"Even if I do set a few fires," Maggie joked, clearing the table. The rest of us laughed as we headed out to the living room with the coffee Maggie had prepared.
Doc Jones excused himself after one cup. "I'll come check on you again tomorrow."
"You don't have to. It's Christmas Eve," I protested.
"Darling, why do you think I'll be coming by? I'm hoping Maggie will invite me over for Christmas Eve dinner," he said, winking at me as Maggie came in drying her hands on her apron.
"Oh, posh. You know you're always invited. Aunt June and Uncle Tim wouldn't have it any other way," Maggie said, walking him to the door.
After Doc left, the rest of us sat around chatting well into the night. The other couples were all hilarious as they regaled us with their own mishaps over the years. Grant kept an arm around me the entire evening, like he was afraid I would disappear if he didn't hold me. I didn't mind at all, especially since his fingers played with the hairs at the back of my neck the entire time. Maggie noticed our closeness and gave me a wink when no one was looking. I returned her grin enjoying the moment.
Retiring for the evening, Grant and I made love for the third time on the plush carpet in front of the fireplace in our room. Unlike the previous two times, this was more of a sensual dance as we used our hands and mouths to explore each other's bodies and discover our hidden pleasures.
The next morning the sun was shining brightly for the first time in three days. I bathed solo in the tub as Grant washed my hair while I worried about keeping my bandaged foot dry. Once we were dressed, he carried me downstairs and deposited me in the living room, claiming there were a few things he needed to do. Perplexed but also intrigued, I let him have his secrets while I helped Maggie prepare some of the food for the evening. We had learned the night before that Maggie hosted a Christmas Eve party for friends and family members before they all headed off to midnight mass. She put out a buffet spread that everyone else contributed dishes to as well.
Maggie turned on Christmas carols while we worked. Even though I wasn't home in Woodfalls, it still helped make it feel special. I even found myself humming along. It was funny to think that like a Scrooge, I had fought my mom tooth and nail about coming home for Christmas. I had my reasons, but none of them seemed to matter as much anymore. That was the irony of Christmas this year. Now that I really wanted to be home, I couldn't get there. Sitting in Maggie's kitchen preparing cake pops and decorating Christmas cookies, I was reminded of the true importance of Christmas. It was all about spending time with loved ones. The essence of Christmas was happiness and togetherness. I would never forget that again.
Grant returned to the house a few hours later with a silly grin plastered to his face. He wouldn't tell me what he was up to. "You have to wait," he said, smiling the entire time. I grumbled my displeasure, but it was an act. The guests began to arrive before I could quiz him any further. I was pleased to see June again, who greeted me like an old friend. She clucked sympathetically over my foot, though she pointed out if we would have listened to her in the first place, it wouldn't have happened. I had to agree with her, although having a bum ankle definitely had its perks, like being held in Grant's arms.
I lost track of Grant as more and more people came and went. Maggie and June introduced me to everyone, which was a bit overwhelming. After a while, I stopped trying to remember their names. I was in the middle of discussing my food blog with Maggie and her friends when Grant found me.
"Are you ready for your surprise?" he whispered in my ear.
"Yes," I shivered as his breath tickled my ear.
"I'll bring her back in a few minutes," he told Maggie and her friends, scooping me up in his arms. They all sighed collectively. We paused in the hallway and he set me down to help me into my jacket before carrying me out the front door. I'm not sure what I had been expecting when he told me he had a surprise, but he managed to shock me.
Parked in front of the inn was a gorgeous Clydesdale horse attached to a beautiful carriage. Tim sat at the reigns, giving me a small wave.
"Your carriage awaits my lady," Grant said, placing me in the seat before joining me on the other side. He tucked a couple blankets around our laps as Tim urged the horse to move.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Know what?" he asked, placing an arm around my shoulder.
"This has always been my Christmas dream."
"I knew that, Jams. Haven't you been paying attention? I remember everything, including in fourth grade when Ms. McMillan had us all write our Christmas wishes on the board. Your wish that year was to ride on a horse-drawn carriage on Christmas," he said.
Tears welled up in my eyes. "You made my Christmas wish come true," I said, enchanted as I looked up at him. Who would have thought? Grant—the boy who had teased me and driven me insane—remembered something I had wished for almost fifteen years ago. A tear escaped my overflowing eyes. Grant caught it with his thumb.
"Jams, I want to make all your wishes come true. Merry Christmas," he said, capturing my mouth with his.
I didn't tell him he already had.
>Grant returned to the house a few hours later with a silly grin plastered to his face. He wouldn't tell me what he was up to. "You have to wait," he said, smiling the entire time. I grumbled my displeasure, but it was an act. The guests began to arrive before I could quiz him any further. I was pleased to see June again, who greeted me like an old friend. She clucked sympathetically over my foot, though she pointed out if we would have listened to her in the first place, it wouldn't have happened. I had to agree with her, although having a bum ankle definitely had its perks, like being held in Grant's arms.
I lost track of Grant as more and more people came and went. Maggie and June introduced me to everyone, which was a bit overwhelming. After a while, I stopped trying to remember their names. I was in the middle of discussing my food blog with Maggie and her friends when Grant found me.
"Are you ready for your surprise?" he whispered in my ear.
"Yes," I shivered as his breath tickled my ear.
"I'll bring her back in a few minutes," he told Maggie and her friends, scooping me up in his arms. They all sighed collectively. We paused in the hallway and he set me down to help me into my jacket before carrying me out the front door. I'm not sure what I had been expecting when he told me he had a surprise, but he managed to shock me.
Parked in front of the inn was a gorgeous Clydesdale horse attached to a beautiful carriage. Tim sat at the reigns, giving me a small wave.
"Your carriage awaits my lady," Grant said, placing me in the seat before joining me on the other side. He tucked a couple blankets around our laps as Tim urged the horse to move.