Sorting Through Life's Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 18

          "Would you stop...just let me lay in a few more minutes, Tom, please." She tried to squirm further under the covers, but they were harshly pulled off her and a rush of cooler air took their place. "Aaah!"

"It's well past dinner, Angel. The streets will be cleared by morning and you've yet to eat since breakfast." Tom pulled her, slack and whining from the bed. "Come on. I've made you a fine pot roast and a pot of coffee. You don't even have to take of your pajamas."

Tom marched right on out, and he heard her feet slowly follow behind him with a low grumble. He did his best to hide his smirk when she followed him to the table and drowsily slumped into her seat. "Here you are, darling." He placed a plate and cup in front of her. "Tuck in, you can go back to bed after."

Maeve ate silently, her sleepy eyes not straying from her plate. He did notice that her lips quirked up slightly in enjoyment, but he did not fault the exhaustion she carried. No sooner had they walked in the door, she had shoved him into the shower first while she straightened the small mess still left in the kitchen and threw their wet clothes through the laundry. By the time he had come out, steam rolling off him still, she had had her own shower and started a pot of tea going. She was dead on her feet, Tom catching her as she stumbled around. It hadn't taken much to get her into bed and soundly sleeping.

"Shit! I forgot to open y'alls box. Is it still Christmas?" Tom had startled a little at her outburst and took a moment to respond.

"Ah, um...yes it's only about eleven on. You can wait until tomorrow, darling. You're absolutely knackered," he tried to ease her.

"Nope, nope. I promised not to open it before today, and it was the two of you who insisted I wait. Now, it's still Christmas an I intend to open my gift, no matter how much you went against my wishes to give it."

Tom laughed a little as she got up, taking her coffee with her and went into the sitting room. The box sat where it had been left under the tree. The only gift to be seen. He couldn't the pang of loneliness it brought to him that, while he knew her family had some for her, this one the only one able to occupy the honored family places of tradition. How he longed to hear the sound of children laughing and the crinkle of many different papers as they were torn with glee.

"I'm not going to have some strange English thing jump out at me when I open this, am I?"

"Ehehehe, no. I'm afraid I learned a long time ago that surprises are not always welcome. This morning's example enough."

Maeve looked puzzled before she realized what he was referring to. "Oh, no.... I am so sorry. I didn't mean to be surly. I had only slept for about an hour when you got here. Please accept my apology."

"None necessary. I had tried Ben's first, but they aren't home. Anyone has a right to be 'surly' when woken at such an hour. Now, you've got about half an hour left to open this." She turned her eyes back to the box before them, setting her cup on the floor next to herself and the box.

She was very reserved about it. Carefully removing the ribbon and folding it neatly. She pulled the thick, fine paper and folded it just as neatly as the ribbon. Her face was calm but, her eyes seemed to hold a sparkle he had not seen since Africa. Odd to think it was but a couple of months ago and not a lifetime. He couldn't hide the smile at her gasp of surprise and the childlike joy that came across her face.

"Where did y'all find these?!" She pulled two slim books out and started flipping through the pages. "I haven't been able to find these in years. By the time I got around to the bookstore, they were out of print. Here," she turned the one in her hand around for him to see. "He is one of the best illustrators of children's books. It was him and Hildebrandt that gave me my love of art." She moved to sit beside him and read through one of the three books that held her rapt attention as he looked at the beautiful pages before him. However, no matter how beautiful he found the artwork, her face as she relished them was more beautiful than any other work he could ever behold. She looked up at him with such joy on her face that he missed hugging her back before she moved to retrieve more from the box.

"Oh my...I am going to have to make you a cup of this. I honestly don't know if you have any kind of liking for herbal tea, but this absolute best." He saw she held a small box of Red Zinger tea. She gave a small laugh at the face he made and set it aside.

Much of what she pulled from her gift was what he would call trivial, but she was so excited. It was obvious that these items meant much upon their recipient and so he said nothing. She had opened one small box inside, blushing beautifully and mentioned have a serious discussion with Shawna about her taste in gifts. It was when he knew she'd had gotten to the bottom that she simply shut down. Staring into its remaining contents before carefully pulling out a large piece of gold fabric and standing up with it.

"Where the bloody hell am I supposed to wear this?" She held up what was a very nice fifties style dress and looked at him, confused.

"Maybe Shawna thought you would have need of hit." Tom raised his eyebrows at her unladylike snort.

"Not likely, but I will be sure to hang it properly. Now, would you like a cup of tea before bed or do you just want to pack it in?"

"Honestly, Angel, I think I'm knackered. You look it as well. Let's just call it a night and we can have your tea at breakfast."

"There is no way I'm giving up my coffee. You go ahead, I'm going to have a cup before sleeping." She gave him a quick hug before grabbing the tea box and the books on her way out. He shook his head; fairly certain he was going to find her sleeping at the small table in the morning. Deciding it would be better to be tired than to have her hurting from a sore neck, he followed, and hoped the tea was actually good.