A Lost Christmas Eve Part 5
Ben had just received communion from the priest, and was headed back to the pew where his parents were sitting. Mass was almost over, and Ms. Young was no where in sight. Ben looked with desperate eyes throughout the basilica as he walked back. It was a large church, and more than full, she could be anywhere he thought. He sat back down next to his parents who where simply joyful, thrilled that they were together. He felt happy for them, but he couldn't help, but feel miserable thinking Monica may not make it. He was getting worried as well. It was a bad idea to encourage her to go out in this kind of weather.
Ms. Young could see the entrance of church as she ran down the pathway made through the snow. It was still snowing, but barely. She knew she wasn't to late when she could hear the choir singing in side. She knew she probably wouldn't get to talk to him, but she didn't care, she was so excited just thinking about seeing him – she felt so alive.
The church kept the massive doors open so the public could enter, and exit at will. There were several ushers at the entrance to help people find seats if needed. Ms. Young had driven past this church on her way to her mother's house a thousand times. She had always admired it, but had never entered inside. It felt good as she entered the structure; the warmth, the lights, the music, and the people. So much energy she thought.
She approached the pew section looking for a seat, but there were virtually none left. She decided to get in the communion line moving forward on the right side of the center aisle. She could now move up through the entire basilica. She anxiously looked for Ben. "So many people," she whispered.
Ben was getting pretty worried now. He pulled out his cell, and was about to dial, but there was no signal. "Damn," he quietly said to himself.
Ben's mother leaned in towards him, "Do you have to make a phone call now?"
"No. You're right."
Ms. Young's worried look quickly changed to a big smile when she finally spotted Ben. It was difficult to see though as people were returning to their seats on that side. He might not even see her she worried. As the line moved forward she noticed he was dressed upped. He looked good she thought; really good, and definitely not like a 16 year old. She then saw his mother, and then his father as she was almost parallel to them now. Would they ever understand their relationship? Even if the two of them were still together when Ben turned 18, should they tell his parents? She wasn't going to worry about that right now.
Ben was talking to his mother when Ms. Young past by. It was only thirty seconds after she past when he recognized a familiar fragrance. "She's here," he whispered. He began looking behind him, and even stood up. "I've got to stretch my legs," he said to his mother. He kept looking all around, but there were so many people. "Maybe I'm wrong," he sighed.
Ms. Young searched through her purse as the line continued to move forward. She found her memo pad and scrambled to write out a message. She looked back every few seconds to see if he had spotted her yet, but it didn't look like he had. She received the host from the priest, and quickly made the sign of the cross as she headed back. She tried not to walk too quickly as she had to make him see her.
Ben was just about to sit down when he saw her walking towards him. He closed his eyes for a second expressing relief she was finally here. She looked so beautiful he thought; wearing a black full length coat, black boots, black gloves, and a white scarf. Their eyes met, and Ms. Young was so relieved he finally saw her. They just continued to stare at each other while they could. They both new a ten second gaze wasn't going to be enough. Ms. Young took her glove off and displayed the note prominently so he wouldn't miss it coming. He spotted it immediately, and they both quietly laughed to themselves as they reminisced about Ben passing her a note in the school hallway. That seemed so long ago to both of them now. As she approached him Ben cupped his hand, and Ms. Young gently placed the note in his palm. She continued down the aisle glowing the whole way.
Ben sat down, beaming. His mother turned to him, "What's up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well…I don't think I've seen you this happy. I know it's Christmas, but…"
"I'm just glad we're together. And this was fun; I'm glad we did it." He gave her a hug.
"I'm not use to you being so emotional Ben. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas mom."
Ms. Young standing in back by the entrance, was wondering what to do now. I can't just leave she thought.
As the priest performing the sermon began wrapping it up, Ben leaned subtlety away from his mother to eye Ms. Young's note. He opened it, and it said: Merry Christmas, I love you, please call me. Ah, that felt good as he reflected on it. Call her, now he wondered, he would have to try at least. The sermon ended, and people began chatting, putting coats and hats on, as the church choir and organ began playing. Ben looked at his parents, "Uh…"
"…oh my God, "His father interrupted. "Look," his demeanor indicated to Ben it was something behind him.
