Two Hearts for Christmast (2 page)

“
So you’ll be at the farm today?”

“
Yes, I have appointments with three companies looking to give us quotes on the work that has to be done fixing up two of the outbuildings.”

“
Will you be home tonight?”

Christopher shook his head.  “Probably not.  Tomorrow morning I’m meeting with a supplier to go over a few of the inventory items for the store.”

Yvette tried to hide her disappointment.  She never liked when Christopher wasn’t home.  

He gazed at her.  “I know that look.  I’m sorry, sweetheart.  I know it’s not ideal that I’m gone so often.  We can’t put off the inevitable.   I think at some point we need to sit down and discuss our long-term plans.”

“
I know.  One thing’s for certain, we can’t stay in your parents’ house much longer.  We always said that moving to this house was going to be temporary.  When we sold your condo, and my house, moving into your parents’ townhouse was supposed to allow us to save up and get our own home.  This is much less square footage than my old house and now that we have Robin, we’re busting at the seams, Chris.”

“
I know, but there was no way I’d feel comfortable moving into the home you shared with Michael, Yvie.  You spent twelve years there with him.”

“
Honey, I wasn’t suggesting that you should.  I understand your reasons for not wanting to live there.  I’m just saying that all the houses we’ve looked at haven’t really worked for us.  They’ve ticked some of the boxes for us, but not all of them.”

“
Why don’t we just build a custom home then,” he replied.  “That way we’re sure to get what we want.”

“
True, but where?  You’ve been spending so much time at the farm, maybe Raleigh isn’t the place we should be anymore.  Still, Lacey’s school is here, and all her friends.  I’d hate to uproot her.”

Christopher reached over to grab his wife’s hand.  “We’ll figure this out, sweetheart.  Meanwhile, I think we should keep looking at houses in the area, but also seriously consider other options.  There’s a happy medium somewhere…we just need to find it.”

He leaned over and kissed Yvette.  When they pulled away, Christopher caressed her cheek.

“
I’ve got to go, baby.  I’ll call you later today, okay?”

Yvette was upset, and didn’t trust her voice to sound upbeat, so she nodded.  

He stood up and walked over to put his dishes in the dishwasher.  Afterwards, he took Robin out of his high chair and carried him into the family room.  Yvette watched Christopher hug Robin and play with him for a few moments.  That gave her the time she needed to compose herself.  She was stressed out about their current living situation, and Christopher having to be gone sometimes only added to it.  It wasn’t impossible, but even being an occasional single mom when he was gone was hard.  She definitely had enormous respect for the men and women that had to do it full-time.

Robin’s crying snapped her out of her musings.  She glanced over to see Robin holding on to Christopher’s leg.  He bent down and picked his son up.

“
Daddy has to go, buddy.  I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?”

“
No bye-bye, Daddy,” Robin cried.

Yvette went over and Christopher handed Robin to her.  It was difficult because Robin stretched himself out to hinder the transfer.  Eventually, his parents won out, which made him cry even louder.

“
You go,” she told her husband.  “He’ll be fine in a few minutes.”

Christopher nodded, but his expression was anxious.  He didn’t like leaving Robin in such a state of dismay, but he had to go.  It wasn’t hard to see that Yvette was also upset at not being able to continue their talk.  In fact, he agreed with every point that she’d made.  His parents had purchased their townhouse to use when they came to Raleigh to see him, or visit friends.  It was just the two of them, so it wasn’t very big.  Luckily, there were three bedrooms, but they were small in comparison to Yvette’s old house.  She’d given up thirty-one hundred square feet of living space.  Between the two of them, they’d placed several rooms of furniture in storage while they shopped around for a larger home.  It was a stressful situation, but he had a plan he was working on that would alleviate their current dilemma.  His priority right now was relieving the sadness in his wife’s eyes.

“
Hey, I’ve got an idea,” Christopher said, suddenly.  “Why don’t I take Robin with me?  I’m sure Mom and Dad would love to spend time with him.  I’ll pack a bag for him, and you and Lacey can have a girls’ night out.  We guys will go to the farm, and we’ll see you both tomorrow night.”  

