CHAPTER 3 | Political and creative ambitions for the win
CHAPTER 3
Political and creative ambitions for the win
––––––––
“A unt Alice, let me help.” Madeline snatched the suitcase from Alice’s grip and led the way to the exit. The Columbus Airport was busier than usual with the pre-Christmas rush, and James had to hold Alice’s hand so she wasn’t swallowed up by the growing crowds.
“And you drove here all by yourself?” Alice asked for the third time in as many minutes. Granted, it had been nearly three months since she’d laid eyes on her niece, but it still didn’t seem fathomable that Maddie was driving—alone.
Madeline hoisted Alice’s suitcase into the trunk of her car before turning to James and offering to help. “I’ve got it, Maddie. Thanks.” James easily lifted their last case into the trunk and closed the hatch. “We really appreciate you picking us up. It’s been a long week.”
“Happy to help. Plus, it gave me a break from Mom and Grandma’s drama.” She rolled her eyes and unlocked the car with her key fob. “Even while on a cruise, Grandma can be a pain in the butt.”
Alice gave James the passenger’s seat so he could spread out, but she sat in the middle of the back. Leaning on the edge of the seat, she asked, “And Anthony knows you’re here picking us up? Alone? During rush hour traffic in a major metropolitan area.”
Madeline let out a very unladylike snort as she put the car in reverse and headed toward the parking garage exit. “Nope. I knocked him over the head with a pipe and tied him up in the garage. He won’t know we’re gone for another twenty minutes.”
Alice huffed out a laugh at her niece’s sense of humor. “Are you sure you’re not my child?” She patted Maddie’s shoulder before finally resting back in her seat.
From the passenger’s seat, James frantically replied to texts and emails that he missed during their flight home from Canada. His most recent show was a huge hit in Toronto, so he and Alice rented an apartment downtown while his new pieces were shown. It was times like that, nestled together in an Airbnb with her husband watching the city outside drift by, that Alice was grateful for their nomadic lifestyle and careers.
She had just signed a contract for her third book of essays with her new publisher, and she had a regular by-line at a travel magazine. She wrote about their travels, the people they met, and most importantly the food they ate. While she would clack away on her laptop, James would be splattered in paint or sanding large pieces of wood. Their creative jobs were not for everyone, but they fit them both perfectly.
Madeline pulled onto the highway and turned on the radio. Taylor Swift blared around them until James tactfully turned it down and turned in his seat. “So, Maddie, how’s school? You’re a junior now, right?”
Much to Alice’s delight and relief, her niece seamlessly merged across three lanes of traffic and headed in the direction of home. After a decade, it still felt foreign for Alice to think of Buckeye Falls as home, but it truly was. Even with all their travels, she and James both craved the familiarity and comfort of their house. It was their space, and it was surrounded by their friends and family. Buckeye Falls had their hearts.
As the holidays approached, they pondered visiting his parents while they were traveling in South Korea, but the pull to a cozy midwestern Christmas was too strong. The forecast teased hints of the white stuff, and Alice relished the prospect of cozy nights at home with her husband. Plus, Max and Ginny hosting at the diner that had created some of her favorite meals was too good to be true.
The quirky diner held a lot of fond memories for Alice and her inner circle. Not only had her brother and sister-in-law renewed their wedding vows there, but it was the site of her first dates with James. They fell in love in the old place, and she wanted to pay her respects. And maybe eat a few cheesy bites ...
Lost in her musings, she missed James’s question. “Did you hear me, honey?” His dark eyes flashed as she shook herself back to the moment. “Do you want Maddie to take us home first, or to your brother’s?”
Alice looked down at her worn outfit and shrugged. “Anthony and Nat have seen worse than this. Let’s say hi before we crash.”
James winked and turned back to their niece. “You heard the lady. Take us to casa de Snyder.”
Madeline shot a thumbs-up before going back to her conversation about her art classes in school. It wasn’t that she wasn’t into arts as a child, but under the helpful instructions of her uncle, Madeline took to art like a fish to water. She’d had three pieces on display at the high school shows already, all before her senior year.
They arrived at Anthony and Natalie’s house just as Alice ran a brush through her hair. James opened the door, held out a hand, and led her into the backdoor. Before they could cross the threshold, Otis flung the kitchen door open and barreled into them. He’d had yet another growth spurt since they’d seen him, and he looked older than his thirteen years.
“Hey man,” James said, ruffling Otis’s dark hair as he hugged Alice.
“I missed you guys. It’s been so boring around here.” Otis pulled back, looking around for his sister. “Did Maddie crash into anything?”
“I heard that, asshole.” She spat from behind them.
“Language, kids. My poor ears.” Alice stuck her tongue out at Madeline, who paid for her beater car with the money from her childhood swear jars. “I’m guessing now that you’re driving, you have no need to be the profanity police.”
“Boy, it has been a while,” her brother said as he strode into the kitchen. While a little tired from a long day at work, his smile was genuine and warmed her heart.
