by Vicki Keener
“Cray, you're taking on a woman who will keep you on your toes and your head spinning,” Lake said.
“Maybe, Lake,” Cray said, “but she'll be a wife who never bores me and who I'll love more and more each day of our lives together.”
“Spoken like a besotted man,” Lake said and laughed.
“You should be so lucky,” Cray answered.
“Yeah, Lake,” Mona said, “That last bowwow you dated ate Alpo.”
Gwen said, “Lake, I didn't realize you were dating someone. Why don't you boys bring your dates home to meet us?”
Mona choked laughing and said, “It's because the mutt wasn't house broken, yet.”
Cray tried to keep a straight face, but couldn't and he laughed with his other brothers Ladd and Birch.
“What's so funny, Ladd and Birch?” Mona said, pointing to them. “The last two women you dated ran away to the circus to hire on as the bearded lady and belly dancer and what a belly she had.”
“Mona, sweetheart,” Alex said, “We'd love to meet a man you're dating.”
“Ha,” Birch said, “They can't see that far to drive. Cataracts are a bitch. She leads them around by a collar and leash.”
The conversation continued with good-natured teasing throughout dinner when they adjourned to the living room where a huge Christmas tree laden with exquisite ornaments with an obscene amount of wrapped gifts underneath waited to be opened. Gwen moved to the baby grand piano and sat on the bench.
Cray whispered to Angelica. “Mom plays and it's mandatory we sing a few Christmas Carols. It's rather painful but doesn't last too long. Can you bear it, honey?”
“It's wonderful, Cray. My mother does the same thing at home.”
They gathered around the piano as Gwen started to play “Joy To The World”. They sang loud, not well, but it touched Angelica's heart. When Gwen played “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”, Angelica sang out in an alto voice and the rest of them quieted, listening to her sing solo. When the song ended, she said, “You stopped singing. Why? I love that carol.”
“You sang it better than we ever could, my dear,” Alex said.
“Do you attend church?” Angelica asked.
“Our family church is Saint Matthews Lutheran Church here in town. Our children were baptized and confirmed there and Gwen and I were married there,” Alex said.
“Oh, how perfect,” Angelica said, “I was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church in my hometown in Norway and I want to be married in a Lutheran church. Cray, please, I'm sure they'll have a midnight service tonight. May we go?”
“Anything you want, honey.”
“It's been years since our whole family attended,” Alex said, “Mona, boys, we'll all go tonight. The service begins at eleven.”
“The bushes will burn and the sea will part, but I'm game,” Mona said.
“Cray,” Angelica said, “we must start going to church every Sunday and get acquainted with the pastor so that when we ask him to marry us he won't think that two heathens dropped in off the sidewalk and now want their vows blessed in holy matrimony.”
Mona started to laugh and the rest of the family joined. Cray said, “We'll do it, Angel. When are you going to marry me?”
“The third week of May as soon as school is finished. It's a lovely time of year and it gives me plenty of time to make the arrangements.”
Gwen said, “Will your parents attend?”
“Oh,” Angelica said, glancing at Cray as a cloud seemed to pass over her face. “They never accepted that I wanted to leave home, pursue an education and then become a citizen. They view it as betraying my roots and turning away from them in shame.”
Gwen put her arms around Angelica and said, “Every mother in the world wants to see her child happy and be there for her daughter's wedding.”
Alex added, “And every father wants to escort his daughter down the aisle to join hands with the man who loves her and she loves. Ask them, Angelica, to be here with you on your most important day.”
“My father owns a little shop in the town where they live and my mother helps him. I'm not sure they'd leave. And then I have two sisters who I'd love to be in my bridal party.”
Birch said, “There are two more at home like you?”
“Down boy,” Mona said.
Lost in thought, Angelica said, “Yes, two sisters, we're close in age. People used to confuse us as triplets.”
“Dear God,” Birch said, almost panting.
“I have a brother, too,” Angelica said, “He's a year older than you Mona.”
“Now, that is interesting. You wouldn't want to leave him there. We'd love to meet your family.”
“Down girl,” Birch said.
Angelica faced Cray and said, “I'm going to call them tomorrow and try to convince them to come. I'll pay their way and they can stay in my apartment.” She got more excited as she talked. “My uncle just retired and there's no reason he can't run my father's shop for a couple of weeks. I'll invite them to come a week and a half before our wedding so we can show them New York City. My sisters and brother speak perfect English. My parents are a bit more difficult to understand and that will bother them.”
“You can teach us a few simple phrases between now and then so they'll understand how happy we are they made the trip,” Gwen said.
“You'd do that for them?” Angelica said.
“Of course, we would, my dear,” Alex said. “You're part of our family now and that includes your family.”
She turned to Cray with her face buried against his chest and said, “I've never been this happy.”
“Those packages under the tree are calling to me,” Mona said, “I hope the majority of them are for me.”
“That's charitable of you,” Birch said with sarcasm, “but not surprising.”
