Reconcilable Differences: A 'Having It All' Novel (36 page)

Simon laughed. “Is that so? What else?”

“A package that come from me Aunty Sheryl. But I already
know it’s a knitted sweater. T'is same every year.” Jack shook his head sadly,
and Simon’s expression of sympathy hid his amusement well enough.

Kate squatted down next to them. “How about you Emma?
What's Santa bringing you?” Kate shot a glance at Michelle, who smiled and gave
Emma a little squeeze of encouragement.

Emma squinted suspiciously then appeared to decide Kate
was trustworthy. She slid off her mother’s lap and waddled over, leaning toward
Kate, pressing her pudgy hand to Kate’s cheek and whispering loudly in her ear.
“Ith a thecret. I getting a baby.” She backed away grinning, her eyes wide with
anticipation.

“My goodness, aren’t you a lucky girl?” said Kate, as
Emma turned and sat down on her bent knee. She couldn't help thinking how lucky
Michelle was to have two beautiful plump children.

“Do you haf a baby?” asked Emma, gazing up at Kate in
fascination.

“Um. No, I don’t. But I’d sure like one some day,” Kate
said, and realized how true this was, hugging the tiny, adorable Emma and
deeply inhaling her sweet vanilla-scented hair.
Oh, yes, I do!

“You kids wait right here. I think there’s one more
present for you here somewhere.” Simon rose and went to a cupboard, returning
with two brightly wrapped packages and handing them to Jack and Emma, who
squealed with delight.

“Oh, Simon, you spoil them,” said Michelle.

Simon waved her objections away and wagged a finger at
the children. “You can’t open them until morning. And don’t forget to write
your aunt Sheryl a thank you note. She makes those sweaters for you with her
own hands and she loves you both a lot.”

“Yes, Uncle Simon.”

Kate exchanged a knowing glance and smile with Michelle,
who cast fond appreciative eyes in Simon’s direction.

“Anyone down there ready for ice cream?” Casey’s call
from above was met by a chorus of cheers and they thumped upstairs after the
children.

~*~

It
wasn’t long before Will and
Michelle were helping Simon serve dishes of fried bananas and coconut ice
cream, to the delight of the children and sighs of satisfaction from the
adults. He called them Thai banana splits.

Simon shifted to a chair next to Kate, forcing everyone
to shuffle, and sat watching her eat while slowly sipping his coffee, seemingly
preoccupied with sprinkling toasted coconut on his ice cream.

He checked in with her often, to see if she liked her
desert, to ask if she wanted more tea, as she chatted about her travels with
Bertie and Alexa. Kate’s thoughts were in turmoil, trying to come to terms with
both past and present. Every time she caught him gazing at her, she felt her
face flush and pulled her eyes away.

“Si-mon, boy.”

He dragged his eyes from Kate to respond to Casey. “Hmh?”

Casey simply looked at him questioningly, let his eyes
slide over to Kate, and back again. She felt herself blush. Were they that
conspicuous? Shaking his head, his teasing smile spoke volumes. “Ar, what are
we going to do with you?”

Simon blinked. “Did you… ”

“Never you mind, then. I was asking for the peanuts, but
it seems you’ve got your head wrapped up in other t’ings.”

Lily, Will’s shy date, a student from Hong Kong, passed
the peanuts over, an unspoken question in her eyes.

“His head’s in his pants, if you ask me,” said Bruce, to
guffaws of laughter from the men.

“Leave him. I think it’s adorable,” said Michelle.

“Enough,” hissed Simon, his ears burning bright red,
glancing again at Kate, who’s face heated at hearing the lewd comment, despite
assiduously pretending she hadn’t. “That’s enough of that.” He pressed his lips
together, chagrinned.

Casey threw his head back and slapped his thigh, letting
out a whoop of delight. He peered closely at them again, grinning. “There’s
another explanation, boy.”

Simon’s smile failed him, his Adam’s apple sliding up and
down as he swallowed.

Michelle saved him. “Let’s do the gift exchange now.”

Simon heaved a sigh and stood up, now avoiding Kate’s
eyes. “Great idea!”

They all shifted into the living room, some with drinks
in hand, where Michelle had laid out a number of brightly wrapped packages in
odd shapes and sizes on the coffee table.

“Oh, you didn’t tell us about this,” Kate moaned.

Michelle explained, “It’s a tradition for everyone to
bring a small, inexpensive, and preferably amusing gift without labels, which
we then randomly choose–"

"And ruthlessly trade,” cut in Bruce.

