Christmas Magic
Copyright Dr Kristina Howells
Smashwords Edition
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Christmas Magic
Sally was sitting ominously in the café watching the world go by.
‘Another tea,’ the waitress asked.
‘Yes please,’ she replied.
It was two days before Christmas day. Sally wasn’t in the mood to celebrate Christmas this year. Six months prior, her fiancé of ten years, had dumped her for a younger model.
Sally was distraught. She didn’t know how she was going to cope all alone at Christmas. Both of her parent’s dead, and no brothers or sisters, left her in solitude.
Sitting in the café was the only thing that kept her away, from the loneliness of her one bedroom flat. As she sat beside the window, she noticed lots of people walking in the snow. Several couples were holding hands, whilst others, were running about catching up with the last minute presents. And others were fathers, holding the Christmas tree, with their children in tow, running about cheerfully, and waiting for Father Christmas.
All Sally could do was reminisce how her Christmas would have been, if Jonathon was still with her. There were moments like this, she longed for him. It made her sad.
This time last year, they were busy preparing the tree, looking for presents, and preparing the feast for his family. The arguments they had over what to buy his mother, or father, and how long to cook the turkey for, as his mother wanted it cooked a certain way, was all part of the fun.
She loved Christmas. She loved being part of the family. She hoped that this year would be the same. That he would dump his blonde twenty something bombshell, who looked a bit like Samantha Fox, and return back home.
Then she fell pregnant. After that, there was no reconsolidation. Sally had to move on. If she didn’t, she would always remain alone, and miserable.
Then suddenly, out of the corner of her eyes. She noticed a charming man in his forties, with dark-brown hair, wearing a crimson coloured coat. She didn’t want to make it obvious that she was staring at him. But he too, couldn’t help looking at her. He found her long blonde curly hair, conservative dress, and red lipstick appealing.
‘Hello, my name’s Michael.’
‘Hello, Sally. Nice to meet you,’ she said.
‘Nice to meet you too,’ he smiled. ‘Do you mind if I can join you?’
‘No not at all, it would be nice to have some company,’ she exclaimed.
Whilst in his company, they spoke about many things. Sally was fascinated in hearing all about his life. Michael, like Sally, was all alone for Christmas. His wife, Angela, walked out on him for her young lover. He was a mess. It had taken several months to get over her.
But the pain had suddenly returned. The idea of spending Christmas alone, had hit him too, just like it had Sally.
‘I know what, I’m alone too this Christmas, why don’t we celebrate it together at mine,’ Sally offered.
‘That’s very kind of you, are you sure?’
‘No one should spend Christmas all alone, I’m sure.’
Sally felt happier. So did Michael. She enjoyed being in his company. She didn’t want it to end. Michael felt the same too.
‘My flat is quite small, but we don’t need a mansion to enjoy Christmas pudding, eating turkey, and pulling crackers,’ she laughed
Michael liked her humour. Sally had a way of making him smile, this he adored.
By now they had spent two hours in each other’s company. She didn’t want the chance meeting to end, neither did Michael.
‘Do you want to go for a walk?’ he suggested.
‘Ok.’
Sally paid the bill, put on her coat, and left the restaurant with Michael. As they walked through the high street, they noticed Carol Singers, singing beside the Christmas tree, Silent Night. Sally stood watching them. Out of the corner of Michael’s eye, he noticed tears were streaming down her face.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked.
‘Just a bit of nostalgia, nothing to worry about,’ she smiled.
‘Let’s cheer ourselves up with a glass of mulled wine,’ he hinted.
‘Ok, that sounds great. Let’s go to the Crown Inn pub, across the road from the market place,’ she replied.
‘Sounds good,’ he winked.
They then walked past the carol singers, and across the market square. It had started to snow. It looked like it was going to be a white Christmas after all. It had been a while since it snowed so close to Christmas Eve.
Soon they arrived at the Crown Inn pub. Once inside, Sally headed towards the open fire place.
‘This should warm us up a bit,’ she said.
Michael nodded in agreement, as he went to purchase two mulled wines. When he returned to the table with the drinks, they continued their conversation. Sally was an IT specialist. Michael was an engineer. They shared many common interests, like sailing, travelling, and photography.
Michael explained how his wife hated going anywhere with him. She detested sailing, and photography. She had often made excuses, why she couldn’t join him in his activities. This started to eat at him. Sally could see how painful his life had been. Sally was in the same boat. Jonathon detested doing the same things as her; this made him resenting his constant excuses.
‘Do you believe in Father Christmas? Or Christmas Magic? Sally asked.
‘No, there has never been anything magical that has happened to me.’
Sally sighed. She began to feel they were meant to meet today. She began to feel the magic happening around them. Michael began to feel it too.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asked. ‘We could go eat at the Chinese restaurant next door, if your interested.’
‘That would be nice,’ she replied.
They finished their mulled wines, and went into the Chinese restaurant next door. Sally enjoyed Chinese food. She particularly liked Peking duck. So did Michael, as they ordered the same dishes. It seemed that they had more in common, than first thought.
The evening was about to come to an end. Michael paid the bill.
‘Why don’t we go back to my house? Michael suggested. ‘I don’t live very far away. My house is on Fifth Avenue.’
‘Ok, that would be nice.’
Michael accompanied Sally to his house. She was amazed at how big it was. She hoped to find that he had decorated it for Christmas. But like Sally’s, there were no Christmas decorations. It was just like it had been all year round. There was no Christmas tree, or decorations. Sally didn’t mind. Her flat was the same.
Michael felt embarrassed. He went upstairs into the loft, and searched for the mistletoe, whilst Sally was sitting in the front room.
‘Ah, I’ve got you,’ he smiled, before returning downstairs, and attaching the mistletoe to the ceiling in the hallway.
