***
Christmas morning, bright and early, Tessa bundled her hyperactive kids into her white Uno. The noise level was high as she pulled away and drove to the area where Clark lived. She had on her favourite white summer dress and had let her hair hang loose onto her shoulders. She wore her favourite pendant, a silver teardrop with a small diamond in the middle that Ty had bought her for their fifth anniversary. It was the first time she’d worn it since he’d died two years back, and although her breath had caught in her throat when she’d put it on, she’d kept it there because it picked up the blue in her eyes and made her white dress sparkle. Besides, it was Christmas and she needed to look good.
Clark didn’t live far from her, and she hooted outside his gate at five past eight. The gate opened electronically and she drove in.
“Yay! We’re here!” shouted Mary.
Tessa smiled and grabbed her bag. She didn’t have presents for Clark and the aunties but was sure they would understand as there weren’t any shops open yet to buy something.
“Did you bring your costume?” Eric asked Mary.
“Mommy said she packed all the costumes.”
“I’ve got them,” said Tessa as she locked the car door. Clark walked from his front door, a bounce in his step and a broad grin on his face. He was wearing a navy cotton shirt and khaki shorts. His face looked shiny and fresh, and Tessa wondered if he ever looked tired.
“Merry Christmas everyone,” he announced.
She half expected him to produce a big red sack of presents. Where was his long, bushy, white beard and his sleigh?
“Merry Christmas, Uncle Clark,” said Cally, followed by her brother and sister. Tessa’s heart jumped at their politeness. Sometimes they surprised her.
“Come on in now. What you all standing outside for? The pool is waiting for you.”
“Let me just grab the presents from the boot.” Tessa winked as the kids rushed inside. Clark waited for her and took the bag from her.
“You could pass for the angel at the top of the tree.” He smiled at her. “All in white with your golden tresses. I could swear I saw your wings flutter a little in the breeze.”
She opened her mouth to comment, but no wisecrack came out. She didn’t feel like an angel, but the warm breeze on her face made her feel a little like taking off and flying away into a peaceful place.
“Let me show you my exotic plant collection,” said Clark as they walked inside. “I converted the tool shed into a green house.”
“I’d better say hello to your aunts first.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“And I’d better keep an eye on the kids in the pool. Where is your swimming pool?”
“Nonsense,” she heard Aunty May’s voice coming from the doorway to the back garden. “We’re looking after the kids while you go see Clark’s plants.”
“I thought you were making turkey and trifle?” Tessa asked.
“All done!”
The young woman gaped. “You ladies are so efficient. I barely managed to brush my teeth this morning.”
“Oh, pooh! We’re bored without our grandkids around. One day, you’ll have lots of spare time to finish everything quickly.”
She nodded but couldn’t quite believe it. Anyway, if it were true, it was a long time before that would happen. For now, she’d revel in the small break.
“Come.” Clark pulled her gently outside by the hand. Her kids were already splashing in the pool; little Mary stood by the step while Aunty Daisy watched her, kitted up in a polka dot sunhat and bikini on a deckchair near the pool. The green house was at the end of a windy path through shrubs at the bottom of a large yard. She followed Clark down the path, and the scent of pine needles, hibiscus, and roses flitted into her nose. Branches bowed down upon her, and she felt surrounded by green and moisture. She sucked in a refreshing breath of oxygen-infused air.
A pink rose creeper bush welcomed them into the greenhouse where sunlight filtered through the glass panes onto rows of plants. She breathed in the earthy scent and sighed. Clark took her hand again and they walked through the rows slowly while he described each plant’s origin and growth habits. She listened, fascinated, and her hand began to tingle while his warmth and enthusiasm pumped into her. There was a bench in the centre of the room, and he sat her down.
“It’s very beautiful in here—like a fairy glen. I could spend hours here.” She sighed and allowed the restfulness to ease into her harried body.
“I could spend hours here with you,” he said, twinkling gaze upon her.
“Oh, don’t be silly.”
