The Worst Christmas
Part 3
Jim squeezed Mariana’s hand, but he
looked at Nate. “I guess you’d better tell us.”
“I called Grandma Thacker last
night.” Shame colored his neck red, and he looked younger than fourteen. More
like a six-year-old admitting he sneaked cookies after she’d gone to bed.
When he didn’t say any more, Jim
said, “And?”
Nate immediately went on the
defensive. “Mom, you were so upset and crying and I was mad that we had to
leave home and . . . and I yelled at her, told her we didn’t want to come
because she hated us—you and me—and it was all her fault that our car got
wrecked and you were hurt. And . . .” He ran out of breath, dropped the
attitude, and sheepishly examined his feet.
“Oh, Nate.” She jumped up and grabbed
her son’s shoulders. “That was very bad. How could you? She just had a heart
attack.”
“But, Mo-om.”
Jim rose a lot slower. “Not so much
bad as . . . thoughtless. I understand that you were defending your mother. I
appreciate that. And so does she. But yelling at an old woman was probably not
the best way to handle the situation.”
Mariana and Nate stared at him askance.
He should’ve yelled at Nate. Or blamed her for raising such an inconsiderate
kid. Oh, dear Lord, what if her son’s tirade put his mother back in the
hospital? Gave her another heart attack? Yet, Jim calmly patted Nate’s shoulder
and said it wasn’t the best way to defend her? The man was a saint. A real,
live saint.
Nate threw himself against Jim. “I
am so sorry. I shouldn’t have done it.”
Jim held the sobbing teen, the same
way he’d held her. “It’s not the end of the world. I’ll call my mother and
smooth things over.” He held Nate, patting the boy’s shoulder as he blubbered.
“Between you and your mother, I won’t have a dry shirt left.”
“Excuse me, folks?” Cora entered
the sitting room. “You have a visitor. Is it okay if I let her in?”
A visitor? Mariana had a terrible
feeling about that.
“Thank you, Mrs. Willow. I am right
here.” Jim’s mother’s haughty tone preceded her.
“Mother? What are you doing here?”
Jim rushed to the doorway and drew his tiny mother in, while the innkeeper
backed away. “Sit down. Don’t tell me you drove from Chicago.”
She sat on the edge of the settee.
“Of course not. My driver did. Young man—” She stared pointedly at Nate. “—I
will talk to you later. Jim, take the boy out to the kitchen. I believe I smell
Christmas cookies. I would like to talk to Mariana.”
Mariana panicked. She glanced at
Jim then squared her shoulders. She would handle this, if only to save her son
from a scolding. He needed one, that was for sure. But this little woman, in
her elegant wool pants suit and velvet cloche that perched right on her
perfectly-coifed hair, wasn’t going to do it for her.
“Sit, Mariana.” Jim’s mother, her
voice softened, patted the place next to her. “I’m afraid there’s been a
misunderstanding between us.”
Where had that conciliatory tone
come from? And the sadness in her blue eyes, identical to her son’s.
Reluctantly, Mariana sat on the edge of the settee. Though mere inches separated
her from her mother-in-law, the gulf was wider than the Mississippi.
“I want to apologize for the impressions
I have given you. My daughters, also. What was intended as concern over Jim’s marriage
apparently was perceived as disapproval.”
And
it wasn’t? Mariana tightened her jaw so she wouldn’t blurt out the words.
“In the hospital, I had time to
examine my life, my priorities.” She reached across the space and took
Mariana’s hand. “You have made Jim very happy. I’ve never seen him smile as
much as he has in the past three years. After his father passed, he acted more
serious than he’s ever been, shouldering responsibilities for his sisters and
me. Since he met you, he’s happy.”
Color
me stunned.
“Your son’s phone call last night upset
me.”
Mariana’s stiffened. No way was this woman going to take it out
on Nate. “Ma’am—”
She patted Mariana’s hand but
didn’t release it. “I recognized your need to defend your cub. Don’t. He did
nothing wrong. He made me aware of the problem between us.”
