Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
Riley and her mother set out for the Christmas tree lot at a quarter to four. Riley didn’t think it would take them long to pick out a tree. And she wanted to make sure it wasn’t too much for her mother. But she was getting around a little better now on her crutches.
The lot was less than five minutes away and there wasn’t much traffic this time of year in Chatham. It was Saturday, though, so the lot was busy. Several other families were roaming the aisles to pick out the perfect tree.
“Did you have any particular kind in mind?” Riley asked as they looked around at the selection.
“Just something pretty and a little taller than we normally would get for the house. The ceiling is almost twelve feet in the living room at the inn.”
Riley had forgotten that they’d probably want a tree at home, too. “I wonder if Aidan has room in his truck for two trees?”
“He definitely does.”
Riley turned and laughed. Both Aidan and Luke had walked up behind them.
“Can I help pick out the tree?” Luke asked.
“Of course you can. We need a nice big one,” her mother said.
They set off to the back row where the taller trees stood. There was a good selection and Riley thought any one of them would be fine. She looked at Luke, who was going from tree to tree and examining them closely.
“What do you think, Luke?” she asked.
“I think this one,” he said decisively. It was the tallest, thickest one.
“Looks good to me. What do you think, Mom?”
Her mother’s eyes twinkled as she appeared to consider the question carefully. “I think it will do just fine. It’s a magnificent tree. Well done, Luke!”
He helped them pick out a smaller tree for her mother’s house as well, and Aidan secured them both in the back of his truck. They dropped off her mother’s tree first. While Aidan and Luke brought the tree inside, Riley went into the attic and found the tree stand and bag of ornaments. Aidan helped her to secure the tree in the stand and then they set off for the inn.
Once the big tree was in its stand in the corner of the living room, Riley opened the boxes of ornaments and silvery garlands. Her mother rested with her leg up, while Riley, Aidan, and Luke hung the ornaments and arranged the garland on the branches. Franny came downstairs when they were halfway done and Riley invited her to join them. She turned the television on and put it on the Pandora station and selected Christmas music.
It was fun and festive listening to the familiar carols as they decorated the tree. Luke and Franny seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Riley noticed that Aidan was quieter and she wondered what was going through his mind. He looked somber but smiled cheerfully when she caught his eye and she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it. Her mother looked relaxed but had a similar pensive look as she watched them. As if her thoughts were a million miles away.
Riley had noticed her mother’s mood shift this time of year before. She’d asked her once or twice over the years if something was bothering her and her mother had always smiled cheerfully, just like Aidan was doing, and said everything was perfectly fine, that she was just tired or thinking of her to-do list for the next day. She wouldn’t blame her mother for feeling a little down this year, though. It had to be annoying to be slowed down by a broken leg.
Once all the ornaments were on, Aidan helped her string the lights from the top of the tree. He got out the dreaded ladder that her mother had fallen off of and carefully climbed to the top. He placed their golden star on the tip-top then swirled the lights around the tree. Riley connected another string for the bottom half and when they gave the word, Luke plugged the lights in and they all stood back and admired the tree with its twinkling white lights and glittering ornaments. It was beautiful.
“Who’s ready for some hot chocolate?” Riley asked.
“I am!” Luke said.
“I can’t say no to hot chocolate,” Franny said. She was smiling and seemed happier and lighter today, for the first time since her sister passed. Riley was glad to see it.
Aidan, meanwhile, was still staring silently at the tree. “Aidan, do you want hot chocolate?” Riley asked.
“Sure, why not.” He turned her way and smiled and Riley felt a warm glow. Aidan’s smile had always had that effect on her, but it was unexpected and unnerved her a bit.
“Mom, I know you’re having some,” she said quickly.
Her mother laughed. “Of course.”
Riley set off to the kitchen and quickly made up five mugs of cocoa topped with mini-marshmallows. Aidan helped her to carry them out to the living room.
As they sipped their hot chocolate, the stately grandfather clock in the hallway chimed that it was six o’clock. The time had gone by quickly.
Riley’s mother looked around the room gratefully. “I really do appreciate all of your help. If you don’t have dinner plans, I’d love to have you all join me. I took out a big container of frozen meatballs and sauce this morning that Riley and I were planning to heat up for supper. There’s more than enough for all of us. If you don’t mind spaghetti and meatballs, that is—nothing too fancy.”
“I love spaghetti and meatballs! Can we go, Dad?” Luke asked excitedly.
“Sure. If you’re certain it’s no trouble?” Aidan said.
“None at all. Riley and I would be eating meatballs all week otherwise.” She looked at Franny, who hadn’t said anything yet. “Franny, please say you’ll join us. We’d love to have you.”
“Thank you, dear. I do enjoy a good meatball. What can I bring?”
“Not a thing. Our house is about a half mile down the road. Why don’t you all plan on six thirty? That will give us time to get home and get some pasta cooking.”
They all agreed to meet in a half hour and Riley and her mother headed home to get ready.
As soon as they got home, Riley put a pot of water on the stove to heat up for the spaghetti and poured the containers of meatballs and sauce into another pot to warm up. She set out a loaf of bread and butter and set the dining room table. Once the water reached a boil, she added a big pinch of salt and the spaghetti. Ten minutes later the pasta was ready and she drained it and put it back in the pot to keep warm.