‘Sally, I’ve something to show you,’ he said excitedly, as he took Sally’s hand, leading her out towards the hallway, towards the mistletoe.
‘Look,’ he said pointing up towards the mistletoe.
Sally looked up above her. Michael pulled her towards him, and started to kiss her. Sally responded. It felt like magic, as her lips locked with his.
‘Stay the night,’ he whispered. ‘Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, we can plan our Christmas together.’
‘Ok.’
Michael then led her upstairs to the bedroom. Sally followed him; where the kiss would continue into the following day.
Sally loved lying in his arms She felt secure and safe. When he awoke, she leaned over and kissed him.
‘Good morning,’ she smiled.
‘Good morning,’ he replied, touching her hair. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘I would love one.’
Michael put on his dressing gown, and went to make the teas. Sally took a shower and got dressed. Michael waited for her in the kitchen. He prepared an English breakfast.
It had been a long time, since he last made an English breakfast. Normally, he would just have a slice of toast with jam, and coffee.
He enjoyed Sally’s company. He found her to be intelligent, and independent. He liked this in a woman. She was the complete opposite of his ex wife. He hoped that she would spend Christmas at his house, instead of her flat.
‘I hope you like eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, and toast with your tea.’
‘That’s fine,’ she said, as she joined Michael in the kitchen.
Over breakfast, Michael suggested they spent the day decorating his house, and going shopping for Christmas day. Sally agreed. She was happy. For the first time in a long time, she wouldn’t be spending Christmas at her house. She finally went away for Christmas.
Eighteen hours earlier, Sally was sitting all alone in the cafe, watching the world go by. Then she met Michael, and now they were preparing for Christmas. It seemed so surreal that she was now spending Christmas with someone. Not with anyone, but with a gentleman.
Sally cleared the table, and washed the dishes, whilst Michael got showered and dressed. When he returned from getting ready, he found Sally waiting for him in the front room.
‘Ready to go, to the shops,’ he said.
‘Let’s go.’
Michael and Sally got into his Renault espace, and made their way to the shopping centre. Sally was surprised how busy it was. Inside Sally wanted some time alone to look for a present. Michael had the same idea.
‘Meet you in front of Asda in twenty minutes,’ Michael smiled.
‘Ok, see you in twenty minutes.’
Twenty minutes had passed by quickly; Michael was waiting eagerly for Sally. She soon arrived. Then, they went looking for the turkey, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, Christmas pudding, crackers, bread wine, champagne, and a yuletide log.
Michael paid for all the items at the checkout, as she packed the bags. Outside, Sally noticed real Christmas trees for sale at half the price. She went over and bought one. Michael was pleased. Christmas wasn’t going to be boring after all. It was going to be fun. He had someone to share the magic of Christmas with.
They soon returned back to Michael’s house. Sally got to work in unpacking the bags, whilst Michael went into the loft and get the decorations down. Then they were ready to decorate the house. Sally had fun in decorating the tree; Michael enjoyed watching her, as he put up the decorations around the front room, and prepare the sideboard in the dining room. The house had now looked the part.
‘I must go home to get some clothes,’ Sally said.
Michael agreed to accompany her. It didn’t take long to drive to her flat. She lived the other side of town. Sally was pleased that Michael was with her, as she opened the door.
‘Just make yourself comfortable,’ she hinted, as she opened the bottle of Bordeaux, grand cru, handed him a glass, and went to get some things together.
The evening came quickly. Sally proposed to cook them something traditional. She had two rump steaks in the fridge, and frozen oven chips. Michael didn’t mind, he liked her flat. He found it cosy.
After dinner, Sally cleared the table, and washed the dishes, and then they left to return back to Michael’s house.
There, Michael took hold of her hand, and led her into the bedroom. Sally followed him eagerly, as she allowed him to take her.
Christmas day arrived quickly. Michael woke up first. He got up, and quietly left Sally sleeping in the bed. He went downstairs, and started to prepare the dining room table for Christmas breakfast. He chilled the champagne in the fridge, and cooked them breakfast.
The smell of bacon wafted upstairs. It was this smell that woke Sally. She got up, put on her dressing gown, and headed towards the kitchen. Michael took hold of her, and kissed her.
‘Merry Christmas,’ he said.
‘Merry Christmas,’ she smiled.
Michael took the champagne out of the fridge, and opened it. He then placed it onto the table, before he served breakfast. Once the breakfast was served, he poured the champagne into two flute glasses.
‘Here’s to our first Christmas,’ he toasted.
‘To our first Christmas,’ she replied.
Sally and Michael were no longer alone. Christmas had certainly produced its magic. Sally spent a magical day with Michael. After breakfast, Sally cleared the table, and washed up. Michael went under the Christmas tree, and handed her the present he had bought her.
Sally took hold of it, and placed it onto the table. She then, did the same thing. She went under the Christmas tree and handed Michael his present. They opened up their presents together.
‘It’s not much,’ she said. ‘I hope you like it.’
Michael peeled off the paper, and smiled. It was a cream coloured jumper.
‘I love it,’ he gleamed.
Sally opened hers. She was happy to find it was a pearl necklace. She loved pearls. She asked Michael to help her put them on, and gave him a kiss.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
The rest of the day went by quickly. Sally cooked the turkey, and Michael helped her. In the evening they watched Christmas films, and listened to carols, as they drank wine, and snacked on the food they had bought. It was magical.
‘I want this to continue forever,’ he whispered.
‘Me too,’ she replied.
‘Just meeting you was the best Christmas present anyone could have bought me.’
‘The same for me too,’ she smiled.
After Christmas, Sally and Michael stayed together. Sally rented out her flat, and moved in with Michael. It just goes to show that Christmas magic really does exist. You just have to believe.