A Set of Christmas Romance Stories: Part I

(These stories are fairly cheesy but they fit into the typical genre of Christmas romance stories since Hallmark, Netflix etc Christmas stories are also cheesy ;) These were written about ten years ago.)

Anna's Romantic Evening

by Selina De Luca

Written between 2009-2013

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

The house looked beautiful.  Anna had spent hours cleaning and tidying, decorating for Christmas, and preparing the perfect supper for Jem when he got home.  Anna could hear wind shrieking and the snow rattling on the windows, and she knew Jem would be happy to come home to his wife and the cozy fire, with all the romance and Christmassy-ness Anna anticipated.  The tree was all decorated with coloured lights and various ornaments, which shone with a dim but warm glow in the firelight.  Anna hung a mistletoe in the doorway with a hint of a smile on her pixie-like features, but she did not dare put the angel on the top of the tree without her husband, and this her first Christmas married.

The last thing Anna did, while dinner was still sitting hot on the stove, was to dress herself.  She got out of her everyday casuals and put on the dress she had worn to that party the night he had asked her to marry him…  Anna’s smile crept into her face again, and lingered like a flickering shadow while she did her hair and put on little dewdrop earrings and a necklace he had given her.  She couldn’t wait till he got home.

Anna went back downstairs, down the huge staircase that added to the beautiful house’s elegance.  Its extravagance was due to his wealth and, more importantly, the hope of several – several – children.  Anna loved children, as did Jem, and as traditional Catholics they were well acquainted with the idea of large families.  Anna recalled, with a much brighter smile and a gentle tap on her middle, the wonderful Christmas present she had for her husband.  She had not told him yet, in any of the letters she had sent him—letters, the old-fashioned way, the “romantic” way Anna liked it, and he in turn sent her postcard after postcard after postcard.  He had gone to see his grandfather in France.  The old man’s second wife, whom he had married in later years, after his children had moved away, had just died.  Jem did not know his grandfather very well, for his family had moved to Canada when Jem was eleven, and he knew the wife even less, but it was his grandfather, and he felt obliged to go.  So Jem went to La Belle France, which Anna to her delight had had the privilege of seeing on their honeymoon, not half a year earlier.  Anna had not gone, because of the cost, and she’d come to find it rather lonesome in that huge house with nobody else in it.  Jem was only gone for a week, but it already felt like at least a month.  But today, the twentieth day of December in the year 2013, Jem would come home from his first venture out into the world alone since his marriage, and his wife would be there, with all the extras, to welcome him.

She was ready.  It was nearly time for him to come home—

The doorbell rang.  Her heart pounding, Anna raced to the door.  It was cold outside, and so dreary with all that blowing snow, but inside his lovely home he would find—

Anna’s jaw dropped before she even realized it did, and she immediately shut it.  It was cold outside, and Anna, standing there in her party dress and make-up, shivered in the bitter wind.

“Seth!” she exclaimed.  “I dare say I wasn’t expecting you at this time…”

She realized she was babbling, and shut her lipstickedmouth.  Then she courteously invited the young man to step inside from the cold.

“My,” Seth said, rubbing his gloved fingers together to restore warmth.  “Perhaps you were not expecting me, but you certainly were expecting somebody.”

“My husband,” Anna replied.  She meant to sound casual, so as not to make Seth feel bad for barging in on her romantic evening, but by putting no feeling into her words, Anna realized in horror, she had managed to sound accusing.

“I am sorry,” Seth said.  “Should I leave?  I didn’t realize he was away…oh, yes, somebody did tell me.  He went to France for a family funeral…only six months after visiting on his honeymoon!  Ha, ha!”

Anna did not see what was funny.  Was he laughing at what might look like a foolish waste of money?  Or was it just amusing how he had to leave, just to go back again?

“May I take your coat?” Anna asked.

“Oh, so I can stay?  I’m so glad.  It’s still twenty minutes to my house… I’ll die of hypothermia before I get even halfway.”

Anna took Seth’s coat and offered him a chair by the fire.

“Nice fire,” he remarked.  “And boy does it smell good!”

As if on cue, his stomach rumbled obstinately, and Seth flushed.

“Sorry, Anna, I didn’t mean…” he objected hastily as Anna stood up and went into the kitchen.

