She walks inside and all she can do is say, “Wow!” The hallway has been fully decorated with lights and a tree. She can hear the Christmas music and laughter coming from the living room. She follows the sounds and there are more decorations in there than she remembered. She notices Ann’s work colleagues all enjoying themselves. As she looks around the room at the new decorations and enjoying the laughter, she sees Ann in animated conversation with Sophie and smiles brightly at Lina when their eyes meet. Inge comes over to Lina, “Can you believe this place?”
Lina grins and shakes her head, “No, I really can’t, how did she get more decorations in here?”
Inge laughs, “Have you seen the kitchen and the bathroom yet?”
Lina is shocked, “She decorated the bathroom! How?”
Inge shakes her head, “Oh no, I’m not going to take that away from you.”
They stop talking when they hear the clinking of a spoon on a glass. Everyone goes quiet and the music is turned off to give Ann their full attention. Ann looks around at everyone and smiles nervously. She puffs out her cheeks, “Okay, this is harder than I thought it would be. Let me start by saying congratulations everyone Willems department store romped home to victory.”
She raises the award to hoots, hollers and whistles. Mr Willems gives the loudest whistle and laughs when everyone turns to look at him, “What? The boss can’t whistle?” They all laugh again before giving Ann their attention once again.
“Now, for the more difficult part for me…I want to thank you all for your friendship and love over the last few years. I know, I have been a Grinch the last few years but even at my worst you still stood by me and supported me. You are all my friends, but I see you all as my extended family who I have all come to cherish. Mom, you have seen me at my worst and you never wavered in your hope of getting me out of my funk. Your love for me is stronger than ever. Thank you for being so patient with me and for loving me even when I was stuck on that couch and refused to move for days that turned into weeks. I have always been able to count on you, I love you very much, mom.” She hugs Inge tight and wipes away her own tears after wiping away her mothers. She takes a deep breath, composes herself to continue with her speech.
“Honestly, when I got the project, I was more than a little pissed. I hated the thought of doing a whole floor in a Winter Wonderland theme. I could handle the window displays but this was Christmas on a whole different level. Olivia was the first to give me her shoulder to lean on and her ears to vent to. Yes, I know Mr Willems, I was not a happy little elf when you put me in charge of the project, but I am so thankful that you did. It has been the best and the hardest project I have ever undertaken. Not only did I come face to face with my past, Jesus, I felt like Scrooge, being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past…” She laughs along with everyone else and shrugs when someone heckles her, “I deserved that, I was a scrooge, but I have found a new light and I have finally found myself again. Lina, you came into my life in a blazing argument where we both were obnoxious.” She holds up her hands at the laughter and more jeers, “I know, I know, but we both got our heads knocked together and found our way to each other. You have made this project so special and so wonderful. We faced our obstacles together and we got through them. I want to thank you for giving me back my joy of Christmas and the spirit and belief in love again. You have enriched every day for the last five months and I am so looking forward to sharing our first Christmas together. All that is left for me to say is Merry Christmas and thank you for coming.”
There is a chorus of Merry Christmas from everyone and the music is turned back on and the party is once again in full swing. Lina takes a glass of champagne and is walking through the kitchen taking in the white ice drop lights and classic decorations scattered around the room. She smiles fondly when she notices the centrepiece that she took back from Mia much to her annoyance. She picks it up and grins remembering how this little piece brought the dynamic Ann Peeters into her life. “I had to have it among my display, it’s my prized possession.”
Lina turns around smiling at Ann, “This certainly was the beginning of our story.”
Ann kisses Lina softly, “It was, but I’m more interested in what is to come for us. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
Lina kisses her tenderly, holding her close, “With you by my side every creation I make will be beautiful because you are and have been my inspiration for the last five months. Merry Christmas, baby.”
The End
Other titles available from Charlie
When Love and Fate Collides
I Love Who?
Sequel to When Love and Fate Collides
3:33
A Chance Encounter
The Best Lesson Learned
Forever and Always
Hazards of the Heart
Mistletoe Kisses
One Track Mind
Calling Mrs Claus Page 17
