by Amy Rose
When I meet up with Elliot a little later on, he has added two more bags to his collection. “I think it’s time to go, my arms are going to fall off.” He laughs as he says it.
“Okay packhorse, let’s go home.” We wander off in the direction of the car. When we meet the valet at the hotel, he quickly collects our car. We deposit our bags into the back seat of the car and hop in the front. We pull out into the traffic which is much heavier than when we arrived this morning and we start our journey back to Elliot’s.
The car ride is pleasant. About fifteen minutes from home, snow starts to fall lightly. “How beautiful,” I state.
“It is, isn’t it?” Elliot responds.
I watch the snowfall for the remainder of the trip home. We pull up to the front door of the main house. Elliot collects the parcels from the back of the car and comes over to meet me under the porch.
The car keys are clenched between his teeth. I grab them from him and unlock the front door allowing us entry. Once inside, we walk into the family room where the gift bags are deposited onto the sofa. Elliot immediately sets to work starting the fire. I grab my Saks bag with Elliot’s present. “I’m just ducking over to the guest house to write in my last Christmas card. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay. Try not to be long.”
I exit the house via the French door and jog across to where I am staying. I unlock the duck egg blue front door and am pleasantly surprised by how warm it is inside. The heating must be on. I quickly set to work locating a pen before sitting down at the dining table and digging out the Christmas card I had purchased when Elliot and I had separated to complete our shopping.
I know what I want to say in the card, so I make short work of it.
Dearest Elliot,
May this Christmas be the first of many more to come.
I know our future is as bright as a shooting star. I’m excited to see what is to come.
With love,
Angela xxx
I seal the envelope and place it under the ribbon on the parcel. I then go to the bedroom and open my clothes bag. I quickly find the other item that I had for him: a framed photograph of us. The photo was taken at my Christmas party; when Elliot was sleeping that night, I got up and printed it at home. It is on normal white paper, but the quality is still good. I will replace it in the future with a proper photograph, but for now, it is perfect.
The frame I had purchased from a local shop in Nashville and then taken to the locksmiths on Main Street to have it customized by engraving our names into it. Something of me that would always be with him. I add this wrapped parcel to the sweater and leave them on the table.
I quickly duck into the bathroom and refresh myself and then make my way back toward the main house. As I approach the French doors I notice Elliot pacing. I move faster, and as soon as I open the doors, I speak. “Are you okay sweetheart? Is there something wrong?”
I cross over to where he stands and offer him my hands, which he takes right away. He pulls me close and hugs me. He holds me for some time not saying anything; finally releasing me, he begins. “I’m okay, baby. I guess I’m just nervous.” He shrugs as he speaks.
Wanting him to feel better I reply, “I’m nervous too. I’m meeting your sister tomorrow for the first time, and I’m seeing your parents again. I hope they all like me.”
“My sister will feel the same way about you as my parents do. They are going to treat you as part of the family.” He pauses and takes a breath. “They will love you Angie, just like I do.” My heart feels like it stops for a moment. Had I heard that right? Did he just say he loves me, again?
Oh my god, not knowing what to say I lean into his chest and pull him closer in a hug. Do I say it back? I told him a couple of days ago that I loved him, and he had said the same thing, however I wasn’t sure if that was a one off, due to the heightened emotions we were experiencing. And yet, he just told me again, just the two of us and the emotions today aren’t heightened at all.
I stay quiet; is he expecting me to say it back?
~ Chapter Fourteen ~
Angela
“I’m not expecting you to say it back, Angie, I just wanted to tell you how I feel.” Elliot’s words burst through the little bubble I am currently in with my thoughts.
“I wasn’t expecting you to say that you loved me, is all.” I feel stupid for what I just said, a bit of an understatement really.
Elliot pulls back from me and holding my hand leads me to the sofa, where we both sit down, “I haven’t scared you, have I?” His face is full of worry, concern even.
