Home for the Holidays (23 page)

Ted was successful in dividing the head into two halves. “Why don’t you use a knife to do this?”

“You can use a knife, but tearing it up this way makes the lettuce appear more appetizing. It’s also a terrific way to work out frustration, as is the stem removal part.” She set the bowl in front of him. “Now, you tear the halves into quarters, and the quarters into eighths, then separate the eighths and toss them in the bowl. Tear up any big pieces that are not bite-sized. While you do that, I’m going to whip up our entrée.”

Ted went to work on the lettuce. “Cooking seems like fun.”

“Why do you think most chefs are guys?” She chuckled at his expression. “It’s true, you know. Real men really can cook.”

“We can burn things too.”

Jane’s quickest version of beef stroganoff was simmering by the time Ted finished the lettuce and set the dining room table, so she had time to show him how to chop the other vegetables for the salad and mix up homemade vinaigrette dressing.

“I like making my own dressings versus store-bought,” she told him as she poured a measure of red wine vinegar into the shaker bottle. “No chemicals, no preservatives, and I decide which ingredients to use. You make just enough for the meal and then you don’t have bottles of dressing sitting in the fridge either.”

“I wish my wife Linda was here,” he said unexpectedly. “This is her kind of cooking. She loves spontaneity and surprises. I know she would really like you and your sisters.”

Jane gave him a sympathetic smile. “Were you able to get hold of her?”

He nodded.

Maybe getting him to talk about it would help. “Was she disappointed?”

“Not very. In fact, Linda was great on the phone.” He hunched his shoulders. “She said that calendars don’t run our lives and that if I get stranded here for the holidays, then Christmas would be the day I come home.”

“Sounds like you married the right woman.” She went over to check and stir the stroganoff mixture.

“I know I did.” He ducked his head and his voice went low. “I don’t deserve her, you know. Linda is such a good, loving person. I can’t even afford to give her a proper home.”

“Yet.” Jane gave him a sympathetic look. “Professional freelance photographers make good money, Ted. Don’t give up on that.”

“Do you know that she insisted that I spend my Christmas bonus on this trip? Even with my bonus, I could only afford to go alone, but she didn’t care.” He took off his glasses and used his handkerchief to polish the lenses. Without them on, he looked very young and unsure of himself. “That’s the kind of person she is. She told me that I could take some fabulous pictures on this tour and that building my portfolio was more important to her than a fancy gift or big dinner.”

“She’s investing in your future.” Jane felt admiration. “That in itself is a gift.”

“I know, but it was still so hard to leave her behind. Now I might miss our first Christmas together.” He put his
glasses back on, but they didn’t hide the sadness in his eyes. “But like Linda, I’ll have to make the best of it.” He glanced around. “Now what can I do?”

Jane smiled. “Let me introduce you to the immense pleasure to be had in sautéing garlic and shallots.”

Jane’s delicious beef stroganoff was received with enthusiasm and the appetizing fare went a long way to improving the atmosphere over dinner.

“We do appreciate you ladies providing accommodations for us,” Edwina said. “I know you weren’t expecting five houseguests to drop in like this.”

“It’s the nicest thing that’s happened on this trip,” Laura murmured, then looked up with a guilty expression. “I’m also grateful.”

“So am I,” Ted chimed in. “Thank you, ladies.”

Max frowned. “Will the tour company be reimbursing you for the expense of putting us up?”

“Yes, the manager was quite happy to do so,” Jane assured him. “There will be no charge to any of you either. They’re taking full responsibility for the cost and we’re still hoping they’ll find a van for you all.”

Louise brought up the subject of holiday dishes, and all
the guests talked about things they liked to cook and their favorite recipes for the holidays. Only Laura seemed pale and depressed, and after picking at her food excused herself from the table to return to her room.

“You know,” Jane said, her tone thoughtful as she watched the interior decorator depart, “Laura didn’t mention anything about her family.”

“Does she have anyone?” Max asked.

“She said she was planning to visit her mother after the business party she’s giving on Monday,” Edwina said, “although I got the impression that they’re not very close and evidently her mother has gone off somewhere without telling Laura.”

“Not very thoughtful of her,” Ted said.

Max’s expression turned melancholy. “At least she has someone to visit.”

When the rest of the group had finished and Louise and Alice had begun to collect the dishes, Edwina insisted that she clean up after dinner.

“I know my way around a kitchen, and you ladies have done enough for us today,” the schoolteacher said firmly. “Ted, would you check on Allan? Max can help me with the dishes.”

Alice rose to her feet. “I’ll go up with you, Ted.”

“Would you ask our patient if he’d like some dinner?” Jane asked. “I can make up a tray for him if he’s feeling hungry.”

Alice nodded. To Ted, she said, “Let me get my medical bag so I can give him a quick check-over while I’m up there.”

After she retrieved her bag from the front closet, she accompanied Ted to the second floor. “Do you know what Allan is allergic to?” she asked.

“He mentioned pollen and that he suffers a lot during the summer.” Ted thought for a minute. “You know, now that I think about it, he started feeling ill just after we visited Mayor Tynan’s home. That big, dried-flower wreath on the inside of his door might have triggered this.”

