by Lyndon, Sue
Annie had her gift in her hand, wrapped in newspaper, and a sly smile on her lips when Erik returned.
“You’re fast. Did you cheat?” he asked.
“Nope. I found the perfect gift. It was easy.”
“I want to go first.” He handed her a small box.
“Aspirin?”
“It was the only box I could find in the allotted time. Isn’t the saying ‘it’s the gift that counts.’”
Annie shook it once. “Oooh. Let me guess. Tiny marbles? A keychain?” She opened the end of the box, and a silver link bracelet fell out. A single charm hung from one of the links. Music notes. “It’s beautiful.”
He looked down and fastened it around her wrist. “It was my mom’s. She loved music, as I do. As you do.”
“It’s not fair. You know the things you have.” She blushed and handed him her present.
He squeezed the newspaper and took a guess, “A lump of coal? A block of wood?” He opened the paper. “My metronome.”
“I saw it on the shelf last night. We used to rehearse. You had it on the piano every day. It was from your grandma. You would start the pendulum, and wait, before you began to play.”
“I got it for my fifth birthday.” His gaze met hers. “You remembered that?”
She smiled. “I remember everything about you… except where you’ve been for last four years.”
Erik sat his gift on the table and scooted closer. “I know this is all crazy. You must be thinking the same thing, I sure am. But, what if this is the second chance for something we missed before.”
She leaned over and kissed him. His lips felt so familiar. Annie pulled away, closed her eyes, and smiled. “I hear it. Don’t you? The music of Christmas?”
Erik pulled her into his arms. “I knew there had to be someone else who heard it. I always suspected it was you.
Nanna’s Naughty Noel
Julie Kavanagh
Chapter One
“Nanna, Nanna, come and see our snowman!”
Gina looked up as two little boys ran as fast as they could toward her. Their bright red coats were buttoned up against the winter’s cold and the woolly bobbles on top of their blue knitted hats danced with the fury of their steps. Two little mittened hands pulled her across the white carpet of snow toward the lopsided snowman which sported a matching scarf to theirs.
The little boys waiting expectantly until Gina dove into her pocket.
“Samuel, I think Mr. Snowman needs a nose, don’t you?” She handed him the carrot before offering his younger brother the two pieces of coal. “Georgie, he needs some eyes too.”
“Let me help,” Lucas, the boys’ father, lifted little Georgie up so he could press the coal fragments into the snowman’s misshapen head.
“This was such a good idea, Mom,” Sadie, a younger looking version of Gina, moved up closer, smiling and whispering into Gina’s ear. “The boys love having you here, and with Dad spending the holidays in Florida with…” her voice petered off as though she’d said the wrong thing.
“Your father’s fiancé is called Emelia, and you can say her name around me. I won’t self-combust,” Gina replied, not wanting her daughter to feel bad. “I’m over the divorce and I’m doing just fine.”
“I know, Mum.” Sadie placed an arm around her mother’s shoulder. “I’m just so glad you’re here, especially now.” She laid a hand on her rounded tummy, rubbing gently at the bump of her unborn daughter.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but you’re looking tired. Are you up to this shindig tonight?”
“It’s just a few friends popping around. It’s hardly a shindig. Luc tends to take over anyway and he’s promised to be the perfect host. I won’t be allowed to move from the couch.” Sadie laughed, her eyes drifting to the sight of her two little boys pelting her chuckling husband with small snowballs.
Gina’s eyes followed Sadie’s line of vision to the man now almost totally covered in snow as he chased the boys down the garden back to the kitchen door.
“Come on you two,” he called to Sadie and her mother.” If you don’t hurry, these greedy little things will devour all the hot chocolate.”
****
“You look nice,” Luc called over as Gina entered the kitchen, before turning back to the stove where several pots bubbled.
“Thanks,” Gina grinned, flattered that he should notice the dark red dress she wore. It was new, an impulse buy, something she needed to go with the new high heels she’d purchased at the same glamorous shop in town. They’d cost a fortune, but despite the height of the heels, they were comfortable and made her feel a million dollars which she needed after receiving the news that Greg, her recent ex-husband, was to marry his much younger girlfriend in Florida during the Christmas break.
She’d tried not to care. After all, their marriage hadn’t been the most active in recent years, but then she hadn’t realized Greg had been getting active with his pretty, busty and very sexy secretary. The affair had almost been a cliché. She had been the last to know, and even Samuel and Georgie had met Emelia, their new Nanna-to-be.
“You should get yourself a boyfriend.” Luc turned from the stove to look at his mother-in-law, who reddened at his words.
“I’m a little too old for a boyfriend,” Gina laughed self-consciously as her cheeks burned.
“Rubbish. You’re a good-looking woman and you’ve got years ahead of you. Why spend them on your own?” Luc said, filling a glass with rich, ruby wine and offering it to Gina. She took a long sip, relishing the taste on her tongue whilst trying to think of a sensible retort.
“Who says I’m going to be on my own? I’m only a few miles down the road, and Sadie wants me to help out with the boys when the new baby comes.”