Simon gave her elbow a squeeze as she passed by. “Don’t
worry. We always throw in extras.”

“But beware,” warned Will. “Being a rookie will not spare
you from ridicule.”

“I should say not,” chuckled Bertie, sinking heavily onto
the sofa beside Kate and giving her arm a friendly pinch. “Ooh, my back. Think
of it as a test of your mettle.”

Casey shook a matted Canucks toque, passing it around so
everyone could draw small numbered pieces of paper from it, while Michelle
attempted to explain the rules of trading with numerous interruptions from Will
and Bruce as they argued the finer points.

“It’s all in fun. And it ends in mayhem every year
regardless of the rules,” said Simon, who nestled a drowsy Maddie on his knee.
Kate studied the cozy pair discretely from under her lashes, still astonished
at the sight of Simon as a nurturing father.

“Can I play too, Daddy?” came Madison’s halfhearted plea.

Simon pressed a kiss on her soft flushed cheek and held
her closer, whispering into her curls. “You’ll get your presents in the
morning.”

“Alright. Who’s first?” asked Michelle.

“Tis me,” replied Casey stepping forward, and drawing a
small rectangular package. He withdrew a book and read the cover. “Ar. ‘Tis a
wee book of Haiku’s by… uh… Koba… uh … yashi Issa.”

“Oh, read one,” urged Alexa.

Casey flipped the pages, scanning and considering his
options. “Truth be told there’s many t’ings I understand, but poetry isn’t one
of ‘em. Here: ‘love-struck cat/down into Wolf Valley/he goes.’” He screwed up
his face.

“Oh, that’s easy. The cat will risk everything in search
of love,” Lily said.

Bertie said,“And since I’ve got number two, I’ll take it
from you. I do enjoy haiku.” Kate watched this trade with interest as Casey
stood to choose another gift from the pile. This time it was a package of
caramel corn.

“Look out Casey. I’ve got number eight, so if nothing
better turns up, you might still lose it to my sweet tooth.” Simon grinned and
slowly eased from his chair with a now sleeping Maddie drooping in his arms. He
bent and laid her gently beside the Christmas tree, propping her head up on a
cushion and tucking a throw over her. Kate observed his caring ministrations
with wistful interest and was surprised to see him slip from the room as Bruce
stood up.

“I’m next,” Bruce said, picking up a small flat package.
His face screwed up as he opened it, puzzling over its contents. He looked up,
shrugging, and handed it to Lily, who sat nearby. “You’re the expert.”

Bertie rocked and rose stiffly. “Ah, too much sitting for
me. Excuse me.” As Kate watched, Bertie hobbled out to the hall assisted by a
walking stick, her broad hips causing her peasant skirt to swirl. Simon
returned and leaned in the doorway.

“Ah.” Lily nodded sagely, speaking with her thick Chinese
accent. “Very lucky gift. This Ho Shou Wu. Ancient ‘elixir of life’. Mix this
with wine and is very rejuvenating. It restore youth, make hair grow long and
black and also improve virility. Very valuable.”

There was a general chorus of laughter. Simon slumped
into Bertie’s spot next to Kate, sliding his arm over her shoulders and sinking
down into the cushions. Warmth suffused her and longing to curl into him like a
cat, she glanced around to see if anyone had noticed their comfortable
intimacy.

“That’ll help with the beer belly, old man.”

“Be nice,” protested Bruce.

“Not to mention with the ladies,” Michelle said.

“Who said I needed any help?” Bruce rebuffed, scowling.

Lily turned the package over in her hand. “Is tempting to
take it from you, but I think you need more.” She nodded soberly and handed it
back to Bruce with a twinkle in her dark eyes, getting into to spirit of the
game.

Simon slipped a folded piece of paper into Kate’s open
hand. “Remember this?” he whispered into her hair, and she shivered as his warm
breath tickled her neck.

Looking up, she saw his earnest expression and shy smile.
Curious, she unfolded the paper. Three handwritten lines that seemed strangely
familiar lay scrawled on the old scrap of foolscap. She silently read, ‘
Dewdrop licks petal/dusky eyes reflect my
soul/moonlight touches us.’
Her heart lurched as the memory of his
romantic haiku, scribed one romantic night during their long ago affair,
flooded back and, drawing a sudden breath, her eyes darted up to find Simon
watching her intently. “You kept this?”

He nodded.

