Chapter Twelve #2
Risa swiped her finger through the frosting, then grinned when Gloria rolled her eyes at her antics.
“The question is, are you ready?” Risa asked, grabbing Gloria’s apron strings and untying the bow when the woman started out of the kitchen.
Gloria whipped off the apron and hung it on the hook near the sink.
Risa followed her to the sitting room, where Gloria lit the candles placed on the end tables on either side of the couch.
She and Risa hurried to take seats in the side chairs just as the door opened and Lars rushed inside along with a flurry of snowflakes.
“Hello,” Gloria called, and Lars poked his head into the room. His nose and cheeks were red from the nippy air, but he looked to be in good spirits by the smile on his face as he removed his hat and unwound the scarf from around his neck.
“What a lucky fella I am to walk in here to find two beautiful ladies waiting for me,” Lars said, hurrying to remove his coat and leave his things on the rack near the door. “How are you both faring today?”
“Very well, Lars,” Gloria said, rising gracefully from her chair. “How was the trip in from Lovely?”
“Good. No trouble at all, other than trying to stay warm. I think the road gets longer the colder the temperature drops.”
“Why don’t you wash up and then join us for a cup of tea?” Gloria suggested.
“I’ll do that,” Lars said, stepping into the room long enough to kiss Gloria’s cheek, then give Risa a hug. “Are you staying out of trouble, Girlie?”
“Of course, Papa. I’ve had the most wonderful time here with Gloria.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He backed toward the doorway. “I’ll hurry.”
Gloria gave him a smile so becoming, he almost tripped over his own feet on his way out of the room.
Risa did all she could to keep from laughing.
They listened as Lars rushed upstairs, then both giggled as they returned to the kitchen.
While Gloria made the tea Lars so enjoyed, Risa finished frosting the cake, then rinsed the bowl and put a dome over the cake plate to keep it fresh for tomorrow when they planned to serve it.
Roasted chickens with potatoes and carrots were in the oven, and Risa had baked three apple pies earlier as well as made dinner rolls they could warm right before they were ready to be served.
The only thing she and Gloria needed to focus on until the boarders arrived at the house for the evening was convincing Lars of their plans.
When they heard him coming down the back stairs, Risa filled three cups with the spicy, rich tea her father so enjoyed, while Gloria artfully set an assortment of cookies on a plate. They loaded a silver tea tray with plates, napkins, the teacups, and the teapot.
“Here, let me carry that,” Lars said as he stepped into the kitchen, fresh from a bath. He’d even taken time to shave, Risa noted.
She’d always thought her father was a handsome man, but now that he’d found love with Gloria, it was as though he looked younger than he had in years. Of course, his hair was still turning gray, but he smiled often and seemed much happier than she could ever remember.
The fire crackled pleasantly in the fireplace in the sitting room as Lars set the tray on the low table in front of the couch. The candles emitted a bright fragrance that mingled pleasantly with the scent of the Christmas tree.
Risa took a seat, reveling in the welcoming and cheerful atmosphere, so unlike anything she’d ever known. Although there were many things she wanted to say, she held her tongue and waited for Gloria to begin the dialogue they’d rehearsed all afternoon.
“Here’s your tea, Lars dear,” Gloria said, handing him a cup of the steaming tea, redolent with spices and a hint of orange.
“Thank you, Gloria. This tea tastes like Christmas,” he said, taking a sip.
He chose a cookie from the plate Gloria held out to him, then leaned back against the soft cushions of the couch as Gloria settled next to him.
Risa sat in the side chair where she could best see Gloria, because they needed to be able to silently convey messages to each other if they were going to succeed in their mission.
“Tell me what my two favorite ladies did today,” Lars said, taking a bite of the cookie in his hand.
“We made a batch of that candy you liked so well when I made it before Thanksgiving. We’ll have some after supper,” Gloria said, smiling sweetly at Lars.
“We were just thinking that it’s too bad poor Gunder is left without so many things he needs, and stuck in that tent. It’s just a tragedy, don’t you think?”
