Chapter seven: The Gift
24th December
Hanna had had to renege on answering questions but had promised to do so on Christmas day. She was so excited, everyone including Tommy wondered why, but Hanna declined to give any explanations.
Granddad had informed everyone that he had secured a cook at least for dinner and Christmas Day on a trial basis.
"I've got to get out of here, or bust a gut" Hanna whispered, taking Tommy's hand and heading for the beach. Once on the beach she began to run, Tommy trying to figure out what had gotten into her and trying to keep up. Hanna ran until her sides hurt forcing her to stop. "What is with all the running all of a sudden?" Tommy gasped for air.
"Nervous tension" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "We've been here several days and I haven't seen another soul on the beach."
"You won't either, see that palm tree?" Tommy pointed to a nearby palm.
"Yeah, so?"
"That marks the property line. From that palm to another palm equal distant on the other side of the house is private property. The property extends to the surf."
"You aren't kidding? This is a private beach?" Hanna couldn't imagine a beach that wasn't public.
"So private that you can't see this spot from the house. There are warning signs posted on the other side of each palm tree. This is about as private as you can get without closed doors."
"In that case, tell me what you would do if I tempted you?" she slowly undid the top two buttons on her blouse.
----------Xxxxxx
The new cook, Kaleigh, had out done herself for dinner in trying to impress and win the job full time; from walnut-apple stuffed Rock Cornish game hens, (one per person), to baked potatoes to a vegetable medley to a seven layered dessert that melted in your mouth.
"Kaleigh, with this spread, what do you have in store for Christmas dinner?" Mr. McDuff wondered.
"Sir, that be a surprise and I'll not be tellin' and what do the turtle doves think?" she pointed at Tommy and Hanna sitting side by side.
"Fantastic comes to mind" Tommy replied.
"Excellent Kaleigh; Tommy never has called my cooking fantastic." Hanna added.
"You've never cooked anything like this before either" Tommy retorted. "Maybe Kaleigh could give you her recipes."
"I'd be happy to give some tips Miss, but I don't have recipe one. It's all up here" she pointed at her temple.
The evening had been spent relaxing; one by one or in the case of Long John and Mari as a couple called it a day and retired to their rooms.
Tommy had lingered over their good night kiss, "Merry Christmas my love, may Santa grant all your wishes".
"He already has. Now go, I need my beauty sleep" Hanna had slipped into her room, changed into her nightgown before she saw the box sitting on her pillow; Wrapped in Christmas green paper with angels blowing trumpets, tied with red ribbon and a red bow set on one corner. A small card was taped to the center of the box.
She picked up the box, carefully removed the taped card, opened it and read:
Roses and Rubies are red
Snow and diamonds are white
Open the box and see a sight
Gosh, I wish we were wed!
"Oh, Tommy what have you done now" she smiled to herself as she removed the bow and ribbon. Carefully removing the paper; she opened the box and gasped as she viewed the Ruby and diamond infinity pendant of white gold. Two hearts lay on their side touching, forming the sign of infinity. A line of alternating round diamonds and warm red rubies ran from lower left to upper right. The pendant hung from a white gold snake chain.
A small paper lay folded in one corner. Hanna wiped the tears from her cheeks, reading:
"Please wear this tomorrow morning!
I'll love you till you find the end of the pendant
Good night Conch, Sleep tight.
By the way…I have the matching ring
but you don't get to see it until your 16th birthday!"
"As if they don't already know! I know just the outfit I will wear it with!"
She lay in bed with the bedside light on, admiring the pendant, touching each gem with a fingertip. "Three years, six months, six days until graduation!"
She fell asleep and slept soundly, waking sometime in the night to admire the pendant once more, turned off the light and slept.
-------Xxxxxx
Christmas morn, December 25th
Webster's dictionary defines "bounded" as "to move by leaping". That is a fair description of how Hanna came downstairs that morning. After showering and dressing in a skirt and blouse that showed off each facet of the pendant she bounded down the stairs, running to Tommy, (lucky he wasn't holding baby Sam this morning), she jumped into his arms, kissing his lips; he had no choice but to catch her, swinging her around "I take it that you found my gift."
"It's beautiful!"
"What brought this on" Long John said smiling.
"This" Hanna showed everyone the pendant.
"Tommy! I thought we agreed 'no diamonds until you both were sixteen'!" Long John bellowed.
"Dad, I love this girl. Diamonds are a sign of love. Besides, I looked at that stone you have that written on. It only says we can't be engaged until we turn sixteen! I found nothing that says I can't give her diamonds before we are engaged!"
Mr. McDuff had been laughing during the commotion; now his laughter filled the house.
"I think he has you there son, I'd hate to meet him in a board meeting!"
Long John spit and sputtered, trying to think of a come back then the corners of his lips lifted in a smile which he tried to suppress without success. "Okay, I know when I'm beat, let's see that pendant again Hanna."
Kaleigh looked at the pendant remarking "If my man, rest his soul, had given me such a pretty, I might have ran down the stairs and back up again!" This brought a rich blush to Hanna's cheeks.
"Shall I serve breakfast while you open your presents?" Kaleigh asked.
"I'll open the first present" Mr. McDuff stated. "I had the privilege of sampling some of Kaleigh's breakfast earlier this morning; based on that and the wonderful dinner last night, Kaleigh me girl, consider yourself hired full time with a raise, and an extended member of this peculiar family!"