Holiday Magic

by Tl Reeve

  Dom shakes his head. “I’m going to take her to do a little more sightseeing, and then we’ll go to the airport.”

  “Where are you taking her?”

  “The Willis Tower. We’ll spend a little time there before going to the airport, and if we have a little time left, I’ll freeze her out at the beach.”

  The kids giggle while the adults grin.

  After breakfast, we put our things back in our suitcases and pull them downstairs into the foyer.

  I give Gary, the kids, and then Lisa a hug.

  She holds on tight. “Thank you for loving my brother. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time. Please take care of him.”

  I smile, pulling back from her. “I will. You don’t have to worry.”

  Gary helps Dom carry the luggage out to the car, putting it in the trunk. Lisa hugs us both one more time before we get into the car.

  “You’re taking me to Willis Tower?” I ask as we pull out of the driveway.

  He nods. “I’ll tell you why when we get there.”

  “I’ve read about it and I was hoping we would go there. I’m excited.” I smile at him.

  When we get there, I try to sit patiently as he finds a parking spot. The streets are so thick with cars, it’s very hard to find one. After looking for about thirty minutes, we luck out and he pulls into a spot. I wait for him, like I normally do, to come around and open the car door for me.

  I notice he’s leaning on his cane a little.

  “Are you okay? Have you taken anything for the pain?”

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me” He laces his fingers with mine and pulls me in the direction we need to walk.

  “But I do. You carried me up the stairs yesterday, and I noticed you were rubbing it afterward. I don’t want you to carry me if it’s going to hurt you.” I pull him to a stop on the sidewalk, moving closer to him.

  He looks down at me, his eyes soft. “The pain isn’t from carrying you. It’s from the cold. One of the reasons I moved south. It’s also not that bad—just a little twinge every now and then. Don’t worry so much.”

  I nod, following him into the building. He gets our tickets, and we wait in line for the elevator. He’s quiet the whole time we’re in line and on the ride up in the elevator. I glance at his face, and it’s set. Not in a pissed-off way, but I can’t figure it out.

  When we get off the elevator, he leads me through the store to a spot at the end of the building. He pulls me out into the clear cube extending from the building. I look out over the cold but very alive city, and his arms come around me from behind.

  “This is where I used to come and stay for hours after my parents died. For some reason, they wouldn’t let me come up when I first started coming, so I would sit outside, or inside the building enough to stay warm in the winter.”

  I feel his lips kiss the top of my head. He’s quiet for a moment before continuing.

  “It took a few months, but one day, the manager approached me and told me I could come up. They escorted me to the elevator and let me ride up for free. I found this corner when I walked inside, and this is where I stood for hours, contemplating my life and trying to deal with my parents getting killed in front of me at that bank.”

  I lean back in his embrace, trying to send my strength to him as he tells me about this time.

  “Every now and then, a sandwich would end up in my hands. I think they knew who I was, because they never told me I had to leave, and always made sure I ate while I was here. After those times, my sister would always ask where I’d been, but I never told her. They tried to send me to therapists and even tried to get someone to medicate me, but none of that worked. It was the quiet time I spent up here, when I could work through my thoughts and start to heal. I wanted to bring you here so you could see this part of me.”

  I turn in his embrace, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Thank you. Thank you for showing me this part of yourself. I appreciate it more than you know.”

  He tilts my face up to his. “Will you take me to Oregon one day? I’d like to see the area where you grew up.”

  I nod, burying my face in his chest. I feel him lift his arm from around me.

  “It’s time to go. I want to feed you before we go to the airport.”

  I lift my head and nod, letting him lead me through the crowd to the elevator.

  “You know, Christmas is next week.” Tina holds up a set of freshly rolled silverware peeking out of the top of its napkin.

  “Mmm-hmm,” I say, waiting for her to get to the point.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re just going to have a quiet Christmas at home.” I place silverware in another napkin.

