I smile up at her and hold up the jewelry box from Jareds Gallery of Jewelry and say, “Great minds think alike,” and we both laugh. I focus my attention back to the box and open it carefully. I have never received jewelry before. Inside the box is a beautiful gold tie pin. I smile and look at her. She has a smile to match mine. “It’s beautiful. I truly love it.”
“Really?”
“Really, thank you.”
I remove the square tie pin and read the words engraved into it. Forever and Always.
I hand it to her and she puts it on me. “There, now it’s perfect.”
“Angel, thank you.” I kiss her and she wraps her arms around my neck. She opens her mouth for me to enter. I lift her up and she wraps her long tan legs around my waist. I moan and walk her to the edge of the bed.
“Oh, God, Mason.”
She tries to grind against me and I think I will come undone. I begin to lay her on the bed and the doorbell rings. I stop mid air and try to get my bearings. Please go away. I don’t move or say anything. Angel is breathing heavily; I can feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest. When the doorbell stops, I begin to kiss her again and then the doorbell rings again.
I slowly begin to set her on the floor. “Maybe they’ll go away,” she whispers.
“I wish. Get the door. I need a minute or a cold shower or both.” We don’t laugh and she reluctantly walks out the bedroom, closing the door behind her. In one more week, I’ll finally have her. I’m not sure I can wait that long. I look down and my dick is bulging through my dress pants. Think about lacerations, EKG’s, and skin tears or Julia. Yuk, that’ll take care of it. I hear Carl and Josephine first. Then Mom, Dad, Madison, Maria, and Raùl.
I walk out and greet our guests with my biggest smile. Brea, Sara, Donovan, Vincent, and Arturo arrive last. I help Angel set the food out and put some Christmas music on the surround sound. The doorbell chimes and Brea answers it for us.
“I invited Emma and her son, James. I didn’t want them to be alone on Christmas Eve.”
“That is a great idea.” Angel and I get the drinks out on the bar and the doorbell rings again.
“I also invited Alec,” I say, smiling.
“Do you know what this means?”
“Angel, this means nothing. We invited our friends to our home for a Christmas party. That is all it means.” She smiles as she looks out into the living room at our guest.
“Angel?”
“Mason, I have to go mingle.” She smiles and quickly walks away from me.
Angel
I walk away from Mason before he can tell me not to interfere with Emma and Alec. I’m just going to give a little shove if I need to. I have never met her son before, so I am excited to get to know him. I look over and see a little blond hair boy holding on to her leg for dear life.
I walk over to them. Brea and Sara are already talking with them. I pass Alec on the way.
“Hi, Alec, so glad you could make it. Make yourself at home.”
“Here, Angel,” he says, handing me a bottle of wine. “Thank you for inviting me. That was very nice of you.”
I take the wine from him and hug him. “I’m glad you could make it. I really never had a chance to thank you for everything you did for me when I was in the hospital.”
“No thanks needed. I’m just glad it all worked out.” He smiles.
“Well, thank you and thank you for the wine. Mason is setting up the bar if you want to head out there. Do you already know Vincent and Donovan?”
“I do; we are racquetball buddies,” he says, laughing.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. Let me introduce you to my Aunt and Uncle.”
“We already met in the hospital. I’ll go find Mason. Do you want me to take this with me?” he asks, pointing at the gifted bottle of wine.
“Yes, thank you.”
I look over at Emma, who is kneeling down and talking to her son. I go under the Christmas tree and remove a large wrapped gift with James’ name on it. I smile and walk over to where they are standing. They both are still standing near the front doorway.
“I’m so glad you guys made it.” I hug her with one arm.
“I don’t think we can stay long,” she looks down at her leg and the four-year-old holding on to it.
“Let me try something first.”
She nods.
I kneel down so I am eye to eye with James. “Hi, James, I’m Angel.”
“Hi,” he whispers, pushing his head harder against Emma’s leg.
I hold the Thomas the Train-wrapped gift out for him.
“Look what I have for you.” I shake the gift and he looks over.
“This is for James, that’s you.” I shake it again and hold it out for him.
He lets go of his Mom’s leg and takes the oversized gift from me. It’s heavy so I keep ahold of it with him.
“Do you want to open it?”
He nods. I lay the gift on the floor and Emma kneels down with us. James smiles up at his mother. “Look, Momma, a present for me.”
Emma smiles and ruffles his blond hair. “I see it, but what do you say?”
“Thank you, Miss Angel.”
“You’re welcome, buddy.”
James excitedly opens the gift and throws the paper on the floor. He smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen on a child.
“Look, Momma, a train. Miss Angel got me a train like Thomas the Train.”
I smile and say, “I’m glad you like it. Do you want to put it together and play with it?”
“May I?”
I pick up the rest of the wrapping paper and stand. “You may; let me get someone to help you, ok?”
