LITMIR.BIZ

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what was going on with Baron Bell. Or with his eyes open, for that matter.

      He whirled around when he sensed a presence. “Myra! What are you doing up at this hour?”

      “I’m up because the bed got cold. Why are you standing out here, Charles?”

      “The world looks so clean and pure right now. It’s so perfect, I just want it to be like this forever, but that’s a foolish wish on my part.”

      Myra reached out and nestled her hand within his. “It is beautiful. The snow came early this year. I’m ready to get married now, Charles. I thought maybe on New Year’s Day. I’d like Nellie to marry us. Say something now, Charles, because I don’t think I will get the nerve again to make this commitment.”

      “But you didn’t ask me. You made an announcement. I’m supposed to get down on my knee and ask you.”

      “Well, what are you waiting for?” Myra asked.

      Charles dropped to one knee and reached for Myra’s hand. “Myra, will you marry me on New Year’s Day? If you say yes, I promise to love and honor you into eternity.”

      “My answer is yes, Charles. Will you make the announcement at dinner?”

      “If that’s what you want, then, yes, it will give me great pleasure to announce our betrothal. You just made me the happiest man in the world.” Charles moved his arm and wrapped it around his beloved’s shoulders. “What made you pick this moment in time, if you don’t mind my asking?”

      “Well, Charles, we aren’t getting any younger. In fact, we’re getting older by the day. If that isn’t enough of an answer, I realized I don’t like cold beds. And you’re right. This moment, right now, this instant, is so perfect, it just seemed like the right time. I’m going to have Annie stand up for me. Whom will you choose, Charles, to be your best man?”

      “Elias. You don’t think the boys will be upset, do you?”

      “No more than the girls will be upset with my choosing Annie.”

      “I don’t have a ring for you, Myra.”

      Myra laughed. “The ring isn’t important. Just ask Elias for one of his cigar bands. That will do nicely.”

      Charles reached for his bride-to-be. “My life is now complete, Myra. I think we should go inside before we both freeze to death out here, and then there won’t be a wedding at all.”

      “I think you might be right. Come along, my darling. I’ll help you get started with your Thanksgiving dinner.”

      Charles pretended horror. “My dear, you are worthless in the kitchen. But you can watch me. Let’s have an early breakfast. You can brown the buns and make the coffee and squeeze the juice. We received a box of Baby Bell oranges with our food order yesterday. Wait till you see them. Each one is more perfect than the other. And to think you can get them only at this particular time of year. Amazing.”

      Myra linked her arm with Charles’s. “I’m going to learn to cook, Charles. I’ve been watching the Food Network.”

      Charles laughed all the way across the compound as he half dragged Myra through the deep snow.

      Thanksgiving dinner was everything everyone had hoped it would be. Good friends breaking bread and giving thanks together. Chef Charles accepted the accolades heaped on him with a gracious smile. The conversation was light, at times bantering, but always in good taste. Even Murphy and Grady whooped their thanks at the heaping plates Charles set out for them, but instead of turkey, they had roast chicken.

      Jack passed on the pumpkin pie, saying he was allergic, and went with the pecan pie. The others hooted with laughter at the remembrance of the truckload of pumpkins back in Utah. One and all agreed that it seemed like a lifetime ago.

      Coffee and brandy were served in the living room, in front of a blazing fire, which Elias and Bert maintained. Outside, the snow continued to fall. Relaxing music, golden oldies that no one objected to, played softly.

      Even though there were football games on the big-screen via satellite, no one opted to watch them. All were content to sit and revel in the peaceful atmosphere with good friends.

      When Charles walked into the living room carrying a huge silver tray with two bottles of champagne, they all knew something interesting was about to happen. Myra, at his side, held an identical silver tray with exquisite cut-glass wine flutes.

      Nikki looked over at Jack and winked. The heirloom crystal flutes had appeared months ago, brought from Myra’s farmhouse to the mountain by Nellie. This, whatever this was, must really be important. Feeling a nudge to her shoulder, Nikki turned and wasn’t surprised when she heard a whisper in her ear.

      “This is Mummie’s big day, Nik. She’s finally going to do it.”

      “About time,” Nikki said under her breath. She risked a glance around the room, but no one seemed to be paying attention to the fact that Barbara’s spirit was in attendance.

      Charles uncorked the first bottle of champagne. They all watched the cork sail upward, then spiral down to land at Myra’s feet. The second cork went upward, spiraled down, and settled at Charles’s feet. The little group clapped their hands.

      “Nice going, Barb,” Nikki mumbled.

      “You should see what I can do when I put my mind to it.” The spirit giggled. “Shhh, here it comes.”

      Charles cleared his throat. “I have an announcement to make. I’ve asked Myra to marry me, and she finally said yes. I asked her on bended knee in the snow at four thirty this morning on the front porch. I hope you’re all as happy for us as we are for ourselves. So, let’s drink a toast to this happy couple.”

      Nikki wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw her spirit sister settle herself between her mother and father. Then again, maybe it was the smoke that suddenly billowed out of the fireplace before it was sucked back in and then straight up the chimney. “Nice going, Barb.”

      “Thanks, Nik. Give them both an earthly hug for me, okay?”

      “You got it!” Nikki untangled herself and got to her feet to accept her flute of champagne. To Charles and Myra, she whispered, “I have orders to give you both an earthly hug. One earthly hug coming up,” she said, wrapping her arms around Charles and Myra without spilling a drop of champagne.

      “She was here, wasn’t she?” Myra whispered.

      “Oh, yeah, she was here.” Nikki smiled. “She approves.”

      “I felt her right beside me,” Charles murmured.

      “She was between us, wasn’t she, Nikki?” Myra asked.

      Nikki nodded. “Smack-dab in the middle. I am so happy for you both.”

      The little group started to sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and then they switched up to “For She’s a Jolly Good Lady.” All off-key, but no one cared.

      Cushions and blankets appeared out of nowhere as the happy guests sprawled wherever there was room. No one noticed until later that Annie and Isabelle had left the living room and returned to the building where they lived.

      “I saw how unhappy you were, Isabelle. I know how you feel. I pretty much felt like a third wheel myself. Suddenly everyone became a couple. Don’t get me wrong. That’s a good thing. I don’t think anyone will miss us, at least not for a little while, and even then they’ll think we ate too much and are taking a nap. Everyone has a partner but you and I. I think we should do something about that, and I think we should do it right now!”

      “And that would be…what?” Isabelle asked tentatively.

      What indeed? “Well, you did tell me and the others on one or more occasion that you thought that guy in the Vegas casino was pretty hot. There for a while after we got back to the mountain, I thought you were pining for him. You said you looked right into

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