now.
"Staying
at your parents again?" Justin asks.
"As
usual. Christmas breakfast around my parents table, exchanging gifts in front
of the family tree."
"That
sounds wonderful," I tell her, and meaning it as I have another moment of
missing my family. I do not want to be without Justin, not for a moment of it,
but I'd do almost anything to be with my parents in front of the tree tomorrow.
I envy Lena for that.
Enough
of that! I motion to
Justin with my eyes that it's time for the gift.
In his
very stoic JP tone, he calls over the wait staff and has them remove our dishes
and clear the table. We remain politely silent as they work, and thank them
when they're done. They show the same nervousness I always see around JP. I
don't know if it's that they're familiar with him from past experience, or that
they're always nervous around a man in a thirty-thousand dollar suit, but I'll
always believe it's because he sweats power. When he's being JP, his aura
becomes the color of don't-fuck-with-me!
After
they leave, he becomes Justin once again. "So, since our little Christmas
Eve lunch tradition is undergoing some modifications, here's how this next one
is going to work."
I'm so
excited to see Lena open what we got her, I'm resisting the urge to just whip
it out of his pocket and give it to her myself.
"Charity
wanted to get you something, a gift from us to you."
We can
see the protest developing on her face. I love it—that makes it even better.
"I
explained to her that we have a rule about that, no gifts, no pressure, but she
insisted her friendship with you changes that. I can see you don't agree with
her blindsiding you with this, and I'm saying—I agree with you."
Wait!
What?
"So
I've decided to blindside you both."
Justin
reaches into his jacket and pulls out not just the box I'd expected, but two of
them, placing one in front of Lena, and the other in front of me.
"This
is how this works from now on," he continues, a strong hint of JP in his
voice, so that we know not to argue with him. "These are from me to my
girls, the most important women in my life. You are not to get me anything in
return! From me to you because I want to and because you deserve it."
I'm
gaping at Justin in shock. When I turn to Lena, and she sees the same look on
my face that she's wearing herself, that seems to settle her and make the gift
acceptable. I have to agree. If they were giving me something, I wouldn't want
to accept it without having something to give back—with both of us being
surprised by Justin, it only seems fitting.
All the
protest runs out of her face and she melts. It's the sweetest damn thing. Then
the excitement hits both of us as we scoop up our gifts, fighting with the
wrappings.
Both
boxes say "Tiffany and Co." on them, and my fingers begin to shake.
Lena, who is usually much more jaded than I, is stunned. Another look passes
between the two of us before we open the boxes, an understanding of our mutual
excitement.
Pendants—diamond
pendants!
Lena
holds hers up. It's all diamond forming the letters N-S on hers, and on mine
E-W. They're stunning, even if we don't understand the meaning. I'm guessing
four carats, give or take, in each pendant. Our glowing, shinning faces say all
he needs from us.
"I'm
no idiot," he says. "The two of you look out for me, direct me. You
pulled me off the wrong path and put me where I needed to be. You two are my
compass—North and South, East and West. I have no direction without you."
I'm
already feeling the emotional swelling in my throat closing in on me.
"Lena,
you are my North and South poles. You are my unchanging, unyielding grounds.
You never bend, never move, and I can find my way anytime I look to you."
Yep,
tears from Lena. I knew it was possible, I've seen it before, but not many
others have.
"Charity,
you are my East and West. You are the sun that I revolve around. My life rises
and sets because of you. You bring me the brightest days, the hottest nights.
"Staying
at your parents again?" Justin asks.
"As
usual. Christmas breakfast around my parents table, exchanging gifts in front
of the family tree."
"That
sounds wonderful," I tell her, and meaning it as I have another moment of
missing my family. I do not want to be without Justin, not for a moment of it,
but I'd do almost anything to be with my parents in front of the tree tomorrow.
I envy Lena for that.
Enough
of that! I motion to
Justin with my eyes that it's time for the gift.
In his
very stoic JP tone, he calls over the wait staff and has them remove our dishes
and clear the table. We remain politely silent as they work, and thank them
when they're done. They show the same nervousness I always see around JP. I
don't know if it's that they're familiar with him from past experience, or that
they're always nervous around a man in a thirty-thousand dollar suit, but I'll
always believe it's because he sweats power. When he's being JP, his aura
becomes the color of don't-fuck-with-me!
After
they leave, he becomes Justin once again. "So, since our little Christmas
Eve lunch tradition is undergoing some modifications, here's how this next one
is going to work."
I'm so
excited to see Lena open what we got her, I'm resisting the urge to just whip
it out of his pocket and give it to her myself.
"Charity
wanted to get you something, a gift from us to you."
We can
see the protest developing on her face. I love it—that makes it even better.
"I
explained to her that we have a rule about that, no gifts, no pressure, but she
insisted her friendship with you changes that. I can see you don't agree with
her blindsiding you with this, and I'm saying—I agree with you."
Wait!
What?
"So
I've decided to blindside you both."
Justin
reaches into his jacket and pulls out not just the box I'd expected, but two of
them, placing one in front of Lena, and the other in front of me.
"This
is how this works from now on," he continues, a strong hint of JP in his
voice, so that we know not to argue with him. "These are from me to my
girls, the most important women in my life. You are not to get me anything in
return! From me to you because I want to and because you deserve it."
I'm
gaping at Justin in shock. When I turn to Lena, and she sees the same look on
my face that she's wearing herself, that seems to settle her and make the gift
acceptable. I have to agree. If they were giving me something, I wouldn't want
to accept it without having something to give back—with both of us being
surprised by Justin, it only seems fitting.
All the
protest runs out of her face and she melts. It's the sweetest damn thing. Then
the excitement hits both of us as we scoop up our gifts, fighting with the
wrappings.
Both
boxes say "Tiffany and Co." on them, and my fingers begin to shake.
Lena, who is usually much more jaded than I, is stunned. Another look passes
between the two of us before we open the boxes, an understanding of our mutual
excitement.
Pendants—diamond
pendants!
Lena
holds hers up. It's all diamond forming the letters N-S on hers, and on mine
E-W. They're stunning, even if we don't understand the meaning. I'm guessing
four carats, give or take, in each pendant. Our glowing, shinning faces say all
he needs from us.
"I'm
no idiot," he says. "The two of you look out for me, direct me. You
pulled me off the wrong path and put me where I needed to be. You two are my
compass—North and South, East and West. I have no direction without you."
I'm
already feeling the emotional swelling in my throat closing in on me.
"Lena,
you are my North and South poles. You are my unchanging, unyielding grounds.
You never bend, never move, and I can find my way anytime I look to you."
Yep,
tears from Lena. I knew it was possible, I've seen it before, but not many
others have.
"Charity,
you are my East and West. You are the sun that I revolve around. My life rises
and sets because of you. You bring me the brightest days, the hottest nights.
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