Ben turned around he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. "What?"
Ben's father looked at his wife "Isn't that Tom Miller, and Connie with him."
Ben spun around, "Who?"
"Yes it is," Ben's mother replied. "Lets say hi; it's been three or four years." She moved towards them.
Ben's dad looked at him and in a guilty voice, "Do you think you can stand to wait around for fifteen minutes? These are friends we've lost touch with."
Ben almost didn't know what to say. "Oh, yes, not a problem at all. Take all the time you need!"
"Thanks Ben," his father began to walk towards his friends.
"Dad…thank you."
"For what," he asked a little confused.
He smiled, "This was fun."
His dad chuckled a little, "Your mother's right; you are getting emotional. What's going with you?"
"It must be the season, I guess."
"Fifteen minutes. Keep your cell on." His father walked off.
"No problem." Ben tore off down the crowded aisle. He hoped Ms. Young would be waiting, but he didn't see her anywhere. He ran out the entrance and immediately dialed her cell number. "15 minutes, 15 minutes." He heard her ringer around the corner, "Monica," he yelled.
She appeared from around the corner, "I'm here Ben."
He ran towards her and grabbed her arm dragging her around the corner and down the path a bit. She could barely keep up with his long strides, but he soon stopped. He then pushed her back against the wall as gently as he could while being quick about it. Ben looked left and right to see if anyone had followed them. Ms. Young had her head resting against the wall, and was quietly laughing. Ben relaxed now, noticed she was laughing, "What so funny?" He quietly laughed with her.
"You practically broke my arm back there," she continued laughing.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine; I lost my phone back there though."
"Please tell me your kidding Monica; I've got like less than fifteen minutes to spend with you," he explained excitedly.
"Screw the phone; I thought I broke it earlier tonight anyway." With a sinful look, and in a passionate voice she asked, "Less than fifteen? You better kiss me now then." She pulled him against her, and they gazed at each other for a moment. All their senses were on total over load. They squeezed each other trying to stay warm. Their rapid breathing bathed them in their heated breath while it mixed with the cold air. She put her hands around his neck, and pulled him to her. When their heated lips met they instantly forgot about the cold weather. They massaged each other's bodies, as they continued to massage each other's lips. The kiss was long, slow, and on fire. It suddenly began to lightly snow as the choir continued to sing Silent Night.
After some time they parted lips. Ben looked up at the sky, "Thank you Lord." Ms. Young laughed. Ben continued on, "My God, it's freezing out here, and I'm sweating." Ms. Young continued to caress Ben's neck with her lips as she slid her fingers through his hair. "Oh God Monica, you don't know how good this feels."
"I'm glad I have that effect on you."
"Me too," Ben grinned. "Monica that was the most intense kiss we've had together."
She was surprised he said that. "Yeah," she asked. Her happy expression turned to a serious one as she looked down. "I know why." Ben began gently removing a few snow flakes from her hair as she spoke. "It's because it meant so much to me to be with you tonight. I still can't believe it!
"Neither can I."
She laid her head on his chest, and he began stroking her cheek. "I'm not nearly as tough as I come off Ben. And I have these family issues, and holiday phobias…," she quickly looked up at him. "I wasn't too weird today, was I?"
He looked into her eyes for a moment as he brushed her hair out of her face, "You were perfect Monica."
"Thank you," she felt better.
"Can I ask you how you got here?"
She laughed as she buried her face into his chest. She looked up at him wide eye and answered, "I started walking and two blocks from mother's, a large truck stopped and offered me ride. I was so desperate I took it."
Ben confused now, "Well how are going to get home."
"I have no idea."
"Well this wasn't a good…"
Ms. Young Interrupted, "…please don't ruin the mood; that's my mother's job. I'm a big girl, and I'll figure it out."
