“Just remember, these are Chris’s parents, not yours. Use your gentle side, Blackie,” George suggested.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have them eating out of my hands in no time.”
“And that’s what I’m worried about,” George quipped.
Can We Talk? – Chris Blackstone-Livingston, and Robert & Elizabeth Blackstone, Melinda Blackstone-Livingston, Norma Shelby
Finally, a week before Christmas, I was able to set up a Skype meeting with the Blackstones. Norma and Melinda were spending the day together, Christmas shopping, and I asked Kate to take a break and let me use the office computer. As she left, I shut and locked the door behind her. I didn’t want anything distracting me during this call. I sat down at the computer and practiced one more time what I wanted to say to them, but it didn’t even convince me. I said a silent prayer under my breath and then clicked on the video call button.
The camera was live, but the Blackstones weren’t in the picture. “Hello?”
Elizabeth, Melinda’s mother, walked in and sat down in front of the computer, followed by Robert, Melinda’s father.
“Christine. There you are,” Elizabeth said.
“Elizabeth. Robert. Thank you for agreeing to speak with me,” I said stiffly.
“Of course, Christine,” Elizabeth said. “Is Melinda all right?”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s out shopping with Norma right now, and making arrangements for our special Christmas Day, which is why I wanted to talk with you.”
“Yes, I believe George mentioned that we were invited to attend, but unfortunately, as Melinda already knows, we will be out of the country on Christmas Day,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes. She knows that, but I was wondering, since you can’t come on Christmas Day, maybe you’d be able to come the Sunday after Christmas? My parents and some of our friends will be there as well.”
Robert shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we couldn’t possibly.”
“You have to understand, this is her first Christmas as a married woman and she wants to share it with you.”
“No offense, Chris,” Robert inserted. “But my daughter never saw fit to come home for Christmas when we asked her, so I seriously doubt she’s surprised that we are busy now.”
“So it’s a competition then?” I blurted out. Temper! Keep your temper!
“What? No, it most certainly is not,” Elizabeth retorted.
I took a cleansing breath. “As I said, and as you have already witnessed, Melinda is trying to change. She’s trying so hard to be a responsible adult. The mere fact that she agreed to work for you, Robert, should have convinced you of that.”
Robert shook his head. “Yes, we are very proud of her, but as I said, we have plans already. Perhaps next year.”
“I understand that you go to Switzerland a couple of times a year.” Time to play hard ball before he seriously pisses me off. “May I ask what is so important that keeps you from showing your daughter how much you love her?”
Elizabeth gasped and I knew I was finally getting through to her. Robert scowled, and I knew he was getting angry.
“Now you listen here,” he growled. “We will not sit here and be ridiculed. We love our daughter, and we shouldn’t have to prove it.”
Damn it! Brick walls are softer than he is. “Yes, you would think so. Well, I’m sorry you won’t be able to attend, but don’t worry, my parents love Melinda, too, and will be happy to fill in for you.”
“Such impudence!” Robert exclaimed.
“Damn right. When it comes to my wife, I’m impudent. I’m overprotective, and I’m fearless. But Melinda would never forgive me if I begged, so I’ll let it go and wish you both a Merry Christmas.”
“Wait. Did Melinda ask you to call us?” Robert asked.
“No, and I certainly won’t tell her that I did. It would hurt her too much. Thank you for making time for me. I won’t bother you again.”
“Um, Merry Christmas to you also, Chris. And tell Melinda Merry Christmas as well,” Elizabeth said.
“Of course,” I replied, clicking off the camera. Son of a bitch!
“We’re home!” Melinda called from the vestibule.
I quickly composed myself and hurried to the foyer. Melinda was loaded down with gifts, so much so that I couldn’t see her face. “Here, let me help,” I offered, taking Norma’s bags from her.
“Hey, what about me?” Melinda asked.
“I’ll help you, Madame,” Charlotte offered as she entered from the kitchen.
