Chapter 11 #2
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” Florence said as Rory carried the rib-eye roast to the table.
Lacy brought over mashed potatoes and gravy, and creamed spinach.
Florence gave everyone a glass of water. Frank opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for each of them.
“Hal approved our house plan,” Lacy told Florence and her grandfather.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Florence said. “By the way, I know everyone calls me Mrs. Fitz, but I’m changing my last name to Everest, so everyone can call me Florence. Or you can call me grandma.”
“Are you changing the name of the coffee shop?” Lacy asked.
“No. Everyone knows it by Fitz’s Coffee Shop, so I’ll leave it like it is.”
“Saves on the cost of changing out all your signage,” Rory said.
“That’s exactly what I thought.” Frank cut up some of his rib-eye roast. “This is so good.”
“I agree.” Florence took another bite.
“I love these and have them for the holidays whenever I can,” Rory said. “They always have them at a reduced price for the holidays.”
“Sounds like it should be a tradition for us to have,” Lacy said.
“Right,” Frank said.
Florence was all for it. “For Christmas, since you will be there also, I don’t believe we need anyone else there to provide security.”
“I agree,” Rory said. “I’m deputized. And you and Frank are retired FBI agents, so we should be good for just the day.”
“Granddad taught me how to shoot at the firing range. I just need a spare gun,” Lacy said.
“I’ll bring two guns with me,” Rory said.
When they finished eating, they cleaned up, and then Lacy set up a hot cocoa bar, complete with mugs of hot chocolate, candy canes, whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles, so everyone could make their own to go with their slices of chocolate cake.
Then Wyatt and Blaze returned to the bunkhouse to have dessert and cocoa with them.
“Man, that rib-eye roast sure smells good,” Wyatt said.
“Yeah, maybe we can have one for New Year’s Day,” Blaze said.
“Oh, speaking of that, we’ll be going to a New Year's Eve party,” Florence said to Frank.
“More dancing? I’ll be ready for it,” Frank said.
After that, everyone agreed to watch a Christmas movie, and they started A Christmas Story.
When they finally finished the movie, they all said their goodnights, though Lacy was going to give some of the leftovers to Florence and Frank.
“Oh, no, just keep it. Wyatt and Blaze can snack on it. We’ll have food tomorrow with leftovers,” Florence said.
Wyatt and Blaze smiled, looking glad they were going to have some of the rib-eye roast after all.
“We’ll escort you home,” Wyatt said.
“Okay, sounds good.” Florence grabbed her purse.
“You could stay here the night, and we could all go together,” Lacy said.
“Yeah, Hal and Tracey or Ted and Stella would put you up,” Blaze said.
Florence wanted to go home for the night so she could get things ready for Christmas tomorrow. But she looked at Frank to see what he wanted to do.
As if he knew what she was thinking, he took her hand and squeezed. “We need to prepare meals for Christmas.”
She squeezed his hand back, telling him he had said the right thing, but she had been leaving it up to him. He would have done anything she wanted.
They hugged Rory and Lacy, Frank helped Florence into her coat, and he put his on. Then they left with their escort.
“It’s more relaxing at the house with you,” Florence said.
“I was thinking the same thing. And we still have someone watching the house, no matter if we are there or not.” The car slipped on the ice, and Frank tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Exactly.”
“Christmas Eve was a success.”
“It was. I had such a nice time with Lacy and Rory,” she said.
“Yeah. I’m so glad that Lacy is speaking with me again, and I really like Rory. I can tell they are really into each other.”
“They are. Just like us.”
Frank smiled. “Yeah.” Florence was so charismatic and made him feel like he was everything. He hoped he made her feel like that’s how he thought about her too.
All the way to Florence’s house, Frank and Florence watched the mirrors for any sign of Timothy or his brother following them, but they didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
“Maybe they’ll leave us alone for Christmas,” Florence said.
“Or figure we won’t be expecting them to hit the house on Christmas Day.” He drove into the garage, then they got out and waved goodbye to Wyatt and Blaze.
They said, “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas!” Florence and Frank said.
Travis came out of the house and waved at the ranch hands.
Then Frank closed the garage door, and they went inside to find the fireplace going. Everything looked so Christmassy and inviting. He was so glad that Travis was fine and the tree hadn’t been turned over this time.
“We don’t need anyone to stay with us tomorrow while Rory and Lacy are here for Christmas Day,” Frank told Travis. “We all know how to use a gun, and Rory has a spare gun for Lacy.”
“I’ll be staying the night, and I’ll talk to Dan to see what he wants to do about it. He has the final word,” Travis said.
“All right.” Frank understood that Dan didn’t want to take any chances with their welfare. But the good thing about Florence’s home was that it was close to town. So if they needed help, they would have assistance right away.
They helped him make up the bed on the couch, then retired to their room.
“Merry Christmas Eve,” Frank said, kissing Florence.
She hugged him. “Merry Christmas Eve. This is the best one ever.”
“I agree.”
They changed into pajamas, climbed into bed, and cuddled together. Neither of them had wrapped any presents yet. They would have to do so in the morning.
“Do you get up early for Christmas morning?” Florence asked.
Frank chuckled. “I get up early all the time. But I haven’t really celebrated Christmas since Lacy didn’t want to see me.”
“I’m so glad that’s resolved and that you and I have each other.”
“I am too. I couldn’t be happier.”
“I always eat at someone’s home for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch, and whoever fed me would always give me something, and I would give them something for the special day.”
“Well, now we have Lacy, Rory, and us, and if anyone else is alone for the holidays, we can take them in like the others took you in.”
She snuggled against him and kissed him. “I agree.”
They finally fell asleep when Frank’s sleep was disturbed, and he swore he thought he heard reindeer walking around on the roof.