Free It Started With A Christmas Tree - A Lizzie Fuller Christmas Novella by Beth Prentice

Riley had decided on jeans and the red
t-shirt Danny had bought him as an early gift. I’m not sure who the gift was
actually for because it fitted Riley exceptionally well and molded his
perfectly toned torso and flat stomach to perfection. Danny and Drew were in
jeans and matching green shirts with pictures on Santa wearing shorts lying on
a tropical beach and Harper had got into the festive spirit wearing his
reindeer antlers with pride. Molly had chosen short shorts and a white t-shirt
with Rudolph’s nose very inappropriately placed over her right nipple.
    “Hey Molly, when you’re finished with the
shirt, can I borrow it?” asked Grandma Mabel. “I think the men at bingo will
get a kick out of me in that,” she smiled. We all stopped, looked at Molly’s
shirt and wondered where exactly Rudolph’s’ nose would be if Grandma were
wearing it. Dad choked on his peanuts.
    “What’s wrong with you?” asked Grandma,
turning to Dad.
    “I’ll give you $50 not to give it to her,”
said Dad to Molly.
    “I might chip in on that too,” said Danny.
    Grandma huffed.
    I laughed. After the emotional day I’d had,
this was exactly what I needed.
    The storm from earlier in the day had
moved in and the lights flickered as the lightning struck. The thunder was
still a few seconds behind it, so the storm wasn’t here yet. Mum liked to be
prepared though and gave both Molly and myself a lighter, and asked us to light
all her candles so that in the event of a power cut, we’d be ready. When the
power did go out, it just made the night magical.
    By the time we had kissed everyone
goodnight and promised to be at the river nice and early for the big family get
together, I was exhausted but very, very happy.
    The power was out at Riley’s as well, so
we used a torch to shower and clean our teeth and we were in bed before the
clock struck twelve.
    I felt Riley’s body mould into mine as he
pulled me close and tightened his grip around my waist. Spooning at its best. In
this place I felt safe. I felt like the world was a great place and I never
wanted to leave here. I was comfortable, secure and loved by the most
wonderful, sexiest man on earth. I’ve said it before, if I could crawl under
his skin and stay there forever, I would. I never want to be apart from him.
    “Merry Christmas, Lizzie,” he whispered,
kissing my neck. I rolled over to face him.
    “Merry Christmas, Riley.” I smiled then snuggled
into the crook under his arm and listened to his heartbeat.
    I closed my eyes and drifted into a dream
filled with Earl and Eliza, and laughter.
    My world at least, was at peace.