Cray gave Angelica a 24K heart engraved with their initials. She loved it and asked him to clasp it for her. The gift she loved the most from him was a beautifully framed poem written in calligraphy. She read it aloud.
ANGEL FROM ABOVE
by Robert Small
Gazing into her eyes when we first met
I knew then she was heaven sent
All I ever dreamed of, an angel from above.
She had no idea from the start
true love, I'd found in my heart.
One of a kind, Love that LASTS a lifetime.
Still, her smile, my breath it takes away
wanting, needing, to hold her, so much to say.
All my prayers answered when into my life she came
to me, she is everything.
All I ever dreamed of, an angel from above.
Like the moon, stars, morning sunrise
so much beauty so much grace.
SHE'S even more through my eyes.
All I ever dreamed of, an angel from above.
Together, forever, I long to be
can you see, YOU'RE very precious and sweet.
The only one for me.
All I ever dreamed of, an angel from above.
Your gentle words, your tender touch, life meaning so much
wrapped tightly in each others arms I wish to be.
With you, I feel so free.
A vow to you I made, forever, you'll have my love.
All I ever dreamed of, an angel from above.
She finished the poem, a sob making her choke on the last few words. Her eyes glistening with tears, she leaned into him and kissed him. “Darling, thank you. I can't believe how attuned we are to each other. Open your gift from me.”
He unwrapped the flat package and found a first edition book of Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems including, “How Much Do I Love You”.
Her eyes
still glistened when she handed him another box and said, “Cuff links, darling. It seems we think alike, jewelry and poetry.”
He embraced her and whispered in her ear. “I want so much to be alone with you right now to better express my love and gratitude to you.”
Twenty minutes before the church service began the family took two cars. The elder Phillips went with Cray and Angelica.
Mona piled in the car with her three brothers. Birch said, “Can you believe Angelica has two sisters at home who look like her?”
“Stop drooling, caveman,” Mona said, “there are three of you. How's that going to work?”
“We'll draw straws,” Ladd said, “the short straw gets to eat their heart out while the two winners bed the blond sisters. Don't Scandinavian girls believe in free love?”
“You're an idiot,” Mona said. “Suppose they're married, ugly and have a passel of kids. Angel said they used to be confused as triplets. The operative word being used, past tense, get it? She's lived here for seventeen years.”
“She didn't mention spouses and kids,” Lake said. “Mona, be a good sister and find out for us.”
“What do I get out of it?”
“We won't tell her brother to avoid you when you come on like gangbusters.”
“I'll take it under advisement, boys.”
They waited in the narthex for the entire family to assemble, each took a lit candle from an usher and filed to the dark sanctuary as a family, taking up one full pew on the side of the church. While Gwen and Alex greeted people, Cray and Angelica settled side by side. The candlelight caught the facets in her diamond ring and flashed fire and prisms. She nudged him to get his attention and wiggled her hand, creating a light show.
“I'm glad you like it,” he said near her ear grinning.
“I'm beginning to be so happy that you're as rich as Midas. Are you giving me free access to your bank account?”
“What's mine is yours.”
“May I shop until I drop?”
“Carte blanche, sweetheart. Make me proud.”
The service lasted an hour. Alex and Gwen introduced Angelica to their many friends and the pastor who greeted each sibling with joy and invited them back often.
When they arrived back at the Phillips' home, Alex said, “Who would like a nightcap?”
Cray glanced at Angelica and she shook her head. “Not us, Dad. I shared my fiancée with the family long enough. We're headed upstairs.”
“Merry Christmas everyone,” Angel said, “and thank you for your kindness.”
They disappeared upstairs and Mona said, “To bed, but not to sleep.”
“Jealous?” Birch asked.
“Chartreuse with envy. They're so much in love. Who doesn't envy that?”
Birch put his arm around Mona and said, “Your Prince Charming is out there waiting for you.”
“Yeah? Why the hell is he stalling?”
“You ready to settle down with one man?”
“I hate to admit it, but you make a good point. What about you?”
“The happiness Cray exudes gives me pause. I may rethink my attitude toward women.”
“What? Use them and lose them? That will be the day,” Mona said.
The others listened to them banter and Lake said, “Cray's happiness and hers could be contagious. Marcy is back in town. She called me yesterday and asked if we can get together for a drink.”
“What did you tell her, dear?” Gwen asked.
“I said I'd call her if I could find the time.”
“Son, you've never gotten over her,” Alex said.
“Pathetic, isn't it? Why open myself up for more anguish? She lives in California.”
“Are you sure? She is divorced,” Gwen said, “I heard that at the beauty parlor. Perhaps she's come home to stay.”
“Yeah, to lick her wounds and suck me in again,” Lake said, his voice full of disdain. “I'm not going to call her.”
Chapter 10
Upstairs as they used the bathroom and undressed for bed, Angelica said, “Your family is wonderful, they're warm and it's so obvious how much you love each other.” She turned the covers back on the bed and slid in between the cold sheets.