Yvette hesitated.  “Are you sure, Chris?  Robby can be quite a handful and—”

“
Of course, I’m sure.  You enjoy some much needed time off.”  He kissed her lips.  “Rob and I will head to the farm where he can be spoiled rotten while I’m working.”

She smiled.  Relief already fanning over her.  “That sounds fantastic, sweetheart.  I’ll go pack his bag.”

“
Tell you what.  You handle getting his food and snacks packed up, and I’ll get his clothes and toys.  I’m sure they have plenty of things to occupy him, but he’ll want his favorites, too.”

Before she could protest, Christopher whisked his son off to his room to pack.  Yvette watched them leave.  She shook her head.  Her husband excelled at pitching in to help when she needed him.  Sometimes even before she
knew
she needed him.  She hurried to get a bag packed.  She also packed his dinnerware set, and a few extra sippy cups.  Seasoned at the intricacies of children, Christopher’s parents, Margaret and Anthony, had stocked up on identical toys, foods and other things so they’d be ready for visits from their grandkids.  Her parents, Abigail and James, had also followed suit and outfitted their home with incidentals, too “just in case” Yvette and her family came to Florida for a visit.

By the time Christopher returned, Yvette had everything packed up and ready to go.  While he loaded up his truck, she got Robin’s coat on while Lacey took care of his hat.  They both took him outside.

“
He’s all ready to go.”

“
Okay, little man.  Let’s get this show on the road.  Say bye-bye to Mommy, and Lacey,” Christopher instructed.

“
Bye-bye, Mommy,” he said with enthusiasm.  “Bye, Layshee.”  

Lacey kissed his cheek, and ran back inside.  Yvette hugged him tightly.  She tried not to get her feelings hurt at the exuberance with which Robin had bid her farewell.  Christopher had gotten cries when he tried to leave.  She’d received a wave and all smiles.  She laughed at that.

“
All ready to go see Grandma and Pop Pop, huh?”  She kissed him and handed him to Christopher so he could secure him in the car seat.

“
I’ll call you when we get there, okay?” Christopher assured her.

They hugged and kissed before he climbed up in his F-150 truck and shut the door.  He rolled down the window and gave Yvette a final smile.

“
Make sure you do something fun tonight.  I’m going to check with Lacey just to make sure you’re enjoying your day off,” he warned.

She giggled.  “I promise, no cooking, no cleaning, and nothing but fun lined up.  In fact, I’m going to pick Lacey up early.  We’ll go out to dinner, and who knows what other trouble we ladies will get into tonight.”

Christopher reached out to tug a lock of her hair.  “Not too much fun,” he said, possessively.

She leaned in and kissed him thoroughly.  “How could I?  You’ll be gone.”

He laughed, and then backed out of the driveway.  She waved goodbye until his truck was out of sight.  She walked back to the house.  Yvette couldn’t recall the last time she’d had an entire night without her son.  
I don’t know exactly what I’ll do, but I’m sure going to make the most of it.  
Starting with a long, hot bubble bath after work.

3 CHAPTER three

“
Saints preserve us, what do we have here?” Margaret Darcy exclaimed as she walked down the steps leading into the courtyard behind her farmhouse.  “Is that my little Robby?” she asked, in a sing-song voice.

Robby laughed and held out his arms.  “Gamma, up.”

Margaret rushed over and engulfed Robin in her arms.  She twirled around with him.  “How’s my grandson?  What a lovely surprise,” she told her son.  “I had no idea you’d be bringing the baby with you.”

She went into the house, not waiting to see if Christopher was following.  

“
Let’s see what treats Grandma has for you.  Tony,” she called out.

“
What?” came a loud reply.

“
Come and look at what I found outside.”

After a few moments, Anthony Darcy could be heard coming down the hallway.

“
I hope it’s not another stray animal because we’ve got enough already,” he

groused.

She held their grandson out for him.  “Guess who’s come for a visit?”

“
Robby,” Anthony said with a booming voice.  “There’s my grandson.”

He reached for him and gave him a big hug.  “How’s Pop Pop’s slugger doing?”

