Champagne for Christmas

by Joachim Jean

  Nina chuckled to herself as she opened the mail. There were invitations to a dozen Christmas parties, and she wrote nice notes to them all, turning them down. Darcy would be here, Clint, too, and maybe even Cory. She would much prefer to be with them.

  Fran’s invitation was there, too. Every year, Fran invited her favorite clients to a small get-together on Christmas Eve. She always enjoyed Fran’s party because she knew almost everyone, many for years and years. After Henry died, they forced her to go, if only to get her out of the house for an hour, and it had helped her heal faster.

  Still, this year, she had other priorities. She wrote a heartfelt note to Fran declining the invitation and stuck it in an envelope. When she was done, she carted the letters and notecards down to the lobby where the doorman would mail them for her.

  Upon her return, Nina settled into the comfortable sofa and watched the blinking lights and glittering ornaments on the tree. She played her favorite Christmas music sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” brought back happy memories. She smiled as the warmth of love and satisfaction settled into her bones.

  This year would be spectacular. Clint’s play would be accepted by Norman, and her life would become a tornado of rehearsals, fittings, arguments, laughter, nerves, giddiness, and all the wonderful things about the theater she loved so much and had missed so terribly. All to be shared with Clint, the love of her life now. She wondered how she would play the emotional scenes if she wasn’t able to wipe the smile off her face.

  The movie finished up by ten. When Clint and Cory returned, Nina pulled out an old game that had belonged to Darcy called Rummikub. They ate pumpkin pie and played game after game until it was after midnight. Nina yawned and stretched, staring at Clint.

  After bidding his father goodnight, Cory disappeared into the guest room while Clint and Nina entered her room. When the door closed behind her, Nina touched his arm. “You don’t still think that we shouldn’t—”

  Clint grabbed her before she could finish her sentence and drew her into his arms for a passionate kiss. Nina melted against him.

  “Do you know how crazy it makes me to be so close to you and not touch you?” he breathed.

  “You can touch me. Cory gets it…gets us.”

  “Not the way I want to touch you—grab you, squeeze you, undress you,” he muttered before placing his lips on hers again.

  Clint moved them to the bed, his hands yanking at Nina’s clothes, pushing her sweater up, sliding up her back to snap open her bra. The more undressed, she was the greater his urgency. He pulled her sweater over her head. She unzipped his pants. He pushed down her bra. She yanked up his T-shirt.

  Clint ripped the covers down in a second and hugged her, crushing her breasts into his chest as he eased them onto the mattress. Nina tried not to giggle.

  “You’re such a caveman. What happened to the shy guy?”

  “He got horny as hell, looking at you, wanting you…” his voice trailed off as his lips kissed a path of fire down her neck and across her shoulder.

  Nina sighed and relaxed back against the headboard, closing her eyes and focusing only on the sensations he was building inside her. Her arms wound around his neck and his lips headed south to capture her breast. His hand on one peak and his mouth on the other kissed, laved, and massaged, raising the heat level in her veins. Her breath began to come quicker as her hands got lost in his hair, and her thighs naturally parted to admit him as her desire grew.

  Lying between her legs, he moved his mouth to the valley between her breasts, his hands gripping her sides. Slowly, he inched down her body, his lips leaving a trail of heat as they slid down her middle and he rose to his knees.

  Nina reached for him, but he moved back out of her grasp. “Uh-uh, no touchee. Lie back and enjoy it, babe. This one’s on me.”

  She didn’t protest since she could feel he was already hard, as he pressed up against her thigh. A smile curled her lips as her fingers dug into his strong shoulders, and he continued to make love to her with his tongue, making her moan, her breathing ragged. When he moved his head up, she opened her eyes to gaze at his chest, one of her favorite parts of his body. His thumbs came down the crease of her thighs then moved inward to touch her sex.

  She moaned again and bent her knees, drawing her legs up. “Clint…please…” she breathed, looking at his face, his eyes glowing, on fire with passion.

