Christmas Past Part 1

After placing the last arrangement on the mantle, Dani stepped back and surveyed the room. The lights on the tree twinkled in a rainbow of colors and set the tinsel glittering as it moved in the air from the heat duct. It was beautiful. The fire in the fireplace warmed the room and the Christmas greenery and colorful lights and decorations added to the feeling of warmth.

Simon would have chosen all white lights and decorations in varying shades of white and gold. Everything would have been beautiful but in her view it would have been more like a magazine spread than a place for families to gather. He'd left her with it, over protest. She did let him take care of the outside of the house and it was stunning what he'd done with it. All elegant and tasteful. She made a face in the mirror.

Truth be told, she hated the holidays. They were the most depressing time of year, made worse because one must put on a happy face for the children. Baking cookies, cakes, pies, and all the other accoutrements of the season exhausted her to the point she could barely move by the end of Christmas Day. Then there was the New Year celebrations. She rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh as she dropped the extra string of lights into the storage bin and closed the lid. She'd have Simon take this back to the garage when he finished with the boys.

From somewhere in the back of the house, she could hear the squeal of the boys as they played with Simon. It had become quite rambunctious and she wondered if she should intervene before someone got hurt, probably Simon.

She loved when he could be home for days at a time. Lately, it seemed work got more of him than she and Connor. When he'd told her that he'd be home for two weeks at Christmas, she was elated. He traveled too much and she missed him.

More squeals and she knew there was no use trying to pry him away. He never got to see Connor as much as he wanted as it was and Nicholas even less. Right after the holiday and he'd have to leave again. Europe, he said. He'd invited her to go along but she couldn't take Connor out of school and she wasn't about to leave him with anyone.

"What are you doing, Mama?"

She turned to find Connor standing in the doorway watching her, his head canted to one side and a puzzled frown on his face.

Pushing the crate into the hallway, she grinned at him. "I just finished getting all the decorations up and was about to call your father to come help me put this away. What are you doing? I thought you were with Dad."

"Nicky had to go pee." He leaned to look around her.

She laughed. "Where is Dad?"

The rich sapphire blue eyes he inherited from Simon sparkled with amusement. "He said he needed to rest a minute anyway and I should go find you."

"Ah." She took his hand. "Well, we have cookies in the kitchen. Shall we go find them?"

"Yes, Mama. I'd like that. Can we get some for Nicky, too?"

"Of course. And Daddy."

The went down the hallway, to the kitchen and adjoining family room. Connor climbed up on the stool at the bar and waited. Dani looked into the family room but Simon was nowhere to be seen. He'd probably slipped upstairs while he could make a clean getaway.

"Aunt Dani?" Nicholas came into the kitchen on sock encased feet.

"Nick, where are your shoes?"

"Uncle Simon said we don't wear shoes in the house."

She sighed and gave each of them a small plate of chocolate chip cookies and glasses of milk. "Right. When he's home, we don't."

The cookies were still slightly warm and smelled wonderful. She took one and closed her eyes as it nearly melted in her mouth. How Simon had managed to bake such amazing cookies while playing with the boys was beyond comprehension.

She felt arms slip around her waist from behind and a warm kiss pressed against her neck. "That's the same sensation I get when I . . ."

"Simon!" She snapped.

He laughed and turned her to face him. "I was going to say when I kiss you."

She slid her own arms around his neck. "Of course you were. Where were you?"

Nicholas piped in. "He had to go pee, too."

Simon grinned.

Dani laughed aloud. "Such dignity we have, boys."

"So," Simon said, nuzzling her neck. "Are you finished with the decorating?"

"Yes. There's a box in the hallway that needs to be put in the garage. Would you do that?"

"For you, my darling, I would carry it to the moon and back." His mouth trailed kisses up her neck to her cheek.

Smiling, she gently pushed him back. "The garage is perfectly fine. You can whisper sweet nothings in my ear later, when the boys have gone to bed." She reached behind her and plucked a cookie off the plate and stuck it in his mouth. "Until then, you can have this sweet nothing."


To Be Continued.....