This chapter picks up with Rick and Cassie making their final preparations for their first Christmas together. Thank you to everyone who's read so far or left comments for me. Please practice safe sex unlike my fictional characters. As always, I ask that you forgive me for any typos or other errors I missed when editing the story. I'd love to hear your comments at the end, good or bad. Last but not least I hope you enjoy this chapter if you take the time to read it.
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Cassie was wearing her Rudolph apron and singing along with the Christmas music we had playing as she baked cookies for the kids Christmas party tomorrow afternoon. Looking especially beautiful, even for her, she danced by stirring a bowl of cookie batter and paused to kiss me on the top of the head. It was just two days before Christmas and she was in a joyous holiday mood, which isn't much different from her normal mood in truth. We'd already attended my office Christmas party and the one for the staff at the hospital and got our artificial tree set up last week. All my shopping was done, though I'd never rule out getting one more gift for my beloved wife. The guy who normally played Santa for the kids had to pull out at the last minute with a nasty cold so I'd been promoted to the honored position for tomorrow's party. Everything was just about perfect. The phone rang as the last thought ran through my mind and I had a foreboding feeling that things were about to change.
"Could you get that please?" she asked.
"Sure sweetie," I said setting down the icing bag I'd been using to decorate the first batch of cookies. "It's for you," I said bringing the ringing cordless receiver to her.
"My parents," she said in a certain voice. If it had been anyone else I would have answered and said hello. "Hello?" she said releasing her spoon for now and turning around to lean against the sink. "Hi mom," she said in a cheerful voice. "Oh not a whole lot, just making some cookies for the party at the hospital tomorrow. No, no this one is for the kids. Rick gets to play Santa this year," she said with a smile full of love towards me. "Don't worry we've got some old pillows to stuff under his coat to help him look the part. I already told you I'm working Christmas Day. We're both off Boxing Day and the two days after. No! I said no mom! Are you crazy? How many times do I need to tell you I'm not bringing Rick home again unless dad invites us himself? Well put him on the phone then. Hi dad," she said in voice tinged with sadness. Her conversations with her father rarely ended well since he had discovered me. "I know mom just mentioned it to me I wanted to hear what you thought. So you want us to come too? Not just me but... he has a name dad. Are you going to be nice to him? I'll hold you to that promise. We left the last time and we'll leave again if we have to. Okay we'll see you then, I love you too," she said her voice cracking at the end as she hung up.
"It'll be okay," I said in an assuring voice as I stepped close to hug her. "Where's that beautiful Christmas smile? There it is," I said kissing her soft, tasty lips.
"I told them we'd come to dinner on Boxing Day but I won't make you go," she said in a soft voice.
"I'd love to go," I told her.
"There won't be anyone else there, just you, me, and my parents. My brothers will be home on Christmas Day and off visiting their in-laws the next day," she explained.
"Just us?" I said in a less committed voice. "That's fine with me sweetie. It gives me more time to get to know your parents, especially your dad."
"You're unreal," she said laughing before giving me a passionate kiss.
"We have cookies to finish," I reminded her when our lips parted.
"Let's hurry up and finish them," she said with one more kiss for now.
The happy mood that had filled the apartment was subdued now. I knew Cassie was already dreading that visit to her parent's house the day after Christmas. Knowing we'd be alone with them made me feel that much more nervous too. At least with her brothers there I had someone to talk to who would try to smooth things between Mr. Dumont and I. He'd invited us himself this time at least, though only because his wife and daughter forced him. Regardless of what happened Cassie and I were going to have a wonderful first Christmas together and there was nothing he could do to ruin our celebration on Christmas Day.
Seeking to rekindle the upbeat atmosphere their phone call had evaporated, I took Cassie's hand in mine and asked her to dance when the second batch of cookies went into the oven. She didn't say a word she just started to dance and smiled that beautiful Christmas smile at me. I didn't need to speak either; she could see how much I loved her by looking into my eyes. Holding her in my arms as we moved to the Christmas carols, I quickly lost track of time and was disappointed when the timer for the cookies sounded.
Cassie took them out to cool before we started decorating them and was ready for more dancing immediately. I turned the kettle on, explaining it was for a cup of hot cocoa, before accepting her back into my arms to share a kiss. The next song started and she guided me out of tiny kitchen and into the living room where we had more room to dance. I made a mental note that we needed a kitchen big enough to dance in when it came time to build our dream home, adding it to the long list of things I wanted it to have. We had barely started dancing to our second song when the whistling of the kettle called us back to the kitchen. Cassie brought the cookies to the table and started to decorate them as I poured each of us a big mug of cocoa. She smiled up at me when I brought it to her, just like the day we met.
After decorating the cookies and carefully arranging them in containers, we headed to the living room. I would have liked to dance some more but it was time for an important holiday tradition. Cassie sat close to me on the love seat and turned on the TV. There were just a few minutes before How the Grinch Stole Christmas started. Cassie never missed it and neither did I. At first she thought I was just saying that I watched it every Christmas but it was true. I assured her that this was one holiday tradition we'd been sharing since we were kids. Wrapping my right arm around her shoulders, I held her hand with my left and enjoyed the best Christmas special there is with the most amazing woman I could imagine, my sweet Canadian girl.
"The Grinch gets better every year. It never fails to make me happy," she said smiling at me when it was over.
"When aren't you happy?" I asked.