“It’s all good,” she called back.  “A hungry man needs feeding, no matter – what.”  She’d almost said, “no matter whose night he was ruining.”  Seth wasn’t really doing anything wrong – just barging in on her as she was waiting for her husband’s long-awaited return.

Anna took out the crackers and cheese, but realized with a pang that she should be a good hostess and feed her friend some of her dinner – which was a shocking prospect, but one that would please the good Lord who seemed to spend a lot of his time testing people’s charity.

Anna served Seth a real dinner with a real, or almost real, smile, and sat down with him.  But though she was hungry, she dared not eat herself until Jem came home.

“When’s your husband coming?” Seth asked, who at least had the manners to swallow before talking.

“He said he’d be home at around seven – and it’s almost twenty after.  I guess the snow would slow him down.”

There was a silence, and then,

“Look, Anna, I’m awfully sorry about this.  I know I’m interfering with something – knowing you, it ought to be something big.  But, I was freezing…”

“Oh, Seth, you don’t need to apologize,” Anna replied, feeling bad for her stoniness.  Of course it was not his fault.  But… how long did he think he’d stay?  Because, Anna would have preferred to be alone with Jem when he came home.  

“Hey, is that your phone ringing?”

Anna leapt up and lunged for the receiver.

“Hello?” she said.

“Anna?”

Anna’s heart made an attempt at a jump, missed, and sailed to the floor with a bountiful crash.  She opened her mouth, then glanced out into the hallway where she could see the back of Seth’s head, and decided with unnecessary but rather gracious delicateness that she would not sound overjoyed at hearing Jem’s voice when others, even a good friend like Seth, were around.

“Jem, where are you?” she asked, and her voice sounded uncaring in her ears.

“Listen, darling, I won’t be back until much later tonight – shouldn’t be too long.  Eleven, at the latest.  Blasted snow…”

“Okay, okay Jem, just stay safe and come home!”  cause I miss you so much, she wanted to say.

“I’m coming.”  Jem said.

After they’d exchanged goodbye’s, and Anna had once more seated herself on the couch across from Seth, her thoughts revolved around that one wonderful phrase – I’m coming.  Finally, he was coming home.  A bit later than she’d hoped, but still… he’d be home.

Then Anna realized that she would not be able to hold out that long.  She was starving.  An hour would be okay, but four?

“Your husband?” Seth asked.

“Uh-huh,” Anna responded.  “He won’t be home until, like, eleven.”

“Oh!” Seth said, as though relieved.  A quick feeling of resentment flashed through Anna’s mind, but then she decided to make the best of things, as well as she could.

So, Anna fed herself, and she fed Seth more, and the man was still hungry, so she gave him more, even though he refused at first.

“I’ll take anything, really, Anna – soda crackers will do.  In fact, I don’t need anything…”

But they finished Anna’s dinner she’d spent so much time preparing.  And she didn’t even care.  Eleven would be too late for Jem to eat… he would pick up something on the way home.  At least, Anna would keep the fire going, and her Christmas tree beamed at her as she glanced across the room at the mirror on the wall. She looked great. Seth would leave soon, and she would make Jem a light snack, and still be ready for the mistletoeing and whatever else Jem brought back… as well as her special gift – could that wait until Christmas?  No, she had to tonight.

“I heard you’ve been sick,” Seth spoke up.  “I suppose it didn’t help not having your husband here for you.”

“My mother neither,” Anna replied.  “It’s been years since I was sick like this.  My mother was always there for me when I was sick.  Now, since we’ve moved, I don’t even see her that often.”

“You must miss her.”

“Yes, I do.  I always miss everyone.  I miss my high school and university friends, and when you went to Africa I missed you, and I miss my family, and worst of all, I miss Jem.  Horribly.”

Seth nodded, as if he understood, but said nothing, and Anna remembered how his girlfriend had died when her car had come head-on into a drunk driver’s car heading the wrong way on the busy street, and grew suddenly quiet.

“A penny for your thoughts… though I’ll bet they were of Jem,” Seth said after a moment.

“Actually, I was thinking…” Anna hesitated.  Should she say?  No… no use in dampening his jolly, carefree spirit.  “I was thinking, would you like to see our wedding pictures?  Kyra told me you hadn’t seen them yet.  Goodness, Seth,” she added as he shook his head, “you should have – after all, you were his best man.”

