The Christmas Party
Chapter 1: 'Tis the Season

The morning of December 22, Nika Akino is rushing to get ready for the annual Christmas party given by her husband Craig for his family and friends. Craig believes he should provide his bunch with a bit of cheer to make up for the awful year he has put them through. At the home of the Akino’s the day starts like any other day with the exception of Nika frantically calling to Brumbly, the family butler, to check on one thing or another.
Brumbly works quietly in the kitchen as he prepares the morning meal. Toast, ham and eggs scrambled with white wine and smoked Gouda cheese to add a special flavor. He works silently as he moves from the island to the cabinets removing a single dish, filling it with fresh fruit, meticulously placing it on the silver serving tray and returning to retrieve yet another dish. He turns to the refrigerator and opens it. He carefully places six eggs into a waiting bowl on the counter.
He glances out the window to watch a robin nestled in the tree that faces the courtyard. Nika can be heard rustling about in the neighboring dining room. “Brumbly, did you check the delivery time of the caterer?” “Yes, madam,” as he returns to his work, he breaks the eggs in the bowl, discarding the shells. He turns to an opened bottle of white wine and mixes it with the eggs and cheese and pours the mixture into a waiting heated skillet. He puts a bit of ham aside for his beloved pet Sneakers. He wipes his hands and places another plate on the tray.
Brumbly moves through the kitchen into the dining room, he slides open the patio door which looks out to the open green pasture, with wildflowers sprouting here and there. As he walks to the patio, he closes the door behind him and arranges the dinette set for breakfast. He reaches over the black rod iron fence, removes a pair of scissors from his jacket pocket and clips two beautiful flowers from their stems. He returns to the kitchen, fills a vase with water, clips the ends of the flowers and places them inside the vase. His silent morning is quickly interrupted when Nika enters the kitchen. “Brumbly, we must go over the guest list one more time and decide where all the guests will sit tomorrow evening.”
“Yes, madam, I will be ready for that shortly. Would you like coffee this morning?”
“Tea will be fine, I hardly have time for that…” Nika walked quickly through the kitchen into the dining room and out onto the deck.
Although she seemed at times harsh, Nika was one of Brumbly’s best friends. She often sat with him late at night, the two talked about their families and how they were getting on. Nika appreciated Brumbly and treated him as a member of the family and made sure that the rest of her family did the same. However, Craig treated Brumbly like he treated everyone else… rude. He seemed to go out of his way to remind Brumbly that he was just the butler. Brumbly only stayed in the house because of his fondness for Nika. As Brumbly took the breakfast he had prepared to the patio, Nika was sitting in her favorite chair and looking over a list of tasks she had created to prepare for the party. “Here’s your breakfast, will Mr. Akino be joining you this morning?”
Nika replied in a sarcastic tone, “I suppose at some point, at the moment he’s working on his speech for the troops.”
Not even looking up from her list Nika continued to speak as Brumbly placed the food on the table. “I don’t know why he bothers, it’s his conscience I guess, but if he was so worried about what people thought about him, why be so mean in the first place.” Nika looked up and winked at Brumbly who gave a slight smirk while he continued to put plates on the table.
The sound of Craig rehearsing his speech filled the air as he entered the room reading his speech aloud. “Good morning Craig, how’s that speech coming anyway?” Craig kissed Nika on the forehead and sat in the chair across from her, he didn’t answer the question. Brumbly finished setting the food on the table and returned to the kitchen leaving Craig looking over his speech and Nika looking over her list.
Craig looked over the food and placed a napkin in his lap, “What a lovely morning, don’t you think, I heard it was going to rain tomorrow though.” Nika looked up from her list, placed it face down on the table and began to spoon the eggs onto her plate. “Well, I hope it doesn’t get too bad, I’ve worked hard on this party.”
Craig sipped his coffee and began to make notes on his speech, he looked at Nika and asked, “Do you think we’ll hear from Troy tomorrow?” Nika replied, “Well, after that last bout with the police and your unwillingness to help him, I can’t say I’ll be looking for him.”
Craig sighed, “He had it coming, he has to learn that I won’t bail him out of trouble every time he gets a wild hair.”
Nika reached for her cup, “I don’t know, sometimes I think you’re too mean to people, you must try to get along. I mean, I know he got himself into this, but it was probably not our place to make him stay in that awful jail.”
