Home Free - Fern Michaels [37]
There were more hugs, more kisses, and Annie told her story yet again to Pearl’s and Isabelle’s delight.
While the girls worked in sync to get the food to the dining-room table, Annie, Myra, Pearl, and Nellie sat at the table.
“Do you want to come upstairs and see the outfit I wore on the pole?” At Myra’s look of horror, Annie rushed on. “And Fergus thinks that tat I have on my ass is a turn-on. Imagine what he would think, say, or do if he ever saw yours, Myra?”
Myra’s pearls broke.
Annie raised her eyes and said, “Thank you, God!”
Chapter 10
Thanksgiving at what Annie called her new digs was everything she wanted it to be. The food was wonderful; the table setting beautiful; her family’s participation beyond her wildest dreams. And then there was Fergus. Tears gathered in her eyes when she said the blessing before Charles carved the turkey. And then it was delightful comments about the food, laughter, and happiness until the last bite was eaten. Annie beamed and glowed that her first dinner in her new house had gone off according to plan. She’d taken it one step further and given full credit to Fergus, who preened like a peacock. Good-natured jokes and gibes rolled off Annie’s back with her saying, “The only important thing is that dinner was perfect, there are leftovers for everyone, and we’re all together.
“We’re starting a new tradition,” Annie trilled. “The men clean up, and we ladies get to sit here with our second cups of coffee, at which point the men will retire to the family room for brandy and cigars and we ladies will adjourn to the kitchen for some serious girl talk. There will be no dissenters.” And there were none.
Thirty minutes later, the women were seated around the huge plank kitchen table Isabelle had found in some ancient barn in one of her antique hunting sprees. She’d had it sanded and repaired, and it now glistened with a high shine. A red bowl of holly berries with a few sprigs of evergreen graced the center of the table on a beautiful red felt place mat.
Myra poured brandy into exquisite snifters and handed them out. The women clinked their glasses and smiled.
“Your first Thanksgiving, Annie, and it was wonderful. I am so glad you did this and that we’re all together. What are we doing for Christmas this year? Not that I’m rushing time, you understand,” Myra added hastily.
“That’s a no-brainer, Myra,” Isabelle said. “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas unless it was at your house. If you need help with the decorations, I’m your girl. None of my ongoing projects, and there aren’t that many, require my full attention until after the first of the year, and you know how I do love to decorate. Plus, I don’t think there is any scent that I love more than balsam.”
“Absolutely! Just let me know when you want to begin,” Myra replied.
Yoko held up her hand. “Isabelle, if you have some free time, I could use some help at the nursery. Starting tomorrow, I will be swamped. My first load of evergreens comes in, and I have to start making wreaths. We have a new garden building, and it has heat in it, so if you want to help, I would really appreciate it.”
Within five seconds, Yoko had all the help she needed, and the girls, with the exception of Pearl Barnes, who was putting on her coat in preparation for leaving, were going on to other topics. “I’d love to stay, but I have a family of four children I have to relocate before this day is over. Thank you all for including me today. I enjoyed every minute and every bite, and the kids I am transporting will love this dinner, too.” Pearl was, of course, referring to the underground railroad, where she operated outside the law to take children and their abused mothers to safe havens.
The good-byes were misty-eyed and poignant as Isabelle, who was playing chauffeur, slipped into her coat to drop Pearl off at a secret meeting place.
“It’s snowing harder,” Myra said as she walked back to the table. “I am going to worry about all of you when you leave to return to the District.” Her hand went to her neck, but there were no pearls to grasp. The Sisters