Gingerbread cookies and golden jingle bells
Summary: Jubal presents Isobel to her parents on Christmas Eve. One-shot. Published in AO3 in the collection "All that glitters". Prompt by Jenzii.
Reaching out, Jubal rang the doorbell, and waited with Isobel for it to be opened.
He glanced sideways at her and found her looking at him as well, a slight smile on her lips. Snug in her coat, the cold bringing color to her cheeks, her beauty took his breath away even more than usual.
"Thank you so much for inviting me..." Isobel repeated for the umpteenth time, in a quiet voice. "It's a family occasion. The truth is, I fear I am intruding by my presence."
Meeting Jubal's family gave her an underlying anxiety that was difficult to justify why it was there.
"Don't mention it again. We are delighted to have you with us," he replied, smiling back. Especially me. "Besides, where nine eat, ten eat," he said charming, making her smile even wider.
Just as she had done the year before, this year Isobel arranged to meet her father to spend Christmas Eve with him. Nothing too Christmassy, just dinner together at an exclusive restaurant downtown. Unfortunately, Robert, traveling on business, had been stuck at O'Hare Airport for two days due to the heavy snowfall in Chicago. Disappointed, Isobel cancelled the reservation that very morning, and mentally prepared herself for one more lonely holiday night.
When Jubal found out, he didn't even hesitate; he notified his family and invited Isobel to the Christmas Eve dinner he was going to celebrate with them at his brother's house near Mount Vernon.
There was no way he was going to let Isobel spend the holidays alone. No if it was in his power to prevent it. Especially not after finding out, after the fact, she had spent Thanksgiving alone this year. Again.
At first, Isobel declined his offer.
It took him a lot to convince her, insisting several times throughout the day. Just when Jubal thought disheartened he would not succeed, Isobel accepted. He would never know it was precisely the disappointment in his eyes what made her change her mind. Nor the subsequent sparkle filled her with excitement at the prospect.
It was his brother Ewan who opened the door for them, ushering them into the warm atmosphere filled with the homey aromas of spruce, cinnamon and roast beef.
Jubal was surprised, a little further back, his parents and sister-in-law were enthusiastically approaching to say hello. Normally they would have waited for him calmly by the warmth of the fireplace.
Setting down the gift bags he brought with him, Jubal introduced her to his older brother, and Isobel found herself greeting a version a couple of years older, a little plumper and a couple of inches shorter than her ASAC, which made Ewan look more like an affable tavern keeper than the industrial engineer for the GM he was. Ewan greeted her warmly; his smile seemed to run in the family.
They took off their coats, which Ewan collected for storage in the hall closet.
The greeting from Christie, his wife, was more distant, but not out of animosity, but out of intense curiosity. Her light blue eyes scrutinized Isobel as if she were under one of the microscopes in the lab where she worked. You could tell Christie was a researcher.
Undeterred, Isobel handed her the bottle of lambrusco she brought to contribute to the dinner, and Christie thanked her, cordially.
As his father came up to them, Jubal introduced her to Professor George F. Valentine. George had been a member of the diplomatic corps for three decades, until he turned to university teaching. At over seventy-five years old, he still taught from time to time. He was a tall man, his hair completely graying, but still stocky for his age. His formal attire included, however, a Christmas-colored plaid vest. As George shook her hand respectfully, Isobel could recognize the warmth of Jubal's in his eyes.
"This is my mother, Aileen," Jubal then announced to the smiling woman who approached, smiling, wearing a white apron decorated with playful reindeer, and a tray in her hands.
Her silver hair was curly. Isobel knew at once where the Valentine brothers got their curls and their smiles, the bit of green in their eyes. She was also tall, almost as tall as Isobel. And a little fleshy: she had to be a great hugger.
"Delighted, Isobel. We're so glad you came. Oh, dear... You're beautiful," she said cheerful with admiration.
Jubal couldn't agree more. Isobel, in a warm dark red dress with a u-shaped neckline and elegant three-quarter length skirt, looked spectacular. A jewelry set of star-shaped gold earrings and pendant completed her outfit, festive without being extravagant. It was hard for Jubal to take his eyes off her.
