CHAPTER 4
"Enos, stop it," Daisy laughed and gently slapped Enos' hand, "stop eating nuts and wait for the dinner. Uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke are coming. Go and set the table in the living room while I cook."
"I'm really hungry, and I can't wait for dinner," Enos inhaled the scent in the kitchen, "Mmhhh, WOW, your cooking is great, Daisy." Standing behind her, Enos bent forward and kissed her neck as his left hand slid on her belly.
"Enos! Do you want to eat or not? I can't cook and…," she laughed, his lips on her neck tickling her skin as a feather, "… and … at the same time!"
Enos had a step back, an amused smile on his face as he winked at Daisy who was turning her head to him, "I bet uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke don't want a burnt dinner for Christmas Eve."
"Neither you, I suppose, since you are so hungry," she raised the wooden spoon in her hand and she moved it under Enos' nose, in circle, as a sort of magic wand, "So, let me cook, please."
"You're right. I'm really hungry. This scent is fantastic but… you too are fantastic, and I don't know if I'm more hungry of food or of…," he blushed a bit, "… of you."
"Oh Enos. You're so…," Daisy didn't end what she was going to say but she walked to him, kissing him deeply, in the kitchen just the pleasant noise of the food's boiling.
Daisy opened her eyes and yawned, stirring.
Another sweet dream about her life as Enos' wife, for sure better than her last dream, a sad dream about the death of Enos' mother, a dream she had the previous week.
She wasn't worried about those dreams, taking them just as dreams, not wondering any more about the reason of it. After her nearly wedding, her soul was still regretting that missed chance, basking into fanciful images of her missed life as wife: simple explanation.
The beginning surprise and shock because of those dreams' clearness turned into a pleasant habit, and Daisy was now both happy and proud of her dreams, not forgetting anyway they were just dreams, so the desire to make them true was becoming deeper and deeper.
She went to the bathroom, she washed her face, she went back to her bedroom and she dressed up: long jeans, a blue and adherent necked sweater, boots. It was winter, after all, not a good season for her short shorts and sexy t-shirts.
Walking out her bedroom, she smiled at her face reflected in the mirror: it was Christmas Eve, as in her dream, and even if Enos wasn't her husband, she was going to cook for him and for her family.
"Bo, stop eating cookies and go helping Luke with decorations and with the fireplace. Our guests are coming."
Guests meant Enos for dinner, and then Cooter, Boss with his wife Lulu, Rosco and Cletus (after having dinner with their respective families; the same family for Boss, Lulu, Rosco and Cletus).
"OK uncle Jesse," Bo ate another cookie and walked to the living room as uncle Jesse rolled his eyes and Daisy laughed.
Moving inside the kitchen with uncle Jesse, surrounded by turkey, butter, onions, black pepper, flour, salt, sugar, potatoes, cream cheese, milk, and various other ingredients (apparent confusion that was going to turn into their rich dinner), Daisy felt totally at ease and happy.
She started to sing a Christmas song, her limpid voice followed by uncle Jesse's deeper one and then by Bo and Luke's ones, so the farm filled with Christmas songs, song after song, all the family singing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Daisy looked outside the window and her eyes lightened as she realized it was snowing; it rarely snowed in Hazzard, but, when it happened, it was a great joy, especially in a day like Christmas.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.
The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Keeping on singing her favorite Christmas song, Daisy put the mashed potatoes into a pot and placed it on the stove, adding cheese cream and stirring it, totally focused on her cooking, her mind swinging between reality and her dream: in her dream, was she cooking mash potatoes with cream cheese? She couldn't remember exactly what she was cooking, but she was probably cooking the same things she was cooking now… the same things she used to cook every Christmas Eve, in effect.
"What a scent! Your cooking is great, Daisy! I'm really hungry!" Enos walked near her, standing behind her and looking at the pot on the stove, "I LOVE your mashed potatoes with cream cheese!"
"And what 'bout my roasted turkey, Enos?" uncle Jesse smiled, patting Enos' shoulder.
"I love your turkey too, uncle Jesse."
Daisy turned to Enos, smiling, the wooden spoon still in her hand, "Honey, instead of looking at the pot with those hungry eyes, go helping Bo and Luke to set the table. Dinner is nearly ready."
