A Very Special Christmas

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS

©2024 Smuttyandfun All Rights Reserved

This is for the

2024 Winter Holidays Contest

. As always, your votes and comments are much appreciated.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Just so you know, this is a bit of slow burn, but they do get there eventually.

GILLIAN

I was walking into my boss Hayden's office carrying our morning coffee and I couldn't help but smile at the naughty twinkle in his eye, wondering what he was up to.

"I just got a reminder about the company Christmas party next Saturday. And I wondered if you were planning to go," he asked, then waited, looking a little uncertain. Which was odd for him, because he was always so in control and never faltered.

"Well, since I don't have a date, I was thinking I might go with a few of the other girls who are going solo."

"Or... we could go together."

That surprised me, since I assumed he'd be taking one of the gorgeous women who seemed to be always wandering in and out of his life. Like the tall, rake thin brunette he'd been seeing a few weeks ago. "You don't have a date?" I asked, just to be sure.

"No." He shook his head, with a hint of a smile.

"Okay, sure," I agreed, with a shrug. "I guess we could go together."

"Good. Now that that's settled, we should probably take a look at next year's budget."

Whenever we worked together, Hayden always walked around his desk and grabbed a chair, because he liked me sitting beside him so we were looking at the same screen. To be honest, I loved working close with him. Whatever he was wearing, he always smelled so enticing, that I'd secretly take little whiffs of him while we worked. And I'd often think up a few naughty thoughts, too.

Sometimes, when he was concentrating on something on the screen, I'd study his profile. He really was a good-looking man with his long-lashed blue eyes, high cheek bones, strong jaw, nice straight nose and sinfully sexy mouth.

Though I knew he was out of my league, the idea of going to the company party as his date still felt kind of exciting.

As the day wore on, my stomach began to growl, and I noticed from the time on the screen that it was getting late. I guess picking up on the noise my poor empty stomach was making, Hayden smiled and suggested, "I was going to order some dinner, if you'd like to join me."

"Sure, if you're getting something for yourself." We often worked through lunch, but we rarely stayed late enough to have dinner together.

Not that I minded. It wasn't like I had anyone waiting for me at home, since my last boyfriend had moved to London just over a year ago.

When Hayden brought up a menu on his monitor, I was a little surprised that he was planning to order our dinner from a five-star restaurant. While I was assuming we'd be having something simple, like a burger.

While I was absorbing that, he gestured at the choices on the screen. "Pick out whatever you'd like Gillian, and I'll order some wine to go with it."

Ooh, wine with dinner. If we hadn't been busy crunching numbers all night, it would almost feel like a date.

Once I clicked on a chicken and mushroom dish, he ordered the rest.

When Hayden noticed me sitting back, wincing and stretching my neck, he nodded at his desk. "Why don't you put your head down, and I'll try and get the kinks out for you."

"Ooh, that feels good," I said once he started working his thumbs into my stiff neck and shoulder muscles, till the tension slowly began to ease.

Like always, I felt a little shiver go through me when he let his hands slide into my hair and began to massage my scalp.

"How does that feel, better?"

"Hmmm, yes. It feels amazing." It just felt so relaxing, I was glad we were friendly enough to do something like this for each other, since I'd massaged his neck for him a few times, too.

I was feeling so blissed out after he'd worked his magic on me, I almost hated to sit up.

But then my cell phone rang.

Once I checked and saw who it was, I said, "Sorry, I've got to take this."

I hurried out to my desk in the outer office, sat down in my chair, and took a deep breath before I took the call from my sister. I felt a little guilty, since I was the one who usually called to check in on her. And now I was worried, wondering why she was calling me.

"Hey, how are you feeling tonight, kiddo?" I asked, hoping that nothing was wrong.

Though she was trying to be brave, and claimed that she was doing okay, I could tell from the sound of her voice, she was fading. Which broke my heart. She was still so young, only thirty-two. It just seemed so unfair that she'd be gone soon, leaving her three children behind.

"Is there anything you need, Cara? I was thinking if you wanted, I could come and stay for a few days and help out with the kids."