The significant approving glance Aileen cast at Jubal put him on alert. Oh-oh.
"A gingerbread cookie?" his mother offered sweetly. "I made them for you two."
Jubal looked at the cookies and suddenly wanted to crawl under a rock.
They were shaped like a polar bear with a red icing Santa's hat, and between their paws they held a heart, also in red icing. Inside the heart was engraved: 'I+J'.
They were a real cutie.
"Mom!" exclaimed Jubal, looking embarrassed at Isobel, who had blushed slightly and pressed her lips together, holding back a giggle. He suddenly understood what was happening. "Okay, before you all freak out. Isobel and I work together. She's my superior and, most importantly, she's my friend. A very good friend. But we're not..." His own throat forced him to swallow, terribly aware of how everyone was watching him. "We're not a couple, okay?"
The disgust on Aileen's face was plain to see.
"Jubal Miles Valentine," she said in frustration, grabbing the tray with one hand and putting the other hand in a fist on her hip. "You're an idiot."
"Mom," Jubal protested, looking uneasily at Isobel. She had lowered her eyes, schooling her expression.
"Aileen..." George gently chided his wife, slipping a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
"You call saying you're bringing her to Christmas Eve dinner," said Aileen. "What did you think we were going to think?"
'Her'? Isobel thought to herself. It was Jubal's turn to look down.
Before her youngest son could reply, Aileen turned to Isobel.
"I'm so sorry, dear. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'll take this to the kitchen right away."
"Wait. May I...? May I try one, please?"
"Of course…"
As Isobel took one of the cookies, Jubal completely ignored how his mother looked at him knowingly.
"Mmm... It's delicious," Isobel appreciated.
Aileen's smile returned, in a way that struck Jubal as disturbingly hopeful.
At Ewan's initiative, everyone moved into the warmth of the spacious living room. A fire was burning in the fireplace and a large decorated tree presided over the room from one of the corners.
"Sorry about that..." Jubal slyly whispered in embarrassment to Isobel as they entered, not knowing what else to add.
"It's okay," she replied, eating the cookie with a serene smile, but avoiding looking at Jubal so as not to risk blushing again.
While Jubal placed the gifts he brought under the tree, Ewan presented his four children to Isobel.
Nettie, the eldest, was thrilled with her presence.
Although her mother had wanted her to be a scientist, the young woman was finishing her studies in criminology and determined to apply to join the FBI, following in her uncle's footsteps. She couldn't wait to talk at length with Isobel about it.
Four years younger, Todd approached Isobel expressing interest in her political orientation and her views on the importance of activism in gender inequalities.
"Let's save the debates for after dinner, shall we?" Jubal diverted the conversation with an apologetic look at Isobel, who smiled in amusement.
Niall, slightly younger than Tyler, and Sylvia, a little older than Abby, greeted Isobel politely, but quickly went on to ask their uncle about their cousins.
Jubal explained this year it was their turn to stay with their mother's family, but he would pick them up tomorrow, so they could spend Christmas afternoon with them. The two kids seemed a little disappointed, but they soon forgot it when their grandmother called them to help in the kitchen.
Aileen must have made it very rewarding, because Niall and Sylvia hurried smilingly to join her.
"Oh, it's snowing!" Nettie exclaimed from the window.
The others also approached to gaze the falling snowflakes. Except for Jubal, who was actually gazing at Isobel.
·~·~·
Isobel spent a long time talking with Nettie about her experience as an FBI agent. It was gratifying how the young woman listened with such interest, asking intelligent questions. Her determination and enormous potential were evident to Isobel.
A while later, a crowded conversation broke out regarding the aspirations of Jubal's other nephews and nieces. Todd was going to study political science; Sylvia wanted to be a doctor; and Niall… For general amusement, Niall couldn't decide between rock star and engineer, but that could change next week. It wouldn't be the first time.