“Yes,” Seth replied.  “I would like to see them.”  So Anna pulled out the album to display them to him, and she and her friend spent a merry evening reminiscing and flipping through albums. After the wedding album, Anna got out the honeymoon pictures, and they got talking and didn’t realize how much time had passed until, with a suddenness that startled Anna, the power went off.

“Good thing you’ve got that fire faithfully burning on,” Seth remarked.  Anna nodded, a hand to her heart.  The firelight did not lessen the brightness of the room…except for her beautiful tree.  

“But no more Christmas lights,” she said.

“Oh, it’ll be back on shortly, I’m sure.”

“I hope so,” Anna replied.  “I’d hate for Jem to arrive home and find the house dark.  What time is it?”

Seth checked his watch, and told her it was nine-fifty.  Anna’s eyes widened.

“Nine fifty, already?  Really?  That went by fast.”

“Well, you’ve still got time.  Didn’t you say Jem wasn’t coming until eleven?”

“That’s what he said…”  Anna’s words were interrupted with a jaw-splitting yawn.

“Tired?” Seth asked.

“No kidding,” Anna replied.  “I’ve been missing sleep a lot lately.”

Seth smiled and gave her a gentle pat.

“Soon, honey.  Soon.”

Anna was too tired to smile back.  She put her head against the sofa cushion behind her and yawned again.  Her eyelids drooped, and though she tried to snap them back open, they refused to obey.  The last thing she heard was Seth saying,

“Well, I might as well get going, though the storm hasn’t let up yet.  Goodbye.”

“Goodbye…” Anna mumbled, and then she dreamt that Seth had come back to sit down by the fire… no, it was Jem… no, in fact, it had to be Seth – Jemwasn’t that large.  His silhouette stood out against the fire, but then it disappeared altogether, and Anna let herself give in to this soothing nap before her husband came home at eleven.

Jeremy Kipling, or “Jem”, smiled as he directed the taxi driver to turn left on “this road here.”  The turn was, at long last, the turn he’d been waiting for all night.  Very soon he would be home, where his wife Anna would be waiting.  Knowing Anna, the house would be decked from head to toe in cheery Christmas décor.  There would probably be a roaring fire and a Christmas tree – with presents – and lights…J em was so excited.  His stomach reminded him, also, that she would probably have a nice dinner, too…and he would be very much surprised if the girl was not wearing some fancy la-ti-da outfit to welcome her husband in.

They continued slowly down that road in the wildly blowing wind, but when they finally reached their destination and Jem stepped out of the vehicle, he saw how dark the house was, and all the houses down the street.

“Oh,” he said.  “Power failure.”

It did not dampen his spirits entirely, but Jem knew it probably meant no hot supper, no Christmas lights… but still a fire, and, most importantly, a loving and faithful wife.

When he unlocked the front door, his heart began to beat in anticipation.  He swung the door open and cried out,

“Anna!”

There was no answer.  Jem shut the door, and took off his coat and boots.  He could see a fire, slowly dying but still flickering its small flames, and in front of it sat Anna, wearing the dress he loved so much, the one she’d worn the night she’d accepted his engagement ring, fast asleep.

“Oh,” he breathed.  The poor thing was tuckered…t horoughly, entirely tuckered.  He tiptoed in, and brushed the top of his head against something that moved – he jumped in alarm, and glanced up to see a swinging mistletoe.  Jem’s face split into a bright, happy smile.  He was home.

“Jem.”

Jem jumped again.

“Hey, Jem.”

Jem spun around.  It was Seth, his dear friend, looking rather worn out himself.  Seth shot Jem a rather guilty look and said,

“I – I was just in my way out.  Stopped by for dinner…ate it all, too, darn it, though your wife wasn’t much of a help on that one.”

Seth left without another word, and suddenly, a lump formed in Jem’s throat.  What was up with Seth’s sheepish eyes, glancing away as he swallowed hard, obvious even in this darkness?  Exactly how long had he been there, and how often?  Did this have something to do with Anna’s feeling-less voice on the phone?  It was so unlike her to not throw in passionate italics and at least on “I love you”…often with a so much tacked onto the end.  Jem remembered in a rush how he had first met Anna… in the arms of his best friend Seth.  They’d been dating for a month, but began to drift apart as Anna’s heart slowly but surely fell for her boyfriend’s best friend Jeremy.  And he, Seth, had had his eyes on another girl… it was only natural they’d break up, though they would always remain good friends afterward, and by the time they did separate, Jem was ready to take Seth’s place.  