  “Why don’t you come by our house for a couple of hours? You can eat dinner with us and mingle. You won’t have to do all that cooking you did for Thanksgiving.” She looks at me hopefully.

  “I wasn’t going to do all of that cooking like I did for Thanksgiving. I was just going to make a normal dinner for us,” I inform her.

  Her face falls, and I smile. “I’ll ask him tonight when he comes in for dinner. Okay?”

  “That’s all I can ask. Thanks.” The smile returns to her face.

  “He’s here,” Miranda sings as she walks into the back area where we’re rolling silverware. I put the freshly rolled silverware in the tub and walk outside the kitchen to my section. My man is sitting in his usual booth, looking handsome as always.

  I sit down across from him. “Hi.”

  His eyes soften as he looks at me. “Hey.”

  “Before I get your dinner order, Tina wants us to come over for a couple of hours on Christmas Day for dinner. Will that be okay?” I place my hand over his.

  He nods. “Fine. As long as we get to spend some time together alone before and after.”

  “I agree. I was looking forward to spending the whole day alone with you, but a couple of hours out of our day won’t hurt,” I tell him.

  He nods, and I take his order. I put it in at the kitchen window and get his drink, taking it out to him.

  I tell Tina that we’ll be over to her house for dinner, and she jumps up and down, she’s so excited. She loves that her husband and Dom get along, so we can do couple things together.

  After dinner, he waits for me to get off as usual, and I ride home with him.

  We decide to stay at his house tonight, since it’s finally finished. We walk through the front door and we’re greeted by the sage-green carpet and white walls of his living room. A green-gray couch sits in the middle, with blonde wood coffee- and end-tables. A television is mounted on the wall for easy viewing.

  “How do you like it?” I ask.

  He looks around. “I love it. My house doesn’t feel so creepy anymore. It looks like a home. I can’t wait to see the bedroom.”

  I lead him through the house, down the hall to the master bedroom. The blue-gray walls invite us inside. The gray carpeting is plush and soothing. The king-size bed is up against one wall, with a wooden headboard that reaches up to the ceiling. There’s a nightstand on each side of the bed, with a matching dresser and chest of drawers.

  “This is amazing. Thank you.” He pulls me to him, holding me tight.

  “I’m glad you like it,” I say against his chest.

  “Like it? I love it! You’re amazing!” His arms tighten around me.

  I savor the feeling of his arms and lay my head on his chest.

  We put his things away, and he gives me a drawer for my things. So sweet of him. We curl up on the couch and watch television until it’s time to go to bed.

  “What are you doing this week?” Tina asks.

  “Nothing too extreme. We’re just going to walk around the zoo. I’ve never been before,” I tell her.

  “Mind if we tag along? My son would love to go to the zoo.” She peeks outside to see if we have any customers. It’s quiet for the Friday before Christmas.

  “Sure. Will Thad be coming with us?” I ask. I know Do
m doesn’t want to be stuck with two women and a child.

  “Yep. He was wondering when we could hang out with you two again. He really likes Dominic,” She smiles and points to the dining room. “Speaking of which…”

  My lips tilt up at the sides, and my heart lifts. I walk through the elegant dining room, to the table where’s he’s sitting.

  “Hi.”

  “Hey, babe. I’m just going to have the spaghetti tonight.” He smiles as I sit down next to him.

  “You must be hungry.”

  He looks around, and when he’s sure no one is looking, his arms snake around my shoulders and he presses a quick kiss to my temple. Warmth fills my chest at the gesture.

  “I am. I also couldn’t wait to get here to see you.” He squeezes my shoulders.

  “I’m happy to see you too.” I lean in to him a little. “Do you think we’re a little too mushy?”

  “No. We just enjoy each other’s company. We’re also in a new relationship. We’re going to be mushy.”

  “I’ll go put your order in and be back with your drink.” I tell him.

