Eggnog and Candy Canes: A Blueberry Springs Christmas Novella by Jean Oram Page A

rumor,” her mother began tentatively.
    Katie watched her father eye the turkey. “You shouldn’t be eating solid food, Dad. Maybe we could put your meal in Benji’s baby food blender? Beth do you still have it?”
    Her father shot her a disgusted look.
    “I lent it out,” Beth replied. “Sorry.”
    “Have you had a BM post-op? Any gas?” Katie asked her father.
    “Please,” Angelica said, pressing a palm against the red tablecloth. “No bowel movement discussions at the table.”
    “What?” Katie’s indignation rose along with her anxiety. “Oz and Beth are always talking about Benji’s, and Dad just had major surgery. If he eats this stuff he could paralyze his bowel.”
    Nash nudged her elbow. “It’s okay.” To Harvey, he said, “Just stick to the mashed potatoes and gravy for now and you should be fine.” His eyes were warm and reassuring, and Katie relaxed despite her fears. Despite…everything.
    “Whoa!” Oz pushed back from the table, hands held high, eyes wide in shock. “Did my sister just take a chill pill?” He grinned as she glowered at him, then he leaned forward, elbows on the table, fork poised for food stabbing. Seriously, did he not learn from Mom how to hold a fork like a gentleman? Nash held his properly. Linen napkin placed over his lap. Using the right utensil. Why couldn’t he be her family?
    Well. That was a thought. Nash could be family.
    “I think you just did,” Oz said, shoveling a wad of stuffing into his grinning mouth.
    “Is it warm in here?” Katie asked. Things were definitely heating up under her sweater.
    “Hmm. I think that really did happen,” Beth said with a glimmer of a smile. “Katie chilled out.”
    “Shut up. It’s the wine.” She took another glug of her mulled drink and handed the empty glass to Nash, so her mother could top it up.
    “You did a fine job on me today,” Harvey said to Nash. “Thank you, son.”
    “Son?” Oz choked.
    “The rumor I heard was that you got a marriage proposal today,” Angelica said, turning to Katie.
    Beth stood, her chair flying back. “Ohmigod. Show me your hand!”
    Oz snatched his wife’s water glass from her belly’s danger zone as she impatiently reached across the table.
    Katie held up her bare finger.
    “Making him work for it, are you?” her brother asked, with a sigh and a shake of his head. “My sister will die an old maid.”
    Katie lowered all but her middle finger and glared at him.
    “What happened?” Beth asked softly.
    Katie could feel Nash, who had been leaning farther away from her, his body tight at the mention of her proposal, soften.
    She shrugged. “Could you pass the gravy, please?”
    “Turkey or beef?” her mother replied.
    “You made both?”
    “Of course I did.”
    Katie glanced at the table. “This is a ridiculous amount of food, Mom.”
    “I was expecting Beth’s grandmother, sister, and brother-in-law.” Angelica’s mouth formed a tight line.
    “I’m sorry,” Beth said.
    “You’re not Mother Nature, now are you? Turkey gravy will go best.” Angelica passed the antique gravy boat that had graced their table for eons.
    “How long are you in town?” Oz asked Nash.
    “Oz, give him a break,” Katie said.
    “I thought you two didn’t like each other,” her brother said.
    “We got over it.”
    Oz stood, his face dark. He was doing an alarming amount of back-and-forth sizing up between her and Nash.
    “Shut up and eat your supper,” Katie muttered.
    “Good advice,” their father said, raising an eyebrow at his son.
    Oz flung down his linen napkin. Then, with his jaw set, he slumped back into his chair, his arm slung around Beth’s shoulders.
    “That Will was a nice fellow, Katie,” Harvey said.
    “Yes. I believe he still is,” she replied.
    “But he wasn’t the right man for you. You can do better.”
    “Any suggestions for her?” Beth asked playfully.
    Everyone but Oz glanced at Nash, and Katie resisted the urge to slide under the table and