Miracles in the Making

by Adrienne Davenport

  “No,” she admitted. “Actually I haven’t enjoyed an evening so much in quite a long time. You weren’t rambling when you spoke of your knack with a spatula. That was some fish you stirred up this evening.”

  Already set to clearing the kitchen, Noel paused in the act of moving the pans. His eyes, usually an easy crystalline blue, deepened with satisfaction. They carried a sheen matching the tropical sea. That’s why Candy knew she had pleased him and was surprised find it thrilled her. So many times, since they’d met, he had added a layer of happiness to her life. A layer, she realized now, she hadn’t realized was missing.

  Finishing off the last of her dinner, Candy bounced from her chair. He was so quick and precise with his movements. Dropping her plate in the sink, she shifted the angle of her stare. “Is there anything that I can do? Goodness knows you’ve done so much else.”

  Noel grinned broadly at her polite offer but he shoved the prospect aside. “I’ve got it under control for the time being. Sit down and relax, will you beautiful.”

  Rather than move from the room, Candy stayed rooted in place as if something had her frozen to the spot. “You really do think that don’t you?”

  “Hmm? Yes, yes I do.”

  “Why?” she asked it before she had time to review it and had no idea what made her want to know. “Never mind,” she added before he could respond.

  * * * *

  Fading from the kitchen, Candy wandered up to her room. More tired than she thought, she nearly fell as she stepped in the shower and twice more while she scrubbed away the wild events of the day. Her mind crowded with visuals of the evening. She pictured the man downstairs taking her hand and spinning her across the ice, then cooking dinner for her when they returned home. He was so good at both.

  Frustrated with herself for allowing the thoughts to slip into her mind, Candy gave her head a quick shake, sending water splattering in all directions across the shower. He was attractive. She couldn’t deny that, however she’d decided long ago that men weren’t worth the pain from trusting them. Yes, if you trusted the beasts. A little fun now and then, well there was nothing wrong with that but to allow them a bite at your heart. Any girl in her right mind knew that was stupid.

  The soap plopped to the floor, hitting the bath with a thud. The sound caused her to jump. “Oh, damnit!” she squealed to the empty room. As she said it, her toes hit the slippery fiberglass and her balance completely collapsed. She hit the ground with a thump. Accompanied by a few swear words, it was enough to raise the rooftops. The knob just in reach of her left palm, she slammed down on the apparatus, shutting the bath down entirely. Pressing down on the lever to open the drain.

  She was just in the process of coiling a long towel about her when the door connecting bathroom to bedroom whistled open. Candy glanced up and screeched. “That was about the last thing I expected!” she pronounced with a slight whip to her voice. Towel wrapped tightly about her, she stared Noel directly in the eye.

  “Is there some reason you are still standing there, or is out of pure idiocy?”

  Her temper, wild and dangerous, had him glimmering with amusement but wise enough to know otherwise; he tried his best to hide the emotions. “Really, I’d only come to assure that nothing terrible had happened; when I heard the cracking and clunking, that is.”

  Far from pleased, Candy impatiently tapped one finger against her towel. “As you can see, I am just fine.”

  “That’s not at all the impression I gathered from the sound effects I heard while downstairs.”

  Candy gritted her teeth. “Next time you’ll have a mind to listen a little closer before mindlessly barreling into the bathroom.”

  “Maybe.” Noel waved the statement aside, as though he hadn’t really heard her. All the while, he remained impossibly cheerful; so much so, that it scratched at her already sore tolerance.

  Deciding it best to write the man off, Candy sauntered past him into her bedroom. The towel wrapped about her at a moderately eccentric slant.

  “If I may,” she alerted him over the rim of her right shoulder. “I’d like to get my clothes on now.” Seizing her yellow and pink pajamas from their place near the end of her bed, she carried the tank and pants set with her, and nearly bullied past him back into the bath. The fresh white wooden door slammed in her wake just seconds later.