Craig only shrugged his shoulders, just then Brumbly returned, “Sir, you’ll be late for work, I’ll pull the car around.”
Without even a thank you, Craig got up from the table, still never really making eye contact with Brumbly, he walked toward Nika.
“Goodbye dear, have a good day.”
Nika sighed and returned to her meal. The sound of a car driving away filled the yard as Brumbly returned. He sat down and dipped some eggs onto a fresh plate. “I really think I did a good job on the breakfast this morning, I tried adding white wine to the eggs, I saw it on a cooking show, my they’re delicious.” He seemed pleased with himself as he ate the eggs.
Shortly after breakfast while Brumbly was cleaning the kitchen, Nika walked in and prepared to go over the list of invitees, she sat down at the kitchen table. “Brumbly, lets take a minute to discuss this list. Craig asked if Troy would be attending this year, I haven’t heard from him, but you know Troy, he wouldn’t call anyway. Let’s see, now there’s Jennifer Groves, I wonder if she will bring that attractive professor she’s been seeing, what’s his name again?” Brumbly was looking out the window, checking on the robin he had observed earlier, and he replied, “Jean Pierre, … Mas… Gas…, Caston, that’s it, Jean Pierre Caston. I thought they were dating too, but I understand they’re just good friends.” Nika was busily studying her list. Brumbly wondered if she’d heard a word he’d said.
Nika checked off Jennifer Groves name and moved down the list, “Alright, then there’s of course Linda and her husband Paul, Linda said, she wouldn’t miss this for the world. She so enjoys watching Craig humble himself before his employees.” Brumbly looked over at Nika, “I remember Paul, why didn’t he make it to the party last year?” Brumbly asked as he placed the once dirty dishes now clean, back into the cabinet.
Nika still pondering her list answered, “He was on one of his archaeological digs, where was it… Cairo.” Brumbly moaned in agreement as he moved from the kitchen sink, past the island to the waiting china cabinet placing dish after dish beyond the glass casing.
Nika looked up from the list, “Ah, let’s not forget James Akers and his wife Pamela … um… I just realized, we’ll have almost all couples tomorrow night, won’t that be nice, it makes seating easier than I thought it would.”
As Nika called out names, Brumbly took a seat at the small table next to Nika in the kitchen. He used it often to make out bills or shopping lists. “Excuse me, but I need to run to the market to pick up a few more things for tomorrow night, is there anything you want while I’m out?” he asked.
Nika, still looking over the list replied, “No, I can’t think of anything.”
Brumbly rose from the table, “Did you get everything you needed yesterday?”
Nika looked up quickly from her list, and with a furrow in her brow replied, “What do you mean, I wasn’t at the market yesterday?”
Brumbly, putting on his jacket seemed unconcerned as he replied, “Hmmm, I thought I saw you come out when I was walking by the market yesterday afternoon.”
Nika stood up and quickly collected her list and pen, “You must have been mistaken, why would I be in the market, you do all the shopping for this family.” Without waiting for a reply, she rapidly left the kitchen. “See you later, I’m going to check on...” Her voice slowly dissolved as she practically ran up the staircase.
That afternoon, Brumbly was busy putting away groceries in the kitchen while Nika was moving from room to room on the lower level of their three-story home. She was carefully checking each room to make sure they were in perfect condition just in case a guest wandered beyond the designated areas. She looked down the hall and saw the door to Craig’s study ajar. She headed straight for the door to close it. Just as she reached the door it opened and Brumbly was coming out of the room. He was obviously startled by her presence. Nika was startled as well, she had wondered about this room for a long time. “What were you doing in there?” Surprised by the question Brumbly replied, “I was just tidying things up in there. I don’t often get the opportunity since Craig spends so much time in there. I thought I would just check things out before tomorrow night while I have a chance.” Nika, still startled replied, “I see, it’s just like Craig to hole up in there until the guests arrive tomorrow night.”
Craig’s study was at the end of a long hall on the first level of the Akino home. Craig spent hours there. All four walls were loaded with books on oak shelves. In the center was a large carpet, one that Craig had on the floor of his dorm room in college. The carpet was red and blue plaid, Nika hated it, which is why it was perfectly placed on the floor of Craig’s study. There were two large picture windows on opposite sides of the room. The largest window faced the courtyard. Craig’s desk was turned so that he could look outside while he worked. On one side of the room there was a large brown chair and in front of the chair, an oak coffee table with burns where Craig had left cigars burning from time to time. Both Nika and Brumbly wondered what went on when Craig was in the study because he kept the door closed at all times and more recently he had begun to keep the door locked. Curious, Nika asked Brumbly how he got in the room. “I thought Craig had the only key?” she inquired. Brumbly looked down at the floor as if embarrassed to answer he replied, “Actually Nika I have a master key to every room in the house remember? I go into to Craig’s study every now and then to clean. I don’t think he minds, he’s never said anything to me about it before and I know he’s aware of it and he knows that I have a key. Excuse me, I’ve got to get back to my work.”
