A Yuletide Affair

by Monica Richardson

  “Hello, Alyson.” Cecil reached for her hand. “Good seeing you again.”

  “You, too, Mr. Steel.” She bypassed his handshake and gave him a hug.

  Just as she was about to shut the door, Calvin pushed it open. “I brought Cognac!” He held a bottle of Hennessy into the air and kissed Alyson’s cheek.

  Olivia rushed past her father and jumped onto the sofa with Samson. “Uncle Sammy!”

  “Careful, now. Your uncle Sammy’s shoulder is hurt,” Toni told her granddaughter.

  Alyson reached for Calvin’s bottle to take it to the kitchen, but he tightened his grip.

  “I’ll hold on to it for now.” He smiled.

  Samson kissed his niece’s forehead. “Alyson, this pretty lady is Olivia.”

  Alyson reached for the little girl’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Olivia.”

  “Are you going to marry my uncle Sammy?” Olivia asked.

  All eyes were on Alyson. Everyone seemed to want an answer to that very question.

  “Well, I don’t know.” Alyson glanced at Samson, who gave her an inquisitive look. “You’ll have to ask him.”

  “Maybe one day,” said Samson.

  The doorbell interrupted an uneasy moment, and Alyson started toward the door.

  “I’ll get it,” said Calvin. “It’s just Jessie and his family. I saw them pull up after I did, but they were arguing so I didn’t stick around.”

  Jessie walked in with his daughter, Natalie, and greeted everyone. His wife, Patricia, came in a few seconds afterward. Her eyes were red.

  “Is this guy still faking an injury?” Jessie asked, motioning toward Samson. “And you must be Alyson.”

  “Yes, hello.” Alyson shook Jessie’s hand.

  “I’m Jessie, Samson’s older, better-looking brother,” he said. “And this is my daughter, Natalie.”

  “Pleased to meet you both.”

  Patricia rolled her eyes at her husband for not introducing her. “I’m Patricia, Alyson. So glad to meet you.”

  “And you.” Alyson shook the woman’s hand and gave her a gentle smile.

  “We need music,” Calvin announced, and reached for the remote to Samson’s stereo. He muted the television.

  “You don’t even care that the Chicago Bears are playing right now?” asked Cecil.

  “Pop, they’re down by thirty points, and it’s the fourth quarter.” Calvin started his hip-hop playlist despite his father’s protests.

  “I’m going to check on dinner,” Alyson said, heading for the kitchen.

  “I’ll give you a hand, sweetheart.” Toni followed. “You’ve got it smelling so good in here.”

  “Thank you,” said Alyson as she pulled the fish from the oven.

  “Everything looks so good!” Toni exclaimed. “Where’d you learn to cook?”

  “My mother. She made sure we all learned how to cook when we were growing up.”

  “So many young girls these days don’t have a clue about cooking, cleaning or raising children.”

  Patricia walked into the kitchen. “Can I help you do anything, Alyson?”

  “If we could just get the table set,” Alyson said. “Samson only has table settings for four, so we’ll have to use paper products.”

  “He’s been a bachelor for so long,” Toni said. “He needs a woman who knows her way around a kitchen.”

  “I haven’t seen Sammy smile so much,” Patricia added. “I used to make Jessie smile like that, but lately things haven’t been so good.”

  “Marriage is tough, baby.” Toni rested her hand against Patricia’s face. “And Jessie isn’t the easiest person to get along with.”

  “I try so hard, Mom.”

  “I know, baby,” said Toni. She grabbed the stack of plates from Alyson and went to set the dining room table.

  “Samson is a sweetheart,” Patricia whispered to Alyson. “I’ve been around a long time. Jessie and I were high school sweethearts. And I’ve seen women come and go in Sammy’s life, but none have ever made him smile like he has since meeting you.”

  Alyson’s heart danced, but she kept a straight face. She and Patricia carried dishes filled with food to the table. Cecil had managed to steal the stereo’s remote control from Calvin, and the music had changed from hip-hop to old school. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” began to amplify through the speakers.

