Mistletoe and Magic (13 page)

A sense of sadness centered in her chest, and tears welled in her eyes. Fortunately the day had been busy. Dina had even given her time to go Christmas shopping for presents. She’d purchased a lot of electronic items to keep them busy for days while she licked her wounds. She flipped the closed sign over and shut out the lights. Jenny, who was watching Lacey at home, hadn’t called but once during the day. She hoped that was a good sign.

Driving out of the parking lot, she stopped for a red light and watched people walking into several homes carrying packages inside the houses. She was glad they were celebrating. Her New Year’s resolution was to continue to put the past behind her and move forward with their lives. AJ or not, the one thing she had to admit, she knew that now, she was ready to move forward with her life. She’d even consider dating. But more than anything, having her family free of their demons was at the top of the list.

Pulling into the driveway, the garage door opened. Jenny must have heard her coming. She really needed to rush and take a shower. Inside, Jodi was setting up a buffet table.

“Thanks for opening the garage door, Jodi.”

“It was me,” Jenny said and gave her mother a hug.

“Mommy, Mommy,” Lacey interrupted, “it’s Christmas Eve. I wonder what Santa brought me.”

“I’m wondering too,” she teased.

“Mom, you’d better get into the shower,” Jenny suggested. “Our company will be here in an hour.”

“I’m going, I’m going. Thanks!” Sniffing the air, Mallory inhaled the aromas of cooking and baking, while she removed her coat and hung it in the hall closet. She couldn’t decipher between them, but it sure smelled good. “Oh my God, this house smells divine. Between the pine, the candles, the food, the baking, oh man, the calories…I’m in big trouble.”

“Right,” Jodi said, “with a body like yours you really need to worry.” She laughed.

“Do you need my help?” Mallory asked.

“Nope. Jenny and Lacey helped me. Now, go take your shower.”

“I’m going. Girls, thank you.” She rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower to heat the water. Earlier, she’d decided to wear a Christmas outfit she’d been saving for the last two years. Mallory smiled at her image in the mirror when she held it up against her body. This dress was beautiful. Bright red, off the shoulder on one side; the other a long sheer sleeve shaped in a point that rested on the top of her hand. Empire waistline with a ruched skirt made of silk jersey fabric gave it a soft flow. Placing it on the bed, she pulled out the T-strap rhinestone shoes. Excitement rushed through her as she plugged in the curling iron to give the ends of her hair another twist. Remembering the floral crystal hair comb she’d brought a few months ago at the insistence of Jenny, she decided tonight would be a perfect time to use it. She hustled into the shower and gave her body a quick wash, rinsed off and reached for the towel to dry off.

Mallory couldn’t believe how excited she was. Seeing the girls filled with so much excitement had a good effect on her. AJ passed through her mind as she slipped into her bathrobe; she walked to the door and called out to Jenny.

“Can you help me with my hair?”

“Yeah, Mom,” she shouted. “I’ll be right there.”

Mallory sat down at her vanity table and brushed color on her eyelids, then lined her eyes. A swipe of mascara, and Jenny and Lacey burst into the room.

“Look at you two,” Mallory said. “You both look gorgeous.” Lacey was beaming and turning around so her mother could see all sides of her party dress. Jenny had on a simple red dress with a pretty necklace. She’d used a comb to hold her hair up. Soft wisps of hair scattered about the framework of her face. “Excited?” Mallory asked.

Lacey began jumping up and down. “I can’t wait for Santa.”

“Well, I think Santa is going to be extra nice to us this year, and I can’t wait for Christmas morning to see your faces when you open your presents.”

“What did you buy me, Mommy?” Lacey asked.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

She made a pouty face. “I didn’t get you anything, Mommy.”

“Yes, you did,” Jenny confirmed.

“I did? What did I get her?”

“Never mind,” Jenny said. “But you got her a gift.”

“Oh. Okay. Will you tell me later?”

She nodded in the affirmative. “What do you need help with?” Jenny asked.

“My hair. The curling iron is plugged in and ready.”

Jenny picked up the brush and ran it through her mother’s hair. Once she finished, she took the curling iron and twisted small lengths around the rod, waited a few minutes and dropped the curl down on her shoulder. “What kind of style do you want?”

