Page 75 of A Sudden Romance

Her chest expanded, her heart so overwhelmed. She now understood what he meant. Her lips parted, then closed. The voices in the background all blurred as her only awareness became of the man leaning into her and kissing her cheek. She was experiencing what Joy said at the restaurant. Being so physically attracted to someone she lost the ability to think around them.

***

SUNDAY NIGHT, IRIS’S family hosted the Christmas party at the recreation center. The event was a casual dinner to allow less fortunate families to celebrate Christmas with the community.

Iris and her family had served food and handed out presents to the kids and gift cards to their parents. Her cheeks hurt from grinning at the children seated by the makeshift stage where cottony fake snow padded the floor. The glittering lights strung across the room and the three spruce trees illuminated their wide grins as they focused on Sabastian in the chair next to one tree. Playing the guitar, he rocked his head to match the rhythm as he sang “How Many Kings.”

Iris sank back into her front-row corner chair. At his voice, deep and rich, a rush of warmth ran down her spine. Every so often, his gaze drifted from the audience to her.

When the song ended, the kids cheered and clapped along with the adults.

“I’ll now call Iris to sing this next song with me.”

Wait? What? Her hand flew to cover her mouth. Surely, she hadn’t heard right amidst the percussion of cheering and clapping. But why was he grinning at her? The tree lights cast a colorful blue glow in his eyes—unless that was mischief?

“Me?” she mouthed, pointing a finger to her chest.

He nodded, his grin widening. He was in so much trouble for putting her in a spot like this. Especially when her brothers started chanting, “Iris! Iris!”

The kids started clapping again too.

With nerves dancing in her belly, she had no choice but to saunter on the stage, avoiding eye contact with the audience. She could handle pitches and seminars for her job, but those didn’t include singing.

She slid next to Sabastian, whiffing the pine aroma from the nearby spruce trees. Then she elbowed him and mumbled, “This wasn’t listed on the program.”

“Sometimes the best things that happen to us take us by surprise,” he said, using her own words.

As they sang “Silent Night,” she did her best not to lean into him, afraid her squeaky voice would be heard through the microphone. When everyone in the audience chimed in and sang, she got lost in the song and the kids’ happy faces.

What a wonderful cheerful vibe, a spirit of Christmas joy!

After the song, Eric read the Christmas story to the kids before everyone gathered in the lobby for cookies and hot chocolate. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg sweetened the air as she chatted with her community. She felt an aorta of Pleasant View the more people she spoke to, people who loved their community. She’d even been invited to dinner tomorrow, and she agreed, intending to bring Sabastian along.

Once they said goodbye to the families at nine, the photographer took their family photos. Then, when they got home that night, the grandparents and some of the aunts called it a night. Everyone else seemed happy and content, energized by serving the community and unready to go to bed, even Dad and Mom who summoned everyone for the movie A Christmas Carol.

The theater sat fifty-five, and with Eric’s family missing and their local friends having gone home, the family had plenty of room for everyone to sit.

Dad and Mom sat in front of Iris and Sabastian. If Dad didn’t approve of their relationship, he hadn’t shown it. He even turned to speak to Sabastian. “Let me know if my head is blocking your view.”

“I’m okay. Thank you.” Sabastian tightened his hand around Iris’s.

When the movie ended and the lights came on, everyone vacated the theater, but she lingered with Sabastian, not willing to part from him for the night.

He didn’t seem ready, either.

“I’m going to miss you when you leave on the second.” His thumb rubbed slow circles in her palm.

“I’ve decided to stay until Saturday, the third. I have to attend your show.”

He winced. “I haven’t had time to think about the show. I just want to spend time with you instead of practicing in the kitchen.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen when you practice.”

His thumb’s movement slowed before he brought her hand to his mouth and dropped a soft kiss on her fingers. “I can’t believe you switched your schedule to support me.”

“From now on, I want to be a part of your life in every way possible.”

He looked at her then, his eyes searching hers with a deep affection that made it a challenge to catch her breath.

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