Nika was jealous to hear that Brumbly had access to this room where she was not allowed, and somewhat angry. She only motioned her head in understanding as she continued to check the rooms for tidiness. The two worked along side each other in silence while each prepared for the upcoming festivities. After about an hour Nika and Brumbly were working side by side in the kitchen, Brumbly was polishing silver and Nika was again checking another list when she addressed Brumbly. “The caterer (Brumbly’s brother Andrew) arrives at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, will you be ready?” “Yes indeed, I haven’t seen Andrew in a while, he’s been so busy, I’m actually looking forward to it. Andrew is doing most of the cooking himself tomorrow, I’m just working on the serving and cleaning,” Brumbly replied.
Nika, reaching for her purse told Brumbly she was going out for a while, “I’ve got to run some errands Brumbly. I’ll be back this afternoon.”
It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon and the sound of Craig’s car could be heard as he pulled into the driveway. Craig parked the car in the driveway for Brumbly to put away and began to walk up the long, cobble stone walkway and entered the house. “Nika, I’m home, are you here?”
Brumbly entered the room and replied, “She’s still out; she went into town to run some errands.” Reaching for the newspaper, which Brumbly placed daily on the mantle in the den, Craig moved to take a seat. “Did you pick up my tuxedo for tomorrow night Brumbly?”
“Yes, I did, it’s hanging in your closet for you.” Craig purposefully not looking directly at Brumbly and without even a thank you walked down the hall to the door of his study. Craig, removing a key from his coat pocket, unlocked the door and briefly addressed Brumbly. “Call me when Nika returns,” and closed the door behind him.
Moments later Nika came through the front door. “Brumbly, she questioned, I left my car in the drive, would you get the packages out for me and bring them inside?”
Brumbly walked to the hall closet and removed his coat, putting it on he looked over at Nika and said, “Craig is home, he’s in the study, he wanted me to let him know when you returned.”
Seeking the opportunity to enter the study Nika quickly responded, “Oh, don’t worry I’ll tell him I’m here.” Nika hurried down the hall toward the study and knocked at the door. “Craig, darling you’re home early, is everything alright?”
The door opened, Craig stepped out and closed the door behind him. Nika quickly glanced inside for a glimpse of the private room. “Did you know that Brumbly was cleaning this room from time to time?” she asked Craig.
“Of course I knew, he replied, he is the butler isn’t he?”
Nika smiled and said, “I just meant you keep this room such a secret, I was surprised you let anyone in, especially to clean.”
Craig lit his pipe as he closed the door to the study, “Nika, I have no secrets in this room.” Nika followed him, “Well, maybe I can join you sometime, we can talk or something.” Craig, obviously annoyed replied, “Nika, this is my place for peace and quiet, I only go in there to think and work on things without disturbance.”
Nika, equally annoyed passed Craig in the hall as she went upstairs into the bedroom.
Later on that evening, Brumbly was busy in the kitchen working on dinner. He called to the Akino’s to inform them that he would be setting dinner on the dining room table shortly.
Nika and Craig walked in silence into the dining room. It was Craig who broke the stillness when he came in looking for Brumbly. “Did you pick-up my tuxedo, and are we all set for tomorrow? Dinner sure smells good what are we having?” Craig pulled Nika’s chair out from the table for her in an attempt to lighten the mood. Nika sat down and eyed the meal that Brumbly had placed before them.
“I’ve prepared lamb chops with and broccoli and buttered red potatoes.”
“Sounds lovely, Nika are you excited about tomorrow night?” Craig asked.
Nika realized she and Craig would not reach a decision about the study anytime soon, so she decided to enjoy the meal and her evening. “I’ll let this privacy thing go for now Craig, but we will discuss it later.”
Craig seemed surprised by Nika’s comment about the study but he smiled and began to place food onto his plate.
