Between (24 page)

Vivian lit the candles while Caleb poured the sparkling water. Then they walked out and closed the door behind them.

Michael and I ate, watching the sunset, as the city below started to light up, getting brighter and more colorful as day turned into night. It was truly the best date I could ever imagine. I wondered what I’d done to have such wonderful new friends and someone as wonderful as Michael to be in love with me when I always thought of myself as plain Jane. “Thank you for everything. My dress, our date, and for being with me on Christmas Eve,” I said, getting all choked up.

“
It’s your first Christmas without Gamma. It must be difficult for you…and with your mom away with her sick friend. She must be worried.”

“
I’m okay, Michael. I have you.” I smiled, trying to lighten up the mood. “It’s so beautiful. You took my breath away, just like you said you would in the card.”

Michael smiled, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

As I was about to ask him what else he had planned, there was a knock on the door.

“
Come in, Davin,” I said, giggling, knowing it was him.

Davin walked in with Caleb and Vivian.

“
You don’t need to knock,” I said.

“
Oh, yes I do. What if you were doing something that I would do and worse; clothes less like at the waterfall? Then it would really be too good to be true.” He grinned, cocking his brows.

“
What, you were clothes less?” Vivian asked in shock.

Caleb’s eyes grew wide, then my face felt warm.

“
What Davin meant is that we went swimming,” Michael intervened. “So, what’s so urgent, you need to interrupt our dinner?”

“
I wanted to give her something before you take her to…”

“
Whoa, let’s not ruin the surprise,” Michael said quickly.

“
What do you mean, ‘I’? He means all of us,” Vivian said, pointing to Caleb and her.

“
Okay, before I get myself in trouble with my mouth, let me, I mean, us, give you this.” Davin handed me three wrapped boxes.

“
You guys didn’t need to get me anything. This is so sweet of you all.”

“
We don’t celebrate Christmas. Actually, we don’t celebrate anything. How boring is that?” Vivian said. “So, we wanted to wish you Happy Christmas Eve.”

I was extremely touched. “I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts today. I have something for all of you too.”

“
You do?” Davin asked excitedly. “I get a gift?”

“
That is very sweet of you. You didn’t have to do that,” Vivian seconded.

“
Yeah, you’re spending your hard earned money on us,” Caleb said.

“
I feel bad for window shopping,” Davin said, looking guilty with his head low.

“
Don’t worry. You don’t have real money,” I said, thinking I used the wrong words, hoping I didn’t hurt their feelings.

“
Claudia, why not open them? It is Christmas Eve!” Michael insisted.

I opened Caleb’s first. It was a red sweater. Vivian gave me a colorful scarf that matched the sweater. Then I opened Davin’s box. It was a flash light that looked just like Patty’s. I couldn’t help myself as I let out a huge smile and giggled. Davin was just too cute.

“
I remembered how much you hugged that thing when I gave it to you. You told me that it belonged to your friend. Since you didn’t have one, I thought I’d get you one.” Davin looked worried, probably wondering if I would like it. It was an incident only Michael, Davin, and I would understand. “Thank you,” I said, “this is way too cool.” I gave each of them a hug. “You’ve truly made my Christmas Eve the best.”

“
Your mom is away so we thought it should be celebrated with people who you would consider as family,” Davin said.

I was in tears. They were so thoughtful. “You are my family and always will be; now and forever,” I said while my lips trembled, knowing that one of these days, they would have to leave me.

We all sat around together and ate chocolate covered strawberries. We talked about what their lives would have been like, and if they could live in the present what they would be. Caleb said he would’ve wanted to be a doctor. Vivian said she would have wanted to be a fashion designer and Davin said he wanted to work with cars; only the fast and expensive cars. We had such a great time. It was one of the best Christmas Eves, for sure, though it would have been perfect with my mom and Gamma here too.

About an hour later, Michael stood up. It was his way of telling them it was time to go. After the alkins left, he stepped out of the room and came back holding something white. As he unfolded a lump of white material, he draped it on my shoulders. It was a thick cape, one that would keep me warm. I guessed we were going somewhere cold. I ran my hand down to feel the smooth velvet; it felt plush and soft. “What’s this for?” I asked, wondering why he would put this on me.

“
Even though I can keep you warm, I want you to feel comfortable.”

“
Where are we going?” I asked, as my mind wondered with thoughts of where Michael would take me.

“
If I tell you, it…”

“
Won’t be a surprise. I got it.”

