Songs of Christmas Read Online Free

“Well, here we are. Take it or leave it.”
    “I’ll take it,” he said decisively. Ezra took her arm and draped it through his own. “You look especially lovely in that color. It suits you.”
    “Really? I think it makes me look a bit anemic. But what can you do? You look smart. Sans polka dots.”
    He turned and smiled at her. “What would I do without you? I could barely dress myself.”
    “You know that’s not true.” She withdrew her arm and picked up her purse from the dressing table. “At our stage in life, we do need to pool our resources. What’s left of them.”
    A harsh observation, perhaps, but Ezra knew what she was saying. They were married late in life and they did rely on each other. More and more as time went on.
    “I think we do surprisingly well together. That’s the main thing I’m thankful for today, Lillian. Having you beside me, as my wife.”
    Lillian met his loving glance a moment and blinked, a sudden glassy sheen in her gaze and a twitch at the corner of her mouth the only clues that gave her away. But Ezra was adept at reading even these small signs. Her heart had been moved by his declaration. He was sure of that.
    She grabbed his hand and squeezed it just a moment. “Enough chatter. We don’t want to be late to the Hardings’. Though there’s always such a crowd at their parties, no one will notice if we’re missing.”
    Holiday parties at Molly and Matt Harding’s house were inevitably large, boisterous affairs. Ezra enjoyed them for the most part, though Lillian found them tiring. He would undoubtedly hear the usual critique later this evening.
    But he was pleased to be heading there on Thanksgiving. At his age, every day was a holiday of gratitude. He was thankful just to wake up in the morning, alive and well, and find he’d been blessed with the gift of another day. This day, out of all the rest, was the perfect opportunity to focus and meditate on those sentiments.
    * * *
    THE GATHERING AT THE HARDING HOME WAS JUST AS LILLIAN HAD expected. Too many people, too much food, and far too much noise. She was dismayed to find that the Hardings had acquired an even larger—and louder—TV. Most of the guests were gathered in the great room, off the spacious modern kitchen, watching a football game.
    Including her husband, who had parted from her soon after they arrived. When had he become such a big sports fan? She couldn’t imagine how that had happened. Unless there was something in the drink he had in hand. It looked like ginger ale, but you never knew. He did seem to be competing for the “Life of the Party” prize this afternoon.
    Lillian headed for the living room, hobbling along on her cane. She narrowly missed being knocked over by a pack of overstimulated children, led by that little wildcat, Betty. She looked like an angel with those blond curls, but she was a hellion. Took after her mother, no doubt.
    Lillian settled herself in an armchair tucked into a corner. She had barely gotten comfortable when her own daughter Emily appeared.
    “Are you all right, Mother? Can I get you anything to eat? The appetizers are delicious.”
    Emily offered to share her plate. Lillian waved her hand as if chasing off an annoying insect. “Oh, I can’t eat any of that. I’d be up all night.”
    Emily shrugged and smiled. “I’ll be in the gym all week. But it will be worth it.”
    “What about dinner? When will the real meal be served? I’m ravenous.”
    “In a little while. I think Molly is nearly ready.”
    “A professional cook and she takes this long to get the meal out? I’m sure she doesn’t keep her customers waiting this way. She would never stay in business.”
    Emily took a bite of a canapé before she answered. It looked like some sort of toasted cheese on a cracker. It did smell appetizing, Lillian had to admit. But she didn’t dare chance it.
    “I’m sure dinner will be worth waiting for, Mother. It always is.”
    “I might debate that,” Lillian