I had planned to wait till 11/30 to post the first chapter but am having internet issues. This is my Christmas story. The origin springs from the 1940 movie starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. There are moments when it follows the movie closely, plot wise. Rights belong to them. A special thank you & hugs to Kate for the brilliant cover art and also to the lovely Eva for all her help making this story what it is. ENJOY!
I'm exhausted after a long day at work. It's been seven long years since the love of my life went missing. She had the chance of a lifetime to go overseas on a freighter to capture photos for the war department. Photography is what she studied in college. Letting her go turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. The day I received word that the ship she was on sank and that no survivors were recovered is the darkest day of my existence. Sometimes I still dream that she'll walk right back into my life. Then daylight or some other such thing ruins my fantasy as reality rears its ugly head, once again forcing me kicking and screaming back into the here and now.
"Damon. I'll be back in six weeks. This is just such a wonderful opportunity for me. I'll get to photograph real battlefields. I get to hang out with heroes. Who knows? Maybe I'll even meet some of the commanding generals. Believe me Damon, you're my hero but the marines are fighting to free a continent from the Nazi's. It's the least I can do to help the war effort." She bends over to kiss our babies who are sleeping in their stroller.
"I love you Damon so very much. Take care of them for me. I'll be back before you even miss me," she teases.
"Goodbye Mother." She says pulling my mom into a hug.
Then I take her into my arms one last time and kiss her with as much passion as is decent in public. She pulls back breathlessly and wipes a tear from her eye before picking up her bag and stepping onto the gangplank of the ship. Mother and I start to walk back to our car. I turn around once more, make eye contact with her then wave goodbye. It's the last time that I saw my love.
I just want to put my feet up and relax this evening. Unfortunately it isn't going to work out that way. Just after stepping inside the house, my mother greets me with a warning that Katherine is waiting for me in my study. Exhaling heavily, I stop long enough to take off my jacket and loosen my tie before crossing that threshold to spar with her. She gets up from her chair, puts her arms around my neck then pulls my lips to hers.
Stepping back, she raises her eyes to mine, then proceeds to drop 'the' bombshell. "Damon, sweetheart, isn't it about time we consider marriage?"
"Marriage, Katherine?" I say with more than a hint of anxiety.
"Marriage!" Katherine replies adamantly.
"Yeah, well, we'll think about it some time." I respond, voice trailing.
"Now, Damon." She reaffirms.
"All right Katherine. I'm thinking..."
"You can't keep waxing romantic about Elena for the rest of your life. She isn't coming back. It's been seven years." Katherine says practically stomping her feet.
"Elena," I utter forlornly.
"She was a wonderful woman. Everyone who knew her, loved her. You would've loved her too."
"Hey." she says when she walks in, steps behind me and wraps her arms around my middle and squeezes.
"Hey baby." I say as I turn slightly to lift a kiss from her lips. "I'm making some homemade beef stew. How does that sound to your pretty little tummy?" I tease.
"It sounds yummy. What's the occasion?" She asks.
"No occasion. I love you and I know you love this meal." I say with a smile. "I do have something I wanted to ask you though..."
"Hmm. And what would that be Mr. Salvatore?" She teases as a big bright smile graces her beautiful face.
I turn around to face her, take her hands in mine and drop another kiss to her luscious lips. "I love you Elena Katie Gilbert. Will you marry me?" I ask anxiously. Her eyes widen and I see them glistening with the beginnings of tears.. I suck in a breath while I wait for her to respond.
"Oh Damon! Of course I'll marry you. I love you." She blurts out before wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Ahem!" Katherine squawks, her voice raising. "And what about me, Damon?"
The sharp tone of her voice snaps me out of my reverie. She's standing there with her arms crossed practically shooting daggers at me with her eyes.
Clearing my throat, I reply, "Mmm, all right, let's talk about you. What do you want to talk about? Have you seen any good pictures or read any interesting books lately?"
After spitting out an agitated squeal, she huffs, "I'm talking marriage, Damon."
"Yeah, well. I have my children to consider too, Katherine. Will they understand?"
"I can be a mother to Andrew and Molly," she adds haughtily while trying to crack a smile...
'Um, As an attorney, here's the way I look at it..." I say, turning away from her.
Katherine interrupts indignantly, "This isn't law! It's us!" Softening her approach, she places her hand on my cheek. "You're lonely aren't you? You love me right?... Well?"
"Yes, Katherine. I have an idea. Let's get married," I say finally giving up.
"Oh, Damon.." she swoons.
Los Angeles Superior Court one week later:
"I still don't see why we have to be married here, Damon." Katherine says, frustration and anger quite evident by the tone of her voice.
"Well, we can get everything done at the same time. He can rule Elena legally dead. Then he can marry us."
