Signed, a Paddy by Lisa Boyle

Author:Lisa Boyle [Boyle, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781736607718
Publisher: Lisa Boyle

Chapter Twenty-Three

Just as Miss Susan had said, we did have guests on Christmas Eve who were alone, looking for warmth, comfort, and good food.

The fire was indeed warm, and Miss Susan had hung holly and mistletoe inside, as well.

“You mind yourself around that mistletoe,” Miss Susan said while we cleaned on the morning of Christmas Eve. “Who knows who will try to kiss you if they catch you there?”

“Henry did say he was coming,” I said, smiling coyly.

“Make sure those guests are taken care of first before you two do any funny stuff,” she said.

I laughed. “I’m not doing any funny stuff, Miss Susan.”

“It might not be up to you,” she said. “It’s bad luck to refuse a kiss under the mistletoe. That’s why you have to mind yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “But I don’t believe in bad luck, so Henry will just have to find out if I want to be kissed or not.”

She gave me a concerned look—a real one this time.

“You don’t believe in bad luck?” she asked.

“I believe that what’s going to happen is going to happen,” I said. “Sometimes it’s bad and sometimes it’s good. Me refusing to kiss some boy won’t change it.”

“Hm,” she said. “I guess that’s rather brave of you.”

“Brave?” I asked.

“Yes, brave,” she said. “To tempt God in that way.”

I laughed. “What has God got to do with it?”

“Oh, Rosaleen,” she said. “Just stay away from that mistletoe! It’s not for you, anyhow.”

I raised my eyebrows and stopped sweeping. “Is it for you?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen without answering.

Well, that’s mysterious, I thought. I told myself to watch out for any man friends of Miss Susan’s, hanging around the mistletoe.

Marie made a delicious feast for dinner, with roasted turkey, roasted pig, and boiled ham. The lonely guests seemed pleased by it.

As Marie and I cleaned the dishes, I told her about Miss Susan and the mistletoe. She was also intrigued.

“Did a man show up?” she asked me.

“No,” I said. “Luckily, Florence came in just as dinner was ending. Hopefully that cheers her up.”

Marie nodded. “I can’t believe Lydia finally brought my baby niece into this world,” she said. “I’m going to go meet her when we’re done. I know I won’t be much help since I have to be back here for supper, but I just have to meet her.” She smiled dreamily.

“Give her a kiss from me, too, won’t you?” I asked.

Marie nodded. “Of course,” she said. “Is Henry coming for tea?”

“He might,” I said. “Or he might come tomorrow. Or not at all.”

“Can I ask what’s going on with you two?” she asked.

“You can,” I said. “I just don’t know. Nothing, I think. But then I see him and he’s so handsome and kind and then I think I do like him.”

Marie nodded. “I understand.”

“I’ll finish these dishes,” I said. “Go see baby Angel.”

“Oh, thank you!” Marie said, and quickly dried her hands.

When I was done, I helped Miss Susan show the guests to their rooms and began to clean the dining room.

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