  “Come on, Cecil, dance with me,” said Toni.

  “I don’t feel like dancing, Antionette,” Cecil protested.

  “Oh, come on! Let’s show these young people how it’s done,” she insisted, and pulled her husband up from the chair.

  Cecil rolled his eyes, but joined his wife in the middle of the floor. Alyson watched with admiration as the two of them slow danced. They reminded her of her own parents, and she smiled. She glanced over at Samson, who was also watching his parents with the same admiration. She caught his eye, and he gave her a smile and a wink.

  Her heart was so full of joy at that moment. There was nothing more satisfying than good music, a good meal, family, and the man that she was quickly falling head over heels in love with.

  Chapter 27

  Toni washed pots, pans and glasses by hand. Soapy suds covered her arms, and a dish towel was draped over her shoulder.

  “You know, we could’ve just loaded those dishes into this overpriced, state-of-the-art dishwasher,” Alyson told Toni.

  “I hate dishwashers. I always wash by hand,” Toni said with a smile.

  “I could’ve done this,” said Alyson.

  “You did enough, young lady. Dinner was fabulous. You’re a great cook, and such a beautiful young woman,” she said. “I’ve certainly enjoyed meeting you.”

  “And I’ve enjoyed meeting you.”

  “I don’t know you very well, but I have good intuition about people. You’re good and wholesome,” said Toni. “What are your plans? Are you staying around here for a while?”

  “I have to get back to the Bahamas soon. My sister’s wedding is fast approaching,” Alyson explained. “And I’ve got some loose ends to tie up with my business in Miami.”

  “You’re a busy woman. Where does that leave you and Sammy?”

  Alyson shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll take things a day at a time.”

  Toni handed Alyson the last glass to dry. She dried her hands on the towel. “I hope to see you again real soon,” she said.

  Alyson followed Toni into the living room, where Samson and his father were enjoying the last few minutes of a football game together.

  “Let’s go, Cecil!”

  “It’s three minutes left on the clock,” Cecil protested.

  “We have to go. It’s late, and these kids want some privacy.” Toni grabbed Cecil’s wool topcoat and handed it to him.

  Cecil groaned, but stood. Toni secured the buttons on her coat and wrapped a knit scarf around her neck. She placed a matching knit hat onto her head. Samson stood and walked with his mother to the door.

  * * *

  “I like her,” Toni whispered when she and Samson were alone.

  “Love you, Ma.” Samson kissed his mother’s cheek. He was overjoyed by his mother’s comment. He’d hoped that Alyson and his mother would get along.

  “Dinner was wonderful, Alyson,” said Cecil.

  “Thank you,” said Alyson as she gave Cecil a hug.

  “Safe travels when you return home, sweetheart,” Toni told Alyson.

  “Thank you and good night,” Alyson said.

  She found her place next to Samson as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

  “Tonight was good. The dysfunctional people approved of you,” said Samson. “You know what that means, right?”

  “No, what?”

  “You’re just as dysfunctional as they are.”

  “Your family is sweet. And very normal.”

  “There’s nothing normal about them.” Samson found his way to Alyson’s lips and kissed them gently. He balanced himself against the wall and pu
lled her into him. “Let’s finish what we started before they got here.”

  Alyson followed Samson into the bedroom. He gently lay on the king-size bed. Alyson carefully pulled his T-shirt over his head and began to plant soft kisses along his muscular chest. She loosened his sweatpants from around his waist and pulled them down. Samson assisted as much as he could until he was wearing only boxer shorts. She undid the buttons on her silk blouse and unbuttoned her jeans. She slid the jeans over her hips and let her blouse slide from her shoulders. She loosened the clasp on her front-hook red bra and freed her breasts.

  Samson became aroused while watching her. He reached for her breasts and squeezed each one tenderly. He lifted himself up and placed one into his mouth, and she moaned as he nibbled on it. Alyson kissed his neck and chest and worked her way down to his navel. She reached for him, began to caress him through his boxer shorts. She removed his shorts, and her lips found his.