"No, it's okay. I'm still managing. And I think I'll be around for a while yet."

We talked for a bit, mostly about how her children were handling her illness, and how they were being fairly quiet about Christmas and hadn't even asked for anything from Santa. As young as they were, I'm sure they knew that they weren't going to have their mother for much longer.

After we hung up, I had to compose myself and wipe my eyes and blow my nose, before I could head back into his office.

"Everything okay?" he asked, I guess noticing my eyes and nose looked a little red.

"Just family stuff," I said, trying to brush it off, since I didn't want to involve him in what was going on with my sister and her young family.

Hayden often remarked that he liked that I was able to put everything else aside when we were working, especially on anything important. And now that we had a budget to confirm for next year, and a convention coming up in a few weeks, no way was I going to tell him that I wanted to scream at the sky and ask why my sister, who had never hurt a soul in her life, was going to be taken, leaving her three children without their mother.

Thankfully, I managed to pull myself together by the time our dinner arrived. Though Hayden kept watching me as we ate, I never let on that inside I was a mess, and I wanted to cry my heart out.

I'd decided then that I would make a point of phoning my sister every night to check in. And thankfully, whenever I called, she seemed to be doing fine and promised if anything changed, she'd let me know.

I laughed when she told me that I didn't need to phone all the time to check on her, and once a week would be enough to keep in touch.

It helped to put my mind at ease to know that she was doing well enough to tease me.

**

"So, I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow?" Hayden suggested, Friday, the night before the company Christmas party.

"Sure. I'll be waiting in the lobby, so you won't have to get out of your car."

Next night, of course, Hayden did get out of his car to hold the passenger door open for me, on his sleek black Jaguar. I loved the way he smiled and said, "Wow. Somebody looks gorgeous."

I grinned right back at him in his stylish black suit and tie, and teased him back. "I'd say so."

Of course, I thought he looked great no matter what he was wearing. The man could rock a pair of jeans and t-shirt, like no one else I knew. Though he looked extra hot tonight in his fitted suit, crisp white shirt and dark silk tie. With his thick, dark hair freshly styled, I had such an urge to run my fingers through it, it was silly. Though we weren't dating or anything, and I knew it wouldn't be long till the next lady came into his life; I was still tempted.

We had just got on the highway and Hayden looked over at me and gave me a knowing smile as he turned up the heat, probably because he noticed that I was only wearing a sheer black lace wrap to go with my new low-cut 'little black dress' and my bright red, 'come do me heels.'

"It's only the first of December and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas," I remarked, thinking everything looked so festive as we pulled up in front of the hotel, all lit up with little fairy lights, along with two beautifully decorated Christmas trees on either side of the entrance.

I noticed a little buzz going around the room as Hayden and I walked into the sparkling winter white ballroom together. Though we weren't walking in arm in arm or holding hands or anything, everyone must have realized that we'd come as each other's date. Though we both knew that we were nothing more than friends, who happened to work together.

HAYDEN

I had been dying to ask my gorgeous young assistant out, pretty much from the first day she started working with me, about a year ago.

Now I'd finally found the perfect opportunity. I thought the company Christmas party was a good excuse for us to be out together enjoying ourselves, without the pressure of an actual date.

As the band struck up, and the singer began crooning, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," all I could think of was how good it was going to feel to hold her in my arms, once we started dancing.

When we got to our table, my VP of sales, John Harris, sitting beside us with his wife Gloria, gave me a sly little smile. I guess happy for me that I'd finally found a way to ask her out. Since I imagined he'd guessed by now that I was more than a little smitten with my pretty young assistant.

Thing was, since we'd been working together, I realized there was so much more to her than just her looks. Though she had to be the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, with her long, reddish blonde hair, captivating blue eyes and tight little body. She was just so bright and funny and so incredibly sweet, I often wished we were closer in age. With me staring down my fortieth birthday in a couple months, and her only twenty-four, I knew she'd never be interested in anyone who was almost old enough to be her father.

