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“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this bounty set before us. Bless us this day as we celebrate your Son’s birth. Amen.” His father finished the simple prayer, and they began to eat.
Simon was surprised during the meal as Ellen conversed with his parents with what seemed to be a newfound ease. She even had a few kind words for him.
They all retired to the drawing room when the meal was over, where a cheery fire was burning. They sat around the hearth, and the maids poured hot cups of cider or tea. Simon settled on the couch opposite the hearth with a cup of cider, and Ellen joined him a moment later. For once, he did not feel as if she was tense around him.
“Well, shall we?” his father asked, pulling a small gilded box from his jacket pocket. He handed it to his mother, who placed a hand over her chest as she took the gift. “You always do spoil me, Charles,” she said.
Simon looked at Ellen and took the small box out of his jacket pocket. He tapped her arm, and she glanced up at his face, then down at the gift he handed her. Her eyes widened. “For me?”
He gave a short laugh. “Of course,” he replied.
She floundered for a moment. “I did not bring my gifts with me. Shall I go and fetch them?” she asked, starting to rise.
“Perhaps your maid would not mind going to fetch them?” he asked.
Ellen looked over her shoulder at her lady’s maid, and she went off to retrieve the gifts at a nod from her mistress. “Forgive me. I should have thought to bring them down before breakfast,” she whispered.
“Nonsense. Open yours now,” Simon said.
Ellen nodded, looking a little nervous. “I’ll wait for your mother,” she said. They turned their attention to his parents. His mother opened the long rectangular golden box and gasped when a beautiful pearl necklace was revealed.
“Oh, Charles! You should not have—”
“But I did,” his father beamed. “Turn around, my darling,” he said. His mother turned and allowed him to clasp the necklace around her throat.
“I love it,” his mother said, touching the pearls.
Simon sighed inwardly. Perhaps someday, he and Ellen would have the same kind of closeness. A few seconds later, Ellen’s maid appeared, and Ellen stood with some excitement in her step. “Here you are, Lord Grant…” she said and handed his father a small package.
“Please, Father—or even Papa, if you are comfortable,” he said. Ellen smiled at him.
“Very well, Father. And Mother, this is for you,” Ellen said, handing his mother a long, flat, circular package.
She returned and sat beside him, handing him a small square package.
“This is for you,” she said with an embarrassed grin. He took it from her, their fingertips brushing. She turned her attention to his parents, who opened their packages at the same time. His father was pleased to see a new ivory pipe.
His mother gasped when she opened her gift and turned it around. It was a round embroidery piece with red poinsettia flowers, greenery and roses surrounding the words “Christmas Blessings.”
“Thank you, my dear. This was so thoughtful,” his mother said, thanking her.
“Yes, very thoughtful indeed,” his father agreed, testing his new pipe between his lips.
“You are very welcome,” she replied. She then turned to him and motioned that he should open his. “I was not sure what to get you.”
He opened the package to see a velvet-covered box. He lifted the lid and saw a pair of gold cufflinks shining against the velvet lining. He was surprised by her gift. In all honesty, he had not expected anything from her. He looked at her, genuinely touched. “They are beautiful. Thank you,” he said.
“You are welcome,” she replied. “I was not sure if you would like them,” she said again, embarrassed by the gift. He took her hand.
“I love them, really,” he said. She lowered her gaze, returning his smile. “Your turn,” he prompted. His heart began to race as she took her hand out of his and opened the gift. When she lifted the lid, a small gasp escaped her lips. She sat very still for a long while, staring at the locket. For a moment, he wondered if it was because she did not like it.
“How beautiful,” his mother breathed, leaning forward to look at the gift. This seemed to bring Ellen out of her trance. She looked over at him, and he saw tears in her eyes.
“It is beautiful,” she said. “Thank you, Simon.”
His name sounded like heaven rolling off her lips. He nodded. “It is empty now, but I thought perhaps you could put silhouettes of our children in it, God willing.”
The words slipped out before he had a chance to catch himself. Heat filled his face, and he wished he could disappear into the couch. “Or whatever you want to put in there is up to you, of course,” he said, clumsily shifting the conversation. She took the locket out of the velvet box, taking a closer look. She brushed her fingertips over the delicate gold filigree on the front.
