by Cherry Kay
Both women seemed to be smiling sweetly and nibbling on waffles, barely eating, but looking very pleased with themselves. Lorelle suspected for a brief moment that they had somehow disguised the waffle mixture with olives and were lying in wait for them to upset her stomach. She raised a forkful of waffle to her nose and began to sniff.
“Something wrong, Lorelle?” Judith asked loudly.
“Oh no, nothing. This is just so tasty I wondered what went into it,” Lorelle smiled over to Judith.
“Well,” said Jeannie, “I now have the secret recipe so only Judith and I know for now.” She laughed aloud and was joined by Judith and then by Christopher.
Lorelle wondered if the waffles had made him lose his mind. Maybe that's what the recipe was, a brew designed to make sons more responsive to their mother's whims. She laughed the idea off in her mind and poured herself some more coffee. Whatever the secret recipe was, maybe it was wise not to indulge in any more waffles.
“Let's go through to the living room if you've all finished eating. Time to open those presents.”
Judith rubbed her hands together and she and Jeannie were the first to rise from their seats. Jeannie rushed over to the tree and knelt in front of it.
“As guest of honor, Judith has appointed me Santa for the day. Oh my, it looks as if Christopher has been very nice this year. I think, oh yes, most of these are for you.”
Christopher blushed and pulled a face. He looked at Lorelle and shrugged his shoulders. Jeannie skipped over to him and handed him a large package in red, shiny paper.
“There you go, Chris.” she said. Lorelle winced.
“Mmm, I wonder,” he said, looking at his mom.
It took a long time to open. As usual, Judith had done her thorough job of sealing the present so that it was virtually impossible to open. There had been many a Christmas when a very young and excited Christopher was almost in tears because he couldn't unwrap his present and Judith would have to do it for him.
“Not so tight next time,” Philip used to say every year but every year it was the same thing. Judith just couldn't be anything other than Judith.
“Wow. Mother,” Christopher eventually said. He had undone the wrapping and inside discovered a large box and opened it up. “Did you knit this yourself?” He held up a multicolored sweater that was like an over-sized version of a five year old child's sweater.
“Try it on, dear. See if it fits.” Judith was smiling and Jeannie had her hands clasped together at her bosom, smiling too.
“It's perfect, Mother.” Christopher bent to kiss his mom on the cheek and then resumed his seat on the sofa next to Lorelle.
“Of course, Lorelle,” Judith said. “I didn't know you were coming, but Christopher told you about the designer dresses for the party later, so consider that my gift to you.”
“And it was more than generous, Judith. Thank you.”
Lorelle looked across at Judith on the sofa opposite and saw her nod to Jeannie so she could proceed with the handing out of gifts.
“See if you can guess who this is from,” Jeannie said as she handed another present to Christopher.
The package was wrapped in traditional paper with pictures of snowmen in scarves and carrot noses. It was a lot smaller than Judith's present to Christopher, who now pulled out a pair of socks in the same multicolored yarn his mother had used to knit his sweater.
“Is this a theme?” He looked from one to the other.
“It's so funny,” Jeannie enthused. “When I discovered what your mother was knitting for you, I thought, well, why not do something to match. I was thinking a scarf but that is so boring.” She grabbed the socks from Christopher and held them up for everyone to see. “Aren't they a hoot?” she proclaimed. Everyone seemed to be in agreement, except for Lorelle.
Another large and rather heavy present for Christopher was next. It was from his father who had bought him a collection of three books about three famous architects and their work.
“I hope you don't already have these, Christopher. If so, I did keep the receipt so you can exchange them.”
“No, actually I don't have these but I always wanted to get them. This is absolutely the best, Dad. I mean, really excellent, thank you.”
Christopher had bought his father a rare classical music album that he had not managed to get for his collection. It occurred to Lorelle that he and his father had a good relationship and that they must obviously discuss each other's interests and hobbies with a good level of understanding. It made her smile on the inside. Philip had been out of the way a lot of the time and she was sure that had she found more time to get to know him, she would have gotten on with him. She could tell, that in a lot of ways, Christopher had taken after him.
The next present was the one Christopher said he'd buy for Judith on behalf of both him and Lorelle.
“Now, Judith,” Lorelle said, smiling, “in case Christopher has messed up here, let me say that he took complete charge of the present to you from both of us.”
“Too busy were you, Lorelle?” Judith asked.
“No, I insisted, Mother. Lorelle didn't even know she was coming here up to a week ago. We were both really busy just before the holidays,” Christopher interrupted. Lorelle was pleased that he'd said something to Judith on her behalf.
Her present was an ornately painted China vase, very much like the ones that practically littered the living room and spaces where a vase could sit without flowers in it. Lorelle glared at Christopher.
“What?” he looked confused.
“How much thought went into that, Christopher?” Lorelle asked him.
“You like it don't you, Mother?”