He climbed in beside her, enfolding her in his arms. “They love you. I said they would. Is it obvious how much I love you?”
“You leave me in no doubt, darling. Tonight we make love with no barriers between us. The pill is in effect as of today.”
“It's been a long five days,” her said, fondling her breasts. “What should I do with the all the condoms I have left?” He chuckled.
“We can blow them up in balloons and then stick pins in them,” she said and giggled.
“That might be fun,” he said, lowering his mouth to her breasts while his hand went between her legs. “You're wet and ready.”
“For hours, even in church. Does that make me a horrible person?”
“Terrible, wicked, mine.” He growled deep in his throat, two fingers going deeper inside her.
“Cray, kiss me, mount me, penetrate me, take me as only you can.”
He kissed her, deep, passionate, all-consuming, his tongue setting the pace as he penetrated her, slow, easy, pushing further and further until her movements under him begged for more. He raised her legs to his shoulders, plunged as his mouth suckled her breasts, hard, demanding, unrelenting and she shattered in his arms.
His movements became frenzied, push, pull, dive deep, extract over and over and then the final push, the shudder of his body as he released in her and her reacting to the warmth of his seed flooding her and she clutched him closer as she came again. His mouth moved to hers and devoured her in a searing kiss that set off aftershocks as they stayed locked together.
He collapsed on her, realized she couldn't sustain his weight, began to pull away. She cried no and kept him close saying, “Stay in me, on me, don't leave me. I need you here, I'll always need you here. I'm putting my legs down, but don't leave me, Cray. Please don't leave me.”
As she lowered her legs, she moved against their joined bodies and his reacted. His softening erection hardened and she sensed it, put her hand between them and her fingers around the base of him. “Oh, God, the heel of my hand is rubbing against my sensitive spot as I stroke you while you're in me. Something is making you harder and I'm building.”
“Your words. Keep talking to me,” he said, beginning to move.
“Darling, without a barrier your seed warmed me as you came. Did you feel me clench around you? I wanted everything you had. Cray, I give myself to you and you give yourself back to me. It's wonderful the feeling of you in me like right now. I open to you and you give me your full length and it fills me with pleasure, joy, contentment. Darling, I'm taking my hand away, I want you, all of you, deep inside of me.”
She removed her hand and his groin slammed against hers and ground in her. She pulled his head to hers, kissed him, her tongue tangling and circling in his mouth. Her breathing quickened. She wrapped her arms around his back, pulling his chest against her needy breasts and she soared up and up, him matching her until they released together. He held her, rolled to his side and said, “I'm not capable of doing what we just did these past two nights.”
She raised her head, swiped her tongue over his nipple, blew a puff of warm air on it and lowered her mouth to suckle him. As she moved to the other one, she said, “That's not true.”
She reached to the bottom of the bed and pulled the sheet and comforter over them, snuggled close to him, her leg thrown over his hip, her lips touching his and said, “Merry Christmas, darling. Sleep well. I love you.”
He awoke the next morning to her straddling him, grasping the base of his morning erection and impaling herself on him. He said, grinning, “You interrupted a good dream.�
��
“Wake up and enjoy the reality,” she said.
“Like this?” he asked, rolling her to her back and plunging in and out like a man possessed.
His surprise attack sent her spiraling into orgasmic oblivion. She clung to him as he spilled his seed in her at the same time. When they calmed, she stretched her arms over her head, grinned in a sly way and said, “Tell me which is better, your dream or me.”
“You, always you.”
“I'm starving.”
“The members of the Phillips family assemble on Christmas morning in their pajamas and robe for a buffet breakfast. Care to join in the tradition?”
“A quick shower comes first, but yes, I love the idea and I came prepared with one of the new dressing gowns you bought me. I'm starting to enjoy your extravagant indulgences, darling.”
“Keep enjoying, sweetheart, because my pleasure is larger than yours.”
They showered in no time, he donned silk pajamas, a robe and slippers without shaving while Angelica donned a white silk nightgown and a deep red, floor length velvet robe with billowing sleeves and a tight cuff. The regal collar tapered down the bodice where a jeweled clasp held the robe together, spanning her small waist and the skirt flared in folds to the floor. She wore high-heeled velvet slippers.
“You're magnificent,” he said, gazing at her glowing skin free of makeup. “You look like you're going to your coronation.
“Thank you. You may have guessed by now that I adore pretty lingerie. It's a weakness of mine and I spend way too much money on it and there's been no one to appreciate it until you.”
“Carte blanche, Angel. Indulge yourself and allow me to reap the benefit.”
“I have a very good idea what you spent on this robe. I should be appalled.”
“Nonsense. I want to spoil you. Spend two thousand on a nightgown, I don't care. I ask only one thing of you. Model for me and keep loving me the way you did last night.”
“What about a little bit ago?”
He laughed. “Yes, that too.”