  “Your wish…” he began then trailed off as he moved up and thrust into her hard. She gasped when he entered her. He groaned as he pushed up all the way, filling her completely. “Oh, baby,” he murmured.

  His hips started moving slowly then picked up speed as Nina’s rocked with him. Her breathing got heavier, and her moans louder. Heat and intense desire spiraled through her body, bringing her higher and higher until all her muscles clenched and a wave of pleasure washed over her from head to toe.

  Clint buried his face in her shoulder as he thrust harder then stopped, smothering his grunt of satisfaction in the soft flesh of her neck. They rested a moment. Then, Clint pushed up on his elbows, and his gaze sought hers. Their faces a whisper apart, their smiles mirroring each other, he moved a few strands of hair off her face with a gentle finger.

  “Over the moon,” he whispered.

  “And back.” Nina leaned forward to place her lips on his for a soft kiss.

  “I love you.” He rolled off her and stood up, tugging the covers up and over her. “Getting chilly in here.”

  “Winter’s coming, and this old building is anything but airtight.” Nina sat up and pushed the quilt down so she could pull her knees to her chest and wrap her arms around them, watching Clint drape his clothes over the chair. “This is the best Thanksgiving in years.”

  “For me, too, and Cory’s happy to have a real meal for a change.”

  “I like him,” she said.

  “He likes you, too, I think. It’s hard to know with him. Doesn’t talk much.”

  “Maybe not, but when he does, it’s worth listening to.”

  Clint slipped into bed next to her, and they spooned.

  “Thank God for down,” Nina said, sliding the bedclothes up over herself again.

  Clint wrapped his arm around her. “Thank God for you.”

  “Nervous about tomorrow?”

  “A little…well…yeah.”

  “The play’s done. It can stand on its own, and it’s good, Clint.”

  “I hope Norman Fallon agrees with you.”

  He reached over and switched out the bedside lamp, and they slipped into a cozy slumber.

  Chapter Ten

  Saturday morning, Clint and Nina were up by nine. Cory slept in. Nina threw on her terrycloth robe and went into the kitchen to make coffee.

  “I’m too nervous to eat anything,” Clint said.

  “Coffee?”

  He nodded, and she poured him a fresh mug. They sat at the table.

  “Norman said to be there before eleven, right?”

  “He’s an early riser.”

  “How do you—oh, never mind. I remember.” Clint pushed to his feet, putting his mug down, and paced.

  Nina’s face colored. “We’re not going there again, are we?”

  “Forget it. I’m jumpy.” His hand raked through his hair.

  “Can we agree that we both have pasts, and that they should remain in the past?”

  “You’re right.”

  The phone rang. Nina answered it and handed it to Clint.

  “Fran, here. I prefer not to handle you and Nina. So, I’m giving you to a friend, a young woman, a real dynamo. She’s a beginner, but she can negotiate with the best of them. Her name is Ashley Pierson. Is that okay with you?”

  “Sure, Fran. Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “Truth? Norman doesn’t like me, and I don’t want that to squelch your chances with him. Good luck.”

  Clint clicked the phone off and hand
ed it back to Nina. “I’ve got a different agent.”

  “Right. Fran said she was going to do that.” Nina stood up and went to the refrigerator.

  “I’m not going to worry about it until Norman says he wants the play.” He put down his mug and looked at his watch. “Time for me to go.”

  Cory came out of his room, scratching his head, as Clint headed to the door. “Good luck, Dad,” he said, yawning.

  “Thanks.”

  Nina kissed Clint and gave him a brief hug before he moved into the hall. After he closed the door, she chewed her lip for a second before switching her attention to Cory. “How about breakfast, and then…Christmas shopping?”

  Cory looked at her.

  “Don’t you exchange Christmas presents in your family?”

  “Sort of.”

  “Well, I’ve got lots of shopping to do. Would you like to join me, or stay here with Roller Coaster Tycoon? I’m stopping at FAO Schwarz.”

  “FAO Schwarz! They have the coolest trains there.”

