Yuletide Bride

by Danielle Lee Zwissler

“Have you not heard a word I said?” Mary replied. James could see her pulse hammering at her neck.

  “I heard you, but I really want to see you. Come on…you have all weekend and all of next week.”

  Mary looked at him and smiled. “Okay. But you better share some of that pie.”

  James took his fork and sliced a piece. “Deal.”

  ****

  The movie was a great idea and they had a fun time sitting in the dollar theater with a bunch of kids. Of all the movies to choose from, they chose a children’s film about a princess. It was ridiculous and Mary couldn’t help laughing through most of it. James did, too. Halfway through the film, James grabbed ahold of Mary’s hand and held it firmly, stroking it with his thumb.

  Mary sighed and kept her gaze forward, but she could feel his eyes on her. What is he doing? This is a kid’s movie, Mary thought with a smile.

  “You do remember where we are, James?” she whispered. She could see from the corner of her eye that he smiled.

  “Yes. Would it be different if we were somewhere else?”

  The question was innocent enough, but Mary could see the playfulness in his gaze.

  “Maybe.”

  “Want to get out of here?”

  Mary felt her throat tighten. “I…”

  “Come to my place tonight?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why?” James asked, as he rubbed her hand.

  “Because…we’re not…”

  James smiled as he looked at her. “You’re blushing.”

  Mary looked down and then away to her left.

  “I promise we’ll go slow,” James said softly. Mary’s head turned slightly and she swallowed. She looked nervous. “Are you…”

  “Yes,” she said, swallowing. She let out a gust of air and she pretended to pick lint off her sweater.

  James’s hand moved up to take her chin in his palm. “Look at me,” he whispered.

  Mary looked up. “Come home with me, Mary.”

  Mary knew what he meant and she wanted to, but she’d promised her father a long time ago that she would wait until the time felt right and the right man came along. She wanted James more than she had ever wanted anyone before, but she wouldn’t just hop into bed with him. She believed in marriage and, even though she’d been cynical lately, she used to believe in happily-ever-after. “I can’t.”

  James nodded and looked deep into Mary’s eyes. “Okay. I’m falling for you, Mary. You know that don’t you?”

  Mary couldn’t have spoken if she’d wanted to. She could feel tears stream down her face as his hand caressed her skin. “I think I’m in love with you.”

  Mary gasped and leaned her head into him. “Don’t you want to say something to me?” James asked quietly.

  “I’m not ready.”

  “Well when you’re ready, you’ll know. Until then, please, don’t shut me out.”

  Mary nodded, relishing the feel of his arms around her. She didn’t think she could ever get enough of him. She never thought the whole fairy tale thing could happen to her. Just as she started to speak, a kid behind them cleared his throat.

  Mary giggled and she could hear the laughter in James’s chest. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said, as he tickled her side.

  “Okay,” Mary agreed.

  Chapter Five

  Since the night at the movies, Mary and James had been practically inseparable, other than the hours that they worked. Mary felt amazed at how well they got along, and she found herself falling in love with him even more. He was kind, loving and great with children. The day after the movie, they picked out a Christmas tree for her apartment and later that night they decorated it with popcorn, berries and ornaments they’d purchased at the store. Mary couldn’t remember a time when she’d had so much fun.

  It was hard to believe that they’d only known each other for a few weeks. If she believed in Christmas miracles, she would tell everyone about her own with James.

  ****

  “I am just now getting out of work, but I really want to see you tonight,” James said, on the phone to Mary as he walked out of the law office to his car. It was cold, but the sun was out. “I thought we could go ice skating.”

  “Ice skating? Are you trying to kill me so close to Christmas?”

  James chuckled. “No…I just know when a damsel’s in distress, I’m there for her. Besides…I’m not that great at ice skating, either.”

  “So, any damsel will do? I’m sure you can find one there,” Mary joked back.

  James laughed. “Not just any damsel. Do I detect some jealousy?”

  “Hold on a second, okay?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “I just got my purse out of my cubicle and my friend’s here. Hold up!”

  Mary laughed and then spoke to her friend. “Hey, Sara. What’s up?”

  “Oh, I just want to know if you have the article about the festival finished yet.”

  “Just about. I have the Jamesons to interview tomorrow night. I’m working on something really good. I think you will be shocked.”

  Sara looked worried. “I thought you were over that. I mean, you are dating James, right?”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that I want to give up the article. I still intend to expose that sham. I mean really, who believes that you can pick out the perfect person—from a festival jar… and for them to all have been people that dated before? Come on! You really believe in that?”

  Sara took a deep breath and sighed. “Yeah, I mean, well, I did. Don’t you think what you’re doing is sort of worse than exposing Santa?”

  “What, you mean, Santa isn’t real? All that BS about a man going all over the world in one night delivering millions of gifts? You mean you don’t believe in that, but you believe in the magic paper jar?”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t work on you, Mary. Besides, isn’t it the season for miracles?”

  “Miracles are for losers.”

  “Wow. James will need a chainsaw to break through all that ice.”

