Horatio & Josie: Happy Christmas
Chapter 4
December 23
"How about this one Aunt Jo?" Kieran's voice rang out in the cold night air. Jo was slowly weaving her way through the thin maze of cut trees propped up at odd angles in the metal stands of the make shift forest in the corner of the Holiday Station parking lot. As she listened for the telltale sounds of the twins arguing over the merits of the tree in question, she sipped her hot chocolate and breathed in the wonderful aroma of fresh cut pine and balsam. It was a few minutes of stolen peace and quiet she had learned to make the most of since having the twins come to live with her. Muted strains of "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum" drifted from the speakers of the trailer serving as the office of Big John's Christmas Trees. The Christmas lights strung around the perimeter of the "forest" twinkled and she was reminded once again of the tree lot in the Snoopy Christmas cartoon.
"Hey Aunt Jo? Are you coming?" Liam's voice was not far off on her left. "I think the one Kieran picked out is too big for the house. I found a better one but he says it's not my turn to choose the tree." Jo picked up her pace and rounded the next bunch of trees just in time to see a flurry of snow being kicked up by four booted feet.
"Hey guys, none of that or I pick out the tree and you know what kind I'll find!" Her announcement was met with a chorus of not the Charlie Brown tree. "You had better believe it," Jo smiled as she stopped in front of the tree Kieran was attempting to prop up straight. "Hmmm … that does seem rather large around the middle, Kieran. Why do you think we need one that size?"
"Well, I think we are going to need lots of room to put all the presents," Kieran said, not quite meeting his aunt's eyes. "I mean, there's us, and the dogs and maybe Uncle Jasper will be home and … Anne from next door and …" his voice trailed off. "I like this one," he added stubbornly. Jo swallowed the last of her cocoa, eyeing both boys suspiciously. Both boys continued to look at her innocently while she carefully walked around the tree, looking at it with a critical eye.
"Ok we'll take this tree on one condition." Two sets of eyes looked at her expectantly. "That it fits IN the van AND whoever has to ride in the backseat with this tree and Jezebel and Roxie doesn't complain."
"That's two conditions Auntie," Liam grinned before both boys began tugging the tree down the path and to the trailer. Jo strolled along behind them, the sound of Roxie's muffled barking drifting towards them on the night air.
Later that night …
It was Jo's favorite time of the day. The boys were tucked in bed; Jingle and Belle were curled up with Roxie in the doggie bed. The newest addition stood proudly in front of the picture window in the living room. Stopping next to it to breathe in the wonderful aroma, Jo ran her fingers over the soft needles. Tomorrow she would string the lights on it and the boys could hang the ornaments. Her thoughts drifted back to the last weekend at Horatio's home.
"Why don't you get a tree for Christmas, Horatio? Maybe a small one, to sit on your desk? It doesn't have to be a real one." He was shaking his bright head no as he handed her a mug of hot apple cider laced with a generous dose of brandy. Jo took a sip, wrinkling her nose. "Wow Horatio! This toddy is as strong as those Aunt Florence used to give us when we had a colds. I think it was more to make sure we got some rest than any actual medicinal value. But," she slanted a glance up at him, "it's not going to stop me from convincing you that you need a Christmas tree."
"I'm rarely home Josie," Horatio murmured, taking his place beside her. "I would probably forget to water it and it would turn brown." He sipped his cider, his blue eyes meeting hers briefly over the rim of his mug. "Let's just say there are too many … sad … memories and leave it at that, hmmm?"
"Because of … Marisol?" she asked hesitantly, wondering how he would answer. For a moment she was afraid she'd gone too far, feeling him tense up beside her. His blue eyes grew distant and she swallowed a mouthful of cider quickly. A sudden fit of coughing swept over her and Horatio lifted the mug from her fingers. After setting it on the table, he thumped her on the back several times before gathering her close, her head nestled against his shoulder. Jo breathed in the heady scent of his citrus and spice aftershave mingling with the burning logs in the fireplace. "Mmmm, this is so nice. I could stay here forever," she murmured sleepily. The room was quiet, save for the gentle grumble-snoring of the doxies and the crackle of the fire. Later, when she woke up in his bed, she'd wondered if she'd dreamed his softly spoken, "You are always welcome here, Josie."
The soft patter of paws announced Jezebels' entrance into the living room from her nightly rounds making sure all was well in the house. The dark shepherd stopped by the dog bed, giving the two doxie pups a gentle sniff over and ending with a gentle lick on each pup's ear. Deciding all was well, she trotted over to the sofa and with one graceful leap landed beside her mistress.
"Hi Beautiful," Jo reached over and scratched behind one of the large black ears. "So, what do you think of those doxies, hmm? I wish you could speak who-man, you know. Then you could tell me what the story is with those two." She took a sip of her coffee and turned her attention to the legal size envelope that had been in Saturdays' mail. The return label stared back at her – Shepherd and Sons, Family Law. "I guess I have to open it sooner or later, hmm, Jez," Jo sighed as she gave the shepherd a final pat on the neck and reluctantly reached for the envelope.
Back in Miami:
"It's Sunday Rick. And tomorrow is Christmas Eve. You know I'm leaving and I'll be back after New Years. Calleigh has all the personnel details and I've emailed you the information as well. So – what else could you POSSIBLY need to know?" Horatio didn't even try to keep the irritation from creeping into his voice.
"I've seen you come in to work on Christmas Day whether you had to or not, Horatio, so don't give me that family time crap." The IAB man's voice was a sneer over the phone. "I just thought you should know that it hasn't escaped notice that you have been preoccupied these last couple months. You might find things are changing when you get back, next year."
The call ended on that note and Horatio set his phone down on his desk. His gaze fell on the letter and small envelope laying there.
Dear Horatio,
I hope you are well. If you are receiving this then two things must have happened. I am no longer inhabiting this mortal plane and you have not made an honest woman of my favorite grand-niece. Since I wasn't able to see her married while I was alive, I am doing my best to make sure it does happen once I've departed.
Josie lights up when you are in the room Lieutenant. I know she loves you – she just needs a little push to realize that she can't go on putting everyone's happiness before hers – and yours. And I know you love her. Don't be afraid to tell her. You are perfect for each other, and for the time being, her nephews.
I wish I could say that her sister would come out of rehab by Christmas and be ready to take the boys back but I think we both know that's totally unrealistic. For now, I am grateful that you are willing to welcome them into your home and help Josie out with parenting. It is not the ideal way to start a new life together but sometimes life doesn't offer us an easy path.
I am offering you my blessing to marry my favorite grand-niece. You already know you have it and I care about you as one of my family. I've instructed Mr. Shepherd to include my engagement ring with this letter. It was my husband's mother's. He gave it to me and I always wanted Josie to have it. It is that much more special if she can have it as it was meant to be – a pledge of love and marriage. It is my hope that you and Josie will have the kind of relationship I was lucky enough to have with my beloved Fred.
My solicitor has instructions for the ring should you and Josie have other plans in life. Please let him know if you no longer have a reason to give it to her. He will make sure she receives it in my estate.
Please don't wait too long Lieutenant. Life can be fickle and sometimes it is difficult to find time to let someone know what they mean to us. You will find a suite waiting for you at Blue Fin Bay Resorts in Tofte, Minnesota for the weekend of December 28-January 1, Josie doesn't know about it. I've left instructions that she take the week between Christmas and New Years off work. The rest is up to you Lieutenant. Good Luck and Merry Christmas.
Love,
Florence Allen
TBC