasped. “It’s snowing. Mom, did you see?”
Ginny was caught off guard by her daughter’s childlike wonder. “I did. Isn’t that wild?”
Henry slurped from his juice, his gap-tooth grin on full display. “Old Mrs. Sanders was right.”
“Hen!” Ginny admonished. “We don’t call her old Mrs. Sanders.”
Henry slid his sister some side-eye, seeking confirmation. Before she could reply, Max entered the kitchen. He was dressed in his favorite cooking clothes: a worn flannel and jeans. “Merry Christmas you guys.” He hugged the kids before planting a kiss on Ginny’s lips. When he looked out the window, he inhaled. “Old Mrs. Sanders was right. Look at it go!”
“Max,” Ginny said, poking him in the side with her coffee spoon.
Henry and Josie doubled over in fits of giggles. “I told you.” Henry gasped in between peals of laughter.
Max raised an eyebrow. “What did I miss?”
Ginny shook her head, intent on keeping the peace and what was left of her sanity. “Nothing. Let’s get coffee going so we can do presents.”
At the mention of gifts, both children hopped off their stools and bounded into the living room. Max opened the fridge, pulled out a tray of unbaked cinnamon rolls and an egg casserole he made the night before. “We will have breakfast in an hour,” he announced to the nearly empty kitchen.
Zippy sat on his haunches, waiting for a morsel to fall to the ground. When Ginny wasn’t looking, Max peeled a piece of sausage from the top of the pan and tossed it to the floor. Zippy scarfed it down before Ginny was done adding sugar to her coffee.
“Don’t open anything until we get there,” Ginny warned, handing Max his coffee. “Those two will be done before you even get breakfast in the oven.” She took a step to join the kids, but Max snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Merry Christmas, Gin.” He kissed her, slowly and with all the feeling called for on Christmas morning. Ginny’s coffee mug was hastily slid across the counter so she could return her husband’s passionate embrace.
“Merry Christmas, Max.” Ginny rested her forehead on his chest, sniffing in the scent of worn cotton and Max. “I love you,” she whispered, leaning into his hold.
He cupped her to him, breathing quietly and watching the snow fall outside. Despite the fact they’d been remarried for well over a decade, he never stopped to marvel at how lucky he was. During the darkest days of their divorce, he’d lain awake at night dreaming of this moment. A warm house, Ginny in his arms, two happy kids under the Christmas tree, and a goofy mutt running around for scraps. It was heaven; it was his life, and he would never take it for granted.
“Are you two done having a moment? Hen started shaking his presents, and I’m starving to death.” Josie thrust her hands on her hips, looking closer to eighteen than twelve.
Ginny reluctantly stepped back, winking at Max before addressing their daughter. “All right, you win. Let’s start the festivities.”
Josie grinned and bolted back toward the Christmas tree, this time with Zippy on her tail.
Two hours later, and the Sanchez family Christmas was officially in the books. The kids were surrounded by wrapping paper piles and more gifts than they’d be able to use in a year. Ginny was thrilled with her new necklace from Max, and he was in love with the high-end knife set she bought him for his new restaurant. Henry was already playing with his new video game before they were done packing up for the diner.
“What time should we leave?” Ginny asked, hooking her new necklace into place and sighing at the sparkle in her reflection. It was a simple gold chain, with three gemstones hanging from the middle—one stone for each of the kids and Max’s birth months.
“Whenever we’re all ready. Evan just texted that he and CeCe are already there. Apparently bed rest was just a recommendation from her OBGYN.” He did air quotes and scoffed. Everyone knew CeCe was unstoppable.
Ginny huffed. “I’m sorry, have you met CeCe? I’m surprised Evan hasn’t tried chaining her to the bed.”
“That’s a visual I don’t need.” Max shuddered. “I’ll give the kids a countdown and throw the rest of the food in the car. Ready in five?”
Ginny nodded before texting CeCe, Natalie, Mallory, and Alice that they were en route to the diner. She smiled as she tucked her phone into her purse and stepped out into their white Christmas.
Fat snowflakes fell around them, covering the yard in a blanket of white. Max had already warmed up the car, with the kids buckled in and playing with their new gadgets. Ginny checked that Zippy was inside before locking up and walking straight into the last person she expected to see.
“Dad?” she asked, stumbling in her snow boots. “What are you doing here?”
Harold steadied his daughter, offering her a sheepish grin. “Well, Ginnybread. Remember Mrs. Sanders’ premonition?”
From down the driveway, Ginny saw Mona trudging up the sidewalk. Even through her scarf and open coat, Ginny could see her sparkling sweater. A pair of jingle bell earrings kept time with each step. Max spotted his in-laws and hopped out of the car. “Harold? Mona?”
“Merry Christmas!” Mona said, waving as she slid on a patch of ice. Max and Harold both rushed to catch her as she glided into one of the shrubs. “Ooh.” She exhaled as she gained her footing.