“I’m not talking about family. We love having you here, but don’t discard the thought of romance just because Greg is an idiot. Why he went for that silly little tart when he had you at home I’ll never know. This ridiculous marriage won’t last a year,” Luc declared, stopping himself from saying any more as though realizing he’d said too much already. “I’m sorry, it’s not my place to comment.”
“I think it might be this fine red wine talking.” Gina held her glass up, the ruby liquid sloshing inside the crystal goblet. She smiled, as he nodded, accepting her reason as his exit. “I better go into the living room or Sadie might think we’re planning to run away together.”
“We can’t have that,” Luc chuckled, displaying his deep affection for his mother-in-law, before returning his eye to the food preparation.
****
“That’s a nice dress, is it new?” Sadie patted the seat next to her on the comfy couch. Piles of colorful cushions cradled her back as she sat back, her slippered feet resting on a plaid foot stool. She’d been admiring the huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room. Pretty little lights twinkled on and off, bringing an air of Christmas magic to the room.
“Yes,” Gina replied, placing her glass on the table at the end of the couch and sat down. “I saw it in Heavenly Designs and fell in love with it.”
“Heavenly Designs? Isn’t that the new boutique in the precinct?” Sadie gasped. “I bet it was expensive. I’m sure it costs a fortune just to window shop.”
“It was very expensive and your father paid for it, even if he doesn’t know he did,” Gina laughed, it felt good to joke about the man who had dumped her on the verge of their silver wedding anniversary.
“I’m sure if he saw you in it, he wouldn’t be so eager to marry Emelia. You look great.”
“Don’t be so sure I’d want to take him back,” Gina sighed, realizing it was the truth. Maybe Luc was right. Maybe she should think of getting a new man in her life. Why should self-obsessed, over-weight Greg be the only one to start over?
<
br /> Chapter Two
“What color panties are you wearing?”
“I’m sorry?” Gina looked up into eyes which wouldn’t have looked out of place in a cat’s face. Even the long dark lashes framing the green eyes gave a feline look to the young man who had moved to stand next to her. His hair was dark and longer than was fashionable but it seemed to give an air of devilment to his handsome face.
“You heard me,” he declared as a wicked smile crossed his lips.
“I thought you said…” Gina began, but paused when the man’s smile widened.
“I asked you what color your panties are.” He moved his head closer, his breath tickling the side of her neck. “Unless, of course, you’re not wearing any.”
“Are you joking?” Gina gasped, feeling the touch of his hand on her arm, a gentle stroking surely designed to put her at her ease.
“I never joke about colors,” he sighed. “Nor about panties. If you’re not wearing any, you will make my day, but I suspect they are some kind of red. Am I right?”
“Yes, they’re red,” Gina admitted, taking a long drink of her wine.
“Are they scarlet or deep red like your wine?” he slipped behind her, sliding a hand across her rear as he moved.
“Scarlet. Why do you want to know?”
“I’d like to know what I’ll be getting my teeth into later.”
“What?” Gina gasped, and spun on her heels only to find herself alone. The man exited into the kitchen without another word. What was he playing at? She’d never been spoken to like that before. Even Greg, at his horniest, had never cared what undies she’d worn. He only wanted them out of the way when he was ready.
Her undies were a bright scarlet, purchased at the same time she’d bought the dress. She’d never worn a thong before and had been worried it would be uncomfortable, but she’d almost felt as that she was wearing nothing. She’d felt quite naughty at the time, but now she smiled at the thought.
“Mum, are you ok?” Sadie called over from the couch she hadn’t left all night, as just as Luc had promised. He’d served her like a devoted servant, happily attending to her every need.
“I’m fine, love,” Gina replied, instantly hiding her thoughts with a bright grin. Her heavily pregnant daughter didn’t need to know what she’d been thinking.
“You had a strange look at your face,” Sadie said.
“I need a refill,” Gina nodded, holding up the glass she’d drained. Maybe she’d had enough to drink she thought, if she overreacted to a silly joke. She’d bet Luc had put him up to it. If she were quick, she’d catch them laughing over it and could reprimand them both at the same time.
“I knew you’d follow me, you just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” The man sat at the end of the tiled breakfast bar, his mouth lit in a warm smile. He lifted the bottle of red wine and waved it at her.
“I don’t know what you’re playing but...” Gina began, shaking her head.
“I’m not playing a game. I really do want to remove your sexy scarlet panties with my teeth. The only thing stopping me from dropping to my knees, and lifting that beautiful dress to your hips is that Luc has rushed out to rescue a lopsided snowman and will be back any second.”
“Do you know…?” Gina started again, but her words were stolen by the man’s hand on her arm as he stepped toward her.
“Do I know who you are?” he completed her question as she meekly nodded her head. She sat down on the stool he offered, his hand resting just above her knee. “You’re Sadie’s newly divorced mother. Should that make any difference?”
“I’m at least twenty years older than you,” she stuttered, believing her age would put a stop to this nonsense, for she had started to believe him.