Their eyes locked for long moments, during which nothing
existed but their shared memories and she was filled with a sense of longing
and, at heart, belonging. He reached to caress her arm with his free hand,
leaving it there, and tucked his head down to kiss her cheek tenderly. She felt
tears welling and burning at her eyelids and blinked them away, biting her lip.
Simon smiled contentedly and drew his eyes away, snuggling closer to her and
squeezing her shoulder.

Lily opened a large flat box, frowning slightly.

“Oh! It’s a vintage classic Twister game!” Michelle
shouted. “I used to just love that. Perhaps you’re too young to remember,
Lily.”

“I guess I’m next,” Alexa stood up, finger to her cheek,
perusing her options. “Here, this one’s got my name written all over it.” She
picked up a perfect cube and ripped it open. She opened the box and withdrew a
sphere. “You see? One architectonic shape inside another.”

“It’s a Magic 8-ball! Here, here, let me see it,” said
Will, reaching out a hand. He turned it over, and rolled his eyes to the
ceiling with mock concentration. “Will Bruce get laid tonight?” He got elbowed
as he turned the ball and peered into it. “’Outlook not so good.’ Gee, sorry
buddy. Maybe you could take the elixir and try again.” He guffawed, his eyes
dancing around the room, inviting general laughter. “Ow!” he exclaimed as Bruce
punched him affectionately.

“Let me try.” Alexa took the ball back with a sly glance
in Kate’s direction. “Will I leave here alone tonight?” She turned the ball
over and read, “Cannot predict now.’”

“Just wait until Bruce tries the elixir,” said Will, to
more hilarity.

“Who said I was thinking about him?” said Alexa with
disdain, avoiding Kate’s eye, but digging her elbow into Kate’s ribs.

“Alex!” Kate reprimanded, feeling her face flush hot. “My
turn, and I’m taking that away from you before...” Kate plucked the 8-ball out
of Alexa’s hands, tossing it onto the sofa beside her.

Alexa jabbed her playfully and leaned over to choose a
small package. Opening it, she found a small polished brass compass. “Oh, it’s
lovely. It looks like an antique.” She swiveled it round and tipped it,
studying the bouncing needle as it settled on the enameled N. “It seems to work
perfectly. Don’t you dare take this from me, anyone. I’ll fight you for it.”

“There you go. Something to show you the way that you
can
trust,” said Simon soberly,
and Kate glanced at him wondering if he understood her fears.

The game concluded quickly amid further teasing and
laughter.

“Okay, my turn.” Simon stood and struck a thoughtful
pose, gazing longingly at Casey’s caramel corn.

“Hold onto your poppycock, Casey.”

Simon laughed. “I’ve thought it over and I’ve decided
that Casey is the far better qualified attorney when it comes to bombast,
gibberish, gobbledegook, Jabberwocky, piffle, hooey… and horsefeathers. So he
can keep his poppycock.” He paused for effect, and was rewarded with laughter.
“Whereas I, on the other hand, being of sober mind and domestic inclination… ”
He slowly turned, squinting in turn at everyone in turn and flipped imaginary
hair over his shoulder, “…have always wanted long black tresses.” He reached
and plucked the Chinese elixir from Bruce, “
And
ten more children.” With this he winked mysteriously at Kate.

Her smile froze, and she felt hot prickles and tingles
climb up her breasts to her cheeks.

“Besides, you can’t be trusted with children, you
buffoon,” he said to Bruce and fell back onto the sofa, laughing, and Kate
thrilled with the physical energy of him touching the side of her
disconcertingly responsive body.

“Will you people leave me be,” groaned Bruce, standing to
choose yet another gift. Kate observed Bruce wistfully, her mind on Simon and
his coded communication. She took his meaning perfectly well when he referred
to their dinner last Saturday, and she hid behind dropped lashes.

Bruce ripped the wrapping paper off. His face lit up with
delight like a child on Christmas morning. “At last!” He held up a hockey
jersey with a large number ‘19’ and the name ‘Naslund’ emblazoned across it.
Seeing Will’s expression, he growled defensively.

“Alright!” shouted Will, leaping from his chair and
lunging toward Bruce on the loveseat.

“Hands off!” yelled Bruce.

“No way, you loser. I’m next. It’s mine!” With this he
pounced on Bruce and yanked at the jersey, but Bruce was unwilling to concede
and fought back. They wrestled each other over the back of the loveseat and
onto the floor, where the others, laughing, could only hear their grunts,
muffled curses and thumps. At last Will stood up, his shirt askew, a huge grin
stretched across his face, and held aloft his prize. “Yes!” He punched a
victorious fist into the air.