Take Seth’s place. No… it was impossible. Anna and Seth were good… faithful wife, faithful friend…

Jem sat down on the couch beside his sleeping wife and looked at her.  He didn’t want to wake her up.  He stared at her for a long time before his stomach finally reminded him that he hadn’t had any dinner.  He got up and went to the dark and cold kitchen and rummaged around for some food.  There were some empty pots still smelling of good food… and, well, there were some crackers. And cheese. Jem sat down and thought about Seth as he munched on his crackers and cheese.  Why was Seth at his house? Why did he leave in such a hurry? 

But… they knew I was coming. And they are such good people. I’m being unfair.

He cast his suspicion off as due to his tiredness and hunger and the ache of being away from his beloved Anna so close to Christmas.  He continued to munch and muse and then, eventually, he found himself dozing off with his head in his arms on the table.

He woke up sometime later to the lights turning back on.  He looked around him blearily and then got up and walked out to the living room.  The Christmas tree was all lit up now and little Anna was stirring.  Jem approached the tree and stared at it.  He was glad… real glad… he was home, and it was Christmas.

Something white caught his eye then, on the floor under the tree.  He bent down and picked it up.  It was a small white envelope, and on it was written: To my dear Anna, much love, Seth.

He knew it was unfair, but the knot in his stomach was back.

“Jem?”

“Eh?” he said.

“Jemmy, baby, why didn’t you wake me up?” Jem could hear his wife getting up and approaching him, but he didn’t turn around.  “Jem? Sweetheart.”

He hadn’t even realized until now that there were tears in his eyes.  After a second he turned around and held out the envelope for her.  She looked at it, then at him.

“Jem, I have something to tell you,” she said solemnly.

What?! No. No, no, no!

Jem turned back to the tree.

“Jem, baby,” Anna said.  She was faltering.  It had been a mistake to leave her… it had been a mistake to…

“Jem, are you okay?”

“What was it you wanted to tell me?” he whispered.

“Turn around, Jem.”

“Just say what you need to say.”

“What’s the matter? Hard trip? I wanted to have this place all beautiful for you when you got back… I made you a dinner, but Seth ate it all –”

“Why was Seth here?” Jem asked, abruptly turning to face her again. “What was he doing, on my couch with you in the darkness, eating my dinner?”

Surprise flooded Anna’s face.  She looked like she didn’t know what to say.  Jem held out the envelope for her again, and she slowly took it from him, without taking her eyes from him.  Tears started to come into his eyes again, but he held them back.  There were tears in her eyes, too.  They stared at each other, motionless and silent for a while.  

“What was it you wanted to tell me?” Jem asked gruffly after a moment, when he felt he could trust his voice.

         Anna let go of the envelope in her hand.  Jem watched it flutter to the ground.  Anna stepped closer to him, and took his arm.  He felt the warmth of her touch.  His heartbeat quickened as she slowly brought his hand towards her and placed it against her stomach.

        “Jem, you are a daddy.”

        Jem started.  He wasn’t sure if he heard her right.  He wanted to say “what?” but his voice was stuck in his throat again.  He stared at his hand where she was holding it to her middle, unable to look up at her. 

        A half-sigh, half-cry escaped his lips then, and he looked up at his wife.  She was so beautiful, with those tears on her cheeks and that baby inside of her, underneath her pretty dress.

        “A baby?” he gaped.

        “A baby!” she said.

        “What – I thought – Seth – and you here – and –”

        “What? Seth? Oh, Jem, you needn’t be jealous! He stopped in on his way home when he was cold.. the envelope is just a Christmas card, he made one for each of us. The night wasn’t as perfect as I’d planned...”

        Jem didn’t know what to say. He felt guilty and relieved and happy all at once, and she was crying now, so there was nothing left to do but snatch her up into her arms and smother her with kisses.

“Jem, Jem!” she was saying when she could spare a breath.

“My little Anna,” he whispered.  “This night is still perfect. I love you.”

“Welcome home,” she whispered back, and they remained there together in each other’s embrace for a long time, alit by the light of the Christmas tree and the glow of their love for each other.