Christmas at the Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #2)(39)

“Gina has never seen this one. And even though I’ve seen it a million times with you, I still missed a trivia question on it.”

“Oh? What was the question?”

“What was the name of the next-door neighbors, whose dogs ate the turkey?”

His mother laughed. “The Bumpuses. Did you really miss that?”

“I really did.”

“That’s okay. I still love you,” she joked.

They settled in to watch the movie and when it finished, Jared’s mother excused herself and said she was going to go lay down for a little while. Gina understood totally. It was tempting as she was so full herself and feeling lazy after sitting for the past few hours, so she nodded gratefully when Jared offered her another cup of coffee.

“If I don’t see you again later, it was lovely to meet you,” his mother said. “I’m so glad that Jared invited you over to share the day with us. And thank you again for the flowers.”

Gina thanked her as well and after his mother went upstairs, Jared said he’d be right back. He brought two fresh coffee cups and returned a moment later with a gift bag with her name on it. It was stuffed with tissue paper and tied with a silver ribbon.

“It’s just something little. I saw it while I was shopping and I thought of you.”

“Oh. Hold on. I got you something too.” Gina hopped up and returned a moment later with his gift and handed it to him. He looked surprised and pleased.

“You go first,” Jared said.

Gina carefully pulled out the tissue paper and reached inside the bag and pulled out a brush set. The new brushes she needed and hadn’t gotten around to getting yet. There was also a selection of watercolor paints in gorgeous shades. She felt her eyes grow damp. It was such a thoughtful gift.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I need these.”

He grinned. “I know. And I had a good guess that you probably had been too busy to get them.”

“I can’t wait to use them and to throw my old ones out.” She laughed. “Okay, your turn.”

Jared unwrapped his gift and opened the book and saw Dennis Lehane’s signature.

“This is awesome, thank you. I haven’t read this one yet. I’ve been meaning to get it.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Let’s take a walk. I’ll give you the tour, and we can stretch our legs.”

He led her around the downstairs rooms through the more formal living room, by an office, and into the room he said was his favorite—a library with bookcases lining all the walls and several plush leather chairs strewn about the room, all facing out the huge wall to ceiling windows that overlooked nothing but ocean. It was serene and beautiful and cozy at the same time.

“It would be easy to spend hours in this room,” Gina said.

“I have. Many times over the years. Come over here and see this view.”

Gina walked to where Jared stood by the window.

He took her hand and looked serious for a moment. “I’m really glad that you came today. There’s no one I’d rather spend the day with. I love spending time with you.”

“I feel the same way. I always have fun and just love being with you too.”

“Look up.”

She did and laughed. There was a sprig of mistletoe taped to the window.

He laughed. “Smooth, huh? I thought you’d like that.”

“I do. Very much.”

He kissed her then, and this time it wasn’t a short kiss.





Chapter 18





The children were up early on Christmas Day—which meant that Mandy was up early, too. But, she didn’t mind. The excitement of her children was contagious, and she loved to feel the magic of the day through their eyes. She’d been up late the night before, finishing up her wrapping and chatting with Jill and Billy. Their time with her had gone so quickly and they only had one more week together before they headed home to Manhattan on New Year’s Day. They wanted to be on Nantucket for New Year’s Eve and home the next evening to go into the office and see the team on Tuesday.

Jill and Billy heard the commotion and Mandy could hear them getting up too. She went downstairs to the kitchen first, to start the coffee then into the living room where the kids were sitting on the floor holding their overstuffed stockings. Mandy got the other stockings down and handed them to Jill and Billy when they joined them.

“Okay, you can go ahead and look inside now,” Mandy told them. She had fun with their stockings, and it was a mix of things they needed like socks and underwear and stuff they liked—candy, small toys, and books they’d requested. She and Jill stuffed each other’s stockings with their favorite things. She’d gotten a bag of York Peppermint Patties for Jill and mini Reese’s cups for Billy and they’d gotten her a bag of gummy bears. Mandy got them both soft, fuzzy socks and wasn’t surprised to find a pair from them as well. Jill knew how she loved her warm socks.

When the stockings were emptied. Mandy told the kids to wait one moment and went and got coffee for the three of them.

“Okay, now you can open your gifts.” They gratefully sipped their coffee and watched the kids open their presents. Mandy went around and scooped up the piles of wrapping paper and ribbons and stuffed everything in a giant trash bag. Once the kids had opened all of their gifts and were playing with a new game she’d given Blake, Mandy, Jill and Billy exchanged gifts. They’d agree to just do something small because none of them needed a thing.