The Empty Nesters - Carolyn Brown Page 0,118

lot to do before Christmas.”

“And we can do it together,” Luke whispered.

Diana stared into his blue eyes and saw a bright future with him. She leaned in for a second kiss and didn’t care who was watching.

Epilogue

Joanie took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma of the gingerbread that she’d made for breakfast that Christmas morning. Torn wrapping paper was scattered all over the living room floor. Zoe had dashed off to Natalie’s house to see what she’d gotten. Brett came from the kitchen with a cup of eggnog in each hand, gave her one, and sat down beside her on the sofa.

“It’s lasted through fourteen years.” He pointed at the tree in the corner. “Think we should get a new one next year?”

Joanie shook her head. “That one and all the ornaments have too much sentimentality attached to them for me to get rid of them. I still feel like I’m going to wake up and find this is all a dream.”

He moved closer and put an arm around her. “I keep thinking that I’ll get orders at any minute and have to grab my bag and leave. It’ll take a few months of adjustment for each of us.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “But we’ll do it together.”

“And we’ll enjoy every minute of it.” He kissed the top of her head.

Carmen stood in the corner of the living room and listened to the excitement in Natalie’s and Zoe’s voices. Then Rebecca joined them, and Carmen was reminded of past days when they were little girls. For just a split second, she envisioned Eli sitting on the sofa with a beer in his hand. Then the picture faded, and she thought of all the little kids at her new job who had no family that morning. They’d each have a present under the tree—warm socks, a scarf, or maybe a new shirt—and there’d be a turkey dinner served in the cafeteria. Later, when Natalie, Rebecca, and Zoe all went to the church to help serve a three o’clock dinner and see their friends, she planned to slip away and check on the kids at the base. Maybe she’d even take a big plate of cookies for them to share.

“Mama, we had gingerbread at Zoe’s,” Natalie said. “Now we need some of your decorated cookies.”

“Be careful,” she called out. “If you don’t do justice to dinner at Tootsie’s, her feelings will be hurt.”

Natalie draped an arm around Carmen’s shoulders. “Tradition says that we have something at all three houses; then we eat dinner with Tootsie and help out at the homeless dinner . . .” She paused for a minute. “We’ll miss Smokey so much this year, but we have Luke, and he reminds us of Smokey. We might gain five pounds today, but after basic, we can all three use it.”

“Well, far be it from me to get in the way of tradition,” Carmen laughed.

“How are you really holding up?” Rebecca asked, coming from the kitchen with a cookie in each hand. “I remember our first Christmas without Daddy. It was kind of sad.”

“Yes, it is,” Natalie sighed. “But we’ve all got each other and the best mamas in the world.”

“How could I ever be sad with all you sassy girls around me?” Carmen asked. “Don’t y’all worry a bit about me. I’ve got a wonderful job. I’m making new friends, and I’ve got family right here on my block to support me. Life is good.”

And she meant every word.

Christmas Day was crazy, with the girls all home and running back and forth between houses like they had when they were kids. Luke had been cooking at Tootsie’s for two days. There would be enough food to feed an army rather than just nine people—Diana smiled at that thought this morning. Tootsie had declared that leftovers were just as good as the original meal, so none of them would have to cook for a whole week.

The next few days would be busy, and Diana intended to love every moment of each hour. Rebecca and Natalie would have to leave on the twenty-eighth, and Zoe had to be back at base the next day. Then they’d have three days to get Joanie and Brett all packed and ready for the movers to arrive.

Luke had been there to open presents with them that morning, but then he’d had to rush back to Tootsie’s and make sure everything was going according to schedule for the gift opening and the dinner at her house. Diana picked up a long ribbon that had been cast aside when they were opening gifts and dragged it across the floor for Nala. The kitten jumped on it, kicking at it with both hind feet like she was trying to kill a snake. Then Simba came from under the sofa and tried to wrestle it away from her.

Diana eased down on the sofa and watched them play a game of chase through scraps of the wrapping paper that still littered the living room floor. She heard the door open and thought it was probably the girls coming back through her house for another sausage biscuit. But it was Luke, and he saw the kittens, tiptoed around them, and sat down on the sofa beside Diana.

“I’m happier right now than I’ve ever been in my life.” He laced his fingers in hers.

“I was going to wait until later tonight to give you this.” She picked up a long, skinny box from the end table and handed it to him. “But since we’re alone—merry Christmas, Luke.”

“You already gave me a present,” he said.

“Yep, but this one is special, maybe even magic or a miracle,” she said.

He tore the red paper away to reveal a long black velvet box.

“It didn’t come in that pretty box, but I thought it deserved something more than a plain old cardboard one,” she said.

He frowned. “A watch? Pens?”

“Look closer,” she said as he opened it.

He picked the object out of the box and stared at it for a while before an expression of recognition covered his face. “Are you serious? Is this really . . .”

“A pregnancy test?” she finished for him. “Yes, it is. I guess we won’t need to talk about adoption since we found that one chance in a million about six weeks ago. Most likely on that first night I spent with you in the motor home.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off the stick. “Are you okay with this?”

“Couldn’t be better. I won’t even be forty yet when the baby gets here.” She shifted her position to sit in his lap. “Let’s keep it a secret until after the wedding.”

“And that’s when?” His eyes had misted over.

“Well, the courthouse is open tomorrow, and everyone is here that I’d want at our wedding, so what do you say?” She grabbed a tissue and wiped her own eyes. “I can’t ever let anyone cry alone, but, darlin’, these are happy tears.”

“So are mine.” He pulled her closer to him. “I’d say that I only thought this day was the happiest day of my life. You’ve just given me magic and miracles. I love you so much, Diana.” He laid the stick to the side and kissed her.

“Merry Christmas to all of us,” she panted when the kisses ended.