“Thank you, Miss Angel. You’re the best,” James says, hugging my leg. I ruffle his blond hair. Buddy, you are more than welcome. I’ll be right back.” I look over at Emma and ask, “Want a glass of wine?” She nods and starts opening the large train box. “I’ll get someone to help with that. Be back in a minute.”
“Angel?”
I look back and she mouths, “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” I walk into the kitchen with a handful of wrapping paper. After placing it in the trash, I ask Alec, Vincent, and Donovan to help put together a train set. They all walk into the family room and gather in a circle of the floor. I watch Emma introduce everyone to James. Arturo begins to cry and I walk over to the tree and remove his gift from under the tree.
I give the small gift to Brea. “Arturo’s gift.”
“I hope it’s a boob full of milk.” She laughs.
“Brea, shut up.” I laugh. “It’s not and if he’s hungry feed him.”
“Angel, look at my little chunky boy. He has been putting on weight from drinking all that milk — all he wants to do is eat. He likes boobs. Like father, like son.”
Brea opens the gift and shakes the rattle for Arturo. “Look what Auntie Angel got for you,” she says in that baby voice I rarely hear from her. “Do you like it?”
Arturo coos and I smile.
Brea says, “It’s not a boob and yet he still likes it.” We both laugh and Arturo coos again.
I walk around and see that everyone is eating appetizers and drinking. The guys are playing with the train set with James, and Vincent is holding Arturo. Arturo startles when the train whistle blows. I walk over to Mason, who is standing near his Dad.
“Do you think I should put some hand sanitizer out because of the baby?”
“No, he’s fine.”
“I’m worried about all the germs — he’s still so small.”
“He’ll be fine; the germs will actually help build up his immune system. This time next year he’ll be crawling around eating bugs and dirt. He needs to build up his immune system now. After the age of six weeks, it’s good to start allowing babies to be exposed to some germs. No one is sick, so he should be fine.”
I look up at Mason, “Really?”
“I’m afraid so. If Brea and Vincent are lucky, bugs are all he’ll eat.�
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“Um, Mason, we aren’t having any boys. Just so you know.”
“Angel, girls eat bugs, too.”
“Ugh, I better get my kisses in now, while his mouth is still clean.” I smile and walk over to the group on the floor playing with James.
“Look, Miss Angel, look how fast it goes.”
“Wow, James, that is very fast. I’m so glad you like it.”
“Momma said my Daddy loved trains when he was my age. I think he would like this train.”
I look at James and he has a sad look on his face.
“Buddy, I think your Daddy wishes he was here to play with you right now,” I say.
My eyes fill up with tears and I want to say something but I can’t form the words. Emma is hugging her son, and I am amazed at how well they both are adjusting. Emma is 26 and raising a four-year-old son alone.
I walk away and head into our bedroom so I can pull myself together.
Mason follows me in. “What’s wrong?” he asks, walking over to comfort me. He wraps me safely in his arms. I can only shake my head and cry.
“It’s all right.” He kisses the top of my head and leaves his mouth there.
“I love you. I just want you to know that.”
Mason leans his head back and says, “I know that and in one week these will be happy tears.”
“Don’t ever leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mason, promise me you’ll never leave me or our kids. I don’t think I could take it if you left us.”
“Angel,” he says, cupping both his hands on my face. “I’m not leaving you, ever.”
“Ok, I don’t think I can do what Emma does everyday: put a happy face on when your heart is broken.”
“Angel, she does what she has to do for her son. She is a strong and brave woman.”
“She really is.”
“Go dry your tears and put on a happy face. We have a party and kids out there depending on you.”
“Ok, I’ll be out in a few minutes. Will you go play with James for a few minutes?”
“I sure will. See you in a minute.”
Once I am done, I walk out and see Mason and Alec playing with James on the floor. Emma, Sara, and Brea are standing near the bar within seeing distance of James. Josephine, Lilly, and Maria walk over to me.
“Angel, this is a lovely party.” Josephine smiles.
“Thank you, I am so glad you made it. I hope you’re having a nice time.”
“We are having a wonderful time.”
“Do you want to get the food out on the table now?” Maria asks, looking at the food on the counter.
“I think now would be a good time, thank you.” We all carry the food to the table and uncover everything. Lilly places the serving spoons out, and Josephine announces that the food is ready.
Once everyone is standing around the table, Carl asks, “May I say the prayer this evening?”
We gather into a circle and hold hands. I am standing beside Mason when James squeezes in between us. He holds my hand with his small hand. I look down at him and smile before looking over at Mason. I look around the room and everyone is bowing their heads and closing their eyes. James squeezes my hand and I look down at him. He smiles and closes his eyes.
“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us all here together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We pray that you watch over our family and friends and keep them safe. Thank you for the food in front of us and bless those less fortunate. Please help us all to remember the true meaning of this holiday season. In your name we pray, Amen.”
“Amen.”
I open my eyes and look around. James squeezes my hand, and I kneel down to get closer to him.
“Miss Angel, did you know that tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday?”
