His For Christmas (5 page)

“Exactly. This is for me as much as it is for
them. Do you know how lonely Christmas is for an only child with
every holiday movie showing lots of family fun? So yeah, I’m very
excited to spend Christmas with your nieces.”

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her
cheek. “You’ll never be lonely again, sweetheart. The
Wheaton/Grayson clan will embrace you and surround you with so much
noise and chaos, you may long for solitude and peace again.”

“Never.”

He squeezed her tight then grabbed a sweater
box to wrap. “By the way, Joe’s coming this year.”

“Yeah?”

“This is his first Christmas without any
family since his aunt died this year.”

“That’s right. She was nice. She liked craft
shows, didn’t she?”

“Yeah.”

“Poor Joe.”

While Josh Groban sang Christmas songs to
them, they wrapped a Ripstik for Alex, a Barbie scooter for Esme
and a retro skateboard for Janie. This year was all about the
wheels from Uncle Derek. Anabelle had bought an assortment of
clothes and accessories as well as age appropriate toys.

“I saw my mom today.” Anabelle ripped tape
off the dispenser.

“How was it?”

“A little strange. I can tell she’s trying
but it’s still odd. She didn’t ask about the wedding even though I
flashed my ring like Beyonce’s Single Ladies.”

Derek chuckled. “I’d have liked to see that.
Did you dance with splits, sashay and hair toss?”

“Practically, but I got back zilch in terms
of reaction.” Anabelle sighed. “Maybe she’ll come around.”

“Hmmm. Give her time. You’re her only
daughter, she’ll come around.”

“You think so?”

He nodded. “Positive.”

“Maybe. Stranger things have happened. Did
you know she actually smiled at Gladys Perkins?”

He laughed because he was aware of the
rivalry between the two. “Did she say anything?”

“I’m pretty sure they had a conversation but
I was in shock and don’t hear the details but I did catch the tail
end of a lunch invitation.” She shook her head. “It’s official now.
Hell has frozen over.”

“Maybe it’s because she’s hot and heavy with
Ethan’s dad.”

“She doesn’t say much about it but he must
have a hard on for a challenge because I can’t imagine she’s the
least bit easy.”

“Will she be okay with you spending Christmas
Eve with my family?”

“She’ll be fine. She has a group of friends
that spend the day together. I usually spend the holidays with
Charlie and her family so it’s fine. She won’t miss me.”

“Okay.”

She finished the last of the packages and
piled the gaily wrapped presents under the tree.

“I love our tree.”

“I do, too.” They’d gone to the corner lot
for their tree. The twinkling lights were a merry addition to their
loft.

He no longer thought of the loft as his. It
was theirs.

After she stacked the wrapping paper and
supplies on the coffee table, she snuggled next to him on the sofa.
They listened to Josh’s rendition of Silent Night and watched the
lights flicker and dance. A feeling of peace and happiness filled
him, the stress of the last couple of days disappeared with her in
his arms.

He brushed a kiss against her hair.
“Happy?”

She nodded and snuggled into his arms. She
rubbed his thigh with her fingertips. After a few strokes, it
became problematic because even with ‘Ave Maria’ on, instead of
feeling properly full of peace, he felt more horny than anything
else.

Higher and higher she went and if she didn’t
stop soon, she’d find his present to her.

“Umm…sweetheart?” He wanted to be romantic
and in the holiday spirit but his flesh was weak in her proximity.
For the love of all that was holy…he was only a man.

“Yes?”

He cleared his throat. “You may want to stop
that.”

“Stop what?”

“You know…that stroking.”

She turned to face him, her eyes wide with
mischief. “Why, Derek, does that bother you?”

“A little.” He shrugged. “I’m trying to be
good here. Can’t have you thinking I lack self-control if I fall on
you like ravening beast every chance I get.”

“Oh sugar, you can fall on me whenever you
want.” She climbed on his lap to face him. “In fact, I pretty much
love it.”

He exhaled with a relieved grin and held her
hips to his so she could feel how excited he was in her presence.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and touched her forehead
to his.

“I’m a lucky bastard, then.”

“Yes, you are.”

Their first several kisses were light, a
playful salutation of gratefulness for their blessings, but that
didn’t last long. He leaned for a deeper taste, but she pulled
back.