Leaning against the back of Isobel's chair, Jubal leaned towards her ear, not wanting to interrupt entirely.
"Can I get you something to drink? A Christmas punch?" he said softly.
Isobel turned her head to look at him and the earrings in her ears made a soft tinkling sound as if...
"Jingle bells?" Jubal asked, noticing them.
Isobel smiled.
"Yeah... A gift from my mother many years ago," she said, shaking the matching pendant, which also jingled. "They're maybe a little too Christmassy."
Jubal reached out, delicately holding one of the golden stars in his fingertips to get a better look at it. They were decorated with subtle engravings in the shape of curling lines.
"No. They look very good on you..."
As he withdrew his hand, his knuckles unintentionally grazed the soft skin of Isobel's neck. The way her lips parted left Jubal breathless.
Isobel cleared her throat. "A punch would be nice."
"On it," said Jubal, perhaps with too much enthusiasm, and he went -or rather fled- to fulfill the order.
·~·~·
At the dinner table, Isobel sat with Jubal on the right and George on the left. She kept her restlessness under control with discipline. The relaxed conversations, the fun laughs and the delicious food were a great help.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Isobel," said George with an affable face as he poured garnish onto her plate. "Jubal talks about you all the time."
Oh, really?
Isobel gave Jubal a sidelong amused look, ready to embarrass her ASAC for this comment, but he was currently engaged in a conversation with Nettie, sitting across from him, about the last Knicks game. Isobel decided to save it for later although, to be honest, she had also told Robert about Jubal.
"And what did he tell you?" She couldn't help herself. "Probably that I make him work too much," she hastened to joke.
George laughed softly. He could have left the topic there, that's why Isobel opened that door for him, but he didn't.
"No. In fact, he holds you in very very high regard, believe me."
George's eyes became subtly sharp, as if surreptitiously scrutinizing her reaction.
Isobel's heart raced, but she hadn't gotten that high by letting her emotions get the better of her. She just smiled politely in a way that gave nothing away either for or against. George, a diplomat by profession, gave her an appreciative look, and changed the subject.
"There was something I wanted to bring up with you, without any obligation, of course," he began. "I am looking for someone in an important position to give some words of encouragement to my first-year students at the beginning of next semester. I am of the opinion it is always a good incentive for young people to meet someone who have achieved their goals. It would be splendid to have your time, if you are willing and it's not too much of a burden for you."
"Oh," she said. Although she was able to handle them with ease, Isobel was not enthusiastic about public appearances when it came to politics or even in front of the press. This, however, was something different. She found herself feeling flattered. "Thank you so much."
"I know you're a very busy person, so I'll completely understand if it doesn't fit into your schedule."
"I'll be honoured. I will find the necessary time."
"No, please, the honourwould be ours," George replied with a satisfied gesture. "We'll be in touch, then."
"You will be in touch for what?" Jubal then intervened.
Isobel went to answer but George beat her to it. "Well, maybe that's not something we want to discuss with you," he teased his son. "You have no right to monopolize Isobel."
"What makes you think I intend to?" said Jubal frowning, between amused and slightly offended.
Isobel found it curious George raised an eyebrow, and did not answer.
·~·~·
After helping clear the table, Isobel briefly stopped by the bathroom. She was returning to the living room when she heard Ewan through the kitchen door.
"Don't be like that, Mom. We just misunderstood the situation."
"I know. But ever since he separated from Sam, Jubal has been so lonely..."
Wait, hadn't Jubal told them about the time he and Rina were together? Isobel couldn't help but be struck by the fact Jubal had not told them about that but actually had talked them about her...
"You can't say he didn't make his own bed," Ewan said in a somewhat disapproving tone. "He single-handedly destroyed his marriage."
And therein perhaps lay the reason. Because his family would have judged him for getting involved again with the woman he cheated his wife with. Not for... other reasons that could imply the existence of other feelings.
Having found herself in a similar situation to Jubal's in her past, Isobel was tempted to enter the kitchen and, not justify him, but defend him. You don't know what this job can do to you.
