Five Days Til Christmas
Christmas Day
World wide this day would dawn, as constant as sunlight and the moon, as rainfall bringing life to the earth, as lovers greeting with a kiss. Yet for its splendour, for all its planning and excessiveness and religion and giving and receiving, for all these things it slid into being as gently as the snowfall on Clarisse's face.
With eyes closed she lifted her face to the sky accepting each flake on her pale skin, feeling them melt and slide down her cheeks to the base of her neck, then down again between the valley of her breasts. She pulled the blanket closer around her shoulders as a breeze passed her and opened her eyes having a look around. No sight of human for miles and miles, no marks in the pure white landscape surrounding her, no sound accept that of her breathing.
She smiled, she could stand and sing here at the top of her voice, scream her lungs out and nobody but the birds would know. She wondered if they'd listened last night, if they alone had witnessed her cries of pleasure, it wasn't often she completely let go of all rational though and gave in to the rawest of emotions. But last night she loved and was loved and it had been… … oh she couldn't find the words to describe it.
By the light cast over the ground it must be at least mid-morning, the last time she'd glanced at Joseph's watch it was 3:30 and they'd wished each other a Merry Christmas, made love again and slept soundly. She was getting hungry; she gripped the mug in her hand and savoured its warmth, draining the last of the contents.
"Hey, you'll freeze out here." A familiar voice sounded behind her.
She turned her head to smile at him. "I was having a moment to myself."
He joined her, held her from behind and gripped her waist kissing her cheek. "Good morning again."
"Good morning. Isn't the snow beautiful."
"Beautiful but cold nevertheless."
"I'm reminded of a moment years ago. I was forty-five."
"How could either of us ever forget it… in that attic room, side by side watching the snow fall."
"A sad moment."
He kissed her cheek again, longer this time, holding her body close to his. "No sad moments today my love."
"No." She turned to him sliding an arm around his neck. "No more sad moments anymore. I must call Pierre and Mia this morning."
"I think the reception should be fine, but I'll check for you."
"Thank you sweetheart. Tea?" She held her mug to him.
"It's empty…"
"Exactly." She smiled.
"Ah so this is a 'Joseph my dear wonderful husband would you refill this for me?'"
"Possibly something like that, would you?"
"You know I will," he took the mug from her. "Come inside, time for gifts."
She accepted his offered hand. "How excited you look."
"I am, another first for us."
It was beautifully wrapped; it almost seemed a shame to rip it apart. Clarisse knelt in front of the fire, Joseph across from her leaning back onto the edge of the couch. She gripped the corner of the shiny silver paper and tore it down one side revealing the gift inside; she bit her lip, closed her eyes then collapsed in a fit of giggles. Joseph smiled at her reaction, not holding back on his own laughter.
She dropped the present and almost jumped across the rug into his lap. "You give me this…" She laughed grabbing his waist still laughing. "You torturer."
"Does this mean you like it or not."
She held his face and looked into his sparkling eyes, leant forward and kissed him as his hands rested on her hips. Then she pulled back, leant across the floor and retrieved the gift, removing the rest of the wrapping to reveal a thick hardback book.
"The complete guide to home baking." She read aloud and Joseph stifled yet more laughter. "Does this mean I am to take up baking… at home, like a proper domestic housewife."
"That is what I'd hoped."
"Why you absolute…"
She didn't finish her sentence because he covered her mouth and wound his fingers into her hair.
"Perhaps you could bake me a cake for my birthday." He finally said.
Her face softened. "Perhaps I could. Your turn." She struggled up from his lap. "My body is too old for the floor."
"It seemed content enough last night." He said watching her move across the room to the tree.
"It was more than content…" She replied nonchalantly then turned to him with a grin. "Alright, present number one."
She handed him a small rectangular package, quite obviously not wrapped by her own fair hands, then sat down on the couch behind him, folding her hands in her lap and watching him intently.
"Oh my Clarisse." He said slowly. "Do you know how rare this is… only five copies out there, to my knowledge anyway."
She bent her head to his ear. "Only four out there now, one in your hands."