Meanwhile, her mother insisted on helping and managed to open a bottle of red wine and got some wineglasses out of the cupboard. She poured two glasses and handed one to Riley.
“It worked out well, today, I think,” her mother said as she lifted her glass.
The wine was a Cabernet, Daou, which was one of Riley’s favorites. Riley took a quick sip. “It did. We got the tree in and decorated in no time with everyone helping.”
“Luke was cute. Maybe after dinner, he might want to help us get ours all decorated, too. It’s a smaller tree and should go even quicker,” her mother suggested.
Riley loved the idea. “Franny seemed to enjoy it, too. I’m glad she’s coming.”
They both turned at the sound of a knock at the door. Riley opened it and saw Aidan, Luke, and Franny standing there. Franny handed her a bottle of wine. “The boys were kind enough to offer me a ride. I picked this up earlier and thought the two of you might enjoy it.”
Riley took the bottle and saw that it was a very good Cabernet. “You didn’t have to do that. But thank you.”
Luke handed her a white paper bag with a heavy box inside. “We brought chocolate. It’s from the candy place down the street. Dad and I stopped there on our way home from Hyannis.”
Aidan grinned. “We stocked up. Luke and I like our chocolate. I thought it might be good for dessert.”
“Thank you, both. I’m sure it will be. Come on in, everything is ready.”
They followed her inside and Riley set the wine and chocolate on the counter. “We just opened a bottle of wine, would you both like some?” she offered. “And Luke, we have milk or orange juice or water.”
Luke wanted milk and Franny and Aidan both said yes to wine. Riley poured for all of them and then made plates of spaghetti and meatballs for everyone and brought them to the table. Her mother had found the cheese shaker and set that on the table as well.
“There’s plenty more, so feel free to help yourself to seconds,” her mother said.
They chatted easily over dinner and everyone agreed that Riley’s mother’s meatballs were fantastic. They sat around the table for well over an hour, eating and enjoying the wine. Riley opened the bottle that Franny had brought and they all enjoyed a second glass. The first wine was good, but this one was bigger and richer. And after Riley cleared the plates and set out the chocolate, they agreed that it went really well with that, too.
There was an assortment of chocolates, a few pieces of milk chocolate, but most of it was squares of dark chocolate, which Riley preferred, and some pieces had almonds. It was smooth and creamy and made right in the shop. Riley loved going into the Chatham Candy Manor—the minute you stepped inside, the sweet smell of sugar and chocolate wafted over you.
“How was your trip to the lighthouse?” Riley asked Franny.
Franny explained to Aidan and Luke about her sister’s letters first and then answered the question. “It was lovely. My sister, Ella, and I used to spend a lot of time there when we were children. I looked out over Chatham Harbor as I sipped my coffee and watched the fishing boats in the distance and I remembered our happy times together and the dreams we had. As I’m sure my sister intended, it reminded me of what a special place Chatham is.” She looked at Luke. “Did you know that there used to be two lighthouses there?”
He looked skeptical. “There were?”
“There were.” She briefly explained about the history of the lighthouse and that one of them was moved to Nauset.
“We should take a drive over there soon, buddy. It’s been a long time and they have those cool telescopes you can look through,” Aidan said.
“They do? When can we go?”
Aidan laughed. “Maybe tomorrow. Is that soon enough?”
“Okay.”
“Looks like tomorrow will be another clear day, it’ll be good for watching the harbor. Maybe you’ll see a seal. They like to sun on the rocks,” Franny said.
“Do you want to come with us, Riley?” Luke surprised her by asking.
“Oh, I’d love to, but we have company tomorrow. My sister and her family are coming for Sunday dinner.”
Her mother looked thoughtful. “They’re not coming until early afternoon,” she said. “If Aidan and Luke are going to the lighthouse before that, you could join them.”
“We could go anytime, maybe after breakfast, say ten or so?” Aidan said.
“Sure, that could work. Unless my mother needs me?” Riley glanced at her mother, who shook her head.
“Go and have fun. I will be fine by myself for a while.”
And so it was decided. Riley thought it sounded fun and she hadn’t really talked to Aidan in years. It would be interesting to catch up with him more. She noticed that Luke was beginning to look bored and was fidgeting in his seat. She glanced her mother’s way and she seemed to be noticing it, too.
“Luke, do you have any energy left to decorate another tree?” her mother asked.
That got his attention fast. “Yes, the one we got today? Where is it?”
“That’s the one. It’s in the living room and the bag of decorations is right next to it.”
They all headed into the living room with their wine and while her mother relaxed in her chair and watched, the rest of them worked together to decorate the tree. It didn’t take long at all and a half hour later, it looked just as beautiful as the one in the inn.
“Well, we should probably get going,” Aidan said as Luke yawned for a second time. Everyone was feeling full and tired. They said their goodbyes and Riley walked them all to the door.
“This was a lovely night. Thank you both,” Franny said.
“It was fun, thank you,” Aidan agreed.
“It was our pleasure,” Riley said. “Thanks so much for helping us with the trees. We really appreciate it.”
She watched them go and closed the door feeling suddenly exhausted and ready for bed herself. It had been a fun time and she was glad to see her mother enjoying herself and forgetting about her leg for a while.