“Do you think we can pin it to one side and let it drape over my bare shoulder?” She picked up the crystal hair comb. “And maybe use this for a decoration?”

“Ooh, that would look pretty. I can try.”

“That’s all I can ask for.” Mallory watched Lacey posing in front of the mirror, smiling and stepping back to see how she looked. “Like that look, huh, Lace?”

She giggled. “I do, Mommy. I’m gonna be a model when I grow up. Can I?”

“You can do whatever you put your mind to Lacey…after you graduate from college.”

“Oh no. More school?”

“I’m afraid so, pumpkin. But we have plenty of time to talk about that when you’re older. Like a lot of time.” She peered at Jenny in the mirror. “You know, sweetheart, I feel so good about the three of us.”

“I do too, Mom.”

Finished with the curling iron, Jenny turned it off and brushed her mother’s hair again, then started pinning the hair into place. “What do you think, Mom? Does it look okay?”

“It’s looks more than okay.” The three of them stopped talking when the doorbell rang. “Uh oh, I guess I’d better hurry.”

Jenny swirled the curls and layered them on Mallory’s shoulder, then sprayed it into place. “It looks beautiful. Okay, why don’t you two go out and entertain whoever arrived, and I’ll get dressed and be right out?”

“All right. You look beautiful, Mom.”

“So do you girls. Thanks for the hairdo.” She hugged and kissed both of them before they walked out of the room. “See you in a few minutes.”

Checking the hairdo, Mallory pulled a few pieces of hair out to soften the other side of her face. When she felt satisfied, she reached for her dress, stepped into it, and zipped the back with a few gyrations, then adjusted the sleeve on her shoulder. She slipped the shoes on her feet and checked her outfit in front of the mirror. She felt like Cinderella going to the ball. With a twist of the knob, she was in the hallway and walking toward the festive holiday music. This was going to be a perfect celebration. But the most important thing was having her family back and knowing that, together, they could work on anything.

When she entered the living room, her brother-in-law, Sammy, whistled. “Don’t you look beautiful?”

She curtsied. “Thank you. I needed that.” Dina and Miriam and her husband, Jack exchanged hugs with her, too.

“You do look pretty, little sis.” She smiled. “I think this is going to be the best Christmas you’ll ever remember.” She looked around the living room. “The decorations look great, Mal.” She hugged her again. “I’m so proud of you.”

Jodi entered and handed Mallory a glass of punch. “This is a champagne punch,” she said.

“And the girls…”

“Not to worry. I made them a virgin punch.”

Mallory released a sigh of relief. The doorbell rang, and she sashayed over and greeted more friends. Giving Dina a wink, she wanted her to know that she was pleased that she’d been able to find people to come to the party at this late date. Dina acknowledged with a wave.

An hour later, the sound of laughter and busy chatter in her house sounded wonderful to her ears. Her daughters were having fun with their friends. Glancing at Jodi’s son who was standing by the window, she could tell something was happening because he was calling out Santa’s name and gesturing for the kids to come to the window. When Dina caught on, she was directing everyone outside.

“Holy cow, Santa’s here. Let’s go out on the porch and see him.”

Everyone flocked outdoors, jiggling around, trying to keep warm. As soon as Santa stopped in front of the house in his horse-drawn sleigh, everyone applauded. Mallory turned to Dina. “Did you arrange this?”

“No, but I wish I had.”

They watched as Santa got down off his sleigh and carried a small bag over his shoulder. Lacey was the first to grab his hand and lead him into the house. He nodded to everyone along the way. At first glance, Mallory thought Santa’s build was similar to AJ’s, and her heart took off like a shot. But when he opened his mouth to speak, her heart dropped—he sounded nothing like AJ. Deep disappointment settled in her chest, but she forced herself to stop the pity party before she ruined a wonderful evening.

Santa was like the Pied Piper with the kids all flocking around him. Once inside the warm house, he put the small bag he was carrying down and passed out candy canes to all the kids at the party. He was doing his best to control the kids.

