Yule Tidings (27 page)

             
Anne called Merle a few hours later.  The girls weren’t driving home in the dark, but they had plans early Saturday, so they were leaving by around eight am.  She’d waited until they went to bed before getting on the phone.  Anne told Merle all about the party and the variety of gifts.  She intentionally forgot to tell him about the nightgown, but other than that, she described the gifts with relish and some confusion.  Merle laughed as she explained some of the more risqué gifts, her embarrassment obvious.  Anne could barely keep her eyes open when she finally said goodnight, hanging up the phone before she fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Thirty-One

             
The next week passed quickly, and Anne was hardly prepared for Christmas.  She started the turkey at five in the morning, carefully climbing out of bed so she didn’t wake Merle.  It was the first time he’d spent the night at her house, and she’d been extremely uncomfortable.  It seemed wrong to sleep with him on the bed Franklin had gotten her, but he knew which bedroom was hers, and when she’d suggested sleeping in one of the spare rooms he’d given her an odd look. As usual he seemed to know what she needed and he hadn’t tried to touch her throughout the night.  Now as she put the stuffed turkey in the oven she wondered if she was being silly.  Franklin had divorced her, the bed had been a mercy present, and she’d bought a new mattress two years ago.  In all actuality, the bed didn’t have nearly the same connection to Franklin as it once had, and she was marrying Merle very soon. 

             
Anne finished in the kitchen and tiptoed up the stairs to her bedroom.  Merle was sleeping on his back now, having rolled over when she left the bed.  She eased herself onto the bed, trying not to wake him.  When she was nearly on top of him, she kissed him softly on the lips.  His eyes opened, drowsily at first, and then gained heat as she kissed him more deeply. 

             
Anne and Merle didn’t emerge from the bedroom until after eight, having taken a nap after their morning love play.  Anne had a few more dishes to prepare; but for once there were no kids around to slow her down with their questions and needs.  Merle made pancakes while Anne prepared the side dishes—everything was ready for Christmas dinner.  Jim had plowed the driveway for her the night before, making sure there would be plenty of parking.  Merle had asked if he could invite Jim and Jennifer, sin
ce they were practically family
and Anne agreed readily, so the party of fifteen was up to eighteen, but Anne didn’t mind. 

             
Merle watched Anne as she made the various side dishes for the feast.  She’d lost weight since he’d met her.  She looked healthier, and much happier.  She hadn’t gotten dressed yet, but she covered her pajamas with a plaid Christmas apron that had a snowman on the front.  After they’d eaten, Anne sent Merle to the shower while she finished with last minute details.  The kids would be arriving in about an hour and she still needed to get ready. She hurriedly showered and dressed while Merle kindly wrapped a few presents that Anne hadn’t finished the night before. 

             
It seemed like everyone arrived at the same time.  The girls chatted like a gaggle of geese.  Alex looked tired and a little pale, but she kept reassuring everyone that she was fine.  Trisha showed up with her new boyfriend, Todd, an odd-looking young man studying political science.  His eyes seemed a bit too large for his face, but he seemed kind and he had eyes only for Trisha.  Anne laughed and teased the kids, feeling at home for the first time in years in the old house.  It was warm and cozy.  She smiled as the kids teased and harassed each other.  Jim and Jennifer fit right in, finding a niche with Anne’s family. 

             
To Anne, it seemed like dinner was done too soon.  There weren’t enough chairs, so the grandkids sat on the floor or laps while half the adults sat at the table and the rest sat on the couch and loveseat.  Mashed potatoes, broccoli, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, turkey, cherry cobbler, corn, homemade rolls, and a host of other dishes covered the table and kitchen counters.  Everyone was spending the night at the farm, with the exception of Jim and Jennifer.  Anne and Merle sat up late talking with the kids. 

             
Merle took the time to get to know a little about each of Anne’s children and in-laws.  He wanted them to know that he didn’t have to be some kind of stranger to them if they didn’t want him to be.  He and Jason had a lot in common, and Merle could easily see Jason being a son to him; much like Jim.  Michael and Brandon were a little more like his own son, not terribly interested in construction or architecture.  The girls were sweet and never seemed to stop talking, and he truly enjoyed watching the grandkids toddle about.  It made him yearn to see his own children and grandchildren.  He was excited for Anne to meet his kids: and for her kids to meet his.  It would be interesting to see what would happen. 

             
Anne was surprised when Trisha asked which couch Todd should sleep on.  Since Anne had assumed he’d be sleeping with Trisha, she hadn’t even bothered getting blankets or sheets out for him. When Trisha looked at Anne in complete surprise, all Anne could think of to say was, “well, Merle is sleeping with me, so if you want, Todd can sleep on either couch or with you.  If you need sheets and blankets, I’ll leave some out for you.”  Since Trisha didn’t answer, Anne climbed the stairs to bed, Merle following close behind.  The kids might be used to staying up until three in the morning, but Anne and Merle were not.  They were exhausted.

             
Anne awoke to the sounds of the grandkids playing downstairs and someone bustling around in the kitchen.  Merle was gone, and she heard his voice floating up to her from downstairs.  He was cooking again; this time it smelled like French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, and maybe sausage.  She smiled as she climbed out of bed, dressing quickly before hurrying to help Merle.  None of the kids were awake, just the grandkids, and Anne laughed at Merle as he tried to cook and stop the little ones from hurting themselves at the same time.  She blocked the stairs with a child gate before taking a spatula from Merle.  “They’ve been going non-stop since seven,” Merle said, pointing at the children.  “The twins keep trying to climb the stairs, but they don’t know how to get down just yet, and little Robyn thinks she’s invincible.”  Anne laughed.

