Chapter 37
Olivia
Memories of being intimidated by my elementary school principal flood my mind as I watch the exchange between Lucas and his mother. I’m scared to death of this woman.
Lucas’ eyes smile and dance when his mother enters the room. My stomach flips and tumbles in anticipation. I hope whatever Lucas sees in me, his mother will too.
“So is this the young lady who’s captured your heart?” she asks, approaching me.
Like a shy little boy, Lucas glances down at his toes. “Yes.”
His mother looks me over from head to toe. Her pale blue eyes feel like they have tentacles that are penetrating my skin and reaching inside me.
Yes, she’s judging my physical appearance, but it feels like she’s searching for something more. Like she wants to see into my heart and soul whether or not I’m worthy of Lucas’s love and affection.
An eternity passes before a word is spoken. The room fills with a stifling silence. The crackling of the fire booms through the air. Every breath is held, waiting to see what happens next. Even the children seem to be placed under a magic silence spell, until Lucas’s mother welcomes me with a quick pat on the back.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you . . ." I stop, realizing I have no idea what to call her.
“Dominique.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dominique.”
“Likewise.”
Everyone in the room exhales. Both the quiet and tension are replaced with laughter and warm banter.
The food isn't only delicious, but plentiful. Antipasto, calamari, crab legs, lobster tails, and pasta adorn the table. I try a little bit of everything and enjoy it all. I’m quiet through most of dinner, trying to get a handle on the family politics and enjoying the company.
After dinner Lucas takes my hand and leads me to the couch. He places his arm around me, and pulls me tight against him.
"I really should be helping clear the table."
He shakes his head, "Not tonight. Tonight you're mine." He whispers and I’m filled with a surge of heat. He brushes a loose wisp of hair from my face.
“Having fun?”
“Yes. Do you spend every Christmas like this?”
“Every Christmas Eve for as long as I remember.”
Dominique approaches the couch and clears her throat before taking a seat on the other side of me. She smiles, but I don't feel a whole lot of warmth radiating off of her.
“So, dear, Lucas has told me so little about you,” she says, placing her hand on my knee. It feels awkward. Strange. “What is it you do?”
I meet Lucas’s eyes, hoping he understands my plea for help. The rapport with his mother already feels like it’s hanging on a thin line. I don’t want to do anything that might fray it.
“Olivia works in medical billing,” Lucas answers for me.
Dominique gasps and covers her mouth, as if someone just told her I’m a porn star. I’m thinking porn star might not be as bad. After a moment she regains her composure.
“I assumed you were a college graduate.”
“Olivia did graduate from college Mom, with honors,” Lucas holds a warning in his voice.
“I’m just taking my time, while I figure out what to do next. I’d like to start a business,” I explain. “I’m just not sure what kind.”
“I see.”
The ringing doorbell interrupts the uncomfortable aura spreading over us. The children jump up from their chairs and run to the front door like sprinters in pursuit of Olympic gold.
“Santa,” they cry, excitement spilling out of their pores.
On cue the front door opens and in comes Santa Claus, his bag of goodies slung over his back.
“Ho, ho, ho,” says the kind old man, in the red suit.
The rest of the adults leave the food and dishes they're clearing off the table and gather around Santa. John carries a dining room chair for the white haired man to sit in.
Santa brings with him a warm cozy feeling. The lines etched in his skin around his eyes show he’s not a young man, but a rather old man. His mustache and beard are long, white and real. His smile genuine as he reaches into his sack and pulls from it, T’was the Night Before Christmas.
The children drop to the floor and sit in silence as Santa reads. I can’t believe how even I hang on to his every word. He draws the room in and performs for his audience. After he’s finished reading, the children ask questions about the reindeer, Mrs. Claus and the North Pole.
Santa answers them all with kindness and patience before addressing each child individually on how they can improve their behavior in the upcoming year. Once he completes his lecture, he pulls gifts from his sack.
The awed children collect their finely wrapped boxes, stack them in piles, and wait for Santa to finish before opening any. With the children shredding the paper off their presents, I find Santa looking into my eyes.
I wonder why he’s staring at me like that, and what Lucas's mother will think about me getting so much attention from Santa. A wide smile forms on his face.
“Olivia, what a pleasant surprise to find you spending Christmas Eve with Lucas,” Santa says.
My face flushes from embarrassment as everyone in the room turns toward me. I smile in spite of myself, feeling very awkward and self-conscious, unable to think of a funny or witty response.
“Why don’t you come have seat?” he pats his lap.
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t tell me you’re too old to believe,” he says, raising an eyebrow at me.
Lucas, fights to hold back laughter, looking thoroughly amused. He nods his head in the other man’s direction and nudges me forward. Seeing I’m not moving, Lucas takes my hand and leads me over to Santa. With no way out, I sit on Santa’s lap.
“See, this isn’t so bad is it?” Santa asks.
I make the mistake of looking around at the faces watching me. Lucas’s cousins wear amused smiles, whispering to each other.
“No, it’s not bad.” I shake my head unable to contain a slight giggle.
“Are you having a nice time?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone making you feel comfortable?”
“Very much so.”
“Wonderful. Now, I think I have something in here for you.”
I cover my beat red face with my hands feeling ridiculous, as Santa once again reaches into his sack. I try to ignore the overwhelming feeling of embarrassment.
“Ah. Here it is.”
I take a deep breath before looking down at the small black velvet box in Santa’s hand. I turn to Lucas and search his eyes. His lips are pressed into a thin line, yet his eyes glow. I take the box into my trembling hands.
With my eyes fixed on Lucas, I open it slowly. I take a deep breath before dropping my eyes and breaking the connection with Lucas, to see what treasure the box holds. Tears fill my eyes as the sparkling light makes the diamond ring in my hands twinkle.
Lucas steps forward. He reaches for my hand and bends down on one knee, “Olivia,” his voice cracks, “Will you marry me?”
I’m going to die. Right here. Right now. I’m going to die of happiness. I'm caught up in the moment, in the excitement and the warmth of his family. Tears trickle from my eyes as I leap out of Santa’s lap and throw my arms around Lucas’s neck. I hold him tight.
“Yes!” I say, kissing him firmly on the lips. “Yes, I will marry you!”
Lucas stands, helping me to my feet. He holds me tight and swings me in his arms. My body slides down against his until my feet are back on the ground. He strokes my hair and kisses me passionately, making me forget for the moment that anyone else exists.