BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 6 August 2025 –WRITING WEDNESDAY – DOUBLE DOUBLE WHO’S IN TROUBLE – CHRISTMAS AT PAIGE AND JORDAN’S

BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 6 August 2025 –WRITING WEDNESDAY – DOUBLE DOUBLE WHO’S IN TROUBLE – CHRISTMAS AT PAIGE AND JORDAN’S

WRITING WEDNESDAY – DOUBLE DOUBLE WHO’S IN TROUBLE – CHRISTMAS AT PAIGE AND JORDAN’S

 

 

* cover reveal Friday 5 September

 

 

CHRISTMAS AT PAIGE AND JORDAN’S

      Paige was a planner. And by planner, I mean OCD planner. She had lists and schedules, checklists and timetables.

      That’s why we were able to sit at Mi Cuppa for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve when we were hosting Christmas dinner in twenty-four hours. Everything, and I mean everything, was prepped and ready to pop in the oven. Jeremy had offered to cook the ham—he was turning into some master chef or something, and I gotta say, my brother got skills. Meanwhile, we—and by we, I mean Paige—had mac-n-cheese put together and ready to bake. There were green beans, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole, and mashed potatoes. She had made a strawberry and pretzel salad, and made the fluffiest dinner rolls you’ll ever taste. She even made her own honey butter.

      So all we had to do on Christmas morning was open our gifts and wait for guests to arrive. Well, and put things in the oven at the right time. Which, of course, was all laid out on her timetable. I mean, the table was already set, even.

      We had been plundering through the basement back in August and discovered some treasures that Mrs. Hall had left behind. She had told us she was taking all she needed, everything that was precious to her, and that she considered anything left behind was part and parcel with the house itself.

      So it was pretty amazing to uncover the massive dining table. And when I say massive, I mean this thing can seat twelve people. The chairs were hanging from the joists, all in decent shape. Only one had a cracked leg, but Jeff said he could fix that.

      Since it was August when we discovered this particular treasure, we decided to clean it up and refinish it before moving it upstairs to the dining room. Now, I know what you’re thinking, ventilation. ‘Cause, yeah, working with those chemicals can be toxic. But there was enough of a slope on the lot that there were windows and an exit from the basement directly outside. And you can be sure we had all those windows open when we were working. Plus, we had top grade respirator masks.

      When Mere saw it, she said it was burled cherry wood, whatever that means. All I knew was it was beautiful. There was scroll work on what she called the apron, and fancy filigree work on the chair backs. The seat cushions weren’t in the best shape but Mere said she knew someone who could redo them for us.

      When I say it was massive, I mean, heavy. It was solid wood, not just a cheap veneer over MDF or something. Instead of four legs at the corners, it had two giant pedestals, which had scroll work that matched the apron. I mean, this thing was amazing. And now it was ours! I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of something I’ve owned in my life.

      When we got that table situated in the dining room, it was like new. Refinished and stained and polished to a glossy shine. We bought a large deep maroon carpet to go under it. Paige said we couldn’t cover it up with a tablecloth but she did set an oversized placemat—at least that’s what it looked like to me—in the center.

      “I never thought my flower arranging class would ever pay off.” She laughed as she arranged some huge flowers in one of the crockery flower vases we got as a wedding gift from Jeff and Sara.

      Even with this huge table, we had to bring the kitchen dinette table out and set up a folding table we borrowed from the church.

      I knew that there was usually a pretty good crowd at the Elliott family get togethers, but we weren’t prepared for that. I mean, we could have made room. But we were still newlyweds after all. And besides, Paige was still dealing with trauma.

      Still, we ended up with twenty adults and twelve kids, counting two babies. A pretty good crowd by most standards, but compared to the Elliotts, it was a small gathering.

      “I’ve come to help.” Carrying a veggie tray, Mom was first to arrive. She set it on the island with the other appetizers. “But it looks like everything’s under control.”

      “Paige planned everything down to the last bite.” I took Mom’s coat. “Jody ain’t got nothing on her.” Jody was Mere’s best friend, and had her own event planning business. I directed my mother to the living room to put her feet up; it was only 2:00 and she deserved to be pampered. I brought her a cuppa hot cocoa. Made from scratch, of course.

      A rush of cold air swooshed in, bringing welcome relief to the oh-so-hot kitchen.

      “Happy Christmas!” An older but strong voice boomed into the house. “Hush, They’re family and family don’t knock.”

