Loud Silence

Chapter Seventeen

"Taylor, can you get the door?"

"Coming!"

Removing the last crystal from the box, it joins other silver and white ornaments, bows, and ribbons on the Christmas tree, lights twirling and twinkling in alternating patterns, presented beautifully in the corner of Taylor's living room, as snow falls outside the large window, serving as an enchanting backdrop.

Garlands are hung in waves on the mantelpiece, a wreath above the fireplace, Christmas candles fill the room with scents of cinnamon apple, the sunlight flowing through the window illuminates the brightness of the entire condo.

After electing Taylor's place to celebrate Christmas this year, Violet quickly got hands-on sprucing his condo with all the Christmas decorations that could fit through the door, including a live Christmas tree.

Although, originally, the plan was just going to be the three of us, Max's flight back to California was canceled due to bad weather, which Violet guiltily admitted she didn't feel too disappointed about.

"Oh my gosh, the place looks marvelous, Jas!" Violet shouts as she enters the front door, Max following behind her with a tower of presents.

"Huh, how does it feel to compliment yourself?" I reply to her sarcastically.

"Pretty damn good." She runs up to give me a hug from behind, and I allow myself to be soaked up in her jubilation.

Max walks over to the tree to unload his delivery, placing it along the ones that Taylor and I had already arranged there since last night. Half of the load was being placed with Daisy's other gifts, her stack much higher than the others.

This would have been the first year that she would have truly enjoyed the experience of opening presents. I could see her sitting amongst the numerous gifts, excitement filling her emerald eyes, as she pulls and tears open the wrappers, smiling so hard until both her dimples are as deep as can be.

Taylor startles me as he rubs my back and kisses atop my head. "She'll be so happy when she gets to open all these. It'll happen, Jasmine."

I've never doubted it, not for a second. One day she'll be back with me, but the anticipation of that day is what drives the wound so excruciatingly deep.

"Come on, let's have brunch," he says as he leans down further to kiss my lips.

"Taylor," I shy away, "stop." I nudge my head towards Violet, who is examining us with a champagne glass in her hand.

"Don't stop on my account," Violet says as she savors her drink. "Couple more of these, and you'll have to pry Max and me off of each other."

"Please don't," I tsk at her, Taylor and I walking hand in hand to the dining room.

Taylor's dining room now actually contains a dining table, one that we had picked out together, and I am glad that he had found a use for it.

Christmas brunch, masterly crafted by Taylor Leonard, is nothing short of a featured meal on the food channel. All of last night, his sleeping was restless, constantly waking up and running out into the kitchen, like a chef who has been possessed by the preparation of his food.

It took another two rounds of making love—a total of four times!—to get him to finally fall asleep with me cuddled against his chest. It was the first for me, being able to hold and console a man after intimacy. A year ago, the thought of sex was agonizing, a punishment, a chore, that was required to be done with little to no reward.

Since that dreadful day with Tim—and unforgettable night with Taylor—I have stayed over at Taylor's every night, per the request of Violet, who said she wanted a week alone with Max.