"Yes, Jubal made serious mistakes," Aileen replied, "but that doesn't mean he deserves to be unhappy for the rest of his life."
This resonated very deeply within Isobel. The weight of her guilt sometimes dragged her to that kind of dark place. She suspected this probably happened to Jubal, too...
"I thought maybe with Isobel..." added Aileen.
"Or maybe they're just friends and we're wrong about Jubal's interest in her. Don't give it any more thought, Mom."
The shock of disappointment Isobel felt at that possibility took her completely by surprise. Something in her chest tightened to the point of pain. Her bewilderment at feeling took her breath away.
And at the same time, she suddenly realized she had been eavesdropping on a private conversation for a while now.
She forced her legs, which now felt like wood, to move her down the hallway toward the living room.
Before she moved far enough away as she could no longer hear them, she heard Aileen say: "Nonsense. I know my son. Haven't you noticed how your brother smiles when he looks at her?"
Wood turned to water. Isobel reached the living room door struggling to control her unsteady legs. She admonished herself sternly. She could not allow herself to feel this way. Besides, as Ewan said, Aileen could very well be completely wrong.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled it to regain her composure before entering.
The way Jubal's eyes smiled at the sight of her quickened her pulse. Isobel couldn't help but wonder if that was what Aileen was referring to.
·~·~·
After dinner everyone sat on the couches near the tree while gifts were given and received. Isobel remained a little apart, her visit being impromptu, she had not brought gifts for anyone, nor did she of course expect any for herself. But she actually greatly enjoyed the excited, smiling faces of Jubal's family opening the wrappings, discovering their contents, thanking each other with enthusiasm and tenderness.
When Nettie took one of the packages and held it out to Isobel, at first she thought she should give it to Jubal, who was sitting next to her and just received some brand new thick black wool gloves.
"No, this one has your name on it, Isobel," said Jubal, smiling, and handed it back to her.
"What? No- you shouldn't have bothered..."
"It's just a gesture," said Aileen.
She and Nettie watched expectantly for her reaction as Isobel carefully peeled back the tape to remove the wrapping paper without tearing it. Opening the packaging, she unfolded before her a keyhole-collared sweater of an elegant, luminous pearl-gray color, made of a fine, fluffy knit.
Jubal couldn't help but reach out and touch it. It was extremely soft and stretchy. If worn, it would fit Isobel's torso and arms perfectly, highlighting her figure in an elegant yet spectacular way. Jubal also couldn't help but think what it would be like to embrace Isobel if she were wearing it. It must have been quite a sensory experience in itself... He withdrew his hand and slyly rubbed his palms against his trouser legs, trying to erase the overwhelming longing his imagination awakened.
Oblivious to it, Isobel studied the garment with fascination. The feel of the fabric was wonderful. One of the shoulders and the end of the opposite sleeve were adorned with subtle embroidery in purple, orange and blue. Nettie or Aileen, or both, had very good taste.
"You can change it if you don't like it," said Nettie.
"No, no. It's... it's beautiful," Isobel replied immediately. It wasn't really her style, but she could see herself in it nevertheless. She wasn't saying it out of obligation. "Thank you so much... I love it."
Aileen and Nettie smiled at each other, pleased to have gotten it right.
"Me too," Jubal sighed, unable to get the mental image of Isobel wearing the sweater out of his head.
"What?" asked the three women at the same time, turning to him.
For the briefest moment, Jubal looked like a deer facing headlights.
"I mean I think it's really nice."
Aileen and Isobel stifled a giggle. Nettie, she didn't even try.
"I can lend it to you sometime," Isobel offered with irresistible smiling eyes.
Chuckling under his breath, Jubal hid his embarrassment by staring at the ceiling while feigning patience.
·~·~·
"So you're his boss. How does that work?"
Aileen had gone to the kitchen to store dinner leftovers in plastic containers and Isobel had offered to help.
"Well," Isobel replied, "certain decisions are up to me, but I like to think of the two of us as a team. We complement each other well."