Michael gave me his irresistible smile as he placed the hood over my head. Then his wings leisurely unfolded. Taken in by his beauty, I was lost for a moment until he spoke. “Ready?”

I snuggled up to him. Tucked lovingly inside his wing, we flew across the dark sky.

Michael brought me to The Cliff. This I knew for sure. He told me to close my eyes before we landed. As usual, closing my eyes meant one thing; he had a surprise for me. The last time, the trees were lit with white lights, making them look like stars. It was also warmer back then, but tonight was extremely cold like he said it would be. As I cuddled myself into the cape, I wondered what he had done this time.

“
Open your eyes, Claudia,” he said excitedly.

He’d really outdone himself. It was the most dazzling thing I had ever seen. Every single tree I could see was adorned with decorations: Christmas balls and colorful lights hung from top to bottom, each one representing its own unique theme. It brightened up the night; it was like an enormous decorated flashlight. “Michael, it’s…but how…amazing…you did this?” I stuttered. I didn’t even know if I made sense or if I asked him a question.

“
I had help from my big elves; you know who they are.”

I turned to give him a long, warm hug. “Thank you.” It was all I could say.

“
Claudia, I haven’t given you my gift yet.”

“
You already have. Your love is my gift and I will treasure it forever, no matter where we are.”

“
Me too,” he whispered. “I mean not my own love, but your love.” He chuckled. “You know what I mean.”

“
Yes, I do,” I said, smiling. Then I changed the subject. “Davin, Vivian, and Caleb told me what they would be if they lived in the present, but you never shared yours.”

“
Mine is simple.” He held both my hands close to his heart. “I would ask for your hand in marriage. We would have children and start living our blissful life forever. Then we would grow old together. That is all I would ever want. I don’t need fancy cars or to live in wealth. I would just need you, our health and happiness.”

His words were utterly sweet, but why did they hurt so much? Pain stung me, as if I had lost him already. Michael heard my sigh and pulled away, seizing my eyes with his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

I didn’t give him the chance to explain. It wasn’t his fault that I was being too emotional when I asked him a simple question. “No, Michael. It’s not your fault. Don’t be sorry,” I said and dove back into his arms again. I closed my eyes, to feel him and engulf this moment.

“
I brought you here for another reason. Open your eyes.”

When I did, snow slowly swirled around us, gliding lightly with the gentle breeze.
It felt like we were inside a snow globe.
Suddenly it got colder. I shivered as Michael stood behind me, enclosing his wings half way to give me warmth. He extended my arms out, just like he did when the butterflies fluttered around us. The snow brushed against my hands, feeling cold and slightly damp. “Watch this,” he said.

The falling snow turned into large snowflakes, each in its own unique design, no one looking like the other as they reflected against the lights from the tree. Then we were in a tunnel of snowflakes and it was magical. “They’re beautiful,” I muttered breathlessly, as one landed right on the palm of my hand.
When I blinked from surprise, the cold touch stung for a split second as it took off again, moving upward to blend it with the rest.

“
Merry Christmas Eve. I hope I took your breath away.” Then he turned to face me and looked deeply into my eyes. “Our love is like the snowflakes; pure, delicate, and one of kind. My love for you will never melt. I’m unequivocally yours, today, tomorrow, a year from now, forever, and then some.”

“
Michael,” I didn’t know what to say; I could only mutter his name. After I found my words, I squeezed him tightly and said, “I love everything about today. Thank you with all my heart.”

It was hard to tell in the dark, but from what I could see within the perimeter of the lights from the Christmas trees, and from the evidence of my footprints, the Cliff was covered with a white blanket of plush snow. I lay down to show him how to make snow angels. Feeling amused and fascinated, he made one too, but when he made his, he opened up his massive wings and made an imprint of real wings. To make it more magical, he made his imprint glow. It was such an amazing sight I couldn’t help but marvel. Shimmering lights stretched out from tip to tip, and for a moment I felt puny in the world we were in. There in the snow laid the all too real evidence of the reality of it all. I was but a mere mortal and he was an angel; the angel who loved me.

Snuggled inside his tender embrace, we gazed into each others’ eyes. Everything around us ceased to exist; there was just Michael and me. As his eyes sparkled like the most perfect luminous stars, we lay there watching the snow fall, and he promised me he would spend the night watching me sleep. A warm safe feeling touched my soul and I could think of nothing to say or do but smile.