Chapter 19 #3
“Good thing your Uncle Richie is here to help, but I’ll tell you something, if you plan to keep staying in my house, you are going to have to get on the straight and narrow. Capisce ?”
“ Capisce , Ma. I’m sorry. I gotta go. See you soon.”
Myra ended the call. “Very nicely done.”
Vinny looked at her and asked, “Will I really be going home in a couple of days?”
“There are certain conditions, which we will discuss at another time. Meanwhile, enjoy your dinner,” Annie said, and turned and followed Myra up the stairs.
“How come you told your Ma I sprained my ankle?” Jimmy whined.
“Because that’s what was written on the page. You gonna argue with someone who has you locked behind bars?” Vinny answered in frustration.
Christmas Day
Giovanni and Frankie drove over to the church to help set up for the dinner. Mateo and his crew were already hustling. “Thanks so much for pitching in,” Frankie said, and gave him a big hug.
“For you? Anything,” Mateo said with a warm smile. He shook Giovanni’s hand. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise,” Giovanni answered. When he first heard of this young, charming, handsome chef who was working with Frankie, he couldn’t help but be a little jealous.
But when Frankie went missing in Lake Tahoe and Mateo offered some of his flight time to hustle Giovanni, Peter, and Richard to the resort, Giovanni’s opinion turned to extreme gratitude.
He had to admit, it was easy to love Frankie, and it was clear Mateo loved her, too. As a sister and a friend.
Amy and Peter arrived soon after, followed by Nina, Richard, and Robert.
Rachael, carrying a big box, was the last one in the door.
Robert quickly approached her and relieved her of the package that was almost as big as she was.
Frankie and Nina eyed each other. It appeared things were moving nicely for Rachael and Robert.
“What gives?” Frankie whispered.
“Robert seems to like her. He said she’s funny and quirky,” Nina said in a hushed voice.
“She told me she enjoyed his company, and she’s been keeping her cool. She said he makes her feel grounded.”
“We should try to bottle that!” Nina said, a little louder than she wanted to.
“Bottle what?” Rachael said as she strutted over.
“This energy. All the congeniality,” Frankie said with an excellent save.
The men began to set up the tables and chairs, and the girls followed with tablecloths and small sprigs of fir cuttings with red ribbons to make it festive. Rachael began to unpack her box that was filled with strings of lights and garlands. “I figured the place might need a little zhuzh .”
“Tell me about the New Year’s Eve plans,” Amy said as she bounced from table to table.
Frankie gave her the breakdown. “Dinner at Del Frisco’s, and then we can walk to Sniffen Court. That’s if the weather holds out.”
“How did you meet these people?” Amy asked innocently. “A countess and a confectionary mogul?”
Frankie realized that Amy was the only one who had not been informed of the stakeout, which ultimately led to the impromptu parade behind the Rockettes.
Frankie was certain Amy had heard about it on one of the newsfeeds, but wasn’t aware that it was her pals who were “wanted for police questioning.” Although Frankie wasn’t sure if they were or not.
“It’s a bit of a long story. I’ll fill you in during the week. Myra and Annie are lovely people.”
By the time they were finished decorating, the once plain and stark community room looked like a winter wonderland—a vast improvement, for sure.
Families began to arrive. Everyone had expressions of amazement when they entered the room. Once they were seated and plates piled with food were set in front of them, ministers from different denominations said their version of grace.
Frankie and her crew were overcome with emotion as they witnessed the joy and gratitude on everyone’s faces.
This is what Christmas is really all about .
Pinewood
Charles and Fergus were busy in the kitchen, preparing the Christmas meal for the Sisters and their guests.
This year was a smaller group than usual, if you could call ten dinner guests small.
It was no challenge for Charles since he’d begun experimenting in the kitchen, watching cooking videos, and reading books.
With each holiday or mission, he seemed to outdo himself with new recipes.
Maggie and Kathryn arrived early to help set the table. By now everyone knew what their assignments were. Yoko was in charge of the floral arrangements, Nikki and Jack were in charge of the wine, and Annie was the official champagne lady.
The aromas of the tenderloin filled the entire house, beckoning Maggie into the kitchen. “You should make that into a scented candle,” she said as she peered toward the stove.
“Scoot!” Charles scolded, and flagged her away from the oven with a towel. “I know. You’re hungry. I’m one step ahead of you.” He opened the second oven and slipped out a tray of hors d’oeuvres. “A bit of amuse-bouche,” Charles said, using another term for a small item not usually on the menu.
Maggie couldn’t wait and tried to pluck one from the tray. She withdrew her hand quickly. “Ouch!”