“Did you write a letter to Santa?” Her grin
was naughty.

“Nope. No need.”

“Why not?”

“He already gave me my present.”

“And what was it?”

He shook his head. “Not what.” He pulled her
close and kissed her forehead. “Who.” He kissed her left cheek.
“You, Anabelle.” Her right cheek, a kiss. “You’re all I ever
wanted.” He kissed her cute nose. “And pretty soon, you’ll
officially be mine.”

Her smile squeezed his heart. She might not
be aware of just how soon, but he hoped she loved her surprise. He
couldn’t wait to make her his and for the next few moments while
Josh sang about heavenly delights, Derek had his own worshipful
moment at the altar of Anabelle.

“Want to play dress up, Aunt Anabelle.”

Anabelle started at the unfamiliar form of
address.

“It’s okay, isn’t it? To call you Aunt?”

Anabelle swallowed the lump that had swelled
in her throat. “Of course, sweetie. I’d love it. I never thought
I’d be an aunt and now I’m going to be an aunt to three.”

Esme threw her warm body into Anabelle’s arms
and she held the sweet girl tight. Alex wrapped an arm around
Anabelle in comfort and pushed her glasses up her button nose.
“Speaking for the squirt here, we’re pretty happy to have you as
our new aunt.”

“I’m not a squirt,” Esme shot back with a
pout.

Alex shrugged. “So, how about it? Wanna play
dress up with us?”

“I probably need to help the adults prep
dinner downstairs.”

“Nah. Mommy said it’s all under control but
she needs
you
to keep
us
out of the way.” Alex
shrugged her small shoulders as if the very thought that they could
get into trouble was unbelievable.

“Okay, then. What are we dressing up as?”

“We’re playing wedding but first we need to
put on makeup.”

The next hour Anabelle showed them how she
applied makeup and applied a light touch of makeup to their faces
as well, nothing in the realm of ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ but
enough.

“I look pretty,” Esme said, smiling into the
mirror.

“You’re not supposed to say that about
yourself,” Alex said, although she maneuvered for a better spot in
front of the mirror for a look as well.

“Hey girls, what are you up to?”

“Aunt Dani! Aunt Anabelle is playing dress up
with us. Like my makeup?” Esme tilted her head and struck a model
pose.

“Sheesh, where did you learn to pose like
that?”

Alex shrugged. “Not from me. Must be from
Janie.”

“Janie did what?” Janie, all long limbs and
preteen attitude, popped her head in the room and stood next to
Dani.

“Taught Esme how to strike a pose.” Alex
pantomimed the three quarter turn and hollow clavicle slouch
complete with the pouty lips.

Janie rolled her eyes. “Yep. Totally me.”

“Give me a second,” Dani said. “I’ve got some
vintage dresses we can try on.”

Esme and Alex went to their closet and pulled
out beautiful ivory colored dresses.

“These are your dress up clothes?”

“Nope. They’re from a photo shoot Mommy had
done of us.”

“Very pretty.”

The girls changed into the dresses and took
turns twirling in front of the mirror.

“Here, I found these dresses at an estate
sale I went to with Derek.”

“Wow. These are gorgeous.” Anabelle fingered
the fine beading on the bodice.

“Try it on.”

It was too beautiful to resist and she didn’t
waste time getting into the magical concoction while Dani tried on
the knee length swing dress.

“Anabelle…you look like a bride.” Esme
beamed.

Anabelle looked at her reflection and had to
agree, it was gorgeous. “The dress fits perfectly.”

“Just what I thought.”

She started at the sound of her mom’s voice
and turned towards the open door. “What are you doing here?”

“Girls, a little privacy please.”

Dani and the girls quickly cleared the room.
Claire closed the door behind them, holding what looked to be a
shoebox.

Silence ensued as Claire surveyed Anabelle
from head to toe then handed her the box. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you but what’s going on? Why are you
here?”

“I was invited.” She waved toward the box.
“Open it.”

“Oh.” It was sweet of Derek to invite her
mother to Christmas Eve dinner but why hadn’t he mentioned it?