“What young man wouldn’t want the chance to romance a beautiful older woman? And you are incredibly beautiful. I can’t believe your husband would leave you. I wouldn’t if I were married to you. I’d have you pinned to my bed at every opportunity.”
“Do you really think you should be talking to me like that?” She tried to adopt a stern tone, but she sounded wistful even to herself. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had called her beautiful and she did feel beautiful in this dress.
“Don’t you want to know what I’m going to do to you? Or do you like to be surprised?” His hand moved a little higher, lifting the hem of her dress on its journey. “You have great legs. I’m looking forward to seeing more.”
“I don’t think you should…” she slapped at his hand but not too hard. She no longer knew if she wanted him to remove it.
“I think you want me to touch you. You want to know what it will feel like to have my fingers touching the soft skin on your thighs. I know I want to.”
“No, I don’t want…” Gina stood up, her cheeks red as the kitchen door opened and a shivering Luc rushed in.
“I got there just in time. The snowman’s head has been reattached and disaster has been averted,” Luc laughed, loud and bold. “The boys need never know.” His eyes surveyed the scene between Gina and the son of his neighbor’s, home for the holidays.
“I was about to dash out and assist,” the man chuckled, his hand reaching for the wine bottle and quickly refilling Gina’s glass as though that had been his intention all along.
“Gina, do you remember Marcie and Joe’s son, Noel?” Luc reminded her.
“You went to school with Sadie,” Gina gasped as a memory struck her. “You were always falling off your bike.”
“And you were always making it better. I liked it when you lived here,” Noel said, his eyes moving over her face as the recognition registered. “Why did you move away?”
“We always promised this house to Sadie, she loved it here and Greg wanted a new apartment in town…” she paused, realizing she still lived in the apartment Greg had chosen, had furnished and had abandoned, along with her.
“I’m glad you decided to visit.” Noel’s eyes lit up.
“It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow,” Luc interrupted, seemingly missing the tension between the other two. “And it’s Noel’s birthday.”
“I hope you have a wonderful birthday,” Gina said, lifting her glass to her lips and enjoying the sweetness of the wine.
“I’m sure I will,” Noel replied with a chuckle.
“That sounds like you’ve found yourself a new woman,” Luc teased. “Sadie told me to invite you to dinner tomorrow night, say you will come.”
Noel lifted his head and caught Gina’s eyes with his, a naughty smile crossing his lips.
“Oh yes, I’m sure I will be coming.”
Chapter Three
“It’s number twenty three, the house with the flashing snowman on the porch. It wasn’t my idea, but my parents made me promise to leave him flashing, and as tacky as it is, he’s a bit of a tradition.” Noel leaned into Gina, on the pretense of reaching over for his coat.
“I beg your pardon?” Gina gasped, was that the touch of his lips on her cheek? Did he have to have such soft warm lips? How fair was that?
“I’m at number twenty three. I’ll leave the front door unlocked, just in case you want to visit.”
“Why would I want to visit?” Could she believe her ears? Did he really expect her to visit him in the night for sex?
“I think you might want to know what will happen once I’ve thrown your panties over my shoulder.” Noel touched his tongue to her lips before quickly turning away to Luc’s question of why he was taking so long.
Gina watched him go without a glance behind him and she shivered. Should she be insulted or flattered that a younger man seemed to be attracted to her? And he was attracted to her, if his actions were to be believed.
She raced upstairs to peer out of the window to watch him enter a white house across the street three door
s down. He turned, waving a hand in her direction as though he knew she watched him through the lace curtains, but she realized, as the front door closed downstairs, he had been waving at Luc.
Sitting on the end of her bed, Gina glanced at herself in the full length mirror. Her hand instinctively rested on the spot Noel’s hand had sat as though she missed the heat of his touch. Did he really expect her to march over there on his word alone?
Was the door really unlocked?
“Stop it, you silly fool. You’re a grown woman, not an infatuated teenager,” she scolded her reflection but her heart pounded in her chest and a strange feeling grew in her body, a feeling she never thought she’d feel again… not now Greg had left.
Who was she kidding? She hadn’t like this for too many years before Greg had left. If she was honest with herself, he hadn’t cared whether she enjoyed the sex or not and she hadn’t known enough to realise how important good sex could be. She’d loved Greg, but she wasn’t in love with him and hadn’t been for many years. Perhaps, he had done her a favor.
****
“Mum, where are you going?” Sadie stood next to the Christmas tree, a sparkling ornament held in her raised hand.
“For a walk,” Gina reached for her warm, winter coat before turning to face her confused daughter. She couldn’t tell her the truth, she just couldn’t. In Sadie’s eyes, Nannas shouldn’t be thinking about having sex with a younger man.
“It’s nearly eleven o’clock,” Sadie informed her as though Gina was incapable of reading the time. The old grandfather clock chimed loudly in the hallway. “It’s too late for a walk.”
“Am I on a curfew?”
“No, but its dark out there.” Sadie didn’t understand, and after placing the grinning elf on the tree, she moved to approach her mother.
