Information on yoga contained in this chapter comes from:
http://193.2.126.6/eng/content/yoga/asanas/khatupranam/summary.htm#positions
(Chapter 25. Christmas morning. Olivia's place.)
Promptly at eight in the morning, Steve rang Olivia's doorbell. She had invited everyone to her place for a Regis family Christmas brunch, and he had offered to help her prepare it. She had wanted to share one of her family's traditions with them because they had all made her feel so welcome. That afternoon they were all going to the hospital to help with the party in the children's ward, and then in the evening, they were going to meet at the beach house to have dinner and exchange gifts.
He rang the bell again, thinking she might have been in the shower or something and hadn't heard it. He had asked her last night if the brunch was a real tradition or if he had put the idea in her head the time he'd told her about his vision of her cooking for a dozen kids and a man who didn't know how lucky he was. He never had mentioned that he was the man in his dream and that he knew, but simply couldn't believe, exactly how lucky he had been to find her. She showed him some old family photos proving it really was a tradition going back to her great-grandmother of the missing watch.
Steve rang the bell a third time and grinned. He'd found the watch weeks ago when he moved back downstairs to his apartment and had taken it to a jewelry store with an in-house designer to have a matching necklace made. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry, and Steve was glad he'd be able to return it to Olivia. The face of the watch was an elongated heart almost an inch long and three quarters of an inch wide. It was made of mother-of- pearl with small ovals of some blue-green inlay to mark the hours. The band was a series of blue-green ovals and mother-of-pearl circles, each set in sterling silver, held together by sturdy links of sterling silver. It closed with a round tongue-and-hook clasp with mother-of-pearl and blue- green inlay and a pearl set in the center.
The jeweler had been impressed with the quality of the workmanship and had told Steve the blue-green shell was paua, a type of abalone that was harvested only off the coast of New Zealand. The colors of the shell varied widely, said the jeweler, and Steve had had to put a deposit down on the necklace and hope the designer would be able to obtain material in just the right shade to make the necklace in time for Christmas. Happily, the shell had arrived in time, and two days ago, he was able to pick up the watch and the new matching necklace.
He was delighted with what the designer had created. Like the watch, it was made of paua and mother-of-pearl. A pale pinkish-white mother-of-pearl heart set in sterling silver hung by two chain links from two ovals of paua, also set in sterling, and it all dangled from a silver choker-length chain. He was certain Olivia would like it, and he knew it would look beautiful around her graceful neck. His grin widened, then quickly turned to a look of concern.
It was unlike Olivia to keep him waiting for so long. It was nearly five minutes after eight and he had rung the bell several times. He could hear it ringing inside the house, but hadn't heard her call out or anything. He knocked, but when he still received no answer, he decided to check things out.
Wishing for his 9mm, but knowing he wouldn't get it back until Jesse and the police psychologist cleared him to go back to work, he made his way around to the back of the house, checking all the doors and windows as he went. The windows were secure, and the side patio door still had the charley bar in place. The back door was shut and locked and showed no signs of tampering, and the windows on the other side of the house were closed and locked. Still feeling uneasy, he came back to the front of the house.
Olivia had given him a key and made it clear that she intended him to use it, so he let himself in. In the alcove, he grabbed the walking stick Olivia said her grandfather had used for years. It was a solid, heavy piece of apple wood, bent at a right angle where it had been pruned. It wasn't his 9mm, but it would certainly clean somebody's clock if need be. He grinned in spite of himself. "Clean somebody's clock" was definitely an Olivia expression.
He suddenly felt very foolish. Here he was, creeping around his girlfriend's house, looking for an intruder, not knowing where or how Olivia was, and he was grinning like a simpleton because one of his many random thoughts echoed her speech. By this time, he had checked the living room and found it unoccupied. The Christmas tree was unplugged, so he guessed that she had made it to bed all right. He gradually worked his way around the interior of the house. The kitchen and mudroom were also clear, as were the den, bathrooms, office, and guest bedrooms. Finally, the only place left to check was the master bedroom and the adjoining bath.
Walking stick at the ready to club an intruder, Steve slowly turned the knob on the bedroom door and edged the door open. Peeking through the crack, he spotted Olivia, standing near the window, silhouetted against the blinds by the golden glow of the sun. She was wearing a pale yellow leotard that showed every curve of her shapely body. She was clearly deeply involved in some kind of exercise, and, not wanting to disturb her, Steve stood quietly at the door and watched. She stood for several seconds with her feet together, arms stretched over her head with the palms touching. Her back was slightly arched, and she was looking at her hands.
From that position, she rolled slowly forward, placed her hands on the floor, and let her head hang down between her arms. She held the position for a long moment. All of her movements were slow and deliberate, and she held each position before moving on. She went into a deep, lunging stretch and held it. Then she slowly raised her arms above her head again, and held her palms together. She went back into the lunge for a bit, then placed her hands and feet flat on the floor, and raised her hips to form a triangle with the floor as a base. Next, she slid back down to lay flat on the floor, arched her back to lift her upper body, and held the position, supporting her upper body with her arms. She lay down again with her shoulders between her hands and her toes tucked under, and she raised her bottom slightly. Steve smiled as he enjoyed the view, thinking that she would blush to find him watching her in that ridiculous position.
"I know you're there."
Steve jumped, surprised that his presence had registered, and heard a chuckle.
"I'll be done in a couple of minutes. This position is called 'caterpillar'."
She straightened her feet and slid back along the floor until her bottom rested on her heels. Her forehead touched the floor, and her hands were positioned flat on the floor directly over her head.
"This is 'hare'."
She rolled slowly upright, keeping her hands above her head and bringing her palms together. Arching her back, she looked at her hands, and held the position.
"This is called 'greeting to the master'."
Olivia let her hands come apart and slowly lowered them to rest on her thighs. Now she was looking straight ahead. After a moment, she said, "This is 'vajrasan'."
She stood up, and stood erect for several moments. Steve could see her shoulders rise and fall with her deep breaths. Finally, she turned and faced him.
"All done, babe. How about a hug and a kiss?"
Steve happily obliged, asking, "What were you just doing? Yoga?"
"Yep. It's Khatu Pranam. I do it at least three days a week, more when I get stressed. I can teach you sometime if you like."
Steve laughed and said, "I can't imagine twisting and contorting my body like that, but if I get to watch you, I'll give it a try."
Now it was Olivia's turn to laugh. "You're not very observant for a detective. In Khatu Pranam, there is no twisting and contorting. Your body stays in a straight line the whole time. The emphasis is on stretching and breathing. For me, it's a great way to relax and get energized. With regular practice, it helps build strength and improve concentration."
Steve shook his head, "I prefer a good run. It relaxes me, and it gives a good cardio workout."
"And shin splints," Olivia added. "So," she continued in a mischievous tone, "did you enjoy the show?"
"Show?"
