It was early April, a Saturday morning in Belle Haven, and Elizabeth laid in the warmth and comfort of her impeccably carved four poster bed that was a surprise wedding gift from Eleanor. The bed was a bit lavish, somewhat imposing… and so much more exorbitant than Elizabeth's usual tastes….. it somewhat resembled a state bed that belonged in an ancient castle.
The very heavy piece of furniture had been placed in the master suite while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon, and after arriving in Greenwich on her first weekend back, and seeing that it went with the general decor and period of the house, Elizabeth had thanked Eleanor for her generosity, got a brand new mattress that fitted the king sized piece, and a few sets of fine cotton sheets that Nicholas' old aunt had recommended.
Elizabeth moved the blanket closer to her body with her free arm, as she examined Nicholas who was next to her, deep in slumber, his head resting on her other arm, that was about to fall into complete numbness. She gently moved her arm away from beneath him, and smoothed the thick brows above his eyes, while admiring how his heavy black lashes fanned out towards his cheekbones. On the brink of daylight, in the darkness of their newly renovated bedroom, she watched him asleep, thinking that with his face completely relaxed, he looked much younger than his twenty six years. Their honeymoon had been everything she had dreamed of, and then some…
They had returned home from New Zealand on Saturday, November seventeenth, after two weeks of always blissful…. sometimes adventurous, sometimes relaxing togetherness, and within a few days, were thrown into the preparations for celebration of the holidays with their families. Ten days after arriving, they had flown west to Colorado along with Skye and Alice, where they met their fathers, Cara, Steven, and their two children at the Morrows' high elevation Aspen residence.
On the first day there, everyone made an effort to avoid overexertion while they acclimated to the high altitude, and special precautions were taken in consideration of almost two year old Nathan and his baby sister. The entire group spent Tuesday through Sunday warming themselves in front of the living room's massive fireplace, soaking in the patio's heated swimming pool, ice skating at the area's Silver Circle rink, flying down the powdery slopes, and walking through the quaint, yet very upscale downtown business district. One of the highlights of the trip was a scenic guided snowmobile tour to the exquisite Maroon Bells area, where they gazed in awe at the wondrous fourteen thousand foot peaks, and with their cameras, captured magical moments at the shimmering reflecting lake.
Skye, who had seen the magnificence of the region several times, graciously decided to stay home that day and watch the children.
On Thursday, after watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, they feasted on fine merlot, a fifteen pound turkey bronzed to golden perfection, honey and garlic glazed salmon with asparagus, caramelized butternut squash with shallots, baked shrimp and spinach stuffed sole, creamy green bean casserole with cremini mushrooms, chestnut and candied pecan stuffing, deliciously tart cranberry sauce, and last but not least….Steven's favorite….apple crumble pie with praline ice cream.
When everyone was stuffed till they could no longer move, they turned to the large projector screen right in time for the national Kennel club dog show, and later, holiday football.
After arriving at the airport on Tuesday afternoon and taking them to his home, Nicholas' father had again started up his vehicle and driven Elizabeth and her mother to a jam packed gourmet supermarket where they braved the aisles of eager, hungry shoppers and bought all the ingredients for the holiday fare.
They had started preparing Wednesday evening, and along with Cara, Alice and Elizabeth had done most of the cooking, going against the Morrows' usual custom of having everything catered via one of the sumptuous resort restaurants in the area. While still on the east coast, a newly arrived Elizabeth was in her apartment in Queens with Skye and Alice, trying to catch up with work when talks of the holidays came up.
Elizabeth, Skye started. Please tell me you're not going to be so busy that you can't go to Aspen.
Oh, no, I will, I definitely will, Elizabeth answered while saving files to a floppy disc from her computer.
It was on the tip of Skye's tongue to tell Elizabeth that she should probably quit working all together, but she knew that wouldn't go over too well with her son's new wife. Or her son for that matter. He had already given her a warning that Elizabeth had a mind of her own and would not be molded into a docile housewife, ready to do Skye's bidding. So she focused on their dinner plans instead. Alice had insisted that they were going to be traditional this year, and take care of the preparations themselves.
