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Reaching past her, I pull out the one with the fireplace and flashing lights and hold it up to her. “I think this one brings out the green in your eyes, and the lights will show up extra well when you’re on stage tonight singing.”
“You’re evil,” she says, glowering at me.
“You started it. If I have to wear one, you do, too. After all, the fair’s fair.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have gone down this road,” she says haltingly.
“Oh, but you did,” I remind her with a self-satisfied smirk.
After we purchase the sweaters, Ivy and I stop at one of the crafts workshops. This one is decorating wooden picture frames. “This one seems appropriate. What do you say?”
She smiles up at me. “Perfect. We can put our picture we took in front of the tree in it.”
I like the sound of that. My penthouse is on its way to becoming a home.
We pick out a frame, and the instructor shows us how to glue on the various pieces and paint them. Ivy chooses to do the frame in an evergreen and ribbon design. I’m really more of just a sideline observer along for moral support. I know who has real talent, and I don’t want to mess it up.
Later, we stroll through the park holding hands. As we walk along, I watch the people milling about. There are couples…families…children running to and from. For the first time since Carol, I am no longer just a spectator. Watching the families and lovers during Christmas has always left me painfully aware of what I’ve been missing. This time, I’m happily aware of what I have.
“What are you thinking?” Ivy asks from beside me, eying me curiously. “You look deep in thought.”
Placing my arm around her shoulder, I pull her close against my side. “I was thinking that this year, instead of wanting to ignore Christmas and just get through it, I’m finally able to embrace it.” I look down at her. “And it’s all because of you.” I place a light kiss on her lips. “You’ve made all the difference.”
Her emerald eyes shimmer with happy tears. “You’ve been that for me, too.”
In quiet harmony, we continue walking together. As we start to leave the park, snow begins to lightly fall, adding to the wonder of the day.
***
“You know, we could just stay home and watch a marathon of Christmas movies instead,” I call out from the bedroom as I tug the ugly sweater over my head.
“Nice try!” Ivy yells back. “You owe me a song and a picture for posterity!”
I’ve got to stop letting her get pictures of me in compromising positions. “I think you need to leave your camera at home!”
“My camera goes everywhere with me,” Ivy says as she enters the bedroom. “You know that.”
She’s still wrapped in her towel from her shower…our shower. I may have gotten to unwrap an early Christmas present. I’m really tempted to unwrap a second one.
Seeing my look, Ivy holds up her hand. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” I ask, holding my hands up innocently.
Ivy rolls her eyes at me. “Like you don’t know.”
Tossing her sweater to her, I play dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I know is I can’t wait to go out in public with you inthis sweaterand sing you a horribly cheesy Christmas song.” I pat her on the rear end. “Get busy. We’ve got places to go and things to do, Miss Ivy!”
The pub is packed when we get there, everyone decked out in their best ugly sweaters. “And here I was thinking I wouldn’t fit in,” I say to Ivy as the hostess leads us to our table. A man walks by me with a sweatshirt that leaves me wanting brain bleach to unsee it. I pet the reindeer antlers on my sweater. “Sorry you had to see that, Rudy.”
Ivy giggles as she sits down. “Are you talking to your reindeer?”
I tap his flashing nose. “Rudy and I are becoming good friends.”
Ivy shakes her head. “You certainly are embracing the ugly sweater tradition. I think I may have created a Christmas monster!”
After we eat, the singing starts. Ivy takes to the stage to singSanta Baby. Even in an ugly Christmas sweater, she still pulls off the flirty song and makes it sexy. She has a sultry voice that has a slight rasp to it. Damn! She is an endless pool of talents.
“Do you have anything you’renotgood at?” I ask as she sits down.