She bent over and placed her palms on the floor in imitation of one of the yoga positions she had performed earlier. Then she wiggled her butt.
"Oh! That show." Steve felt himself redden. "I have to admit, it was quite a lovely sight. Y'know, you're something else."
"How so?"
"I thought you'd be embarrassed to know I was watching. That's why I stayed so quiet. And here you are, showing off for me. I don't get it."
Olivia shrugged and said, "What do I have to be embarrassed about? I was working out in the privacy of my own bedroom. You're the peeping tom." Taking hold of the cane Steve still held, she asked, "What's this for?"
"Well, I rang and knocked at least three times, and you never answered. I was worried."
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry, babe, I must have been really focused on my routine. I never heard you until you came in here." Grabbing Steve's arm and lifting his wrist to look at his watch, she continued. "So, it's eight fifteen. I'm going to have to shower fast if we're to have brunch ready by nine thirty." With a suggestive grin, she asked, "Want to join me?"
"I'd love to. Do you mean it?"
With a sigh of regret, she told him, "Actually, I was hoping you'd set the table while I washed up, but later today, who knows?"
Steve laughed and said, "Aren't you the tease?"
"Well, love, you just bring out the devil in me. By the way, I love the sweater. It really highlights your eyes. Is it new?"
Steve inspected what he was wearing, and said, "Yeah, thanks. Dad gave it to me this morning for Christmas."
She led him to the china cabinet showed him which china, silver, crystal, and linens to use. He was not surprised to find everything had a Christmas theme.
"Christmas is your favorite holiday, isn't it?"
"Yup. This year, it's like I'm eleven years old again and everything's perfect." After a pause, she continued softly, "It's been a long time since I've enjoyed the holidays so much. I owe that to you, your dad, Jesse and Susan, and Amanda and the boys."
He turned and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. "Liv, we haven't done anything special, just tried to make you feel comfortable like any other new friend. It's just luck that you happen to click with our little gang."
She shook her head and said, "I don't believe in luck."
"Oh?"
"Nope. I believe in God, and I believe He has a plan for each of us. We can fight it or follow it, but in the end, He will have His way." She leaned her forehead against his chest and continued, "I've been fighting Him for years by running from place to place when people got too close." She tipped her head back and looked into Steve's eyes. "This time, He's used you and the gang and the jeep…"
Steve grinned, "Thank God for that appalling jeep."
Olivia smiled. "Yeah. He's used everything to make running harder than staying. It's been years since I've…had friends…to celebrate with." Her hands fluttered uselessly in then air, wanting to give shape to her words. "I haven't had a Christmas since...Ted.... I've been so alone for so long, I'd given up hope of ever doing this kind of thing again. God doesn't want me to be alone, so He made all of you my friends before I could put up any walls."
Steve could see her chin trembling as she fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes. He held her close and rocked her side to side for a moment or two. He kissed the top of her head and shushed her softly. "I can't claim anything close to your faith, Liv. I have to believe in luck because I can't imagine anyone being capable of orchestrating our lives like you suggest, but luck, destiny, or God Almighty not withstanding, you won't ever be alone again as long as I'm here. I promise."
She stayed wrapped in his tender embrace for a little while longer, then looked into his eyes, smiled, and sniffed. "Enough of this," she said with finality. "It's Christmas morning, and I have guests arriving in...." Grabbing Steve's arm, she lifted it to see his watch again, making him smile, "...fifty-five minutes. Yikes! Please set the table for me, I'm going to shower, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am," Steve said with a grin as she scampered off to shower and dress. There might not be a dozen kids, but his vision was coming true nonetheless.
Steve spread the heavy red damask cloth on the table and pulled it even on both sides and ends. Then he set out eight heavy china plates with holly painted around the rims for Olivia, himself and his dad, Jesse and Susan, and Amanda and the boys. He put a cup and saucer and a dark green napkin beside each plate, and found the butter dish, creamer, and sugar bowl to match the set and filled them and put them on the table. Olivia's Christmas silverware had white enameled handles decorated with holly to match the plates, and the large crystal water goblets and the small ones she planned to use for juice were etched with holly and pine.
After setting the table, Steve started coffee and then wandered around the house finding candles that he thought would look good on the table. He had just finished lighting the last of three tall, green pillar candles when Olivia came into the room.
"Steve, it looks beautiful. Thanks."
He turned and smiled, and then gaped in admiration. "I thought the candles would be a nice touch, but they're nothing compared to what I see before me. You will definitely be the most beautiful decoration in the room."
Olivia wore a dark green crushed velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline and short sleeves. The bodice was closely fitted to show off her figure splendidly, and the knee-length skirt flared beautifully as she twirled for his admiration. Her red curls were held back from her face with a silver and green barrette shaped like a bow. Her green hose were decorated with small glittery snowflakes, and her matching pumps had silver snowflakes stitched over the toes. She wore an enameled Christmas tree pin with tiny red and blue ornaments and miniature gift packages underneath it.
Steve tapped the bow and said, "You make a lovely package. Do I get to unwrap you later?"
Olivia giggled and blushed prettily and said, "Thank you. Maybe…probably." Lifting Steve's arm to look at his watch, she said, "forty five minutes. Just enough time to fix brunch before everyone gets here. Would you please plug in the tree and then come help me in the kitchen?"
"Uh…yeah. I have to run out to my truck for a minute, but I'll be right back."
"Ok," Olivia said in a puzzled tone as she headed for the kitchen.
By the time Steve got back, the house smelled delicious. He discretely placed his two packages on Olivia's seat and entered the kitchen to see how he could help. Olivia wore a green apron painted like a Christmas tree. She had sausage and home fries cooking, and she was mixing biscuit dough.
"What can I do, Liv?"
Under her supervision, Steve baked the biscuits and made cinnamon buns from scratch, he prepared sausage gravy, and washed fresh strawberries, peeled and sliced kiwi, and dipped banana slices in lemon juice to keep them from going brown. Meanwhile, Olivia amazed him again by carving a large cantaloupe into a swan.
The wings and tail were thin slices of the melon, each offset slightly from its neighbors to simulate feathers, and the neck and the head were made from a strip of cantaloupe a couple of inches wide that had been between the two wings. She'd cut the strip in two at an angle then flipped one piece over to form the distinctive s-curve and held it together with a bamboo skewer. The wings and tail were also held in place with skewers, and as a final touch, she gave her creation two raisin eyes. The now-empty seed cavity was slightly enlarged by opening the wings, and the space was filled with the fresh fruit Steve had prepared. The whole thing sat on a white platter surrounded by purple, red, and green grapes.
"There," Olivia said, washing her hands. "All that's left are pancakes and eggs. They'll have to wait until everyone arrives. Why don't you put the fruit on the buffet? I'll put the gravy, potatoes, and sausage in the oven with the biscuits and cinnamon rolls to keep warm. I still need to make the icing for the cinnamon rolls, but we should be done just in time."