      Gigi, Mere and Bethy’s grandma, burst into the dining room, where Paige was placing a vase of fall flowers. Beverly and Todd trailed behind her.

      “Take a paper crown.”

      “It’s a British tradition.”

      “My mother has an affinity for all things British.” Bev explained.

      I adjusted the blue paper Gigi had smashed onto my head and gave her a hug.

      “Uncle Jord-Jord!” Cora launched her tiny self into my arms almost before I realized she had come in the house. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.

      “The girl does adore her uncle.” Paige gave me a sweet wink and headed for the kitchen, adjusting her yellow crown as she went.

      “Once upon a time, I was the one she adored.” Brooke slipped out of her blue quilted jacket and shook off the stray snowflakes.

      “Once upon a time it was you and Nattie coming in with us.” Jere delivered the ham to the kitchen and set it on the island where Paige had a place designated.

      Wade, gentleman that he is, took Brooke’s jacket and hung it on the coat tree Claire and Alex had gifted us. “Wade Parker.” The young man extended his hand.

      “Jordan Jernigan.” I had to give it to him, the guy had a firm handshake, and in my book that spoke well of a man.

      Gigi, of course, had parked her spry old self by the front door, slapping paper hats on everyone who came through the door. “How about a princess crown for a sweet little princess?” She held out a purple paper crown to Madi, who squealed with delight, then popped a pink paper crown on Cora’s wispy red curls.

      Natalie and Gilbert clomped snow from their shoes before stepping into the house—and being crowned with a paper crown.

      “What can I do to help?” Natalie asked, joining Beverly and Paige in the kitchen. Turning to Beverly, who had joined the preparations, she said, “Bethy and Zach were pulling in behind us.”

      Watching this extended family that I had become part of from the back of the front hall, I could see as Beverly swiped her hands on the apron she was wearing and dashed back to the front door.

      Zach carried Ragan, and Beverly cooed over her newest grandbaby, taking him from his mother. Bethy dashed back out into the light flurry of snow to retrieve the pound cake and peppermint bark she had made. Todd, her dad, tagged along to tote the baby accessories for her.

      We shifted to the family room to enjoy eggnog and hot cocoa while we waited for the others to arrive. Mom had come early to help but Paige and I told her we had everything covered and insisted she take it easy. She had always been the one to keep our little family together, to keep traditions alive, and to give us the best and biggest Christmas she could manage. Even when Jere and I were mixed up with the, uh, wrong crowd. I figured it was her turn to take it easy for a change.

      Diane and Murph arrived just as the snow started coming down really good. Ellen, who was eleven, carried a covered platter of Christmas cookies, boasting that she and her mom had made them. They delivered the cookies and another platter with brownies, and joined us in the family room. She was a bit shy, especially around a large group, double especially around people she didn’t really know.

      “Hi! I’m Madi.” Madi sidled up to Ellen. For a kid who had spent the first five years of her life in a group home, she sure was a happy, well-balanced child. So bubbly and happy, she could put anybody at ease, in this case, Ellen.

      Meanwhile, three-year-old Mary and six-year-old Cora paired off, poking at the pretty presents under the tree.

      “Let’s get this party started!” Drew had lived in the U.S. for twenty years but his accent was still as Aussie as it was the day he got here. “Where is everybody?” He burst into the family room like the party that he was, a very pregnant Mandy waddling along next to him.

      I cut a quick glance at Mere but she was holding steady.

      Paige hopped up, offering Mandy her seat but Mandy whispered that she needed to pee first. “I swear, this baby’s favorite place is right on top of my bladder.”

      I loved the noise and commotion of all the hugs and greetings between family and friends, and thanked God for the millionth time that I got to be a part of it. Our meager mound of Christmas gifts grew to an impressive heap with each person who arrived. Mostly for the kids who would be here today, but a good many for us, too.

      “Who else are we waiting for?” Murph, our cousin, munched on a Christmas variation of Chex mix, powdered sugar drifting into his beard and onto the floor.

      “Jeff and Sara, for starters.” I said as Paige mentally went through our guest list.

      “Moe and Sophi aren’t here yet, either.”

      “Rai and Clive are in England with his parents.” Bethy explained her best friend’s absence.

      Even as we spoke, Jeff and Sara blasted through the door, right along with an icy blast of wind. Moe and Sophi were right behind them.

      “Aren’t Claire and Alex coming?”

      “They decided to spend Christmas and New Year’s in New York.” Paige wiped her hands on her apron. “They want to see the ball drop at midnight.”

      “What about Jody and Brett?” Brooke asked. “I thought they were coming.”

      “They’re in North Carolina with her family.” Mere was disappointed that her best friend wasn’t here for support. “She’s also checking out the inn at Mercy Mountain for events.” Jody was an event planner.

      “Mercy Mountain would be amazing at Christmas.”

      “It is.” Diane said. “We went skiing there a couple of years ago.”

      “Skiing? Really?” Ellen turned puppy dog eyes to her dad.

      “Maybe next year, Kitten.”

      “What about spending Christmas at Mercy Mountain?” Sophi asked. “Like, a family reunion, with everybody.”

      “Do you know how much goes into planning something like that?”

      “It can’t be that hard…” Diane paused. “If we start now, though, we could pull it off.”

      Ever in planning mode, both Paige and Bethy whipped out pen and paper and started making notes.

      “I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’m starving.” Jere roared above the commotion over Christmas at Mercy Mountain Inn. “I mean, a man’s gotta eat.”

      “Gus and Brenda aren’t here yet.”

      “Gus and Brenda will be here when Gus and Brenda get here.” I got up to start herding people toward the dining room, thankful that Paige had thought to put name cards at each place. “Gus told me ages ago that Mexicans go by their own timetable. If I told him dinner was at 2:00, he’d be here by now. Maybe.”

      “What time did you tell him?”

      “Three.”

      As if on cue, Gus and Brenda’s oldest boy, Emilio, burst in, declaring that, “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” Brenda carried their younger boy, Roli, bundled against the unusual weather.

      “Mamá insisted you have flan for Christmas.” Gus set the dish in a rogue vacant spot on the counter.

      Paige’s OCD planning paid off. The dinner was a tremendous success. The ham was the best I’d ever tasted—I hadn’t realized my brother had become such an amazing cook. Or my wife, for that matter. Her mac-n-cheese was a mac-n-cheese lover’s dream, oodles of cheese but not gooey, and baked with just the right amount of crispy on top.

      “Minnie taught me—she was our cook and maid. When Mother wasn’t watching, I’d sneak into the kitchen and spend the afternoon with her. I preferred that to the piano and ballet lessons that Claire loved so much."

      “Well, my love, it paid off big time.” I pulled her into a hug and gave her a generous kiss.

      “I loved today,” she said, nestling into the hug. “I mean, we’ve spent time with your friends and family before. But this was different. This was here, in our home. Today it really felt like family to me.”

      “They are family, Honey.”

      “Well, yeah, I know they are.” Tears glistened on her eyelashes. “But today I felt it. Like, in my heart and soul. Our family wasn’t like that growing up. We were… Mother was always so formal. We had to dress up for dinner. Had to be dressed before breakfast, even. We weren’t allowed to come downstairs in our pajamas. Like, ever. Not even on Christmas morning. Not during summer vacation. Not ever.”

      I had no words. There were no words. I couldn’t imagine.

      Maverick jumped up on the couch and nuzzled his way onto Paige’s lap. Well, as much as a border collie can get in the lap of a petite woman.

      He was my baby, my love before Paige. And he was the sweetest, most tender dog a man can have. He always knew when I was upset or struggling. And in this moment, he knew Paige was all up in her feels, as they say.

      “You can come downstairs in your PJ’s any time you want to, my love.” And we cuddled on the couch, watching the snow drift down in the starry night.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”

 

My stories are deep and dark, my characters raw and real, with a healthy helping of hope and joy, humor and laughter, and abiding and sustaining faith.

My characters struggle in some way for their identity. Their stories are their journey to know who God created them to be.

There is also a strong element of friends, family, and faith in all my stories, and the difference it makes to have such a support system.

 

 

·       unsavory heritage series—seven generations, from Cissy to Connie, each with their own secrets, one of which is ugly and unsavory, and initiates the curse they all bear

·       Seasons series—four friends, each one struggling to know the truth of just what happened when one of them plunged into the depths of the black waters of the Edisto River

·       FourSquare – Four stories about four couples who also happen to be four sets of twins.

 

 

“Maybe you have to know the darkness to truly appreciate the light.”—Madeline L’Engle

 

“There is freedom waiting for you on the breezes of the sky. And you ask, What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” —Erin Hanson

 

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