An Unexpected Holiday Gift

by Martha Kennerson

“Great, how’s six?” Mia asked.

  “Six it is. Text me your address.”

  “Sure.” Mia scanned all the bowling lanes. “Looks like everyone’s wrapping up. We should go make the presentation.”

  “You’re right, we better go. I see that my aunt Elizabeth has arrived.”

  “Go on. We’ve got Colby.” Mavis smiled at the little boy, who had made his way over to Keylan’s side and was now holding his hand. Keylan looked down at Colby. “He can come with us. You don’t mind, do you, Mia?”

  “’Course not.” Mia hugged her uncle and aunt. “We’ll see you later.”

  “Shall we?” Keylan placed the palm of his free hand on the small of Mia’s back. The warmth of his touch sent a wave of desire through Mia’s body, making her stumble as she took a step.

  “You all right?” Keylan asked, obviously holding back his laughter.

  Not even a little bit—and you know it, too. “Sure, let’s go,” she replied, knowing that was the furthest thing from the truth.

  Chapter 12

  Keylan was standing in the middle of the living room of his penthouse suite in one of Houston’s most exclusive downtown apartment buildings. He was trying to remember where he’d put his keys when his doorbell rang. He checked his watch and said, “Whoever that is can’t stay. I won’t be late for my date with Mia.” He walked over to the door and opened it to the one person who moved at her own time and pace.

  “Hello, darling,” Victoria greeted him, stepping into his apartment without waiting for an invite, a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman following behind her.

  “Hello, Mother, Mr. Rivers. What are you two doing here?” Keylan knew the way he asked the question might have sounded rude but all he wanted to do was get to Mia.

  Victoria fell silent and offered her cheek for their usual greeting. Keylan smiled, leaned forward and kissed her. “Now, to answer your somewhat ridiculous question, Mr. Rivers is here to take photos and check the window and banister measurements for the lights and garland so he can get his team in here tomorrow to start decorating your apartment for the holidays. We’re only a few weeks away from Christmas, you know.”

  “Yes, of course.” Keylan walked around his sunken living room, hoping that height advantage would help in his search for his keys.

  Victoria frowned at her son’s actions as Rivers excused himself and started taking photos and notes. “What on earth are you doing, son?”

  “I’m looking for my keys. I’m going to see Mia for six and I don’t want to be late.” Keylan had no idea why he’d blurted that out.

  “A date?” she offered, sounding hopeful.

  “No, it’s just dinner,” he snapped.

  “Excuse me.” Her voice was stern and tone deadpan. Victoria was a woman that didn’t tolerate any form of disrespect, especially from her children.

  Keylan and his mother had always had a complicated relationship. They were never as close as she had been with his brothers growing up. His father had died when he was very young and Victoria’s priority had become keeping her family safe and growing their business, which had taken up a great deal of her time. Keylan might not have liked or even understood a number of things his mother did, but he loved her and respected her accomplishments.

  Keylan stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry, Mother. I’m just in a hurry and I can’t find my keys.”

  Victoria glanced around the room. “You mean those keys?” She pointed to the bar in the corner of the room next to the door. “The ones sitting next to those very nice holiday gift bags.”

  Keylan’s shoulders dropped and he released an audible sigh. “Yes, thank you.”

  “You seem awfully flustered for a man who’s only having dinner,” she said, giving him a knowing look.

  “I’m not—I just don’t want to be late. Mia already has this false narrative of me and I don’t want to give her any reason to think she’s right.”

  “Does she, now?” Victoria walked down the three steps and took a seat on his couch. “Come, tell me what she thinks she knows about you.”

  “I told you—”

  “Sit down, Keylan,” she ordered. “For heaven’s sake, it’s four thirty. The last time I checked, Mia only lived twenty minutes from here. You’ll be there before five.”

  “Aren’t you the one who’s always drilled into us that being on time is really late?” he reminded, walking down the steps and joining his mother on the couch.

