The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Author:Kathleen Y'Barbo [Y’Barbo, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643525976
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

We were about to stop waiting for the menfolk to return and take the trimming of the tree into our own hands,” Miss Hattie said. “The popcorn garland is a start, but there are two boxes of ornaments to be hung and candles to be placed on the branches.”

“Talking about it won’t get it done,” Pop exclaimed, leading the way. “Come on, let’s get busy.”

Ike watched the stranger who looked very much like his pop orchestrating the decorating of the Christmas tree with a glee he hadn’t seen in a very long time. No, he decided. He’d never seen his father that happy.

Which made the black eye and the tossing of Slanton’s Christmas gift to Miss Hattie all the more interesting. And understandable.

After the tree was completely decorated, Pop insisted they move to the piano and sing carols. “I doubt we’ll get any carolers tonight, so we’ll have to make do,” he joked.

Miss Hattie took her place at the piano bench. “What would you like to hear?”

“You know my favorite,” Pop said. “Can we start with that one?”

She grinned and plinked out the first bars of “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Annie’s beautiful voice was more subdued but still better than any professional he’d heard. “Joy to the World” came next, followed by “Jingle Bells.”

Then it was Ike’s turn to choose a song. “Annie, would you sing ‘O Holy Night’?”

Annie tried to protest, but Pop and Miss Hattie managed to cajole her into agreeing. As the words rose up in her clear and lovely soprano voice, Annie closed her eyes. Ike did too, allowing the woman he loved to fill the air with his favorite Christmas song.

As soon as she finished, Annie shrugged. “That’ll have to do, I suppose.”

“You suppose?” Miss Hattie said. “I’ve never heard such a voice.”

“Nor I,” Pop agreed. “You’ve had classical training. I’d stake my rock collection on it.”

“Just a teacher who took an interest in some vocal training.” She shook her head. “Truly, it’s nothing extraordinary. I thank you for saying so though. And thank you for your hospitality. I’m having a wonderful time.”

Pop continued to praise her until Ike figured Annie had enough. “Okay, Pop. You’re embarrassing her. How about we go open our gifts now?”

“Yes,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “That sounds like a great idea. Follow me, family.”

Family. Ike looked over at Annie and decided she hadn’t caught the reference. Oh, but he had. In that moment, Ike knew he wanted every Christmas to be like this.

He wanted Annie Walters to be his family.

Ike settled next to Annie on the settee, and Miss Hattie took the chair next to the window. That left Pop to pass out the wrapped gifts from beneath the tree.

“Miss Walters, since you’re our guest, why don’t you go first?”

She still looked embarrassed, but the flush in her cheeks made her even prettier. “I certainly didn’t expect anyone to buy me a gift. This is unexpected.” Annie looked up at Ike. “Is this from you?”

He smiled. He nodded.

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