The beginning of everything else

Sworn to Secrecy

The gravel crunching on the driveway as Elle parks her car is my signal that she's home, and whilst I'm glad she's here, I'm relieved it wasn't a moment sooner. She's been working from home as much as she could for the last couple of weeks so that we could spend as much time together as possible before my job starts in the new year, which I'm sure will come with late nights and early starts. I can't imagine there being a time when I won't want to spend as much time as possible with her, but she's also far too observant to keep anything secret.

Tomorrow we will be spending the day with our families. In the morning we will wake up, swap gifts and then drive over to see Mike, Brad, and Linda for breakfast, then the five of us will pile into the car and drive the short distance to my parents. Lee and Rachel will be doing the same, and then our three families will celebrate Christmas together.

Our first Christmas as a couple was when our relationship was still a secret, and so whilst I managed a few stolen moments with Elle during the day, most of it was spent watching her and Lee. Our second Christmas had been more enjoyable, although we were still pretty much kids, and so whilst the time we were together was public, we had to spend the night before at home with our respective families before we all came together for lunch. Then came our breakup and six years where I missed her presence every day, and where celebrations and special occasions only amplified that I was still deeply in love with her and that life just didn't feel the same.

This year I wanted everything to be special, to be the start of Christmases to come, and whilst tomorrow might be littered with the traditions that our parents set up years ago, tonight was ours. 

Her key turns in the lock of the front door and then I hear her heels tip-tap on the wooden floor of the entrance hall. I manage to round the corner just in time to help her with her jacket and bag, before taking her hand, and leading her into the house. I know the moment that she sees everything that I have done as her breath catches in her throat.

"Noah" she sighs sweetly, a sign that lets me know I've done good.

"Merry Christmas Eve Shell" I reply as I draw her in by her waist and bend down to take her lips in mine.

"You did all of this? And you cooked? Are you sure you have to go to work? You know you'd make an excellent house-husband" she jokes, "Do I have time to freshen up?"

With a nod I head back to the kitchen as she runs up the stairs, returning 5 minutes later looking far more relaxed in my favorite sundress of hers. 

"Hey beautiful, come take a seat" I call as I pull out her chair and then bring over the bottle of wine I opened earlier to let it air.

"Chateauneuf Du Pape? You are spoiling me" she smiles as I pour us both a glass, it's not my personal choice, but she loves it, and that is the theme of tonight's meal... Shelly's favorites.

To start we have mussels, spinach, and bacon in a garlic cream sauce, followed by steak with green beans and dauphinoise potatoes, and creme brulee for dessert. Elle is tucking in merrily, making noises with practically every mouthful that could make a sailor blush, which is a great pay-off for the stressed-out frenzy that was our kitchen an hour ago when I was trying to follow the recipes from google without messing it up. 

"You know if I didn't already reeeeaaaaallly love you, I think this creme brulee would swing it" she says, licking her spoon.

"I mean, it meant I got to use a blow-torch in the house, so it was totally worth it" I smile, "but thanks, and also, I'm pretty fond of you too" 

"Na-a" she grins, "after all this there's no denying it Mr. Flynn, you luuuurve me"

"Well we aren't done yet Ms. Evans, We have this wine to finish and I have prepared us a film to watch, and yes I love you very much"

"Which film?" she asks, helping me clear the table.

"Which film would you like it to be?" I counter, raising an eyebrow.

"Really, you're going to watch Muppet Christmas Carol with me? All of it? Will you sing the songs with me? We're Marley and Marley... woooo?" - she's adorable -  "I actually have something that I was going to ask you to do for me tonight, but after all of this, you can say no if you want to"

It's when I turn to look at her from loading the dishes into the dishwasher that I know I'm in trouble. Shelly has this look... big pleading eyes... I remember it vividly as a kid and I have never been able to say no to that face. She only uses it playfully these days, but as kids she wielded it ruthlessly, and so that is how, after swearing her to secrecy and banning her from showing anybody the pictures she just took, I spend the rest of Christmas Eve singing along with Bob Cratchett wearing matching reindeer pajamas.