  “Yes, and that’s right when it comes to most things. However, leaving now puts you at Mia’s an hour early. Trust me when I say single mothers need all the time they can get when preparing for a date.”

  “It’s not...”

  Victoria narrowed her eyes and held up her left hand. Keylan closed his mouth. He still couldn’t believe how well such a simple gesture still worked on him and his brothers. “You have time for a nice chat with your mother.”

  “How would you know if it’s difficult dating as a single mother? You never dated when we were kids and you had more help than any of us wanted around.” Keylan’s tone had more of an edge to it than he realized.

  Victoria sat back and crossed her legs. She tilted her head slightly to the left and her expression closed up. “You’ve always been my most willful and outspoken child. I know everyone thinks that best describes your brothers Alexander and Morgan, and while they, too, love to challenge me, they never doubted my motive was my love for them.”

  “Mother, I—”

  “When you were eight, you had a game you wanted me to attend but I had to go out of town on business. When I came to your room to say goodbye, you refused to look at me and you said that I didn’t love you and you didn’t care.”

  Keylan nodded. “I remember that. I was just a kid. I especially remember the beating Alexander and Morgan gave me for disrespecting you.” He reached for his mother’s hand and squeezed it. “I knew then, as I know now, just how much you love me, Mother.”

  Victoria released a loud breath. “I appreciate you saying that, son, but it really doesn’t matter. It may not be the politically correct thing to say, and I realize my actions often left you angry and confused, but please understand that my love for all you children, Elizabeth and our business is what allowed me to put one foot in front of the other after your father died. You all gave me the strength I needed in order to make tough decisions that protected our family and grew our business. I won’t apologize for that...ever.”

  “I understand.”

  “Mia...”

  Keylan shrugged.

  Victoria gave her son’s hand a small shake and released it. “Now, tell me about today’s event. According to Elizabeth, it went fabulously well.”

  * * *

  “Colby, are you dressed?” Mia yelled out as she put the finishing touches to her salad.

  “Yes, Mommy,” he responded and ran into the kitchen wearing blue jeans and a light blue T-shirt, his feet bare.

  “Colby, where are your socks?” Mia placed the salad in the refrigerator before turning to face her son.

  “In the sock drawer, Mommy,” he said, frowning up at her.

  Mia couldn’t help but laugh at the confused look on her son’s face. “Okay, young man, why don’t you go find a pair and put them on your feet?”

  “Okeydoke.” Colby ran out of the room.

  It had been years since Mia had made dinner for any man other than her uncle and she couldn’t believe how nervous she was. “Get a grip, it’s just a meal. He probably only said yes to be nice.” Mia moved to her stove and turned off the burner under her simmering meat. “Let’s see—my meat’s ready, the salad’s done and the buns are ready for the toaster.” She checked her watch. “Time to get dressed.”

  Mia made her way to her bedroom, where she discarded the robe she had been
wearing and slipped on a blue silk, scoop-necked dress. She pulled her curly hair up and clipped it high on her head before lightly dusting her face with makeup and applying a sheer lip gloss. Standing in front of her full-length mirror, she admired her dress from all angles before slipping her feet into a pair of black slipper sandals. “Well, this will have to do.”

  Mia checked the time and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. She turned to find Colby standing in her doorway. “Keylan’s coming... Keylan’s coming,” he announced, his face lit up like high beams on a car.

  Well, let’s go get this over with. “Let’s go see.”

  “Yay...” Colby yelled, running to the door. He jumped on the bay window seat, looked out the window and announced, “He’s...here.”

  * * *

  Keylan pulled his black Mercedes into the driveway of the small, gray-brick house in the middle of a cul-de-sac. He exited the vehicle and laughed at the fact that Mia’s house was the only one not decorated for Christmas. He walked up to the door and knocked, smiling and waving back at the excited, little curly-haired boy in the window whose smile brightened most of his days.

  He stood at the door holding two gift bags he hoped would be received with the spirit in which they were intended. His heart raced at the sound of the door’s lock being released and he murmured, “Man, chill.”

