Chapter Seven
Staring at the table, I surveyed my handiwork, feeling very pleased with myself. I'd managed to scrounge up a fairly decent looking red tablecloth, some bowls, spoons and a serving plate. I'd artfully cut and arranged the cheese and sausages on the serving plate, setting it near the oil lamp I'd placed in the center. More digging in the pantry had unveiled some single powder packets that I'd added to our water for flavor. I'd chosen the red tropical punch, since the color was festive and somewhat Christmassy.
The soup was still on the stove, on the lowest heat to keep it warm, and I glanced worriedly toward the door, wondering what was taking Micah so long. He hadn't reappeared in the whole time I'd been preparing our meal. Granted, it had only taken about thirty minutes; but still, I worried about him being out in the inclement weather. Heading to the door, I wrapped my arms around myself and peered out one of the small windows into the dark, unable to see anything.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside and suddenly there he was, standing on the other side with his arms full of wood. "Can you open the door?" he yelled, and I quickly jumped to do his bidding.
"I was starting to get worried about you," I said, closing it against the blustery wind that blew in with him. "I thought maybe you'd been eaten by a bear or something."
"A bear?" Laughing, he dropped the wood in the box beside the fireplace. "Come on, Lissy. You were raised in the mountains. You know bears are hibernating right now."
"True, but it seems I have a very overactive imagination during freak winter snow storms following car accidents."
Turning toward me, he tweaked my nose. "I guess I can give you that. It's still really coming down out there. It made the door to the shed a little more difficult to open. I need to go back and get some more."
"Do you want me to come help you?" I asked.
"No. Stay here. I stacked a bunch on the end of the porch. I just need to bring it in." He disappeared once again and I heard more clunking noises before he reappeared, dumping another armload into the box.
"One more trip."
"Okay. I'll leave the door cracked for you. I need to go check the cake. It smells done, but I didn't really have a way to time it."
"No problem."
Hurrying to the kitchen, I grabbed one of the hot pads I'd left sitting on the counter. Picking up the fork there also, I opened the oven and stabbed it into the middle of the cake and pulled it out, checking it for batter. It came out clean and I smiled. It looked like it was done. Carefully grabbing the edge of the pan, I removed it, sitting it on the unlit burners to cool so I could frost it after we were done eating.
"Merry Christmas!" Micah's voice made me jump. Turning, I saw him carrying a small pine tree, about three and a half feet tall, into the room.
"What did you do?" I asked, clapping my hands together.
"I cut off the top of a small tree." He grinned widely, closing the door behind him. "This was all that was sticking up above the snow."
"You defaced their property?" I was slightly horrified, and more than a little thrilled.
"It was toward the back of the lot. Hopefully it won't be an issue." Leaning the tree in the corner, he dug through his bag, retrieving the box of candy canes we'd brought with us. "Decorations?"
"They're perfect," I replied. "I can't believe you did this!" Child-like glee swept through me at his kind gesture, flooding my heart with emotion. It was so incredibly thoughtful of him to do something so sweet.
"I know how much you love your family Christmas parties. I couldn't let tonight pass without celebrating with you. You want to help me?" His wide smile beckoned me like a ship to a lighthouse. I wanted to throw my arms around him and smother him with kisses.
"Yes," I replied, joining him, keeping my burgeoning emotions in check.
Dividing the treats between us, we quickly placed them around the branches. Micah went into the kitchen and opened a couple of drawers before revealing a box of tinfoil.
"I thought I saw this in there. Since you're the craftier of the two of us, why don't you try making a star for our little tree, while I dish us up some of that delicious smelling soup you just made? My mouth is watering."
"All right." I replied, timidly. I wasn't nearly as crafty as he seemed to think I was, but I carefully pulled a sheet off and began folding it. "Hmmm. I think our star is only going to have three points." I surveyed the slightly lopsided creation and raised it for him to see.
He cocked his head to the left, studying it for a mere moment. "Works for me. I say go put it on there."
I cut another long thin strip and used it to anchor the star to the top of the tree. "There! It's perfect."
"I agree," he said, smiling as he set the steaming bowls on the table. "Now, come eat. I can hear your stomach growling from here." I believed his comment. I was terribly hungry.
Holding out a chair for me, he seated me, as if we were on a date in a fine restaurant. But he didn't join me; instead, he went back to his bag.
"Now what are you doing?"
"We need Christmas music. I have a playlist on here." Holding up the iPad in his hand, he brought it to the table as he shuffled through the screen.
My mouth dropped open a bit as I watched him sit down, before I narrowed my eyes to slits and glared at him.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You had a Christmas playlist, yet you forced me to listen to that heinous music in the car? Why?"
Chuckling, he shrugged. "I was under the impression you hated me, then. It was a great way to get under your skin and annoy you." At least he had the decency to look sheepish. "Will you forgive me?"