  Caught between scratching his head and admitting his delight, Noel opted for the former, a very rare occasion. Hand tangled in his thick waves of hair, he slowly retreated from the room, moving at a cavalier amble.

  A few steps down the hall, he paused to look back. The girl was sure a puzzle of unique characteristics, whether she was aware of it or not. Picking up his pace, Noel turned his head and kept on towards the main door. An evening stroll is always good for a person, especially when it divided them from the source of their trouble.

  That belief occupied his mind for the better half of two hours. For the life of him, he was at a loss to figure it out. So desperately, he wanted to stay in line, to keep out of trouble, and eventually just get on with his life. Since he crossed paths with Candy Frost, he’d had just about every experience—trouble included; but if he were to be real with himself, he’d admit he was happy. He hadn’t seen that coming when he landed here only days before.

  Looking through the frosty window, around Chicago City, all he expected was a rough slide of the streets to slip by him. If he were lucky, he could eventually move on with his existence. Happiness wasn’t in the cards. Perhaps that’s why it alarmed him. It was one thing to stare at the girl from high up in the clouds, not to be required to exchange hot words and glances. Those things were distinctly human. What do I really want? Noel asked himself. Do I yearn for those advantages offered by my immortality, or is it this, even now being offered to me that I really wish to have?

  Noel rubbed at his forehead. He tried to massage away the growing discontent. He ended up here for a reason; was he going to fail? Noel closed his eyes tightly, allowing his thoughts to stray. When he knew the answer, he would look at that question again; for now, he had a reason and a marked reason at that. Couldn’t he prove he was capable?

  When he again opened his eyes something drew his faint attention. Off in the distance a man stood by a light pole, his body weak and tired and his eyes drooped with age. This was his purpose wasn’t it? Following the urge that pulled him, Noel followed the worn vision. His decision made, he started from the room, following in the direction of the aging man’s yawn. The sound was light and weary but just loud enough to be detectable. Within a few short minutes, he reached the corner where the pedestrian waited for the light to change, leaning drearily on his staff.

  “You could use a hand there, no?” Noel asked of him.

  The old man squinted to see his helper, warming when he witnessed Noel. “Sure ‘nough I could actually,” he readily admitted.

  Taking the hand Noel offered, he allowed Noel to guide the way across the street. Uncertain how to begin to expression his appreciation, the man fumbled for words as they grew closer to the other side of the road.

  When he saw this, Noel shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I was around the area anyway. Have a happy holiday.”

  Noel started on his way, shocked when he discovered that the direction he took, led him straight to the apartment where he stayed for the past few days. It made absolutely no sense but, then again, nothing made sense since he first found himself standing on Earth.

  Aware it was pure craziness, he tossed his hands in the air. It meant risk and serious risk at that. This one time, however, he was going to set aside the chance of danger and enjoy the pleasure that waited. Every time He was around Candy Frost, he experienced pleasure, so strong it sizzled his blood, it boiled his heart—why, so strong it twisted his stomach. Yet up until now, he continued to run from it. By the time the thoughts ceased racing through h
is head, Noel had gained plenty of ground. Now rather than rambling on the fast city streets, he stood at the door leading to Candy’s living room. Is it unlocked? In no mood to take the chance, he planted his fist on its surface, sending a solid knock ringing through the front of the house. The portal came swinging open.

  “Attempting to get yourself lost? It’s without question a big enough city for that.” Candy stepped to one side, leaving room for him to saunter past her.

  As she waited for him to move forward, a lightning bolt of excitement slashed down through her body. It shocked her as much as it enthralled her. She expected to miss him when he wandered away, but to the point that it became an issue was a little different.

  Noel dropped down on the love seat, across from her colossal pet. Defender of his ground, the cat’s claws sank into the couch while the animal scowled up at the familiar caller.

  Candy’s buoyant laughter burst between the pair. The sweet sound brought a swift end to the wordless dual the two shared. Lounging in a chair near the lively fireplace opposite of the two, she resembled a gorgeous figure cut from a classic painting. The flames danced off the hair falling around her shoulders and her face glowed from the spirit of her laugh.