Alice put her hands on her hips. We always do all the cooking, she said to Skye firmly. The whole family helps. Everyone pitches in, does their share. Ned makes the cranberry sauce. And my son can make a really good mushroom and onion gravy. And Jessica…Alice's eyes were far away. She keeps us all entertained with her plans for Christmas shopping and parties. And drops hints about presents. She talks and samples a lot more than she works. And when everything's over, she's always too full of turkey to help with the dishes….
A tense few seconds followed Alice's musing, and Elizabeth and Skye shared a glance, knowing that Alice wanted nothing more than her two daughters together again.
But Mom, Elizabeth chuckled, breaking the ice. You're always kicking Steven out of the kitchen because he can never keep his hands off the candied pecans.
We'll have to put Nathan in charge of watching him then, Alice joked. Her smile faded and she frowned. I spoke to Cara just two days ago. That boy still does not eat anything. It's a wonder he's growing as much as he does. He surely didn't inherit Steve's appetite. If Nathan didn't look just like Steven I would wonder whose son he is.
Skye spoke up suddenly. Regina was the same way. She played with her food and was more interested in trying to feed her dolls. Her father is the only one who could get her to eat. Yelling at her was pointless…... I wonder what your children will be like Elizabeth, Skye said her dark eyes dreamy. The two of you have been trying haven't you? I mean….in the bedroom…..
Skye please,! Alice broke in, cringing at the direction of the conversation. Not in front of her mother! Alice shot sharp blue darts from her eyes at Skye. Elizabeth could feel her mother's sympathetic glimpse as the blood drained from her own face.
My daughter will get pregnant when she's good and ready, Alice continued with finality, putting a stop to Skye's intrusion. And whatever goes on in their bedroom is none of our business!
All right Alice, Skye changed the subject when she realized the other women were in no mood to for her snooping. But the most I can do is boil water. Oh! And I can grease cake tins when necessary. Are we having cake? I've always been helpless in the kitchen…. I don't think I've ever really used the kitchen in the cabin. Except for simple things like breakfast. But if you insist we can do it ourselves...
What the Morrows referred to as a cabin was anything but the humble log structure that the name implied. The word cabin gave the impression that the home was a snug little abode, yet was more like a chalet, constructed at just over eight thousand feet high up on a hill, with a solid oak foundation, graceful hanging eaves, and fitted with plenty of large glass panes that allowed its occupants a panoramic vista of the area surrounding them.
Two days before they arrived, their regular, trusted local maid service was dispatched to thoroughly clean and tidy up the place, making sure the beds were made, bathrooms sparkling, floors were shining, the numerous windows shimmering, that no dust was visible, that the linen was crisp and towels freshened, ready for use.
Although it was significantly smaller than their home in Sweet Valley, the house was a lot larger than Elizabeth had expected. There were seven bedrooms, four of them en suite, two of which had cozy whirlpool tubs at the windows facing the vibrant center of the city, that much to her delight, created a warm, romantic, very intimate atmosphere. The huge great room on the first floor combined the kitchen, dining and living areas, and offered widespread imagery of the magnificent snow covered mountains all around them.
Kurt Morrow had bought the plot of land directly in front of his house to prevent anyone else from building on the site and potentially obstructing the fantastic views. The combined, almost three acre property was ideally situated in the coveted and very exclusive Red Mountain area of Aspen. In the front of the house and beyond the pool, the bright lights sparkled up from the streets just under eight hundred feet below.
In the distance, high above all the walkways, shops, and restaurants, the gondola lifts could be seen bringing the eager visitors up to the top of Aspen mountain, now covered in snow.
Little Nathan was very impressed with the widespread abundance of white, and his grandparents added to his excitement by building him his very first snowman. Continuous snowstorms that started in late October had blanketed the entire region, and the result was more than enough downfall to entice more than the usual number of tourists. It also provided Alice the perfect opportunity to gloat about her dominance over Skye as they barreled down the pristine white mountains.
