Lucky 13

by Cat Gardiner

  Elizabeth looked at her sister and then up into Darcy’s hopeful expression. “I was hoping to begin it with special pancakes on Central Park South with Mr. December.”

  “And then we’ll go home to Meryton?” he inquired.

  “No, I’d like to spend the entire day with you here in the city. Is that okay?”

  “Is that okay? Of course! Absolutely! Didn’t you want to go see your family for Christmas? I mean … that was the reason you started your dating search, right?”

  She couldn’t help but to look at Charlie when she said, “You think I want my mother to scare you away?” Her eyes met Darcy’s. “Not on your life. You’re not going anywhere near Meryton for a very, very long time.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Did you tell Darcy that your mother thinks you two are engaged?”

  If only Elizabeth could have heard his thoughts, but his smile told her quite a lot. “It was the Eyewitness News report,” she explained.

  “Ah, the one where they caught on film how I barely kept my hands to myself as you oiled me?”

  “Yes, the same one where it was obvious that I loved every minute of it.”

  Charlotte laughed. “You watched it!”

  “Yes, Char, I watched it yesterday.”

  “Tell us, Lizzy, which date was your worst date?” Jane asked.

  “Hands down my bowling alley nightmare when Will beat up my coked-up, Size Matters speed date. What was his name? I can’t remember.”

  “And your second worst date?”

  “Absolutely the speed dating freak show when Will …” Elizabeth looked at him curiously. “What did you do that upset me so?”

  Darcy laughed and shrugged. “And your best date?”

  “Oh hands down, tonight, my shadchan date. The night I told my bashert that I love him.”

  “That’s my favorite date, too. The night I told my bashert that I love her.”

  The waiter’s perfectly timed champagne cork broke the spell, and he began to fill the glasses.

  Charlotte asked for a Christmas Eve toast from each person as a new ‘family’ tradition was formed - the sharing of Christmas Eve with those who meant the most to all of them - these seven friends and over time, the addition of their children. She hoped it would become a tradition held for the rest of their lives, kicking it off with her toast. “To my BFF, Lizzy the Lez-boo, who was a great sport during this month-long holiday dating blitz in which we both found something unexpectedly waiting for each of us. I’m so happy for you, and I’m glad you finally saw the light and got laid. Mazel Tov! And how can I not toast Preppy who showed me that opposites do attract. You have made me feel exceptional for my uniqueness and loved – even if you’ve never actually said it, which you don’t need to, but I know you do.”

  Rick followed, “Punky … I love those quirky ornaments you stuck on my tree. I love the sound of your snoring at night and I love the fact that you make me laugh after a day of fighting. Oh … and yes … I do love you, unequivocally.”

  Charlotte beamed beside him and grabbed his face, pulling it toward hers. She proceeded to kiss him with every ounce of passion and spunk she could, whilst crammed into a booth with friends all around them.

  When finally up for air as the laughing and catcalls subsided, Rick proclaimed, “To true love, that it never ends in divorce and that we all remember to always respect each other, knowing that New York State is an equitable distribution state.”

  Georgiana giggled. “A toast to my cousin who was once a terminal man slut, and my brother, former Nosferatu and part-time zombie. Glad to have you back among the living, enjoying life, Christmas, and in love with a woman whose IQ isn’t comprised of her bust size. Welcome to the family Liz and Charlotte!”

  Jane cleared her throat. “To my sister who apart from me is the luckiest girl I know. No one on the planet deserves deep, unconditional love more than you do. I wish for you and Fitzwilliam a Christmas-filled year of magic and happiness, and I thank you for forgiving my mistakes, my imperfections and for keeping my secrets, which …” She looked to Charlie and grinned, “… turns out there was no need to keep. He's known from the very beginning, even before that! I love you, sis. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  The sisters grabbed hands across the table and squeezed, both tearing up.

