December 24, 2012

She peaked: she didn't like to admit it and it felt wrong the entire time, but she had to. They'd been together for a year, it was okay to peek...right?

She wasn't peaking through presents or rifling through his underwear drawer or anything, Allison was just looking for something in Robert's book shelves and kitchen. That something had been shaking around in her head like dice in the game of Yahtzee and until she found what she was looking for she would get no rest.

It all started at the end of November when Allison came to the novel realization that Christmas was just around the corner and she'd had no ideas for what to get Robert. Shopping for her parents and family was easy, she'd been well practiced, but Robert was a challenge she'd yet experienced. Every occasion of the year he thought of something sweet to give her or do for her. Whether is was surprising her with flowers or gifting her a comfy, thoughtful pair of slippers after she complained her feet hurt after long shifts in high heels, he always knew how to make her day.

And she had nothing for him.

Well, not exactly nothing.

She'd gotten some sexy lingerie that he would enjoy; he always said he loved the way she looked in black. And then there was the new pair of running sneakers she bought him for his morning routine but none of those things were as creative and thoughtful as what he always did for her.

Then she conceived the terrific idea, or at least it seemed that way in the moment, that forced her to snoop through his belongings.

He'd spoken so highly about his grand mum's Christmas pudding, what if she made it for him? He said he had the recipe so all she had to do was dig a little while he showered until she found it. And lucky for her, he kept just about everything his grandparents ever had so after only a few minutes of peaking through various book shelves she found the old cook book Lenora he so lovingly made.

Page five held the knowledge that she needed. In a sly, cunning manner, she unhooked the page from the old binder and stuffed it in her bag.

When Christmas Eve came she was happy to see that she was off from work and Robert had to go in for an early shift. He'd be home by 3 and at her place by 4 so they could leave to go to her parent's, so she had ample time to throw together the world's weirdest dessert.

At least it all seemed like a good idea…

It took trips to three different grocery stores to get all the strange and unusual ingredients needed for the dessert that she had a feeling would not be anything like the American "pudding" she'd known of. Then there was, of course, the set up where Allison discovered that her very, very small kitchen was hard to prepare such a dish in. Careful to not damage the recipe in Lenora's loopy, artistic cursive writing, she tried to keep it away from the slop of ingredients that seemed to cover every counter.

She'd gotten up extra early, but in the blink of an eye it was three o'clock and she was only finishing up with the hideous dessert, she was also not dressed for the holiday. Her ripped up old skinny jeans, oversized black shirt, and festive green apron were hardly appropriate to go to her parent's house in, and on top of that she had chunks of pudding in her hair and flour on the end of her nose. In short, she, her kitchen, and the gift that she worked so hard to make Robert were all a complete and utter mess.

He'd been so good to her.

Allison never really thought she'd find love like she did with Robert. Of course there was always that childhood fairytale fantasy of a prince sweeping her off of her feet, but that idea became reality last Christmas when she finally had the nerve to show Robert how she felt about him. Ever since that moment was well…a warm, happy, joyful blur.

And as she stared at the dessert, her metaphorical love letter to Robert, she was horrified to realize that somewhere along the lines grandma Lenora's recipe lead her in the wrong direction, and the dish staring back at her appeared to more of a monster than some kind of Australian delicacy. Just as she pondered what she should do, the doorbell rang and rather than smile she felt a rush of anxiety race through her body.

When she opened the door and saw him standing there, she couldn't help but become jumpy and irritable.

"You said 4 o'clock…" she spoke in a brash voice, noting the time on the wall.

"…Merry Christmas to you too…" he wandered in through the door in his finest dark green suit, white shirt, and classic plaid tie. "I got off early and figured I'd surprise you!"

She didn't know what to say- he was early, handsome as hell, and she was standing before him in a pair or ripped skinny jeans, black t shirt, and emerald apron covered in a hearty amount of flour. Not only was she physically a mess, her present for him laid only a few feet away in the kitchen looking like something dragged in by a cat.

"Wow…" was all she could mutter.

"What? You look shell shocked!" He joked and moved closer before giving her a sweet peck on the lips.

"I just…umm…well I didn't expect you so soon! I kinda look like a mess."

"That's nonsense, you always look amazing," he grinned and placed one hand on her cheek to wipe a little flour off her nose before giving her a deeper, more intense kissed that was so passionate, she almost fell to the ground.

