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“She did, and I love it.” Beth kissed her mother. “You’ve come a long way from the days of scratchy, itchy sweaters.”
Suzanne gave her a push. “I’ve had some practice. Sit down and eat.”
Hannah and Adam appeared amid a chorus of “Merry Christmas.” Suzanne noticed that Hannah looked different. Her hair was loose around her face and she was smiling and relaxed as she talked to Adam.
“I’ve told him he has to taste your honey, Mom.”
“Help yourself to pancakes, Adam, or if you prefer, I made a delicious warming porridge—”
“Oatmeal,” Hannah translated, and Adam raised an eyebrow.
“You think I don’t know what porridge is? I did my research before I came here. I know everything there is to know about Bonnie Prince Charlie and distilling a fine Scottish malt.”
“The Highlands is the biggest whiskey-producing area in Scotland,” Stewart said. “It’s a centuries-old tradition. The springwater here runs over volcanic mountain rock. If you’re sticking around for a while, I’ll take you to the distillery for a tour. I went to school with Tom Mackay, so we’ll be treated well.”
Adam put his hand on Hannah’s knee. “That sounds like a good enough reason to stay.”
The two men were soon deep in conversation, comparing bourbon to whiskey, and Suzanne rolled her eyes as they started planning a trip to Kentucky, where there were, according to Adam, more barrels of bourbon than there were people.
“We’re going to need more pancakes, Grandma,” Melly said, and Suzanne reached for the flour and the milk.
“We are. Are you going to help me?”
Ruby paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. “I hear bells. What are those bells?”
“I hear bells, too.” Jason picked her up and carried her to the window. “Well, look at that.”
“It’s Socks! And he’s pulling a sled.”
Suzanne smiled. That was one way of navigating the snowy path from the barn to the lodge.
The room descended into chaos as people left the table and Ruby begged to go for a ride in the “sleigh.”
Suzanne abandoned the pancake mixture as Posy walked through the door, trailing snow.
Her cheeks were pink and she looked frozen.
“Cold out there. Merry Christmas.”
Stewart half rose to his feet. “I wondered if I’d have to clear the snow before you could walk over here.”
“It’s soft.” Posy hung up her coat and dragged Luke into the room.
Ruby had forgotten about pancakes. “Can I go on the sled?”
“You certainly can.” Posy kissed her. “Has Santa been?”
“We opened our stockings,” Ruby said, “and he didn’t bring Bugsy.” Her lip wobbled. “But you can’t have every single thing you want.”
Suzanne felt a pressure under her ribs. That was the hardest lesson of all to learn.
You couldn’t have everything you wanted, but if you were lucky, you had the things that mattered.
Beth gave a determined smile. “But you have lots of other lovely presents.”
“I do. And I made pancakes with Grandma.” Ruby finished eating and the moment breakfast was over she shot into the living room to get ready for present opening.
“This is for Mommy.” She handed a present to Beth. “From Daddy.”
