Happily Ever Christmas

~Ten~

Steve sat next to me at the dinner table, and after my grandfather said a brief Grace, we all tucked into the delicious food that my grandmother had spent only the last three days preparing.

The kids all sat at their own table and it was lovely to indulge in adult conversation for a change while sipping a glass of Chardonnay.

The feast consisted of a Christmas goose stuffed with oranges and sprigs of rosemary, as well as a honey-glazed ham, candied yams, a vat of mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce, a baked Mac n' cheese casserole with a crisp Parmesan crust, as well as several baskets of warm, fresh white rolls. On the counter behind us was a lineup of every pie one could ever possibly request for the holidays, including a Canadian sugar pie and a rhubarb strudel, as well as platters of various holiday cookies, and a bowl of custard for dipping. There was ice cream and whip cream waiting in the ice box and my grandmother, being from a true catholic Italian family, always made a Panetonne for Christmas in addition to everything else.

My favorite thing, though, if I were to be honest, was the spiked eggnog; Uncle Henry's specialty.

We all ate and laughed and drank and generally made merry, long into the night. The conversation flowed freely and I think we all felt safe in the warm glow of the holiday spirit.

After dinner we abandoned the idea of cleanup in favor of gathering in the big living room to watch "It's a Wonderful Life", which was pretty much our die hard tradition.

"Every time I see this movie, I notice something new about it. It's amazing." Steve murmured to me.

We had somehow all ended up on the floor together, Olivia and Bradley wedged between us under the plaid throw blanket, Steve holding the bucket of caramel popcorn.

I glanced over at him with a little smile only to find my heart melting again to see Bradley snuggled into Steve's side, already sound asleep after the big day of excitement.

My kids had really taken to Steve quickly, in a day, no less. Heck, the entire family had.

It made me sort of nervous, honestly, instead of feeling reassured.

Steve Coleman seemed too good to be true and I couldn't allow him to hurt my children, not in any way. I didn't particularly want him hurting my tender heart, either.

*~*~*~*

After the movie, we reconvened in the kitchen for a refill on our drinks and to cut into desserts.

Steve wasn't drinking much, I noticed, but he went straight for the cookies. "Mmmm, oatmeal raisin." He said, biting into the ones I had made. Then he opened his crystalline blue eyes and looked right into mine. "My favorite."

*~*~*~*

My heart was suddenly racing.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

After everything else that was fishy about him, though...I just didn't know what to think.

My daughter tugged me away for a private word, distracting me momentarily.

"What is it, pumpkin?" I asked her, squatting down in front of her so that we were at eye level. She had dragged me into the side hallway and I could tell that she was very earnest about whatever she was going to say. "I like him, Mommy!"

"Who? Steve?" I smiled bracingly.

"Yeah!" She nodded eagerly. "Can he stay?"

"Honey..."

"I asked Santa, remember? Or the North Fairy or whoever! Remember, Mama?"

"Sweetie..."

"Last night, I wished on the North Star!"

"I remember, but Olivia-"

"And my wish was granted! It's come true! Don't you see, Mama?! I wished for the perfect guy to show up for you and he has!"

"Honey, Mr. Coleman has a life of his own, you know, he can't just stay forever."

"Is he married? He doesn't have a wedding ring."

"Olivia..." I took a deep breath, but I could see how her eyes were shining and I just didn't have it in me to break her heart on Christmas Eve. Again.

No, her daddy had already beat me to that last year.

"Well? Is he seeing anyone special? He can't be! Or he wouldn't be here and he wouldn't look at you with googly eyes the way he does!" Olivia insisted.

Another deep breath in, long, slow exhale out. "Sweetheart, we'll see what happens, okay? No promises, I'm not the North Fairy and I can't make him love me. I can't make him stay any more than I could make Daddy stay, you understand that, don't you?" I bit my lip. I hadn't meant to say that out loud, not to her.

She shook her head of beautiful brown and golden hair, however, and she was the one to reassure me. She placed her little hands on my shoulders and smiled into my eyes with a wisdom far beyond her years. "Don't worry, Mama, Steve isn't like Daddy; he's gonna wanna stay with us, I know it. Just trust me, okay?"

I smiled through my tears then hugged my daughter close. "Okay, baby, thank you." I told her, and kissed the side of her head as more tears spilled down my cheeks.