AN: Sorry for the super short previous chapter. I'd forgotten to post that last bit along with the first one. Anyways, here's chapter 3!
Jack and Lucy arrived at precisely 6:00 for dinner at the Harker's. Mina greeted Lucy with a warm hug and kiss, and Jonathan greeted Jack with a firm handshake and a smile. Lucy had predicted correctly that Mina's house was beautifully decorated. Mina had always had an eye for detail, and it shone particularly in her decorating. She had beautiful candles, ivy, and poinsettias throughout the house, making it all the more warm and merry.
"It took me hours," Mina told Lucy, "but I believe it's my best yet. Since this is my first Christmas as a married woman, I tried my best to make it nice for Jonathan" she said, smiling. Lucy smiled back, knowing that this would be the first of many mentions of Jonathan that evening.
They began their night with drinks amidst their chatter. Jonathan was telling Jack all about his business and the real estate deal that he had made this past week. Jack began to tell Jonathan about the characters at the asylum, but Lucy nudged him gently a few times to remind him to keep it appropriate. Having been around such people for so long, Jack often forgot that such talk could disturb others.
"Do you ever miss school teaching, Mina?" Lucy asked as she sipped her drink.
"Yes, sometimes," she said wistfully. "The children were all so dear, and I was always learning from them. But I much prefer being Mrs. Harker. Do you ever wish that you had worked, Lucy?"
"I have no idea," she said. "Sometimes, it seems like it may have been nice, but I enjoy how things have been thus far. I don't mind being Mrs. Seward myself," she said laughing.
"I heard from Lord Godalming the other day," Jonathan said casually. "We hadn't spoken in weeks. He's doing well for himself. Still hasn't found a wife, though."
Lucy, Jack, and even Mina bristled a bit. Jonathan was unaware, but the day that Jack had proposed to Lucy, she had received two other proposals afterward. One was from Quincey Morris, who was very kind but also unattached from their circle. The other, however, was Lord Arthur Godalming, who was Jack's dearest friend. The two still spoke, but Lucy had hardly seen him since that day. Hearing his name made her feel a bit awkward.
Jack quickly changed the subject. "Well, I suppose we can't all have wives so soon. Tell me, Jonathan, do you have any family in for the holiday?"
The meal was served as they began to speak of more genial things. Mina had made a delicious turkey with all of the trimmings as well as her delicious pease pudding. Their was a lapse in the conversation as everybody took their time to enjoy the meal.
Lucy had never gained cooking skills like Mina had. She was far from inept, but the idea of preparing a full meal for Christmas would have overwhelmed her. Lucy had lived in a fine residence her whole life with a cook, while Mina had been orphaned as an adolescent and had learned more independence. Now and they, Lucy felt slightly inferior to Mina because of her lack of basic skills.
"The dinner was delicious, Mina," said Jack as he finished his helping.
"Thank-you, Jack," she said kindly. Suddenly, looked startled. "I completely forgotten about my Christmas pudding! It's still in the oven! Excuse me, please." She rushed out of her seat and into the kitchen.
Jonathan followed her in. "Forgive me, but I should help her. If it's burning, she'll need my assitance." That left Lucy and Jack alone in the dining room.
Lucy was eyeing the house and its decorations when suddenly, under the parlor entryway, she saw it hanging down: mistletoe. "Jack, look!" she she as she pointed. He looked up at it and laughed dryly.
"What do you know, Lucy! The berries are white."
"Of course they are! You were thinking of holly, my dear." She stood up and walked to the entryway. "Well, my dear Dr. Seward, won't you meet me under the mistletoe?"
"How could I resist, my love?" He rose up and kissed her warmly. "Happy Christmas, my sweet Lucy I'm so happy to have you with me."
"And I'm so happy to be here with you!" she said smiling, and she kissed him again.
Mina ran in, holding the slightly crisp Christmas pudding. "It didn't burn!" she said triumphantly. "We only need to pour the dressing over it, and we may eat." She took a moment to look over at Lucy and Jack, who were listening to her as they embraced beneath the doorway. She grinned as she said, "I see that you two found my mistletoe."
"We indeed did," said Jack, "with it's lovely white berries." He kissed Lucy once more before sitting down for the sweet Christmas pudding.