Savage Love (23 page)

     “But…what will they think of Seanna and I being here? What if they think we are like that woman that we just rescued Daffyd from?” Samantha worried.

     “Oh, please, Mom. Any person in their right mind would be able to see how much you love Daffyd,” said Seanna.

     “But how could I ever possibly explain that I have only been a widow for less than a year, or that I
so much older than him! If I
was
his mother I wouldn’t trust me,” exclaimed Samantha.

     “Ok, now you aren’t even making sense. Take a de
ep breath,” suggested Trisha. “We can both vouch for you.”

     “Nobody could have planned this all out, with all that has happened the past few months, it’s been like a made for TV series. It has to be pretty obvious that it all just happened, probably orchestrated by God. Daffyd would probably be dead by now if your car hadn’t broken down that day,” stated Leal.

     “Leal’s right, Mom,” agreed Seanna.

     “About what?” asked Bryce as he returned to the
table.

     “I told them about your grandparents,” Seanna admitted.

     “I almost told Daffyd just now, but he was so tired…and I guess I’m a big chicken,” Bryce replied. “So what was Leal right about?”

     “Mom’s freaked that they are going to think she is a cradle robber or a grave robber or some such bologna.”

     “I already told them about the two of you breaking down this summer and I also included the fact that your being here got Uncle Daffyd to church.”

     “Did you also tell them that my husband has only been gone for a few months and that I’m
five years older than Daffyd?” asked Samantha.

     “No, they don’t even know that he’s sick, and I had no way of knowing that you two would be here right now, and honestly you kind of broke things off with Daffyd so I didn’t have a need to explain
. I asked them to come before I left school for winter break never imagining all that would happen,” Bryce explained.

     “You’re right…I’m sorry
, Bryce. I guess I am just nervous about meeting them,” Samantha said.

     “Why don’t you think about Daffyd and forget all the other stuff. He
’s going to have a lot of explaining to do, and he will probably need you there beside him for support,” suggested Trisha.

     “I did just offer this morning to be there with him when he called. Bryce, Daffyd had just talked to me this morning about coming clean to his Parents. Do you think he should still call?” asked Samantha.

     “They wouldn’t be home. They were driving in and staying the night with some friends before their flight. I have to pick them up at ten tomorrow morning.”

     “Well, then do you think we should tell Daffyd?” asked Leal.

     “You know the way he is, Honey. He’d get all mad that Bryce went over his head and freak out,” said Trisha.

     “Maybe not, he has changed so much the past few days,” said Seanna
.

     “I say just let them come and let him deal with it,” offered Samantha. “He needs to make this right with his parents, and this will force him to handle it once and for all.”

     “I agree,” said Trisha.

     “That was my point all along,” said Bryce.

Chapter 23

All I Want For Christmas

     Later Samantha went to see if Daffyd felt up to watching them put the last few touches on the tree. She slipped into his room and quietly lay down next to him on the bed. He was all curled up with the blankets tucked up under his chin. Samantha lay facing him and just watched him for a few minutes. He looked peaceful, much better than when they had first got
ten here. He still looked unwell. His cheeks were sunken in as well as his eyes. He had dark circled under his eyes that almost looked like bruises. Samantha reached out and ran the back of her hand across his cheek and Daffyd slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times and then a lazy smile came to his face.

     “Hi there,” he said sleepily.

     “Hey,” said Samantha with a smile.

     “You’re beautiful, did you know that?” said Daffyd.

     “You’re pretty beautiful yourself,” she answered.

     Daffyd laughed and shook his head. “Did I mention you’re also a little touched in the
head.”

     “I
’m serious. You are one of the most beautiful people I have ever met,” Samantha insisted.

     “Well at one time, I was lauded as one of the “Most Beautiful People of Rock”. But that was before I lost fifty pounds and lost my blonde mane of hair.”

     “Oh, but I was talking about the inside. Those people never saw the person you really are. They only saw the person they wanted you to be. I love
you
, Daffyd Sayvage, not “Savage” the rock star. In fact I’m pretty sure I don’t like him at all.” She smiled.

      Daffyd reached up and smoothed her hair back from her face. They looked at each other for a few minutes until Daffyd pulled her closer. Samantha
’s face was just inches away from Daffyd’s. “Samantha.”

    
“Yes, Daffyd.”

     “I think I know what I want for Christmas.”

     “What do you want for Christmas?” she asked.

     “I wan
t a kiss, a real kiss, you know…like on the lips,”

     “Oh, so the kiss you gave me on the forehead doesn’t count? Or the kisses I have given you on the cheek or on the hand?” she teased.

     “As lovely as those all were…I feel like there is more. Will you give me a kiss for Christmas?”

     “Sure…on Christmas morning.”

     Daffyd laughed. “Ok, on Christmas morning. Promise?”

    
“Promise! Now sleeping beauty, how about we go downstairs so they can finish up the tree and light it up for you?”

     “Ok, but how about one of those forehead kisses before you get up off my bed.”

     “Oh, no. I have more sense than that. First you get up, then I will give you your forehead kiss. I am not kissing you while we are lying together in your bed.”

     “Well, technically you aren’t in the bed, and I am offended that after all we’ve been through, you don’t trust me,” he said pretending to be hurt.