  * * *

  When Alyson felt Samson inside of her, she knew that life without him would be unacceptable.

  She watched as the snow fell outside. As daylight crept through the window, she pulled the thick comforter close to her chin. She’d completely underestimated Chicago weather. Even with Samson’s thick socks hugging her feet, and his light blue, tailored dress shirt buttoned all the way up to her neck, she was still cold. She wished she’d taken him up on that trip to Walmart for some insulated sleep pants, as she struggled to keep her legs warm.

  Samson grabbed her from behind. “What are you thinking, love?”

  “That I’ve never seen snow before.”

  “Never?”

  “Well, on television and in movies. But never in real life.”

  “And what do you think about it?”

  “I can live without being out there in it. I love looking at it from this window, though.”

  “You ready to go back to the Bahamas?”

  She turned to face him. Placed her hand against his face. “I need to wrap things up with Jazzy’s wedding. Christmas is in a few weeks.”

  “Will you come back?” he asked.

  “To this weather? I can’t live in Chicago, and my work is still in Miami. Even after I cut ties with Madison Development, I’m still in the process of building my business.”

  “Where does that leave us, then? Because I can’t live without you in my life.”

  “It puts us in a difficult situation,” she said.

  “It certainly does.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t have your back before. I should’ve trusted you,” she told him.

  “Yes, you should’ve.”

  “I need you,” she found herself saying. She couldn’t believe she’d actually said those words to another human being.

  “What about your career? What about Alyson Talbot and Associates?”

  “You were right about the Madisons,” she admitted. “Besides it wouldn’t make any sense to gain all the wealth in the world, but lose the man I love in the end.”

  “Did you say love?”

  “Okay, yes. I love you,” she admitted, “but let’s not dwell on it.”

  “You’ve never said that to a man before, have you?”

  “Only once. And it was a very long time ago.”

  He pulled her closer, and his lips met hers. His kiss sealed the deal, and the return was far better than any commission she’d made on any deal.

  * * *

  Her return flight home was long and emotional. She left Chicago not knowing where her relationship with Samson stood. She knew that she could never relocate, and his political career was calling him back to Illinois. He had already begun to arrange his campaign. Her home was in Florida, his was in Illinois and neither of them was willing to change that fact.

  She leaned her head against the seat. Earbuds were plugged into her ears, and a magazine lay facedown in her lap. She tried reading, but kept becoming distracted. Thoughts of Samson rushed through her mind, and she wondered if she’d left too soon. She wanted to spend Christmas with the man she loved, but she had other priorities in the Bahamas. Jasmine was depending on her, and she wouldn’t let her down.

  Chapter 28

  The altar was decorated with Christmas orchids and beautiful red poinsettias. The baby grand piano was garnished with fragrant red and white candles. Little bouquets of fresh red roses and calla lilies were sprinkled with Christmas greens and hypericum berries and strategically placed around the room, while sweet Bahamian music played softly.

  Alyson stood at the altar, as her heart was filled with joy. She watched as Jackson stood on the other side of the altar and awaited his bride. She gave him a comforting smile. He needed it because he was nervous. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he fidgeted with his hands.

  Jasmine was a beautiful bride, dressed in the gown that she’d chosen in Miami. It was perfect. As she glided down the aisle, Alyson couldn’t help but feel a great deal of happiness for her sister—and pride. Jasmine had found love. Alyson dabbed the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief as she watched her father deliver her sister to her knight in shining armor. Before Samson waltzed into her life, she’d never even considered marriage for herself, but she had to admit, it wasn’t completely out of the question. She could see herself in a similar perfect gown—not necessarily a Vera Wang one, but a perfect one. A gown that would speak to her like her mother said it would.

  Suddenly she understood her mother’s sacrifices. She knew that love changed things, and she wouldn’t judge her mother ever again. Samson had transformed her mind and heart. She’d been married to her career for years, but now she could finally see herself married to a man. She would make the sacrifice, even if it meant uprooting her business and relocating to a new city.