“Thanks. These all go upstairs to Norma’s room,” Melinda said as she handed Charlotte the bags and went back outside.
It looked like Norma was blushing. “Melinda insisted on buying a few extra gifts for my great-grandchildren.”
Melinda returned riding on a two-wheel, self-balancing electric scooter and carrying another one. “I wanted to get the kids three-wheelers, but Norma thought that would be too dangerous so I compromised. I’ve got two more in the SUV for Konani’s grandkids. I thought Santa could leave them for them on Christmas morning.”
“You are too cute,” I laughed.
Melinda jumped off the scooter and almost fell into my arms. I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to me. “I want you so bad right now,” I whispered in her ear.
Without taking her eyes off of mine, she handed Charlotte the other scooter and grabbed my hand. Melinda is always ready for sex, no matter what she is doing or where she is at. That’s one of the things I love and appreciate most about her. We ran upstairs and into our room. Undressing quickly, we embraced naked under the mistletoe.
“Oh, baby,” Melinda gasped. “I love the way you can read my mine and know exactly what I need.”
I ran my hand up her abdomen, across her ribs and under her breasts. “And I love the way you always need the same thing.”
She laughed and kissed me with such vigor that I had to catch my breath. She held up her index finger. “Hold that thought one second.” She said and ran over to the door, locked it and pulled a chair up against it.
Can We Talk? – Melinda Blackstone-Livingston, and Carl & Felicia Livingston
It was the Friday before Christmas and all through the house, every creature was stirring, especially my spouse. We were having a big luau next week for the house staff and their families, so Chris was on the phone renting a stage and finding a Hawaiian band. Norma and her family would be there as well as George, and our employees. With all the activities we have going on next week, I haven’t had time to get Chris’s present yet, so I told her that I was going shopping, alone.
“Remember, we’re not exchanging gifts this year.” She walked over to me and pulled a sheet of paper from her jeans pocket and handed it to me. “But I knew you’d forget so I made a list that I want you to promise to stick too, okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed, glad she relented because I really wanted to give her something.
“Good. Get me everything on this list and there will be a little something under the mistletoe tonight.”
I unfolded the sheet of paper and read it. My heart skipped a beat. The only thing on the list was my name. “Oh, yeah, baby. I’m sure I can fulfill all your Christmas wishes on this list.”
She grinned and popped me on my behind, sending me on my way. I walked out the door with my butt still tingling and a lascivious grin on my face.
What I didn’t tell Chris was that I was going to her father’s office to talk with him about Christmas Day. I still had no clue how I could broach the subject without breaking my promise to her. I guess I hoped that he’d be able to read between the lines. As I walked into the reception area at Memphis Investment Funds, I realized that I should have gone to see Felicia instead. The place was humming with activity and not very conducive for the subtle conversation I needed to have with Carl. I saw him standing by the coffeemaker, stirring cream into his cup.
“Melinda? What are you doing here?” Carl asked when he looked up from his cup and saw me standing there.
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br /> “I’m sorry to drop in unannounced,” I replied, using my timid voice. “But I was in the neighborhood.”
“Of course. Is Chris okay?”
“Absolutely. She’s working really hard getting ready for Christmas,” I said, putting emphasis on the word Christmas. “We both have been.”
“That’s nice. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thanks. Have you got a soda?”
He reached in the mini-fridge and pulled out a can, handing it to me. Then he grabbed two cups and asked me to follow him to his office.
“Look who I found wandering around,” he said as he walked in.
Felicia was sitting in a leather, wingback chair wearing a tunic-length, jade, turquoise and lavender Kimono jacket, which is pretty much all I ever see her in. Still, she looked beautiful.
“Melinda, how nice to see you. Are you ready for Christmas yet?” Felicia asked, as she accepted the cup from Carl.
“Not quite. I still have to get Chris’s present and a few other things. You know, Chris has had such a tough year that I want to make this Christmas really special for her.”
Felicia’s face softened. “You’re right, this year has been hard on her. I’m so proud of all she’s accomplished.”