He didn't say anything, but he would be worrying about her all night. "I'll be calling you all night; oh crap your phone," he suddenly remembered she dropped it up the pathway.
She caressed his cheek and tried to console his worries. "I'll be all right. We don't have much time left."
"Oh my God I almost forgot." Ben backed up, and frantically began searching through his coat.
"What is it?
"A gift. I found something I think you would like, well I hope you do."
Almost panicked she backed up. "Oh, no, you're kidding me? I have nothing for you."
"That's all right; believe me, you are more than enough of a gift to me."
"Ben I apologize. I can't believe I…"
Ben stopped searching and interrupted, "…Monica if you keep apologizing you're not getting the gift." She stopped, and laughed while putting her hand over her mouth.
Ben pulled the box out, and once she saw the box she was stunned. "No, no," she said as she walked up to him, and grabbed his hand. "That's way too much, way too fast Ben. I appreciate it, but I can't accept it."
Ben couldn't figure out why she suddenly refused to accept his gift. He looked at the box, and it suddenly dawned on him. She assumed it was some kind of jewelry because of the box. An expensive necklace or bracelet. He chuckled, "It's not what you think it is; I don't have that kind of money." Ben pointed to the box, "I hate to downgrade my on gift, but it's a nice affordable Christmas gift, and I thought you'd like it.
"Oh," she said with a blank look on her face.
"Your not disappointed now, are you?"
She waited a moment, and then she winced, "Yes, I mean no." They both laughed as they leaned in on each other. Ms. Young spoke softly, "No I'm not disappointed. If it's from you I'm sure I'll treasure it."
"Thank you," Ben started to hand the blue box to her.
"No. Thank you." She took him by surprise as they locked lips for more than an dozen seconds.
Once they split Ben exhaled, "Whoa."
She smiled and asked while rapidly breathing, "Yeah?"
"Oh yeah, you're good at this."
She giggled at that comment while she opened the box, and saw the shiny silver blade. "Oh, it's beautiful Ben." Ms. Young was impressed, as she inspected it. "I actually don't have a letter opener; this is wonderful. Wait a minute." She looked very carefully at the decoration at the end. Thank God she noticed it Ben thought to himself. "I know what this is; oh my God," she looked up at him surprised. "This is William Shakespeare's family crest - correct?" Ben nodded yes. "I can't believe I remembered that. This is perfect Ben; you couldn't have gotten me a better gift." She placed it back in its container, and put her hand around Ben's neck. "Time for you're reward."
Ben grinned at that statement. His cell suddenly rang, and they both froze. They were both suddenly jolted back to reality. It was like they forgot the fifteen minute deadline. Ben closed his eyes as he grabbed is phone. Slowly he said, "I've got to…"
She squeezed him tight "…it's ok. I'll be all right." Ms. Young promised herself she wouldn't cry. She didn't want to make Ben feel bad. She was actually happy though because more had happen tonight than on most Christmas Eve's for her.
"Ok, yeah…ok I'll see you there." He hung up.
Ms. Young looked up at him. "It's ok, we were lucky to get the fifteen minutes. I was lucky to get here at all."
"They gave me five more minutes."
"Oh my God." Her eyes went wide as she brought her hands to her mouth.
Ben squeezed her body closer to him, and looked around, "Maybe I should help you look for your phone; you're going to need it."
"Will you shut, and kiss me."
"Wait. I have to tell you something." He didn't say anything though.
Concerned she asked, "What? What is it Ben?"
He looked up, and exhaled. After a moment he looked at her, "I'm in love with you. I mean…" he looked into her lovely brown eyes as he placed his hands around her head. She knew it had been difficult for them to get back together, and this was serious for Ben to say. As he gently caressed her cheek, "I love you, and you are the most important thing in my life."
"I can't believe this is happening," she responded in a weak voice. "I love you too."
He lowered his head to meet her lips. The moment they touched they both forgot everything around them. The cold, the snow flakes dropping, the music, and especially their limited time. This kiss was the most important thing right at this moment, and they would worry about everything else later.