Free Snowy Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

cut
up those credit cards and had no intention of ever using the
accounts again.
    On Saturday, a week before Christmas, some of
the estate workers carried a ten-foot Nordmann's fir into the great
hall and set it up. That afternoon, all the Bramwells gathered to
decorate the tree in historic tradition. Emily was the only one
there who wasn't a member of the family, but they made her feel as
though she belonged.
    A log fire crackled in the huge stone
fireplace, and a comfortable arrangement of chairs and sofas
surrounded it. Marcus had brought back the furniture that used to
be in the room when his parents were alive so they could have a
proper family Christmas here like they used to.
    Jennifer gingerly sat in one of the chairs
with her hands linked over her huge belly, and puffed out a
relieved breath. "I'm going to watch you guys decorate. My back's
aching." It was incredible how her baby bump had grown in just a
month.
    They opened the old cardboard boxes Emily had
helped Marcus dig out of a storeroom. Inside were the antique glass
baubles and tree decorations that had been in the family for over a
century. Each glass ball was wrapped in tissue paper.
    "Handle the decorations very carefully," Owen
told Chloe. "They belonged to your great-grandma."
    "I know, Dad. You told me that on the way
over here." Despite her slightly touchy attitude, Chloe was gentle
when she hung the decorations on the pine branches. She, Vicky, and
Emily decorated the lower branches while Owen and Marcus worked off
the stepladder to reach the upper tree.
    Jonathan was responsible for baby Isabelle.
She'd just started walking, and kept him racing around after
her.
    "She knows I can't see her, and she delights
in trying to outwit me," he said. At that moment, Isabelle made a
break for the stairs, waving her chubby arms and giggling as her
little shoes thumped on the wooden floorboards.
    "I can hear you, munchkin," Jonathan said.
"Daddy's coming to get you."
    Isabelle squealed and ran faster.
    "She's a little monkey." Vicky rushed to help
round up her daughter, and the tiny girl dashed back to hug her
daddy's leg.
    "There you are." Jonathan picked her up and
blew on her tummy, making her shriek with laughter.
    Peggy, Jessie, Honey, and Paddy vied with
each other for the prime spot on the rug in front of the fire.
While they were disagreeing, Snow White sneaked in and stole the
best place for herself.
    "Look at that." Emily pointed as the doggy
drama unfolded, secretly proud of her little girl for coming out on
top. Everyone laughed as the bigger dogs positioned themselves
around the bold little Westie.
    "She's obviously not timid anymore," Jennifer
said. "She's a wily terrier. They come out on top of the Labs every
time."
    When the tree was covered in precious glass
baubles of many colors, gleaming in the firelight, they all sat
together and drank tea from a vintage bone-china tea service that
had been in the family for ages and was apparently worth a
fortune.
    Shelly arrived when all the work was done.
She plopped down on a chair and accepted a cup of tea. "The pub's
hectic. I can only get away for half an hour, but I had to come and
see how you were getting along. It's wonderful to have a tree in
the great hall again. I've really missed this. I can't wait to
celebrate Christmas Day here. It'll be like old times."
    Emily and Shelly were planning to cook a
traditional family Christmas dinner in the kitchen here, and Emily
was looking forward to it. Her grandma and Ned were invited as
well.
    Everyone fell silent, enjoying a rest, while
the log fire crackled and the dogs snored.
    "This brings back so many memories," Jonathan
said. He hugged his sleepy daughter close on his lap and kissed her
hair. "The last time we had Christmas here all together was before
I went to Afghanistan, when Mum and Dad were still alive." Vicky
snuggled up beside her husband and rested her head on his
shoulder.
    "Sorry, Jon." Marcus didn't elaborate on his
apology, but Emily had