  “Why don’t you come along? I’ll only spend a little time looking, and you can stay with the trains.”

  Although the air was brisk at first, the sun was shining, enabling Nina to coax Cory into walking down Central Park West and across 59th Street to FAO Schwarz. The store was buzzing with people, and there was actually a line to get in. They waited patiently, and within five minutes, were admitted to the best toy wonderland in the country.

  Brightly colored toys and piles of stuffed animals, from tiny to life-sized, occupied one floor. They climbed the escalator to the next with the trains, passing elegant exhibits of the most exquisite dolls and piles of games and building sets. Cory’s mouth fell open when he saw the elaborate, electric Lionel set-ups, including the Pennsylvania Flyer, New York Central Flyer, and Santa Fe Flyer engines.

  “You can leave me here,” he said.

  “Back in twenty.”

  “No rush.”

  Nina pulled out a list from her purse. Several of the staff members in her apartment building had young children. Though she gave the adults a generous tip at Christmas, she liked to give something more personal, too, and always bought a small toy or stuffed animal for each one. She missed shopping for a child now that Darcy was an adult. She had the names and ages of the kids next to each employee and went around the store, squeezing the stuffed animals and selecting the newest Lego sets.

  After an hour, she dragged Cory away from the trains, and they walked to Central Park South, where the horse-drawn carriages were lined up waiting for riders.

  “Which one do you want?”

  “Dad says these are too expensive,” Cory protested.

  “Not today. Let’s take this one. I like white horses. Climb in,” Nina said, after settling herself in the seat.

  The driver helped Cory in, too, and Nina covered both of them with a red plaid lap blanket. The cab wound north through Central Park to the steady clip-clop of the horse’s hooves. The two riders had a contest as to who could see the most Christmas lights in apartment windows. Cory won. In twenty-five minutes, they pulled up to the 77th Street entrance to the park, and climbed down.

  “Come. Lunch in the American Museum of Natural History then you’ve absolutely got to see their origami Christmas tree.”

  “Origami tree?”

  “All the ornaments are made from folded paper You know—origami? The tree is tall, bigger than mine, and it’s fabulous, thick with ornaments. I could look at it for hours and never see all the creatures,” she went on, leading him to the front steps.

  Nina and Cory returned home, exhausted. Clint was waiting for them. As soon as the door opened, Nina heard the pop of a bottle of champagne.

  “You two look like you’ve been having fun.”

  “I saw the trains at FAO Schwarz and the coolest tree decorated with paper ornaments and we went for one of those horse-drawn cart things…” the boy blurted out.

  “Whoa, whoa, Cory, one at a time.” Clint laughed and raised his palm to his son.

  “We took a horse cab ride. You should see those trains, Dad, the old cattle car is back on the Lionel trains, and it’s better than ever. There were five different engines.”

  Nina retrieved champagne flutes from the cabinet and tucked a bottle of Martinelli’s sparkling cider under her arm for Cory. She filled the glasses while Cory described to his father all the things he had done and seen. She wandered over to the window and stared out at the twinkling lights coming from decorated apartment windows on Fifth Avenue, across Central Park.

  Cory took his cider into the guest room and resumed his Roller Coaster Tycoon game.

  “What did Norman say?” she asked, turning around to face Clint when Cory was gone.

  He picked up his flute and raised it for a toast. Nina joined him, sinking down onto the sofa. “To you, Nina. For all the help you’ve given me with this play. For the guidance, the criticism, the honesty, the praise…and for refusing to allow me to give up.”

  They clinked glasses and drank.

  “So, what did Norman say?”

  “He said he’d read it and get back to me by the end of the week.”

  “Wonderful! The week will pass quickly.”

  “You don’t understand, Nina. At this point, it doesn’t matter to me what Norman says. I did it. I wrote a play and a producer is going to read it. And I wouldn’t be in this position without you. This is victory enough.”