“If it comes from you my darling boy, I love it, love it, love it.” She grinned with her eyes half closed and then blew Christopher a kiss.
There were too many 'love it's' for Lorelle's liking but she was certain that Christopher could do no wrong in her eyes – apart, of course, by showing up with her. That she would never forgive.
“Oh, this one is for me,” Jeannie was saying as she hurried to open a small present wrapped in gold wrapping paper. “Thank you so much, Judith!” She rushed to Judith and knelt in front of her offering a large hug that lasted too long for Lorelle's comfort.
“Look,” she exclaimed to everyone, holding up what looked like an antique brooch.
“It was my mother's,” Judith said. “I thought it would match your beautiful complexion, Jeannie. Hers was very much like yours. I should dig out some pictures to show you. I'm sure she would have been very happy to see it go to someone who would suit such a characteristic piece of jewelry. Put it on, Jeannie. Christopher is good with his fingers and it's very delicate, perhaps he could help.”
“Would you mind?” Jeannie said, already standing in front of him.
Christopher stood up slowly and moved her hair off her shoulders.
“Here?” he asked, pointing to an area of her sweater.
“Just there is fine, Chris,” she said and stuck out her chest.
“You'll have to get used to that dainty piece of jewelry, Jeannie,” Lorelle said. “You won't have Christopher around to help you on with it once you get back home and he's back in the city with me.”
No one responded and Lorelle walked over to the tree from where she retrieved the last present from under it.
“Happy Christmas from me, Christopher,” she said and handed him a large, flat and wide parcel.
“Thank you, baby.”
He leaned the present against the sofa and began opening it. It became obvious that Lorelle had created a piece of artwork for him. It was a chalk and charcoal drawing on gray sugar paper. Lorelle had captured him in a sketch one Saturday morning as he sat, completely naked, at his huge desk by the window of his apartment, working hard on one of his building ideas. It was a picture in profile and showed off all the fine muscle tone of his chest, back and arms. His face was deep in concentration and his hair was the usual tousled mess of any early mor
ning. As he was naked she had tastefully made sure that his thigh was in a strategic position in case she ever wanted to display the picture publicly.
She then copied the sketch using chalk and charcoal at a later stage and treated the paper so that the picture would be everlasting.
“You don't like it,” she said.
He stood back and held it at arm’s length then placed it back against the sofa. He turned to her.
“I love it, Lorelle. You are one amazing artist and I hope one day the world will discover just how talented and great you are.” He held her arms gently and kissed her, deeply and passionately until his mother began to cough.
“I'm sorry. Mother.”
“So, Lorelle,” said Judith. “You really do have some talent after all. I began to wonder after that last sketch of yours.”
“Surely you have sense of humor, Judith? It was just a joke. How could I possibly have meant to be cruel when you've been the perfect hostess?” Lorelle said. Philip laughed and got up.
“I for one thought the devil lady was rather amusing, well done, Lorelle. And this,” he said staring at her drawing of Christopher, “is remarkable. When Christopher says you're amazing and talented, it's not an exaggeration. Bravo, my dear, bravo. Keep up the hard work, if you're persistent, hard work pays off.”
“But, Christopher,” his Mother stood now. “You didn't get anything for Lorelle.”
“Yes, I did and if it's okay with you, Lorelle, I'd like to give it to you later. When we're on our own, if that's all right.”
“Of course, Christopher.”
Just then a van pulled up onto the drive and a door slid open and voices could be heard outside.
“That will be the caterers,” Judith said. “I'm having Christmas lunch catered this year, Christopher and then they'll stay on to set up for the party.”
“Pulling out all the stops eh, Mother? I'm looking forward to it.” He put his arm around Lorelle.
Breakfast and present opening was over with and Lorelle was still standing. Next was Christmas lunch. She only hoped he could survive the next round.
9
When Lorelle walked by the guest room she saw Jeannie and Judith fussing over Jeannie's dress for the party. She held it up against her body and ooh'ed and ahh'ed over it. It would be ideal for going to the Oscar's with, Lorelle thought but the party was, after all, taking place in a glorified corridor.
She went to her room. Christopher had gone for a walk with his father so she had to spend time on her own. She took her sketch pad and positioned herself on the window sill. It wasn't intended to be a window seat but it was wide and deep and she could sit there with her back against the wall and her feet up and still feel comfortable enough to draw.
The view was perfect and she could imagine creating a series of pictures for Christmas cards from the view into the garden. She noticed a tiny robin hopping about on the thin, fluffy snow. He was looking for worms or maybe an escape route. She followed his trail, she might need that route later.
Just then she heard the women in the hallway outside her room. The door opened and there they stood.
“Given up on good manners, Judith?” she asked.
“Well, we're all women together aren't we? Speaking of which, you know how us women like to share?” She looked at Jeannie and then back to Lorelle.