“No of course not. I just thought maybe I was the only one feeling this way. The other night when we declared our feelings, I thought I may have dreamed it with the heightened emotions that were running through me. But I know how I feel about you and I love you, too, Elliot.”
My chest feels light, as though a weight I never knew I was carrying has lifted. His smile in return is huge, showing his teeth and creating a cute dimple on his left cheek I haven’t noticed before. “Well that is good news indeed.” He leans forward and kisses me firmly. It is amazing how every single time he kisses me, he lights me on fire.
But now knowing that this man loves me, it is enough to set me ablaze. While still kissing him, I lift myself off the sofa and come over to sit across his lap, I wrap my arms around his neck as he slides his arm around my waist and continues allowing our mouths to connect. After what feels like an hour we pull apart and press our foreheads together. Not wanting to break the moment, I stay quiet. I feel so safe in his arms and it was quickly becoming my favorite place on earth to be. He seems to be feeling the same as he, too, stays quiet.
I push him back to lean against the back cushion of the lounge and slide my head down to his shoulder and place my head in the crook of his collarbone. He lifts one of his hands and rubs circles on my lower back. “I just got the best present I could ever wish for; Christmas gifts are going to seem dull after that.”
I smile into his neck. “I know what you mean.” I kiss his neck quickly “I’m sure you will love my presents though.”
I make an effort to make my voice light. I don’t want him to hear how much I really did want him to love his gifts. “Baby, anything from you, I will love.” He turns to face me and continues. “”Hopefully you like mine, too. Since you’re here with me now on Christmas Eve, will you open one of your gifts?” He suddenly looks like a little kid. How can I possibly refuse him?
“Only if you open one of yours too. Mind you, I only purchased you two gifts so if you open one now you will only have the one to open tomorrow.” He places his forefinger under his chin and tries to look as though he is deep in thought.
“As long as you wake up in my arms tomorrow morning and you still love me, then that’s the only present I need.” He pecks me quickly on the lips. “So yes, I’ll open a present now.” He scans the room.
“I’ll have to go get it from your guest house. I’ll be back.” I make an attempt to get off his lap, but he doesn’t let me get far before he pulls me back close to his chest.
“Don’t be long, my love.” He kisses me on the lips gently before he pushes me away and helps me onto my feet.
I pad across the room to the French doors and make my way to where I am staying. When I close the front door, I lean against it, glad to have a moment on my own. I bring my hands up to my mouth to cover it and let out a small squeal. Elliot Sands just told me he loves me. I still can’t believe that I have heard it right. After all, we have only known each other for such a short time, a matter of weeks really, two short months. However, I love him too, and it has taken me the same amount of time to fall head over heels in love with him.
I am ripped out of my thoughts by the sound of my cell phone ringing, I cross the room to my handbag and retrieve my phone from the inside pocket, the display screen showing it is my mother calling. I decide to answer it knowing that I more than likely won’t speak to her tomorrow. After sliding the answe
r call button I speak, “Hi, Mom.”
“Ah my dear Angela. How are you?” My mother’s soft voice comes through the phone.
“I’m fine Mom. How about you and Dad?”
“We are both well. We wanted to call you tonight to wish you a Merry Christmas as we will be out of service tomorrow. Are you going to Liam and Jessica’s house?”
Trust my mother to ask the one question that needed a definite answer, I decide to avoid it by replying to the first part of her sentence. “So, you are on another cruise then? Where are you off to this time?”
My mother, tending to be like a dog with a bone, doesn’t let up. “It’s from Hawaii to Sydney, Australia, and you didn’t answer me about tomorrow. Are you hiding something from me, Angela Marie?”
Knowing that I couldn’t duck the question twice, I answer her question. “That sounds lovely. Enjoy yourself. Remember to send me a postcard. As for tomorrow, I’m spending it with my boyfriend and his family at his home.”