Skye's long, slim legs, which in her younger days made for perfect snapshots featuring mini skirts and swimsuits, were painfully awkward when wearing skis, and at certain times, she resembled a drunken giraffe trying to convince the police that she was sober. Alice's quick movements and agility enabled her to keep up with the rest of the group, while the usually polished Skye never looked more clumsy. The energy sapping days filled with numerous fun filled activities led to the older members of the party retiring at home with the children while Elizabeth, Nicholas, Steven and Cara ventured out into the town at night.
The two couples walked hand in hand enjoying the cool sharp air and the jubliance of the renowned destination. Christmas lights and decorations had started going up on the numerous shops and sidewalk trees, creating a merry, colorful and very festive ambiance. Cara was pretty sure she had spotted a few celebrities making their way through the town's bustling streets, and she thought of Jessica, knowing how much her friend would have loved this trip.
There were high end stores on every corner, and from the looks of some of the pedestrians' outfits, Cara knew that they were surrounded by the elite. She glanced at Elizabeth, clad in a tasteful, yet inexpensive pair of tan leggings, medium brown calf high boots, and a warm navy blue sweater decorated with small red snowflakes and reindeer. She couldn't help but imagine that if Jessica was there with them, how she'd make sure her outfit, whatever it may have been, would be one of the most eye catching and sensational on the streets of the small city.
She and Steven had talked about it before flying to Aspen, and Cara was painfully aware that he was bothered by the ongoing rift between his sisters. On Monday, the day before they left Sweet Valley, Jessica had come over to the Calico Drive house to see them before the holiday. This Thanksgiving was going to be the first one where she was away from her own family, and she had tried to convince them that she didn't mind spending the whole day with the Wilkins.
It was all too obvious that Jessica wished she'd been included in their plans, and although she had always prided herself on her dramatic skills, it was clear that she couldn't act herself out of the paper bag filled with her misery. Cara was reminded of just weeks earlier when she was preparing to fly to Elizabeth's wedding and Jessica had come to the house. This time it was worse, because both her father and brother were there also, busily packing for another trip that she wasn't invited to.
Ned Wakefield had given Jessica a long warm hug, and promised her that he'd be thinking of her while they were away, and that they'd be home soon. Steven had taken pity on Jessica's despondency and he had tried to engage Cara's help in getting through to Elizabeth, but Cara had adamantly told him that they shouldn't get involved.
She focused ahead at Elizabeth, and her sister in law looked beautiful, fresh from her honeymoon, and very much in love with her new husband. Her long blonde hair was loose and wavy down her back, and with her flawless skin and sparkling eyes, she attracted a lot of attention, especially from the men on the streets. Elizabeth seemed to be oblivious to the admiration, she smiled politely, but never encouragingly whenever she was the object of hungry male eyes, unlike her sister, who Cara knew would be reveling in the appreciation of her pretty face and trim figure.
Elizabeth and Nicholas were sharing a cup of marshmallow filled warm cocoa, along with frequent hugs and kisses, and Cara wondered why she wouldn't let her grudge go. It was clear that Todd Wilkins wasn't even a blip on Elizabeth's radar. And she seemed very content living on the east coast, despite the fact that when she was younger, couldn't imagine wanting to live anywhere else besides their sunny little home town.
Elizabeth, despite living thousands of miles from her family was so happy, so complete, while Jessica…whose parents and brother doted on her, seemed to have the glow in her eyes more subdued every time Cara saw her. It was very ironic how things had worked out.
Elizabeth, as far as Cara remembered from when they were younger, had always dreamed of being a writer, marrying Todd Wilkins, and perhaps living with him in the familiarity and comfort of their home town, while Jessica….Jessica had always wanted fame, her own fortune, a gorgeous husband with an even bigger fortune, and to be living the high life wherever it could be found, surrounded with the very glitz and glamour that Elizabeth had found herself thrown into.
