A Curvy Christmas (7 page)

Best not think about sex, he thought, his pants starting to feel a little tight around the groin area. Instead he looked in all the different stores along the road. Windows full of Christmas toys, food, just about everything you could think of. Some shelves already bare as the traders started to wind down to the end of the festive season.

Then an empty window. He paused, looking inside. It had a lot of square footage, and this was a good suburb in the city, unusual for a premises to be left empty like this. He presumed it was the time of year, and it would be snapped up after Christmas. Vaguely he looked at who was advertising it, before moving on.

The grocery store was a little way down the road, the closer he got the more people hurried past him, piled up with their shopping. Last minute Christmas gifts, food and beer, everything that made Christmas special, along with the people you shared those things with. He couldn’t quite believe he was going to share it with Robin. If she hadn’t come to his gallery, he would be holed up with Carl right now, drinking beer and eating snacks, watching sport on TV.

He knew which scenario he preferred.

Damn. It was Christmas morning tomorrow, and he hadn’t got a single gift for Robin. How could something so important have slipped his mind. Wait. But she wouldn’t have got him one, so what should he do? Would she feel awkward if he gave her a gift if she hadn’t got anything in return. Or perhaps she had.

He was so busy thinking about it he walked right past the store. When he turned around he looked straight at a picture of the shop that was for lease. Raymond & Sons, this was the realtor who were handling it. Coincidence, or fate.

For several minutes he stood outside like and idiot, trying to reason what it was best to do. In the end he went in. This had to be one of the craziest ideas he had ever had.

She had given the apartment a quick clean. Switching the lights on she dimmed them low so the room looked more romantic in the late afternoon gloom, and pulled the curtains to. With her hair still smelling faintly of baking, she was tempted to shower again, but the smell always comforted her, so she didn’t. The last thing Greg would be thinking about was the smell of her hair when she had told him her story.

A knock at the door brought her back to the present, and she went to answer it, butterflies filling her stomach.

“You were qu ... oh ... Helen, it’s you ... and the girls.” She looked at them for a few seconds and then remembered herself. “Sorry, come in.”

“Hi Robin,” Helen said, kissing Robin on the cheek. “Max asked us to pop in and persuade you to come to us for the day tomorrow. She said if I phoned you would fob me off.”

“Did she? Well, thanks Helen, but there’s no need.”

“So I can see.” Helen grinned. “You were expecting someone else.”

“I smell cakes,” Jess said, and peered around Robin, eyeing up the kitchen door.

“So do I, can we have one? Please, we’re starving.”

Robin looked down at the two excited faces. “Of course, come in. Where have you been?”

“We went to see Santa. Mummy’s been too busy working for us to go before, but now she’s at home for a whole five days.”

“Lucky Mommy,” Robin said, thinking how incredibly excited the two girls were, they would run poor Helen ragged. “You’ll need to go back to work for a rest,” she added quietly to Helen.

“Don’t knock it, Robin. I would love to stay at home with them all day every day. But I’ve had to do what extra shifts I can over Christmas to buy presents.”

“And has their daddy turned up bearing gifts?” She asked when the girls had disappeared into the kitchen.

“You must be joking, he’s more likely to turn up when he wants something, not because it would be nice for the girls to see him. They’ll forget what he looks like if he leaves it much longer. Men.”

“Mmm, men.”

Helen looked at her slyly. “So are you going to spill? Don’t try to tell me that you weren’t expecting someone else at the door. And you’ve been baking, and you look glowing.”

Robin put her hands up to her cheeks, they felt warm, Helen was right. “It’s from the baking. Hot ovens, you know.”

“That is not the kind of flush you get from baking. I might not have seen my husband for six months but ... well ... I know. Did you pick someone up last night? I tried to ring but got your machine.”

“Oh, I never checked my messages when I got in.”

“No. Other things on your mind by the looks of it. So tell.” She pulled Robin into the lounge. “Not too many cakes girls,” she called as they past the kitchen.

“OK. Mommy. Two each.”

“No three,” Jess insisted.

“You’d better ask Robin.”

“Three is fine, try different ones.” She desperately wanted to join them in the kitchen and spare herself Helen’s inquisition.