  The door opened and the striking woman that he couldn’t seem to get off his mind stood before him, holding the hand of the cutest boy ever. Clearly, Mia was trying to stop him from bolting out the door.

  “Good evening,” Mia said, giving her son’s hand a small shake.

  “Hi, Keylan. You look like me.” Colby gave Keylan a big, toothy grin.

  “Hi, buddy, and you’re right, except I have on a jacket and sneakers,” Keylan replied before turning his attention to Mia. “Hello, Mia, you look breathtakingly beautiful.” Smooth, real smooth.

  Mia smiled. “Thank you. Please come in,” she offered, stepping aside.

  Keylan crossed the threshold into the small bungalow and smiled. The house was open and free of the clutter he’d expected in a house with a four-year-old boy. The furnishings were perfect in their simplicity and screamed “home sweet home.” “You have a lovely place, Mia.” Not a sign of Christmas in sight in here, either. I must fix that.

  “Thanks, we like it.”

  “This is for Colby.” He held up a medium-size gift bag. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  Mia shook her head. “Not at all. Well, as long as it isn’t something sweet.”

  “Well, I think it’s pretty sweet but if you’re worried it’s something to eat, don’t be. May I?” he asked, looking down at Colby.

  “Of course.”

  Keylan stooped to Colby’s eye level. “Here you go, man. Why don’t you check this out?” He handed Colby the bag. Keylan rose, turned back and faced Mia. “This is for you.”

  Mia accepted the smaller gift bag and pulled out a bottle of Mer Soleil Chardonnay. A wide smile spread across her face. She didn’t have any real vices but she did enjoy a nice bottle of wine. “One of my favorites, how did you know?” Mia held the bottle to her chest.

  “A little bird told me,” he confessed.

  “Well, thank you and your little bird,” she said, holding his gaze.

  “You are more than welcome.” Keylan felt his body start to stir and a magnetic pull had him leaning forward. He figured a quick kiss couldn’t hurt when he heard, “Look, Mommy. I’m just like Keylan.”

  Chapter 13

  Mia’s body was responding to Keylan’s presence in a way that she was beginning to get used to and even enjoy. She often found herself daydreaming about how it would feel to be kissed and touched by a man she wasn’t sure would be good for her or her son. Gazing up into Keylan’s light brown eyes drew her to him like a giant magnet, and that was both exciting and very scary.

  Mia took a step toward Keylan when she heard, “Mommy...” She quickly turned to face her son. “Yes, darling.”

  “I’m just like Keylan.” He held up a pair of black sneakers with Keylan’s signature on the sides of each shoe in white script.

  “Wow, those are...great.” Mia’s eyes danced between her son and Keylan. What was he thinking? “What do you say?”

  “Thank you, Keylan.”

  “You’re welcome. Try them on,” he suggested.

  “Okeydoke.” Colby ran and plopped onto the sofa and started putting the shoes on his feet.

  “What are you doing?” Mia asked, her tone sharp.

  Keylan looked around the room. “You really aren’t into Christmas. There’s not one sign of the holiday, outside or in,” he remarked, ignoring her question.

  “No, I’m not...not all the unnecessary trappings, anyway. Now answer my question. What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

  “What do you mean?” Keylan’s face scrunched up.

  “Are you kidding right now? Why do you think he wears Velcro tennis shoes? They’re not a fashion statement,” she said with both hands on her hips, facing away from her son.

  “Clearly.” The corners of Keylan’s mouth turned up as he looked past Mia.

  Mia frowned, fighting the urge to smack that grin off his face. “Are you mocking me?”

  Keylan sighed, took Mia by the shoulders and turned her toward Colby, who was now sitting on the floor tying his shoes. “Pull the bunny ears out. Yay me!” Colby cheered.

  “Wh...what’s he doing?” Mia murmured.

  “I believe it’s called tying his shoes,” he whispered.

