Page 39 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
Today was the day of the big Hometown Holiday celebration in town. He’d thought about taking them into the village for the Christmas activities. But decided it was probably a better idea to just stick to their plan of recreating the Bears’ traditions from the book. The big celebration might be overwhelming, and there was nowhere else to cut your own Christmas tree.
He thought that maybe a selfish part of him just wanted to keep the three of them all to himself. But was that really such a bad thing? They had been having such a good time together so far.
“Good morning,” John-John shouted, a huge smile on his cute little face as River stepped inside.
“Good morning,” River said, smiling back.
“I hope you don’t mind that we helped ourselves to your kitchen supplies,” Nora said. “We thought we might surprise you with pancakes.”
There was a tiny furrow in Pixie’s brow, like she was worried he would be upset over a little missing flour or baking powder.
“This is the best surprise ever,” River told her right away. “Taking care of the horses always makes me hungry.”
The worried look left Pixie’s face, replaced by a smilebig enough to match her brother’s, and River couldn’t help grinning back at her.
He’d been smiling a lot lately, and he honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this happy.
“How can I help?” he asked.
“Just grab a cup of coffee and have a seat,” Nora told him. “It’s your turn to relax.”
“That sounds nice,” he said. “I’ll just wash up first.”
He headed up to his room and quickly rinsed off and dressed. By the time he was downstairs again, the pancake batter was done and Nora was pouring the first of it onto the pan, with Pixie by her side, paying close attention.
John-John was at the table already, industriously peeling an orange over a plate, with another orange waiting on the table. River poured himself a mug of coffee and headed over to join the little boy.
“Fruit is good at breakfast time,” John-John said conversationally.
“It sure is,” River told him.
“Don’t worry,” John-John said. “I’m gonna share these with everyone.”
“That’s nice,” River told him. “Oranges are delicious. Sometimes I put them in my hot apple cider.”
“Hot apple cider?” John-John echoed.
“You’ve never had hot apple cider?” River asked him.
John-John shook his head.
“Well,” River said. “We’ll get some today at Cassidy Farm.”
“That’s a different farm,” John-John said.
“Yes,” River said.
“What’s the name of this farm?” John-John asked.
“It… doesn’t really have one,” River admitted.
“It’s yours,” Nora remarked. “Doesn’t that mean you can name it whatever you want?”
“I guess I can,” River realized. “Do you guys have any ideas?”
“Pancake Farm,” John-John said and then laughed so hard he almost slid under the table.
“That’s a funny name,” River said, when his tablemate had recovered himself. “But then people might be disappointed if I don’t have a pancake tree.”