  The rest of his dinner is spent with stolen touches and kisses. When I’m finally off from work, I decide to stay at my place, since I haven’t been there for a week. Dominic grumbles but decides to come home with me. He tells me as we get into bed that since I’ve been in the bed with him, he sleeps so much better. Now he can’t imagine a night alone without me. I cuddle into him and smile. For such a gruff man, he sure knows how to talk sweet.

  The zoo is amazing! Lisa’s son runs around like the child he is, and I join him. Dominic and Thad look at us indulgently, and Lisa laughs the whole time. We watch and read about all the animals and eat the expensive food the zoo offers.

  I receive a couple of calls from the resumes I’ve sent out. I have a few interviews scheduled through the next week, before Christmas. I didn’t know companies interviewed during that time. Nevertheless, I’m very excited, making sure I have the correct suit for my interviews.

  The restaurant picks up as we get closer to Christmas. I’m planning a vacation with Dominic. Since work will be slow for me after the holiday, we decide to go on a cruise. I’m so excited. Things are really happening for me, and it’s all because I decided to live life instead of letting it pass me by.

  Dominic

  I gaze at her while she sleeps. The feelings overwhelm me, and I panic. I know if she leaves me, it will destroy me.

  By the time my ex left, I was ready for her to go. I’m attached to Maia in ways I could never have thought possible.

  The way she thinks about my wellbeing fills my heart. I’ve never had anyone, besides my sister, look after me like she does. I pull her closer, and she snuggles in to me, sighing in her sleep. I pull her hair out of her face and kiss her forehead. I smile as I watch her lips pucker, and resist the urge to kiss them. I lay my head down and finish watching the movie on television.

  9

  Maia

  I wake up to the warmth of Dominic curled around me. I stretch, peeling away from him as nature calls. His arms tighten around me.

  “Where are you going?” His husky voice sends shivers down my spine.

  “To the bathroom.”

  I sigh in relief as he unwraps himself from around me. I hurry into the bathroom, taking care of business and hurrying back to bed, my toes traipsing hurriedly across the cold floor.

  He wraps himself around me again, warming me up. “Merry Christmas.”

  I smile. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Do you want to open gifts before we go to Tina’s or after?” he mumbles into my hair.

  “Before.” I sit up and look down at him, my smile as large as that of any child who’s excited about Christmas.

  He sits up, his lips meeting my temple. “Let’s get dressed then.”

  We sit on the floor by the small tree we bought and decorated. There’s a matching one at my apartment. He hands me a large box, and I look at it excitedly. Before opening it, I hand him a large box too.

  We both look down at our boxes, then at each other. “Open it,” we say at the same time.

  I giggle and point at him. “You first.”

  He shakes his head. “At the same time.”

  I nod and pull the bow on my box, loosening it. I pull the lid off and look inside expectantly. All I see is tissue. Deflating, I pull back all the tissue until a small, oblong box appears.

  I look up at Dom, and he gestures expectantly. I pick up the box, my hands shaking a little. My fingers adjust themselves and I pull the top of the box, hearing the click as it opens.

  Lying in the black velvet bedding of the box is a gold bracelet with three charms on it. The first one is my birthday stone, a diamond; the second is his birthday stone, an aquamarine; the third is a small, flat, heart-shaped gold medallion with our initials on it.

  “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  I can’t take my eyes off the bracelet. It’s amazing. The first gift I’ve gotten from a man. I look up at Dominic with tears in my eyes before looking back down at the bracelet. I feel him scoot over to me, and his hand appears in my vision, pulling the bracelet out of the box.

  “Which wrist?” he asks.

  I dumbly hold up my left wrist, still stunned that he’s able to give such a wonderful gift. I should have known, because of the man I know. He’s amazing, and I lean over to kiss him after he clasps the bracelet into place.

  “Thank you so much. Again, it’s so beautiful.” I turn my wrist back and forth, watching as the stones catch the light.

  “I’m so glad you like it.” His eyes look deeply into mine, with all the love we haven’t expressed verbally yet.

  “Go ahead, open yours now,” I tell him, suddenly nervous again.