Steve carried the swan out and set it on the buffet in the dining room. Then he decided that now was probably the right time to give her his presents.
"Liv, could you come out here a minute? I need you."
She came to him wiping her hands on a towel. "Yeah, babe? What's up?"
He took the towel from her hands and said, "I know we were supposed to wait until tonight to exchange gifts, but I wanted this to be special." He handed her the green velvet box the jeweler had given him for the watch first.
Olivia's brow wrinkled with curiosity as she took the box. When she opened it, her eyes went wide with surprise, she squealed with delight and jumped up and down like an over-excited child saying, "You found it! You found it! Oh, thank you, Steve. Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you sooooo much! Where was it?"
"It was on my nightstand," he said. "I guess you left it there the night we met. I found it when I moved back down to my apartment, and I knew right away what I was going to do with it. I just kept praying you wouldn't buy a new watch before I could give it back to you."
Her hands were trembling so much with excitement that Steve had to fasten the watch for her. Then he handed her the large flat box that held the necklace.
"What's this?"
Steve shrugged and said, "Open it."
Her reaction was not nearly so dramatic this time, but Steve could tell he'd done well.
"Oh, Steve," she said breathlessly as she ran her finger lightly over the necklace. "It's stunning, and it matches perfectly. Where in the world did you find it?"
He took it out of the box for her, and she turned around so he could put it around her neck.
"I had it made. I'm glad you like it."
"Like it?" As soon as he had the clasp fastened, she went to the nearest mirror and said, "I adore it." Holding her wrist up so she could admire the two pieces together, she said, "It's perfect."
Steve came to stand behind her and said, "No, hon, you just make it look that way."
He saw her reflection in the mirror blush again. Then she turned and gave him a kiss that stole his breath and his reason. Before he knew what he was doing, he was unzipping her dress. Sometimes he simply could not control himself with her. He'd never loved a woman so completely and so passionately before. The power of his emotions was a little frightening, but he was confident that the feelings were mutual. After all, he realized with some amusement as they continued their passionate kiss, she was working at undoing his pants.
He scooped her up to carry her to the bedroom. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to shower him with kisses. He'd taken just one step when the doorbell rang. They moaned in unison, and Steve reluctantly put her down. He zipped her dress for her, and she smoothed his hair. Then they both went to open the door together.
"Merry Christmas!" Shouted Jesse and Susan as they stepped into the foyer.
"Merry Christmas!" Steve and Olivia returned their greeting.
"Isn't it a beautiful morning?" Susan commented as they all went to the living room.
"It is a gorgeous day," Olivia agreed, "but I miss my snow. Of course," she continued in a softer voice, "good friends and fellowship mean a whole lot more to me than a pile of white stuff."
Susan looked around the living room, and said, "Olivia, this is a great house."
"You haven't been here before, have you?"
"No, but I'd love to see the place, if you don't mind."
"Sure, Susan. Let's start in the kitchen, so I can finish the icing for the cinnamon rolls."
"Ok. Do you need any help?"
"No, thanks, it's a simple job, but you can keep me company."
"Hey, Liv," Jesse got her attention, "before you wander off, Susan and I brought you something. We both noticed your fondness for dark chocolate and thought you might want to include this with brunch."
He handed her a three-pound box of dark chocolate-covered cherries, and got a more enthusiastic response than he ever expected. She threw her arms around him and said, "Oh, Jess!" Hugging Susan, too, she said, "These are more perfect than you could ever know."
Upon seeing their confused looks, she knew she had to explain more. "When I was a kid, you could only get these in milk chocolate or mixed dark and milk chocolate. Every Christmas Daddy would buy a box for Mama and a box for me. I was wild about the dark ones, and Mama preferred the milk chocolate, so after all the presents were opened I would go out to the kitchen table, open both boxes, and switch the dark chocolate for the milk chocolate. These are my favorite candies in the whole world. Thank you both."
She handed the candies to Steve and said, "Why don't you put them on the buffet, babe? Sit some in among the grapes on the fruit tray. I think they'll look really good there."
As Olivia led Susan to the kitchen, she called over her shoulder, "Guys, I have a few Christmas CD's in the rack. Why don't you find them and put them on?"
"Will do, Liv," Steve called back to her.
"I see you gave her the necklace, Steve," Jesse said in a low voice. "If a box of chocolates can get her that excited, I can only imagine her reaction to the necklace."
Steve grinned and said in a confidential tone, "Let's just say she wasn't nearly as loud about it, but she thanked me very nicely."
Before long, Mark arrived, followed closely by Amanda and the boys. Finally, Olivia's house was filled with fun, friends, music, and joy. As she stepped into the living room doorway to take orders for pancakes and eggs, she paused for a moment to survey the scene. Steve and Jesse were on the floor playing with the boys while Mark, Susan, and Amanda admired the tree and it's decorations. Olivia sighed contentedly. Just then, Steve caught her eye and blew her a kiss. CJ saw him and made a face that made both Olivia and Steve laugh.
"All right, everyone," Olivia called, "most of the food is on the table. The first batch of pancakes is on the griddle as we speak. I need to know who wants eggs, how many, and how to cook them. I make them three ways, scrambled, over-easy, and boiled."
She took the orders and said, "Steve, sweetheart, I'll need an extra pair of hands for about five minutes. Would you mind?"
"Not at all." He walked to where she was standing in the doorway, pointed up to the mistletoe hanging there, and planted a big, sloppy kiss on her mouth.
CJ said, "Gross!"
Olivia started to giggle.
Steve whispered, "We'll finish this later."
Olivia agreed, "You bet your life we will."
They fixed the eggs and a second batch of pancakes while everyone else started on the buffet. When Steve and Olivia finally sat down at the table, they were showered with compliments for the meal.
"Olivia, please tell me you had a caterer make that swan," Amanda almost pleaded.
Olivia shrugged, "Sorry, 'Manda, I made it myself just this morning. I can teach you how. As a pathologist, I'm sure you're good at slicing and dicing."
There was a general groan at Olivia's ill-considered comment, but Amanda asked eagerly, "Do you really think I could learn how to do that?"
"Sure I do," Olivia said with a malicious grin. "In fact, with practice, I'm sure your work would be a cut above the rest."
Mark and Jesse laughed at the pun, Amanda rolled her eyes, and Susan moaned. Steve just sat back to see what would happen next. He was not disappointed.
Olivia shrugged her shoulders and said, "What can I say guys? I was voted class clown in school. I've always been a cut up."
She got much the same reaction as before, and Steve decided it was time to put a stop to things. Holding up a cinnamon roll for her, he said, "We know you've got a sharp wit, Liv. Now sink your choppers into this and quit while you're ahead."
Susan looked from Steve to Olivia and said, "My God, it's contagious."
Mark, Jesse, and Olivia could barely contain their laughter as Steve put a hand to his forehead and said, "Will someone please change the subject, NOW!"