  Alyson glanced over at her mother, who was also dabbing tears from her eyes. Her father gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek, and Alyson couldn’t help but smile. Her parents had found love at a young age. And her mother had sacrificed her career for the man of her dreams. She quickly realized that love sometimes went hand in hand with sacrifice.

  While Jackson and Jasmine exchanged vows, Alyson smiled with pride. Her heart was filled with joy for them. Jasmine handed her the bouquet of white roses to hold while she kissed her groom. Everyone applauded when Pastor Johnson introduced the new husband and wife to the congregation.

  “I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Conner.”

  The couple faced their guests and took their long stride back down the aisle—this time together.

  Alyson watched the dance floor fill up as couples danced to the sound of the Caribbean band Onyx.

  “Do you need me to dance with you?” asked Edward. He was dressed in a handsome tuxedo, the jacket draped over his shoulder.

  “Of course not.”

  “Well, you’re sitting here looking all sad and desolate.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “She’s missing her boo,” said Whitney.

  “Who is her boo?” Alyson’s younger brother, Nate, asked.

  Alyson’s brother Nate had flown in from Atlanta the night before. The family hadn’t seen him since the Grove’s grand opening, and probably wouldn’t see him again for another year. Nate was determined never to return to the islands long-term, and he wouldn’t stay for visits very long. The Bahamas held too many bad memories for him. Memories of being jilted by his high school sweetheart still haunted him. The Bahamas, his home, was a constant reminder of that. But he would never miss Jasmine’s wedding. Jasmine and Nate had been comrades their entire lives.

  “Her boo is Samson Steel, Jackson’s handsome friend,” Whitney explained.

  “And why isn’t he here?” Nate asked.

  “He went back to Chicago,” said Whitney.

  “Can we please stop discussing my business as if I’m not standing here?”

  “I’ll go grab you a glass of wine,” said Edward. “You want white or red?”

  “White’s fine,” said Alyson.

  “I’m going to
check on Mother,” said Whitney. “She was hoping that Denny would make it home for the wedding. It’s sad he’s not here.”

  “I was hoping Denny would make it home, too. Maybe next time.”

  “You did a fabulous job helping Jasmine to plan this wedding,” said Whitney as she gave her a hug. “Everything is so beautiful.”

  Alyson rested her head against her sister’s for a moment. “Thanks.”

  “I’ll be back in a minute. Before the father-daughter dance,” Whitney said before disappearing into the crowd.

  “Look up,” a familiar voice whispered into her ear.

  She didn’t bother to look around. She already recognized the strong arms that wrapped themselves lightly around her, careful not to squeeze too tight as he healed from his injuries. She looked up at the mistletoe that hung over her head, and Samson kissed her lips. Not a peck, like before. He kissed her deeply, and she kissed him back.

  “What a nice surprise,” she said.

  Alyson and Samson swayed to the music. Her heart was filled with joy.

  * * *

  While Jasmine danced with their father, Alyson spotted Jennifer Madison across the room. Jennifer gave her an apologetic smile. Alyson had invited her weeks before, but after discontinuing her relationship with Madison, she expected that Jennifer would cut all ties with her—including removing her from the property on Abaco.

  After the two made eye contact, Jennifer made a beeline for Alyson.

  “Do you have a moment?” she asked. “I know this isn’t the best time, but I really need to talk to you.”

  “You’re right, it’s not the best time,” Alyson said.

  “I owe you an apology,” said Jennifer. “An apology for such grave behavior and corruption. My father had no idea that these things were going on in his company. He has been so far removed for a long time, and I’ve finally convinced him to let me help run Madison. My first order of business has been removing about 80 percent of his staff and replacing them.”

  “Really?” Alyson said.

  “You’ll be happy to know that Dustin was the first to go.” Jennifer smiled. “We’ve hired all new people. Ethical people.”

  “That’s good to know.”