Subtle Endearment

29. Christmas Surprise

Kira

"Kira brighten up some, it's Christmas Eve," a soothing voice says from beside me. I'm just a little tired is all," I say putting down the cookie dough ball I'd been rolling. "Grandma, can you pass me the bowl," I ask. My grandma, brother and I have been baking cookies for the past hour now. Malik and his massive sugar tooth had insisted that we needed cookies for Christmas so we'd spent the last couple hours buying supplies and were now making cookies. "Yeah, I wasn't going to say anything but you look like you've been dumped several times over," Malik sneers.

"Yeah, thanks for that," I say taking the bowl from grandma. "So are you going to tell us what's going on or do we have to keep guessing? It's been two days, usually you would've said something by now," grandma says. "It's nothing, really," I say. "Well if that's it, I'm going to go watch some tv," Malik says hooking his thumb at the large tv in the living room playing the latest Marvel movie. Grandpa sits on the couch watching the movie intently as if he hadn't seen it a million times before.

"Malik seems to be doing a lot better now," I observe as the boy takes a seat beside grandpa. "Yeah, the doctors say he's improved a lot. He's come to terms with their deaths... but what about you?" grandma asks. "I'm doing fine, I think I'm still processing it but I've come to terms with dad's death," I say. "And what about your mother?" grandma asks as she slides the cookie tray into the oven. I pause as the question rings in my ears. What about my mother?

"I know I shouldn't talk illy of the dead but I told my son to stay away from a woman in the mafia. It's a shame Malik will never know the truth. You went through so much, Kira. It's okay to take some time to yourself and sort out your emotions," grandma says rubbing my back. I was happy, I was so happy when I got the call. Am I bad person for only grieving my father and disguising it as grief for them both?

"I'm still sorting things out but there's a lot more to it, grandma," I say allowing her to wrap me up in her warm embrace. The door bell sounds and we both turn our heads. "Who can be here at this hour?" grandma asks. She shuffles to the door, her gray ponytail swinging ever so slightly as she does.

"Is Kira here?" I hear a voice say. "May I know who's asking?" My grandma asks. "Ian... her boyfriend," he says. Ian?

"Kira, your boyfr-" I swing open the door before she can get the words out. Ian stands at the door frame dressed in a suit holding a bouquet of roses. That's so cliche.

"What are you doing here, Ian?" I ask. "I missed you," he says handing me the boquet of roses. He hands my grandma bag with wine in it. "This is for you, ma'am," he says. "Oh, thank you?" she says confused. "Grandma, this is Ian," I say just as confused. "Are you sure," she asks noting my uncertainty. I shake my head, "yes."

"Welcome, Ian," she says before walking off. "Get up, James. We have a guest," I hear her say to my grandpa. "Hold on Veronica, it's getting to the good part," he responds.

"What are you doing here, Ian?" I ask as the false smile I'd had before suddenly falls. "It's like I said, I miss you, Meri Jaan," he confesses. "You need to lea-" I begin. "Kira, you didn't tell us you had a boyfriend. Looks like you were having more fun in New York than you let on," my brother says suggestively. "Get somewhere," I scold. "My name's Malik. Are you staying the night Ian?" Malik asks trying my patience. Ian looks at me and when I don't respond he turns back to Malik. "I brought some gifts for Christmas. They should be arriving tomorrow," he says. "You've got my respect," Malik says grinning. "Good luck," he says glancing from him to me before walking away.

I move out of the door frame finally allowing for Ian to come inside. He takes a seat on the couch beside my grandpa. "I'm James, nice to meet you," he says shaking Ian's hand.

"Ian."

"Let me go clear out a room for you Ian. You should've told me we were expecting a guest," grandma gushes clearly happy to be hosting another person. "So Ian, what do you do?" grandpa asks immediately laying on the questions. "I work in the business sector," Ian says with a smile. Understatement of the century. I scoff catching the attention of both grandpa and Malik. "What's the matter," grandpa asks. "Nothing, it just seems like I have something caught in my throat," I say rubbing my throat. " Thats's good, not many people have stable jobs nowadays. A career in business is where it's at," grandpa says approvingly before turning the volume on the tv back up.

I tug at Ian's shirt indicating for him to follow me. We walk down the hallway just beside the stairs. "How did you know I was here?" I ask. "You listed your grandparents as your emergency contact," Ian admits. "So what I'm hearing is that you're abusing your power as CEO," I say arching an eyebrow in disapproval. "That's one way to put it," he says.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I just realized the third spare room is still cluttered. We never got around to cleaning it up," grandma says frustrated. "That's okay, Ian can sleep on the couch," I say waving away her concerns. "That's no way to treat a guest. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let that happen," grandma says. "I could," I respond cheerfully. "It's okay, grandma. We can stay in a hotel tonight," Ian smiles cheekily.

"What do you mean, we?" I question. "Ah, young people," my grandma says to herself. " I think that would be best for the both of you. You two seem to have some things you need to talk out," grandma says before slipping past us.

"Are you trying to ruin my Christmas," I say sticking a finger on his chest. "No, I'm trying to brighten it," he says before giving me a peck on the lips and slipping past me. I can feel my face flush as he walks away innocently. I stand in the hallway placing my hands on my cheeks in an attempt to clam myself down. I shouldn't have kissed him that day.

"This is really good, grandma," Ian says taking a bite out of the steak my grandma had prepared for dinner. "I'm glad you like it, Ian," she says pleased with herself. Grandma had prepared a Christmas Eve dinner withe steak and potatoes. "So how did you two meet," grandma asks suddenly. "We work in the same company," I say. "Yes, Kira and I work in the same department," Ian backs up my statement with a lie.

"Isn't that right?" Ian asks. Just as he does I feel a hand on my thigh. "Yeah," I confirm ignoring Ian's wandering hadn't under the table. He's lucky Malik and my grandparents are on the other side of the table.

"So is there a reason Ian showed up later than you?" Malik asks nonchalantly. "There were some things that I had to take care of at the company so I couldn't come with Kira. I wanted to surprise her, I guess I succeeded," he smiles. As he speaks he draws circles on the inside of my thigh. I want to push him away but I'm also curious as to how far he'll go. "I was surprised all right," I laugh nervously. Even through my jeans I can feel the tips of his fingers making my skin dance. "So what time should we be here in the morning?" I ask. "As early as possible, like around six am," Malik answers immediately. "You're crazy if you th-" I'm suddenly made aware of Ian's hand tugging at the zipper to my jeans. "What's wrong?" grandma asks. "Nothing, something was just stuck in my throat," I say moving Ian's hand back to his lap. He continues to look forward as if he'd been paying attention the entire time.

"We're not waking up at six am, I can do eight but no earlier than that," I say. "Seven," Malik counters. "seven-thirty," I reason. "Deal, don't forget the presents," Malik says to Ian.