             
By the time the kids woke up, Anne and Merle had finished making breakfast and had the grandchildren eating heartily.  It didn’t take long for everyone to reassemble once the smell of food wafted through the air.  After breakfast the kids loaded up their cars for the drive home.  They’d have to make the trip again in just a few more days, but for now everyone wanted to be back home in their beds.  Anne and Merle washed the dishes before leaving.  Anne didn’t feel the need to stay at the farm.  She’d have to clear it out and put it on the market when they got back from Europe.  Or maybe she’d have the kids do their rooms while she was gone.  Then she wouldn’t have nearly as much to go through.

             
Anne looked around the large empty house.  It would be nice to leave all the old ghosts behind.  The kids didn’t even seem to mind the idea that she would be selling the house.  Of course, they all had lives of their own now.  Even Trisha was growing up.  Anne sighed as she locked the door.  Something told her she would never spend the night here again.  All her clothes and everything she needed were at Merle’s.  Everything she planned on taking to Europe with her was there as well. 

             
“Are you alright, Anne?” Merle asked softly when she climbed in the car.  She had a faraway look in her eyes as she gazed at the house.  He imagined that she was reluctant to leave a home she’d lived in for nearly thirty years. 

             
Anne looked at Merle, the concern in his face.  His work-roughened hand rested on the gearshift between them.  Anne patted his hand gently, entwining her fingers within his.  “I’m wonderful,” she said, smiling.  Tears welled in her eyes as he kissed her hand tenderly.  She hadn’t been this happy in a very long time.

Chapter Thirty-Two

             
December thirty-first was a bright sunny day.  Snow covered the treetops and fell in soft flurries around them as they drove to the church.  Anne watched Merle as he drove, winding his way down the roads carefully.  He looked comfortable in his jeans and sweater.  Anne smiled as she held his hand.  She was nervous, though she really didn’t have a reason to be.  She’d contemplated sleeping at the farm last night just to keep in the tradition of not seeing the groom until the wedding, but she settled for waiting to get dressed until they were at the church.  Merle’s kids had flown in on the twenty-ninth and she’d spent some time getting to know them. 

             
Last night they had a large dinner at Merle’s so her family and his family would have an opportunity to get to know each other a bit.  The grandchildren played merrily in the living room while the adults spent a good deal of time chatting and drinking.  Anne still doubted her sobriety.  She’d had a bit more to drink than she should have and Merle had to help her to bed.  He, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have been affected by the alcohol.  Then again, he hadn’t drunk as much as she had either.  He kept refilling her glass, but she doubted he refilled his quite as often.  She’d finally started covering her drink so he couldn’t add more wine. 

             
They were at least an hour early.  Merle looked at Anne a moment before turning off the car.  “You’re sure this is what you want?” he asked, giving her just one more chance to back out.  He knew he was ready for this, but he also knew that things had been moving extremely fast for Anne, and he didn’t want her to regret marrying him.  Anne just smiled and nodded.  “Good.  I have a couple errands to run first.  You go on in and get dressed.  I’ll be back soon.”  Merle leaned over and kissed her quickly before she climbed from the car.  He opened the trunk so she could grab her clothes and watched as she hurried into the church. 

             
Merle waited until she was in the church before he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.  He had three stops to make.  His first stop was to pick up a beautiful diamond necklace he’d ordered from the jewelry store.  It hadn’t come in until yesterday.  He wanted Anne to wear it for the wedding.  She wasn’t much for jewelry, and it was tastefully simple; something he thought she’d feel comfortable wearing often.  After he left the jeweler’s he went to the florist to buy Anne a lovely bouquet of roses that would be waiting for her at the reception hall. 

Merle’s last stop was at the cemetery down the street from the church.  He trudged through the snow to Martha’s tombstone.  He knew he had to make peace before he married Anne.  Merle stopped at the base of the large angel.  “Martha, I’m getting married today to a wonderful woman.  I know you’d like her.  She’s smart and kind and generous.  Everything you would have wanted me to find.  She reminds me of you in a lot of ways, and yet, she’s completely different.  I miss you, but somehow she’s filling the void you left when you died.”  Merle fought the tears that welled in his eyes.  He knew he was lucky to have fallen in love twice in his life.  The wind blew coldly over his face, making his eyes water with the bitterness.  He didn’t have much longer before he had to get back to the church to change.  Merle took his wedding ring from his pants pocket.  Martha had gotten it for him when they’d been married five years.  Before that, they hadn’t been able to afford one for him, and Marth’s had been a very simple band of gold.  Merle put the ring on the stone angel, making certain it wouldn’t be able to blow away.  In the spring he’d put it in the small chamber carved into the top of the stone on the ground.  He doubted he’d be able to get to it right now, with snow covering everything.  Merle smiled softly and walked away. 

Chapter Thirty-Three

             
Merle waited breathlessly for Anne to emerge from the vestibule.  He hardly noticed her bridesmaids walking down the aisle in his anticipation to see his bride.  When she finally emerged from the back of the church Merle thought he would collapse from his anticipation.  She looked lovely in an ivory concoction of silk and lace.  It flowed delicately down her body in several layers.  The neckline was showcased by the diamond necklace he’d managed to sneak to Rose, lace bordering the edges.  The long sleeves belled at the elbow in an elabora
te selection of lacey layers.  The m
ajority of her hair was piled on top her head in a coiffure, leaving a few stray pieces to curl around her face and down her neck.  Her veil was held on by a small tiara, half flowing down her back, the other half over her face.  Micah walked her down the aisle so proudly it was impossible not to smile.  Anne smiled beautifully as she directed Micah to his seat before taking Merle’s proffered hand.