  “To my Janie B., who agreed yet again, to be my bride and bring our child into the world six months from now. That’s the best Christmas and Wedding gift ever! In my eyes and heart, you are perfect ... well ... with the exception of maybe when you yell at me to put the toilet seat down and you do that thing ... where your eyes roll to the back of your head while it spins around. But, I’m sure that’s just because you're pregnant. Thank you for agreeing to spend your life with me anywhere but Meryton, Long Island, and, oh yeah, thank you for allowing me to adopt Thor formerly known as the Taco-Terrier named CanCunt. I love you, baby.”

  Darcy raised his champagne glass, “To the woman who challenged me every step of the way, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. You rock my world, Liz. Thank you for filling my heart with Christmas spirit and saving me from a dark and lonely existence. I promise to always make you pancakes and anything else you want. I know that thirteen is now a number that will forever be considered lucky. It is for me. I love you, Elizabeth Bennet.”

  Her heart grew a thousand fold more when she noted tears threaten his eyes and his voice choke slightly when he said, “Thank you everyone for helping to make this incredible woman my best ever Christmas gift. I love you all.”

  She kissed him sweetly.

  “First let me toast Charlotte, my fifth sister and the only woman I know who has enough mettle to tolerate my lists and withstand my abuse. Thank you for everything you have done to make this a very special, enlightening, and exciting month. I wish you a deep happiness that comes from unconditional love, because you deserve it. To Will … I know I was dense, shortsighted and a fearsome creature to behold. I know I drove you crazy and hurt your feelings more times than I care to remember, but you hung in there with your beautiful smile and persistent, hopeful attitude because, I think, you saw something special in me. Any other guy might well have said I wasn’t worth the effort. Thank you for not thinking that and thank you for loving me unconditionally and for leaving your heart open, waiting to receive my love. You are the gift, you are the embodiment of Christmas spirit, and you are the missing piece of my heart – now made whole. Merry Christmas, my one and only soul mate.”

  Darcy’s face lit up and he gave Elizabeth’s lips a small peck as everyone joked with a mock. “Aww….”

  Rick filled the now empty glasses, and Liz promptly raised her glass over the center of the table. “Everyone join me in a special toast to the lady who finally got her two stubborn clients together, for the Merriest Christmas, of all things! To our friend Sadala, the best and only shadchan I know! L'Chayim!”

  Liz’s Blog Post Here

  Chapter Twenty-Three – Wednesday, December 25

  Christmas Day

  Darcy woke to the wafting scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sun streaming in through his bedroom window. The invading light diffused a special vibrancy this morning – white and crisp, welcoming and new. It was Christmas morning, and he'd never felt so alive and at peace. Love had a way of doing that.

  He moaned, feeling Elizabeth’s hand smooth over the plane of his bare abdomen. Snuggled against him with her dark hair splayed across their shared pillow and his chest, she moaned in reply when his gentle hand moved slowly down her bare back. His finger traced the length of her spine as he kissed the top her head. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

  “Hmm … Merry Christmas, Santa.” Elizabeth snuggled in closer, kissing his left nipple, her hand sliding lower. She felt deeply satisfied but certainly not satiated from their night of making unbridled love. Neither drunk nor inhibited in any way, they did things she had never even imagined. Feasting and delighting in one another, it had been a magical night.

  “You were very
naughty last night.” He chuckled, remembering how her mouth felt upon him.

  “That’s not what you said at the time. I seem to recall you told me you were going to add that to your list of favorite things,” she purred still so sleepy but oh, so comfortable.

  He rolled to his side, face-to-face with her, neither of them caring about morning breath. Her hand possessively cupped his bare backside.

  “This is a much better way to wake up in your apartment,” she said.

  “Yes it is. Did you sleep well?”

  “Better than I’ve slept in weeks. I feel … I feel at peace.”

  Darcy smiled thoughtfully. “Me too. We feel so right, so natural, so comfortable.”

  She raised her other hand to glide over his gloriously sculpted chest. “and … so sticky,” scanning down at her own pert breasts for any tiny, tell-tale bits of peppermint. “There’s no candy cane.”

  Unexpectedly, he ducked his head under the blanket and licked her nipple. “Mmm … maple syrup, though.”

  She giggled at his tickling tongue as it traveled lower down her firm belly. His moans of sexual pleasure and apparent gastronomic approval were music to her ears. His every groan of, “Mmm …” was accompanied by a long, slow lick followed by her erupting laughter.

