Free A Merry Little Christmas by Melanie Schuster

answer for her. “British royalty,” he said triumphantly. “They do it all the time.”
    Unfortunately, his words seemed to push yet another button in Aneesah. “Oh, great! This is your model for a happy marriage, an all but defunct political system that has nothing whatsoever to do with how you live your daily life? Or maybe you think you’re some kind of king, is that it?”
    His face blazing with heat, Donnie was tom between trying to argue more and trying not to laugh. Aneesah was really worked up now, and she was really beautiful when she was angry.
    “Donnie, love is something that catches you unaware, it’s not something you just go out and pick up when it’s convenient for you. Marriage is hard work. It’s tough being around the same person day after day in good times and bad. It’s hard enough when you love that person to death. But when you just up and decide someone is a good candidate for matrimony and it’s time you were hitched, you’re committing romantic suicide.
    “For a marriage to work, you need to have passion, excitement, desire and romance. Someone needs to be able to take your breath away with a kiss, to surprise you with love every day. And you can’t sit there and say that the person has to be this tall, this wide, have this degree or that many IQ points. Real love doesn’t work that way.” Aneesah paused for a moment and put her hand on her hip. “You dodo, I thought you had more sense than this. My whole Christmas was ruined because I thought I’d really hurt you. And when I think of how much you spent on that stupid ring... ooh! Come walk me to the door. I’m about to leave in a rage because now I’m mad at you, Adonis.”
    Donnie watch her big, shapely bottom move as she whirled around to leave the room and decided that having two feet in his mouth was plenty; he probably needed to shut up right about now. He got up from the table and hastened to get Aneesah’s coat.
    “How long are you planning to stay mad at me?” he asked politely.
    Aneesah looked at his handsome, unshaved face, his rumpled jeans and cruddy sweatshirt, and made the sound sistahs the world over make when disgusted. “Mmm-hmm! At least the rest of today and maybe part of tomorrow, that’s for sure. I may allow you to take me to dinner later in the week to make up for it. But you have to swear that you’re going to think about what I said,” she said as she slipped into her coat. “Don’t just sit around watching football today—really think about what I said. Love is too precious and marriage is too important to play around with.”
    Donnie hugged her tightly and promised her. “Aneesah, you’re right, and I was wrong. Although I still believe in my heart that you’d make a beautiful wife for me or any man, I promise that when I get married it will be to the right person for the right reasons. I swear,” he said solemnly, ending the hug and holding up a hand like a scout reciting his pledge.
    “The words are nice, but that’s the wrong hand,” Aneesah said wearily.

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
    No one was happier than Donnie to have the holidays over and the normal work year start in earnest. He’d had quite enough of parties, rich food and endless gatherings, and was ready to go back to work and get back in his right mind. Even though he was back on a normal kilter as far as his feelings about marriage and Aneesah’s refusal of his proposal, there were some strange things afoot in his world. He knew that whatever remained of his mental turmoil would be erased once he plunged back into work. The strange things all centered on the woman he called Evilene, but he was sure it was leftover holiday angst.
    There was the New Year’s Day incident, for example. After his heartfelt chat with Aneesah, he really did think about what she’d said to him, and after a long shower and a much-needed shave, he’d hauled himself over to Alan’s house for the traditional open house. He was ready to relax and