"It's not what every girl dreams their wedding to be. And why did you wear that tie? It's our wedding day for heaven's sakes. I bought this other tie for you and it's certainly more suitable for a wedding." Katherine says, with more than a little agitation lacing her tone.
I turn my head and roll my eyes. "Katherine, this black tie is a sign of respect to..." My voice trails when I see the judge enter the courtroom.
"Clerk! Who's first on my docket?" he says with an air of authority. '
"Would the parties in the matter of 'Salvatore versus Salvatore" please come forward."
"Right here, your honor. Stand right here Katherine," I reply.
"Madam, what are you doing with that tie in your hand? Are you a tie sales lady? How did she get in here?" he says to his clerk.
I tug on my tie before answering. "Um, Your Honor, she's with me."
"Who are you? Are you a tie salesman? What are you doing in my courtroom?" Judge Gains asks, a bit disgruntled.
"No, no sir, I'm Damon Salvatore in the matter of 'Salvatore versus Salvatore'. The brief is right there on your desk."
Looking a bit flustered, he says, "Well, why didn't you say so? Hmph! You're an attorney. Why weren't you here at the scheduled time? Now, you'll just have to wait your turn because I'm supposed to marry a couple," Judge Gains responds while thumbing through papers on his desk.
I interrupt him, "Your Honor, it's me who you're supposed to marry."
"You? Have you got a license and where's your bride?" he asks looking more than a bit annoyed.
"Of course Your Honor. Uh, but first there's the matter of my wife, Elena Gilbert Salvatore."
"Your wife, How can you marry when you're already married?"
Turning to Katherine, "Are you his wife?" he asks in a huff.
Katherine, indignant herself, spews, "I should say not!"
"Don't raise your voice with me young lady. There's such a thing as contempt of court you know!"
"Your Honor, my wife, Elena Salvatore was lost at sea. She was working as a photographer during the war. She was aboard a freighter when it sank. That's the brief right there sir," I tell him ardently.
He shuffles the papers atop his desk and finally finds my brief. "Give me a moment to read it. You have two children. That's so sad."
"Yes, sir. It happened seven years ago," I tell him with a touch of melancholy.
"I can read. Ah, here it is, page ten. Sworn affidavits, lost at sea, no evidence to the contrary, the law it clear."
He picks up his gavel and bangs it on his desktop. "I hereby pronounce Elena Gilbert Salvatore legally dead."
Katherine grabs my arm, waves the tie frantically with her other arm and screeches, "We're free, Damon."
Judge Gains bangs the gavel again. "Young lady, stop waving that tie in front of my face."
"Your honor, this is the woman I intend to marry."
"This tie sales lady?" He says shaking his head.
Katherine haughtily proclaims, "I am not a tie sales lady. I am his bride!"
"Just wow. Your wife hasn't been dead five minutes and you're already getting married again? Mr. Salvatore, are you certain you really want to marry this lady?" Judge Gains asks pertinently.
"Well I never! Of course he's sure!" Katherine huffs angrily.
"Well then, where's the license?" He starts to say just as I'm handing it to him.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join in holy matrimony..."
Soon Katherine and I are on our way to our honeymoon. I have to be back in court next week plus I can't be away from my children for several weeks. I have a little business to take care of in San Francisco then we'll spend the rest of the day driving to Yosemite. It's one of the most beautiful places on the planet as well as one of my favorite places. I could never tell Katherine this, but I feel closer to Elena there. I brought Elena here so many years ago too. A part of me knows Katherine will hate it here. She's not exactly the outdoorsy type.
After my business concludes in San Francisco, we jump back into my car to begin the drive east to Yosemite. Katherine is asleep in the seat next to me but my mind isn't on her. I can't give Katherine my heart. I gave it to Elena a long time ago and I never really got it back...
Approximately one week ago in another part of the world...
"I'm Elena Salvatore. I'm alive and well having survived the sinking of the 'Ellen A' on July 25th, 1943. I've been living on an Island approximately two hundred miles west of the where the ship went down. Please we need to notify my husband, Damon Salvatore in Los Angeles, California in the U.S.A!" I sigh heavily as my eyes fix on our rescuers before collapsing with happy tears.
After seven long years, Stefan and I have finally been rescued from this island that has unwittingly held us captive for so very long. The two of us were part of the crew en route to some of the Pacific Island venues to capture photographs of our troops at war.
"We're finally going home, Stefan. And just in time for Christmas," I gush excitedly.
I hope you're intrigued. Please remember to hit that review button and let me know what you think. The reviews really do stimulate the creative juices.. Follow along if you want to watch how this unfolds. I do have another story that I just commenced called 'The Fugitive'. I would love to hear your thoughts on that one too. Until next time...