CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Eighteen
As the air turned colder and colder, the
Dawsons found their days merging together, in a set routine. Their love would
always hold strong--that was a given--but with the holiday season so close Jack
found the need for something different.
For the next two weeks he found himself
working long after Cal--the project had been put to a halt because of all the
rain--left his office, but on a different project.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, all
the pieces fit.
*****
It was the servants’ day off, and when the
doorbell rang Jack asked Rose to get it, successfully concealing his
excitement.
"Sure," she said, lightly walking
to the door. On opening it, she let out a short gasp.
"Molly Brown! What in the world are you
doing here?"
"Rose! My darling, I haven’t seen you in
years! Look at you! You’re gorgeous!"
"Thank you, but really, why are you
here?"
"I’m part of Jack’s Christmas surprise
to you."
"But Christmas isn’t for another
week."
"I said part of the surprise,
hon. And if you’re glad to see me here, you’ll flip when you see the
rest."
Jack came to stand next to Rose, putting one
arm around her shoulders and extending the other one to greet Molly.
"I’m so glad you found your way
here," he said.
Rose cut in. "Jack, what’s the rest of
the surprise?"
He kissed her quickly on the lips.
"Another day, my dear..."
In one swift movement, he helped Molly inside
and closed the front door. "Another day."
*****
The next day would be Christmas Eve, and
Rose’s anticipation was eating her up. To pass the time, she had decorated the
gorgeous Christmas tree with white ornaments, ribbon, trim, stringed pearls,
and lace, and also put a heavenly angel at the top.
Molly, staying with them until New Year‘s,
helped hang the stockings over the fireplace, talked secretly with both of them
about presents, and helped put Christmas wreaths, mistletoe, and any other
decoration available to man both inside and outside the house.
*****
Christmas Eve was a cold night. Heavy rain came
down, filling the air with a mildew scent. At ten at night, Jack, Rose, and
Molly were sipping tea by the fireplace in the living room when the doorbell
rang three times.
"Rose, I think your surprise is finally
here," Molly told her.
Rose quickly jumped up, sending the afghan
that had been warming her legs onto the floor as she bounded over to the front
door. She undid the various locks and swept the door open.