I also had a feeling, as well as we got along, that Gillian would never consider having a relationship with the man she worked with every day. Although, the way she'd been smiling at me tonight, gave me a sliver of hope that she might be interested, too.

Dinner was good, but the conversation was even better. John had us all laughing, regaling us with some of the things his grandkids had been getting up to. He confessed he had a hard time keeping a straight face, when he found his three-year old granddaughter trying to diaper their patient old border collie, since she herself still needed a diaper at bedtime. He said she sounded so cute as she explained what she was doing. "I'm gonna put a diaper on Bailey, so he won't wet the bed. Then he just needs a bottle to go to sleep."

He seemed pretty happy that his son and his family had bought a house nearby, so he could see them more often, and have the fun of enjoying his three little grandkids and all their antics.

I noticed John got a little emotional when he was telling us how proud he was of his seven-year-old grandson, when he had shown him all the little gifts he'd bought for his family for Christmas, with the money he'd earned throughout the year doing chores. "There's nothing like grandkids to warm an old man's heart," he said, smiling at this wife, who was quietly nodding and looking a little misty-eyed, as she reached for his hand.

Which had me thinking again how I'd always wished that I'd had kids of my own. But unfortunately, I realized it might be a little too late. I'd come to accept the fact, as much as I would have enjoyed the fun of raising a family, that I'd probably never be a father.

Just then, we all turned our heads and looked over at the stage when a pretty darkhaired singer took the mic, as the band began a slow sultry version of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.'

John smiled at his wife and said, "Sounds like they're playing our song, honey." He gave us a wink as they headed out to join the others circling the dancefloor.

Not sure what she'd think, when I asked Gillian if she'd like to dance, when she just smiled into my eyes and took my hand, I was glad I got up the courage to ask, as we followed them onto the floor.

As we swayed together to the romantic ballad, with her tucked in close, I couldn't help but wonder how good it would feel if we were to get even closer, and maybe even share a bed. Though just being able to hold her felt like a dream come true.

We danced for two more songs, and we both laughed and shook our heads, deciding it was time to sit down when the band began belting out a loud, jazzy rendition of, "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." Though I noticed most of our younger employees looked pretty excited, laughing as they rushed up to dance.

Back at our table, I pulled out Gillian's chair for her, and offered to get us something to drink. As I was headed over to the bar, I nodded to a few of her friends who were wandering over to our table to say hello.

GILLIAN

My friend Jenny had barely sat down and she wiggled her eyebrows and laughed. "Way to go, girlfriend, hooking up with the boss."

I rolled my eyes and explained, "Neither of us had a date tonight, so we agreed to come together, but we are not hooking up."

Karrie laughed and gave me an elbow. "The night's still young, so you never know. A lot of people have booked rooms upstairs, so it could happen."

"Well, we're not getting a room," I said. Though the idea of heading upstairs to spend the night with Hayden was enough to fill my head with all kinds of naughty thoughts. Like how much fun it would be to see the expression on his face if I started peeling him out of his suit before I pushed him onto his back on the bed.

Jenny sighed, gazing over at Hayden chatting with John at the bar. "Well, he wouldn't have to twist my arm. All he'd have to do is crook a finger, and I'd follow him anywhere, and do anything he asked me to. So, if I were in your shoes, if he asks, I'd just say, yes!"

I looked over and smiled, as I watched him laughing with a few of the other execs. Though I knew this was just a one-time thing, it was still fun to dream, imagining how exciting it would be if he decided to whisk me upstairs for a night of steamy fun.

"Oh, here he comes, we'd better go," Jenny said, scrambling to her feet, as we watched him approaching with our drinks. Before she left, she leaned and whispered, "Have fun! And don't even try to behave!"

I was still laughing at my friends, when Hayden took his seat beside me, and asked, "What's so funny?"

"Oh, just the girls being silly," I said, watching them grin and wave from their table as they sat down to watch us.

Maybe because of what they'd said, when Hayden drove me home at the end of the night, after he'd walked me to the door of my building, I think I surprised him when I pushed up on my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, pressed my lips to his, gave him a quick kiss, and said, "Thanks for a fun night, Hayden. Sleep tight."