“I guess Mrs. Sanders was right,” Max mused as he ushered everyone to the car. “We’ve got room for two more, hop in.”
Harold and Mona exchanged a look before stepping inside. The kids waved from the warmth of the SUV, clearly excited to see their grandparents. “Hop in,” Ginny urged, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“Are you sure there’s room?” Mona asked, worrying her bottom lip.
Harold joined in the line of questioning. “I know this was meant to be your holiday with friends.”
“Pfft, like we’re going to leave out you two. Get in. The more the merrier.” Ginny held the door open for Mona, instructing the kids to slide into the back row.
“You’re sure, Ginnybread?” Harold asked, his brow furrowed. “You’ll have enough food and space?”
Max wasn’t having it. “You realize that CeCe and Evan have probably already cooked enough for an army, and we’re hosting at the diner. Which is in a restaurant, which is closed to the public today. There is more than enough of everything to go around.”
That offer was tested ten minutes later as they arrived at the diner. Standing out in the snow, having an animated discussion, was the entire Snyder clan. Alice flapped her arms in the air and shouted, “Will you please get inside? This is ridiculous.”
“I will not be manhandled, young lady,” her mother admonished.
James pinched the bridge of his nose, looking to Anthony for help. Unfortunately, the new state representative was busy negotiating with his father. “Dad, will you please listen to me and Alice? We have room.”
Natalie stalked up the front door and held it open, gesturing wildly. “Can everyone please trust that there’s room? I’m so cold my fingers are frozen.”
Max strode up to the motley crew, pausing to wish the kids a merry Christmas. “Merry Christmas, guys.” He fist-bumped Otis and patted Madeline on the shoulder. Otis went off to discuss Christmas gifts with Henry, leaving his sister to bicker with her grandmother.
Madeline was basically Natalie’s twin, her blonde hair almost as white as the snow and her eyebrow arched halfway up her forehead. Her hip was cocked as she tugged on her grandmother’s sleeve. “Please, can we all go inside?”
Max wanted to help, but also get everyone out of the cold. “What’s going on, Snyders?” turning to James, he added, “and Gibsons.”
James offered a warm smile. “Donna and Steven decided to cut their Mediterranean cruise short to spend the holidays with family.”
“Until we remembered our family had other plans,” Steven helpfully added. The elder former mayor seemed less than thrilled with crashing his children’s Christmas plans.
“We really can just go back to the house and wait until you’re done celebrating.” Donna wrung her hands together, glancing between James and Max. “I think that would be easier.”
Ginny and her family joined the fun, ushering her and Natalie’s kids inside. “I think we can all agree we’ll have plenty of food and space. It’s also Christmas, and no one is going to sit at home alone.”
Natalie hitched a thumb at Ginny. “I’d do as she says. She can get tough when she wants to.”
Everyone shared an awkward laugh as they filed inside the diner. Evan had turned on all the twinkle lights, casting the restaurant in a cozy glow. Tinsel, garlands, and various decorations hung from the ceiling and walls, bordering on tacky yet giving the desired effect. A playlist of classic Christmas songs played through the speakers, adding to the ambiance.
“You see, we were going to go to Cleveland to see my Tommy,” Mona started, sliding into a booth with Donna, Steven, and Harold. “Then this snow kept falling, and now we’re stuck.” She flapped her hands, causing the jingle bell bracelets to clatter.
“Well, at least there’s room for us,” Donna added, anxiously looking over for reassurance as she toyed with her fair more tasteful diamond bracelet. These women were on opposite sides of Buckeye Falls’ fashion spectrum.
Alice overhead and walked over to their table. “If you four don’t calm down and enjoy yourselves, I’m going to tell Anthony. I’m pretty sure he has the authority to throw you in Grinch jail or something.”
Otis overheard and got excited. “Holy crap, is that true, Dad?”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “Thanks for that, Alice. Now my son is going to threaten imprisonment to all his enemies.”
“How many enemies can O have?” Alice asked, punching her nephew lightly on the shoulder. “This kid’s a saint.”
Steven coughed into his handkerchief, clearly unbelieving. “He’s a good boy, but a saint?” He directed his question to his wife, who merely shook her head and took off her gloves.
“I’m going to go see if they need help in the kitchen,” Alice suggested, catching Anthony’s eye so he’d follow her.
As soon as they crossed into the kitchen, the Snyder siblings found CeCe and Max and began their long-winded apologies. “I’m so sorry about them,” Alice said as Anthony nudged her to the side, and added, “They sprung this invasion on us this morning without a hint of notice. We were loading up the car, and boom, there they were like specters of Christmas past.”
Ginny smiled, pausing her vegetable chopping to chime in. “I think it’s sweet, they wanted to surprise you kids.”