  Mary winced. She’d forgotten James on the phone. She held the phone up to her ear and with a raised finger indicated to Sara that she needed a second. “James?”

  “Yes?” James answered sharply.

  “You heard all of that, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Still want to go ice skating?”

  Mary didn’t hear anything for a while, and then she heard him sigh. “I’ll change your mind, Mary, I know I will.”

  Mary let out her breath, grateful that he was still on speaking terms with her. “Does that mean we are still on for tonight?”

  She didn’t want to sound desperate, but she really enjoyed herself with James and she wasn’t ready for it all to end. She should just give up the article, but she felt very strongly about it and couldn’t seem to give in.

  “Yes. I’ll pick you up at your place in an hour.”

  “See you then,” Mary said, but she had the feeling that James already hung up.

  James picked her up an hour later in front of her house. She felt nervous and excited at the same time. She’d missed him; actually missed him. It was the first time in her adult life that she ever missed a guy that she was dating. And they were dating, which was a miracle in itself.

  “Don’t you look cute in your pink snow pants?” James said, smiling. “I forgive you.”

  “Oh yeah? I should be offended, but I’ll take it.” Mary laughed and stood on her tiptoes to kiss James on his cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Mmm. So, where are we going skating?”

  “I thought I’d take you somewhere special. I don’t want you to be mad, though.”

  Mary looked skeptical. “Why would I be mad?”

  “Well, I was thinking…” James said, nervously, holding onto her hands. “Here, let’s get in the car and warm you up.”

  “Why are you stalling?” Mary asked, taking his proffered hand and letting him
guide her to the front passenger seat.

  “I’m not. I just don’t want you to be cold.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Ice skating.”

  “James, I know we are going ice skating, but what I want to know is where are we going?”

  “I told you, somewhere special.”

  “So, we aren’t going downtown?”

  “Nope.”

  “A hint, maybe?”

  Mary grinned, but James acted funny, as though he didn’t want to tell her anything—like he was afraid that she may get mad. And then, he locked the doors and pulled out of her driveway.

  “I’m not going to escape,” Mary said, trying to figure out what was happening. The only thing she could think of was one of those Unsolved Mysteries where the girl gets in the car and never gets out.

  “I’m…my…we’re…”

  “It’s okay, James,” Mary prodded, placing her hand on his.

  “We’re going to my parents.”

  Mary didn’t see that one coming. “Your parents?”

  “I want them to meet you, and they are going away for the New Year.”

  “I don’t see why I am meeting them now, though. I could wait until after.”

  “I don’t want to wait any longer. I’ve been talking about you with them, and my mom is anxious to meet you. Actually, my dad is, too. Grandma has been talking about you a lot as well.”

  “Your grandmother? What has she told you?”

  “Nothing to me, she just told my mom and dad about you, and then I was talking about you. Well, the family wants to meet you.”

  Mary felt nervous. “The family?”

  “Not…well, my sister and my mom and dad. Of course my grandparents will be there, and my niece and nephew.”

  “What?” Mary panicked. “Would you look at me, James? I look like a pink stay puff!”

  “You look beautiful. Besides I really do plan to go ice skating with you.”

  She felt even more terrified. “But, James, I really did mean it when I talked to you earlier—I can’t skate. I fall more than I am up on the ice. I’ve been known to pull down children.”

  James laughed. “You don’t have to worry about anything. They will all love you.”

  “James, I don’t think I’m ready for this. I’ve never met parents before—you know what I mean.”

  James smiled. “I’m glad. You will be just fine. All you have to do is walk into a room, Mary. Your smile will do the rest.”

  Mary smiled like a lunatic. “Not that smile,” James said, laughing. “Practice another one.”

  Mary made another one that was equally scary. “Not that one either. How about you just walk in with no expression at all.”

  Mary nodded and stayed silent the rest of the way to his parents’ home on Brookmire Road.

  When they arrived at James’s parents’ home, Mary took a deep breath in order to calm her nerves. And then she saw all the eyes on her. They stood in the front window watching her and James get out of the car. “Are you sure about this, James?”

  James chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about, honey. Listen, my mom is a very nice woman. I’ve never noticed any problems with her meeting anyone.”

  “So she does this often?”

  “Not women I date, but the partners at my office, yeah.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve never told her my undying love for them before, but she did like Brent.”

  Mary couldn’t help herself; she laughed. “I always thought Brent was a little weird.” Brent was one of three people in the law office. He didn’t have a wife or children or any prospects either. But he did have a huge collection of Star Wars memorabilia in his office, complete with an X Wing Fighter on his desk made of paperclips and office supplies.

  “Eh, he’s harmless. He likes you, though.”

  “Aw, that’s sweet,” Mary said, thinking of how he described her likeness to Leia, even though she was blonde and certainly not voluptuous.

  James laughed and grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s see if the sharks are biting today.”

  “Very funny.”

  The door opened and the family spilled out of the living room and onto the front porch. Greetings were made, hugs were given, and photo books were thrust into hands. It was a fun time at the Rochester home, and Mary could tell that there was a lot of love in the household.

