Chapter 17

Lillie

When I awakened from my nap, I went into the living area and tears filled my eyes. Chris had been busy. He’d ordered a Christmas tree with all the trimmings. It was hugged about the bottom with several, colorfully-wrapped packages. A dining table offered a buffet of tempting foods and regional traditional baked goods. Marga bounced between the tree and the table, sticking her small finger into the whipped cream of a strawberry torte, dressed with shaved chocolate.

“Oh, Chris, this is beautiful! How thoughtful!”

“Isn’t it wonderful, Lillie?” beamed an excited Marga. “We’re having Christmas tonight just like the German people do!”

“Really?” I was so glad I’d taken the time to buy them both gifts. They were hidden in the bottom of the lowest drawer in the bedroom. “I’ll be right back,” I said and went in to retrieve them. Adding them to the pile already there, I took Marga by the hand and made her a plate of food. We ate leisurely, joking and teasing one another. Afterwards, we took the elevator down to the lobby where they were lighting a Christmas tree with burning candles and singing carols in German. Many of the guests were there and joined in. Marga’s face was alight with happiness.

Back upstairs, Chris reached beneath the tree and piled three packages onto the sofa next to Marga. “Merry Christmas, little one,” he said as he kissed her on the cheek.

“Thank you, Uncle Chris, but I don’t understand. How did Santa know I would be here?”

He patted her on the leg. “Well, honey, Santa let me know that he had your gifts and asked me if I’d see to it that you got them since we were flying all over. I hope that’s okay?”

“It is,” she giggled and began tearing open the wrapping. Chris had purchased a fur hat, scarf and muff for her. “Oh, thank you, Uncle Chris. This is so warm and soft. I love it!”

“Go on, open the next one,” he urged her. Inside was a cooking set, complete with pots and pans, realistic looking food and even pastries. “To remind you of your trip,” he told her and she excitedly lined everything up on the sofa.

“One more,” he told her. This was a small box and her tiny fingers picked at the ribbon that held it closed. When she opened the lid, her lips formed an O as she removed a beautiful pendant necklace and matching bracelet. They were made of small, but excellent quality emeralds.

“Oh, my, Uncle Chris, it’s very pretty. I will take very good care of them,” she told him, giving him a hug and turning back to the cookware.

I got up and pulled out my box for her. “See what’s in here,” I told her. When she opened the tissue to reveal the doll she’d found in Paris, she squealed and ran across the room, hugging me and pressing the doll against me to hug as well. She was the most precious child I’d ever met.

I gave Chris his presents and he admired the sweater and then disappeared into the bedroom and emerged wearing the lederhosen. Marga laughed and laughed and although I knew he was clowning around, I had to admit his legs turned me on.

“Okay, time for bed,” he told Marga, who protested loudly but settled down when she was told she could take the doll to bed with her.

“Goodnight, Lillie,” she hugged me. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcomed, sweetheart.”

She stopped mid-stride, a shadow crossing her face. “Uncle Chris, would it be okay if Lillie put me to bed?”

He looked surprised but nodded and looked to me.

“I’d love to,” I answered and took her by the hand. She led me into her room and closed the door behind us. Holding up a finger to be quiet, she motioned me over to her bed. “What is it, Marga? Is something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No, Lillie, but I have to tell somebody. It’s just not right to keep it a secret any more.”

My heart sank, wondering what she knew. “What is it, darling? What’s wrong?”

“I want somebody to know…but…I know there’s no such thing as Santa Claus.”

I almost choked with relief. “No?”

“Oh, no, I’ve known that for a long time.”

“Then why did you ask Uncle Chris about Santa?”

She shrugged and whispered, “It seems to mean a lot to him. You know, he doesn’t have any kids and I think maybe he likes to have me around at Christmas. I didn’t want to make him feel bad. I don’t want him to know I’m growing up. It will make him sad.”

“Oh, sweetie, your uncle loves you and he knows you’re growing up. He’s very proud of who you are, and I think if you told him about Santa, he would take it very well.”

“You think?”

“Yes, I do.” She seemed satisfied and crawled beneath her featherbed and wriggled in with contentment.

After she’d gone to bed, Chris took me by the hand and led me into the bedroom. He pulled off the leather pants and slid into some soft knit sport pants. He unzipped my dress and hung it up for me, pulling my slip over my head. I stood there, naked and shivering when he bent low and pulled a huge box from beneath the bed. “Merry Christmas, Lillie,” he said and helped me open the box. Inside was the most gorgeous oriental silk robe. It felt extremely sensual against my skin. The colors were those of a peacock and it set off my hair and complexion perfectly. I wriggled in it and thrust my hands into the pockets to model it for him. There was something in the pocket. I reached and pulled out a box, slender and in black velvet.

“Oh, my,” I said, afraid to open it.

“Go on.”

I stood there, my hand shaking. Chris took the box from me and opened it, extracting a breathtaking yellow and white diamond bracelet. He wrapped it around my wrist and fastened it.

“Oh Chris, you shouldn’t have done this – it’s too much.”

“I wanted to, and you deserve it.”

“You are so good to me,” I told him as I hugged his broad chest.

“No more than you are to me, sweet angel.”

Chris lifted me up and held me against himself, kissing me before he finally laid me down on the featherbed and made slow and sensual love to me. It was a Christmas I would never forget.