**

Since I had some time off for the holidays, I had planned to rent a van and spend Christmas with my sister and her family, so I could take the kids off her hands. But just over two weeks before Christmas, when her lawyer phoned to tell me that she was gone, I dropped onto the couch and cried so hard, I couldn't catch my breath.

The lawyer waited till I'd stopped sobbing to tell me that my sister had already been cremated, as per her instructions, and she had been placed with her late husband.

Which meant that the children had to be picked up, since my sister had left the three of them to me. Of course, when she asked me if I'd take them, I said, "Cara, of course I'll take them. You don't even have to ask."

Although she had told me that she never wanted a funeral, and didn't want a fuss made after she was gone, it still felt odd that nothing was done to mourn her passing. But one day soon, I planned to drive out to the cemetery, and place some flowers on their grave and say a prayer for both of them.

But right now, I had to pull myself together and go and get the kids. Though I started to feel a little panicky as I looked around my tiny condo, wondering how the four of us would fit, especially since they'd been raised in a nice-sized home.

And though we'd spent lots of time together, I'd never really had to care for them on my own. But since I was all that they had now, with my parents both gone, and their father dying not long after the twins were born, and with my sister now gone, I knew I had to get my head on straight and figure out how I was going to raise three kids, while trying to keep my job.

First thing I did was call Hayden to tell him I'd be off for a few days. He sounded worried, when he asked, "Gillian, what's wrong? You sound upset."

Trying to keep my voice steady, not quite ready to explain, I just said, "I'll tell you later." I knew if I had to tell him that I'd just lost my sister, I'd never be able to stop crying. And I had so much to do, I didn't have time to dissolve into a puddle, especially knowing the kids were waiting for me.

As soon as I hung up, I sat up straight, wiped my eyes and told myself that I had to get my ass in gear and go get the kids and bring them home and get them settled. Though that might be the easy part, since the hardest thing I had to do was figure out how I was going to parent them, and raise them the way my sister would have wanted them raised.

Whenever we'd spent time together, it was always something fun. I'd taken them to the county fair, the circus, and to see a few movies and a play. Now I had to worry about doing a lot more than just entertaining them, I'd actually have to care for their every need.

I was half-way to my sister's place when I realized I'd left my phone at home, probably on the couch.

Thankfully, I'd already called Hayden, so for now, I wasn't worried about phoning anyone else.

When I pulled into the driveway in the mini-van that I'd rented, I was surprised to see that there was already a 'For Sale' sign on the lawn.

Though I imagined it was what my sister wanted, and the lawyer was probably just following her instructions, since she'd written it all down. And I knew the proceeds would be going towards the kids' educations. I still wondered why he couldn't have waited another few days to list it, till they had left to go home with me, so they wouldn't have to see that the only home they'd ever known was about to be sold.

I rang the doorbell, not even sure who was going to answer. When it was pulled open, I wasn't exactly thrilled to see my late brother-in-law's sister Penny glowering at me, with her usual pinched expression.

"Thank god you're here." She declared dramatically, with a hand pressed to her chest.

As soon as she blurted that, she turned and headed back down the hallway, explaining everything as she went. "Most of their things they'll need for now are packed. I've already told them that they can only bring one toy each, because I don't imagine you'll want them filling your place up with all their silly things. The rest will be going into storage for now, so you can sort it out later."

The moment she saw me, my niece Cassie raced over and threw herself into my arms and broke into tears, while Penny just stood by rolling her eyes.

I always thought she was a strange woman, and seemed so cold compared to my brother-in-law, who was always so warm and good-natured. Whereas, Penny seemed to have a perpetual scowl etched on her face, and didn't really seem to care for anyone or anything, except for herself.

She never made an attempt to hide the fact that she had no patience for children, even her brother's.

"I'm so glad you're here, Auntie Gillian," Cassie sniffled, hugging me tight, while I stroked a hand through her long blonde hair, wishing there was some way I could take away her pain.