"Doing some baking?" He questioned once his lips became free, his smile contagious. He couldn't help but glow when he was in her proximity, there was just something so magical about her. She brought out the best, happiest qualities in his soul. Suddenly all the heartache of his childhood melted away and he was left to a foolish, open heart ready to give to her.

"Yeah…um…kind of…"

He raised an eyebrow. She was acting suspicious.

"Kind of?" He inquired.

"Yeah…"

"Do you want me to leave and come back?" There was a tick of nervous anxiety in him. He could feel his hands tremble and an overwhelming urge to go run ten miles washing over him, and it seemed Allison was able to read him like a book.

"No, don't go anywhere," it was early, but it seemed like as good a time as any to show him the monstrosity she'd made in the kitchen, "I was baking. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I sort of screwed it up."

She took his hand and lead him to the kitchen where sitting front and center on the counter is grandma Lenora's famous Christmas pudding.

"Oh my gosh!" Robert gushed, his eyes lighting up like a little boy on Christmas morning, "you made Christmas pudding!"

She knew it was ugly…probably the ugliest thing she'd ever made, but his reaction made her heart swell with love and pride. Somehow his hideous dessert made her boyfriend happy, and that's all that mattered.

"Not just any Christmas pudding! I kidnapped your grandma's recipe and made her's because you always talk about how much you miss it. I know it's not very appetizing looking but-."

"It's perfect!" He exclaimed and grabbed her by the waste. She was a little shocked; never in her life would she go out of her way to eat something that gross looking, but he was pleased.

"It's supposed to look like that?" She jested.

"Yeah, what have you never seen a Christmas pudding before?"

For a moment they just stood there staring at it.

Allison had been so afraid that she couldn't live up to the thoughtfulness of Robert. She'd stressed for weeks over the dessert and was wonderfully shocked to see the pure joy in her boyfriend's eyes that she'd never imagined existed. There was a warmth permeating from his hand resting on hers.

For Robert, well, it had been a long time since he felt like someone saw him; truly saw him. He'd been lonely so long, haunted by the happy memories of his grandparents and distant, cold memories of his parents. But now…everything was different.

Life would never be the same.

"Well, come one now, we have to try it!" Robert excitedly grabbed two forks and handed one to his girlfriend. "Now I know most Americans aren't into this sort of thing but I promise you, try it and I'm sure you'll love it!"

They each took a bite.

"This is amazing!" He raved and grinned bigger than she'd ever seen.

Allison was impressed, it tasted better then it looked. And after a few more bites she excused herself to the bathroom for a quick shower and some primping to become her most beautiful self.

As she put on her prettiest Green Party dress and did up her hair, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

She'd done it.

She won.

It wasn't a competition, but for once she did the sweet, romantic thing. He smiled and loved the pudding. But it wasn't even about loving the taste, he loved what she'd done. He loved that she heard him, heard him talk about the love he had for his grandparents. She heard him say how much he loved that pudding. She understood him, and she loved him, and that's what mattered.

"Are you almost ready?" Allison heard Robert call from the living room.

"Almost!" She replied, rolling her eyes when she got a good gaze of the clock. They had more then an hour and a half to get to her parent's house which was a mere hour away. Robert hated being late and although sometimes it was annoying she figured that if that was his worst quality she could live with it.

"Come on!" He spoke again and she quickly slipped into a paid of sparkly red heels.

"I'm coming I'm coming!" She called back and walked down the hallway, "why are you in such a hurry? We don't have to be the first ones-."

She stopped dead in her tracks.

There he was, square in front of her fully illuminated Christmas tree down on one knee with arms extended. In his hand was the most ornate red and gold box she'd ever seen in her life. Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest.

"Allison?" He spoke in a shaky voice, "you okay over there?"

She felt frozen, but his smile was thawing her out.

"I'm fine I…I…just…"

"I love you."

"I love you, too. I…you…you're proposing!?!?"

"Gee, what gave you that idea?" He grinned, "why don't you come over here?"

She did as she was asked and when she approached he opened the box to reveal the most magnificent yellow gold ring with a sparkly, stunning round diamond.

"I've been thinking for months about what I'd say to you. There are so many things in my heart, so much I want you to know, but every time I try to come up with the words they're just not perfect. Allison, I love you. I want to spend every moment of my life with you, and I hope you want that too. So, if you want to…will you marry me?"

"Yes!" She shouted through the tears streaming down her pale cheeks. He quickly stood and wrapped her in the tightest embrace before kissing her cherry lips and slipping the ring onto her tiny finger.

He'd won for the ultimate romantic gesture, but she'd won the greatest prize of all: him.