“Nonsense, I’m just sorry I wasn’t here to help you. You and that poor girl.” Auriela shakes her head.
“We’re both fine, I promise. I actually wanted to invite you to Christmas dinner tomorrow if you’re available? My sister’s flying down tonight so she can apologize to you in person for scaring you with that call.”
“Nonsense, she was worried, and understandably!” Auriela chuckles and then her smile turns sly. “I actually have plans.”
“Oh?”
“You know Lloyd? On four?”
I nod.
“We’re going to the carvery together.”
“Auriela, are you going on a date? Without my approval?” I tease with a smile.
“Oh, you.” She chuckles, waving her hand. “His son got stuck overseas so I said I would eat with him. But I can pop to yours for dessert?”
“Of course. You are always welcome. And you’re looking much better.”
“I feel much better.” She smiles. “Like I’ve got another fifty years left in me!”
We stay chatting until Snow joins me in the hallway with a bright smile on her face.
She exchanges a few kind words with Auriela, then we say our goodbyes and head back to my apartment.
“So, what was so urgent that you had to run from the elevator and then keep me out of my own home?” I ask as we step over the threshold.
“You’ll see.” Snow smirks, helping me out of my coat. “Just know that I’m limited in what I’m capable of.”
“What are we talking, food? Decoration? Something else?”
“Please, you’ve seen my decoration skills.” Snow giggles. “I’m amazing. This is different.” Taking my hand, she leads me toward the living room and then pauses at the closed door. “I know Fred scolded you and told you to take it easy, but uhm…” She tucks some of her hair behind her ear, and I catch the flush of crimson at the tip. Then she pushes the door open.
Inside, just beneath the Christmas tree, is a nest of blankets and pillows surrounded by fake flickering candles that illuminate the room in a warm orange glow.
There are several packaged cakes and cookies as well as some sparkling non-alcoholic wine, and the TV on the wall is set up with an animated Christmas movie.
“I’m not… I’m not so great at the whole expressing romance through actions so if you think I’m copying your picnic, then I totally am, but this one is warmer and safer, and all the food is pre-packaged and not handmade, but it still tastes good and I thought we could snuggle and watch my favorite movie and count down to Christmas and just…” She gazes up at me, her cheeks flushing and her eyes reflecting the lights from the Christmas tree as if stars had swooped down and entered her gaze. “Welcome home.”
“You almost sound like you’re asking me,” I say softly, sliding my hand around her back.
“I’m nervous,” she whispers. “But like a good kind of nervous.”
“I think,” I continue as I pull her close, “that’s calledexcitement.”
The movie and the food were a good idea and I would praise her for it, but as soon as we’re lying down in the warm blanket nest, I can’t keep my hands off her.
Fred warned me off strenuous activities for the good of both of us, given what we’ve both been through, but I can’t not kiss her when she’s laid out next to me and covered in the colors of the Christmas tree.
I can’t not touch her when I denied myself a taste of her for so long.
“Are you sure?” Snow asks, sliding her hand into my hair and stopping just shy of the gauze protecting my wound. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you either,” I whisper against her sweet lips as my hand glides over her abdomen and stops just shy of the stitches keeping her small incisions closed.
Her breath hitches and her other hand on the side of my neck flexes.
“Do you want me to stop?” I slide my hand an inch higher until my fingertips brush the bone of her bra.
