A Heart for Christmas (12 page)

Yvette felt a light pressure on her arm.  She swatted at it, and tried to go back to sleep.  After a few moments she felt it again.  She opened her eyes to find her daughter staring at her.

“Oh, good morning, sweetheart.”  She stretched and peeped at the clock.  It was six-thirty in the morning.

“Come one, mom,” Lacey bellowed.  “It’s Christmas.  Get up.  Time to open gifts,” she said tugging her mother’s hand.

“Okay, okay,” Yvette yawned, and forced herself to get out of bed.

It seemed as though she had just snuggled under the covers a few hours before.

Christmas Eve had been filled with last minute items to check off her list.  There was the umpteenth trip to the grocery store, gifts that still
had to be wrapped, and the midnight service at church.  Yvette’s head did not hit her pillow until well after two a.m.

She also had not spoken to Christopher that day.  She wondered if she had purposefully kept herself busy to take her mind off of not hearing from him.  She understood how he must feel.  He had proposed to her, and she had not even given him an answer.  It was supposed to be a joyous, incredible moment that was da
mpened by fear, uncertainty.  Why was she so worried about giving her heart again?  For fear it would get broken?  Just being without Christopher for a day had given her a glimpse of what not having him around was like.  It reminded her of how her life had been before meeting him a month ago.  It had been full of purpose, and yet hollow.  She and Lacey had been given a second chance to truly love someone, and be loved in return.

“Mommy.”  Her daughter shook her.  “Aren’t you coming?”

“Oh,” Yvette glanced down at Lacey.  She bent down and kissed her on the cheek.  “Of course, baby.  Let’s see what Santa brought you.”

Lacey made a bee line down the stairs and into the family room.  She dragged several gifts out for her mother, while Yvette did the same. 

“We don’t want to open them all, remember?  We’re going to pack up a few and open at Aunt Addie’s.”

“Okay, mommy,” Lacey agreed, and then dove into her pile of gifts with gusto. 

Christopher padded into his bedroom with a pair of black slacks and a
long, blue button down shirt.  He glanced out his windows.  It was cold, and gray outside which fit his mood perfectly.  He had not heard from Yvette since the night of Lacey’s birthday.   A few times he picked up the phone to call her, but he hung up each time.  He missed her and Lacey terribly, but the last thing he wanted to do was pressure her.  He told her that he would give her space, and he meant it—even if it was killing him to do so.

By the time he was dressed and walking downstairs, he was in a terrible mood.  The last thing he wanted to do was to smile and be chipper for a crowd of people, but
he refused to ruin his parents Christmas. 

There you are, honey,” his mother said when he walked into the room.  “I need your help.  Would you mind getting another pitcher of
punch from the fridge?  Our guests will be arriving soon, and I’m not sure we have enough out.”

“Sure, mom.”

Christopher ran into his father in the kitchen.  He nodded and headed to the fridge.

“You going to make it?” his father said without preamble.”

“Yes, sir,” he said automatically.

There was a knock at the door.  Anthony glanced at his son.  “I’ll get it.  With that look on your face people will think this is a funeral, and not Christmas dinner,” he chuckled.

“Not funny, dad.”

Anthony greeted their guests and handed Christopher the coats.  With a big smile, forced smile,
he took every one’s wraps to the hall closet.

One hour and ten coats later,
Christopher was seriously considering driving back to the city when his mother sidled up next to him. 

“Honey, I know you’re hurting right now,” she whispered, “but that sour face of yours is curdling the egg nog.”

“Mom,” Christopher warned.

Margaret hugged her son.  “Okay, okay.”

They both heard the doorbell ring.

“Great, more guests.  Can you get it, and try and put a good face on this will you, dear?  This is supposed to be a party.”

“Mom, I think it might be better for everyone if I just head back to Raleigh tonight and—”

“You will do no such thing she said in a soft hiss.  “You are going to stay and enjoy the holidays with your family.  I will not have a son of mine being alone on Christmas,” she chastised.  “Now get the door, sweetheart,” she said sweetly.

Christopher stared at his mother a moment, and then shook his head.  Parties always made his mother crazy.  Now was apparently no different.

He went to the front door, and plastered on a smile.

“Merry Christmas,” he said opening the door.

“Christopher,” Lacey said and jumped into his arms.

“Whoa,” he said catching her quickly.  He hoisted her up.  “What a surprise.”

He glanced past her to see Yvette and Adelaide.

“Yvie,” he said in a bewildered voice. 

“Merry Christmas, Christopher.”  She smiled up at him.  “
I hope you didn’t mind of showing up anyway.”

“Heavens no,” Margaret replied from behind her son.  “Welcome, welcome.  You three come on in here and get warmed up.”

Christopher sat Lacey down and stood aside.

“Um, we have some bags here…”

“Chris, don’t just stand there, bring Yvette’s gifts inside.  Lacey, it’s great to see you again.  You too, Adelaide.  I’ve got some great punch you’ve just got to try. You two follow me into the kitchen.  Everyone already here so we’ve got to get you introduced…”

Before Christopher could utter another word, his mother hustled everyone out of the room leaving the two of them alone.  Yvette stared after the group.

“Wow.”

“Wow is right,” he replied.  “She’s not much on subtlety.”

Christopher grabbed the gifts off the porch and shut the door behind them. 

“Can I take your coat?” he asked. 

“No, I can hang it up,” Yvette said quickly. 

When she returned, Christopher was right where she left him.

“I’m kind of shocked to see you,” he admitted.  “Great shock…incredible in fact, but still shocked.”

“Well, I couldn’t turn down your mother’s invitation.  I didn’t want to appear rude.”

“No, I understand.  I’m glad you came…really.  I just didn’t think you would.  Not after how we left things…you know.”

Yvette nodded.  “I know.”

They both started talking at the same time.  Each smiled and pointed to the other to go first.

“I’m sorry about the other night,” Yvette said quickly.  “I didn’t mean to give you the impression that I wasn’t completely floored at your proposal.  I was.  It was beautiful and special, and I didn’t mean to ruin it,” she finished on a sob.

“Hey, you didn’t ruin it,” Christopher told her.  “I promised to give you some time to think about it.  That’s the only reason I kept my distance.  I didn’t like one minute of us being apart, Yvie.  I just didn’t want you to feel pressured.”

“I don’t, Christopher.  You’ve been amazing, and I should have told you before how I felt, but I didn’t.  You and Lacey saw things for what they were a lot faster than I did.  I was afraid to get in too deep, too soon.”

“Yvie, we don’t have to rush.”  Christopher grasped her hand.  “I meant what I said.  I may not have done a great job of relaying that in the last two days, but I’m not going anywhere.  I love you—and Lacey.”

Yvette swiped tears from her eyes.  “I love you too, Christopher.   We both do, and I want to be your wife.  I want us to be a family.”

Christopher scooped Yvette up in his arms and held her tightly. 

“I love you,” he said against her lips.

“I love you, Christopher,” she breathed.

He set her down.  “Do you want to tell Lacey on your own, or should we do it together?”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”  She motioned behind her.

Christopher turned around to see Lacey, his parents, and the entire party squeezed into the hallway.  They cheered as Lacey ran up and hugged her mom, and Christopher. 
He picked her up.

“I’m glad you’re marrying us,” she told Christopher.

His eyes grew moist.  “I’m glad, too, kiddo.”

Lacey gazed up at her mother.  “
Mommy, I told you this would be the best Christmas ever,” she cried.

Yvette kissed her daughter, and then her fiancé. 
“You sure did, honey.  You sure did.”