"And you are also friends."
It was an affirmative statement. Isobel wondered what Aileen was getting at.
"Yes, I consider Jubal a good friend. We may not always agree, but we have each other's backs. I know I can count on him."
Aileen's lips stretched into a smile but then she sighed and became serious. She paused, thoughtful, as she continued dividing the food into portions for Isobel to put into the containers.
"I suppose you're aware Jubal has made some notorious mistakes in the past…"
It was not difficult for Isobel to understand Aileen was referring to his addiction, to his divorce. "Don't we all?" she muttered to herself.
"But he's a good kid. A good man," Aileen corrected herself, as if realizing she just spoken of her son as if he were still a just child.
"I know," Isobel replied, nodding. Somehow she was caught off guard to what extent she was sure of that. To what extent she was sure of him. She was silent for a few seconds. "Aileen..."
"Tell me, my dear."
Isobel motioned toward the bear-shaped cookies, which had been left on a tray, set aside a little farther away. "Could I take them with me?"
Aileen's expression glowed with triumph. She grabbed Isobel by surprise in a tender motherly embrace, bringing back fond memories of her own mother.
"I will wrap them for you."
·~·~·
"Thank you very much for inviting me tonight," said Isobel as Jubal parked next to Isobel's house, just a dozen feet from her door. "I had a great time."
"Thank you for coming..." He looked at her for a moment. "You couldn't have given me a better Christmas present."
Isobel's smile bloomed like a poinsettia. As she got out of the car, Jubal put on his coat; he walked with her, his hands deep in his pockets.
It was starting to snow again.
"Really, thank you very much indeed," said Isobel when they reached the door, at the top of the stairs. "I felt really welcome. Your family is wonderful."
For once, Jubal did not resist and let the warmth of his affection reach fully into his eyes, into his smile. "You are family to me too, Isobel..."
Suddenly, Isobel couldn't get enough air in her chest; she felt emotional tears coming to her eyes.
Approaching him for a moment, she gave him a light kiss on the face. "Thank you for everything," she murmured.
Jubal simply nodded, beaming, and Isobel concentrated on the -at that moment- complicated task of getting the key into the lock.
"Good night, Isobel," Jubal said with a soft voice that caressed her ears, as he began to withdraw. "And Merry Christmas."
She managed to the door knowing he had only moved a little away, but was about to leave.
Jubal was parting with a tender feeling on his cheek and a luminous joy overflowing his heart. It had been a very special evening. A night he would not forget, and he would always treasure in his memory.
The sweet taste of Aileen's cookies came to Isobel's mouth. She didn't want him to leave without getting to properly say goodbye to him.
"Jubal," she called him, turning sharply.
It wouldn't have been necessary. The golden stars in her ears tinkled, drawing Jubal back in an irresistible, almost magical way. There was nothing he could do to avoid returning to her.
Isobel found him slightly closer than she expected.
The sensible Isobel, the one who knew what was best for her, the one who would have gotten to work the next day before anyone else, the one who canceled appointments before things got serious, would have let him go.
But Isobel was not that person that night. That December night which was leaving little snowflakes on her eyelashes. That cold night, Isobel had melted in the warmth of Jubal's eyes and smile.
With another jingle, she lifted her face and kissed him. On the lips this time. Again soft, fleeting.
Jubal blinked, taken aback.
"Oh."
His eyes looked up searching for mistletoe almost by reflex, the sensation of Isobel's lips on his remained in the form of a pleasant tingle, accentuating his bewilderment. He looked confusedly into her face, not knowing how to react.
Isobel was at a loss for words to explain herself. There was no mistletoe.
Giving up, she grabbed the lapels of Jubal's coat, and pulled him slowly into her house. He followed her, captivated by the bewitching gaze her dark eyes were giving him.
Before the door was completely closed, Isobel was kissing him again.
Reaching for her waist with his hands, Jubal's exalted enthusiasm ensured, on this occasion, it was anything but light or fleeting.
It was, in fact, unforgettable.
~.~.~.~
