Free A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade Page A

grinned. “Are they world-famous already? You only opened last week.”
    Otto Bates laughed and Lillian did, too.
    “Take any table you like. I’ll be right out with menus.”
    Oliver led Lillian to a table by the window, where they had a clear view of Cape Light’s Main Street. “So, what do you think of my hometown? It must seem very provincial to a girl like you.”
    Lillian gazed out the window. “I guess it is a small town, but Idon’t mind it. My parents brought our family up here every summer when I was growing up. I’ve always liked Cape Light.”
    “Really? I would take you more for summers on the Vineyard or Nantucket.”
    “My father liked to visit with his brother in Newburyport. That’s Charlotte’s father, my uncle Joshua,” Lillian explained. “He also found it very…economical.”
    Oliver understood her implication; she could tell by the twinkle in his eye. “Well, economical or not, it’s a pleasant place in the summertime, an undiscovered place. I’ll take it over the Vineyard or Nantucket anytime.”
    “But you live here year round, don’t you? Charlotte said your family owns a factory or something?”
    Lillian could have bit her tongue. Now he knew she had been asking about him. Not that Charlotte had needed any coaxing. Her cousin had given her an earful last night after the dance, eager to tell Lillian more than she ever wanted to know about the town’s most infamous native son.
    “My father owns a cannery, the largest in the area. And there are some other interests as well. We stopped canning for a while during the war and did some manufacturing for the defense department—bullet casings.”
    “That sounds both patriotic and profitable.”
    “It was profitable.” Oliver shrugged. “Some people resent the fact that my family profited from the war. Did Charlotte tell you that?”
    Lillian was surprised at his honesty but found it refreshing. “As a matter of fact, she did.”
    “I thought she might. What else did she tell you about my family?”
    Lillian hesitated. He was daring her. She didn’t know if sheshould go much further, but what did she have to lose? So what if she insulted him? She didn’t care if he liked her or not, so what did it matter?
    “She said your grandfather ran gin boats down from Canada during Prohibition. She told me that was how your family made all their money.”
    “Most of our money, not all of it,” Oliver said. “But there you have it—the complete Warwick family history in a nutshell. I’m the grandson of a bona fide bootlegger. Are you shocked?”
    “I’m not sure yet what to think,” she said slowly. “I will say your background’s more colorful than most people I meet. Was your grandfather ever caught?”
    “Never. He was a clever man, very daring. I’m sure if anyone ever tried to arrest him, he talked his way out of it. He could charm a dog off a meat wagon.”
    Just like you , Lillian nearly said aloud.
    Oliver stared at the entrance, and she turned quickly to see a man entering the diner. He called a greeting to Oliver and walked toward their table. “I thought that it was you, Warwick. I waved from the window but you didn’t see me.”
    “Of course, I didn’t see you. Who would notice your ugly mug when I have a beautiful young woman sitting right in front of me?” Oliver glanced at Lillian. “You’ll have to excuse me for talking like that to this fellow, Lillian. We grew up together.”
    “One of us grew up,” Oliver’s friend added. “The other will remain Cape Light’s own Peter Pan…with a trust fund.”
    “Very funny. He’s a great wit,” Oliver said, looking annoyed at the comment.
    Lillian couldn’t help smiling at the joke.
    “I don’t know how you get all the gorgeous ones, Oliver.” He bent his head toward Lillian. “How do you do? I’m Ezra Elliot.”He extended his hand politely and Lillian shook it. “Doctor Elliot, actually.”
    “Doctor Elliot?” Oliver stared at his friend. “So