  Elizabeth’s glee was a symphony to Darcy’s ears.

  He threw back the blanket, revealing him lying fully upon her, smothering her legs and hips, and she giggled at how his dark hair stuck up in disarray. His eyes sparkled, and his dimpled smile shot straight to her heart, like a defibrillator, shocking her entire being to life, time and again. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen – especially now, with hope and love radiating from his soul.

  Darcy was captivated by this woman he loved, lying beneath him in his bed, having committed herself to him the night before with the words, “My heart is open to yours and my mind is optimistic about forever.” With flushed face and chest, and eyes sparkling like the emerald earrings adorning her delicate earlobes, she watched him with obvious desire.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Darcy asked with a pout to his lips.

  “No, but I believe you missed a spot.”

  He playfully asked, “Really? I thought my tongue tasted every inch of you last night.”

  “No, you missed … here.” Elizabeth pointed to her navel and Darcy readily complied with slow, delving, circular licks.

  “Mmm ... you’re right. That tasted like chocolate.”

  Elizabeth giggled. “I thought you removed all the teuscher champagne truffles.”

  He licked again. “Not quite. I’ll have to give it more exacting attention.”

  She coyly pointed to the bend of her neck by her clavicle. “You missed here, too.”

  Darcy placed kisses up her torso, lingering at her taut right nipple, swirling his tongue, causing her to arch her back into him. It was amazing the power his lips had over her. Her need grew intense with every suckle and lick upon her body. “I … believe you removed all the whipped cream last … night,” she panted.

  Between punctuated kisses Darcy groaned. “Just … being … thorough.” He eagerly continued his ascent to her neck where he nibbled. “Mmmm… buttermilk pancakes, my favorite.”

  His firm tongue savored her sensitive flesh, already heightened by the feel of his stiff arousal against her hip. Her entire body felt on fire.

  “Is there anywhere else I need to attend?” He asked between kisses along the base of her chin.

  Seductively, her eyes roamed upward to the sprig of mistletoe haphazardly duck-taped to the headboard behind her. She smirked when she thought about Sadie's perfect Christmas gift from the night before, and touched her bottom lip, playfully looking at him. “Here, these have been waiting for you.”

  Lying fully upon her, he waited to kiss her, gazing at the emotion and desire enveloping her. She was readable, now, and he was sure there was no way he could ever misunderstand or misinterpret what was transpiring behind those beautiful eyes and intoxicating smile. In the short span of three days, she had become an open book once she had turned the page from the scars of her past.

  Darcy’s lips were so close to hers, hovering, creating in her breathless anticipation as she waited for his soft lips to mold against hers.

  He whispered, “I love you. God, how I love you.”

  Slowly, his tongue traced the outside of her mouth. “Mmm … black raspberry liqueur.” Elizabeth parted her welcoming thighs slightly, just as his mouth captured hers.

  He stretched a reaching arm to the nightstand, never once breaking the intensity of their kiss. His hand tapped the myriad of used condom wrappers and candy canes, knocking over the can of whipped cream, causing it to crash to the floor. His fingers found the syrup covered, half-eaten plate of pancakes they had made at three in the morning, until finally he found what he desperately sought: that circular, foil wrapped hose protector.

  Their lovemaking this beautiful Christmas morning held an intensity they had yet experienced. The slow paced tenderness and muffled moans of passion weren’t because Georgiana was only down the hall but because two hearts were becoming permanently fused on a day that would define forever, life, hope and peace.

  Will’s Blog Post Here

  Charlotte’s Blog Post Here

  ~Epilogue~

  Wednesday, December 31

  New Year’s Eve – The Pierre Hotel, NYC

  The Wedding of Ms. Jane Gardiner to Mr. Charles Bingley

  Will’s Perspective

  I had wondered why Charlie and Jane chose to marry on New Year’s Eve, and only now, as the minister prays, do I realize: New beginnings. New Year’s resolutions taken in the form of everlasting commitment, and probably, for Charlie’s sake, a date that he could never forget as his wedding anniversary.