"Gladly," Amanda agreed. "Olivia, that is a gorgeous necklace. Where did you get it?"
Olivia touched the necklace and Steve saw her eyes light up. "Steve gave it to me this morning. He couldn't wait, I guess. He found my great- grandmother's watch and had this made to match it." She held her wrist up next to the necklace to show off both pieces together.
"Steve tells me there's quite a story behind that watch," Mark prompted. "It has something to do with why we're here today."
"Oh, yes," Olivia said excitedly. "But it's more about my great-grandma, Adeline, her husband Otto, and her mother, Elsa, than it is about the watch. Adeline was the oldest of ten children. She was about three months pregnant with my grandmother, Gretchen, her thirteenth child, the year she started this Christmas breakfast tradition. Since she wasn't far along, no one but her husband, Otto, knew about the baby."
"Your grandma was one of thirteen children?" Jesse asked in amazement.
"Actually fourteen. My uncle Galen was the baby. In that time and place, big families were needed to work the farms."
Jesse gave a low whistle.
"Now, great-grandma Adeline was the only one of the ten who still lived near her parents, Elsa and Karl, and since they were getting older, she suggested that the family all get together at her house for Christmas. Otto would ride over to his in-law's place on Christmas morning, and bring them back for breakfast, and it would be a nice little surprise for Elsa and Karl."
"I think I can see where this is headed," Mark said with a grin. "Something went wrong, didn't it?"
Olivia returned his smile and continued her story, "Adeline had more ambition than good sense. Kinda runs in the family, don't you know? Back in the day, it was 1911, most folks in the mountains of western Pennsylvania still traveled by horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. Since travel was slow and the weather was unpredictable, anyone with any brains allowed extra time to get where they wanted to go. People started arriving on the evening of December twenty-third. With nine grown brothers and sisters and all of the attendant spouses, children and grandchildren, and a couple of great-grandchildren, as well as her own seven grown kids and their spouses and children and a few grandchildren, by Christmas Eve, Adeline was trying to hide a hundred and ten people from her parents."
"It didn't work, did it?" Amanda asked.
"No, it was almost a miserable disaster," Olivia said with a shake of her head. Then she continued. "The men and the older boys slept in the barn, leaving the women and children to crowd into the house. Adeline was lucky that most folks at that time brought extra food along with them on a trip, just in case the weather got bad, and the men went hunting on the twenty- third so there was plenty of fresh venison for Christmas Day. When they gathered their resources, there was plenty to eat. Of course Elsa and Karl figured out about Adeline's little surprise when sleigh after sleigh rode right by their house on the way to Adeline and Otto's place. Elsa came and helped butcher the deer when the men came back from the hunt."
"So, how did the breakfast go?" Steve asked.
"It was an all-day affair. The women started cooking at four in the morning in the kitchen and over campfires in the yard. Several of the relatives were ministers or laity, so instead of swamping the little country church by the creek, they organized a midday service in the barn at Elsa's insistence, and after the evening meal, they had a barn dance. At some point in the day, the families exchanged gifts."
Olivia lifted her wrist to show the watch again. She pointed out the features as she explained their significance.
"Otto gave Adeline this watch. The face was heart-shaped to remind her that his heart belonged to her every minute and every hour of every day. The mother-of-pearl and blue-green shells represented their twelve children, and the clasp didn't have the center stone yet. Elsa never thought much of her son-in-law, and she used the missing stone to take a dig at him. She'd always hoped her oldest daughter would marry someone more influential than a farmer. She told him it was a cheap piece of junk because it had already lost a stone."
"Well, that wasn't very nice," Susan said with some distaste.
"Elsa wasn't know for being nice, but for the first time in his life, Otto stood up to his mother-in-law. 'Mother Schweiger,' he said, 'as long as you are in my home, you will be civil to me, and you will be grateful for and appreciative of the effort my wife and I have made to bring your family together for you for Christmas.'
'Your wife?' Elsa said, 'You mean my daughter.'
"There was a major blow-up, wasn't there?" Amanda asked.
"Almost," Olivia said. "Otto told her, 'No, Mother Schweiger, I mean MY WIFE. Adeline has been my wife for over twenty years now, and she will tell you that I have always treated her like a treasure. That watch is not cheap. It is precious, just like her, and it is not missing a stone, it is waiting for the right one. Adeline is expecting our thirteenth child this spring, and when it comes, I will take the watch to the jeweler in town and have him put the baby's birthstone in the empty space.' That's how the whole clan found out Adeline was expecting."
"Then what happened?" Jesse asked.
"My great-aunt Ute told me Adeline fainted dead away, she was so embarrassed to have the news come out that way. Elsa supposedly made some comment about Otto rutting like a buck, and the ladies were appalled at her crudity. Otto got her coat and told her it was her last chance to change her tune before she was asked to leave. They supposedly stared each other down for a long time before Elsa finally conceded, saying, 'It's about time you grew a backbone, Otto. The watch is lovely.'"
"That's it?" Mark asked, shocked and disappointed, "That's all there is to the story behind the watch? Elsa just caved in?"
"She collapsed like a wet paper bag, Mark. What would you do if you had just been told to mind your manners in front of a hundred relatives? When grandma Gretchen was born in June of 1912, Elsa paid to have the pearl set in the clasp. She had wanted to go with the traditional alexandrite birthstone, but that year the American jewelers came out with their list of modern birthstones. Otto thought the pearl went better with the watch, and Elsa agreed. She and Otto learned to get along, and she started to treat her other in-laws better, too. In the last years of her life, she went from being dreaded and feared for her sharp tongue to being loved and admired for her kindness."
"So, old Otto changed her life, huh?" Mark commented.
"I guess so," Olivia agreed. "For the next sixty years the whole family got together every Christmas for breakfast at the old farmhouse, and I've been told there was never another harsh word uttered during the holidays. We were very close when I was a kid. It was wonderful."
"What happened after sixty years?" Steve asked.
Olivia seemed to disconnect herself from reality for a moment, and Steve wished he could call the question back. Thankfully, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Most of the people who kept the tradition going had died off by then, and one year it just stopped."
Steve reached for her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze, hoping to communicate to her that he knew he'd touched a sensitive spot and he was sorry for what he'd done. She squeezed back and gave him a smile to let him know it was all right.
"Oh, and one more thing," Olivia said with a laugh. "The men and boys got fleas from sleeping in the barn that Christmas, and every family was flea- bitten the rest of the winter. It was especially cold that year, too, so winter lasted until the middle of April. The joke for years was that it was the Christmas of the deep fleas."
"But except for that little standoff between Otto and Elsa, everyone had a RELATIVELY good time, didn't they?" Mark asked, unable to resist another pun.
Before Olivia could answer, Amanda said, "I'm sure they did." Pointing a finger at Mark, she said, "We are not going through that again, got it?"
Mark nodded his surrender and said, "We all need to get going soon if we're going to get to the hospital in time for the children's Christmas party."