“Our parents don’t believe in surprises. I think they weren’t having a good time on the cruise and used us as an excuse.” Alice sighed, reaching out to snatch a piece of cheese from a waiting platter.
“How can they not like a Mediterranean cruise?” CeCe asked. She was perched on the office chair, shaping a ball of dough with her swollen fingers. She’d long since given up attempts of wearing her wedding rings and was donned in the biggest tunic the restaurant supply store had. In an attempt to look festive, she tucked a spring of holly behind her ear.
Anthony and Alice shared matching expressions of Have you met our parents , when Natalie laughed. “I think they described it as a germ factory that floats. I have a feeling their cruising days are over.”
Evan looked down at the ham he was glazing and shrugged. “We totally have enough food for four more. I mean, how much do four senior citizens eat anyway?”
“We’re fine,” CeCe said from her spot. “Although I would love another lower back rub and that canister of flour over there.”
Evan held up honey-covered hands and grimaced. “Give me a minute, babe.”
Alice went into action, wiggling her fingers. “I can handle the back rubs. I think we can all agree my culinary prowess isn’t needed in this kitchen.”
James rubbed his hands together, looking around the crowded space. “What can I do?”
Max hefted a turkey from the chiller and dropped it on the counter, the reverberating thud echoed around the crowded kitchen. “I’m about to get intimate with this bird. Do you mind going around and setting the tables? The kids can help if they’re getting restless.”
“I’ll create a masterpiece.” James spread his arms and beamed. He’d chosen a festive navy blue sweater dotted with miniature snowflakes that Alice had picked up as a present from Frick and Frack. There was also a red lipstick smear from his wife on his cheek, but no one was mentioning that. “Leave the tables to me,” he said with a wink as he backed into the dining room.
Alice dug her heel into the small of CeCe’s back, earning sounds that were certainly not appropriate for the kitchen. “Good Lord, woman. I can’t tell if I’m hurting you or helping you.”
Evan snorted, wiping his hands off before sprinkling the hams with brown sugar and mustard powder. “I’ve heard those sounds, and I assure you she was having a good time.”
“Eww, gross, Ev.” Mallory spluttered from the back door. Mallory and Maybelle had matching braids, their cheeks rosy from the cold.
Beckett followed her in, Maybelle’s carrier hanging from his free arm. The other held several bags, which he hastily dropped by the counter. “Merry Christmas, everyone.”
Natalie clapped, pushing him out of the way to get to Maybelle. “There’s that little red-headed wonder. Come to Auntie Natalie.”
Before anyone could blink, she had the baby in her arms and was covering her in kisses. “Please don’t get any ideas, Nat,” Anthony teased, but his eyes were filled with hearts as he gently tugged on the baby’s braid.
Natalie tossed her head back and laughed, startling little Maybelle. “Oh, honey, don’t you worry. I’m pretty sure at this point, my ovaries are dust.”
CeCe balled up a piece of dough and threw it at Natalie, where it landed on her forehead before falling on the floor. “You could have a dozen more babies if you wanted, young lady.”
Anthony looked torn between agreeing with CeCe and saving himself from a growing brood. “Technically, yes,” he said, ever the politician.
Natalie cradled Maybelle and cooed to her before responding. “Everyone can relax. I just want a little Maybelle time.”
Mallory sighed. “You’re on baby duty all day as far as I’m concerned. Our little elf didn’t realize that sleep is important, even on Christmas day.”
Beckett groaned. “She had us up three times before dawn, so we gave up and did presents at five o’clock.”
Max chuckled, his arm shoved up the turkey to his elbow. “Welcome to fatherhood, Beckett. It’s fabulous, even when it’s not.”
The group went back to their varied tasks, with Alice and Mallory taking turns rubbing CeCe’s back as she rolled out bread dough and the beginnings of a pie crust. “Are you sure you can handle all this?” Mallory whispered, concerned her sister-in-law was overdoing it.
CeCe’s pinched expression didn’t prove much either way, but she kept her head down and focused on her dough balls. “As I told my loving husband”—she paused to look over at Evan, who was currently browning mushrooms—“I feel great and want to bake. The babies are fine. I am fine.” She raised a hand to pat her lower back. “Well, one of you needs to get to rubbing, then I’ll be fine.”
Mallory snorted. “I’m on it.”
A few minutes later, James stuck his head through the kitchen door, a worried expression on his face. “Heya,” he said to no one in particular.
Max was the first to look up. “What’s up, man?”
James stepped inside, allowing the door to swing shut behind him. He rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath. “Remember how you were saying the more the merrier?”
Alice heard him, stopping her turn on operation save CeCe’s back. “What’s up, babe?”
James forced a grin and stepped back, opening the door to reveal not one but two unexpected guests. “Merry freaking Christmas!” Addison exclaimed as she bounded into the kitchen, a very embarrassed-looking Chloe bringing up the rear. “Got room for two more?”