White Christmas by Tanya Stowe

Author:Tanya Stowe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Romance
ISBN: 978-1-61116-153-3
Publisher: Pelican Ventures Book Group
Published: 2011-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

5

“The Adams house was built by one of White’s prominent bankers, Joshua Adams and his wife, Ellen,” Tessa began as they stepped through the mansion’s massive double doors. “They lost their only child to pneumonia at the age of three. Mrs. Adams spent the rest of her life, and her husband’s money, on this home and children’s charities.”

Unlike the other homes, this one was lit only by candles and kerosene lamps situated around the hall. Directly across from the door a staircase with an ornate wood balustrade led to the second story. Its polished surface sparkled in the candlelight.

The second story landing opened onto the entryway. Smack dab in the middle of the entry stood a fourteen-foot, perfectly shaped Christmas tree. It was strung with modern lights in the shape of candles that flickered. Victorian cut-outs in marvelous colors of burgundy and gold, hung from the branches by burgundy ribbons.

The cut-out pictures were of women in full dresses, boys in short pants, young girls with corkscrew curls, wooden sleds, and spinning tops. The colors were vibrant and every bit as pretty as modern ornaments. Silver stars dangled from different branches and sparkled in the flickering lights. And the pine smell…Tessa closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She only opened them when she heard the click of heels on the wood floor.

Nell came through the parlor door, wearing a black taffeta dress that had a full-length skirt with a bustle in the back, and a single strand of pearls at the neck. Her white hair was pulled into a bun that somehow suited her features and made her look lovely and timeless.

Chad whistled. “You said these days made you feel young! You weren’t kidding.”

She waved a hand at his teasing, and then motioned them to come into the parlor. “I hoped you two would stop by. It’s been a busy night and I was just about to serve myself some tea. Come on in and sit with me.”

Chad took Tessa’s arm and they followed her.

A fire roared in the huge marble fireplace.

“Some seasons it’s so warm, we can’t even light this, but not this year,” Nell said. “Take off your coats and get warm.”

She sat in one of the fragile Victorian chairs and wrestled the bustle into a comfortable position. On the tea cart in front of her sat a beautiful tea set.

“It’s not original to the house,” she said, as she poured steaming tea into fragile, rose-painted cups. “I bought it second-hand several years ago and donated it to the museum because I knew it would look lovely in that cupboard over there, which by the way, is original. Mrs. Adams bought it in Europe and had it shipped home. Now, I enjoy this special tea-time before I wash everything up and put it back in the cupboard for another year.” She handed Tessa a cup.

Tessa inhaled the delicate aroma of jasmine-scented tea. “Oh, Aunt Nell, it’s heavenly,” she breathed.

“I have it shipped in. Glenda at the drug store orders it for me.

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