“But—”
Another hand pat. “This is very
difficult for me, so please let me finish. I admit I questioned my son moving
out to a farm and telecommuting instead of staying in the city to handle his
father’s investments. As I said, he is happy. And that’s all a mother wants for
her children. As for my daughters.” She sighed. “They will treat you properly
from now on, and with respect. We all will. I am sorry it took an accident,
your being hurt, and a young man’s determination to make us realize our
shortcomings.”
A stunned Mariana didn’t know how
to respond.
Jim’s mother reached up and turned
Mariana’s chin. “Oh, my. I’m afraid you will have two beautiful shiners for
Christmas. If anyone says anything, just tell them they should see the other
guy.” A small smile, one so like her son’s, curved her lips.
“That’s what Jim said this morning.”
She squeezed the older woman’s fingers.
“Smart man. But of course, he’s my
son.” The smile grew. “You are such a strong woman, Mariana. I admire that. Raising
a child by yourself, managing a large farm, and teaching agri-business at the
community college is nothing short of amazing. I’m ashamed to say I felt
intimidated by you and your accomplishments. Susan and Amelia admitted they
are, too.”
They
were intimidated by her? Holy cow!
“Mrs. Thacker, I—”
“Do you think you could call me
Grace? I would not expect you to call me Mother.
But Mrs. Thacker sounds too formal.”
This time, she gave Mariana a tentative smile before standing, finally releasing
Mariana’s hand.
“Grace, I had no idea. I apologize
for my son’s call. He should never—”
“He has initiative. And his defense
of you is admirable. You should be proud of him.”
“I am. But he should not have upset
you.”
Grace waved that aside. “Let’s find
those two boys and hope they haven’t eaten all the cookies. Then, we will get
this show on the road, as my father used to say. Mr. Willow promises to take
care of your vehicle, which you can pick up on your way home. The girls are
preparing a Christmas dinner that will knock our socks off. Or so they say.”
With her arm linked through
Mariana’s, Grace led her into the kitchen. A few cookies remained on the plate
in the middle of the table. While Grace munched on one, Mariana realized how
difficult this visit must have been for her. To admit her failure to welcome
Mariana and to take on responsibility for her daughter’s attitude, too, made
Mariana regard her with respect.
How fortunate she was. With two men
in her life to love her, she could open her mind and heart to accept his family
the way they were. Different from her, yes, but united in their love for Jim,
they accepted her the way she was.
Instead of the worst Christmas, this
one was going down in her book as the most amazing.
Wishing you all a great holiday season. Come back tomorrow for Vonnie Davis’s “A Beary
Merry Christmas.”
19 comments:
I stayed up late just to see what Nathan had done. You and your cliff-hangers. You had me wrapped around your little writing finger. LOL I didn't expect this. What a neat, neat story. Well done, you.
Nice. A truly happy ending. That Jim is something else. Lucky Mariana. And Nate.
LOL, Vonnie. If you're tired this morning, don't blame me. Glad you enjoyed the story.
Thank, Margo. Mariana and Nate found a real winner in Jim.
A very sweet holiday story. Thanks
Grace...has some, it turns out. Ho, ho, ho! Nothing like a life threatening illness to teach a lesson or two. Good job with Beta Jim...he's a keeper. Now we have to work on Mariana's self esteem, right? Well done, Diane!
I'm glad her MIL came around. Great story, Diane!
Thanks, Robin.
Rolynn, you're right. Mariana does need to work on her self-esteem.
Thanks, Jannine.
A complete surprise and a happy ending! Wonderful story, Diane.
I feel as if I've been virtually hugged! Beautiful story!
I love this ending!! So sweet. I want to read what happens next on Christmas day, show the sisters act...all of it. Great ending, Diane.
Thanks, Alison. Glad I surprised you.
Thanks so much, Christine.
Thanks, Leah. I guess I'll have to develop this into a longer story, huh?
Great ending. Love to see uppity people turn nice.
What looks/sounds uppity can be masking insecurity. Glad you enjoyed the story, Brenda.
Wow...this is fantastic!!! Great turnabout. I guess the ornery Nate knew what he was doing. :) What a heartwarming, lovely story for Christmas!
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