“One week from today, we’ll be getting married.” I smile and I lift her up and kiss her again.
“Mr. and Mrs. Myles,” she smiles.
“I wish it was tonight.”
“Me, too.” I set her down and she straightens my tie. “Do you have a pin for your tie? It keeps moving to the side.”
“No, I don’t have one. It’s because it’s a new tie and it’s still stiff.”
“No tie pins, huh? Hold on.” Angel walks over to her dresser and pulls out a small red gift with a white ribbon and bow.
“Here, an early gift.”
“Another tradition?”
“I can’t help it. I’m an old-fashioned girl.” She smiles.
I walk over to my nightstand and pull out a gift wrapped in gold paper with a red bow. Walking over to her, I can’t help but smile. I hand her the small gift and say, “You first.”
She places the gift she is holding on top of the bed and takes the one I am holding.
“Mason, I already know without looking at it that it is too much.”
“Just open it.”
Angel carefully removes the wrapper revealing a Jareds jewelry box. She looks up from the box to me. I nod towards the box. She carefully removes the lid and stares at the diamond and gold necklace and matching earrings in the box. I just watch her. She doesn’t say anything but gently runs her fingers over them.
“Here, let me,” I say, reaching for the jewelry box. She still doesn’t say anything but just stares at the necklace. I remove the diamond and gold necklace and hold it out for her to see.
“That is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.” She looks at me with tears in her eyes.
“Turn around, Beauty.”
She does. She always does what I ask. She knows I would never hurt her or put her in harm’s way. I fasten the necklace and she automatically touches it. I walk her to the full-length mirror for her to see. Her tears are streaming down her flawless face.
“It’s beautiful, you shouldn’t have.”
“Angel, it doesn’t even compare to your beauty,” I say, wiping the tears from her cheek. “You’re messing up your makeup,” I lie.
She laughs and sniffles. “Please give me my present now,” I say.
“I almost don’t want to give it to you.”
I clear my throat and hold my hand out for my gift.
She laughs and walks over to the bed to get it. “All right, but don’t laugh.”
“Never.” I smile and carefully remove the red wrapper. I don’t say it, but it has been a while since I have been excited about receiving a Christmas gift. Julia would buy me thoughtless gifts such as an expensive but ugly glow-in-the-dark garden gnome that I donated to Goodwill but told her was stolen. She also once gave me a certificate for a colonic. Christmas was always about me gifting to her. The worst gift she ever gave me was … naw, I don’t want to think about it, but when she gave it to me I thought about making her Valentine’s Day gift a mop. The second-worst Christmas present she ever got me was a book titled The Idiot’s Guide for Dummies to Teach Them How to Please a Woman in Bed. Yeah, Julia was the type of girl who would bring as gifts diapers to a virgin’s bridal shower or a sex manual to a 100-year-old man’s birthday party. Julia liked for me to buy her really expensive perfume, but if she wants to smell really good she should rub onions and garlic behind her ears — only one thing smells better than Italian food, and that is Angel.
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 Trai
n-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.”
“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.”
&nbs
p; “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.”
Destined to Love (Starting Over Trilogy Book 3) Page 16