“A mother can’t really miss her daughter’s
wedding, can she?” She opened the box and held out her mom’s
beautiful Vera Wang shoes. Anabelle’s inner slut drooled at the
jeweled work of art, she almost missed her mom’s question.

“I’m sorry? What did you say?”

“Your young man and his family and friends
have worked hard this past week to put together a Christmas
wedding.”

“What?”

With weak knees, Anabelle sat at the kid’s
craft table where makeup from their experimentation was
scattered.

“I assume he’s in a great hurry to make
things official. Should I expect a grandchild in the near
future.”

“Not yet, mother. He knows I hated the stress
of wedding planning.” She shuddered.

“Why you worry is beyond me. I would have
taken care of all the planning and all you’d have done was show up
like the last time.”

“Yes, but you had a grueling schedule and way
too many people at the wedding. It felt unreal and so unlike me. My
dream wedding is quiet and intimate with a few family and friends.
It would have been too simple for you and you would have hated
planning it.”

“Hmph. Do you plan to stay in this room all
night or are you going downstairs to attend your own wedding?”

Anabelle slipped on the stunning shoes then
followed her mom out of the room. “Thanks for coming.”

Claire gave a curt nod. “Your young man is
pleasant enough
and
he’s very talented.”

Anabelle raised an eyebrow. Claire wasn’t
normally generous with praise. “Yes, he is.”

No one was downstairs so she followed her
mother out the back door but didn’t see anyone outside either.

“Where is everyone?”

“Hush and follow me.”

They followed a mulch trail to the barn where
warm lights glowed from within. Anabelle caught a whisper of an
acoustical guitar rendition of ‘Greensleeves’.

“The barn?”

“It’s not any old barn you’ll soon see.”
Claire knocked on the door and turned to Anabelle. She tucked a
stray hair back behind Anabelle’s ear. Claire pulled off her blue
topaz earrings and handed them to Anabelle. “Here. Something blue.
The dress is your old item and the shoes are on loan, but we need
something new.”

One of her mom’s floral friends, Mikael
opened the door. “Congratulations, Anabelle. These are for
you.”

He handed her a bouquet of creamy white
roses, red berries and Christmas greenery.

“Thank you.” She beamed at him then turned to
her mother. “My underwear is new.” She’d bought the set as a
Christmas present for Derek to unwrap later. The look her mother
sent her made her blush.

“Then you’re set. Ready?”

Anabelle nodded and Mikael swung the door
open. Anabelle gasped at the transformation. Lanterns and candle
filled mason jars at different levels. Evergreen boughs, red
berries and pinecones had been strung in garlands and hung from
beams. On an elevated podium in front of the small gathering, Joe
played Christmas music on his acoustical guitar. The smell of
Christmas filled the air.

“It’s beautiful…and so romantic.”

“Glad you like it because I designed it.” She
flicked her hair and gave Anabelle a challenging look.

“You?”

“Don’t act so surprised, missy. I can do
simple. I can do rustic.”

“Yes, she can.” Charlie said, joining them.
She held Esme by the hand and whispered to Anabelle. “You
ready.”

She nodded and they turned to the makeshift
aisle lined with candle lit mason jars. On cue, Joe segued into
Pachelbel’s Canon in D minor. Charlie walked down the aisle with
Esme following behind at a slower pace as she dropped rose petals
in her wake.

Ethan stood at the end of the aisle with a
book, looking more serious than she’d ever seen him. “What’s he
doing up there?”

“Didn’t you know? Dear Ethan is an ordained
minister?”

“Of course he is.” Ethan was her mom’s
favorite child except for the fact he wasn’t Claire’s biological
child. The two of them had adopted one another. Fitting considered
Claire was in the midst of a special “friendship” with Ethan’s
father, Tomas.

Anabelle forgot all about Ethan because in
that moment, Derek stepped forward and claimed her full attention.
He stood tall and strong, his dark hair gleamed in the dim lights,
his dimpled smile beckoned and simply put, he looked too handsome
for words. Emotion hit her hard, made her eyes well with tears. She
shuddered, on the verge of bawling with happiness.

“None of that now.” Claire scolded although
her eyes had a glassy appearance as well.

Anabelle took a deep breath and released it.
Arm in arm with the mother with whom she’d finally found a
connection, she walked towards the man who taught her unconditional
love existed.