Looking at Enos walking to the living room, Daisy had a deep sigh and smiled: she was so focused on her dream she didn't even notice Enos entering the kitchen. With a touch of sadness, she regretted he simply walked closer her without kissing her neck and touching her.
Finally sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, after dinner, Daisy rested her head on Enos' shoulder, "Did you like dinner, sugar?"
"I'm full, Daisy. I can't eat anything else."
"I'm glad you liked it," Daisy smiled and looked at him, then she stood up, "and now it's time to give you our presents for you." Her red dress (the night dress she wore before dinner) rustled as she moved to the Christmas tree and then when she came back, a big packet in her hands.
"Enos, this is uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke's present for you," Daisy handed to Enos the packet, observing him as he smiled shyly, slowly unpacking the present and staring at it, his eyes opening wide in surprise.
"A wooden fishing tackle box!" he looked at his friends, smiling happily, "I need a new fishing tackle box! Thank you!"
"You're welcome, buddy," Bo patted Enos' shoulder, "Yeah, we noticed you need a new fishing box."
"And this is my present for you, sugar," sitting by his side, Daisy gave him a small packet.
"Thanks Daisy," a gentle red covering his cheeks, Enos opened the packet and then the box in it, "WOW, thanks," he looked at the watch and he wore it, staring amazed at his left wrist with the watch on it, "It's great!", he looked at her, smiling amused, "I hope it's waterproof."
Daisy burst out laughing, and her family too, perfectly remembering the destiny of Enos' previous (and last) watch, "Yeah, it's waterproof, sugar," she squeezed his shoulder and she gently shook him, "you're really something else."
Enos laughed and then stood up, walking to the Christmas tree, "And now it's my turn," he took a small packet and he handed it to Luke, "This is for Bo and you. I hope you like it."
"Thanks buddy," Luke took the packet from Enos' hand, unpacking it as Bo bent forward, curious of Enos' present.
"WOW, a leather steering wheel cover for the General Lee," Bo looked at Enos, smiling, "Thanks Enos. I really like it."
Luke nodded, "Thanks Enos! I like it!"
"And this is for you," Enos handed a bigger packet to uncle Jesse, smiling and waiting for uncle Jesse's reaction.
Uncle Jesse slid his hand on the wooden smooth surface, amazed, "A new chessboard, and what a chessboard! Thank you very much, Enos."
"I hope to play chess with you, later, uncle Jesse, and again and again."
Daisy pinched Enos' cheek, "You're so sweet, Enos."
"And this for you, Daisy," he blushed and he awkwardly grabbed a small packet, giving it to her, "I hope you like it."
Daisy sat on the floor, slowly unpacking the small packet in her hands, enjoying and prolonging the surprise's anticipation; after the packing paper, she opened a small box, her hazel green eyes opening in surprise and excitement, "Oh Enos, it's great," she gently took the silver necklace off the box and she stared at its pendant, "It's a daisy."
"It's perfect for you, Daisy," Enos' hazel eyes looked at her with a mix of devotion and shyness, "a daisy for Daisy," he chuckled, blushing again when Daisy kissed his cheek.
Bo glanced and smiled at Luke, and Luke shook his head, smiling too.
Uncle Jesse laughed, his warm laugh filling the living room at the farm. When someone knocked at the door, he stood up, "Boss, Lulu, Rosco, Cletus and Cooter are here," he walked to the door and smiled.
"And it means we can finally eat the cranberries' pie," Bo walked to the kitchen.
"Bo, you're really a bottomless pit!" Daisy laughed and gave a soft punch to Bo's arm.
The Dukes' guests entered the living room, wishing a Merry Christmas and smiling happily.
The farm echoed of laughs, voices and plates' clinking.
The crackling flame in the fireplace kept on dancing and panting its honey shadow on everything around.
Daisy stared at Enos, a plate with the cranberries pie in his hands and his eyes lost in the flame: from time to time, she could feel all the loneliness he could never put into words, she felt it deeper than anyone else.
On a freezing night like that, she just wanted to warm him up.
When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.
She rested her head on his right shoulder and she wrapped her left arm around his waist.
The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Outside the farm, Christmas' snow.