“That could be it. Pollen is a catalyst whether it’s from fresh flowers or dried ones.” Alice knocked on the door of the Sunrise Room. “Allan? May Ted and I come in?”

There was the sound of coughing, then a muffled, “Yes.”

Louise had put Allan in the Sunrise Room, probably in hopes that the bright color scheme of yellow, white and blue would cheer him up. It was Grace Chapel Inn’s unofficial “sick” guest room.

When Alice saw his watery eyes and reddened nose, and heard the congested sound of his breathing, she set down her case and took out her stethoscope.

“Allan, if you have no objections, I’d like to check you over,” she said as he sat up. “I’m a registered nurse, but if your condition requires a hospital visit, we need to take you there.”

“I don’t mind at all, although I look about as good as I feel,” he told her. “My prescription allergy tablets are at home and the over-the-counter medication I bought yesterday isn’t helping much.”

Ted excused himself so that Alice could examine Allan with privacy.

After a quick check and some questions about his medical history, she found that aside from the discomfort of his sinus congestion, the older man was in very good health.

“Your heart rate and blood pressure are fine.” She released the pressure cuff from his forearm and tucked it back in her case, then took out a lighted scope to check his eyes, ears and airways. “Still, if you feel dizzy, or your symptoms change or get worse, I want you to tell me right away.”

“I will.” Allan looked over at the snow falling outside the window and his expression turned sad.

“Is there something you want to talk about?” Alice asked carefully.

“It’s my nephew. He should be flying over the Atlantic right about now. He’s been stationed in the Middle East for almost two years. We were really looking forward to spending his leave with him and his parents.”

Alice placed her hand over his. “It’s possible that the tour company may still come through and send a new van.”

“I have the feeling that’s not going to happen. It’s all right.” He turned his head away to sneeze. “He’ll be with his
parents and my wife. Knowing that is almost as good as seeing him myself.” He reached for a tissue and blew his nose.

“I have some nasal spray you can use along with your tablets,” Alice said. “You should take a warm shower, too, and have some soup. That will help open up your sinus passages a bit more and make you feel better.”

He settled back on the pillows. “The only thing that will make me feel better is a magic carpet ride home.” He glanced at her bag. “I don’t suppose you have one of those in there I could borrow.”

She smiled at his humor. “If I did, you’d have a five-way fight for it. I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for my sister’s homemade chicken soup.”

Chapter Sixteen

O
nce Max and Edwina were busy in the kitchen, Louise asked Jane to join her in the parlor and closed the door so they could speak privately.

“I just received another phone call from the tour company,” she said. “They have not found a van and they don’t think that they will now.”

“Wonderful.” Jane rubbed a hand over her face. “The manager will call me again tomorrow, but the company’s office has now closed and will not be reopening until after Christmas.” Louise gave her a grave look. “Jane, their families are unable to help, either. I think we must either come up with transportation for them ourselves or plan on providing accommodations for the group through Christmas.”

“Oh boy!” Jane dropped onto the sofa. “That is not the news they’re expecting to hear.” She rested her elbows against her knees and propped her chin on her fists. “Okay, I say we just forget about the tour company and drive them home ourselves.”

Louise nodded. “That was my thought. With five people, two drivers and all their luggage, we will need two cars. You know how I hate driving in snow. Do you think you and Alice could take them tomorrow?”

“Of course we can. My car might be a tad small, but if you’ll lend me your Cadillac again, we should be fine.” Jane studied her face. “There’s something else, isn’t there? More bad news.”

“Yes. I listened to the weather report and there is a large storm front moving in from the Midwest. It has brought blizzard conditions to central Ohio and shut down parts of the interstate there.”

“Just when you think it can’t get any worse.…”

“It very well may.” Louise came over and rested a hand on her shoulder. “If you and Alice leave first thing in the morning, you should be able to reach the city before the storm arrives. However, it is very likely that you will not be able to return home until it passes through.”

Jane felt bitterness rise inside her. “So you’ll probably spend the holidays alone here while we’re stuck in Philly. Or we can stay home and be together while they’re miserable and stranded here away from
their
families.”

“That seems to be the choice.”

“The choices really stink.” Jane rested her head back against the cushions. “This is one of those God tests Alice
is always talking about, isn’t it? One of us has to make a sacrifice.”

Louise came to sit down next to her. “These people need to go home for Christmas, Jane. I don’t want to be separated from you or Alice, so I know how they feel. I know I could not enjoy our holiday, knowing that we could have reunited them with their families.”

Jane met her sister’s bright gaze.

“Alice and I are your sisters. We love you.” Louise wiped a tear away from Jane’s cheek. “Whether we’re together or apart, that will never change.”

Jane nodded, unable to speak.

“Good.” Louise kissed her forehead and then looked back into her eyes. “Now, are you sure you can do this? That you
want
to do this?”

She nodded. “I know Alice will agree it’s the best decision.”

“Then let’s go and talk to her, and we’ll tell the others in the morning at breakfast.”