Page 5 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

The girls all sipped like it was poison, and they had a gun held to their heads, Chloe thought a little dramatically. She sat on the edge of her seat. The portentoustick-tockof the clock reminded her of a bomb in an action-adventure film.

“I know you girls have careers, and it’s important for a woman to establish herself, to pursue her dreams, but family too is crucial.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they all chorused, and Chloe wondered if at the end of Grandma Millie’s sermon she should shout hallelujah.

“Belmont is important. We were a small town far away from big-city greatness, and now we are considered one of the most desirable bedroom communities of Charlotte, with a strong tourist draw, unique shops, professional businesses, good schools, a desirable liberal arts college with a respected music conservatory and fine arts program”—and she smiled at Chloe, the only one of the Mayes who’d attended South Point Abbey, which the Mayes had helped establish.

“Mayes are integral to the community with their service and expertise,” Grandma Millie nodded at Sarah and Meghan. “We’ve built a strong town and a strong community and a stronger family.”

A chill froze Chloe.

“You’re not sick, are you Grandma Millie?”

One of the reasons Chloe hadn’t objected when Grandma Millie told her to choose South Point Abbey’s music conservatory and live at home for college instead of moving away like her cousins had done was because Chloe hadn’t wanted her grandma to be alone, even though it was impossible to imagine such a busy woman lonely.

Grandma Maye sipped her champagne, her posture exemplary.

“Certainly not. But I’m not getting any younger. We need to prepare for the future.”

Chloe relaxed and took another, heartier, sip of champagne. Dang it was delicious. She hardly ever drank, and she imagined the bubbles going straight to her brain.

“The Mayes have help to build Belmont with other families. We were initially farmers, then industry and now businesses. We fundraised for the church, the parks, the hospital, schools and helped establish the college. But what is it for if there is no one left to carry on the legacy?”

“Sheesh, Grandma Millie.” Meghan looked at her watch. “Let me schedule in time to pop out a baby. You’re still accepting new patients aren’t you?” She looked at Sarah.

“Enough,” Grandma Millie said tartly. “I’ve made my decision. Now for the challenge.”

Sarah looked like she’d bitten into a lime instead of taking a sip of Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs. Meghan tossed back the remaining champagne, put down the glass and rubbed her hands together.

“Oh goody. Dukes up, girls.” She made fists like a boxer.

“A challenge within a challenge,” Grandma Millie said cryptically. “And while I expect you to help each other, one of you will have to take charge. You can volunteer or we can pull cards.”

Choosing the high card draw was Grandma Millie’s favorite way to make a decision when the four of them had been in disagreement.

“For what?” Sarah asked warily.

Grandma Millie looked at Sarah for a long moment, and Chloe wondered what she was looking for, or what she wanted to see but didn’t. She clutched her champagne glass and went to take a sip but it was empty.

“Each of you will head the committee of the four major events that the Maye family sponsors each year, starting with the Movable Feast.”

“That’s in three weeks,” Sarah objected. “Most of the work’s probably been done.”

“It’s the tradition that has the most individual freedom for the participating families on Belmont Circle,” Grandma Millie nodded. “And yet the families apply and are chosen. Yes, the participating families have been chosen, but the menu has not. The meeting to approve the menu and the theme is tomorrow at my house at three p.m. Keep in mind that it’s tradition for this home to anchor the event by offering a main course, so whoever takes the event will also be in charge of planning and cooking an entrée. Who will take over for me this year?”

Grandma Millie sounded like she had a clipboard and pen as she stared down Jessica, who nearly bit off a chunk of the champagne flute. “You’d be the obvious choice, Sarah, as the eldest, but Jessica has the organizing and IT skills as a CPA, and it’s not tax season.”

Chloe practically heard Jessica gulp.

“Meghan, you are an excellent delegator. Persuasive and quite brilliant as the lawyer in the family. Cooking a showstopper entrée for up to two hundred guests is a bit more of a challenge, although you will have volunteers helping, of course. The college groups are already signed up to help to serve and clean up. I have faith in each of you.”

No one spoke.

Chloe wasn’t sure what happened. It was like she was under a spell. Grandma Millie hadn’t even mentioned her—of course. But why not? As a teacher she made lesson plans, managed students, planned field trips, chaired committees, and organized concerts for her small acapella choir at the high school and the college.

Shame stirred in her. And anger. Maybe it was because she hadn’t eaten all day and had merely gulped down a mug of mulled wine backstage when she’d learned she was finally going to sing a solo at the Madrigal Dinner and chased that with one bite of delicious stew.

“I’ll do it.” She jumped up from the ottoman so quickly that it tipped back and clunked on the gleaming hardwood floor and antique handloomed carpet. She held up her empty flute, upside down. Oops. She righted it. How had she gulped the champagne so quickly? “I’ll do it,” she sang out. “I will keep the Maye tradition of Belmont’s Movable Feast alive and delicious!”

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