Sighing heavily, I nodded. "Well, you did practically save me from freezing to death today, so I could maybe consider it."
"Good." Propping the iPad on the table, he turned the music on softly, the sounds of classical Christmas filling the air. It was amazing how such a few small enhancements had completely changed the feel of our predicament. I was actually beginning to enjoy myself.
"Is it bad that we're having a nice time together when I know our families are worried sick about us right now? I feel so guilty." Dipping my spoon into my bowl, I lifted some of the warm soup into my mouth, moaning in pleasure at the taste.
"I don't think either of our families would begrudge us celebrating our safety tonight. I think they'd be very happy to know that we're okay."
"That's true." Unable to hold myself back any longer, I dug into my meal in earnest. Silence ensued between us and I realized how hungry we both were. The day had been exhausting.
Everything tasted divine—as if it were a platter set for a king; and I felt very grateful, indeed, to have it. And, it was so much nicer because Micah was here with me. We didn't speak, but we couldn't seem to keep our eyes off each other. I'd catch him staring and he'd wink, causing me to blush and smile. It felt like when we'd first gotten together, back in high school. He still made my insides feel fluttery, and I liked that.
"You want some more?" I asked when he reached the bottom of his bowl.
"Sure, but I can get it."
"No. You rest. You've done practically everything today. Let me do something for you." Taking his bowl, I ladled some more soup into it and took it back to him, before returning to the sink to rinse off the spatula I'd used to mix the cake, so I could frost it.
"Need any help?" he asked.
"No. I've got it. But you can help me eat it." Smiling at him, I brought the cake over to the table and started frosting it there, since the light was better.
"That looks so good." He was eyeing it hungrily and I was glad he was enjoying his meal.
After spreading the creamy mixture, I went back to the kitchen to retrieve some small saucer plates. I brought them to the table and scooped us each a piece. The cake was still warm, causing the frosting to melt a bit and making it a gooey looking treat. "Forks would probably help," I said, mostly to myself and I went to get some from the silverware drawer. "Bon Appetite!" I added as I set his in front of him.
He didn't have to be told twice, digging right in and immediately groaning. "This is amazing! You did a great job."
"Yeah. Add water, oil, bake and spread frosting. I'm a real culinary genius." Still, his praise made me beam.
"I think this may be one of the best meals I've ever tasted," he said, and I beamed even more.
"Me, too. Apparently traumatic experiences heighten one's taste buds."
"I think you're right."
I found myself relaxing and tapping my foot to one of the more lively Christmas carols.
"How achy are you feeling?" he asked out of the blue.
Stretching my muscles, I tested them. "I'm a little sore, why?"
"Care to dance with me?"
Surprised, I reached for my drink, carefully taking a swallow and using it to swish out any undesirable cake that might be stuck in my teeth. "Sure. Let's do it." I was totally game.
Despite the faster beat, he gathered me into his arms and swayed slowly with me. Resting my head against his shoulder, I found myself melting into the cocoon of warmth he created. The song switched to something slow and I couldn't help the tingles that raced through me when Micah began tracing his hand up and down my back. It was such a simple thing, but it made my heart race just the same. I hugged him closer.
"Thanks for everything you've done today—keeping us both safe, I mean."
He signed heavily. "It would've been completely unnecessary if I'd been paying more attention to the road. There wouldn't have been any need for all of this."
"Part of that is my fault. Our conversation was what distracted you. Besides, I'm not sure I wish today would've ended up any differently, right now." Holding my breath, I waited to see what he would say to that.
His fingers slid under my chin, lifting my face toward his. "I'm not sorry, either. In fact, I'd say I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve."
Bending, his lips claimed mine, in the softest of kisses, merely a whisper of breath, but it sent shocks shooting through me like fire. "I still love you so much, Felicity. Please can we forget the past and start over? I need you back in my life."
"No," I replied, and hurt immediately shot through his eyes. "I don't want to forget the past. We had too many happy memories together." He relaxed immediately. "And I think we've learned an important lesson, too."
"What's that?" he asked, distracting me with another kiss, this time to my cheek.
"That no matter what happens, we need to talk to each other and not just assume we know what is going on. Who knows what would've happened if we'd have actually spoken with one another instead of assuming and believing other people. We could've bypassed all this hurt."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're as wise as you are beautiful?" He kissed me again, and I snorted.
"Whatever."
"It's true. And it must mean you're extremely wise, because I've never known anyone more beautiful than you."
I laughed outright. "Now you're simply trying to get brownie points."
"No, I'm not. It's true. But saying brownie points is making me jones for a second piece of that chocolate cake."
We both laughed as we broke apart.
"Let me dish you another."
"Okay." He led me back to the table and sat down, scooting his chair closer to mine and making my whole soul feel complete. I loved him.