Julianna Morris - Christmas With Carlie

Christmas music was playing, and despite the early hour, quite a few children were in the room, cheerfully making their chains. Lighted “pine” garland entwined with strings of silver beads and red velvet ribbons had been put up the day before. Each corner of the room had an enormous decorated tree, covered with twinkling lights and ornaments that fit the quaint, historic atmosphere.

He shifted uncomfortably. What had possessed him to come to California? He didn’t do quaint. He didn’t do charming. He didn’t do cute. Erika hadn’t, either.

Yet Beth and Annie seemed to enjoy that kind of thing, possibly because of their nanny. Dacia was from Kilrush in Ireland and he sometimes thought he caught the lilt of her accent reflected in his daughters’ voices. When he’d interviewed her for the position, Dacia had announced she didn’t hold with not telling young ones fairy tales, so they should expect her to share the old legends and myths with their girls.

Though Luke had appreciated Dacia’s forthright honesty, Erika hadn’t been as certain since she didn’t want her daughters becoming fanciful. Yet even as infants, Beth and Annie had responded to Dacia far better than the other applicants. In the end, that had counted for more than anything else.

Luke read through the two activities lists. There were carol-singing parties, craft workshops to make Christmas ornaments, holiday scavenger hunts, a nightly parade of lighted historic vehicles and much more.

With any luck, the girls would react well. Otherwise, there wasn’t any point to visiting Glimmer Creek in the first place.

His phone rang and he stepped into a quieter spot to answer. “Hey, Nicole. How are you feeling?”

“Much better. The doctor thinks I can fly Monday. What’s going on there?”

He glanced around the room. “Quite a few things. They call it Christmas kickoff day, which means the entire historic district is being decorated. They surround it with activities and serve hot drinks and snacks at different locations. Last night they even made a production out of starting the snowmaking machines. There were treats and singing. Very...traditional.”

“It sounds like fun,” Nicole said, sounding wistful.

“The girls seemed to enjoy themselves. At the moment they’re making paper chains.”

“How are they doing?”

“It’s hard to tell—with Annie at least. Right now she might be on the verge of tears,” Luke said, worried again. “The activities director is talking to her. By the way, the tutor I hired couldn’t come. I have an interview set up with a retired schoolteacher instead.”

* * *

BACK IN AUSTIN, Nicole pressed a finger to her forehead. She wasn’t great with children, but she certainly could have tutored her nieces. Why had Luke invited her to go with him to California if he didn’t want her to help out?

“Maybe I could do it,” she suggested.

“No, getting someone else will give you time to enjoy yourself. But be prepared. Glimmer Creek is even smaller than I thought. There isn’t much shopping or other services.”

“I don’t have a problem with small towns.”

“You’ve never spent much time in one, either,” Luke retorted. “By the way, they’re setting up an outdoor skating rink today, so bring your skates.”

That was nice to hear about, but Nicole didn’t know why she couldn’t spend a few hours each day going over Beth and Annie’s schoolwork. It might help them get closer. Yet there wasn’t any point arguing with Luke once he’d made up his mind. Maybe she should cancel her trip altogether, but if there was the smallest chance she could do something to help her brother or nieces, she wanted to try.

“Okay. Anything else I should pack?” she asked.

“You may need your ski clothes. They’re also offering a sledding hill when the weather is cold enough. I’ve arranged for skates and sleds to be sent by express courier.”

“Surely the facility has sleds to go with the hill.”

“Probably, but I’m more comfortable choosing ones I know are well constructed. We’ll donate them when we leave.”

“Beth and Annie might want to keep theirs.”

“I can always get new sleds if needed.”

Nicole hesitated. “What I meant is that they might prefer keeping their sleds for sentimental reasons. I realize you and, uh, that you aren’t sentimental yourself, but your daughters might be.” She’d almost said “you and Erika,” only to catch herself. She never knew whether to talk about her sister-in-law or keep her mouth shut.

While Nicole had been fond of Erika, her sister-in-law hadn’t been easy to know, probably because they’d had so little in common. Luke’s wife had grown up in a military household, moving whenever her father was reassigned. From earliest childhood, she’d wanted to follow the family tradition of serving in the military. She’d been brilliant, courageous and dynamic. But having a conversation with her had always stymied Nicole.

“I don’t see any point in being sentimental,” Luke retorted, dragging Nicole’s thoughts to the present.

“It isn’t a crime.”

“Are you trying to start something with me, sister dear?”

Nicole made a face. She wasn’t bold or outspoken and it was rare that she “started” something with anybody, even her brother. On the other hand, this was something she felt strongly about. “No, but I have to defend Beth and Annie’s right to be themselves. They aren’t your clones. They’re little girls.”

A long silence followed until she heard a heavy exhalation through the receiver. “Is that what you think I’ve been doing—trying to make my daughters be like me?”

“I don’t know, but please don’t throw those sleds out before talking to them.”

Nicole was actually more worried about Luke trying to make Beth and Annie into clones of Erika. She couldn’t be sure that was happening, but she also didn’t understand why her nieces were still struggling so desperately with their mother’s death. Fourteen months wasn’t long, but they were young and Erika had been stationed away from Austin for most of their lives. Sad to say, they couldn’t have known her that well.

“If you think it’s important, I’ll ask before I do anything,” Luke said. “I’ve sent the jet back to Austin, so it’s ready for you to fly out. Let the captain know what time you want to take off and he’ll notify the limousine service when to meet the plane.”

“Maybe I should fly commercial and rent a car.”

“Don’t be crazy. This is much more convenient.”

It was convenient, which was part of the problem. Letting her brother smooth the bumps in the road was very easy. Some people didn’t realize how generous he could be. Nicole knew all too well... She also figured she ought to weather more of those bumps without his help.

“I’ll be there soon, at any rate,” she murmured. “Give Beth and Annie my love.”

“Will do. Glad you’re feeling better.”

After saying goodbye, Nicole looked around her condominium. While it was attractive, she had to admit there wasn’t a whole lot of individuality except for the shelves of old movies in her spare room. There hadn’t been any point getting fond of belongings as a kid. Her parents’ roving lifestyle hadn’t lent itself to saving stuffed animals and dolls or other childhood mementos.

Nonetheless, she was a closet sentimentalist. She adored lemon drops because they reminded her of summer. Daffodils were also special. Her father had given her a bouquet of sixteen perfectly made sugar daffodil blossoms for her Sweet Sixteen birthday party. They’d been so pretty she couldn’t bear to eat them, though it hadn’t taken long before they’d crumbled into piles of yellow and green sugar.