“Yeah, I did. How did you know that?” he asked in amazement.
“You engraved a star ornament for my parents. I remember the script.”
“Flip it over.”
Following his instruction, January flipped the bracelet in her hand and found another engraving on the opposite side of the rectangle.
“My wish,” she murmured as she read the inscription. “I don’t understand.”
Deckard slipped the bracelet from her hold and signaled for her to hold her hand out. He began to clasp the jewelry together as he said, “If I could make any wish, it would be for you.”
“Deckard,” she choked out at the reality of his statement. It was the sweetest non-profession of love she had ever heard.
Once the bracelet was clasped, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face against the warm flesh.
“Thank you so much. It’s the most beautiful present anyone has ever given me.”
“You’re welcome, January. You deserve beautiful things.”
January wanted to tell him that because of the thing she had done that she didn’t deserve anything, but January knew he wasn’t going to listen.
Disrupting their embrace, the timer on the oven went off and January had to turn her attention back to the dinner that would be underway in a few short minutes. While she plated all the food, she instructed Deckard where she kept her matches to light the candles on the table. She only had a few minu
tes before her family was due and she found herself running to her bedroom to grab her heels, slipping them on her feet just as the doorbell rang.
She rushed past Deckard, who was standing casually against the opening to her kitchen, and then stopped short returning to where he waited. January placed both of her hands on his cheeks and left a hot, open-mouth kiss on his lips.
“Before I forget, I want to thank you for everything. And I want you to know that you look really really sexy all dressed up like this.” January seductively ran her eyes over his body clad in black slacks that hugged his legs and ass just right, and a gray button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. “Are you ready?” she tacked on as she walked backward toward the door.
“I’m ready for anything.”
Taking a deep breath, January opened the door to her parents, two of her three siblings, and their significant others. June had offered to babysit for the night since they all knew January’s home wasn’t large enough to contain all six children running around.
She poured everyone the wine or beers that they requested before they all took their seats. Deckard brought everything out to the table then took his place beside January. The holiday decorations were the first things her siblings commented on, their curiosity overwhelming. January could tell that they didn’t know whether to believe her or not.
Luckily, her parents were able to steer the conversation away from the decor and focus on a local game show the family had been watching – everyone but January. Even now, in her own home, she felt like the odd man out. Deckard must have been able to sense her change in mood because under the table he grasped her hand and rested it on his thigh.
“Oh, Tom,” her mother cried out to January’s father once Deckard offered to start clearing plates. “I left the solstice star for January in the car. Would you be a dear and go grab it?”
Dutifully her father donned his coat and went out to the car despite January assuring him that she could get it another time. She wasn’t even sure what a solstice star was, and she doubted that she actually needed it.
Her back had been facing the front door, so she didn’t see when her father reentered the house. The small flicker of the flame on her silver and red striped candle held her attention as her siblings chatted with her mother.
“Happy Birthday!” January jumped in her seat as everyone shouted in unison.
“What the?”
“Happy birthday, sweetie,” her mother said as she reached over to hug her youngest daughter. Her father carried a small sheet cake into the kitchen with a series of candles ignited on top. On impulse, January looked over to the kitchen finding Deckard carrying small dessert plates toward the table and he winked at her as she caught his eye.
The group sang to her, then her father helped to delve out pieces of the chocolate cake to everyone. Her family had even brought presents with them. Small trinkets that January would cherish.
She didn’t know if it was Deckard or her family that made this the best birthday ever, maybe it was both, but she was going to remember this day for the rest of her life.
Her family didn’t linger much longer after the cake since they all had to work the next day.
January wished that time would slow. Her time with Deckard was fleeting and she wanted to hold on just a bit longer.
The moment the front door closed, January slipped off her shoes and stretched. This was the last Christmas Eve she would have. It was painful to consider. This day that used to always overshadow her birthday no longer existed – it was a strange thought.