  “You say that now, but once you’ve tasted the theater, it’s like blood to Dracula. You can never give it up. The excitement, the quarrels…opening night is a thrill like none other in life, except maybe the birth of a child. It’s the birth of your work, and it’s as heart-pounding as the best sex in the world.”

  Clint laughed at her little speech.

  “You laugh, but wait until you’re bitten by the great vampire that is the theater. You won’t be so nonchalant about it, then. I hope Norman takes you all the way to the footlights, sweetheart.”

  Nina cuddled up to Clint, and he put his arms around her. A few kisses became passionate and the lovers forgot where they were. Right before Clint slid his hand to Nina’s breast, the guest room door opened.

  “When’s dinner…?” Cory’s voice began then trailed off when he saw his father in a heated embrace with Nina.

  The couple jumped apart, straightening clothes and smoothing hair. Cory’s face flushed.

  “It’s okay, son. I thought I’d take us out to dinner tonight. Whadda ya say?”

  The boy nodded, looking away from Nina, his cheeks still pink.

  “I’ll get my coat,” Nina said.

  “There a nice Italian restaurant on the corner.” Clint held the door open for Nina then Cory.

  ****

  Cory and Clint packed up early on Sunday morning. They returned to Clint’s place, where Cory had to gather a few things before heading out for the bus home to his mother. Clint gave Nina a long bear hug before heading for the door. Cory put out his hand, but Nina brushed it aside and gave him a brief squeeze instead.

  She teared up as Clint moved away from her. His face was solemn, and she knew that bidding farewell to Cory would be a sad event for him. After they got on the elevator, she ran to the terrace, grabbing a throw from the sofa to wrap around her shoulders. She watched them walk down the street. When they stopped for the red light, they both turned back to look. She waved at them, and they waved back.

  When they turned the corner, she returned to the couch, feeling a damp chill from the frosty, late November air. A heaviness seeped into her heart as silence engulfed the apartment. The echo of her footsteps in the empty room reminded her she was alone again. Although she tried to focus on happy memories of the weekend, the sadness of Clint’s departure weighed her down.

  She made herself a turkey sandwich and curled up on the sofa with a book, determined to focus on the story. In an hour, she was sound asleep, dreaming of a magical Christmas with Clint, Darcy, Helen, and Cory.

  The
next week seemed to fly by for Nina. She played Christmas music constantly and shopped for everyone on her list. She called the liquor store and ordered her favorite, a case of mixed champagnes—Moët & Chandon, Korbel, Piper Heidsieck, and Dom Perignon. Now, she would be able to have champagne for Christmas. After hanging up and before she got her coat on, the phone rang.

  “Fran, how delightful!”

  “Not so delightful you’re not coming this year.”

  “I’m sorry. With Darcy coming in and Clint and maybe Cory, I’ll have my hands full.”

  “I suppose with Darcy coming…okay, you’re off the hook. But that means you have to meet me at Lady Mendl’s Tea Shoppe for high tea, and tomorrow would work for me.”

  Nina laughed. “I guess that’ll have to work for me, too.”

  “Good, because I made the reservation yesterday. See you at three.”

  After the call, Nina pulled out her coat, pocketed her list, reminding herself to add a gift for Fran, and went out the door humming “O’ Tannenbaum” as she passed by her Christmas tree.

  The streets of New York City never look prettier than at Christmas time, especially Fifth Avenue. Every shop had a beautiful Christmas window, some multi-colored, some sticking strictly to blue, white, and silver. Each one is more elegant than the last.

  Lord & Taylor’s put on a special show of moving figures in elaborate costumes, showing a story with music in the background. Skaters vied to get on the ice at Rockefeller Center while the world’s biggest Christmas tree lit up the early darkness. Nina hustled along with the shoppers and the gawkers, occasional snowflakes melting on the tip of her nose as a flurry floated down on the crowds.

  She made a mental note to bring Cory to the fabulous free train exhibit at Citicorp Center, if he came to New York during the holidays. She looked in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue then went into the store, shopping for Fran.