Page 47 of James

Laura’s gaze lifted to meet his, and her eyes reflected a mixture of vulnerability and shyness. Her reply came softly, her voice carrying a hint of bashfulness, “Oh, James, I do like it. I love spending time with you. How about you?”

“Honey, I like being with you. I enjoy spending time with your family, and I love to see you thrive in your submission, to watch you becoming stronger. I would like to make this a permanent arrangement.”

“Permanent?” Laura blanched and she responded carefully, “I wouldn’t want to stop or put a time limit on it, but permanent sounds so…”

James grimaced. “Permanent?”

Laura chuckled and the tension dissipated.

“How about we agree to continue until one of us declares we want to end it?” he asked her, and she nodded. They sealed the deal with a kiss that probably wasn’t at all appropriate on the main road.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

At five minutes to three on Christmas Day, Suzie answered the doorbell to find a smiling James with a large bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine and a suspicious-looking bag. “I’m so glad you could join us, James. Please come in. Does that bag have what I think it does in it?”

James handed her the flowers and the wine. “These are for you. Laura said you were having ham, so I chose the wine with that in mind. I found the bag by my front door this morning. Guess Santa must have dropped it off.”

“Thank you so much, James. It looks fine to me, but I’m not much of an expert on wine. I hope you didn’t go to any trouble,” she said, indicating the bag as the children came rushing in. “You remember my children, Tim and Abby, and of course, my father, Dan.”

Dan came out of the living room to greet him, “Good to have you with us, James. I’m looking forward to talking to you more about that apprenticeship program of yours. I’ve been thinking a lot about it since Thanksgiving, and I think I have some ideas you’ll find helpful.”

The children both started tugging on his arms to leadhim to the tree where they could show him their Christmas presents. “Whoa, whoa, guys! I haven’t said hello to everyone. The gifts will keep.”

“Laura is in the kitchen making rolls. I’ll go get her,” Suzie volunteered.

As Laura came out of the kitchen wearing an apron over a simple burgundy dress and a smudge of flour on her cheek, all James could think was how beautiful she was. He would love to have her coming out of his kitchen looking like that – but maybe with fewer clothes. He would let her keep the apron on.

He pulled her into his arms for a hug and a chaste kiss on her lips. “You look gorgeous, honey.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she said, jokingly. “I think your vision might need a bit of help, given how much of a mess I am, but the compliment is welcome, regardless. Now, please go in the living room with Dad and the kids. Suzie and I will join you in a few minutes. We have to get a couple of things under control first.”

“What’s in your bag, Ring Mister?” Abby asked and pulled at his sleeve.

James replied, “What bag?” as he wrinkled his brow in confusion at his empty right hand.

Abby giggled and pointed to his left hand.

“Oh, you mean this bag?” He held it up as if he’d forgotten about it. “I found it outside my door this morning and it seemed to have some interesting items in it, so I brought it along. I’m not sure exactly, but I think we have to wait on the ladies to come back before we check. Why don’t you show me what Santa brought you?”

Abby was eager to be the first to answer that question. “I got a new Barbie from Santa and Mommy gave me two new outfits. Aunt Laura gave me this reallyneat cookbook so I can make real food. Mrs. Beatrice gave me a fancy hat and Granddad got me my very own train for downstairs. Now I don’t have to borrow one of Tim’s when we play. And Tim got me this really cool Pomsie cat. See how it wraps around my hand?”

“It’s amazing what they come up with these days, isn’t it, James?” Dan asked, as James dutifully admired everything.

James agreed, as Tim stepped forward to show what he had gotten. “Santa brought me a new club car for my passenger train. And Granddad got me a really cool station to add to the layout downstairs. Will you come see it with me later?”

“Sure, Tim. I’d love to. We’ll ask your mother when a good time would be,” James replied. “Did you get anything besides train gear?”

“Yes, sir. Aunt Laura got me this great book on trains. Mom got me a new computer game where you can create your own train layout. Mrs. Beatrice got me a real engineer’s hat and a letter from the engineer, and he said he can take us to the trainyard one day and let me see the real engine room. And Abby gave me a paint set we can use to make our landscape look better.”

James laughed at Tim’s ideas of what constituted not-train presents. Laura came in with a tray of vegetables with two different dips and a selection of cheeses and crackers. “Dinner won’t be until five. This is to hold you all until then,” she announced. “What can I get you to drink, James? Dad, would you like another beer?”

“That would be great, Laura,” Dan said. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“I’ll have the same as Dan, thank you, Laura.”

The doorbell rang again. Suzie came out of thekitchen to welcome in a smiling Mrs. Shepherd. Dan immediately got up, followed by James. “I’m so glad you could come, Beatrice,” Suzie said. “These pies smell absolutely delicious.”

Dan reached them and gave his girl a hug and a quick peck on the lips. “I’m glad you could come, too.”

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