The Look Of Love

Chapter 43: Grandmother Helen

"We wish you a Mary Christmas and a happy New Year," sang her friends. As per their Christmas Eve tradition, the girls gather for lunch. The NM Cafe is their restaurant of choice. It's the perfect place to eat and do last minute Christmas shopping. 

Lori looked at Mary and said "You look happy today." 

Ashley heart "happy" and observed her friend. "You do. Your face is glowing."

"Her eyes are twinkling," added Gwen.

"She's as bubbly as a bottle of champagne. Which we need to get for New Year's Eve by the way," remarked Gemma.

With a bright, electric smile Mary recalled her morning with Bobby. 

Rousing her from slumber, she felt a symphony of kisses raining down upon her face. The final one, on her mouth, she returned just as fervent and furious as he. Heat rose from her stomach to her chest, and her pulse picked up speed. The smell of Bobby is hypnotic beyond all reason, the same as his eyes... sultry and smokin'. But the taste of him made her lose all sense. Her whole body trembled as she felt his frame leaning over hers, with his arms trapping her in. It nearly felt forbidden and yet it wasn't. He washed over her like a river picking up speed hurling toward a waterfall, because that's what she was doing... almost falling over the edge. And before she realized what was happening, her hand had slipped under his plain white T-shirt. His smooth skin radiated heat. She wanted to fall completely over the edge, with him. But then the phone rang. It broke them out of their steamy insulation.

If the phone hadn't rang, who knows what would have happened. But it did, and she made him answer it despite much protest. It's a good thing too, because his mother is on the line. She needs him to pick up a few items from the grocery store, and flower shop, on his way home. 

After that, they got up, did their morning routines, and ate breakfast. The curious thing is they shared the sink together, while brushing their teeth. It didn't seem strange at all. Mary supposed it's because when you agree to marry someone, you have to learn how to live with them. So, teeth brushing is just one step in that direction.

Nonetheless, it should have been strange but it wasn't. Same as it should be weird being engaged, graduating, and getting married all the span of months, but it isn't. She guesses, when you find your true love, odd things just make sense. 

They packed up Bobby's car, with the items he had brung. Then they said goodbye, for now. Before he left he took Mary's ring. "I think since I have time, I'll swing by Tiffany's and have them resize it. A size 4 right?" he asked. She nodded in the affirmative. Off he left with her ring and her heart. 

"I have to tell you all something. It's huge," Mary exclaimed. She had a cheerfulness in her voice that had been missing, in Bobby's absence.

Gwen took one glance at her and said "Oh my gosh you know don't you? How can you, of all people, be happy about this? How can you be happy about John Stamos leaving General Hospital? They're sending Blackie to jail. They're setting him up on bogus charges. And John is going to some TV show called Dreams, or something like that."

Mary did a double take. "Hold on, what?! My John Stamos is leaving GH? You've ruined my Christmas Eve. Now I can't eat. Where did you hear this?"

"Wait! That's not what you had to tell us? Wait! You didn't know he's leaving GH? I read it in Tiger Beat, of course. The new edition came out yesterday. You get Tiger Beat by mail, same as me. I expected you to call immediately. Where have you been?" asked Gwen. Now everyone is curious, except Ashley. She already knew where Mary was.