Hi Dad. The train gets in around noon tomorrow. Do you think we could go to that Italian restaurant I love? I don’t know how you’re feeling, but Robbie said that with everyone coming up for Christmas, she didn’t want you and Mom to have to worry about cooking. What time is everyone getting in? I’m really excited and I have a big surprise for everyone. Don’t try and get it out of me, but it’s bigger than a breadbox, it has nothing to do with my dissertation, and I think you are going to be very very very pleased. At least I hope you will be and I have my fingers crossed. Merry Christmas, Dad, and I love you! Rachel
Subject: Re: The Lear Family—Brace Yourself
From: Flynn <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
[email protected] wrote:
Dude, are you certain you want to unveil yourself at Christmas? Do you know the murder and suicide rate is the highest at that time of year and our father is famous for going off at family gatherings? I’m not saying he will kill you or anything, at least I don’t think so, and you never know what Grandpa might do, but they could make it really, really . . . hard. Okay, all right, if that’s what you want to do, just consider yourself forewarned. Robin, Rachel’s extremely protective big sister, but whose other sister Rebecca said I needed to lay off because she talked to you on the phone and you seem like a really great guy. You better be, that’s all I have to say!
Dear Robin, please let me put your mind at ease. I am a pleasant sort and I have excellent table manners, thanks to my mum, who had dreams of marrying me off to Diana Spencer’s cousin. Unfortunately, that dream ended tragically when it turned out that the Diana Spencer to whom the young girl was cousined was not, in fact, that Diana Spencer. And lest you think I am the lamb being driven to slaughter, Rachel has told me all about her father, warts and all, as they say, and, well, to be a bit blunt . . . about you, as well, which has inspired me to practice a bit of kung fu should the need arise. I look forward to making your esteemed acquaintance and that of the entire family, whom I hope to call my own one day. Yours, Flynn Oliver
Epilogue
An unusually cold north wind was whipping across the Texas landscape with such force that Rachel, Rebecca, and Robin were the first to be driven inside the ranch house at Blue Cross.
“Perfect. Just perfect,” Robin groused as she tried to straighten the short, knee-length black skirt she wore. “Is this an omen, or what?”
“Stop it, Robbie. Don’t start getting all weird on us,” Rebecca said, trying to comb her shoulder-length hair with her fingers.
“You have me confused with Rachel. She’s the one with all the weird stuff,” Robin reminded her, and pointed at Rachel, who was peering out the front windows at the long drive leading down to the ranch house from the main road.
“Yeah, but I don’t believe in omens,” Rachel said. “And besides, we’re supposed to be thinking positively. Chi, remember? Positive energy flow.”
“I got some energy flow for you,” Robin muttered.
“Here comes Flynn,” Rebecca said.
The front door banged open and Flynn jumped inside, then struggled against the wind to push the door shut behind him. “Rather nasty out, isn’t it?” he said, dragging his hands through his hair as he looked around. “Do you think we might kip a pint of lager before we begin?”
“Flynn!” they all cried at once.
“Sorry!” he said, holding up a hand. “But it has been a rather trying day all in all, what with the weather.” He sighed, and was suddenly bumped in the back as the door flew open and Jake, Matt, and Grandpa crowded into the front entry.
“I never seen a blue norther this blue,” Grandpa said, shaking his head. “Don’t know why we all had to troop down to that silly pond in the first place. Anyone with a lick of sense would have known to do it all right here, right by the fire.”
“It was my idea. This is a disaster!” Rebecca insisted.
“It’s all right, Rebecca,” Matt said. “You did the best you could under the circumstance. I don’t think anyone can fault your event planning when the weather is this bad.”
“That’s right,” Robin adamantly agreed, shaking her fingers through her hair as Jake tried to fix the collar of her coat. “It’s freezing out there.”
“So Flynn, this is your first time to Blue Cross, eh?” Grandpa asked. “What do you think of the place?”
“Brilliant,” Flynn said, looking around admiringly at the richly appointed ranch house.
“When you finish up that school you’re in, you ought to have your green card. You could come down here and hire on, huh?”