Charles gave her an incredulous look. “Are you daft? Didn’t it occur to you they may be hot?”
“Yes, but I can’t help myself,” Maggie said, and wrinkled her nose.
“Have at it, but you’re not getting any sympathy from me.”
Maggie reached for a spatula and added several of the delectable delights to a plate. Charles gave her a disparaging look.
“I’m sharing them! Geez. I’m not a barbarian,” she sniveled.
Charles burst out laughing. “Seems that expression is going to be the slogan for the season.”
Maggie returned to the dining room that was taking shape and passed the plate around. Half an hour later, Yoko arrived with ten bouquets of amaryllis in short vases, tied with silver ribbons.
“Everyone can take one home with them later,” she said as she placed them down the center of the shimmering metallic table runner. It complimented the Noritake Odessa silver-trimmed dinnerware perfectly. White tealight candles in silver holders brought even more sparkle to the table.
Myra looked over at Kathryn, who was busily folding napkins. “What’s this?” she asked, noticing the napkins were folded into the shape of a Christmas tree. “I don’t remember you having any interest in domestic decorating.”
Kathryn raised her eyebrows. “You’d be surprised at what I’ve learned all those nights spent in my rig. Had to watch something.”
“Well, well. Who knew we had our own Martha Stewart among us?” Maggie teased.
“Don’t get funny. At least I didn’t eat my way across the country,” Kathryn jibed back, as she plucked one of Maggie’s mini quiches off her plate.
“Ha ha. Very funny.” Maggie was used to all the ribbing about her appetite. For someone who ate round the clock, she was petite.
When everyone was satisfied with the illuminated dining room table, Annie popped a bottle of champagne. She poured two glasses for Fergus and Charles and brought them into the kitchen. “Cheers, dear fellows!” she exclaimed.
“Cheers to you!” Charles said as he stirred something aromatic on the stove.
“Here’s to all of us!” Fergus responded.
Annie promptly returned to the dining room, where the others waited. “Here’s to those who wish us well, and all the rest can go to. …” She didn’t have to complete the toast. Everyone knew how it ended.
Charles entered the dining room. “Dinner is served. Please take your seats.”
The women complied, and Fergus appeared with a large platter of sliced pork tenderloin. Charles returned to the kitchen and gathered the side dishes.
Everyone ooh ed and aah ed over the presentation and the aromas. Charles and Fergus offered compliments about the table.
“Clever napkin folding,” Fergus remarked.
The women began to giggle.
“That’s Kathryn’s handiwork,” Annie announced.
“Blimey!” Fergus howled. “Where did you learn that?”
“YouTube,” Kathryn said, smiling. “There isn’t a whole lot to watch when I’m on the road.”
“Origami,” Yoko said, and nodded.
“Exactly!” Kathryn replied.
When everyone was seated, they held hands around the table and said grace.
Myra began, “Thank you for the many blessings in our lives. Our friends, family, good health, and most of all, the love we share.”
“Amen!”
Conversations included the New Year’s Eve party, then moved on to their houseguests in the basement.
“What’s the plan?” Charles asked for the third time.
“We have one more thing to do with them, and then I shall read them the requirements that they must abide by unless they want to spend the rest of their lives in the basement.”
“We can’t have permanent occupants,” Charles said in disagreement.
“Of course not. But they don’t have to know that. I think after a week here and our instructions, they will remain on the straight and narrow,” Annie replied.
“Here! Here!” Charles raised a glass, and everyone followed with their version of “Cheers!”
New Jersey
Frankie, Giovanni, Anita, and Marco returned to the house, where Rosevita and Lucia were putting the final additions to their dinner of lasagna, stuffed mushrooms, and eggplant rollatini.
Rachael’s son was with his father, and Nina announced to Richard and Robert that she’d invited Rachael to join them with her parents.
Robert had no objection, and the four of them headed to the Hunter house.
Her parents spent most of the year in Florida, and the house was big enough to accommodate a few houseguests, Richard and his brother included.
They feasted on the traditional glazed ham, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and string beans.
Amy and Peter spent the day with Amy’s parents, both sets of the divorced pair. Amy was overjoyed when she learned that the once-estranged couple was actually being civil to each other as they enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner.
Nina, Richard, Robert, Rachael, Amy, and Peter joined their friends at Marco’s later that day.
They wanted to present their gift to Rosevita, Lucia, Anthony, and Elio as a group.
The two couples were thrilled. They had discussed going to a casino but didn’t think there would be time.
Rosevita whispered to Lucia, “I think we’re going to need a vacation after this one! ”
At the end of the day, everyone felt satisfied, overfed, appreciated, and grateful.