Read Online An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Thayer
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waist.
Leaning her head back, she purred, “I’m awfully glad you’re back.”
Archie said, “Your dad was great. He’s a real trouper.”
“Oh, dear,” Felicia moaned. “You’re turning my father into a manly man.”
“I don’t think your mother will mind,” Archie said.
When they returned to the living room, Felicia saw that Archie was right. Her mother was sitting as close to George as she could without sitting on top of him. And she was holding his hand, something Felicia hadn’t seen for years.
“Here’s a little snack for you.” Felicia set the board on the table.
Her father hardly noticed the food, he was so revved up. “Archie got to see a part of the island few people see!”
“Archie, how’s your head wound?” Felicia asked, although she knew from experience how hard-headed he was.
“No problem,” Archie told her. “Feels fine.”
“But weren’t you cold?” Jilly asked.
“Not at all!” thundered George. “The walk warmed us up.”
Felicia curled up next to Archie, watching her parents fondly. She hadn’t seen her father so animated in years. Archie and George both now practically inhaled the food. George talked as he chewed, and Jilly didn’t even seem to mind.
At Jilly’s feet, Rex sat with watchful eyes, waiting for bits of cheese and sausage to fall to the floor. Felicia saw Rex pounce on a morsel of cheese and eat it. She saw her mother watch and held her breath. Food on the carpet?
Jilly simply smiled beatifically. Looking at her daughter, she murmured, “Isn’t it helpful, having a cat? I won’t have to vacuum.”
9
Lying next to her happily exhausted husband who was snoring like a hippo, Jilly tossed and turned all night long. She was pleased and slightly amused that George had returned from his watery outing not only alive but convinced of his superman status, but in truth, she was also alarmed. That escapade could have ended so very differently! Truly, they were lucky to be alive, or at least not in the hospital with hypothermia. Or was it hyperthermia? Around Archie, everything was hyper.
Archie seemed like what George would call a perfectly decent fellow, and heaven knew he was handsome, but he was so energetic! So young, fit, muscular, and healthy. He wouldn’t understand how George, at fifty-eight, had slightly elevated blood pressure and a troublesome hip. Tomorrow he would ache all over, but because company was in the house, he would try to hide it and would appear merely ill at ease. George wouldn’t want to expose his age-caused weakness to his future son-in-law.
Jilly had to admit Archie was awfully attractive in a Liam Neeson way. (But wasn’t Liam Neeson Irish, not Scottish? It was questions like this in the middle of the night that made Jilly afraid she was becoming senile.) But what kind of husband would he be—and would he ever want to be a father? First, he breaks an antique chair, then he lures an old man into dangerous waters in December—Archie was reckless, and that did not bode well.
It had been marvelous watching Felicia and Steven reunite—how happy they had been to see each other. Felicia had hugged him, she’d been all over him. So maybe something else could take place to throw the two together …
Jilly fell asleep, plotting.
The next morning after breakfast, Felicia told her parents she was taking Archie out to walk around the island for the day. And yes, for sure, they were going to join the Gordons for tonight’s cocktail party at the Somersets’.
The moment her daughter and Archie were out the door, Jilly called Nicole. “Did you invite Steven to your party tonight?”
“Good morning to you, too,” Nicole responded.
“Sorry, Nicole, good morning. It’s just that—”
“Jilly. Deep breath. Take one,” Nicole ordered affectionately. “Yes, I did invite Steven. Yesterday on the boat, andagain this morning I phoned and left a message on his machine.”
Jilly sighed with relief. “You’re the best
Leaning her head back, she purred, “I’m awfully glad you’re back.”
Archie said, “Your dad was great. He’s a real trouper.”
“Oh, dear,” Felicia moaned. “You’re turning my father into a manly man.”
“I don’t think your mother will mind,” Archie said.
When they returned to the living room, Felicia saw that Archie was right. Her mother was sitting as close to George as she could without sitting on top of him. And she was holding his hand, something Felicia hadn’t seen for years.
“Here’s a little snack for you.” Felicia set the board on the table.
Her father hardly noticed the food, he was so revved up. “Archie got to see a part of the island few people see!”
“Archie, how’s your head wound?” Felicia asked, although she knew from experience how hard-headed he was.
“No problem,” Archie told her. “Feels fine.”
“But weren’t you cold?” Jilly asked.
“Not at all!” thundered George. “The walk warmed us up.”
Felicia curled up next to Archie, watching her parents fondly. She hadn’t seen her father so animated in years. Archie and George both now practically inhaled the food. George talked as he chewed, and Jilly didn’t even seem to mind.
At Jilly’s feet, Rex sat with watchful eyes, waiting for bits of cheese and sausage to fall to the floor. Felicia saw Rex pounce on a morsel of cheese and eat it. She saw her mother watch and held her breath. Food on the carpet?
Jilly simply smiled beatifically. Looking at her daughter, she murmured, “Isn’t it helpful, having a cat? I won’t have to vacuum.”
9
Lying next to her happily exhausted husband who was snoring like a hippo, Jilly tossed and turned all night long. She was pleased and slightly amused that George had returned from his watery outing not only alive but convinced of his superman status, but in truth, she was also alarmed. That escapade could have ended so very differently! Truly, they were lucky to be alive, or at least not in the hospital with hypothermia. Or was it hyperthermia? Around Archie, everything was hyper.
Archie seemed like what George would call a perfectly decent fellow, and heaven knew he was handsome, but he was so energetic! So young, fit, muscular, and healthy. He wouldn’t understand how George, at fifty-eight, had slightly elevated blood pressure and a troublesome hip. Tomorrow he would ache all over, but because company was in the house, he would try to hide it and would appear merely ill at ease. George wouldn’t want to expose his age-caused weakness to his future son-in-law.
Jilly had to admit Archie was awfully attractive in a Liam Neeson way. (But wasn’t Liam Neeson Irish, not Scottish? It was questions like this in the middle of the night that made Jilly afraid she was becoming senile.) But what kind of husband would he be—and would he ever want to be a father? First, he breaks an antique chair, then he lures an old man into dangerous waters in December—Archie was reckless, and that did not bode well.
It had been marvelous watching Felicia and Steven reunite—how happy they had been to see each other. Felicia had hugged him, she’d been all over him. So maybe something else could take place to throw the two together …
Jilly fell asleep, plotting.
The next morning after breakfast, Felicia told her parents she was taking Archie out to walk around the island for the day. And yes, for sure, they were going to join the Gordons for tonight’s cocktail party at the Somersets’.
The moment her daughter and Archie were out the door, Jilly called Nicole. “Did you invite Steven to your party tonight?”
“Good morning to you, too,” Nicole responded.
“Sorry, Nicole, good morning. It’s just that—”
“Jilly. Deep breath. Take one,” Nicole ordered affectionately. “Yes, I did invite Steven. Yesterday on the boat, andagain this morning I phoned and left a message on his machine.”
Jilly sighed with relief. “You’re the best
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