Page 37 of Safer Together
I know deep down she would eventually ask that question “Elliot goes out of town a lot for business. When you’re next coming to town, let me know and I’ll ask him to check his schedule.” I don’t need to mention that his home town isn’t the same as mine.
“Okay love, that sounds fine. Have you received your Christmas present as yet?”
I can sense her excitement through the phone, I did pick up their card before I left and threw it into my bag to open tomorrow morning, “I already opened my earrings that you had delivered to the office a few days ago, they are lovely Mom. Thank you.” Taking a breath, I continue, “I received your card on Thursday.”
“Oh sweetheart, I’m glad you liked the diamonds. When I saw them, I just knew they would look perfect on you. As for the card, open it then, while I have you on the phone. We want to know if you like it.”
I can hear her calling out to my father in the background, I retrieve the envelope from my bag and open it. “Okay, I’ll open it now.” I pull the card out from within. Rudolph the reindeer is the main attraction with a glittery red nose. I open it and out falls a small rectangular piece of paper. I turn it over in my hands and see it was a check for the amount of $20,000. I almost choke.
“Is dad there with you?” I ask.
“Of course, he is. Do you want me to put him on?”
“It’s okay, just tell him thank you, thank you to both of you. It’s too much but it will come in handy.” I pause before continuing, “Merry Christmas, Mom. I love you both.”
I heard my mother sigh “We love you too, baby girl, very, very much.” I can hear my father call out that he loves me too.
“Okay then, I’ll let you go to get ready for your boyfriend. Elliot is a nice name, you know, a strong name.”
“I know it is, Mom. He is wonderful. Have fun on your cruise. Bye.”
“Bye, darling,” and then the phone clicks off. I pull my phone away from my ear and look at it for a moment, and then away to look at my Christmas gift from my parents. $20,000 isn’t a lot of money to them, but to me that is approximately twelve months mortgage. I replace the check safely into the card and into the supported pocket of my traveling bag.
I lie down on the bed for a moment to think about my parents, and Mother’s request to meet Elliot. I want them to meet him, and while it will be nice to introduce him to them, I didn’t want to commit Elliot to anything that could jeopardize our relationship this early on. My mother is overly emotional and tends to get carried away. I wouldn’t put it past her mentioning weddings and babies at the first possible opportunity. I have to put this off until I know that Elliot and I are in a solid place, more solid then where we are now in our early loved-up phase. Solid enough that my mother’s overbearingness won’t drive him away.
I hear a knock at the door and looking down at my watch I realize I have been away for nearly an hour. I jump off the bed and run to the front door, flinging it open, Elliot is standing there with his fist up open to knock again, he drops it as soon as he sees me. “I thought you might have decided to stay here instead of coming back over,” he states.
“Sorry, I lost track of time. My parents called, and we spoke for a while.” Simple explanation.
“No need to apologize, babe. How are your parents?”
He seems genuinely interested so I answer, “They are fine, currently on a cruise ship heading for Sydney, in Australia. I’ll just grab your gift and we can head back.” I turn to pick up his parcel, the photo frame, and return to where he is still standing.
“Sydney is a beautiful spot. I hope they get time to go on land and check it out. The Sydney Opera House is a marvel of architecture,” I nod. Knowing my father, he would love to see it.
“I’m sure Dad will want to see that. He has a love for architecture, too”,
“A man after my own heart. I daresay we will get on famously,” Elliot voices.
“Hey, that heart is taken!” I exclaim.
“It sure is, my love.” Bending, he kisses me on the cheek.
Once he has stepped back, he holds up a small white package wrapped with red ribbon, “I brought yours over, in case we were opening here.” He is leaving the decision up to me.
“Let’s go back to the big house and sit in front of the fireplace.” I reach out to take his hand and close the front door and lead him back to his main house.
Once we are back in his living room, I make my way to stand in front of the fireplace and I begin to relax. “Merry Christmas, Elliot.” I hold out my present towards him, his eyes are open wide. He reaches out with his right hand to accept it, once it is within his grasp, he brings it back towards his chest, he lifts it to his ear and gives it a small shake. A small laugh escapes me; at this very moment he has the mannerisms of a small boy. His grin grows larger at my laughter.
“It doesn’t rattle, so it’s not chocolates.” I shake my head, confirming his statement. He brings it down between his two hands and slips a finger underneath the long edge and pulls it up. With another quick rip he has revealed his gift. He turns it over and looks at it. I can’t tell what he is thinking as his expression gives nothing away. I see his thumb move over the engraving.
I don’t know how much longer I can stand this silence. Does he like it? Maybe it is less than what he was expecting? He looks up at that moment. “This will live on my bedside table when I am home and on my desk when I am at work.” I can feel a grin spreading across my features. He places the photo frame on the mantelpiece and when he is assured it won’t fall, he steps toward me and kisses me, lifting me off the ground while doing so. Once our lips leave each other’s, he speaks again. “I love it Angie, and I love you.” I crush his lips with my own in that moment, he has said it again.
He is the one to break the kiss this time. He pulls out of his pocket the same white and red gift-wrapped box he had shown me earlier. “Merry Christmas, Baby.” He offers me his gift in his outstretched hand, I take it from him and in copying his movements from earlier shake it gently. I bring it down in front of my face where I can see the writing on the ribbon, Cartier. Sheesh, it is jewelry. I thank the lord above that the size of this box is larger than that of a ring. I untie the ribbon and let it slide to the floor, I then peel off the white paper that reveals a red box, it opens at the center into two pieces. Inside on a crushed velvet bed is a white gold cross with eleven diamonds on a thin chain. It is exquisite.
I feel a breath catch in my throat before I feel Elliot’s touch on my hands as I look up at him, his face is completely blank. “This is.…” I can’t finish. How can I tell him that this is perfect other than saying those exact words? “Absolutely perfect,” I finish.
“Oh, thank god. I know how you feel about me spending money on you but when I saw this, I instantly thought of you.” He reaches out to take the necklace from the box. “May I?” he asks.