  “That’s not possible. Colby doesn’t know how to tie his own shoes. He’s not ready,” she declared.

  “You sure about that?”

  “I’m positive. He’s my son.” She looked over her shoulder at him and repeated, “I know my son.”

  “Colby, let’s show your mother what you can do.” Keylan sat next to Colby on the floor and untied his own shoe.

  “Wait, di...did you teach him...?” She couldn’t make herself say the words.

  Keylan smiled and winked at her. “And you thought all we do is play when we’re hanging out.”

  “I...”

  “Ready?” Keylan asked Colby.

  “Ready,” Colby said excitedly. “Watch, Mommy.”

  Mia was overwhelmed by emotions. She had tried to teach Colby to tie his shoes to no avail but now, thanks to Keylan, her son could actually do it. “I’m watching, little man,” she said, brushing away her tears.

  “Okay, Colby, what do I do first?” Keylan asked.

  “Make lace bunny ears. Cross bunny ears and loop. Now pull bunny ears like this...see?”

  “Great job, man.” Keylan gave Colby a high five.

  Mia stood by and watched as her heart exploded with love and joy. She couldn’t speak. All she could do was nod and smile. “Colby, why don’t you put your shoes away?” Keylan suggested.

  “Okeydoke.”

  Keylan stood, walked over to Mia and wrapped his left arm around her waist, pulling her close. He rubbed her back with his right hand. “Are you all right?”

  “No,” she whispered into his chest.

  “Are you upset that I taught Colby how to tie his shoes?”

  Mia leaned back and looked up into his eyes. “Upset... I’m grateful.”

  Keylan cupped Mia’s face with his right hand, leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.

  Mia wrapped her arms around his neck, rose up on her tippy toes and returned his kiss with a level of passion she didn’t expect and couldn’t seem to control. Somehow the sound of tiny feet running on her hardwood floors broke through the haze of desire that had consumed her. Mia dropped her hands and stepped out of Keylan’s hold, missing him instantly.

  “I’m hungry, Mommy,”
Colby announced.

  Keylan’s eyes roamed Mia’s body before he captured her gaze. “Me, too,” he whispered.

  Mia could see the desire in Keylan’s eyes and she knew it matched her own. She needed to break the connection. “Let’s eat,” Mia said. “I hope you like sloppy Joes, Keylan.”

  * * *

  Mia walked into her kitchen behind Colby with Keylan following after her. Keylan hardly heard a word Mia had said. He was still reeling from their kiss, and the view of her perfectly round butt walking in front of him wasn’t helping.

  “Keylan...”

  “Sorry, what was that?” he asked.

  “Sloppy Joes? I hope you like them?” she repeated.

  “I do.” Mia’s smile made him feel warm all over. “How’s your hand?”

  “It’s fine, thanks for asking,” she replied.

  “Nice kitchen. I love the extra-long island,” he commented.

  “Thanks. We do, too. I have plenty of room on one end to cook, while on the other end, we have plenty of space for eating and entertaining. Although we don’t entertain much. It’s a great place for Colby to do homework while I cook.”

  Keylan admired the kid-friendly place settings and her choice of beverages. “Juice boxes, a most refreshing drink when you need to cool off.”

  Mia blushed. “There’s beer in the refrigerator for us.”

  “Us?” Keylan’s eyebrows stood at attention.

  “What else would you have with sloppy Joes?” Mia grinned.

  “Nice.”

  Colby took his normal seat at the kitchen island. “Sit next to me, Keylan.”

  “I will but let’s see if your mother needs any help.”

  “I’m good. We’re having salad with our sloppy Joes.”

  “No salad,” Colby declared, shaking his head.

  “No salad? Dude, you don’t know what you’re missing. Salad is good for you. They make you strong. I love salads. How about you, Mia—you love salads, too?”

  “Yes, I do,” she replied, placing three bowls and two bottles of dressing in the middle of the island.

  Colby folded his arms and said, “No...salad.”