As one, everybody began helping to clear the table and put away leftovers.
(Chapter 25. Christmas morning. Olivia's place.)
Promptly at eight in the morning, Steve rang Olivia's doorbell. She had invited everyone to her place for a Regis family Christmas brunch, and he had offered to help her prepare it. She had wanted to share one of her family's traditions with them because they had all made her feel so welcome. That afternoon they were all going to the hospital to help with the party in the children's ward, and then in the evening, they were going to meet at the beach house to have dinner and exchange gifts.
He rang the bell again, thinking she might have been in the shower or something and hadn't heard it. He had asked her last night if the brunch was a real tradition or if he had put the idea in her head the time he'd told her about his vision of her cooking for a dozen kids and a man who didn't know how lucky he was. He never had mentioned that he was the man in his dream and that he knew, but simply couldn't believe, exactly how lucky he had been to find her. She showed him some old family photos proving it really was a tradition going back to her great-grandmother of the missing watch.
Steve rang the bell a third time and grinned. He'd found the watch weeks ago when he moved back downstairs to his apartment and had taken it to a jewelry store with an in-house designer to have a matching necklace made. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry, and Steve was glad he'd be able to return it to Olivia. The face of the watch was an elongated heart almost an inch long and three quarters of an inch wide. It was made of mother-of- pearl with small ovals of some blue-green inlay to mark the hours. The band was a series of blue-green ovals and mother-of-pearl circles, each set in sterling silver, held together by sturdy links of sterling silver. It closed with a round tongue-and-hook clasp with mother-of-pearl and blue- green inlay and a pearl set in the center.
The jeweler had been impressed with the quality of the workmanship and had told Steve the blue-green shell was paua, a type of abalone that was harvested only off the coast of New Zealand. The colors of the shell varied widely, said the jeweler, and Steve had had to put a deposit down on the necklace and hope the designer would be able to obtain material in just the right shade to make the necklace in time for Christmas. Happily, the shell had arrived in time, and two days ago, he was able to pick up the watch and the new matching necklace.
He was delighted with what the designer had created. Like the watch, it was made of paua and mother-of-pearl. A pale pinkish-white mother-of-pearl heart set in sterling silver hung by two chain links from two ovals of paua, also set in sterling, and it all dangled from a silver choker-length chain. He was certain Olivia would like it, and he knew it would look beautiful around her graceful neck. His grin widened, then quickly turned to a look of concern.
It was unlike Olivia to keep him waiting for so long. It was nearly five minutes after eight and he had rung the bell several times. He could hear it ringing inside the house, but hadn't heard her call out or anything. He knocked, but when he still received no answer, he decided to check things out.
Wishing for his 9mm, but knowing he wouldn't get it back until Jesse and the police psychologist cleared him to go back to work, he made his way around to the back of the house, checking all the doors and windows as he went. The windows were secure, and the side patio door still had the charley bar in place. The back door was shut and locked and showed no signs of tampering, and the windows on the other side of the house were closed and locked. Still feeling uneasy, he came back to the front of the house.
Olivia had given him a key and made it clear that she intended him to use it, so he let himself in. In the alcove, he grabbed the walking stick Olivia said her grandfather had used for years. It was a solid, heavy piece of apple wood, bent at a right angle where it had been pruned. It wasn't his 9mm, but it would certainly clean somebody's clock if need be. He grinned in spite of himself. "Clean somebody's clock" was definitely an Olivia expression.
He suddenly felt very foolish. Here he was, creeping around his girlfriend's house, looking for an intruder, not knowing where or how Olivia was, and he was grinning like a simpleton because one of his many random thoughts echoed her speech. By this time, he had checked the living room and found it unoccupied. The Christmas tree was unplugged, so he guessed that she had made it to bed all right. He gradually worked his way around the interior of the house. The kitchen and mudroom were also clear, as were the den, bathrooms, office, and guest bedrooms. Finally, the only place left to check was the master bedroom and the adjoining bath.
Walking stick at the ready to club an intruder, Steve slowly turned the knob on the bedroom door and edged the door open. Peeking through the crack, he spotted Olivia, standing near the window, silhouetted against the blinds by the golden glow of the sun. She was wearing a pale yellow leotard that showed every curve of her shapely body. She was clearly deeply involved in some kind of exercise, and, not wanting to disturb her, Steve stood quietly at the door and watched. She stood for several seconds with her feet together, arms stretched over her head with the palms touching. Her back was slightly arched, and she was looking at her hands.
From that position, she rolled slowly forward, placed her hands on the floor, and let her head hang down between her arms. She held the position for a long moment. All of her movements were slow and deliberate, and she held each position before moving on. She went into a deep, lunging stretch and held it. Then she slowly raised her arms above her head again, and held her palms together. She went back into the lunge for a bit, then placed her hands and feet flat on the floor, and raised her hips to form a triangle with the floor as a base. Next, she slid back down to lay flat on the floor, arched her back to lift her upper body, and held the position, supporting her upper body with her arms. She lay down again with her shoulders between her hands and her toes tucked under, and she raised her bottom slightly. Steve smiled as he enjoyed the view, thinking that she would blush to find him watching her in that ridiculous position.
"I know you're there."
Steve jumped, surprised that his presence had registered, and heard a chuckle.
"I'll be done in a couple of minutes. This position is called 'caterpillar'."
She straightened her feet and slid back along the floor until her bottom rested on her heels. Her forehead touched the floor, and her hands were positioned flat on the floor directly over her head.
"This is 'hare'."
She rolled slowly upright, keeping her hands above her head and bringing her palms together. Arching her back, she looked at her hands, and held the position.
"This is called 'greeting to the master'."
Olivia let her hands come apart and slowly lowered them to rest on her thighs. Now she was looking straight ahead. After a moment, she said, "This is 'vajrasan'."
She stood up, and stood erect for several moments. Steve could see her shoulders rise and fall with her deep breaths. Finally, she turned and faced him.
"All done, babe. How about a hug and a kiss?"
Steve happily obliged, asking, "What were you just doing? Yoga?"
"Yep. It's Khatu Pranam. I do it at least three days a week, more when I get stressed. I can teach you sometime if you like."
Steve laughed and said, "I can't imagine twisting and contorting my body like that, but if I get to watch you, I'll give it a try."
Now it was Olivia's turn to laugh. "You're not very observant for a detective. In Khatu Pranam, there is no twisting and contorting. Your body stays in a straight line the whole time. The emphasis is on stretching and breathing. For me, it's a great way to relax and get energized. With regular practice, it helps build strength and improve concentration."
Steve shook his head, "I prefer a good run. It relaxes me, and it gives a good cardio workout."
"And shin splints," Olivia added. "So," she continued in a mischievous tone, "did you enjoy the show?"
"Show?"
She bent over and placed her palms on the floor in imitation of one of the yoga positions she had performed earlier. Then she wiggled her butt.
