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Show - 82 - CHAPTER XIII The first Christmas at Gaven House,for the Standish family, promised to be a festive occasion, if the preparations were any indication. Thanksgiving had come and gone and now all attention was focused on the big family to spend reunion. Athena's seven brothers and sisters had been invited the holiday week with them, arriving from Los Angeles, New York and various communities adjacent to San Francisco. Numerous cousins as well as their grandparents them. would accompany It was always a special occasion when Grandpapa Bravos consented to leave his vineyards nestled amongst the rolling hills of the fertile Napa Valley. For the first time the house was large enough to accommodate the entire.clan. The big dining room table would be laden down with all the holiday foods and delicacies; roast turkey, leg of lamb, baked hams, crabs, lobsters, mince pies, cranberry sauce, not to mention a variety of other savory Greek dishes and pasteries. The living room would be lit up and the furniture polished until it shone. The enormous fir tree that had been Jim always brought home at this time of the year,placed on a pedestal in the foyer and decorated with colored lights and the beautiful ornaments that had been in the family for many years. Originally, a Bravos had carried they them over from Europe and were treasured keepsakes. Garlands strung around the fireplace and the handrail of the graceful staircase in the entrance hall gave forth a smell of pine that greeted the guests as they arrived. Large wreaths with bright red bows graced the two front doors and the old pine tree on the front lawn glowed with red lights. Penny knew that, with all the hustle and bustle going on, Claudine would not appear, but she felt that the ghost was watching everything that was going on very closely. As a matter of habit, she continually looked for the girl who once lived in the old mansion. Christmas morning dawned crisp and clear. All of the family arose early to attend church. Jim drove the girls and their mother in the |
