PART 14
Much later that evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Nan found herself restless and unable to sleep. She softly made her way towards the parlor, hoping to curl up by the fire. When she got there though, she noticed that she'd been beaten. Nat sat writing next to the fire. "Do writers ever sleep?" she teased.
"Do you?"
"Not lately," she sigh.
"And why is that?" Nat asked, still writing.
"Oh I dunno," she sigh, walking over to an armchair, "different house, fear of fires…" She smiled, but saw no response from Nat. "Perhaps I'm worried about love." Nat looked up.
"Worried about love? You?"
"Mmm," she nodded, "You see, I've got this problem. I'm in love with this man. I mean it's more than love…it's more than I ever thought was possible. Every time I'm with him I just light up and I feel so…warm and excited. I've felt that way ever since I've known him."
"So what's the problem," Nat sigh, closing his book.
"Well I don't think he loves me back."
"Of course David loves you back," Nat exclaimed, "I heard him say it to you just this evening."
"David?! Wait a minute…what do you mean you heard him? You were listening to us?"
"Look Nan, it wasn't like that, okay? I was walking down the hall and I saw him leave," Nat snapped.
"Well…what if it isn't David," Nan said in a voice braver than she felt. Nat paused and looked at her. Everything he'd ever hoped for had been given to him in that sentence. She loved him. She wanted him. Yet something in him wouldn't let her back in that easily.
"Well I don't see how it could be anyone else," he said softly, "It seems a little late for anyone else, don't you think?" Nat winced as pain flashed across Nan's face. She stared into the fire, not saying anything for a while.
"In any case," she finally said, "I think you're right about David loving me. But that's too bad."
"Why?"
"Because…," she paused and got up to leave the room, "He doesn't make me feel alive." She slowly walked to the door and just before walking out, without turning around, she said so very softly, "I hurt you Nat, didn't I? One too many times?"
Nat felt his eyes fill up with tears and he stared intently at the fire. "Yeah," he said softly, "You did."
"Nat…I'm…I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Me too Nan," he sigh, "Me too."
Nat rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he shuffled downstairs. While he had planned to catch up on some sleep, various noises and odors from the kitchen caused him to wake up. He yawned as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen. It seemed as though everyone else in the house had decided to get up early and…cook?!
"Hey there sleepyhead! Merry Christmas!" Jo smiled, "You missed all the fun!"
"Yeah Nat….I dunno if we should let ya eat all this food," Dan joked.
"Look at this," Bess said sarcastically, holding up a plate, "I try to make pancakes, and this…disaster is what happens. Then Nan over here takes a shot…"
"It's a science Bess," Nan chuckled. Everyone grabbed plates and began to take them to the dining room. They left until only Nan and Nat were left alone. As she flipped pancakes from the pan onto a plate she said, "Umm, about our conversation last night Nat…I know things have been done and said. I just…I just want to start over. I mean you've always been my best friend, and I don't want to lose that." She took off her apron and held out her hands, "Friends?"
Nat hesitated for a minute and then took her hand, "Friends." She grinned and, picking up the plate, pulled Nat with her into the dining room. The two shared surprised looks of renewed friendship as he held out a chair for her. Once they were seated, Jo began to speak but was soon interrupted by Nick.
"You'll get your chance tonight Jo," Nick chuckled, "I just wanted to have a few minutes to say some things. First of all, Merry Christmas!" There were choruses of 'Merry Christmas' from around the table as everyone toasted with their coffee cups. "Alright, now I just got a few more things to say," Nick went on, "Christmas never used to be my favorite holiday as a kid. I mean, without a whole family, it ain't really different than the rest of the days. My brother and I tried to make the best of things, but it wasn't 'till I came to Plumbfield that I really experienced Christmas. My first Christmas I remember Nan makin' those cookies, and Nat tryin' to arrange that 'unique' choir. And Dan, you an' Bess fought the entire time I think, specially when ya found out your roles in the pageant!" Everyone at the table smiled and nodded.
Nick gazed intently at Jo as he said, "Then my second Christmas…well I missed spendin' that one with the people I love most. And when I came home to you all…I vowed to myself that I'd never let that happen again. So I just wanted to let ya'll know how much havin' a family has meant to me." Bess, with tears in her eyes, was the first one to speak.
"We've loved having you here with us too Nick!" she smiled.
"Nick and I have an announcement to make," Jo said softly, giving Nick a look of surprised adoration.
"Jo?" Amy perked up, "Well don't keep us waiting!!"
"I think I'll let Nick tell it…he's on a role anyway," Jo smiled.
"Well," Nick grinned, "After years of prodding, and at the risk of many people sayin' 'I told ya so,' I've asked Jo to marry me."
"What did she say?" Nan asked bluntly, not believing what she was hearing.
"Yes," Jo said, creasing her eyebrows…what was wrong with everyone?
Gosh…no one actually thought they'd ever really get around to it. There was a moment of silence as the shock wore off of everyone, and then everyone got up from their chairs all at once.