He turned to kiss her. "Thank you," he said turning the box in his hands and looking at the personalised signatures.
"You're very welcome but this doesn't mean I have to listen to it for the rest of the day alright."
He laughed. "We'll see."
He handed her a large, soft package and intrigued she made short work of the wrapping. The material filled her hand, almost overflowed in them.
"It was my Grandmother's, I've had it for years, always hoped to give it to you… at some point."
She almost blushed at her own gift when she realised the sentiment involved here. The shawl in her hands was as delicate as the rarest jewel, intricately crafted white lace, obviously an antique.
"Here let me."
He took it from her hands and she stood before him as he placed it around her shoulders.
"Perfect you see."
"Thank you." She mouthed, admiring herself in the mirror over the fire.
"You are more than welcome."
"No I mean really thank you." She said heavily, turning and kissing him.
She took a deep breath and removed the shawl, gently laying it down on the table.
"Alright, your turn again." She moved back toward the tree to get another gift. "Now this one was a little hard to disguise, so in the end I decided not to bother at all."
He laughed as she removed a sheet and picked up a Spanish guitar with a huge red bow at one end.
"I don't know much about the instrument but I'm told this is the best available so…" She shrugged as he took it from her. "Now you can play beautiful music."
He lifted his gaze from the instrument to her expectant eyes, reached over for her hand. "Thank you darling, it is precious." Kissed her fingers. "And I will teach you how to play."
"Oh no…" She shook her head, "I might break it."
"Oh yes. And it won't break."
"We'll see." She kissed his cheek.
"Oh this smells divine." Clarisse held the package to her face.
"Open it." Joseph smiled taking a seat on the floor across from her.
She untied the silver ribbon and lifted the lid from the white box and removed the paper inside. She insisted on lifting each gift out of the box individually and reading the label.
"I had them specially made, each one unique."
"For me…"
"Of course, the things you love, soap in your favourite flower, bath essence in that incense you love."
She held up a round ball and read the label. "Sex bomb bath ballistic." She raised a disapproving eyebrow. "I do hope you didn't have this specially made."
He laughed. "No, that was Mia's input. Apparently it's actually really good in a nice hot bath."
"I'm sure. It has glitter in it." She said turning it over in her hand.
"Then you'll shine more than usual."
"Oh how flattering you are." She said flippantly.
"But you do like it?"
"Yes, I love it, all of it." She replaced them in the box. "With all these new creams it means I can pester you for intimate back-rubs."
"That I don't object too."
"I'm sure… alright, final gift." She hoisted herself up with the help of the couch and placed a rather large red box on the floor in front of Joseph.
"Wow." He said kneeling in front of it.
"Now you mentioned you'd like this so I thought I'd just be brave and get it…" She bit down on her lip as he looked up at her questioningly. "Read the label." She insisted.
"Alright." He turned the gold tag over. "Santa baby I've been good all year." He looked up at her again. "Rather cryptic."
She placed a hand to her blushing cheek and sat down. "Just get on and open it before I die of embarrassment."
He easily slid the ribbon off the side of the box and removed the lid. At the top of the box were a pair of heeled red glittered mules, he lifted them out and stared at them confused before placing them on the floor.
Next was a neatly wrapped package, he took the paper from it and revealed a red velvet dress trimmed with white fur, holding it up he realised how short it was. Sensing where this was going, he began to smile and eagerly reached for a small box.
"Oh no…" Clarisse groaned as he opened it up, he laughed as she held a pillow in front of her face.
Inside the box was a pair of red lacy stockings and some rather suspect lingerie.
"I was cajoled into it." She said from behind the pillow.
He laughed loudly now. "Oh I wish to shake the hand of whoever got these for you, and thank them from the bottom of my heart."
"There's a hat too." She said sheepishly as he produced the Santa hat and placed it on his head.
"Do I get a complete outfit too?" He teased.
"Oh I shouldn't have got it, I'm too old." She closed her eyes and her head fell back onto the couch.
"Hey," He leant over her. "Mrs. Santa." He ticked her chin and she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Yes."
