Chapter 12
Jasper wrapped his arms around me and said, "Go paint, I have some errands to run and then I'll be back."
"Jasper, I love you, but don't go overboard on whatever you're thinking."
"I'll behave; I promise. But I'm also going to make this the best first Christmas for us ever."
"Jasper, just having you here is all I need," and I got a hug and a kiss for that.
"I know," Jasper said. "But I want to go all out and since I have never gotten to on my own, you have to humor me."
Late that night, when we made our way down to the boat for the night, I found the boat had even more Christmas jewels on it. I slept in red jammies that I received as a present that night.
For Jasper, I snuck out one day and went shopping and got him probably twenty-five sentimental to practical to crazy gifts. I also found all the things for a stocking for him. We had agreed to buy new stockings one night while out shopping together and they were on my mantle. We spent very little time up at his place anymore. I also had three paintings for Jasper plus a design for the master suite in his house.
Jasper had already converted the spare room on the boat to a sitting area. It was quite comfortable for the two of us. The painting on the wall was the one of two people laying on the beach together. Jasper surprised me one night with a smaller decorated tree in this room as well.
Unexpectedly a week later, the post man was at my door. I opened it and received a small package from a store in Raleigh. Jasper came into the kitchen and found me crying. He was immediately at my side, "What's wrong?"
And I passed him the card inside of it. Jasper read it and it said, 'Love grandmother - another new ornament for our tree together. I love you AJ.'
"She must have set this up as an annual present for me."
"Yes, do you want me to call and have it cancelled?"
"No, as long as you understand, I may cry now and again regarding it."
Together we went and put it on the tree, turned on the lights and cuddled down on the couch. We landed up falling asleep there for the night.
Jasper and I had been invited to a few parties in town and at friends' houses during the weeks leading up to the holiday. But for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we were spending them together without anyone else around. We were going to church together at 11 on Christmas morning. We had agreed we would open all presents on Christmas Day together but if we saw what we put in each other's stockings that was okay. So most of Christmas Eve, I spent finishing up a couple of paintings. We went for a walk on the beach together. Jasper served us dinner together in front of the fireplace. We had finished putting all the presents under the tree and hanging each others stockings up. I was taking pictures of the tree and fireplace. When Jasper was at my front door leading to the beach and said, "Alice, come here."
I did and there was a trail of lights leading down to a spot on the beach. I said, "What did you do Jasper?"
"Shall we find out?"
I put on my jacket and shoes. He grabbed a blanket and we followed the flickering lights.
When we got to the end of the trail, there had been a small mound dug in the sand with
flickering lights all around and Jasper whispered, "Would you like to sit down, Juliet?"
"Yes, please, this is beautiful." Jasper laid out the blankets, we sat down and he wrapped us up in them. I rested my head on his shoulder and whispered, "This is perfect; I love you." I just sat there and thought how can he read my mind I saw this in my dreams and knew this would be perfect setting. Then an amazing idea went off in my head almost making me do a 180 in my thinking. After a few minutes of the very comfortable silence, I whispered, "I might have to try my hand at nighttime paintings."
We talked back and forth about what I would want to show in the paintings by doing them at nighttime. The twinkling of stars in the sky and moon. A white sailboat, people in the water the shore edge, a house lit up at Christmas times.
Jasper said, "What about a whole different view instead of this shore scene for your work?"
"Jasper, what are you asking?"
"Would you consider spending from December 29th to January 2nd in New York with me for New Years Eve?"
"Jasper, NO Uhhhh?"
He gently kissed me and silenced me and said, "Wait, let me explain everything first?"
"Okay but?"
"No shhhh. Here is where we would stay and he pulled out a picture of a yacht. It's on the West Side of Manhattan. The yacht is owned by the gentleman that bought my company and he thinks we're nuts for wanting to stay on it instead of at any luxury hotels in the city but we can. During the day, we will explore the city including the museums and the galleries; see your gallery and other touristy stuff we can find to do. On New Year's Eve, we will just stay cuddled up on the yacht and celebrate quietly together. I'll give you time to sketch as well. Now what do you think?" and he gently kissed my lips.
"You thought of everything. Thank you, I'll go but on one other condition."
"What's that?"
"I get to see where you lived when you were there."
"Of course, but everything is mainly in storage right now."
"That's fine. I just want to see where you called home."
"Now," and Jasper pulled me up and we headed towards the boat. We just curled up into each other's arms, made love and fell asleep on the boat.
A/N
Hey I am back. Thanks for reading. PLease leave me some love with a review.
HAppy reading to all of you.