"Oh! That show." Steve felt himself redden. "I have to admit, it was quite a lovely sight. Y'know, you're something else."
"How so?"
"I thought you'd be embarrassed to know I was watching. That's why I stayed so quiet. And here you are, showing off for me. I don't get it."
Olivia shrugged and said, "What do I have to be embarrassed about? I was working out in the privacy of my own bedroom. You're the peeping tom." Taking hold of the cane Steve still held, she asked, "What's this for?"
"Well, I rang and knocked at least three times, and you never answered. I was worried."
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry, babe, I must have been really focused on my routine. I never heard you until you came in here." Grabbing Steve's arm and lifting his wrist to look at his watch, she continued. "So, it's eight fifteen. I'm going to have to shower fast if we're to have brunch ready by nine thirty." With a suggestive grin, she asked, "Want to join me?"
"I'd love to. Do you mean it?"
With a sigh of regret, she told him, "Actually, I was hoping you'd set the table while I washed up, but later today, who knows?"
Steve laughed and said, "Aren't you the tease?"
"Well, love, you just bring out the devil in me. By the way, I love the sweater. It really highlights your eyes. Is it new?"
Steve inspected what he was wearing, and said, "Yeah, thanks. Dad gave it to me this morning for Christmas."
She led him to the china cabinet showed him which china, silver, crystal, and linens to use. He was not surprised to find everything had a Christmas theme.
"Christmas is your favorite holiday, isn't it?"
"Yup. This year, it's like I'm eleven years old again and everything's perfect." After a pause, she continued softly, "It's been a long time since I've enjoyed the holidays so much. I owe that to you, your dad, Jesse and Susan, and Amanda and the boys."
He turned and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. "Liv, we haven't done anything special, just tried to make you feel comfortable like any other new friend. It's just luck that you happen to click with our little gang."
She shook her head and said, "I don't believe in luck."
"Oh?"
"Nope. I believe in God, and I believe He has a plan for each of us. We can fight it or follow it, but in the end, He will have His way." She leaned her forehead against his chest and continued, "I've been fighting Him for years by running from place to place when people got too close." She tipped her head back and looked into Steve's eyes. "This time, He's used you and the gang and the jeep…"
Steve grinned, "Thank God for that appalling jeep."
Olivia smiled. "Yeah. He's used everything to make running harder than staying. It's been years since I've…had friends…to celebrate with." Her hands fluttered uselessly in then air, wanting to give shape to her words. "I haven't had a Christmas since...Ted.... I've been so alone for so long, I'd given up hope of ever doing this kind of thing again. God doesn't want me to be alone, so He made all of you my friends before I could put up any walls."
Steve could see her chin trembling as she fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes. He held her close and rocked her side to side for a moment or two. He kissed the top of her head and shushed her softly. "I can't claim anything close to your faith, Liv. I have to believe in luck because I can't imagine anyone being capable of orchestrating our lives like you suggest, but luck, destiny, or God Almighty not withstanding, you won't ever be alone again as long as I'm here. I promise."
She stayed wrapped in his tender embrace for a little while longer, then looked into his eyes, smiled, and sniffed. "Enough of this," she said with finality. "It's Christmas morning, and I have guests arriving in...." Grabbing Steve's arm, she lifted it to see his watch again, making him smile, "...fifty-five minutes. Yikes! Please set the table for me, I'm going to shower, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am," Steve said with a grin as she scampered off to shower and dress. There might not be a dozen kids, but his vision was coming true nonetheless.
Steve spread the heavy red damask cloth on the table and pulled it even on both sides and ends. Then he set out eight heavy china plates with holly painted around the rims for Olivia, himself and his dad, Jesse and Susan, and Amanda and the boys. He put a cup and saucer and a dark green napkin beside each plate, and found the butter dish, creamer, and sugar bowl to match the set and filled them and put them on the table. Olivia's Christmas silverware had white enameled handles decorated with holly to match the plates, and the large crystal water goblets and the small ones she planned to use for juice were etched with holly and pine.
After setting the table, Steve started coffee and then wandered around the house finding candles that he thought would look good on the table. He had just finished lighting the last of three tall, green pillar candles when Olivia came into the room.
"Steve, it looks beautiful. Thanks."
He turned and smiled, and then gaped in admiration. "I thought the candles would be a nice touch, but they're nothing compared to what I see before me. You will definitely be the most beautiful decoration in the room."
Olivia wore a dark green crushed velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline and short sleeves. The bodice was closely fitted to show off her figure splendidly, and the knee-length skirt flared beautifully as she twirled for his admiration. Her red curls were held back from her face with a silver and green barrette shaped like a bow. Her green hose were decorated with small glittery snowflakes, and her matching pumps had silver snowflakes stitched over the toes. She wore an enameled Christmas tree pin with tiny red and blue ornaments and miniature gift packages underneath it.
Steve tapped the bow and said, "You make a lovely package. Do I get to unwrap you later?"
Olivia giggled and blushed prettily and said, "Thank you. Maybe…probably." Lifting Steve's arm to look at his watch, she said, "forty five minutes. Just enough time to fix brunch before everyone gets here. Would you please plug in the tree and then come help me in the kitchen?"
"Uh…yeah. I have to run out to my truck for a minute, but I'll be right back."
"Ok," Olivia said in a puzzled tone as she headed for the kitchen.
By the time Steve got back, the house smelled delicious. He discretely placed his two packages on Olivia's seat and entered the kitchen to see how he could help. Olivia wore a green apron painted like a Christmas tree. She had sausage and home fries cooking, and she was mixing biscuit dough.
"What can I do, Liv?"
Under her supervision, Steve baked the biscuits and made cinnamon buns from scratch, he prepared sausage gravy, and washed fresh strawberries, peeled and sliced kiwi, and dipped banana slices in lemon juice to keep them from going brown. Meanwhile, Olivia amazed him again by carving a large cantaloupe into a swan.
The wings and tail were thin slices of the melon, each offset slightly from its neighbors to simulate feathers, and the neck and the head were made from a strip of cantaloupe a couple of inches wide that had been between the two wings. She'd cut the strip in two at an angle then flipped one piece over to form the distinctive s-curve and held it together with a bamboo skewer. The wings and tail were also held in place with skewers, and as a final touch, she gave her creation two raisin eyes. The now-empty seed cavity was slightly enlarged by opening the wings, and the space was filled with the fresh fruit Steve had prepared. The whole thing sat on a white platter surrounded by purple, red, and green grapes.
"There," Olivia said, washing her hands. "All that's left are pancakes and eggs. They'll have to wait until everyone arrives. Why don't you put the fruit on the buffet? I'll put the gravy, potatoes, and sausage in the oven with the biscuits and cinnamon rolls to keep warm. I still need to make the icing for the cinnamon rolls, but we should be done just in time."
Steve carried the swan out and set it on the buffet in the dining room. Then he decided that now was probably the right time to give her his presents.
