A Safe Pair of Hands (20 page)

**

Christmas was racing towards them, and it was just three more
work days until they closed up the offices and broke up for the
Christmas holiday week – and a bit.

Tonight it was the works party, and Sadie had put her party
frock in the conference room, along with all the other
ladies.

Nick had allowed a couple of full length mirrors to be lugged
into there as well, and had told the female staff that they could
all make use of the room, when they wanted to dress for the staff
party.

It was to be a sit down meal at the high class restaurant just
across the road, and then there was disco in the basement
afterwards, along with an open bar.

Sadie, pulled on her little red dress, and her white trimmed
cape, and then dusted on a liberal makeup with lots of glitter,
sprayed over her body, face and hair.

The spray was very popular with the rest of the staff too, and
Sadie was thankful that she had thought to bring a second can of
the stuff.

It was a delightful evening, as she sat beside Nick, and
despite his concerns about them going public about their
relationship, he favoured her openly, much to the delight of the
rest of the workforce.

He was a good boss, and a good guy, and they all knew that all
he needed now was a good wife.

Everyone who met her, liked Sadie a lot, and they all approved
of his apparent choice, and showed it openly to them both. Nick
grinned almost boyishly as Sadie blushed shyly at this unaccustomed
attention from him and the rest of the work force.

Nick stood up suddenly and the people at the table all fell
silent.

“
Well, thank you folks, for all of the hard work that you have
all put in this year,” he said sincerely. “I really hope that you
have all enjoyed the meal, and Mr Rogers – our waiter for this
evening has just told me that the disco downstairs is about to get
started.” There was murmur, and people began to fidget in their
seats. “It’s an open bar down there for your convenience, but I beg
you all to be sensible, and to make sure that you are all able to
get home safely, at the end of the night.”

He grinned again. “Now go down there and have a good time, and
I will see you all down there shortly – or on Monday morning bright
and early.”

*

He talked quietly with some of his staff, and made sure that
there were enough designated drivers, or taxis on hand to get
everyone home safe.

Then he led Sadie down to the basement party, where they spent
the next two hours dancing, either lively energetic bouncing
around, or soft and clingy smooches.

By the time that they left the restaurant, Sadie was hot and
glowing, and absolutely shattered, but she was not too tired to
enjoy the refreshing shower that she and Nick shared at his home,
and indeed it revived her so much, that his energetic lovemaking
merely completed the evening for her.

On the whole, her life was just about as perfect as she could
get it... just about.

**

Work finished on the day before Christmas Eve, and everyone
left in high jovial spirits.

Nick made sure that he saw every last member of his staff off
for the holidays, with a small gaily wrapped present – a token of
his appreciation for all of their hard work.

He started on the ground floor, and worked his way to the top
floor, but missed out the third floor where his office, and Sadie
and Marcy were situated, and a couple of other small offices were
there as well. He saved Marcy and Sadie for very last, since they
were the closest to his own office, and Marcy gave him a warm hug
in exchange for her gift, and then turned to Sadie.

“
Have a great Christmas, Sadie, and I’ll see you in the New
Year!”

She held out a large bulky looking gift, which Sadie took with
a smile, and placed carefully on her desk.

“
You too, Marcy, have lots of fun, and parties!” she handed her
a large flat package, containing the pretty silk scarf that Sadie
had seen and decided was perfect for her workmate.

The two of them exchanged a hug, and a peck on the cheek, and
then with a sly little smile Marcy grabbed her handbag, and
coat.

“
I suspect the two of you would like a minute or two to
yourselves so I will be off now!”

She sailed from the room with a last wave, and a loud, “Happy
Christmas!”

Nick held out his very last gift to Sadie, a small package
that had a bright red ribbon tied around it and a bow on
top.

“
This is just a little something to thank you for your
dedication this past year... it really is appreciated.”

“
Thank you,” she smiled shyly, as she took the gift, knowing
that like everyone else’s it would be a small box of soaps, or
quality chocolates.

Nick had a lot of staff on his payroll now, and to
individually choose and wrap gifts for each of them would have
taken up far too much of his valuable time.

But they were a genuine token of his respect and gratitude for
the work that they all did for him, and they all accepted the gifts
with that same sentiment.

“
Right! Now that the work thing is done, and we are finished
for the year!” Nick said with a little sigh of relief. “Come here
and give me a kiss... please.”

She laughed as she put the gift on the desk, beside
Marcy’s.

“
Absolutely!”

Chapter Twenty One

(A Sprinkle of tinsel to hide the intent)

Conclusion

Nick picked Phillip up early on Christmas Eve morning, and
took him back to his house.

“
This will be your room, you have your own bathroom through
that door... so if you just want to put your bag
there...”

He pointed towards the large double bed, and Phillip nodded
and dumped the small holdall down on the floor next to
it.

“
This is my home, Cousin Phillip, and for the next few days, I
want you to think of it as your home too.”

“
Then could you call me Phil then, please, everyone else
does.”

“
Yes, of course, and I am Nick to my friends and loved ones.”
Nick smiled warmly as he showed Phil quickly around the house,
finishing in the kitchen.

“
Now we’ve just got time for a coffee and a sandwich, and then
we have been drafted in to help out next door!”

Phil was a shy young man, and obviously felt awkward as he
traipsed around Nancy’s home. But Nancy soon put him at his ease,
and when on one occasion she caught him staring out into her back
garden she smiled ruefully.

