Rachael. I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Rachael didn’t know what to say, and she could hardly catch her breath. Strange feelings swam through her like a rushing river. Is this what love feels like ?
Her silence had him stepping back. He bent down and gathered up the mistletoe and placed it back in the box. “I think I’ll ask what they want me to do with these,” he said and turned away from her.
“Don’t apologize for what just happened, Stan. I wanted you to kiss me and I’m not sorry.”
A happy grin spread across his face. “I’m glad. Come on, let’s finish decorating so the party can begin.”
****
The party went well with everyone eating the treats the company had brought in and chatting with each other about jokes they’d heard and experiences with customers.
Before it was time to leave, Rachael took Stan’s hand. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for asking me.” Then she looked into his eyes. “I would like to spend Christmas with you. Could you come to my house and celebrate the day with me and my parents?”
“You bet! What time?” He smiled and took her hand in his.
“Come around noon. My mother will have dinner ready by then.”
“All right, it’s a date. Now don’t keep your dad waiting, it’s already after ten and he’s been here for awhile.” He stared at her lips, and she knew he wanted to kiss her again, but then his tilted his head toward her father. He doesn’t want to kiss me with Dad looking on. She held out her hand and delighted in the chills that raced up her arm as their palms met. “I’ll see you on Christmas day.”
****
Christmas Day:
Gifts were not as important as being with her parents and knowing Stan would spend the day with them. Rachael’s father managed to get a box of chocolates for his ladies and they were both happy to unwrap the rare and pleasant treat. Her mother had knitted him a new scarf, and made a bright red hat for Rachael.
Rachael brought to the table a lovely display of poinsettias. She’d bargained the price with the owner of the flower stand at the market enough for her to be able to afford them.
The candlestick phone sat on the desk next to the decorative oil lamp, at the far end of the living room and when it rang at eleven, she hurried to answer it. Not receiving many calls, she was anxious to see who would be dialing them up. It was Stan telling her he’d be on his way shortly.
Grace and Andrew stayed in the kitchen preparing the Christmas meal when Stan arrived at the front door. Her dad gave Rachael a knowing smile as she hurried to answer it.
Stan entered the house with a box in hand. He handed it to Rachael. “Here, it’s a little something for today’s festivities.” Then he came close and set his lips on hers. “Merry Christmas.”
Rachael reacted by putting her arms around him and kissing him back.
****
The holiday was underway and Rachael couldn’t have looked more beautiful. Dinner was great and Stan ate two helpings of the fine meal on the table.
Later when her parents were in the living room, and she and Stan sat in the kitchen having a cup of hot tea, he took her hand. “Rachael, I know we only met a short time ago, but I’m very much in love with you and I want to spend my life with you.” He cleared his throat. “I want to know how you feel about me.”
Her eyes met his. “I am in love with you, that’s how I feel.”
It was music to his ears. His mind went crazy with all the things he wanted to say to her. “I have a good job now and will be making more money and this depression can’t last forever.” He paused and leaned forward as he held her hand. “What I’m trying to say… is I can take care of you. I want you to be my wife, Rachael. I know it’s only been a few days since we’ve met, but I’m so in love with you.”
Tears swelled in her eyes, but he recognized they were tears of happiness. “Yes, Stan, I want to be your wife.” They stood and embraced. His mouth came
Rachael didn’t know what to say, and she could hardly catch her breath. Strange feelings swam through her like a rushing river. Is this what love feels like ?
Her silence had him stepping back. He bent down and gathered up the mistletoe and placed it back in the box. “I think I’ll ask what they want me to do with these,” he said and turned away from her.
“Don’t apologize for what just happened, Stan. I wanted you to kiss me and I’m not sorry.”
A happy grin spread across his face. “I’m glad. Come on, let’s finish decorating so the party can begin.”
****
The party went well with everyone eating the treats the company had brought in and chatting with each other about jokes they’d heard and experiences with customers.
Before it was time to leave, Rachael took Stan’s hand. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for asking me.” Then she looked into his eyes. “I would like to spend Christmas with you. Could you come to my house and celebrate the day with me and my parents?”
“You bet! What time?” He smiled and took her hand in his.
“Come around noon. My mother will have dinner ready by then.”
“All right, it’s a date. Now don’t keep your dad waiting, it’s already after ten and he’s been here for awhile.” He stared at her lips, and she knew he wanted to kiss her again, but then his tilted his head toward her father. He doesn’t want to kiss me with Dad looking on. She held out her hand and delighted in the chills that raced up her arm as their palms met. “I’ll see you on Christmas day.”
****
Christmas Day:
Gifts were not as important as being with her parents and knowing Stan would spend the day with them. Rachael’s father managed to get a box of chocolates for his ladies and they were both happy to unwrap the rare and pleasant treat. Her mother had knitted him a new scarf, and made a bright red hat for Rachael.
Rachael brought to the table a lovely display of poinsettias. She’d bargained the price with the owner of the flower stand at the market enough for her to be able to afford them.
The candlestick phone sat on the desk next to the decorative oil lamp, at the far end of the living room and when it rang at eleven, she hurried to answer it. Not receiving many calls, she was anxious to see who would be dialing them up. It was Stan telling her he’d be on his way shortly.
Grace and Andrew stayed in the kitchen preparing the Christmas meal when Stan arrived at the front door. Her dad gave Rachael a knowing smile as she hurried to answer it.
Stan entered the house with a box in hand. He handed it to Rachael. “Here, it’s a little something for today’s festivities.” Then he came close and set his lips on hers. “Merry Christmas.”
Rachael reacted by putting her arms around him and kissing him back.
****
The holiday was underway and Rachael couldn’t have looked more beautiful. Dinner was great and Stan ate two helpings of the fine meal on the table.
Later when her parents were in the living room, and she and Stan sat in the kitchen having a cup of hot tea, he took her hand. “Rachael, I know we only met a short time ago, but I’m very much in love with you and I want to spend my life with you.” He cleared his throat. “I want to know how you feel about me.”
Her eyes met his. “I am in love with you, that’s how I feel.”
It was music to his ears. His mind went crazy with all the things he wanted to say to her. “I have a good job now and will be making more money and this depression can’t last forever.” He paused and leaned forward as he held her hand. “What I’m trying to say… is I can take care of you. I want you to be my wife, Rachael. I know it’s only been a few days since we’ve met, but I’m so in love with you.”
Tears swelled in her eyes, but he recognized they were tears of happiness. “Yes, Stan, I want to be your wife.” They stood and embraced. His mouth came
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