A huge grin covered Robin’s face.  He laughed as his grandfather raised him high into the air, and then let him go.  Anthony caught him again, and repeated the motion.

“
Isn’t this a nice surprise,” Margaret enthused.  

“
We’re staying the night—if you two don’t mind.”

“
Chris, why ever would we mind?  You’re welcome anytime, and you know you don’t need an invitation to visit your parents—or your grandparents,” she cooed at Robin.

“
I wanted to give Yvette a break.”

“
Of course.  You should ease her load where you can, and we’re happy to help whenever you’d like us to.  Aren’t we, Tony?”

When he didn’t answer, she turned around to face her husband, but he was gone.

“
Now how do you like that?  He’s kidnapped my boy.  Tony?” Margaret bellowed.  “You give that boy back.  He hasn’t had a proper visit with his grandma, yet.”

Christopher couldn’t contain his laughter as she went barreling out of the room in search of his father and son.  “Don’t worry about me, Mom.  I’m fine.”

Lacey and her baby brother had all their grandparents under their spell.  Christopher set Robin’s diaper bag on the kitchen counter, and then took the rest of his gear upstairs to the nursery.  The minute they’d heard the news that Yvette was pregnant, renovations had begun on one of the upstairs bedrooms.  His parents had already overhauled his room so that Yvette wouldn’t have to contend with his “bachelor pad” and another bedroom down the hall with a panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains, gardens and backyard was redecorated to fit Lacey’s tastes.

They came to visit often, and each time they did, his mother and Lacey would arrange a trip to downtown Waynesville to shop and watch the sights on Main Street.  Two of her favorite places to visit were the Mast General Store, and then the City Bakery.  They had also incorporated the Waynesville Christmas Parade and “A Night Before Christmas” into their family’s holiday traditions.  December was a very busy and magical time for the Darcys.

Christopher’s cell phone rang, interrupting his daydreams.  He answered the phone.  It was one of the contractors indicating that he was a few minutes away.  He hung up and then went to find his mother.  He found all three in his father’s study.  They were on the floor playing with his dad’s train set.

“
Hey guys, I’m going to be outside for a while.  One of the contractors will be here any minute to give me an estimate on some repairs.”

“
Do you need some help?” his father asked.

“
No, I’m good.  I just wanted to let you know where I’d be.”  He walked over and bent down to give his son a kiss on the cheek.  “Behave for Grandma and Pop Pop, Robby, okay?”

“
Yesh,” he said, dutifully.  “Choo-choo.”

“
Yes, the trains go choo-choo,” he said.  He ruffled Robin’s dark, curly hair.  “See you later, buddy.”

“
Bye, honey,” his mother replied, and then turned her attention back to Robin.

He left the three of them to play and headed back downstairs.  He was about to go outside when he noticed a glass dish full of cinnamon buns.  He unwrapped the plastic on the top and used a nearby spatula to drop one on a napkin.  Christopher sank his teeth into the moist treat and sighed with happiness.  

“
Have mercy, that woman can cook,” he said aloud.  His mother was one of the best cooks he knew.  With a smile, he headed outside to meet his first appointment.

***

“
What’s going on, Mom?”  Lacey asked the moment she got into her mother’s Toyota Venza.

“
Hi, honey,” Yvette greeted her daughter.  She started to kiss her, but Lacey protested.

“
Mom, can you kiss me
after
we pull off?”

With a smile, Yvette tried not to get her feelings hurt by her daughter’s aversion to public displays of affection in front of the other campers.

“
Sure, Lace,” she said, and then pulled back into the throng of traffic.

“
Your dad took Robin with him to Grandma Darcy’s house.  They’re going to spend the night and come home tomorrow.”

“
Aw, man.”  Darcy’s frown was genuine.  “I love going to Grandma and Pop Pop’s.”

“
I know, honey.  We’ll go for a visit soon, okay?  In the meantime, you and I have a girls’ night.  We can do whatever you want, and eat whatever you’d like for dinner.  No cooking.  What do you say?”

Her daughter whooped with excitement.  “I say that’s pretty cool, what do we do first?”

“
Well, since Christmas is getting pretty close, how about we do some shopping?”