“
The patio is a bit of state isn’t it?” she sighed. “Honestly I
meant to clean it up a bit but time just ran away with
me.”

Phil turned to her eagerly. “I could go out there and tidy it
up for you, give me a couple of clothes and some warm soapy water,
a good sturdy brush, and maybe small trowel or something, and I
could tidy the top soil on your border for you...”

Nancy laughed and she took his arm gently. “Oh what a treasure
you are!”

*

It only took him an hour, and when Nancy and Sadie stepped out
to see if he was ready for a hot drink, they found the patio
furniture all gleaming and clean, and set to one side out for the
way but on hand in the event that someone might have need of
it

The ground was neatly brushed, and the general untidiness of
her border looked tidy again.

Phil turned to them with bright eyes, and colour in his
cheeks, from his exertions and the freshness of the air.

“
Hot chocolate is being poured out even as we speak!” Sadie
grinned at him, and he grinned back in delight.

“
I have always loved hot chocolate!”

Belinda and Lindsey popped round just as Nancy was walking
through the hallway; they had come to put their gifts under the
Christmas tree, said Belinda.

“
We will be walking round tomorrow so we thought we could bring
these over today?”

“
Yes, that is a good idea,” Nancy said brightly. “And whilst
you are here, have a quick drink with us.”

“
Oh not for me,” Belinda shook her head regretfully; “I’m
driving today.”

“
Not alcohol, silly, not unless you really want one, we were
all having hot chocolate.”

Belinda was a tall, quite plain girl, but she had the most
beautiful brown eyes, and the thickest lashes that Sadie had ever
seen.

She came out of the kitchen to see who had rung the doorbell,
and rushed over to give each of her cousins a warm affectionate
hug, and then they walked through to the kitchen, where Phil was
sitting with his mug.

“
Oh, I say;” Belinda whispered to Sadie, “Who is that young
stud?”

Sadie looked up at her cousin in surprise, and saw the
telltale blush and the brightness of her eyes.

“
That is Phil, he’s Nick’s Cousin.”

“
And who might Nick be?”

Sadie pointed discretely. “That is Nick over there...” and as
the two women both sighed, Sadie added. “And he is with
me!”

Nick has seen the gifts piling up under the tree, and so he
waylaid Nancy briefly.

“
Since everyone is doing the same thing, am I okay to bring
mine over and put them there as well?”

“
Yes, of course, do you need a hand with anything?”

He grinned. “No, I’ll take Phil with me, and we will be back
shortly.”

The afternoon went by in a flash, and as order descended, Nick
and Phil walked in carrying several gift bags between.

“
Anywhere under the tree – if you can find a space!” Nancy
called out brightly.

Sadie watched curiously as the two of them carefully began to
place their gifts.

“
You just wait until tomorrow young miss!” Nick ordered as he
turned and saw her face.

“
Aww, just one maybe?” she tried to wheedle.

Phil chuckled at her wistful expression, but Nick was firm and
unrelenting.

The evening was almost dreamlike for Sadie, as she curled up
on one of her sister’s sofas with Nick beside her.

Little Pete had spent the day with her mum and dad, to keep
him out of the way, and the room with the Christmas tree, and all
of the presents, was locked up tight now.

Nancy switched the television set on and put on a music
channel, which was digging up every Christmas song, ever
recorded.

Pete came running into the room, all excited because tonight
Santa would be visiting him.

“
So it’s bath and early to bed for you then, my little man!”
Nancy said after he had done a circuit of the room, saying hello to
everyone.

Sadie was pleased when her mum came and gave her and then Nick
a warm hug.

She had spent a lot of time talking with Nancy and Rob, and
had come to the conclusion that maybe Nick was one of the good guys
and could be trusted with her daughter.

She also warmed a little more, when she spoke to Phil, who was
eager to tell her how wonderful, his cousin had been to
him.

The evening came to an end, and Phil, went ahead to unlock
Nick’s front door, whilst Nick treated himself to one last long,
lingering kiss with Sadie.

“
Happy Christmas, Nick,” she whispered as the clock struck
midnight.

“
Happy Christmas, Sadie.”

He gave her a warm hug, before stepping away.

“
I am pretty sure that Nancy and Rob will not thank us for
wasting all their energy for heating.”

“
No, I guess not.

“
I’ll see you later then. Phil is coming a bit earlier, to do
something for Nancy in her garden, but I will be round about mid
morning.”

“
See you later then,” she whispered huskily.

She stood and watched as he strolled around to his own home;
she stood thinking of the last time she had done that. It had been
freezing then, and she has watched through the spy hole.

Now in typical British weather, the temperature had crept up
to almost double figures, even though the days had been cloudy and
grey.

She thought about how far the two of them had come in their
relationship, but there was still a little way to go, she thought
wistfully.

Just a couple more tiny steps, to complete the journey of
their relationship...

**

“
Hi!” everyone called out cheerfully, “And a merry Christmas to
you!”

Nick, grinned as he stepped into the busy room, “Merry
Christmas to you all too!” he returned the greeting.

“
Can I get you something to drink?” Nancy asked from behind
him, and Nick turned to her.

“
I was hoping to have a quiet word with Sadie,” he said holding
out the gaily wrapped package. “I wanted to give this to
her.”