  Noel moved across the cushion, distancing himself from his unlikely opponent and focusing the majority of his attention on the captivating scene. “Would you believe me if I told you just how engaging a sight you make?”

  Candy shifted in her chair. “That depends on if you mean it.”

  “I have no reason to shower you with empty compliments.”

  “You could have fooled me.” She crossed her arms. Her expression spoke volumes. Bitter anger pressed her soft lips down, leaving no room for compromise, let alone delight.

  Even as he started to reply, Noel wondered why he cared. Shoving off the couch, he crossed to where she sat, and plopped down on the footstool cushioning her well-shaped feet. “Would it hurt you to allow me a single legitimate chance?”

  Candy pondered the question, her agitated thoughts soothed by the sensation of his fingers gliding across her bare toes. She didn’t give him a direct “yes” but neither did she tell him “no”.

  As if he understood, Noel massaged her silky skin with one hand, pressing his other to her cheek. “Take all the time you need; whether it be good or bad you can consider yourself stuck with me all night.”

  Candy’s cheek lay against his palm. For some reason the feeling, snapped her to awareness. Her eyes resembling two large glittering gems, she gaped up at his striking mannerism. “You have a way with words.”

  “I hope that was a compliment.” His smile, light, and airy, curled across his lips. Before he knew what was happening, he inched a little closer, his hands shifting to cradle her slim figure. Pulling her against him, he pressed his mouth to hers, instantly assailed by the vigor of her feminine sweetness.

  Neither one alert to the heat of their reaction, each drank in the others fire as their tongues tangled together. Trapped by the magic created by the fury of their intense emotion, they held tight together, never stopping until exhaustion hit them like a wave. Even then, each slack with weariness, they lay nearly bound as one. Caught by the grip of sleep, they remained like this for some hours after, one cradling the other.

  * * * *

  By the time Candy awakened, darkness had long since cast across the sky, leaving millions of stars glistening high above as the one real source of light. Forcing herself forward, she struggled to her feet. Completely at a loss as to exactly what had taken place, she strolled into the kitchen, her mind working at an unnatural pace. With no better place to start, she plucked a cup from the cupboard and prepared coffee.

  The pot halfway full beside her, she felt Noel’s arms coil about her waist, drawing her against him. His face buried in her muddled hair, he noted the small project. “A little early for the coffee, wouldn’t you say, darling?”

  “I missed what?” Nowhere near entirely awake, Candy’s jumbled thoughts stumbled into place. “What—oh that. You have any better notion on what we ought to do?”

  “I don’t doubt I could think of one or two.” Noel sent her a clever grin. His amused expression reflected in the mirror just above the pot. As he pulled her closer to him, he spread his hands across her sides, massaging the smooth surface with tender care. The fresh coffee, for the moment, forgotten, Candy fell against him, hungry for his touch.

  Even as he stood furious with his lack of control over his raging emotions, Noel couldn’t seem to stop, his heart nearly torn by the opposing vibes that assailed him. Relieved when Candy leaned a step a way, he lessened his hands, allowing her to move.

  “Sorry, but call me crazy, I’d still like that cup of coffee.” Already reaching for the steaming pot, she impulsively stopped, switching her direction. Reaching up, she placed a kiss flatly on his lips before whirling about to finish pouring the coffee.

  Her spontaneous kiss lingered on his skin, sending a sharp sting darting down his spine. More at a loss than ever for the emotions rushing around inside him, he took in the girl who moved about before him. Her actions so precise, he pondered, each feature so gracious, how can I ever win such a rash battle? Again, he considered, what do I really want, do I even legitimately know?

  For the time, he gave up trying, no longer concerned. Even if it only lasted for a few days—for that time, it would be perfect and exactly what he’d wished. Noel stepped up to the counter. “Any chance I could entice you in to sharing that there cup?”