"You're never too old to have fun… besides we weren't able to do things like this when we were young, so why not enjoy it now. There's nothing wrong in it. It's just for the two of us."
"I know you're right, I'm just embarrassed."
"Don't be. Now kiss me." He waved a sprig of mistletoe over her head.
"You don't need cheap tricks for a kiss… Mr. Santa."
Later, much later, after Clarisse had fulfilled Joseph's dreams and actually put on the outfit for at least 20 minutes they had opened the gift from Mia. A personalised hand-made marble chessboard, trimmed with gold and each piece decorated with either Clarisse's or Joseph's newly bestowed crest.
After a rather late lunch they began to play until Clarisse claimed she was far too tired, and that was why she was losing! So instead Joseph cut them both a slice of traditional Christmas cake and they had Irish coffees.
When he came back to the lounge carrying the tray he found Clarisse had dragged the sheets they had used on the floor the night before and laid them out in the bay window.
"What's all this?"
"I thought it would be romantic." She replied as she fussed over the position of the cushions.
"It is, do you want cream with your cake?"
"No, I need to watch my figure."
"Ha! I shouldn't worry about that, I'm sure we'll work the calories off."
"And what's that supposed to mean young man?" She stood with her hands on her hips. "I think you've got the wrong idea about me entirely."
He climbed into her ready-made haven and cut the cake on his plate. "Perhaps it was the outfit that gave me that impression… when are you going to put it on again anyway?"
"Never." She sat down across from him, pulling a sheet across her legs and picking up her own plate. "Perhaps I'll pass it on to Mia."
"You want to encourage that kind of behaviour in the young?"
"I want to discourage it in my husband."
"Once a year sweetheart." He joked and her façade broke, she laughed so much she dropped her cake to the floor.
"Oh no look what a mess you've made." He teased adoring every second of her laughter.
"I'm sorry." She tried to control herself.
"You can share mine."
"Thank you dear."
They shared the cake then put the plate to one side.
"What about the mess?" Clarisse asked.
"We'll deal with it later. Come here."
She moved to sit in front of him, her back against his chest, tilted her head to one side so he could kiss her neck and folded her fingers with his over her stomach.
"The day went too quickly." She finally said after looking out at the snow still shining in the dark night.
"I know, but it's been perfect, I wouldn't change a minute."
"Me neither." She squeezed his hand. "Thank you for my gifts."
"Thank you for mine."
"You're sleepy, I can hear it in your voice."
"I am." He admitted allowing his eyes to close.
"Sleep for a while, I don't mind."
"I think I just might. I thought we might watch a movie later."
"Yes, I'd like that, I haven't seen a good movie in ages."
She sat there for a while listening to his breathing get slower, deeper and more even until she knew he was asleep. Then she sat for a little while longer staring out at the snow and considering how much things had changed that year. Finally, with some effort, she lifted his arms from her and got up without waking him, she went directly to the bathroom and rinsed away the tears that had escaped down her face.
She cleaned up the cake from the carpet and placed another blanket over Joseph then went to the kitchen and began the dishes. She spent her time washing each used glass individually then drying it and placing it back in the cupboard.
"Hey, you don't have to do all that now."
She glanced to the door where Joseph leant watching her.
"You're supposed to be sleeping."
"I couldn't…" he stepped towards her. "Can't bear to miss a second with you." He caught her waist. "Don't do these now, I'll do it later."
"I've used them too." She insisted.
"Then we'll share it." He held her hands and kissed them. "These hands weren't made to do dishes."
"Joseph…" She said softly.
He took the towel from her hand and threw it aside then twirled her around.
"Let's dance instead." He said.
"Alright, though I want to have a bath in my glitter ball stuff before we watch a movie."
"You'll sparkle all the way through it."
She giggled then rested her head against his chest, sighing deeply and closing her eyes.
"I do love you, so very much, I don't tell you often enough." She whispered.
"You tell me every day." He kissed her head. "I love you."
"I know, more than I thought anybody ever could…"
Together they swayed in time to silent music.
We don't need a crowded ballroom everything we need is here. If you're with me next year will be the perfect year…