“So. Tell,” Helen said folding her arms. “While Max and Dan are away it seems to be up to me to check you’re OK.”

“I am.” She looked at Helen and knew she had to give a good explanation. “I did bring someone home, but not a stranger. It’s Greg, the guy I was seeing before. Well, sort of seeing.”

“Ohhh. I thought he was out of the picture. That must have been a surprise for you.”

“Not really. I went looking for him.” Robin wasn’t sure what Helen’s reaction would be after all the hassle she had been through with her husband.

“Good for you, Robin. About time you showed him what you want.”

“I hope so. I’m not good at the long term stuff. What if it doesn’t last?”

Helen smiled sadly. “Listen, Robin. I am not a good advertisement for marriage, but look at Max and Dan. You get out of it what you put in. Be honest with him, tell him how you feel. Not just now, but down the line. There’ll be rough times, but the good ones make up for it. I would not give up a day of the good times I had when I was married to lose the memory of the bad.”

Another knock at the door made Robin jump nervously. “Even better,” Helen said, “I get to meet him.”

She grinned wickedly, and Robin looked at her desperately. “Please behave.”

“Don’t worry. He’s safe with me. I don't know any of your secrets. Max on the other hand, I bet she could tell him some juicy titbits from your past.”

“She needn’t waste her breath. He knows some of them already, it turns out we met years ago. But I’d forgotten. And by the end of tonight he’ll know the rest.”

“Hey, Robin. Don’t look so down. You haven’t got that many skeletons in your closet, I was only joking.”

“But what if I have, Helen?” Robin asked quietly, as she turned and headed for the door.

This was not going exactly how she had planned things. It wasn’t Helen’s fault, it was thoughtful of her to come and see Robin, after all her plans had been to spend a lonely Christmas here on her own. She could only hope that Greg wasn’t put off by her having company.

Only one way to find out.

“Greg,” She opened the door to see Greg standing there his arms filled with bags. “Wow, did you buy the shop?”

“Not quite, but I decided if we were going to do Christmas together we should do it properly.” He moved forward, and a box dropped out of his arms.

“You even bought Christmas crackers.”

“Yes. I’m afraid the gifts inside are probably childish, but I haven’t pulled one of those for years.”

“Did you say crackers?” Laura asked, coming out of the kitchen, cake in hand.

“You have company,” Greg stated, looking surprised.

“Yes. Look, come on in, let me help you, and then I’ll introduce you.” She picked the box up off the floor and gave it to Laura. “Here, take these into the kitchen will you please, Laura.”

“Sure, Robin.” She took the box, shaking it as she went and listening to see if she could work out what was in the crackers, a very happy smile on her face.

“I’ll take these,” Robin said to Greg, wrestling two bags from him, trying not to let the rest slip out of his hands.

“Thanks, thought my fingers might drop off.” He smiled at her, unfazed by the new guests in the apartment.

Robin carried the bags to the kitchen, and put them on the table, ready to be unpacked. First she thought she should do the introductions, Helen might leave once she had met Greg. That sounded harsh, she loved Helen and the girls, but if she had the merest excuse, she would put off telling Greg. Robin knew herself well enough.

She shouldn’t have doubted Helen for her tactfulness. Coming into the kitchen she said, “We need to be going, Robin.”

“Are you sure?” Robin asked, mouthing ‘thank you’ to Helen. “Let me introduce you to Greg first. Greg, this is Helen. Helen, I would like you to meet Greg.”

“Hi, Greg,” Helen said offering him her hand.

“Hello, Helen. Nice to meet one of Robin’s friends. Don’t let me chase you away.”

“No. I have to get two very excited girls bathed and ready for bed. They keep telling me it’s a very special night tonight. But I can’t remember what.” She put a puzzled look on her face.

“It’s Christmas! Santa’s coming!” The girls both shouted so loud Robin winced.

“Oh, yeah. Now I remember.”

“Why don’t I box some of these cakes up for you to take with you. I don’t know why I baked so many, but you know me.”

“Yes, please,” said Laura, and began to choose the ones she wanted, while Robin placed them neatly in a box.

“Now you two are going to go to sleep nice and early tonight, aren’t you? I heard Santa only comes to little girls who are asleep.”