"Liv, could you come out here a minute? I need you."
She came to him wiping her hands on a towel. "Yeah, babe? What's up?"
He took the towel from her hands and said, "I know we were supposed to wait until tonight to exchange gifts, but I wanted this to be special." He handed her the green velvet box the jeweler had given him for the watch first.
Olivia's brow wrinkled with curiosity as she took the box. When she opened it, her eyes went wide with surprise, she squealed with delight and jumped up and down like an over-excited child saying, "You found it! You found it! Oh, thank you, Steve. Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you sooooo much! Where was it?"
"It was on my nightstand," he said. "I guess you left it there the night we met. I found it when I moved back down to my apartment, and I knew right away what I was going to do with it. I just kept praying you wouldn't buy a new watch before I could give it back to you."
Her hands were trembling so much with excitement that Steve had to fasten the watch for her. Then he handed her the large flat box that held the necklace.
"What's this?"
Steve shrugged and said, "Open it."
Her reaction was not nearly so dramatic this time, but Steve could tell he'd done well.
"Oh, Steve," she said breathlessly as she ran her finger lightly over the necklace. "It's stunning, and it matches perfectly. Where in the world did you find it?"
He took it out of the box for her, and she turned around so he could put it around her neck.
"I had it made. I'm glad you like it."
"Like it?" As soon as he had the clasp fastened, she went to the nearest mirror and said, "I adore it." Holding her wrist up so she could admire the two pieces together, she said, "It's perfect."
Steve came to stand behind her and said, "No, hon, you just make it look that way."
He saw her reflection in the mirror blush again. Then she turned and gave him a kiss that stole his breath and his reason. Before he knew what he was doing, he was unzipping her dress. Sometimes he simply could not control himself with her. He'd never loved a woman so completely and so passionately before. The power of his emotions was a little frightening, but he was confident that the feelings were mutual. After all, he realized with some amusement as they continued their passionate kiss, she was working at undoing his pants.
He scooped her up to carry her to the bedroom. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to shower him with kisses. He'd taken just one step when the doorbell rang. They moaned in unison, and Steve reluctantly put her down. He zipped her dress for her, and she smoothed his hair. Then they both went to open the door together.
"Merry Christmas!" Shouted Jesse and Susan as they stepped into the foyer.
"Merry Christmas!" Steve and Olivia returned their greeting.
"Isn't it a beautiful morning?" Susan commented as they all went to the living room.
"It is a gorgeous day," Olivia agreed, "but I miss my snow. Of course," she continued in a softer voice, "good friends and fellowship mean a whole lot more to me than a pile of white stuff."
Susan looked around the living room, and said, "Olivia, this is a great house."
"You haven't been here before, have you?"
"No, but I'd love to see the place, if you don't mind."
"Sure, Susan. Let's start in the kitchen, so I can finish the icing for the cinnamon rolls."
"Ok. Do you need any help?"
"No, thanks, it's a simple job, but you can keep me company."
"Hey, Liv," Jesse got her attention, "before you wander off, Susan and I brought you something. We both noticed your fondness for dark chocolate and thought you might want to include this with brunch."
He handed her a three-pound box of dark chocolate-covered cherries, and got a more enthusiastic response than he ever expected. She threw her arms around him and said, "Oh, Jess!" Hugging Susan, too, she said, "These are more perfect than you could ever know."
Upon seeing their confused looks, she knew she had to explain more. "When I was a kid, you could only get these in milk chocolate or mixed dark and milk chocolate. Every Christmas Daddy would buy a box for Mama and a box for me. I was wild about the dark ones, and Mama preferred the milk chocolate, so after all the presents were opened I would go out to the kitchen table, open both boxes, and switch the dark chocolate for the milk chocolate. These are my favorite candies in the whole world. Thank you both."
She handed the candies to Steve and said, "Why don't you put them on the buffet, babe? Sit some in among the grapes on the fruit tray. I think they'll look really good there."
As Olivia led Susan to the kitchen, she called over her shoulder, "Guys, I have a few Christmas CD's in the rack. Why don't you find them and put them on?"
"Will do, Liv," Steve called back to her.
"I see you gave her the necklace, Steve," Jesse said in a low voice. "If a box of chocolates can get her that excited, I can only imagine her reaction to the necklace."
Steve grinned and said in a confidential tone, "Let's just say she wasn't nearly as loud about it, but she thanked me very nicely."
Before long, Mark arrived, followed closely by Amanda and the boys. Finally, Olivia's house was filled with fun, friends, music, and joy. As she stepped into the living room doorway to take orders for pancakes and eggs, she paused for a moment to survey the scene. Steve and Jesse were on the floor playing with the boys while Mark, Susan, and Amanda admired the tree and it's decorations. Olivia sighed contentedly. Just then, Steve caught her eye and blew her a kiss. CJ saw him and made a face that made both Olivia and Steve laugh.
"All right, everyone," Olivia called, "most of the food is on the table. The first batch of pancakes is on the griddle as we speak. I need to know who wants eggs, how many, and how to cook them. I make them three ways, scrambled, over-easy, and boiled."
She took the orders and said, "Steve, sweetheart, I'll need an extra pair of hands for about five minutes. Would you mind?"
"Not at all." He walked to where she was standing in the doorway, pointed up to the mistletoe hanging there, and planted a big, sloppy kiss on her mouth.
CJ said, "Gross!"
Olivia started to giggle.
Steve whispered, "We'll finish this later."
Olivia agreed, "You bet your life we will."
They fixed the eggs and a second batch of pancakes while everyone else started on the buffet. When Steve and Olivia finally sat down at the table, they were showered with compliments for the meal.
"Olivia, please tell me you had a caterer make that swan," Amanda almost pleaded.
Olivia shrugged, "Sorry, 'Manda, I made it myself just this morning. I can teach you how. As a pathologist, I'm sure you're good at slicing and dicing."
There was a general groan at Olivia's ill-considered comment, but Amanda asked eagerly, "Do you really think I could learn how to do that?"
"Sure I do," Olivia said with a malicious grin. "In fact, with practice, I'm sure your work would be a cut above the rest."
Mark and Jesse laughed at the pun, Amanda rolled her eyes, and Susan moaned. Steve just sat back to see what would happen next. He was not disappointed.
Olivia shrugged her shoulders and said, "What can I say guys? I was voted class clown in school. I've always been a cut up."
She got much the same reaction as before, and Steve decided it was time to put a stop to things. Holding up a cinnamon roll for her, he said, "We know you've got a sharp wit, Liv. Now sink your choppers into this and quit while you're ahead."
Susan looked from Steve to Olivia and said, "My God, it's contagious."
Mark, Jesse, and Olivia could barely contain their laughter as Steve put a hand to his forehead and said, "Will someone please change the subject, NOW!"
"Gladly," Amanda agreed. "Olivia, that is a gorgeous necklace. Where did you get it?"