“Tony!” Alice teased, shelling out his least favorite nickname and falling back into the familiar little sister role. They may be in their forties, but she was never too old to harass her brother.
James shook Anthony’s hand before sidestepping to hug Natalie. “Thanks so much for having Maddie pick us up. You guys are lifesavers.”
Natalie beamed and pulled James into a warm embrace. “Are you kidding? What’s the point of having children of driving age if you can’t use them for personal laziness?” She stepped back and looked over his shoulder for Alice. “Now I’ve seen the world-famous James Gibson. Where is future best-selling author Alice Snyder-Gibson?” She craned her neck as if the room was crawling with authors.
“Oh, I didn’t realize we were throwing around titles.” Alice yanked Natalie closer and threw her arms around her neck. She took a deep breath and savored the aroma of her sister-in-law’s lemony shampoo. No matter the time of year, Natalie always smelled like a citrus grove.
James chuckled. “Yeah, good point. Should we call you Representative Snyder now?” he asked Anthony, who blushed as he busied himself opening a bottle of wine.
“Not until the inauguration next month, and that’s only if you’re in trouble.” He winked and popped the cork, the sound echoing in the crowded kitchen. “Everyone drinking?” he asked, gesturing to his sister with the corkscrew.
“Yes, please.” Madeline raised her hand and smiled. It was the grin that usually had her father eating out of her hand, but not in matters of booze.
Anthony opened the fridge and grabbed two cans of pop. “Nice try, yet again.”
Maddie took the drinks, handed one to Otis, and shrugged. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.” She and Otis clinked cans, muttering something to each other before they stalked out of the kitchen.
Alice felt rooted in place, watching the children she used to crawl around and play with become real people. Madeline’s blonde pigtails were now soft curls that looked just like her mother’s. Otis had grown from chubby toddler to gangly pre-teen overnight, his dark hair curling at his ears like his father’s. If she wasn’t certain it was present day, Alice would swear she was back in their childhood home.
“So, tell us all about Canada. Did you see Justin Trudeau? I hear he’s still single.” Natalie waggled her eyebrows as she sipped from her wine glass.
Alice snorted. “You realize we’re both happily married, right? And now that Anthony’s a big-shot politician, wouldn’t he have a connection to the handsome former PM?”
Anthony grumbled while he pulled out pots and pans for dinner. He was still dressed for work in a suit, the tie loosened around his neck. “I’m a state representative, Alice. I won’t be making weekly trips to our neighbors to the north for parliament meetings.”
Alice pointed at her brother. “Not with that attitude you won’t.”
James came up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her against his frame. Just like two puzzle pieces, she clicked into place and sighed contentedly. Even after nearly a decade of marriage, Alice still got weak in the knees for her husband.
“If you’re trying to make your husband jealous, you’re succeeding,” he teased, nuzzling her neck and whispering things that should not be shared in her brother’s kitchen.
Natalie gushed, covering her heart with her hands. “You two are still so freaking sweet. I love it.”
Alice smiled, enjoying the moment of domestic bliss with her family. It felt like yesterday that they all stood in this very same spot; she and James figuring out their relationship, her brother and Natalie doing the same.
Now it all felt perfect, like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Anthony threw an apron on, rolled up his sleeves, and started dicing onions and root vegetables. James washed his hands and joined his brother-in-law, discussing the holidays and plans for the new year. Natalie preheated the oven before joining Alice at the counter, wine bottle in tow.
“Top off?” she asked, pouring without waiting for an answer.
“I won’t say no. There’s no jet lag, thank God.” They clinked glasses and immediately fell back into their old rapport. “So, how’s N&G?”
The events business Natalie ran with Ginny had celebrated its tenth anniversary earlier that year. At the beginning, Alice worked as their assistant, but very quickly everyone outgrew that arrangement. “Busy and fabulous,” Natalie replied, slurping from her glass. “Ginny and I hired another planner last month and an assistant, so that takes us to seven employees. Our territory covers all of Ohio and a few places in Indiana and Michigan.”
Alice spluttered with her wine. “Are you serious? Nat, that’s freaking amazing.” Reaching out, she took Natalie’s hand and squeezed. “You must be so relieved.”
Natalie nodded, her diamond earrings swaying with the movement. “Oh yeah. Once Anthony started campaigning, I knew I couldn’t do it all without more help. Ginny’s busy with the kids and Max, so it only made sense.” Placing her glass down, she flapped her hands and added, “Enough about me. I want to hear about everything. Toronto. Your new book contract, and whatever else you two lovebirds got into.”
Alice smiled, relishing the sensation of gabbing with one of her favorite people. “Well, I guess a lot has happened,” she started, knowing that was an understatement.
While she poured out all the updates to their lives, Alice missed the other people in her Buckeye Falls orbit. She had plans to see Mallory soon, least of all to see her friend’s new baby. It had been months since she laid eyes on little Maybelle. Unlike her previous visits back to Buckeye Falls, Alice thought she might have missed more than she bargained for.