"Aunt Jo, Nick! This is wonderful!!" Bess said.
"Jo Bhaer!" Amy exclaimed, "I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
"Or me!" Meg chimed in.
"And just what am I?" Asia joked, "Chopped liver?"
"Ugh, Asia, don't even think about cooking that okay?" Nan suddenly said, "I see enough of that back home."
"Hey Nick," Dan called out, "I told ya so!"
Above all the voices Jo once again raised her coffee cup and said, "Merry Christmas!! Let's open presents!" That got everyone's attention, and they left their half-eaten breakfast. The last ones trying to enter the living room were Nat and Nan. Standing in the open doorway as everyone else entered before them, they almost didn't hear Dan's mischievous voice at first.
"Hey Nan, Nat," he said again, "Look up!" The two gave each other curious looks, and glanced up at the doorframe. There, of course, hung a smartly tied clump of mistletoe. "Oh, well you two know what that means," Laurie teased.
"Oh now…I don't really…," Nan stuttered.
"We don't really have to…," Nat added.
"It's tradition," Asia said, trying to keep a straight face, "You don't mess with tradition." Nan finally looked up at Nat, her eyes wide and innocent. 'We could just do it and get it over with,' her eyes suggested. 'Well, I will if you will,' his eyes replied. And with unspoken consent, Nat gently tipped his head down to kiss Nan.
Though it was only seconds, it seemed like forever until their lips slowly parted and Nan opened up her eyes. No one in the room was paying any attention to them. They'd all attacked the gifts as soon as they were sure the two had given in. "Great way to start our new 'platonic friendship,'" Nan muttered.
Nat's hands brushed against Nan's as he gently guided her into the room saying, "Yeah…I'll be right back." Nan gave him a curious look, but went off to find her own gifts.
"Alright," Jo smirked, "I think this is the smallest present I've ever seen. It's a wonder you didn't lose this!" She gave Nick a grin as she pulled the paper off a very small box. She carefully opened the lid to reveal the small ring that had once belonged to Nick's mother - a ring he had given her what seemed like a very long time ago. "What…what's this?" Jo asked in surprise, "I was looking for this early this morning! You took it so you could wrap it?"
"I wrapped it," Nick said, taking the ring from her hand, "So we could finally put it on the right hand." With a rather saucy grin, he carefully slipped the ring onto Jo's left ring finger.
"It's actually my left hand, not the right," Jo smirked, "But I think I get the point." Nick shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"Really Aunt Jo," Bess teased as she opened a present, "I never thought I'd be wearing an engagement ring before you!" Her face suddenly became serious and her eyes became big and round as she looked at the present in her lap. It was a beautiful, new, and expensive looking camera. "Dan," she breathed in a soft voice of shock, "how did you afford this?"
Dan rolled his eyes and got an exasperated look on his face as he said, "Don't think about things like that." He watched as she gently fingered the camera, and his face softened. "Do ya like it?" he asked in a softer voice.
Bess looked as if she had no idea what to say. She gave him a look which she hoped conveyed at least part of the feelings of gratitude and love currently making her heart swell, and said, "Oh yes, very much." Nan was busy holding one of the girls and admiring Bess' camera when Nat returned. He gazed around the room and then pulled up a chair right in front of her.
"What?" she grinned at the look Nat was giving her. He gently picked up the baby and handed it off to Franz. Bess, sensing that some privacy was needed excused herself and moved a good distance away. "Merry Christmas," Nat said simply, holding out a small, flat box to Nan. "What's this?" she asked.
"Open it," he replied, rolling his eyes, "Just open it."
"But Nat…wait, here," she handed him an oddly wrapped parcel.
"What's this?"
"It's your gift," she said insistently, "and you have to open it first." He gave a look of protest, but began to open it all the same. He revealed a shiny, leather briefcase. "Nan," he said, "You shouldn't have gotten me such a nice gift."
"Well I just thought you could use it for your papers and everythin'," Nan said, a little nervous, "Anyway, if you don't like it-"
"No, no, it's really nice," Nat said, his face honest, "I like it a lot…now open your gift." He unconsciously held his breath, leaning in, as Nan slowly pulled the paper off and opened the box. Her breath caught in her throat and she was unable to speak. Lying on a soft velvet cushion was a beautiful strand of pearls.
"I, uh, I remember you always talking about how your mother had one…and how you'd searched for it but your father said he'd given it away. I know it's not the same…but I thought maybe you could…I dunno…maybe I was wrong," he stumbled through words.
"No," Nan said strongly, putting her free hand over his, "I love this. But…why on earth did you give it to me? I mean, I've hardly done anything to deserve it…and lately-"
"Nan, to tell you the truth, I wasn't going to give it to you. Not until you said what you said in the kitchen. I realized that we are still best friends…and nothing can ever really change that. Merry Christmas," he smiled a little, patted her hand, and then walked over to where Jo and Nick were sitting.
"Friends," Nan whispered, "Merry Christmas…"
PART 15