     Samantha jumped up off the bed and said, “It’s not you I don’t trust.”

     Daffyd thr
ew back his head and laughed again. Finally he got up out of bed and Samantha brought him his warm robe and slipper. When he was ready to go downstairs, he stood there looking at her expectantly. So Samantha reached up with both hands and tilted his head down, stood on her tippy toes and planted a big kiss on his forehead.

    “Ok, now I am ready,” said Daffyd.

     When they got downstairs, Trisha had made open faced sandwiches in the oven and some homemade soup. They were already sitting around the table waiting for the two latecomers.

     “Wow, something smells good,” said Daffyd.

     “Of course it does. I knew it would take something special to bring you two downstairs,” teased Trisha.

     “Yep, Samantha just didn’t want to come down…” said Daffyd.

     Samantha just gave him her teacher look. “Let’s pray so we can eat this while it is still warm.”

    
“Father, thank you for this food and the wonderful hands that made it. Thank you for friends and family and for a beautiful Christmas tree. Amen,” prayed Daffyd before anyone else could.

     “Amen!” said everyone else.

     Soon they were stuffed and ready to finish up the tree. Daffyd once again was made comfortable on the couch wrapped up in a blanket. Samantha hung a few decorations and then sat down next to Daffyd, snuggling into his blanket with him. They watched as the other four hung the cookies and the strings of popcorn. Seanna’s hand cut paper decorations looks lovely in the green boughs. When all was finished, Bryce ran upstairs and told them all to wait. When he came down he had an old box in his hands. When he opened it Daffyd gasped.

     “That’s Mom’s star
…she always puts it on her tree. It’s from Wales. What’s it doing here?” asked Daffyd.

     “Grandma gave it to me this summer. She said that she wanted you to have it for your tree. I told her you don’t always put one up, but she insisted. S
he said that she had a feeling that this year would be different,” answered Bryce.

     “Well she was right and it is beautiful,” said Samantha.

     “Daffyd you should be the one to put it on the tree! Can you help him up the ladder Leal?” asked Seanna.

     “Sure, do you feel up to it?” asked Leal.

     “If Mom could give up one of her prized possessions for my tree, then I can climb a ladder to put it up there,” said Daffyd.

      It took some maneuvering to get it done. Bryce and Seanna held on to the bottom of the ladder to keep it stable. Shortly Daffyd and Leal both had their feet planted firmly on the ground once again and Daffyd stepped back and gazed up at the tree. He looked sad and happy at the same time and had tears rolling down his face. Samantha soon was there for a hug and the others just couldn’t resist. When the huge group hug was over they all sat down while Bryce finished up with the grand finale. He plugged in the lights and they all “
ooohed and aaawed”  over the wonderful spectacle.

     “We need some Christmas music,” said Seanna. “You’re a musician
, Daffyd, certainly you have something for Christmas.”

     “No,” Daffyd laughed, “I don’t own a single Christmas CD.
How about you Trish?”

     “We left in such a big hurry, I never grabbed our CD’s,” answered Trisha.

      “Who needs a CD? We have a gifted musician and singer in our midst. You can start us out and we’ll follow,” suggested Bryce.

     “Yes, sing for us
, Daffyd,” said Seanna.

     Daffyd started singing
-

             
                           
“Ave Maria…
”
he sang.

    
     As the last noted died, he opened his eyes to see everyone around him sitting silently. They all either had tears in their eyes, or were crying outright. Samantha gave Daffyd another big hug as the others wiped their eyes and self consciously smiled or hid their faces.

    
“That was so… special,” Seanna said in awe. “That didn’t sound anything like your stage voice.”

     “Thank you, I think…” said Daffyd.

     “No offence, Daffyd, but wow, you can sing. I love that song, and I have never heard it sang like that before,” she said.

     “I don’t think I’ve ever sang it like that before. I wanted to play a joke and just picked a Christmas son
g that I thought you wouldn’t be able to sing along with, but when I sang that first couple of words; I just thought about how wonderful it is to have you all here, and how thankful I am that you are.” Daffyd said looking at them all.

     “The joke was on you,”
chuckled Leal. “Now we’re gonna make you sing that
every
Christmas.” That caused the girls to start sniffling again.

     “What
, you don’t think I’ll be around another Christmas?” asked Daffyd in mock surprise.

     “Of course we do, Daffyd,
don’t be a jerk!” grouched Trisha, which made them all laugh, including Trisha.

Chapter 24

‘Twas
the Night Before Christmas

     Christmas Eve day dawned bright and sunny. The snow covered landscape looked like mounds of sparkling diamonds in the early morning light. Samantha gazed out of her window as she asked God to bless this day and to bring reconciliation to Daffyd and his parents. She had spent several sleepless hours the night before worrying about meeting them today, but finally she heard that still small voice asking her to put her trust in Him. This morning her mind was at peace and she was resigned to deal with whatever happened today with the grace and love that she hoped to receive.

     Bryce and Leal had already left for the airport by the time Samantha made it downstairs. Seanna was at the bar munching on a huge muffin still warm out of the oven. Trisha was humming ‘Away in a Manger’ as she puttered around in the kitchen. She had a big pair of sweater slippers on that went almost up to her knees.