“I know, that’s why we are all here tonight. To celebrate his birth. We also have a birthday cake for dessert. Do you want to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus after we eat?”
“I am a really good singer. Momma says I sing like an angel,” he smiles, proudly.
“James, are you hungry?” his mother asks.
“Coming, Momma. I got to go. Momma don’t like us to waste food,” he says, darting off to be with Emma.
Mason and I stand at the kitchen island and watch everyone mingle and interact with each other. Sara and Alec seem to be getting along. I’m glad to see that.
“I like this tradition,” Mason says, touching my arm slightly.
I look over at him, “You do.”
“There is no better way to celebrate a holiday than with our friends and family.”
“I agree. This is Aunt Maria’s tradition. She and Raùl started it before I was born. We would all get together on Christmas Eve, all the kids would have one present to open and we would eat, listen to Christmas music, and have a birthday cake for baby Jesus. I missed it the last couple of years because of Jim. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.”
“Well, those days are behind you. From here on out, we will carry on this tradition and many more.”
I lean into Mason and he wraps his arms around me. “I love you, Beauty.”
“I love you, Handsome.”
After everyone eats and we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, everyone begins to leave. Brea, Vincent, and Arturo are the first to go. They want to get the baby to bed so Santa Claus can hurry up and come. Mason and I bought all the families a small gift and we hand them out to them as they leave. Emma and James are next to leave. James gives me a big hug and thanks me. Alec helps Emma load up the train set in Emma’s small car. Alec says his goodbyes before leaving.
I want to stand at the doorway and watch the interaction between Emma and Alec but Mason stands in front of me and closes the door behind him.
“Give them some privacy.” He smiles.
“I was,” I lie.
Madison is next to leave.
Mason, Bruce, Donovan, Carl, and Uncle Raùl light the outdoor fireplace and open a new bottle of Scotch. Aunt Maria, Josephine, Lilly, Sara, and I begin to clean up. Once everything is cleaned up and put away, Lilly opens a new bottle of wine and pours everyone a glass. We turn the music up and join the guys outside on the lanai.
“That was quite a party,” Bruce says, sitting next to Lilly. “Everything was delicious,” he adds.
“Thank you, Bruce. I’m just glad everything turned out,” I smile. Mason sits down beside me and intertwines our fingers together.
“This time next week, it’ll be a whole different kind of party,” Raùl says, refilling his glass.
Mason looks at me and smiles. “I’ll finally marry the love of my life,” he says, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing them. “I’m glad we decided to move the time up. Midnight on New Year’s Eve sounded perfect, but in reality, it’s a little late for a wedding.”
“True, but 6:30 p.m. is a great time. With the time change and it getting dark earlier, this will be a perfect time for a wedding.” Lilly smiles.
“Everything is all finalized. It’s all a waiting game now. I just wish I knew where we were going on our honeymoon so I knew what to pack.”
Mason has taken this week and the next two weeks off from work. The entire office is closed and the employees are thrilled. He said his staff said they have never been off for the holidays before and they are looking forward to spending the holidays at home with their families. Some of his staff flew to be with their families out of state; some are going on cruises while the others are staying home. Mason has arranged with another doctor to be on call for Mason during his time off, and Mason will return the favor sometime during the summer.
Mason
Everyone leaves, and Angel and I unwrap one gift each. Aunt Maria and Uncle Raùl left two presents under the tree before they left. I hold my gift. The card reads “To Mason. From Santa. Please open on Christmas Eve.” I smile, open it, and see a pair of Christmas sleep pants with green elves and a new white tee shirt. Angel’
s gift card reads “To Angel. From Santa. Please open on Christmas Eve.” She opens her gift and sees that it is a new red eyelet nightgown.
“Another tradition?”
“I’m a traditional girl, but I didn’t expect this tonight. They surprised me with these. If you don’t want to wear those, you don’t have to.”
“And break tradition, not on your life.”
While Angel is in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I place all of her Christmas gifts under the tree. I want them to be already under the tree for her in the morning. Just like if Santa had brought them.
She walks out of the restroom with her makeup removed from her face; her hair is in a high ponytail, and she is wearing her Christmas nightgown. She is stunning to look at. I pull the covers back for her to get in. She crawls over the large bed until she is resting in the crook of my arm. She smells like peaches and cinnamon.
I inhale her and she laughs. “You always do that.”
“I know. I used to secretly inhale you, but now I just do it openly. I hope I don’t do it in public. That may creep some people out.”
“I inhale you, too. It’s a very relaxing smell and it always calms me.”
“We are just two creepy people in a pod, aren’t we?” I laugh.
“Yeah, I guess we are. Good night, Mason.”
“Sweet dreams, Beauty.”
The next morning I wake up to the smell of coffee. I already know without looking that Angel is up.
I pull on my shirt and walk out into the living room. The tree is lit, the fireplace is on, and Angel is on the couch covered up with her mother’s quilt. She is holding her cup of coffee and staring at the tree. I don’t think she sees or hears me.
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