I don’t have to wait long to hear my mother’s voice again. “Boyfriend, Angela you haven’t told me about a boyfriend. Tell me everything: his name, how long have you been seeing each other? Where did you meet?”
I decide that telling the truth without providing every detail is the best course of action. “His name is Elliot, it’s been a couple of months, and he purchased a house from me.” Perfect, all the truth.
“What does Elliot do for work?” I should have known that my mother would interrogate me, I need a way to finish this conversation.
“He renovates houses Mom. Oh, shoot is that the time? He will be coming over to collect me soon and I still need to get ready,” hoping this would get me out of this conversation. Not a chance.
“You can get ready while talking to your mother. Put your phone on megaphone.”
“It’s called speakerphone, Mom,” I correct her.
“It doesn’t matter what it’s called, what matters is you that you finally have a boyfriend. Oh honey, I’m so happy for you. When can we meet him?”
I know deep down she would eventually ask that question “Elliot goes out of town a lot for business. When you’re next coming to town, let me know and I’ll ask him to check his schedule.” I don’t need to mention that his home town isn’t the same as mine.
“Okay love, that sounds fine. Have you received your Christmas present as yet?”
I can sense her excitement through the phone, I did pick up their card before I left and threw it into my bag to open tomorrow morning, “I already opened my earrings that you had delivered to the office a few days ago, they are lovely Mom. Thank you.” Taking a breath, I continue, “I received your card on Thursday.”
“Oh sweetheart, I’m glad you liked the diamonds. When I saw them, I just knew they would look perfect on you. As for the card, open it then, while I have you on the phone. We want to know if you like it.”
I can hear her calling out to my father in the background, I retrieve the envelope from my bag and open it. “Okay, I’ll open it now.” I pull the card out from within. Rudolph the reindeer is the main attraction with a glittery red nose. I open it and out falls a small rectangular piece of paper. I turn it over in my hands and see it was a check for the amount of $20,000. I almost choke.
“Is dad there with you?” I ask.
“Of course, he is. Do you want me to put him on?”
“It’s okay, just tell him thank you, thank you to both of you. It’s too much but it will come in handy.” I pause before continuing, “Merry Christmas, Mom. I love you both.”
I heard my mother sigh “We love you too, baby girl, very, very much.” I can hear my father call out that he loves me too.
“Okay then, I’ll let you go to get ready for your boyfriend. Elliot is a nice name, you know, a strong name.”
“I know it is, Mom. He is wonderful. Have fun on your cruise. Bye.”
“Bye, darling,” and then the phone clicks off. I pull my phone away from my ear and look at it for a moment, and then away to look at my Christmas gift from my parents. $20,000 isn’t a lot of money to them, but to me that is approximately twelve months mortgage. I replace the check safely into the card and into the supported pocket of my traveling bag.
I lie down on the bed for a moment to think about my parents, and Mother’s request to meet Elliot. I want them to meet him, and while it will be nice to introduce him to them, I didn’t want to commit Elliot to anything that could jeopardize our relationship this early on. My mother is overly emotional and tends to get carried away. I wouldn’t put it past her mentioning weddings and babies at the first possible opportunity. I have to put this off until I know that Elliot and I are in a solid place, more solid then where we are now in our early loved-up phase. Solid enough that my mother’s overbearingness won’t drive him away.
I hear a knock at the door and looking down at my watch I realize I have been away for nearly an hour. I jump off the bed and run to the front door, flinging it open, Elliot is standing there with his fist up open to knock again, he drops it as soon as he sees me. “I thought you might have decided to stay here instead of coming back over,” he states.
“Sorry, I lost track of time. My parents called, and we spoke for a while.” Simple explanation.
“No need to apologize, babe. How are your parents?”
He seems genuinely interested so I answer, “They are fine, currently on a cruise ship heading for Sydney, in Australia. I’ll just grab your gift and we can head back.” I turn to pick up his parcel, the photo frame, and return to where he is still standing.