Lars nodded. “It was a terrible thing the Dutton girl did, but she’s been eating humble pie all week since her mother arranged for her to work for Silas at the livery. I feel sorry for him, but hopefully that girl will learn a lesson she never forgets, and it changes her for the better.”
“Speaking of changing things for the better, do you think it’s possible for you to do that, Lars?” Gloria asked, leaning closer to him.
Risa almost giggled as her father’s eyes widened and his teacup rattled on the saucer he held in his hand. He shoved the rest of his cookie in his mouth, set the saucer on the table, and scooted back slightly, as though Gloria suddenly made him nervous.
“What are you saying, Gloria?”
“Just that when two people care so deeply for each other, when they respect and love each other, the next logical step is to do everything possible to prolong the happiness they’ve found. Don’t you agree?”
“Well, yes, I suppose so,” Lars said, sitting up slightly. “Everyone deserves to be happy.”
“Everyone?” Risa asked innocently.
“Of course. I think the Creator gave us joy for a reason.” He picked up his teacup and took a long drink before returning it to the saucer.
“I’m so elated to hear you say that, Lars,” Gloria said, edging a little closer to him.
Risa saw her father give the woman a curious look, but he didn’t move.
“Then you agree that you deserve to be happy, Papa?” Risa asked.
“Well, I … yes, I suppose so,” he said, giving her a wary glance before turning back to Gloria. “What trickery are you two up to?”
“Trickery?” Gloria leaned back, looking wounded. To add to her performance, she whipped out a perfumed handkerchief and daintily waved it until the alluring scent engulfed Lars while she pretended to dab at nonexistent tears.
“Papa! You made Gloria cry. All we wanted was for you to see how much we want you to be happy. That your happiness is important to all of us. It just seems as though you don’t want to be happy, and therefore you take away a portion of our happiness.”
“Well, I … that isn’t … I wouldn’t ever …” he stammered, looking from Risa to Gloria, who sniffled with perfect timing and appeared to wilt. “Now, Glory, don’t cry. You know I want you to be happy, and I want Risa to be happy. I’d give anything to do that for both of you.”
“You would?” Gloria asked, positioning her handkerchief so she could look over it with wide eyes.
“Of course I would. I don’t have much to give, but I’d give what I do have if it would bring you both joy.”
“Oh, Lars, that’s wonderful to hear.” Gloria continued her slow and steady progress of moving closer to him, an inch at a time. “What if the thing that would make your daughter the happiest is your house in Lovely. Would you give it to her?”
Risa felt her father staring at her for several long moments, then turned back to Gloria. “And you, Glory? What’s the one thing that you want most for Christmas? That would make you the happiest?”
Gloria shifted so close, there wasn’t any space left between her and Lars. She lifted her hands and bracketed his cheeks, then smiled so tenderly, her eyes so full of love, it made Risa’s heart ache just to see it.
“What I want more than anything for Christmas, and for the rest of my life, is you, Lars Hoffman. Only you.”
“Well, how about that,” he whispered, then wrapped his arms around Gloria and kissed her.
When he let her go, Gloria’s face was as red as the ribbons decorating the Christmas tree.
Lars kissed her temple and kept an arm around her as he turned to face Risa. “Might I assume you two have been plotting against me? Hmm? If I marry Glory and move here, then the house in Lovely would be available for Risa and Gunder. Is that the idea?”
“You’re a very clever man, Lars Hoffman,” Gloria said, cuddling against his chest.
“I ought to get up and walk out that door and never come back, but here’s the truth of it.
Gloria Franklin, you’ve brought me more joy than I thought I’d ever know again.
You somehow managed to break down the walls I built around my heart and poured light and love into the darkness that resided there.
You have helped me find happiness again, and for that alone, I’ll be eternally grateful.
But I love you, Glory, and I realize what a fool I’ve been to put off our happiness together. Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Absolutely yes!” Gloria wrapped her arms around his neck, and Risa brushed at her tears as she witnessed her father kiss his soon-to-be bride.