Olivia touched the necklace and Steve saw her eyes light up. "Steve gave it to me this morning. He couldn't wait, I guess. He found my great- grandmother's watch and had this made to match it." She held her wrist up next to the necklace to show off both pieces together.
"Steve tells me there's quite a story behind that watch," Mark prompted. "It has something to do with why we're here today."
"Oh, yes," Olivia said excitedly. "But it's more about my great-grandma, Adeline, her husband Otto, and her mother, Elsa, than it is about the watch. Adeline was the oldest of ten children. She was about three months pregnant with my grandmother, Gretchen, her thirteenth child, the year she started this Christmas breakfast tradition. Since she wasn't far along, no one but her husband, Otto, knew about the baby."
"Your grandma was one of thirteen children?" Jesse asked in amazement.
"Actually fourteen. My uncle Galen was the baby. In that time and place, big families were needed to work the farms."
Jesse gave a low whistle.
"Now, great-grandma Adeline was the only one of the ten who still lived near her parents, Elsa and Karl, and since they were getting older, she suggested that the family all get together at her house for Christmas. Otto would ride over to his in-law's place on Christmas morning, and bring them back for breakfast, and it would be a nice little surprise for Elsa and Karl."
"I think I can see where this is headed," Mark said with a grin. "Something went wrong, didn't it?"
Olivia returned his smile and continued her story, "Adeline had more ambition than good sense. Kinda runs in the family, don't you know? Back in the day, it was 1911, most folks in the mountains of western Pennsylvania still traveled by horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. Since travel was slow and the weather was unpredictable, anyone with any brains allowed extra time to get where they wanted to go. People started arriving on the evening of December twenty-third. With nine grown brothers and sisters and all of the attendant spouses, children and grandchildren, and a couple of great-grandchildren, as well as her own seven grown kids and their spouses and children and a few grandchildren, by Christmas Eve, Adeline was trying to hide a hundred and ten people from her parents."
"It didn't work, did it?" Amanda asked.
"No, it was almost a miserable disaster," Olivia said with a shake of her head. Then she continued. "The men and the older boys slept in the barn, leaving the women and children to crowd into the house. Adeline was lucky that most folks at that time brought extra food along with them on a trip, just in case the weather got bad, and the men went hunting on the twenty- third so there was plenty of fresh venison for Christmas Day. When they gathered their resources, there was plenty to eat. Of course Elsa and Karl figured out about Adeline's little surprise when sleigh after sleigh rode right by their house on the way to Adeline and Otto's place. Elsa came and helped butcher the deer when the men came back from the hunt."
"So, how did the breakfast go?" Steve asked.
"It was an all-day affair. The women started cooking at four in the morning in the kitchen and over campfires in the yard. Several of the relatives were ministers or laity, so instead of swamping the little country church by the creek, they organized a midday service in the barn at Elsa's insistence, and after the evening meal, they had a barn dance. At some point in the day, the families exchanged gifts."
Olivia lifted her wrist to show the watch again. She pointed out the features as she explained their significance.
"Otto gave Adeline this watch. The face was heart-shaped to remind her that his heart belonged to her every minute and every hour of every day. The mother-of-pearl and blue-green shells represented their twelve children, and the clasp didn't have the center stone yet. Elsa never thought much of her son-in-law, and she used the missing stone to take a dig at him. She'd always hoped her oldest daughter would marry someone more influential than a farmer. She told him it was a cheap piece of junk because it had already lost a stone."
"Well, that wasn't very nice," Susan said with some distaste.
"Elsa wasn't know for being nice, but for the first time in his life, Otto stood up to his mother-in-law. 'Mother Schweiger,' he said, 'as long as you are in my home, you will be civil to me, and you will be grateful for and appreciative of the effort my wife and I have made to bring your family together for you for Christmas.'
'Your wife?' Elsa said, 'You mean my daughter.'
"There was a major blow-up, wasn't there?" Amanda asked.
"Almost," Olivia said. "Otto told her, 'No, Mother Schweiger, I mean MY WIFE. Adeline has been my wife for over twenty years now, and she will tell you that I have always treated her like a treasure. That watch is not cheap. It is precious, just like her, and it is not missing a stone, it is waiting for the right one. Adeline is expecting our thirteenth child this spring, and when it comes, I will take the watch to the jeweler in town and have him put the baby's birthstone in the empty space.' That's how the whole clan found out Adeline was expecting."
"Then what happened?" Jesse asked.
"My great-aunt Ute told me Adeline fainted dead away, she was so embarrassed to have the news come out that way. Elsa supposedly made some comment about Otto rutting like a buck, and the ladies were appalled at her crudity. Otto got her coat and told her it was her last chance to change her tune before she was asked to leave. They supposedly stared each other down for a long time before Elsa finally conceded, saying, 'It's about time you grew a backbone, Otto. The watch is lovely.'"
"That's it?" Mark asked, shocked and disappointed, "That's all there is to the story behind the watch? Elsa just caved in?"
"She collapsed like a wet paper bag, Mark. What would you do if you had just been told to mind your manners in front of a hundred relatives? When grandma Gretchen was born in June of 1912, Elsa paid to have the pearl set in the clasp. She had wanted to go with the traditional alexandrite birthstone, but that year the American jewelers came out with their list of modern birthstones. Otto thought the pearl went better with the watch, and Elsa agreed. She and Otto learned to get along, and she started to treat her other in-laws better, too. In the last years of her life, she went from being dreaded and feared for her sharp tongue to being loved and admired for her kindness."
"So, old Otto changed her life, huh?" Mark commented.
"I guess so," Olivia agreed. "For the next sixty years the whole family got together every Christmas for breakfast at the old farmhouse, and I've been told there was never another harsh word uttered during the holidays. We were very close when I was a kid. It was wonderful."
"What happened after sixty years?" Steve asked.
Olivia seemed to disconnect herself from reality for a moment, and Steve wished he could call the question back. Thankfully, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Most of the people who kept the tradition going had died off by then, and one year it just stopped."
Steve reached for her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze, hoping to communicate to her that he knew he'd touched a sensitive spot and he was sorry for what he'd done. She squeezed back and gave him a smile to let him know it was all right.
"Oh, and one more thing," Olivia said with a laugh. "The men and boys got fleas from sleeping in the barn that Christmas, and every family was flea- bitten the rest of the winter. It was especially cold that year, too, so winter lasted until the middle of April. The joke for years was that it was the Christmas of the deep fleas."
"But except for that little standoff between Otto and Elsa, everyone had a RELATIVELY good time, didn't they?" Mark asked, unable to resist another pun.
Before Olivia could answer, Amanda said, "I'm sure they did." Pointing a finger at Mark, she said, "We are not going through that again, got it?"
Mark nodded his surrender and said, "We all need to get going soon if we're going to get to the hospital in time for the children's Christmas party."
As one, everybody began helping to clear the table and put away leftovers.