What could I say to that? Absolutely nothing. So, I smiled and opened the gifts in front of me while I tried not to cry. When I was finished, I had a pile of clothes, shoes, a new backpack, a new purse, some earrings, and a few gift cards.
I looked up when I heard a gasp. Gram was holding my gift to her in her hands. “Tommy, look at this,” she said and turned the frame to her husband.
“What is it?” Phoenix asked, climbing out from under his pile of presents to take a look.
“It’s the most beautiful picture of an elephant I’ve ever seen. Oh, Annabelle, where did you find this?” Gram asked.
Before I could answer, Phoenix did. “She didn’t find it, Gram. She drew it. See her signature right there in the corner.”
Gram turned her wide eyes to me. “You did this?” At my nod, she hugged the frame to her chest. “It’s exquisite. I will forever cherish it.”
I felt my eyes begin to tear up at her kind words. Thankfully, Pop broke the emotionally charged moment when he started eagerly digging through his pile of gifts. “Don’t just stand there, help me find mine, love!”
I giggled and reached over to pull my gift to him from the pile. He took it from my outstretched hand and ripped the paper open. Beaming from ear to ear, he turned the frame around and proudly showed everyone the pirate schooner I had drawn for him. “I love it,” he declared.
I smiled shyly. I didn’t have much money, but I wanted to give them something special for Christmas. I knew Gram loved elephants and Pop had an affinity for pirate ships, so I spent a few weeks working on the drawings for them. I was relieved by their reactions. I, personally, thought the drawings were some of my best work, but I had no idea what they would think.
Phoenix stood and crossed his arms. “And where is mine?”
I felt my cheeks heat. I had one for him as well, but I had planned on giving it to him without an audience. “It’s upstairs. I didn’t realize we were exchanging our gifts now,” I said quietly.
He stepped closer and cupped my cheek. “Relax, doll face. I was only kidding.”
“If you want to smack him, we’ll pretend like we didn’t see it,” Pop interjected causing us all to laugh.
By the time we finished opening gifts and cleaning up the mess of wrapping paper and ribbons, it was late and I was ready to go to sleep. After hugging Gram and Pop and saying good night, I turned to Phoenix to do the same. He pulled me against his chest and whispered in my ear, “Come to my room after they go to bed so we can exchange gifts.” Without giving me a chance to respond, he kissed my cheek and said loud enough for Gram and Pop to hear, “Good night, doll face. Merry Christmas!”
I waited in my room until I heard Gram and Pop come upstairs and close their bedroom door. Then, I waited another 15 minutes before I tiptoed down the hall and quietly knocked on Phoenix’s door.
He answered the door wearing nothing but a pair of flannel sleep pants that sat low on his hips. I had seen his body before, but never when we were alone with a door that locked and a bed. I briefly wondered if I was drooling before he placed his finger under my chin and tilted my head. “You gotta stop looking at me like that, baby. I’m trying to behave myself,” he said huskily.
“Then put a fucking shirt on,” I blurted.
He chuckled, but did as I said and pulled a t-shirt on over his head.
I took a seat on the edge of the bed and tried not to tear at the wrapping paper while I waited for him to get my gift. I don’t know why I was so nervous. I knew Phoenix wouldn’t care if I hadn’t gotten him anything and we had been alone together many times before, so there was no reason for me to feel the need to get to my feet and bolt from the room.
I felt the bed depress beside me followed by Phoenix’s warmth at my side. He placed his large palm on my bouncing thigh and asked, “You okay, doll face?”
“Yeah,” I croaked and cleared my throat. “Sorry. I’m nervous and I don’t know why.”
He cupped my cheek with his other hand and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “No reason for you to be nervous, baby.”
“I know,” I whispered against his lips.
He scooted back and grinned. “I’ll go first so you can actually enjoy opening your presents.” At my nod, he picked up the smaller of the two gifts I had for him. He made a great show of inspecting the gift and shaking it before he finally opened it.
His eyes widened and he sucked in a breath when he pulled the black leather chain wallet from the box. On the front, it had a phoenix etched into the leather. I wouldn’t have been able to get it for him, but Gram gave me an unexpected Christmas bonus at the beginning of the month.
Phoenix continued to stare at the wallet and I started to get worried. Finally, he met my eyes and smiled. “I love it.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I handed him the other gift, though I was sure he knew what it was.
He took it from me and didn’t delay in ripping the paper off. “Annabelle, this is by far your best one yet,” he said with a smile as he admired the framed drawing of a phoenix.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
He studied the picture for a few more moments before he put it down and handed me a fairly large box. I looked at the box and giggled. “I’m guessing you didn’t ask anyone to help you with the wrapping.”