“Ho, ho, ho. Now, kids,” he said, “I promise…you’ll get your turn when I visit your house, but right now, I’m here for the Gardners. Now, I don’t usually deliver these gifts when you children are awake, but I have a lot of gifts I need to give out this year, so I had to start early.”

Walking in front of Mallory, he motioned for the two girls to gather near her. Jenny and Lacey were smiling as they watched Santa remove something from his pocket and set it down on the table. Inquisitive, Mallory checked to see what it was and noticed it was a recorder just as Santa clicked it to the off position. Even before he removed his beard and hat, she knew it was AJ. Her breath caught in the back of her throat. She’d missed him. But where had he been?

He pulled three small boxes from his bag and handed one to each of them. Mallory heard one of the boys say, “Hey, he’s not Santa,” and one of the mothers shushed him.

Lacey squealed with delight. She almost tripped, trying to sit down she was so excited, but she managed and immediately ripped the paper off.

“Wait just a minute, sweetie. I’d like you to open them all at the same time.” Mallory gave him a puzzled look. “Go ahead,” he said. “Now.”

When Mallory opened her present and noticed it was from Simons Jewelers, she smiled. How’d he know that was her favorite jewelry store? Lacey and Jenny both squealed when they opened their box until they realized they each had a replica of their mother’s gift, a marquis setting of a beautiful diamond ring. AJ reached for their hands and clumsily got down on bended knee. The room was completely silent as everyone waited with anticipation.

“Mallory, Jenny and Lacey, I know we don’t know each other very well, but I knew the moment I saw the three of you we were supposed to be together. And I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happier than you’ve ever known. Will you marry me?”

Mallory was speechless. Looking from one daughter to the next, she searched their faces trying to figure out how they felt.

“Say yes, Mom,” Jenny said. “Say yes.”

“Mommy,” Lacey said, “I want to marry AJ.”

“Yes. Yes, yes, yes,” she said rushing into his arms. Looking over his shoulder at her two daughters, she watched them give each other a ‘high five’.

“We did it, Jen,” Lacey squealed.

AJ bent down and pulled the girls into his arms. “We sure did, girls.”

Miriam stepped forward. “Hmm, still think my readings are hokus pokus?”

~ End ~

The Gift of the Magic

Gina Ardito

Polina Kominski is on a mission: her mother’s dying request was that Polina spend the Christmas holiday in her ancestral hometown of Krakow, Poland to discover the magic of the city. Along with her non-refundable plane ticket is a list of tasks she must complete before she can break free of her mother’s lifestyle and finally become her own person. That doesn’t mean she has to believe all the superstitions and allusions to magic Mom wants her to experience. And what’s with number eight on the itinerary,
Kiss a Stranger
?

When international banker, Rhys Linsey, literally runs into Polina on a Krakow street, he knows that fate’s brought them together. No matter how much she denies believing in magic, he’s determined to prove her wrong.

Christmas in Krakow weaves a powerful spell, and Rhys manages to pierce the armor around Polina’s heart. But can the magic of the holiday and the love of this special man overcome her painful past? For true love should never tie a heart down. True love allows two people the freedom to fly together!

OTHER BOOKS BY GINA ARDITO

Eternally Yours

Nobody’s Darling

Nobody’s Business

Nobody’s Perfect

A Run for the Money

A Little Slice of Heaven

The Bonds of Matri-money

BOOKS BY GINA ARDITO WRITING AS KATHERINE BRANDON

Echoes of Love

Kismet’s Angel

Kismet’s Revenge

Kismet’s Salvation

©Copyright 2012 by Victoria Ardito

All Rights Reserved

The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

When I was a child, Christmas Eve was the most important holiday of the year. My mother was of Polish descent, and while she didn’t know the reasons for all the holiday traditions she instilled in us, she honored them every year. I’m grateful for those memories and have chronicled many of them in Polina’s story for others to enjoy in the future.

To all my readers, I hope you create your own traditions with your loved ones during your holiday season. Wishing you peace, love, and joy!

—Gina

Dedication

For my dear friend, Shelby Reed, who always challenges me to write better, if only so I can compete with her amazing talent. You are the warmest, most generous person I know, and I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.