  Her eyes fell to her coffee and Candy lifted up her hands. “ I’d think you would rather have your own?”

  “So, that is possible; certainly.” Accepting the cup she had drawn from the cupboard, he released the handle he’d been holding on his thoughts. A short time or not, for once it would be worth it.

  To his right Candy propped one elbow on the counter. “What do you know? It’s getting pretty close to Christmas. Do you, perhaps, have a knack for dancing?”

  Noel stumbled, his cup fumbling in his grasp. The burning liquid sloshed around in his cup, licking at the smooth round edges. Rescuing the piece with two fingers and the help of a little luck, he changed the direction of his gaze. “I don’t see why it matters. If you’re intent on knowing, I’d recommend a different partner for you.” Before he finished speaking, Noel twisted to one side in a diminutive attempt to mask his discomfiture.

  One hand placed on his left shoulder, Candy cheerfully enlightened him. “I would love to teach you.”

  Noel’s absently sipped his coffee. The balmy mixture throbbed in his throat. A cough rasped out of his mouth and nose.

  Snatching up a washcloth, Candy set aside her cup, and bending lightly mopped up the floor where a damp spray of fluid had landed. Chuckling as she worked, she quickly finished her task and returned to her drink. “You were interested in a morning dance?” She started, “If so, I think I know just the place.”

  With one hand, Noel rubbed at the back of his neck, contemplating the notion. After a few seconds he began, “You said you know just the place. Any place I would enjoy?”

  Candy rolled her eyes, chafed at the query. “Would I even make the suggestion if, for a second, I believed otherwise?”

  “Okay, okay,” Noel easily backed down, “So, where are we going?”

  Swingers, the dance hall where they spent the greater part of the day, was rousing and lively, just as Candy had said it would be. Filled to the max with customers similar to themselves, searching for a cheerful diversion, there was barely room enough to move. A variety of spirited guests lined the aging black bar sides, while the remainder spun lightly across the classy green tiled floors. Jimmy Boyd lit up the sound system, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. The tune made most of the guests either smile or laugh. Near the back of the room, Noel swept Candy across the floor, as sleek on the dance floor as he was on
the ice. “You were saying about the dancing?” He asked, mildly rubbing her nerves.

  Candy eyed him, then brushed the bland words aside. “Am I saying anything now?”

  “No, but that’s what had me bothered.” He told her straight up without a hitch.

  Rather than the verbal bite he expected, Candy surprised him by saying, “You are a wonderful dancer, I should have left that one be. I hope you’re having fun too.”

  Noel grinned, obviously delighted. “Great choice partner, great choice.”

  Chapter Five

  The next morning misted by, leaving both lovers peacefully wrapped in each other’s arms, motionless even while the clock surged to rouse them. By the time either lover revealed any true sign of life, the sun had ascended high in the sky and the hour had surpassed eleven a.m.

  This time Noel reacted first. One hand comfortably supporting his head, he revolved to his left side and took in the gleaming face of the clock. Twelve, on the dot—that wouldn’t sit well with the captivating princess beside him. Giving Candy a temperate nudge to one side, he lit with delight when she half-darted from the feather soft bed.

  “Hell of a way to offer a good morning,” Candy groused when she swung around to see where the irritation had started.

  “I could have always opted for a kick to the chin. That would have really hurt.”

  Candy scowled. “Here I was beginning to think that’s not what you wanted.” Returning the mocking shove he’d served with one of her own, she planted both feet on the floor. Shrugging into a wild violet cotton robe, she left the conversation to take what route it would. Rounding the bed, she cut a line across the room. Slipping through the half open bathroom door that divided the space from her bedroom, she wobbled over to sit by the sink.

  Weary though she’d garnered some sleep, she examined the night and all it had brought. Wondering if the whole thing was all part of some big dream, she rubbed her eyes and tried to clear the confusion. No matter how much effort she forced however, the splintered thoughts wouldn’t fall into place.