The presents they had brought had all been well received and they had also been given lovely things themselves. He thanked them all for their kindness in having him with them for the day. He was charming to everyone and even managed to persuade Auntie Ethel not to sing her usual solo. He was quite an accomplished pianist, it turned out and he played a lot of songs that everyone could join in together. Once the children had gone to bed and the elderly ladies returned to their home, it was peaceful in the house. The remaining people sat with drinks, all feeling exhausted.
'So, how long have you two been together?' asked Geoff.
'Not for very long. It just seemed right to ask him to come over. I'm going to meet his parents at New Year.' She smiled at Mike and he smiled back.
'Well, I can see something's going on. Good luck to you both. Can we look forward to something more significant soon?' asked Joanne's sister in law.
'I doubt it,' laughed Mike.
'Now is that mysterious or what?' she replied.
'Wait and see,' said Joanne, hoping she wasn't allowing her true feelings to show. 'I'm utterly shattered. Does anyone mind if I go up now?'
'Me too,' Mike added. 'Thank you very much for a wonderful day Mrs Swithenbank. One of my very best Christmases ever. '
'Call me Ann. It's been a real pleasure to all of us to have you here.'
The pair left the others and went upstairs towards their beds.
'I suspect they think we'll be sharing a bed,' she told him. 'I'm sorry. It just doesn't seem right.'
'I respect that. But let me come and say goodnight properly.'
He followed her into her room and they sat down on the bed, side by side. 'I'm not going to press you into something you don't want to do. But at least we can be comfortable together, if only to say goodnight.' He pushed her down against her pillow and kissed her once more. He moved his hands over her until she was almost ready to give in to him. She wanted him in ways she had never wanted anyone ever before. He eased away from her.
'I've never wanted anyone more than I want you now. I don't want you to spoil anything. Now though, you need to go to your own room.'
'Okay. Sleep well.'
'And you. Night.' They kissed again and he slipped out quietly. She lay back wondering what was going to happen. The next day, the pair left after an early lunch of leftovers. The rest were staying on till the following day and then Christmas would be over and done with for another year. Joanne's parents waved them off and made nice comments to each other, as the car left their premises.
'It's amazing how long it takes to get everything ready for these two days,' Joanne commented. 'Then it's over in no time at all.'
'I've never been able to understand why everyone gets so worked up about Christmas. I mean to say, a morning spend shopping and a bit of time cooking, it's a doddle.'
'Shows how little you know about cooking. Or getting everything ready for a family event. My Mum's been working on all of this for weeks. Shopping and ordering stuff.'
'They seemed to like their presents though. It was inspiration to give your father that book.'
'Yes but he was clearly disappointed not to get new slippers this year.'
'Just how long have you been buying him slippers?'
'I don't know. Ten years? Maybe more?'
'Then he'd be delighted not to have to wear them in.' They chatted all the way back to her home. He stopped outside and went in with her. 'It's been totally wonderful. I loved your family and I don't regret accompanying you. I hope you enjoyed it too.'
'You know I did. It was lovely to have you there with me.'
'And I'll see you again soon. What are you doing this evening?'
'I don't know. Probably watch television. There's usually something decent on.'
'Don't be too lonely. And Jo, please don't make too much of all of this. I never wanted to hurt you but ...'
'I won't. And I hope you hate this evening. I hope it's a terrible party and you are really bored.'
'Oh Jo, don't say that. It's just
'So, how long have you two been together?' asked Geoff.
'Not for very long. It just seemed right to ask him to come over. I'm going to meet his parents at New Year.' She smiled at Mike and he smiled back.
'Well, I can see something's going on. Good luck to you both. Can we look forward to something more significant soon?' asked Joanne's sister in law.
'I doubt it,' laughed Mike.
'Now is that mysterious or what?' she replied.
'Wait and see,' said Joanne, hoping she wasn't allowing her true feelings to show. 'I'm utterly shattered. Does anyone mind if I go up now?'
'Me too,' Mike added. 'Thank you very much for a wonderful day Mrs Swithenbank. One of my very best Christmases ever. '
'Call me Ann. It's been a real pleasure to all of us to have you here.'
The pair left the others and went upstairs towards their beds.
'I suspect they think we'll be sharing a bed,' she told him. 'I'm sorry. It just doesn't seem right.'
'I respect that. But let me come and say goodnight properly.'
He followed her into her room and they sat down on the bed, side by side. 'I'm not going to press you into something you don't want to do. But at least we can be comfortable together, if only to say goodnight.' He pushed her down against her pillow and kissed her once more. He moved his hands over her until she was almost ready to give in to him. She wanted him in ways she had never wanted anyone ever before. He eased away from her.
'I've never wanted anyone more than I want you now. I don't want you to spoil anything. Now though, you need to go to your own room.'
'Okay. Sleep well.'
'And you. Night.' They kissed again and he slipped out quietly. She lay back wondering what was going to happen. The next day, the pair left after an early lunch of leftovers. The rest were staying on till the following day and then Christmas would be over and done with for another year. Joanne's parents waved them off and made nice comments to each other, as the car left their premises.
'It's amazing how long it takes to get everything ready for these two days,' Joanne commented. 'Then it's over in no time at all.'
'I've never been able to understand why everyone gets so worked up about Christmas. I mean to say, a morning spend shopping and a bit of time cooking, it's a doddle.'
'Shows how little you know about cooking. Or getting everything ready for a family event. My Mum's been working on all of this for weeks. Shopping and ordering stuff.'
'They seemed to like their presents though. It was inspiration to give your father that book.'
'Yes but he was clearly disappointed not to get new slippers this year.'
'Just how long have you been buying him slippers?'
'I don't know. Ten years? Maybe more?'
'Then he'd be delighted not to have to wear them in.' They chatted all the way back to her home. He stopped outside and went in with her. 'It's been totally wonderful. I loved your family and I don't regret accompanying you. I hope you enjoyed it too.'
'You know I did. It was lovely to have you there with me.'
'And I'll see you again soon. What are you doing this evening?'
'I don't know. Probably watch television. There's usually something decent on.'
'Don't be too lonely. And Jo, please don't make too much of all of this. I never wanted to hurt you but ...'
'I won't. And I hope you hate this evening. I hope it's a terrible party and you are really bored.'
'Oh Jo, don't say that. It's just
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