  He pulls off the bow and tears open the wrapping. He lifts the lid and looks inside. He pulls out a large, wooden charging dock with a lid. The lid is personalized with his name across the top in script. He smiles and looks up at me.

  “Open it,” I tell him.

  He lifts the lid and pulls out a gold watch with a black face with gold numbers in it. He inspects it and notices the inscription on the back. It’s never too late for anything.

  He looks up at me again. “Amazing.”

  He puts the watch on his wrist and reaches inside the box again. I rub my hands on my leg, waiting for his reaction. He raises his hand again, and dangling off his finger is a keychain with half a heart with my name on it. I hold up the other half of the keychain that has his name on it.

  He moves the box off his lap and scoots over to me, lifting me onto his lap so I’m straddling him. “I love it, and I love you.”

  Tears fill my eyes. “I love you too.”

  His arms come around me, pulling me closer to him. His lips meet mine in a kiss so tender that tears fall down my cheeks. His lips move over mine lovingly, caressing them. Making my insides into mush. I feel all the love in his kiss, and I pour all the love I feel into kissing him back.

  He pulls back. “Damn. What you do to me. I’ve never felt like this before. I never thought I would find what we have. Thank you.” He wipes my tears. “Happy tears?”

  I nod, and he releases the breath he was holding. He moves me off his lap and pulls another gift out of his pocket. It’s a small blue velvet box that says, “Tiffany & Co” on the top.

  My eyes bulge when he opens the box and there’s a large oval diamond ring nestled in the center.

  “Like I said before, I never thought I would ever feel like this about anyone. You are my world, and I love you so much. I’m a smart man, and I know that when something like this comes along, you dive in with both feet, because it’s once in a lifetime. Marry me. We don’t have to get married right away if you don’t want to, but I want my ring on your finger. I need the world to know you’re mine.”

  He clears his throat as I look at him, stunned.

  I look at him and down at the ring again, processing what’s happening. He just asked me to marr
y him. My lips curve upward and outward, showing my teeth as I nod.

  “Yes. I’ll marry you. I love you.”

  He releases the breath he was holding, and the frown lines smooth as his face relaxes. He pulls the ring out of the box and slides it onto my third finger on my left hand.

  I examine the large diamond, moving my hand back and forth, watching it sparkle in the sunlight from the window. I look up at my fiancé. Wow, I’m getting married. A feeling of panic hits my chest until I look into his eyes. They are looking down at me with so much love that all the panic flees, being replaced by a warmth that spreads through my whole body.

  “It’s beautiful, and thank you so much!” I smile. “I’m getting married!”

  He laughs and lifts me, carrying me over to the couch and turning on the television.

  “Do you want some breakfast?” He sets me down on the couch.

  I nod. “Something light. Tina said we have to be there at two. Dinner will be served between two-thirty and three.”

  He looks at his new watch. “That’s three hours from now. How about a piece of fruit and some of your mocha coffee?”

  “Works for me.” I watch as he disappears into the kitchen and comes back out with peaches and a cup of coffee for each of us.

  “How about you decorate the rest of the house? You’ll be moving in soon, so you’ll need to make it all look as good as the living room and bedroom.” He sits beside me, handing me a peach.

  “Okay. I can start after the first of the year.” I lean in to him as his arm comes around me. We watch a movie until it’s time to go to Tina’s house.

  My stomach growls as we pull up in the driveway of her house. It’s a large, white house with columns. Double doors stand open behind glass screen doors, and Tina stands off to one side waiting for us to come to the door. I wait for Dominic to come around and open the door for me. I step out, and he closes it behind me.

  I see Tina’s eyes zero in on my ring, bracing myself for her inquisition when we reach the door. She opens the screen door and pulls us inside, excitement dancing in her eyes.

  “Hey! So glad you’re here.” She points at my ring, “Is that what I think it is?” We nod, and she pulls me into a hug. “Congratulations! I’ll keep it to a minimum for now, since we have a house full of people. Let’s get you introduced to everyone.”