“You asked if everything was alright for tomorrow and we are all ready, each room has been checked and rechecked. Brumbly’s brother Andrew is the caterer again and they have been working on the plans for the evening, everything should come off without a hitch.” Craig finishing off a bite of the lamb took a sip of his tea and said, “Oh yeah, my mother will join us tomorrow night will you ask Jonathan to pick her up on his way home from school?”
Nika was obviously disappointed. Craig was the definition of a “mother’s boy” he was truly devoted to his mother who didn’t like Nika at all. The only reason she was even somewhat civil was because of Jonathan. Craig’s mother had tried to break up their marriage but she hadn’t succeeded yet. Although the Akino’s lived more than 200 miles from Craig’s mother, Nika knew it was just a matter of time before Craig’s mother destroyed her home. She had a hard time hiding her overwhelming disappointment when she responded to Craig.
“I haven’t seen Jonathan all day, he must have stayed after classes with his friends, …mmmm… Eunice will be joining us, huh? Has she agreed to be civil?”
Craig looked up from his plate, “as long as we’ve been married I would think you and my mother would have figured out how to get along. She will only be in the city for a few days and then she’s going back home, the party is the only time she can spend with us while she is here.”
“Fine, that’s more than enough.”
Craig had a furrow in is brow, “Is there a problem with my mother coming to the party?” “No, I’ll just have to make some adjustments, that’s all… isn’t this lamb tender?” Craig’s thoughts quickly returned to his meal, Brumbly had indeed prepared a delicious dinner.
Nika’s concerns were genuine however. Craig had allowed his mother to run his life and the issue was an ongoing battle for Nika and Craig. Unfortunately, Craig didn’t realize that he had begun to ignore Nika and didn’t see the damage his relationship with his mother had created in his marriage. His mother, however, was quite aware and often pursued the rift while Nika struggled to maintain her once happy home.
Later that evening as Nika and Craig prepared for bed, their only son Jonathan knocked at the door before he entered his parents’ bedroom. “Mom, Dad, I just wanted to say goodnight, I’ll be in late tomorrow but in time for the big party.” “Good Jonathan, James Akers will be here tomorrow night, he wants to talk to you about the company, maybe you can work for us this summer.” Craig Akino and James Akers had built the Akino Corporation from the ground up. The two were successful stockbrokers who decided to go into business. Actually, Craig decided to go into business on his own and eventually brought James Akers in after about two years, the team has been working together ever since. However, Jonathan wasn’t quite interested in following in his father’s footsteps. After learning about Craig’s plans for him to join the family business, Jonathan relied on his mother to keep the peace between him and his father. Learning that James Akers would be at the Christmas party looking for Jonathan, he looked to his mother for some assistance.
“Craig, Jonathan may not want to talk to James about the business, he does have other interests you know. Have you written anything lately Jonathan?” Nika’s attempt to change the subject failed when Craig rose from his chair and in a sarcastic voice said, “Well, if you are smart you’ll start learning more about the company, I don’t know what you intend to live on after graduation if you continue with this writing nonsense.” Craig went into the master bathroom and closed the door behind him. “I’m really tired of him throwing that no inheritance for you junk in my face every time I mention writing instead of the dreaded family business.”
“I know Jonathan, it’s just that you’re his only son…”
“I’m your only son too Mother, AND, I have my own life!” Taking a deep breath, Jonathan turned toward the bedroom door then turned back to his mother, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’ll deal with this, don’t worry, Dad and I will work this out somehow.”
Hearing Jonathan leave the bedroom, Craig emerged from the master bathroom. “Craig, Jonathan is a good writer, you should read some of his articles.”
“Nika, I have read them and yes, my son is a very good writer, but that’s not what I want him to do for the rest of his life. I did not work my fingers to the bone to leave the company to Acker’s family.” With a heavy sigh Nika responded, “James works as hard as you do and he deserves the same rights you have. He just may want his children to inherit his half of the company as much as you want it for Jonathan. If Jonathan doesn’t want to run the company then James should have a chance at it.” “Hmmm, once Jonathan learns that the cruel world is even harder without money, he’ll come to his senses.”
“Craig, you know you don’t mean that… it’s just…”
Craig turned to Nika, “I’m tired, no more arguing tonight.”
“Fine, but we have to discuss this soon, I don’t think you realize the pressure you’re putting on Jonathan.”
Craig just rolled his eyes and got into bed… but Nika’s concern was apparent.