And this place... Cara observed, where they were currently trekking through, was definitely glamorous. If it wasn't for the cold air, the hanging icicles, and smell of roasted chestnuts, they might as well have been in Beverly Hills. On Friday, while the men were glued to the football playing on the eighty inch screen in the living room, the four women went into the city and were thrown into the masses enjoying the black Friday experience.
None of them were intent on shopping, but it was fun to experience the excitement of looking for bargains at the beginning of the holiday season. Cara watched as Skye bought her husband a new pair of lined leather gloves at Gucci, without even flinching at the price, which was way out of Cara's own budget. Tall and willowy, with a commanding presence, Skye exuded the aura that she had no qualms about spending money, and the salespeople were only too happy to fuss over her. Cara reflected on the first time she had become acquainted with the Morrow family.
Never had she imagined that she would get to know them more intimately than she did that night. She and Jessica had met them at the doorway of their incredible honey colored stone mansion, and her first impression of Skye, was that of an overly refined, definitely high class, somewhat stuffy, yet beautiful older woman. Few mothers looked as sophisticated as her.
Cara noted that Nicholas' hint of an upper crust Boston accent was heightened when speaking to his father, but less so with his mother, who also had a light, yet distinct New England tone. From what she knew of them, Skye came from a family line that had been in Greenwich since the town was settled in the earlier half of the seventeenth century. And Kurt Morrow, although he had grown up less wealthy than his wife, was the only child of parents who were financially prosperous, and descended from a lineage dating back before their home state even had it's name of Massachusetts.
For a woman who never had to raise a finger to do anything except point to what she desired, Skye was remarkably hands on with Cara's two young children. She laughed at Nathan's antics and never grew impatient with his bouts of stubbornness, and cuddled Karen as if she had never been out of the practice of holding a baby in her arms.
Her ex footballer husband was unpretentious, yet gregarious in nature, and was very attractive with his blue eyes and tanned skin. He was certainly a worthy catch, and Cara giggled to herself, wishing that she could fix her long divorced, single mother with a man like him.
After leaving Aspen that Sunday with promises to return in the summer, the entire group soon met up four weeks later, this time to enjoy Christmas on the east coast. Between lining up behind hundreds of children while taking Nathan to see Santa Claus at Macy's, and seeing the famous Rockettes performing at Radio City Music Hall, Cara couldn't help but be anything but thrilled, despite the small bit of guilt knowing that Jessica was once again missing out on the splendor.
She sat in the packed theater marveling at the spectacular presentation by the famed dancers, and for a few moments, despite the fact that she was two inches too short to join them, the former cheerleader dreamed that she was on stage, taking part in the fantastic coordinated routines and classic eye high kicks.
On Christmas day, the house in Belle Haven was more energetic than ever, with everyone still gushing over the almost two month married couple, and eating the appetizers and catered feast presented by Eleanor's favorite gourmet chef.
Nicholas' old aunt, who now spent half of her time a few towns over in Westport, had arrived that morning with her wheel chair bound older sister, and was more than ready to play hostess at their dinner party. She had brought along her gentleman friend, who Elizabeth had met at the wedding, and the latest gossip was that the old man, who looked like he could barely stand...was about to propose.
Elizabeth looked around the grand, fabulously decorated house, courtesy of her mother, and recalled how, one year ago, her heart fluttered anxiously at the thought of seeing Nicholas' parents.
And now they were her in laws...
She joined them at the front of the house, greeting their numerous guests, many of whom were at her wedding, and who all wanted to see the pictures from her honeymoon. With every new face came a set of intrusive questions, and Elizabeth had to make a considerable effort to not throttle them when they hinted that they hoped she was expecting.
She was thrilled to be celebrating her favorite holiday with her new husband, despite the fact that by the end of the day, the ever growing frustration at having to dodge the questions about her fertility were beginning to take it's toll…
After the joyous season, their families returned home, and life went back to normal.
Elizabeth was delighted that her mother had stayed behind, renovating the house, accompanying her on several events, and she made a special effort to introduce Alice to the many wonders of the north east. By early February, the work on the old mansion was complete, and Alice took off to California.…