“That’s why I’m making sure that this Christmas Day is extra special, just for her,” I said, watching their faces for any signs of being acquiesce. “I don’t know, I guess it’s love, but I want to do more for her than I’ve ever done for anyone ever before.”
“If it wasn’t for the invitation from his boss, we’d be with you and Chris on Christmas,” Felicia stated. “But we’ll be there on the Sunday after, which isn’t the same, I know.”
“You see, I accepted my boss’s invitation before Chris invited us. But it’s not just dinner at his house, it’s rubbing shoulders with the national board of directors.”
“Carl, they won’t even be there in person, for heaven’s sake. Who the hell has a video-teleconference party on Christmas Day anyway?”
I could tell that Felicia was having second thoughts. Now if I could only get Carl to come around to my way of thinking.
“I understand completely. Many was the time that my father teleconferenced with me on Christmas Day because he was in another state working a business deal,” I said seriously. “Hm… maybe that’s why it’s so hard to talk to him in person now.”
Carl stared at me but I don’t think he was seeing me. Was he reconsidering? Felicia nodded as if she understood what I was saying.
“That was unfortunate,” Carl said. “I’m sure it was hard on him, being so far away from home on Christmas Day.”
“It really wasn’t much different when he was at home. He was still on the telephone, even as I opened my presents when I was a kid. Chris told me about how you insisted, Felicia, that the three of you be together on Christmas Day no matter what. I can only imagine how great the holidays were at your house. Well, I’ve got to go. Look forward to seeing you both at the after-Christmas dinner.”
Felicia wouldn’t meet my eye, and Carl only nodded. I said goodbye and walked out of the building with a smile on my face.
Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka – Chris Blackstone-Livingston, and Melinda Blackstone-Livingston, Santa’s Elf, Staff and Guests
On December first, the weather was cold, with snow flurries. Now, on the twenty-first, it was unseasonably warm, luau warm. So we had a luau. Yesterday, Konani’s mother, her daughter, and her two grandchildren arrived, and this morning, Norma’s grandson, his wife and their two kids drove in from Texas. We put Konani’s family on the second floor of the east wing, close to the servants’ quarters, and Norma’s family took the guestrooms on the west wing where she lives. George usually stays on the east wing, but we ran out of rooms so we asked him to stay in a guestroom at the end of the hall by our room.
I must admit, it was a lot of fun watching those kids running around the mansion, so excited they didn’t know where to look first. Over the weekend, Melinda had a sleigh and eight real reindeer brought in. The contractor used a few wood poles to build a corral for them, and they seemed happy to graze on our brown grass. The sleigh was no ordinary sleigh and Melinda was eager to show the kids everything on the sleigh’s dashboard. She handed the four kids a cup of hot chocolate from the cocoa dispenser, then asked if they wanted to hear Christmas music on the iPod or watch a movie on the mini-DVD player. It was showing Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. She pulled out a drawer under the seat and showed them the reindeer snacks, which were actually mini candy canes. As the kids gave each deer a piece of candy, one of them asked where Rudolph was.
“He’s back at the North Pole getting his nose recharged,” Melinda said.
Norma’s great-grandson, Billy, who was at a manly age of fifteen, as he liked to point out, wasn’t as impressed with the sleigh until he saw the Apple watch lying on the dashboard.
“Oh, no. Santa must have forgotten his watch,” Melinda said with a wink to me. “You’d better keep it safe so the reindeer don’t accidently eat it.”
The boy snatched it up and put it on his wrist. “This is seriously fleekin.”
I had no clue what that meant, but apparently Melinda did. She opened the glove compartment and pulled out a pink watch for Norma’s thirteen-year-old great-granddaughter, Norma, whom we call Norma Junior.
“Yeet!” she squealed, and hugged Melinda.
Again, no clue what that meant, but that was all right. I could tell by the smiles on their faces that they were happy with their first gifts.