“Sydney is a beautiful spot. I hope they get time to go on land and check it out. The Sydney Opera House is a marvel of architecture,” I nod. Knowing my father, he would love to see it.
“I’m sure Dad will want to see that. He has a love for architecture, too”,
“A man after my own heart. I daresay we will get on famously,” Elliot voices.
“Hey, that heart is taken!” I exclaim.
“It sure is, my love.” Bending, he kisses me on the cheek.
Once he has stepped back, he holds up a small white package wrapped with red ribbon, “I brought yours over, in case we were opening here.” He is leaving the decision up to me.
“Let’s go back to the big house and sit in front of the fireplace.” I reach out to take his hand and close the front door and lead him back to his main house.
Once we are back in his living room, I make my way to stand in front of the fireplace and I begin to relax. “Merry Christmas, Elliot.” I hold out my present towards him, his eyes are open wide. He reaches out with his right hand to accept it, once it is within his grasp, he brings it back towards his chest, he lifts it to his ear and gives it a small shake. A small laugh escapes me; at this very moment he has the mannerisms of a small boy. His grin grows larger at my laughter.
“It doesn’t rattle, so it’s not chocolates.” I shake my head, confirming his statement. He brings it down between his two hands and slips a finger underneath the long edge and pulls it up. With another quick rip he has revealed his gift. He turns it over and looks at it. I can’t tell what he is thinking as his expression gives nothing away. I see his thumb move over the engraving.
I don’t know how much longer I can stand this silence. Does he like it? Maybe it is less than what he was expecting? He looks up at that moment. “This will live on my bedside table when I am home and on my desk when I am at work.” I can feel a grin spreading across my features. He places the photo frame on the mantelpiece and when he is assured it won’t fall, he steps toward me and kisses me, lifting me off the ground while doing so. Once our lips leave each other’s, he speaks again. “I love it Angie, and I love you.” I crush his lips with my own in that moment, he has said it again.
He is the one to break the kiss this time. He pulls out of his pocket the same white and red gift-wrapped box he had shown me earlier. “Merry Christmas, Baby.” He offers me his gift in his outstretched hand, I take it from him and in co
pying his movements from earlier shake it gently. I bring it down in front of my face where I can see the writing on the ribbon, Cartier. Sheesh, it is jewelry. I thank the lord above that the size of this box is larger than that of a ring. I untie the ribbon and let it slide to the floor, I then peel off the white paper that reveals a red box, it opens at the center into two pieces. Inside on a crushed velvet bed is a white gold cross with eleven diamonds on a thin chain. It is exquisite.
I feel a breath catch in my throat before I feel Elliot’s touch on my hands as I look up at him, his face is completely blank. “This is.…” I can’t finish. How can I tell him that this is perfect other than saying those exact words? “Absolutely perfect,” I finish.
“Oh, thank god. I know how you feel about me spending money on you but when I saw this, I instantly thought of you.” He reaches out to take the necklace from the box. “May I?” he asks.
I reach up and collect my hair from my shoulders holding it up high on my head. He then reaches around and places the diamonds around my neck and fastens the clasp. It sits just below my collarbone. In the light of the fire it glistens like crazy. I reach up a hand to touch it to make sure it is real, and the hard metal feel confirms it is.
I feel a tear forming in my eye. Before I get choked up, I say my piece. “Oh, Elliot, I love you and I love this necklace. I’m never going to take it off.” I leap into his arms and wrap my own around his neck and my legs around his waist, holding him close to me. He catches me easily and hugs me hard. In this moment I don’t know how life can get any better. He loves the photo; for that I am so very happy. It wasn’t an expensive gift and yet he appreciates it.
I let my legs slip from around his waist and drop to the floor, once I feel my feet touch solid ground, I unwrap my arms too. I glance outside through the window and note it is getting dark, a quick look at the clock above the mantle reveals it is almost 6:00 pm. “Are you hungry, babe? Should we cook something for dinner?” I ask.
