“Ha. How about you set up some guidelines, and we’ll just keep going at it until we’re done. No deadlines.” Ashley winked. “It took a while to make the memories. We may as well enjoy stirring them up.”
It was a good idea, because there were too many people to simply herd in the right direction quickly. Jaxi nodded. “This should be fun, not something we dread, so taking our time is important.”
“And if we want everyone to share, we need to let them consider what they want to share. Especially the older stuff.” Laurel was thinking hard. “There are all kinds of random old boxes in the attic at Angel ranch.”
“At the Peter’s place as well,” Ashley agreed.
“I can help go through things. And I’ll get Trevor to write to Uncle Mark and let him know what’s going on.” Becky smiled, her hands resting gently on her belly as she met Jaxi’s gaze. “They keep in touch. I’m so glad.”
The conversation drifted to holiday activities and food, and between the laughter and the occasional burst of crying from the little ones, the house was full of life and happiness.
And a goal. Jaxi soaked in the sensation of family and considered the question herself.
Of her many memories, which was the most important? Something about becoming a part of the Coleman family? About falling in love? It wasn’t as if she could only contribute one thing, but she didn’t want to miss the chance to share a truth that would become a part of the forever history of the clan.
This was going to take time, and she planned to enjoy every minute of it.
4
Christmas letter from Trevor Coleman to Uncle Mark, current day
Considering I write to you about every two weeks, it sure seems there’s a lot to catch up on.
First off—you should admire the Christmas card. Ashley (from the Six Pack side of things) made an entire set using pictures the little kids in the clan drew. I think this one is supposed to be the reindeer pulling Santa’s sled, but my nephew Jay is only two and a half, and apparently any artistic talent he inherited will involve music, not art. Or Jay thinks reindeer and elephants are related, in which case, he drew them very well.
Another holiday adventure since I wrote: you know how the ladies like to take control of our lives? It appears last week we left them alone for too long, and they came up with this wild idea of putting together a Coleman memory book. We’ve been told we all have to contribute.
I guess it’s supposed to be something a little less dry than just a family history and what days who did what, so I’m in favour of it. Especially since Vicki (also Six Pack) has agreed to pony up a few of her recipes that she’s been keeping under lock and key. Good food that’s easy to make? Always a hit in my books.
I wanted to be sure that we get your story as well. It doesn’t have to be much, but whatever you want included. Jaxi and Dare—that’s Blake’s wife and Jesse’s wife, if you don’t have your Coleman playlist with you—volunteered to interview anybody who didn’t want to write stuff up. If you want to do it the easy way, I can get you a phone number.
I suppose I could even help write whatever you want, although I’m not much of a word guy. Becky says the fact I’ve kept writing to you makes her happy, and since you haven’t yet told me that you burn the letters or anything, you’re stuck with me keeping in touch and keeping you up to date.
Which means there are a couple of other things to mention. Becky’s due date is getting closer—sort of. It’s still a few months off, but damn close all the same. I’m scared shitless half the time, and the other half I feel like I’m floating about a foot off the ground. I’m so damn proud, and I barely did anything. She’s feeling good, but the bigger her belly gets, the more I have to fight to keep from picking her up and acting as a bodyguard twenty-four/seven. March can’t get here soon enough as far as I’m concerned. Still can’t believe I’m going to be a daddy.
Last time I wrote I’d mentioned all the Whiskey Creek girls have moved away from Rocky to Heart Falls. Saw them last weekend, and they’re all doing really good. Turns out the sister they found last spring is also going to stick around Heart Falls—Julia got married out of the blue the same day Karen did. Becky was trying to explain something to me about it, but it’s pretty tangled as far as I can tell.
All I know for sure is when the subject of long-lost siblings came up at our family dinner last Monday, my mom told my dad that she was never missing for long enough to produce any additional Moonshine family members, and hell if she thought that he’d had time to go and plant seeds anywhere else.
Dad made some comment about never straying far from her fields, and it was a really awkward dinner conversation, which I think was their goal, because Dad laughed so hard.
Six Pack ranch is hosting the Boxing Day gathering. Swear they’ve got enough people for a full hockey team roster, and that’s without putting skates on all the babies. Although I suppose I shouldn’t throw stones considering how many Moonshine kidlets there will be soon, with more on the way.
My favourite part about the Christmas gathering, other than the food and the bonfire, is the snowball fight. Daniel’s boys are old enough now to make great teammates. It’s funny to have three teenagers wandering with the under-ten-years-old club, but they don’t seem to mind.
Lots of plans for the new year. I’ve been working with the Angel Coleman clan, dreaming up ideas of what to do with the grazing land on your parcel come the spring. Gabe is a good man to work alongside. Rafe as well, but I see him less. He and Laurel have been busy helping Auntie Dana in their spare time. Word is she’s been talking about building a house. Something about setting down new roots for a new year. I guess that makes sense. Rafe and Laurel moved in with her not long after Uncle Ben died. It seems the three of them get along fine, but I know if it were me, after nearly three years, I’d want some privacy.
Anyway, I’ve rambled way more than usual.
Merry Christmas to you, Uncle Mark. I never think about you without getting a smile on my face and a lot of gratefulness in my heart. As always, thank you for being there for Becky. May this coming year give you what you truly desire.
Let me know what you decide about the history stuff. If you ever want to stop in, the door is always open.
Love from Trevor, Becky, and the bun in the oven.
Mark put down the letter and the card and stared into the fireplace.
Thoughts swirled—
Trevor’s letters had felt like a taunt at the beginning, but eventually Mark had faced the truth. Even a little news from home was like air into his lungs, giving him life. Giving him hope.
Flames flickered before his gaze, slightly out of focus. So many memories came to mind. Time with his brothers, time when the SP and Whiskey Creek and Moonshine labels were just being applied to the families.
He’d left before the Angel Colemans had gotten their name—Gabriel followed by Michael was too much for the townsfolk to resist.
So many memories he didn’t have because he couldn’t stand being there watching her—
Temptation called, and Mark gave in, pulling out his wallet and the worn photograph he kept hidden away. Every time he looked at it, he felt slightly wrong. Still, there’d been no stopping his heart from wanting.