men?”
“I’m not sure that Sidney would be a good match for Patrick.” Ellie handed her a Styrofoam cup of hot tea and sat down next to her, fidgeting on the cushion until she and her large stomach were comfortable. “Like Patrick, she’s not really looking for a husband. Especially since she just started her new job.”
“I thought she was your assistant.”
“She was. But since I’ve put my second book on hold until after the baby, there’s just not enough to keep her busy.” Ellie blew on her tea. “So she decided to become a part-time travel agent. In fact, Matthew’s father is her first client.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. Big Al and Mary Katherine have done a lot of traveling this year. Where are they going this time?”
“On a European river cruise.”
“I’m happy for them. Mary Katherine has always wanted to go to Europe.”
Ellie studied her tea. “I hope the rest of the family feels the same way.”
“What do you mean?” Wheezie asked. “Of course their children want to see them travel and have fun.”
Ellie glanced up. “Even if it’s during the Christmas holidays?”
Wheezie set her cup on the windowsill. “You mean Albert booked a trip over Christmas?”
Ellie nodded. “It was the only cruise available at such late notice, and I guess Albert wanted to surprise Mary with it for Christmas.”
Mary was going to be surprised all right, and not in a good way. She loved everything about Christmas—the baking, shopping, decorating, and especially the big family get-togethers. But maybe Mary was tired of all the holiday excitement and would enjoy a nice quiet cruise with her husband. After the craziness of last Christmas, Wheezie couldn’t very well blame her. Between Mary kicking Big Al out of the house, Cassie being convinced that James was having an affair, and Wheezie trying to get Matthew and Ellie together, it had almost done Wheezie in. She was ready for calmer holidays this year.
“Well, I’m sure the kids will get over their mother and father not being here,” Wheezie said as she picked up her cup of tea. “Although if I was you, I’d let Big Al or Mary Katherine break the news. We McPhersons have been known to shoot the messenger.”
Ellie laughed. “Good advice.”
“Ma’am?” A mover stood at the top of the stairs. “We’re ready to head out.”
With her big stomach, it took a while for Ellie to get to her feet. Of course Wheezie wasn’t much better. Getting old was hell. Once they were outside, Ellie hugged her close. Obviously a year with the McPhersons had changed her from a non-hugger to a hugger. Something that made Wheezie smile as she patted her back.
“Do you need me and Barkley to follow you over to the house and help you unpack?”
“No, thank you, Aunt Wheezie.” She gave her an extra squeeze before pulling back. “The sisters-in-law—Melanie, Amy, and Cassie—are going to come over and help me. Although Cassie probably won’t be much help. She hasn’t been feeling well lately.”
Wheezie didn’t comment. Even though Cassie hadn’t said anything to the family, Wheezie thought she knew exactly what was behind her niece’s sickness. If anyone had told her six years ago that her tomboy niece would be laying kids like eggs, she would’ve laughed her sides out. But love had a way of changing people. And always for the better.
Ellie hooked her arm through Wheezie’s. “Let me walk you to your car. Matthew is right—you should’ve brought your walker.”
“A walker is just one wheelchair away from a coffin. I’m not ready for that yet.” Wheezie patted Ellie’s hand. “Now you go on and make sure those movers get to the right house. Barkley is parked just out front.”
It was a bit of a lie. She had released her chauffeur to do whatever he did on his time off until she called him to come get her. She shuffled around the building and parked her arthritic hips on a bus stop bench before taking the phone out of her
“I’m not sure that Sidney would be a good match for Patrick.” Ellie handed her a Styrofoam cup of hot tea and sat down next to her, fidgeting on the cushion until she and her large stomach were comfortable. “Like Patrick, she’s not really looking for a husband. Especially since she just started her new job.”
“I thought she was your assistant.”
“She was. But since I’ve put my second book on hold until after the baby, there’s just not enough to keep her busy.” Ellie blew on her tea. “So she decided to become a part-time travel agent. In fact, Matthew’s father is her first client.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. Big Al and Mary Katherine have done a lot of traveling this year. Where are they going this time?”
“On a European river cruise.”
“I’m happy for them. Mary Katherine has always wanted to go to Europe.”
Ellie studied her tea. “I hope the rest of the family feels the same way.”
“What do you mean?” Wheezie asked. “Of course their children want to see them travel and have fun.”
Ellie glanced up. “Even if it’s during the Christmas holidays?”
Wheezie set her cup on the windowsill. “You mean Albert booked a trip over Christmas?”
Ellie nodded. “It was the only cruise available at such late notice, and I guess Albert wanted to surprise Mary with it for Christmas.”
Mary was going to be surprised all right, and not in a good way. She loved everything about Christmas—the baking, shopping, decorating, and especially the big family get-togethers. But maybe Mary was tired of all the holiday excitement and would enjoy a nice quiet cruise with her husband. After the craziness of last Christmas, Wheezie couldn’t very well blame her. Between Mary kicking Big Al out of the house, Cassie being convinced that James was having an affair, and Wheezie trying to get Matthew and Ellie together, it had almost done Wheezie in. She was ready for calmer holidays this year.
“Well, I’m sure the kids will get over their mother and father not being here,” Wheezie said as she picked up her cup of tea. “Although if I was you, I’d let Big Al or Mary Katherine break the news. We McPhersons have been known to shoot the messenger.”
Ellie laughed. “Good advice.”
“Ma’am?” A mover stood at the top of the stairs. “We’re ready to head out.”
With her big stomach, it took a while for Ellie to get to her feet. Of course Wheezie wasn’t much better. Getting old was hell. Once they were outside, Ellie hugged her close. Obviously a year with the McPhersons had changed her from a non-hugger to a hugger. Something that made Wheezie smile as she patted her back.
“Do you need me and Barkley to follow you over to the house and help you unpack?”
“No, thank you, Aunt Wheezie.” She gave her an extra squeeze before pulling back. “The sisters-in-law—Melanie, Amy, and Cassie—are going to come over and help me. Although Cassie probably won’t be much help. She hasn’t been feeling well lately.”
Wheezie didn’t comment. Even though Cassie hadn’t said anything to the family, Wheezie thought she knew exactly what was behind her niece’s sickness. If anyone had told her six years ago that her tomboy niece would be laying kids like eggs, she would’ve laughed her sides out. But love had a way of changing people. And always for the better.
Ellie hooked her arm through Wheezie’s. “Let me walk you to your car. Matthew is right—you should’ve brought your walker.”
“A walker is just one wheelchair away from a coffin. I’m not ready for that yet.” Wheezie patted Ellie’s hand. “Now you go on and make sure those movers get to the right house. Barkley is parked just out front.”
It was a bit of a lie. She had released her chauffeur to do whatever he did on his time off until she called him to come get her. She shuffled around the building and parked her arthritic hips on a bus stop bench before taking the phone out of her
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