An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer Read Free Book Online

The Christmas tree, blazing with small lights, covered with decorations, candy canes, and strings of cranberries and popcorn, filled the window at the front of the house.
    “Nice.” Archie was a man of few words.
    Felicia stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cold cheek and they went inside.
    A delicious smell of beef stew filled all the rooms of the house. Calling hello, Felicia hung her coat and Archie’s in the closet and hurried into the kitchen to see if she could help her mother.
    Jilly’s cheeks were rosy from the warmth of cooking. She lifted the lid on the big stewpot, stirred with her wooden spoon, murmured to herself, and put the lid back on. In a round, down-filled cat bed, Rex was curled asleep.
    “That smells yummy,” said Felicia. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    Maybe it was only her imagination, but at her voice, the cat stirred slightly and peered disapprovingly at her through narrowed eyes.
    “No, darling, we’re all set. Let’s go in the living room and have a drink before dinner.” Jilly untied her apron. Leaning toward her daughter, she whispered, “I hope I made enough food. Archie is such a big man.”
    “Mom, he is six feet four inches and weighs two hundred twenty pounds. Stop making him sound like Goliath.”
    “Sorry, darling, I’m not criticizing, I’m remarking.”
    Felicia followed her mother into the living room where her father and her fiancé were seated in the armchairs by the fire, chatting.
    The ladies settled side by side on the sofa.
    “Did you enjoy your walk?” asked Felicia’s mother.
    “It was great,” exclaimed Archie. “George, do you own a motorboat?”
    George blinked. “No, although I often wish I did. Why do you ask?”
    “I thought it would be fun if you and I could take a tour of the harbor in a boat and perhaps putter out to Great Point.”
    “In this weather!” Jilly looked horrified.
    “I’m sure if we bundled up—” began Archie.
    Even though she’d objected earlier, now Felicia was quick to defend her fiancé. “Mom, fishermen go out in this weather all the time. It’s not the Arctic.”
    Felicia’s father surprised them all. “I’d like to see theland from the water, too, Archie. I do know a few fellows who have motorboats. I’ll give them a call and see if we can borrow one. The harbor’s beginning to ice over, but if we get out there in the next day or two we should be all right.”
    Gosh , thought Felicia, Go, Dad!
    Jilly looked stunned. Felicia turned the topic to safer subjects. “So, Mom, when do Lauren and her family arrive?”
    “The twenty-third, I think,” Jilly said. “Before then, we have a number of parties to attend, and I do hope you will join us. You’ll see some of your old friends. I’ve been meaning to tell you—Steven has bought the house next door. He’s going to live here permanently!”
    Felicia lit up. “Really? That’s great. I can’t wait to see him.”
    “Why don’t we invite him over for dinner tonight?” Jilly suggested perkily.
    “No, Mom, we just got here, and dinner’s all ready.” Felicia tapped her lip. “You and I will have to sync schedules, because I want to take Archie on some walks around the island and perhaps on a bike ride to ’Sconset.”
    “Bike ride,” she echoed weakly, disappointed that Felicia didn’t want to invite Steven over right now. As if she needed food for fortification (she did!), Jilly stood up. “Perhaps we should eat now.”
    “I’ll help you carry the stew in, dear.” George rose and followed.
    Jilly had set the dining room table with one of her best damask tablecloths and centered it with a Christmas wreath around a mirror with a clever holiday scene of miniature ice skaters. She’d brought out the best silver and china.
    “Exquisite, Mom,” Felicia exclaimed, and kissed her mother’s cheek.
    “This smells delicious,” Archie said. When Jilly took her place at the head of the table, Archie stood behind her to help seat her and push in