  “Uncle James, are you going to marry her?” Little Jessica asked as she jumped on his lap, her curly blonde hair in pigtails.

  James smiled and looked at Mary. “Yep.”

  Mary felt stunned. Her heart thumped in her chest and she froze in place.

  “Mary, I hear you are writing the Magic of Christmas article?” James’s mom asked.

  Mary turned, cutting off James’s eye contact. “Yes, ma’am, I am. I’m nearly finished with it.”

  “Oh, how did the interviewing go? I talked to Christine the other day, and she said that you helped her out with something.”

  Mary was surprised Christine talked so candidly about it.

  “What was that?” James asked, interrupting Mary.

  “Oh, she said that she…well, I can’t really say, she didn’t go into it, other than she said it was a close call and that Mary helped her with something. She said Mary’s a good person.”

  Mary looked down at the floor.

  “So, you ready to go ice skating, James?” Mary asked, hoping to change the subject into a more comfortable one.

  “Yeah!” James’s nephew and niece chorused.

  James smiled. “Kids, stay away from Mary, she likes to bowl over children.”

  Mary’s eyes widened and James laughed. “What?”

  “I didn’t tell you what happens to adults on the ice with me.”

  Chapter Six

  “I had a great time tonight, James,” Mary said at her door. James walked her up the drive and she’d stopped him there. “Thank you for taking me. You have a lovely family.”

  “They like you, too. I’m glad you had a great time.”

  “I did.”

  James leaned forward and pressed his lips to Mary’s. Mary closed her eyes and opened her mouth; the kiss deepened and James groaned. “Can I come in?”

  “I want you to, James, believe me, I do.”

  “But?”

  “But it’s not right.”

  James looked down at his shoes and controlled his breathing. “Do you want a husband?” he asked softly, and then he looked up into her eyes. Mary’s were barely open, hooded. Her breath caught and he could feel her tremble.

  “Wh-what?”

  “Do you want a husband?”

  “Well, I…”

  “Because if you do, then I would love to be that particular guy for you.”

  Mary’s lip trembled and she stood there, her hands held by his and watched him as he spoke.

  “I’ve always wondered why I wasn’t married yet, why I wasn’t completely happy with my life, and then I go to my grandparent’s retirement home and there you are, putting your makeup on in your car.”

  Mary gasped and then laughed. “You saw that?”

  “I saw,” James said. A few tears escaped Mary’s eyes and James caught them on his finger. “You were adorable. Sexy. You looked at me and I winked at you. You turned around. It was so cute, and at the time I didn’t think much of it, other than I probably would never see you again. Because that was how my life was, Mary, before you. Before you, I was busy all the time with work, always seeing unhappy couples, always seeing dreams end way too early. But since I met you, I’ve seen beauty…love…fate.”

  Mary looked up at the word fate and grimaced.

  “So, how ’bout it?”

  “How ’bout it?”

  “You, me—all of that?”

  Mary laughed. “You’re serious?”

  “Definitely.”

  “But, it’s too soon,” she protested

  “Not nearly soon en
ough for me,” James replied, feeling confident with his choice. He looked at Mary. He could tell that she wanted to say yes and that was more than enough for him.

  “I…”

  Give me your answer by Friday. I have a few things that can’t wait—workwise—so I won’t be able to see you the next few nights. But, I’ll try to call. You can tell me Friday before the last committee meeting.”

  Mary smiled and nodded. James pulled her to him once more and grasped her tightly. “I love you, Mary.”

  Mary closed her eyes and smiled, but no words came out.

  The next day was hectic. Mary had her interview with the mayor and his wife later that afternoon, a slew of paperwork to prepare and the rest of the article to finish. She also needed to finish her speech for the committee meeting and then meet James afterwards. And she couldn’t stop thinking about James’s proposal. She’d ever wanted to say yes so badly in her life, but she also worried that he would bully her into changing her mind about the article. She didn’t want that, either. So, she gathered up her notes and headed to the Jameson’s for her meeting and last interview.

  “So, Mrs. Jameson, why did you put your name in the jar?” Mary asked as she watched the woman smile and look over to her husband. Mary always thought the relationship between the two was more friends than lovers, but seeing them both in the room tonight was clearly an eye-opener.

  “Well, I’d always put my name in, you see. I was always a big dreamer, and If I say so myself, very romantic.”

  Roy laughed and grabbed his wife’s hand. Roy Jameson had been the mayor of Noel for more than eighteen years. He was the longest running mayor there since the late nineties when Mayor Ronald Perrish resigned. “She’s not lying, either. My Layla has always been romantic.”

  Mary smiled, maybe because of her romance with James, but she felt the love in the air as well. She thought of James and smiled dreamily.

  “You look like a woman in love,” Layla said to her.

  Mary started then focused on her paper once more.

  “I thought we were talking about how romantic you were, Mrs. Jameson?”

  “There is nothing more romantic than a love story, Miss Simms. And I do love one. I have read romance my entire adult life and when I met my own personal hero, I didn’t want to let him go. I never intended on letting him go,” she said, meaningfully.