A Yuletide Affair. Monica Richardson

Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Chapter 9

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Chapter 17

       Chapter 18

       Chapter 19

       Chapter 20

       Chapter 21

       Chapter 22

       Chapter 23

       Chapter 24

       Chapter 25

       Chapter 26

       Chapter 27

       Chapter 28

       Copyright

Chapter 1

      Alyson Talbot hadn’t planned on spending so much time in the Eleuthera Islands, Bahamas. She loved her family and her childhood home, but it was no place she had intentions of ever living again. In fact, she’d made a perfect home in Miami by purchasing a beautiful condo that overlooked the Miami River. Florida was where she needed to be—it was where she was building her clientele. After leaving a booming real estate company, she’d recently decided to branch out on her own, make a name for herself. Alyson Talbot and Associates wasn’t quite where she wanted it to be, but the business was well on its way to making a statement in the industry. Just last year, she’d earned a decent salary, one that supported her comfortable lifestyle. But she was looking for more than just comfort, and her goal was to double those earnings in the coming year. She was certainly on a good track, and well on her way to accomplishing just that. She vowed to never move back to the islands nor help to run her family’s B and B on Harbour Island.

      Each of her siblings had vowed the same thing—that they would not be moving back to the Bahamas. Her oldest brother, Edward, was too busy working his political career and had ties to the mayor’s office in Florida. Her brother Nate, who lived in Atlanta, was an artist and had no desire to run a B and B. And conversation around him moving back to the islands had always been a sore spot for him. Problems with a former girlfriend had limited his visits to their childhood home. Whitney was busy teaching small children at her Dallas elementary school and had claimed that she would return long-term, but hadn’t. Their youngest brother, Denny, had already begun his tour of duty in the Bahamian military. He was the family’s rebel, had opted out of attending college. Jasmine had been the only one to sacrifice and move back to the island. She had been instrumental in the Grove’s renovation. But now that the family business was up and running, she needed help. Which was why she had turned to her older sister, Alyson. However, for Alyson, moving home was definitely not in the cards.

      What was in the cards was helping to plan her sister’s elaborate Christmas wedding. Without her contribution, Jasmine’s wedding might not be as elegant as it could be. After all, she had connections, and people owed her favors. Not to mention, the Talbots weren’t just an ordinary family anymore. They were more than just a two-parent family with six adult children scattered about the world. As owners of the Grove, the newest and fastest growing beachfront property on the island, the Talbots had quickly been placed in a league of their own. She knew that when the first member of the Talbot clan got married at the Grove, it had to be an event to remember. And it was up to her to make sure that happened—thus, causing her to spend way more time on the islands than she’d ever dreamed she would.

      “Turn around and let me see the back,” she told Jasmine, who modeled her seventh ivory dress.

      It was a Vera Wang, and her sister looked like a model in it. She truly hoped Jasmine liked this one, because she was quickly running out of patience. She’d tentatively scheduled a meeting with an important client—a meeting that had already been postponed twice. She was committed to the wedding, but also had business in Miami.

      “It’s okay, but I don’t get that warm fuzzy feeling about it. Mother said that I would know which dress was the right one. She said it would speak to me.”

      “It’s a Vera Wang. What else would you like for it to say, honey?” Alyson asked. “Not only that, but our mother got married at the justice of the peace some thirty-plus years ago. What does she know about picking the perfect wedding dress?”

      “That’s just rude,” said Jasmine.

      “It’s the truth, Jazzy!”

      “Our mother may not have had the wedding of her dreams, but she definitely married the man of her dreams.”

      “I can’t argue that.”

      Their father, Paul John Talbot, was a man whom both women cherished. Any man that walked into their lives had large shoes to fill.

      “I want the dress to feel special,” Jasmine insisted.

      Her sister could wear almost any dress she wanted to, yet she made the task of finding a dress almost impossible. Jasmine had the perfect figure. Alyson wasn’t nearly as fit as her sister, who worked out on a daily basis. She had to work hard just to maintain her ample figure. And as much as her patience was running thin, she had to keep reminding herself that this was not her wedding. In fact, she had no intentions of ever getting married. Marriage was overrated, and she hadn’t had one single prospect anyway. She’d had her share of trysts and a few relationships that had lasted a month or two, but nothing serious. Her life was just fine the way it was, though.

      “As much as I’d like to spend the day picking out bridal gowns, I think your husband-to-be is expecting us at the Grove pretty soon,” Alyson reminded her sister with a quick glance at her watch. “He wants your input on the Caribbean band that’s auditioning for the reception. I think we should head over there.”

      “Okay, just let me get out of this dress.” Jasmine glanced at herself quickly in the mirror one more time and then grabbed hold of the silk train before stepping down from the platform.

      “No love between you and that gown, huh?” Alyson asked again.

      “Very little.” She grinned and then disappeared into the dressing room.

      Dress shopping with her younger sister was like watching paint dry.

      * * *

      Although it was still early November and Thanksgiving was forthcoming, Christmas had been the focal point at the Grove with Jasmine’s impending wedding. The Clydesdale had already been decorated with gold, red and green lights streamed throughout. In the Grand Room, a huge, fifteen-foot Christmas tree stood tall in the corner of the room, garnished with garland, lights and unique ornaments. It was reminiscent of Alyson’s childhood home in Governor’s Harbour—a place where Christmases were an important part of her life. But more important than Christmas Day was the day after—Boxing Day. Boxing Day was when Junkanoo took place.

      The festive street parade with music, dance and unique costumes was what dinner conversations were made of. Inspired by a different theme every year, it was the focal point of the Christmas holidays and the New Year, and it was the highlight of the year in the Bahamas. It took months to prepare for Junkanoo. There were costumes that needed to be made and feasts that needed to be prepared. When Alyson and