“Things are so much better with my parents,” she said slowly. “We’ve been talking at least once a week, but they haven’t said a word about Christmas. I don’t think they’re ready to deal with that yet.”
“Have you asked them? Maybe invited them here?” Maddie suggested. “It might be easier for them to get back into the holidays in a new place where they can create brand-new memories. You know they’d be welcome at Sullivan’s on Christmas Day with all the rest of us.”
“I could at least ask, I suppose,” Jeanette said.
“And if they turn you down, just remember it has nothing to do with you. It’s all about what they can handle.”
“You’re right.” Jeanette nodded. “I can do this. If I’ve reached out to Tom’s parents, I ought to be able to strengthen my bonds with my own.”
Maddie grinned. “Not the same. You had very low expectations where they were concerned. The way I heard it from Tom, that they even showed up last Saturday for festival was nothing short of a miracle. Miracles don’t ever seem to be that easy with your own folks, not with all that emotional baggage.”
“True, but I owe it to them and to myself to try,” she said decisively. “I think I’ll go inside right now and call them.”
“Good luck,” Maddie called after her. “And no matter what happens, remember that you have people all around you here who love you and consider you family.”
“Thanks,” she said, her eyes misty. Knowing that Maddie had been one hundred percent sincere was enough to give her the courage to reach out. If it were any other occasion, the risk would be minimal, but Christmas had a lot of pitfalls. Maybe, finally, they’d be ready to let go of the heartache that had been associated with the holiday for too long now.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
With Maddie’s support still echoing in her head, Jeanette picked up the phone in her office and called her parents. As always, her mother sounded surprised to hear her voice.
“Jeanette,” her mother said. “Is that you?”
“It’s me, Mom.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No, everything’s fine. How’s Dad?”
“He’s getting better every day. That medicine has made all the difference in the world. He’s like a new man.” She paused. “No, I take that back. He’s like the man I married.”
“I’m really glad, Mom. What about you? Are you getting back into your routine?” The last time they’d spoken, her mother had mentioned that she intended to become more active in the women’s group at her church, something she’d given up when Jeanette’s dad was injured. Jeanette had thought that her desire to reach out to the friends who’d once been so important to her was proof that things were finally improving at home.
“I went to the Wednesday meeting at church last week,” she told Jeanette.
“And how was it to be back?”
“It was wonderful to catch up with everyone. We never had time when I saw them at services. I swear, even though I’ve only missed the meetings for a couple of months, half of them have grandbabies I didn’t know about. We talked so much, we didn’t get a bit of business accomplished. I’m baking a chocolate cake with caramel frosting for the coffee hour after services on Sunday. Everyone kept telling me how much they’d missed it.”
“That’s wonderful, Mom. You sound good.”
“I am good, better than I’ve been in a very long while. Now tell me about you,” her mother said. “How’s that young man of yours?”
“Tom’s good.”
“And work’s going well?”
“It is. We had a holiday party at the spa the other night. I planned the whole thing and it was packed. Now I’m planning my own open house for Christmas Eve. That’s why I called you, actually. I’d like you and Dad to come to Serenity for Christmas. Now that I have the house, I have a guest room. You could stay for a couple of days and meet all my friends.”
The silence that greeted the invitation wasn’t a surprise, but it hurt just the same.
“You know we don’t celebrate the holidays,” her mother finally said. “Not since your brother died.”
Determined not to be deterred by the old argument, Jeanette pressed her. “That was years ago, Mom. I miss him, too, but he wouldn’t want us to be like this. Ben loved the holidays. We should celebrate as a family. You won’t have to lift a finger to help with the open house here. It’s all under control. And friends have invited us for Christmas dinner, so there’s no worry about cooking, either. I’d just like you and Dad to meet the people who are important to me. Please. And Tom will be here. You already know him. I’d really like us to have a family Christmas again.”
Her mother’s hesitation seemed endless. “Well, I suppose I could ask your father. Don’t count on it, though.”
“Tell him it would mean the world to me,” Jeanette said, praying that enough time had passed that hearing that would be enough for him. Perhaps, with a little holiday spirit on her side, she could reclaim her rightful place in her family and together they could finally move on.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” she told her mother. “Talk to Dad tonight and we can discuss it again tomorrow.”
“It’s really that important to you?” her mother asked.
“It really is. I’m happy here, Mom. I have great friends. Serenity is a wonderful town. And it’s all decorated for Christmas right now, so it’s looking its very best. The spa is amazing and we’ve even made it look festive, too. And my house is cozy and warm. I learned how to make it that way from you. I want to share all this with both of you. I want you to be a part of my life again.”
“Then I’ll do my best to persuade your father,” her mother promised.
Jeanette breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“We love you, too,” her mother responded. “I know it hasn’t always
