A smile wider than Lake Erie covered my face as I stood face-to-face with a festive Christmas wreath on my door that was aminiature version the one in the town square. It was perfect in every way as the words “Happy Holidays” hung about it in red glittery cursive letters. Silver bells and red tinsel covered the wreath, too, reminding me of the effort I enjoyed putting into the homemade decorations I created for my students.
“What did you do?” I shook my head in disbelief, asking the question to myself, impressed at Amari’s attempt to cement his role as my personal Santa.
I opened my unlocked door and gasped as I entered my foyer. I unbuttoned my coat, removed my gloves, and dropped my bags on the floor with my mouth open. When I placed my winter weather gear in a corner, I cautiously entered the area as if it wasn’t real.
Beautiful white lights of varying lengths and sizes were hung everywhere, transforming the previously dank space into what had to be one of the coziest Christmas scenes in any home in rural Georgia.
“Amari?” I stepped deeper into my beautiful home, anxiously searching for my personal interior designer, who was nowhere to be found.
As I entered my family room, I inhaled the fresh scent of apple cinnamon and cranberries. Several lighted, glittery pine cones hung neatly above my fireplace’s mantle and drew me to the array of photos behind them.
No,he didn’t.
Tears filled my eyes as I walked toward the mantle. A series of beautiful 4x6 photos filled the gorgeous space. I reached for each one and touched the delicate gold trim around them. My precious LaRue was the star in each one. I moved from the photo of my first ultrasound to her picture in the hospital the day she was born, and finally to a serene picture of me holding LaRue in my arms as she slept in the hospital nursery. Each photo held aprecious memory that had been tucked away in a corner of my heart.
“Welcome home, baby.” Amari’s deep voice melted me like warm caramel as the sounds of Ray Charles’s and Nina Simone’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside” piped through portable speakers.
I turned to face him and stared like I’d seen a ghost.
Amari was shirtless with a candy cane in his mouth. A big velvet Santa hat sat crooked on his head as red velvet, wide-legged red and white stripes lounge pants hung low on his fit waist. I swallowed as I got a delicious peek of the “V” that disappeared below Amari’s waistband.
“Hello, Santa.” I walked toward him and held his waist before Amari removed his candy cane and kissed me with passion.
“Hey, Rubylicious.” I giggled at the cute nickname he called me when he complimented me this morning for my performance in last night’s freaky phone sex show.
“This . . .” I gestured to the mantle. “It’s amazing. When did you have time to do this? I saw some of the damage from the storm on my way here. Surely, you’ve been busy with cleanup across town.”
Amari nodded.
“My first priority is taking care of my lady.” He kissed me on my nose.
I smiled, flattered by Amari’s words but still not comfortable with them since we weren’t relationship official.
“This really is too much. But the photos are . . .” I placed my hand on my chest as my throat tightened.
He moved to the mantle and picked up the photo nearest him.
“When I searched for Christmas decorations, I found these. Your baby girl was too precious to be cooped up in a box. I want you to celebrate her at Christmas, not mourn her. She’s your Christmas angel, love. She always will be.”
I cried full tears then.
Amari wrapped his arms around me. His fresh scent enveloped me, reminding me of the warmth we shared under my blankets in the storm.
In his arms, I reflected on how I’d approached Christmas over the past few years. I’d mourned LaRue’s death more than I celebrated her life. That wasn’t fair to her. After this year, I wouldn’t do that again.
I wiped my runny nose with the handkerchief Amari pulled from his pocket.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Care for me like I want to care for you.”
His words were simple and pierced my heart.
I closed my eyes and pictured what that kind of care would look like. I saw decorating a big tree, opening presents with Amari and Aspen, and making love with Amari in front of my fireplace.
“I already care for you.” I rubbed Amari’s cheek and smiled.
He held my hand with his and kissed my lips lightly.
