CHAPTER 4
Traditional Christmas at the Harris farm meant that everyone gathered together at the main
house to spend Christmas Eve and morning together. And it was a good thing it was such a large
house, because on this night they pushed the structure to it's seams.
Rayna, Chris' husband Gary and her brother's wives Eva and Gwen arrived at the house with the
children only a few minutes after Beth, Adam and her father had come inside.
"I'm going to go feed Cassie while they are changing into their pajamas and getting ready for the
story." Beth whispered to Adam.
"Where should I take our things?" he asked, thinking it would be a good time to bring in their
suitcases.
Beth looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled shyly … which Adam recognized
immediately as her wanting to tell him something he probably wasn't going to like.
"We may have convinced my Father that we are going to be married next week, but I guess I
should have explained about his house rules." She began.
"Let me guess … there's a nice sofa with my name on it?" he replied with a groan.
"Or we could stay in town …" she offered.
"No … As much as I'll hate it, I think I can manage a few nights without you in my arms. But can
I ask a question?"
"Anything." She replied.
"These rules … they don't apply after the wedding do they?" he leaned over, speaking so close
he tickled her ear with his breath, making her giggle as she shook her head no. With that, Adam
turned and took his coat from her and went out to the car for their things.
Although Cassie was asleep after her feeding, Beth brought her into the main room to be with the
family. The children gathered around the large floral chair her sister's had saved for her,
oooohhhing and ahhhing over their new little cousin.
There were bowls of popcorn set around the room and mugs of hot chocolate and cider passed
around before Peter Harris took a seat beside the fireplace. It was the rocker that had up until
now been the place Beth's mother sat to read the Christmas story before everyone went up to
bed.
Beth stood up for a second, letting Adam slip behind her so the three of them could settle into the
deep chair together. As her Father read the story, Adam studied the family gathered around him.
On the sofa was Beth's brother Kyle with his wife Eva. Two little boys sat in their laps, licking the
large, melting marshmallows that floated on the top of their chocolate and giggling when the
sweet substance stuck to their nose. Beside them sat Chris with her daughter in her lap and her
husband Gary on the floor in front of them. Rayna, who hadn't yet married, sat cross-legged in
front of her father, holding Justin's little girl Abbie in her lap. Justin and his wife Gwen were
across the room on the shorter sofa with their new baby. He noticed Beth looking around the
room, drinking in the sight of her family through mist-filled eyes. And as much as he cringed at
the thought he'd stepped into a holiday episode of 'The Waltons', he knew that coming here had
been the right thing to do for her.
By the time the story was over, a couple of the children had nodded off and had to be carried to
their beds. Everyone exchanged hugs and kisses as the Mothers disappeared down the hall,
leaving the men to take care of the Santa brigade.
Kyle showed Adam the pullout sofa in the small den off the back of the house, and told him he
was welcome to turn in, but he could join in on the fun if he'd like. "Justin has a case of cold beer
beside the bicycle assembly line." He added, and at the mention of his beverage of choice, Adam
decided they could count him in. Besides, he might as well give blending in with the family his
best effort. Beth deserved to be happy, and being with her family made her happy. And to tell
the truth, despite their skepticism about him, he liked them.
Traditional Christmas at the Harris farm meant that everyone gathered together at the main
house to spend Christmas Eve and morning together. And it was a good thing it was such a large
house, because on this night they pushed the structure to it's seams.
Rayna, Chris' husband Gary and her brother's wives Eva and Gwen arrived at the house with the
children only a few minutes after Beth, Adam and her father had come inside.
"I'm going to go feed Cassie while they are changing into their pajamas and getting ready for the
story." Beth whispered to Adam.
"Where should I take our things?" he asked, thinking it would be a good time to bring in their
suitcases.
Beth looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled shyly … which Adam recognized
immediately as her wanting to tell him something he probably wasn't going to like.
"We may have convinced my Father that we are going to be married next week, but I guess I
should have explained about his house rules." She began.
"Let me guess … there's a nice sofa with my name on it?" he replied with a groan.
"Or we could stay in town …" she offered.
"No … As much as I'll hate it, I think I can manage a few nights without you in my arms. But can
I ask a question?"
"Anything." She replied.
"These rules … they don't apply after the wedding do they?" he leaned over, speaking so close
he tickled her ear with his breath, making her giggle as she shook her head no. With that, Adam
turned and took his coat from her and went out to the car for their things.
Although Cassie was asleep after her feeding, Beth brought her into the main room to be with the
family. The children gathered around the large floral chair her sister's had saved for her,
oooohhhing and ahhhing over their new little cousin.
There were bowls of popcorn set around the room and mugs of hot chocolate and cider passed
around before Peter Harris took a seat beside the fireplace. It was the rocker that had up until
now been the place Beth's mother sat to read the Christmas story before everyone went up to
bed.
Beth stood up for a second, letting Adam slip behind her so the three of them could settle into the
deep chair together. As her Father read the story, Adam studied the family gathered around him.
On the sofa was Beth's brother Kyle with his wife Eva. Two little boys sat in their laps, licking the
large, melting marshmallows that floated on the top of their chocolate and giggling when the
sweet substance stuck to their nose. Beside them sat Chris with her daughter in her lap and her
husband Gary on the floor in front of them. Rayna, who hadn't yet married, sat cross-legged in
front of her father, holding Justin's little girl Abbie in her lap. Justin and his wife Gwen were
across the room on the shorter sofa with their new baby. He noticed Beth looking around the
room, drinking in the sight of her family through mist-filled eyes. And as much as he cringed at
the thought he'd stepped into a holiday episode of 'The Waltons', he knew that coming here had
been the right thing to do for her.
By the time the story was over, a couple of the children had nodded off and had to be carried to
their beds. Everyone exchanged hugs and kisses as the Mothers disappeared down the hall,
leaving the men to take care of the Santa brigade.
Kyle showed Adam the pullout sofa in the small den off the back of the house, and told him he
was welcome to turn in, but he could join in on the fun if he'd like. "Justin has a case of cold beer
beside the bicycle assembly line." He added, and at the mention of his beverage of choice, Adam
decided they could count him in. Besides, he might as well give blending in with the family his
best effort. Beth deserved to be happy, and being with her family made her happy. And to tell
the truth, despite their skepticism about him, he liked them.