Page 12 of Amy's Santa

I know we don’t have the relationship where we exchange gifts, but I couldn’t resist buying something for her, something appropriate for a friend to give. Crossing the room, I reach over into the bag and retrieve the box wrapped in shiny gold paper. Returning to the bed, I hand it to her.

I hope she doesn’t feel awkward receiving something from me, it’s only a small trinket compared with what I could afford to purchase, but she gives an impish grin, reaches into her purse lying on the floor beside her, and brings out a small box which she passes to me.

Thank fuck I had something for her.It had been touch and go whether I’d buy anything at all.

“You first.”

“No, you.”

I grin. “Together,” I compromise. But though I tear off the paper, I’m watching her as she opens the gift I’ve given to her. Silver, not gold, so it’s not over the top, but it’s a chain with a pendant.

“It’s beautiful,” she says.

“The charm is a Hamsa,” I tell her. “At the top is the all-seeing eye. It has various meanings in different parts of the world, but represents inner strength, protection, and good luck. It’s always supposed to warn the wearer of evil.”

“Too late,” she replies, with a tear in her eye.

Reaching out, I touch her hand lightly, knowing I don’t want her crying today. “Never too late. You survived.”

“Did I?”

“Yes,” I say firmly. Then I start to open her gift to me. It’s thoughtful, but as mine was, not over the top so its meaning can’t be misconstrued. I might be a top surgeon, but when not operating, I wear an earring in one ear. She’s given me a new silver stud in the shape of a skull.

“I love it,” I tell her. And I do.

“Thought you’d like it as an act of rebellion.”

“I’ll wear it in staff meetings,” I promise her. “It will go down well along with me saying I spent Christmas with an outlaw MC.”

She giggles. It’s a great sound and I have to force myself to refrain from kissing her. Picking up my bag, I indicate the bathroom. “Just going to get freshened up. Or do you…?”

“You go first. I’ll doze for a while.”

When I’m showered and dressed, I notice she’s sitting up examining the necklace I bought her. I smile. Seems like I’ve chosen right.

“Want me to put it on for you?”

In reply, she lifts her hair, giving me access to her slender neck. I fasten the clasp for her, seeing it drape beautifully above the rise of her chest.

While she’s in the bathroom getting ready, I replace the stud in my ear, grinning a little. It’s hard to tell what it is unless you’re up close.

“I was going to buy you a heart, but thought that would be a bit girly.”

“It’s perfect,” I tell her. “It will remind me of this walk on the wild side.” Not that I’ve seen anything worse than bikers getting drunk and noisy up to now, ah, mustn’t forget seeing them in action late last night. I think it’s best I don’t let on what I saw, so nodding toward the door, ask, “You ready to face everyone?”

Her teeth worry her lip. “Not really. But I’ll try.”

I draw in air and let it out in an exasperated sigh. Not at her, but at what’s made her like this. “You’ll be fine. They’re your family. No one here is going to hurt you, you know that.”

“I’m strong. I can do this. I can survive.” She repeats the mantra I’ve made her learn.

“Too damn right.”

“Just get today over with, then I can go home.”

I press my lips together. Yeah, she can escape, but go back to half a life? I really don’t want that for her. But she has made steps forward, I remind myself. Though it might not seem like it to her, she’s not the complete mess she’d been three months before. That Amy wouldn’t even step out of her apartment.

The clubhouse is full of delicious breakfast smells. Amy seems to follow the aroma of bacon, and we make our way across the room slowly exchanging Christmas greetings along the way. Amy gets approached by everyone, she’s seems fine when the women give hugs, relaxed with her father. Then Zane, I think it is, puts his arm around her briefly and she goes tense. When she starts to pale I step up, pulling her into my side and away from an exuberant kid in his early twenties. I can feel her violently trembling, so guide her quickly through the kitchen and on outside to the backyard.

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