  Standing beside him as he recites his vows beneath a towering archway of white flowers, interspersed with sparkling, white Christmas lights in this candlelit room, I think how far we have all come in the short span of one month. I look just beyond the beaming bride and groom over at Liz, my beautiful girl, and I cannot believe what a lucky devil I am. She looks right at me and smiles one of her brilliant, heart-stopping smiles reserved only for me. Maybe she’s telling me ‘I love you’ or she can’t wait to get me back upstairs to our room. Perhaps, she’s simply telling me I look handsome in my new tuxedo. Hmm… oh no, maybe it’s a poppy seed in my tooth.

  I don’t know, but whatever she is saying, she’s saying it only to me – not to any other person in the room. She’s all mine – hard won and the greatest Christmas gift I have ever been blessed to receive – her love, wow! I wink at her, just to let her know this could be us taking these vows. God knows, I’m sure as hell going to ask her. Tonight in fact, at the stroke of midnight, right after I kiss her and she melts into my arms, as she usually does. There is something about our kisses – they’re magical, explosive. Would you listen to me? I sound like a love-struck romantic sap. Maybe because I am. Liz did that to me.

  My mind is drifting as the wedding rings are blessed. I look at Liz again, wearing that gorgeous wine-colored, silk designer gown. Her hair is flowing down to her shoulders in luscious waves, and I think again of how I can’t wait to begin our life together as husband and wife. Yup, tonight we’ll begin as betrothed. Midnight on December 31st when do-overs take place, reset buttons are pressed, and new promises are pledged. For me, one resolution will be made tonight that I’m never going to back out of or find lame excuses not to go through with. I am one-hundred and fifty percent positive that Liz and I were destined to be together forever. I thank the heavens above that I was able to put aside my fears and take the plunge because I found and fought for a woman whom my parents would love – because I do.

  I can’t stop running my finger inside my collar cause damn if I’m not nervous about asking her to marry me. I don’t know why. She did promise, after all, to play Mrs. Santa at the hospital for the rest of our lives and Liz never does or says anything she doesn
’t mean – at least, not any longer. I’m sure, she’s learned her lesson about denying her heart and what comes of listening to the insane ramblings of an insane family. I’m sure, her promise to accompany me to the hospital next year is already written on that mortifying 2014 calendar, along with a detailed list of Christmas gifts for the dedicated nurses in the Burn Unit, something I forgot to do this year. I was, after all, a bit preoccupied with trying to win the woman I’m crazy about. I can’t help but laugh about our calendar, the impetus that brought us together. That damn pinup, firefighter calendar is actually hanging in my kitchen because she knows it unnerves me to see myself half-naked in that glossy 11x14 print. Thank God, I have another twelve months to go before having to see it daily next December.

  God, I love Liz.

  It was fate that evening less than a month ago when I accompanied Rick to the Rockefeller Center Tree lighting. I cannot help but to wonder if I’m actually the happiest man alive. Charlie might give me an argument to that at this very moment, but I’m pretty sure I would win hands down. Albeit a difficult road, marred by misunderstandings but as a result, she saved my sorry, miserable ass from Christmas depression and a lifetime of endless dating and hook-ups with meaningless girls who smelled like broccoli or peas. I really do hate green vegetables.

  For a split second, I look at Jane’s face as she recites her vows to Charlie. She is glowing. Either it’s from the heat in the room or her happiness about both her marriage and the Bingley baby entering the world in June. Yup, new beginnings. Blessed events. All of them reasons for celebration. The bride’s smile is beautiful but not nearly as perfect as my Liz.

  As Jane says the words ‘in sickness and in health’, I can hear Frances Bennet wailing like a banshee, in the first row. One meeting with her and now I understand why Charlie had cold feet but damn if I’d hold her crazy-ass behavior against Liz. It’ll be a cold day in hell before she ever takes after Frances, that’s for sure. For Liz’s sake, I’ll make the effort to tolerate the woman … and Lydia, but definitely not that sleazeball, Wickham. His groping Lydia in the middle of the pre-ceremony cocktails was beyond the pale.