The Christmas Box Read Free Page A

he's jus t t easing."
    Barry laughed. "Aren't you supposed to be making dinner for th e l ady?" he asked.
    "We officially begin our arrangement on Monday. In fact, she is making dinner for us tomorrow. At leas t s he invited us to dine with her."
    "Is that right?" I asked.
    "She was up here just before th e t wo of you came down."
    "This should be interesting," I decided.
    We finished the meal and, afte r t hanking Barry profusely for his help , we cleared away the dishes. Then I dove into a pile of receipts an d l edgers, while Keri put Jenna to bed.
    "Can Daddy read me a story?" sh e a sked.
    "Not tonight, honey. Daddy has a l ot of work to do."
    "It doesn't have to be a long one,"
    she pleaded.
    "Not tonight, honey. Some othe r t ime."
    A disappointed child was tucke d u nder the covers and went to slee p y earning for "some other time."

    Chapter III THE BIBLE BOX
    Sunday was no t p roclaimed the "day of rest" by a mother with a family to ready for church, but such is the irony of piousness. Upon our return home at the conclusion of the day's "churching," we reveled in the discovery of a glorious new lifestyle. In our last apartment we had had such little space we found ourselves looking for ways to spend our Sunday afternoons outside the home. Now we defiantly spread our things, and ourselves, throughout our quarters. I napped in front of the drawing room fireplace while Keri read in the bedroom and Jenna played quietly in the nursery. What we may have los t i n family togetherness we more tha n m ade up for in sanity.
    At quarter to six Keri woke me, an d a fter washing up, we descended th e s tairs to Mary's dining room. I t s melled wonderfully of roast bee f a nd gravy and freshly baked rolls.
    The dining room was spacious and , in typical Victorian style, the floo r w as covered with a colorful Persia n r ug that stopped short of the walls , leaving a border of the polishe d h ardwood floor exposed. The roo m w as built around a large, rectangular , white-laced dining table. A Straus s c rystal chandelier hung from the ceiling directly above the center of th e t able, suspended above a vase o f f reshly cut flowers. The east wall ha d a n elaborate built-in china closet displaying the home's exquisite porcelain dinnerware. On the opposite wal l w as a fireplace, as ornately carved as the parlor fireplace, but of lighter wood. The mantel extended to the ceiling, and the firebox and hearth were tiled in marbled blue-and-white patterns. To either side of the fireplace were walnut side chairs with Gothic carved backs and tucked hair-cloth upholstery.
    Mary met us at the doorway and thanked us graciously for joining her.
    "I'm so glad that you could come!" she said.
    "The pleasure is ours," I assured her. "You really shouldn't have gone to so much trouble," said Keri.
    Mary was a hostess of the highest order and would not feel the affair worthwhile had she not gone to a lot of trouble.
    "It was no trouble at all," she said instinctively.
    The place settings were immaculate and beautiful, and the chin a p lates were trimmed in 24 karat gold.
    "Please sit down," she urged , motioning us to some chairs. We too k o ur seats and waited for her to join us.
    "I always pray before I eat," sh e s aid. "Would you please join me?"
    We bowed our heads.
    "Dear Lord, thank you for thi s b ounty which we have during thi s b lessed Christmas season. Than k y ou for these new friends. Pleas e b less them in their needs and thei r d esires. Amen."
    We lifted our heads.
    "Thank you," I said.
    Mary uncovered a woven basket o f s teaming rolls, broke them apart, an d p laced one on each of our plates. Sh e t hen filled our goblets with water an d t he food-laden platters were passe d a round the table.
    "So how are your quarters?" Mary asked. "Have you moved in all your things?"
    "We have," Keri replied.
    "There was enough room in the attic? I was afraid it might be a little cramped."
    "Plenty," I assured her. "We don't own much furniture." I