Konani’s two grandchildren looked up at Melinda with questioning faces. She moved her hand around in the glovebox and shrugged when she found nothing. The kids looked so disappointed.
“Wait!” she said excitedly. Then she opened another drawer under the driver’s seat and pulled out two more watches for Konani’s ten-year-old twin grandsons, Ikaia and Iokua. They squealed with delight and jumped up and down. Surprisingly, they knew what the watches did and were having a conversation with Siri, the talking app, in a matter of seconds.
“Aunt Melinda, can Santa forget a few more things, please?” Norma Junior asked sweetly.
I loved that she called Melinda aunt, and I could tell that she did too by the way she looked over at me and smiled.
“Yes, ma’am. He’s a pretty forgetful jolly old man. Why, I’ll bet at the luau tonight you might find a few more things that he’s forgotten.”
Last week, when we learned who all was going to be here for Christmas, Melinda and I sat down and made a list of things to do and surprise toys to buy, to keep the kids occupied and the adults happy. We spent an exorbitant amount of time shopping, and an exorbitant amount of money. I was a bit uncomfortable spending so much money, but it was Christmas and Melinda was having so much fun that I couldn’t be a scrooge about it.
That evening, we all gathered in the backyard around a large pit with a blazing fire. Tables had been set up for those who preferred not to sit on the ground, and there was a stage with a band performing Hawaiian music. We all wore leis and drank Pina Coladas out of pineapple glasses. The temporary staff, wearing Hawaiian shirts, manned the buffet table, poured the drinks and collected the used dishes.
The food was a fantastic mix of baked Mahi Mahi, which is white fish, Kalua Pua'a, or roast pork, and something I had never tried before, Shoyu Chicken, which is chicken marinated in soy sauce, sugar, garlic and ginger. And of course there was lots of Poi, Taro bread and fruits like pineapple, papaya, and coconuts. And also creamy coconut eggnog, garnished with nutmeg.
One of the kids tried the Poi for the first time and his face turned green. I thought he was going to throw up. Then Baylee-Ann tried it and spit it back out. Konani and her mother looked at each other and shook their heads. “Haoles.”
We had to convince Konani to work with a catering company to get everything done, so that she wouldn’t kill herself trying to do it all alone. I think she even taught them a thing or two about an authentic Hawaiian lua
u.
As everyone sat down with their food, Melinda and I walked on stage and up to the microphone. “Aloooo Ha!” she shouted, holding her thumb and pinkie finger out, forming the Shaka sign, the traditional sign of Hawaiian friendship. They sang a chorus of alohas back to her. Then she stepped back and I stepped up to the mic.
“I want to welcome you to our Christmas luau. Let’s give Konani a big hand for putting all this together. Konani, stand up and take a bow,” I said as everyone clapped. Konani giggled, and took a bow. “And a special welcome to Konani’s family, who traveled all the way from Hawaii to be with us. Mahalo. Melinda and I are so happy you could join us this week.” I turned to Norma next. “And dear Norma, thank you for inviting your grandson Benjamin and his family from Texas to be with us this week. Howdy, y’all.” A chorus of howdys came back to me. “A lot has changed since you were here last, and I think you’ll find it much better now.” Ben nodded and his wife rubbed Norma’s back affectionately. The smile on Norma’s face warmed my heart to tears, remembering how close we came to losing her last Christmas. “And George, you’re part of the family, but welcome just the same.” George laughed, and raised his glass in salute. “Please, everyone, enjoy the food and the show.”
After my speech, hula girls, wearing grass skirts and bikini tops, took the stage and danced the hula with the band. As the music continued, the dancers came down from the stage, carrying leis on their arm. They placed a lei around the neck of each person in the audience and kissed us on both cheeks.
One girl got a little carried away and kissed Melinda on the lips. Before I could rip her hair from her head, Melinda held up her wedding band and pointed at it. I leaned into Melinda and showed the bitch my ring as well. She shrugged and returned to the stage.
Christmas Riches (Riches to Rags book 4) Page 4