“We are, aren't we Jess?”

“Yes. We’ll hang up our stockings, and the sooner we go to sleep the sooner we’ll wake up to presents.”

“That is exactly right,” said Helen. “So let’s go. Nice to meet you Greg.”

“You too Helen,” he said, smiling at the girls. “Here, do you want a cracker each too? There's too many for me and Robin.” He ripped the box open and handed one each to the girls.

“Thanks,” they beamed,and then headed out, chatting to each other and trying to guess what was inside.

“I’ll just be a minute,” Robin said, following Helen out.

“Have a wonderful time, Robin.” Kissing her friend on the cheek, and then lowering her voice to say, “You never mentioned how hot he was. I wouldn’t mind one of those in my Christmas stocking.”

“What did you say you wanted Mommy?” Jess asked. “Because you could always write Santa, it’s not too late. He’s magic, he can bring you anything.”

“Perhaps that should be my Christmas wish,” Helen said sadly.

“You don’t need a man to be happy.” Robin pulled her into her arms. “Have a wonderful time. And if I don’t see you before, I am wishing you and the girls the most fantastic New Year.”

“Thanks, Robin.” She wiped a tear away. “I am so soppy.”

“Merry Christmas my two favourite children,” Robin said pulling the girls into her arms, and feeling their sticky finger on her face.

“Thanks for the cakes. You are the best cake maker in the world. We might even leave one out for Santa tonight, along with his mince pie.”

“If you do, I hope he likes it and you get everything you want for Christmas.” Robin smiled as they went out the apartment. “Bye. Merry Christmas.” She waved until they turned a corner and disappeared out of sight, even then she didn’t close the door and go back in. Her resolve was in danger of slipping.

No more excuses, she had to march straight back into the kitchen and tell Greg about her past, she wanted to enjoy Christmas with him, and that was not going to happen unless she unburdened herself.

Sighing, she quietly closed the door, and summoned up her mental strength to talk about something she never had before. Not to anyone, not since it had happened. She couldn’t fairly commit to Greg without him knowing what he was getting himself into. And she couldn’t allow herself to be with him freely with this hanging over her.

“They are a lovely family,” Greg said, he was busy unpacking the bags he had bought back with him, sorting the food out into piles, which would have to be squeezed into the fridge, or put in the cupboard. Then he smiled with triumph, and lifted bottle of red wine out. “There. Shall we break this open now. I’ve bought another bottle of white for tomorrow to have with lunch.”

“OK. I’ll get glasses,” She went to the cupboard and fetched two wine glasses, noticing her hands were visibly shaking. He must mean a lot to her if she was this nervous of speaking to him. “Here,” she said setting them down.

“I’ll let it breathe for a moment while we put everything away. I didn’t want to start, I’m sure you like to organise your own kitchen.”

“Yes, I do,” she said smiling at him. Then she set about putting everything in it’s rightful place.

“So was the visit to check up on you?”

“Yes. Helen is Dan’s sister. Max must have given her orders to not let me stew here on my own.”

“She’s on her own. Helen I mean?”

“Yes. Dead beat husband left her a while back.”

“That must be hard. Being a single mom.”

“She does a great job. But yes it is. I hope she finds the right man one day, but when you have kids you have to be so careful.”

“It’s not too uncommon these days, there’s plenty of men who would love to take on a family like that.”

She sighed, now or never. “I know. My mom was a single parent, for most of the time when I was growing up.”

He hesitated only briefly before saying, “Really, so you have first hand experience of what Helen’s going through.”

“Yes. Well Laura and Jess anyway. I also know how much everything will change when a new man comes into their lives.” She reached for the wine. “I think I might need that drink now.”

His palms were sweaty when he accepted the glass from her. Suddenly he was afraid what he was about to hear might change his opinion of her, which would be terrible. He had so much invested in their new relationship, more than emotions, as of this afternoon.

It wasn’t that he thought she could have done anything too terrible, it was more that he was never good at getting his own feelings across, and he might react ... wrong.

She sipped her drink for a couple of minutes before continuing. “My mom met man, a good man. Or so he seemed. Steady job, treated me with respect. It all seemed perfect. I was even a bridesmaid when they got married. Then I saw him with another woman.”