“Well, you might as well go on,” Lorelle said, sighing and looking out to see where the robin had gotten to.
They walked further into the room. Jeannie sat at the end of the bed and Judith stood nearer to Lorelle.
“We were just commenting, were we not, Jeannie?” Jeannie nodded her head. “That it seems a bit strange that Christopher hasn't given you a gift.”
“You heard him say he wanted it to be just between us, Judith. You can't make me upset. I only have to survive the next few hours and tomorrow we're gone. Puff. Outta here. And I'll leave you both to your pathetic plotting and scheming.”
“She doesn't get it, does she, Jeannie?” Judith said but still with her eyes on Lorelle.
Lorelle looked at Jeannie who was shaking her head in pity and Judith, with her steely eyes, was looking daggers at her.
“If you've nothing else to say,” said Lorelle. “I wanted to do some sketches before lunch. Don't you two have some caterers you need to terrorize?” Lorelle looked for the robin, he had flown away.
“I'll just go ahead and say this,” said Judith. “My son has forgotten to buy you a present. He's stalling. Later on when you're all alone and sitting waiting for this so called present to appear, he'll make up some story and promise you a meal out instead. Since he had his heart broken, Christopher never buys intimate presents for women. The day he does that is the day he has finally found the girl of his dreams. I'll give it until after lunch. If he hasn't produced this delightful little gift then you can guarantee he's forgotten.”
They turned to leave.
“I don't believe you, Judith, I know what you're doing,” Lorelle called after her.
“I just don't want you to get your hopes up, my dear. You may well have been seeing him for ten months but I've known him twenty-eight years. In all that time has he ever bought you a personal, intimate or romantic gift?”
“None of your business.”
“I take that as a 'no'. I know my son Lorelle, you mark my words – there is no present.”
They left then. Lorelle kept a calm expression on her face and drew a few harsh and jagged lines onto the sketch pad. The tip of the pencil broke. She had no idea what she would have drawn anyway, her mind began to work overtime. Why did Judith say that? Just to upset her, make her doubt Christopher again or was this her trump card?
If she was logical, there was no real explanation as to why they needed to be alone for the present. Judith must have read her mind, Christopher never bought her anything personal. The closest he'd gotten was the perfume for her birthday just recently when she turned twenty-six. Even then it was not even her brand. She'd quizzed Christopher who did not know what she wore and only bought the perfume because it was sprayed on him by the perfume girl at Macy's.
Damn, Judith, she thought and got up from the window sill. She looked around the room. Where would Christopher have put it? She looked under his pillow. Silly, he wouldn't have put it there. She carefully opened every drawer and cupboard in the room, including those in the bathroom. There was nothing. Next she tried his empty suitcase which was standing in the bottom of his wardrobe. She carefully ran her hand along and inside all the interior and exterior pockets and came up with nothing.
She put the case back and spotted Christopher's suit for tonight, the one he had managed to hang up, unnoticed, and so making Lorelle unaware that such a formal outfit would be necessary over the holiday period. She took it out and laid it on the bed. She felt inside all the pockets and there was nothing in any of them. For good measure she searched in all the pockets he had. Again, nothing.
The front door opened and closed. Christopher and Philip were back from their walk. A wave of guilt overcame her and she rushed back to sit on the window sill. She picked up the sketch pad. What was it Judith said, she'd give it until after the meal and if no gift was presented then he had clearly forgotten.
Her eyes were glassy when Christopher came in the room.
“What you doing up here on your own,” he asked her.
“Nothing. Just wanted to draw but I'm not feeling very inspired.”
“Well Dad and I were thinking of playing a game of some description. A board game or cards or even watch a film. It's not Christmas without a Christmas film. Maybe we can find an old favorite of yours.”
“Maybe,” she said.
He walked over to her and held her hand.
“Come on then.”
She stood down from her seat at the window.
“Christopher,” she said.
“Yes?”
“Oh, nothing. Let's go watch a movie.”
“Great.”
The lunc
h was one of the best Lorelle had ever had on any Christmas, ever. Back home a fight would always break out. The problem with her family was that everyone had a big personality, everyone was right and they all argued at the same time, not listening to anyone else in the room. She imagined future Christmases if in her wildest dreams she and Christopher did end up staying together. The arguments she'd have with Judith would make it no different from the ones she'd grown to know and hate when she was growing up. In many respects, Judith might fit in well with her family. She certainly didn't and, right now, if she was honest she wasn't fitting in here at all.
She watched the pleasant chatter between Judith and Jeannie and the way they roped Christopher into everything they said. He was sweet and pleasant with them and got on well with Jeannie. They really were the same kind of people. Had Judith been right all along? She didn't want to accept it.
They were all very full after eating and retired to the living again where they would have coffee.
Not once did Christopher suggest pulling her away and offering her this elusive Christmas gift. She tried to ignore it and Judith, too, who kept looking at her over the top of her glasses.