Free Forsaking All Others by Linda Hudson-Smith Page B

please hold that thought until later, since I plan to take you up on it. We have a lot to show and tell each other.”

    Just as Jessica had thought, the others were eager to help wrap the packages. An assembly line was quickly established. Weston, Roman and Jacque opted to measure and then cut the wrapping paper. Jessica, Sahara, Sandra and Jennifer wrapped the gifts. Once gifts were handed to Samuel, he placed the bows on them. Boy or girl name tags were also added by Samuel to show the gender intent.
    The variety of toys Weston had picked out was sure to delight all the boys and girls. Baby dolls, stuffed animals, footballs and basketballs, board games and a host of other entertaining items would make someone’s day.
    Jessica would love to see the smiles on those little faces.
    The sudden chiming of the doorbell had Jessica scrambling to get up. Since no one was expected, Weston got up and went with her as a safety precaution. These days no one ever knew who might be on the other side of a door.
    The moment the door was opened a group of men and women began to carol softly. Weston instantly called for the others to join them. Jessica, forgetting about the presence of everyone else, laid her head back against Weston’s chest, overwhelmed by the Christmas carolers. Normally her family and their neighbors were a part of the caroling festivities back home. Like the special gift-giving, it was something the Harringtons loved to do.
    One of Jessica’s favorite holiday tunes, “The First Noel,” was sung beautifully. She couldn’t be happier about her decision to join her family. Though she had remained undecided up to the last minute, she was aware of how much she would’ve missed out on. Although she loved spending time with her friends, what she missed most was the group shopping sprees they took.
    â€œShop until you drop” was their motto during the holiday season.
    Each female in Jessica’s circle hosted a girls-only breakfast, brunch, luncheon or dinner during the holiday season, beginning on the fifteenth of December and ending Christmas Eve. The guys did something similar, but their events were held in the evenings. The two groups joined together for the last event, a potluck dinner held at the home of the host person for that year.
    Once Jessica realized she and Weston were giving the others cause for further speculation, she moved slightly away from him. Before she got out of his reach, he grabbed hold of her hand. Squeezing her fingers was his way of letting her know he understood. Jessica fleetingly contemplated making their feelings known to the others, but then she thought better of it. There’d be no peace for either of them if their families got the idea they were falling in love.
    Falling in love. What an interesting choice of words, Jessica mused.
    Jessica had to wonder if she was falling in love with Weston. It didn’t take her long to deliberate. Even though she suspected she was already in love, she wouldn’t allow herself to admit it. The reality of such a magnanimous occurrence was scary.
    Once the carolers moved on down the outside corridor, Roman closed the front door. His offer to fix drinks and snacks was met with loud shouts of approval. Jessica quickly offered to help her father. After Roman nodded his agreement, she followed him into the kitchen, where she retrieved a box of assorted crackers, a summer sausage, apples and two blocks of cheese.
    While Jessica cut the snacks into bite-size cubes and slices, Roman began mixing up a variety of drinks. Preparing a pitcher of strawberry margaritas came first; Jessica’s preference. Since Sahara loved apple martinis and Sandra loved cosmopolitans, he planned on mixing those, too. His choice in drinks was a white merlot or a zinfandel, which Jennifer and Samuel also liked. Scotch on the rocks was Jacque’s.
    Roman suddenly realized he didn’t know Weston’s drink. “What does Wes like to