Staring down at the bright red wrapping paper and its shiny silver bow, Jill hesitated. Christmas day was not supposed to be about nervousness and worry. It hadn’t been either for her until this year.
Unfortunately this year was different. She was different. Peter was coming over. He would be there any minute and she was on the verge of passing out.
Shaking her head she set the present down on the table only to stare at it. It had taken forever to find the perfect gift. Now that it was wrapped and there was no switching it for anything else she was nervous that it wouldn’t send the right message. She wanted him to know that she cared without freaking him out.
With all the anticipation, she hadn’t given herself time to worry.
“Mom. I’m going to go wait for Peter out front.”
“Alright, honey.”
She only debated for a few seconds whether or not to take her present but glancing back over at where her mom was working in the kitchen she grabbed it. Out front she wouldn’t have an audience.
As she was closing the front door she heard footsteps on the patio.
“I hope you weren’t planning on leaving before I got here. After all, I was hoping you would be my Christmas present.”
“Peter. Hey!” Launching into his arms Jill laughed. “I was coming out to catch you before you knocked on the door so we could exchange presents just the two of us.”
“Were you watching out the window for me?” He chuckled. “I thought you loved Christmas with your family.”
She shook her head and pulled him over to the white wicker seats on the far side of the porch. “I wasn’t looking to escape or avoid my family. And I wasn’t looking out the window. I just have the most incredible timing ever.”
“Or is it that you don’t want me to meet your mother?”
Again with the shaking head. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible to avoid. You’re meeting my mom ‘cause she knows you are coming. Now sit and open my present before I overthink it and hide it from you instead.”
Jill set down the shiny red box in his lap and flopped back in the other chair. Clasping her hands she tried to hide her nerves but they still shook just a little. When Peter didn’t move to unwrap her present she shifted around. It wasn’t noticeable. At least she thought it wouldn’t be but Peter noticed.
“Jill. Whatever is in this box is not going to change how I feel about you. You know that right?”
She nodded. “My brain knows that. And yet I’m still nervous.”
“Why?”
After a moment’s hesitation she gave a shaky sigh. “I put a lot of thought and effort into finding what I thought would be a great gift. Now that it’s time for you to see it, I’m just doubting my whole process.”
“Would it help to have you open my present first?” He reached into his pocket but her hand on his arm stopped him.
“No. I just want you to open it so I can see your reaction and stop freaking myself out.” Jill shook her shoulders. “It’s a good one. Open it.”
It only took a few seconds before the torture was over and instead she watched as his jaw dropped. “No way.”
She couldn’t stop nodding.
“Jill, you didn’t.” He laughed. “How did you manage?”
“I told you it took a lot of work.”
Pulling out the roll he kept shaking and laughing his head as he laid out the paper on the table. “You designed this? When did you find the time? You work so much as it is.”
She shrugged. “I put in time here and there. When I could. You’ve wanted to fix up your grandfather’s place for a long time, you said. And I remember you mentioning that you couldn’t find someone who could put your vision on paper. So every time you talked about what you wanted, I took notes. And we can change whatever you want.”
“Well now I wish you had opened mine first. There is no way mine can compare to this.”
Putting her hand on his she waited until he was looking at her. “Peter. Whatever is in this box is not going to change how I feel about you.”
“Oh funny. Using my own words against me.”
Beaming, Jill held out her hands. “Now give me my present, please.”
“No.”
Shock filled her face for a brief second.
“I think I need to show you how much I appreciate your gift first.” He winked. “With a kiss…or kisses.”
Taking her hand he pulled her over onto his lap. Softly he whispered in her ear. “Thank you so, so much Jill.” Each word was followed by a small kiss. “I love your…present.”
“I’m liking mine too.” She whispered back.
He stopped, pulling back barely an inch. “Oh funny.” He smiled. “Now I won’t kiss you again until you open your present.”
“That’s not very holly jolly of you.” Jill gave him a pouty lip. “Just one more. Please?”
“I’m not Santa. Now go sit on your chair so I can watch you open your present.”
With a big exaggerated sigh she moved back over to her chair, glancing over at the front door and window to make sure they didn’t have any peepers.
“Once again I find myself with my hands open and waiting. Do I get my present now?”
He pulled out a small rectangle box. “Be kind.” His hand shook as he handed it over.
Opening the box she gasped at the small pendant necklace laying on the blue velvet pad. “A key?”
“Jill, I’m giving you the key to my heart. Maybe it’s a little corny but I wanted you to have this so that every time you put it on you remember that you have my heart all locked up and yours.”
“Oh. I love that.”
“I love you, Jill.”