He just smiled and kept her hand. She caught a glimpse of him when he wasn’t looking and thought how handsome he looked. She hadn’t noticed before, but the serenity upon his face and his solidness made her wish that she had time to sit with him for hours in this place. They didn’t need to talk but just rest and think.
“I suppose we’d better get back,” she said.
“You stay here a bit. I’ll check on your kids,” said Clark.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’d better come.” She followed him out, and they sat by the pool, watching the children swim.
After the children were wrinkly and thirsty, everyone went inside for a snack of ginger beer and Christmas cake while the presents were opened. Tessa helped the aunties dish up the lunch, and they sat outside under the awning to eat their turkey and couscous with an array of baked vegetables and sauces.
“I never knew turkey could taste so good,” said Tessa as she took the last bite of flavoursome meat.
“It sure does,” echoed Clark.
“But I don’t think I’ll manage the trifle just yet.” She patted her swollen belly.
“Me neither,” said Eric.
Everyone laughed.
“We’ll have to play a game to burn up some of the food,” said Clark. “I have some board games inside. We’ll play Pictionary and Scrabble.” Her children cheered, and they joined a rowdy game with the aunties fighting all the time to win.
Exhausted that evening and filled up with wonderful food, Tessa thanked Clark and his aunts as she bundled a sleeping Mary and two other suntanned kids into her Uno.
“Well, that was one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had,” said Tessa, wishing she didn’t have to go back to “real life.”
“The magic doesn’t have to end,” said Clark as she climbed into her seat and wound down the window.
“What do you mean?”
“Next weekend is New Year’s Day, and every weekend after that, we can share moments together.”
Tessa saw a yearning in his eyes. It mirrored her soul. The sense of completeness she’d felt with him was like a balm that had washed over her weary soul. But would it be the same with the aunts not there?
“My aunties are leaving day after tomorrow but I’d love someone to share New Year’s Day with. What do you say?”
Tessa nodded. She was scared. Not that she didn’t trust him, but she was scared it wouldn’t be the same, that the joy would go away and everything would go back to stress and exhaustion and lonely, empty hours.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect, you know,” he said.
“I know.”
“Even if it’s a little better, it’s better.” The dimples on his cheeks sank in gently, and she longed to kiss one of them.
She smiled instead. He reached down and kissed her firmly on the cheek. “I’ll see you then?” he asked, clearly holding his breath in anticipation.
“Yes, of course.”
“Oh, by the way, I didn’t want to give this to you with the aunties watching.” He handed her a small envelope. “It’s just a small present from me.”
“No, really, Clark. I didn’t expect anything.”
“Even better.” He grinned, making the dimples caverns of mischief and walked quickly back into his home. She tore the envelope open and gasped. It was a R100,000 voucher for the supermarket where he worked. How was that possible? Was he the
manager? She hadn’t even bothered to ask what he did. She felt her face pump hot with embarrassment. Maybe he would disappear and this was just a Christmas dream. Maybe he really was Santa Claus. She shook her head and laughed. She truly had become so cynical. Her heart started to crack open to let in the light. She just had to let it open all the way. She drove home in a daze. She wouldn’t have to worry about food for about a year. That was a huge amount of money. Feeling as if walking on air, she woke up the sleeping kids to get into their beds and sat on the living room sofa to digest what had happened. She should give it back.
The phone rang.
“Are you okay,” Clark asked.
“Oh, Clark. You can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s way too much.”
He chuckled. “It was fun. The best Christmas I ever had.”
Connect with Kathy Bosman online:
Website and blog: https://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KathleenBosman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
The Romance Reviews: https://www.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=LeenBee
Newsletter Subscription: https://eepurl.com/NokET
Other Books by Kathy:
Wedding Gown Girl
Three Tiers for Win
Reminding Me of You
Cosmetic Heart
His Halloween Kisses
Dragonfly Moments
Coming Soon:
White Christmas Kiss
The Dance of the Firefly
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends