He was reclining
on the sofa watching her meticulously thread a needle in the adjacent
chair. He was playfully tossing popcorn at her. " You're
not being very helpful, Mr. Steele," she scolded.
"Explain to me again why people put popcorn on a Christmas
tree?"
"It's something called tradition.... You know how I am about
Christmas." Laura replied as she started to string the pieces
on the thread.
"It just seems like a lot of trouble to go through for one
day of the year."
"You are not going to ruin my mood, Ebenezer," she
quipped. "I thought that we might even get a tree for your
apartment, it's never too late to start your own traditions, you
know" She rose from the chair to place the strand on the
tree. She was humming a Christmas tune partially just to annoy
him. She was standing on a chair to reach the top of the tree
when the phone rang. "Will you get that please?"
"Hello...Why, Abigail..." he said with extra sweetness
and a payback look at Laura. In that moment she froze *God, now
this will certainly ruin my mood.* She quickly got down from
the chair and darted across the room to get to the phone before
he would say too much to her mother. Remington continued, "Happy
Holidays to you too... yes... yes..." Laura was futilely
trying to wrestle the phone from his hand. "Yes Laura is
here, we are..." In that moment Laura shook her head with
a desperate look on her face and he finished his sentence "working
on a case". She was relieved. He said his goodbye and handed
her the phone.
"Hello? Mother..." Remington was standing behind
her. He swept her hair to the side as planted soft kisses to
the back of her neck and nibbled behind her ear. He knew this
would her drive her to distraction. She was trying to hold a conversation
with her mother. "Christmas Day?" Under the best circumstances,
she could never really talk to her mother. Laura stepped out of
his reach and motioned to him to try to shoo him away. This just
made him more determined to tease her. Her defenses were down.
Laura was losing her composure as she stammered into the receiver
"Oh sure.... I suppose I could..." Remington was curious
to see how far he could go. He reached out and pulled her back
into him. His hands slid up underneath the Stanford sweatshirt
she was wearing. Laura fumbled with the phone in one hand while
trying to wrestle away with the other. With Abigail yammering
on the other end Laura tried her best to maintain the conversation,
"Mr. Steele... Oh mom, I ... I don't know if that would
be appropriate... he is my boss," she said rolling her eyes.
When Remington began caressing her midsection and then tracing
the outline of her bra, she turned and gave him a look that could
kill. He smiled smugly at the thought he had won and returned
to the sofa. She resumed her conversation. "No, I don't think
he's seeing anyone. (Again more exasperated eye rolling)... OKAY,
okay, I'll ask him.... Sure, Sure I'll call when I know my flight
details... Bye."
She turned towards him, "You are going to pay for that."
"Pay for what?", he replied feigning innocence.
"I would have never agreed to spend Christmas with my mother
if you weren't ... (she was searching for the word).... assaulting
me." She walked over to him, climbing on top of his body,
put her hands around his neck in a mock strangle. He grabbed
her wrists and pulled her hands at their sides. This caused her
body to lower where she was now lying on his chest and their faces
were just inches apart. "You're invited too...." she
reminded him, then added, "...and you're going."
At that point she lowered her lips on his. They broke the kiss
and she started to climb off when he wrapped his arms around her
to keep her there.
"Why do I have to go?" he inquired.
"Because you poor thing, you're all alone, with no family,"
She started sarcastically then became more serious, "Besides,
I need you there to keep my mother from driving me crazy. She'll
behave with you there. She won't want to make a scene ".
"Why don't you just tell her about us?"
"I would rather have my mother be endlessly disappointed
in me for not having prince charming and the fairytale marriage,
than for her to be ashamed of me for banging my boss."
"You certainly wouldn't word it like that, would you?"
he mused.
"No, but that's the way she'll take it. You should be grateful
that I'm not taking you down with me. She adores you. She would
be crushed to find out the fact that you are taking sexual advantage
of her little girl." Laura replied returning again to a
sarcastic tone.
"You are on top of me... who is taking advantage of whom?"
She bent her head down to meet his lips. He moved his hands over
her whole body causing her to moan slightly. He continued to
kiss her as one hand rested on her rear and the other traveled
down the back of her thigh.
"Mr. Steele, I still have decorating to do"
"Decorating can wait, my dear" with that he kissed
her again.
**********************************************************
On the airplane, Laura was noticeably
nervous. She fidgeted in her seat and tried unsuccessfully to
get through a crossword puzzle. Normally she could whiz right
through, doing it in pen. But instead, her pen was doodling endless
circles on the page as she gazed out the window.. He could sense
her uneasiness. He reached over, took the pen away and held her
left hand as he spoke, "Laura?"
"I don't think this is such a good idea," she said
as she turned her head to look at him.
"Well, it a little late to change your mind now."
"I know, it's just that my mother makes me so... so..."
she couldn't find the word but continued, "and now I can't
even tell her that for once in my life, I'm happy."
A slight grin emerged on his face, as he thought about her statement.
Neither of them had the courage to say what they felt to each
other. So many times he wanted to, and could sense that she wanted
to tell him also, but it always eluded them.
"Laura, it won't be that bad." he patted her hand assuring
her.
"At least you get to escape to back to your hotel room every
night...."
"What do you mean my hotel room, where will you be?"
"Mother insisted I stay with her at the house."
"Laura, I thought we would keep up a just-friends, professional
front around your family then get to be together, alone later.
Now your telling me I can't.... We can't... for three days?"
"You still think it won't be so bad?" she replied mockingly.
He looked at his watch, and leaned in suggestively, "Then
I propose we make the best our remaining one hour and forty-five
minutes."
"Mr. Steele," she scolded, "We're on a commercial
airline during the busiest travel period. What do you have in
mind?"
He flashed a devilish smile, got up from his seat and walked
towards a flight attendant. She could see him turn on the charm
as he sauntered towards her to request an unusual favor. Laura
was torn between being excited and embarrassed by whatever he
was up to. He returned to the aisle next to their seats and offer
his hand to her, "Come on."
"What are you up to?"
"Just come with me, you'll find out."
He led her through a small service area and down a narrow stairwell
to what appeared to be the inside of an ambulance. She looked
around the small room and exclaimed, "What is all this?"
"Some airplanes are equipped for medical transports,"
he put his arms around her, "I guess this is our lucky day."
Remington bent his head down to capture her lips. She obliged,
opening her mouth to accommodate his probing tongue. Soon they
were lying on the gurney removing each other's clothing in haste
to satisfy more physical urges. Their lovemaking was always so
varied, not just regarding location and positions. On occasion,
it was primal and urgent. Most times it was slow and savoring.
Laura pleasantly surprised Remington. She truly was the "absurdly
passionate woman" Wilson once described, but she was also
the most vulnerable, giving and loving person he had ever been
with. There was a complexity to her, a mystery that he had to
investigate. The other women in his life were so transparent,
wanting something from him, not having anything to give him.
They returned to their seats just as the plane was preparing
to land. He reached over, kissed her on the brow and whispered,
"I guess we're in the mile high club now."
"You were already a member weren't you?"
"No. Believe it or not, Miss Holt, I have had a multitude
of firsts with you."
At that remark she giggled and reached over to put her seat
belt on.
*********************************************************
"Merry Christmas, Laura...
Mr. Steele," Abigail Holt greeted as she opened the front
door. Laura gave her a strained hug.
Remington kissed her cheek. "Please, please Abigail, call
me Remington".
In an attempt to be pleasant, Laura started, "Mother, the
house looks lovely," They both stepped inside and took off
their coats.
"Here let me take those", Abigail offered but Remington
intervened taking their coats and bags to follow Abigail to another
room. Laura surveyed the room. Nothing much has changed since
the last time she visited. Same furniture, same decor, same pictures
or more accurately "shrine" to Frances and her family.
*Would it kill her to acknowledge that she has another daughter?*
she thought. She knew they were at odds over petty things, but
the underlying reason was she reminded her of him. She has his
eyes, his smile and his fierce determination. When he left suddenly
all those years ago, she could never forgive him, and Laura, who
was so much like her father, was left to weather the storm.
"You have a charming home, Abigail. Thank you for inviting
me." Remington said as they reentered the living room. "Please
allow me to take you all to dinner tonight."
"No, Mr.- Remington, you are my guest." Abigail smiled.
"Laura and I will make dinner for you. She's a wonderful
cook. Make yourself at home, we'll run to the market."
In the car, Laura felt the need to put an abrupt stop to her
mother's embarrassing attempt. "Mom, what are you doing,
he knows I can't cook."
"Honey, I'm not doing anything, I just thought it would
be nice to let your Mr. Steele relax and treat him to a little
family atmosphere."
*Family, what a joke* she thought. She pushed that to the back
of her mind, determined not to let her mother get to her. Her
mind drifted back to airplane. Those wicked thoughts of the two
of them in that small medical compartment would keep her sustained
for the next few days.
The dinner and evening were surprisingly pleasant. After dinner
they shared wine while they played cards. That was probably the
only thing she and her mother had in common. The clock above the
mantel chimed eleven and Remington stretched, rubbed his eyes
and spoke, "Well ladies if you will both excuse me, I should
go check into the hotel. Abigail, would you allow your lovely
daughter to drive me?"
She was delighted at the prospect that he thought Laura was lovely,
"Certainly, Remington, I get the keys."
While she was away, Laura got up to put the wineglasses in the
kitchen. Remington followed her with his glass and the empty
bottle. After setting them on the counter, he craned his neck
to check around the corner, then quickly kissed her.
"You promised you were going to be on your best behavior,"
Laura rasped. Abigail emerged from the bedroom with their coats
and his suitcase.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Abigail," he said
as he kissed her on the cheek. "Now I see where Laura gets
her charm".
As they got into the car, Laura seemed a little annoyed, "Why
couldn't you just stick to the script?"
"Whatever do you mean?" he replied innocently.
Laura mockingly responded "your lovely daughter... now I
see where Laura gets her charm." In a more stern voice,
she scolded, "We are supposed to be platonic co-workers,
and you're giving my mother all the ammunition she needs to think
that there is a chance for us to be a couple."
Remington laughed at the absurdity of her statement then offered,
"Why would it be so terrible for your mother to know that
we ARE a couple?"
"She will either assume I am a slut and I threw myself at
you, or she'll want to know when's the wedding.... Either way
I'm in hell."
"So when are you planning to tell her?"
"I dunno... sometime.... Maybe".
Remington smiled, amused that Laura Holt, Miss Take-On-The-World,
would be afraid to tell her mother something pleasant. They pulled
up to the entrance to the hotel. When the valet ran out to park
the car, Laura motioned that wasn't necessary. She popped the
trunk and left the car running. Remington pulled his bag out
of the trunk, "Why don't you come to my room and help me
settle in." he said with a wink.
"I can't... I'm sorry. I'll pick you up in the morning".
She kissed him briefly on the cheek and returned to the driver's
door. He smiled smugly, knowing he still had an ace up his sleeve.
***********************************************************
As Laura reentered her mother's garage
entry door, she heard her talking on the phone, "Sure thing,
Remington.... (pause)no..No that would be no trouble at all."
She hung up the phone.
"What would be no trouble?" Laura asked warily.
"Remington needs his wallet," Abigail stated matter
of factly.
"I'm sure he does, mother."
"Well, you have it."
"But, I don't..." Laura muttered
"It's in your purse, remember, he asked you to hold on to
it on the plane."
"Oh, yes... the plane" Laura responded as if she knew
what her mother was talking about. She took her purse off her
shoulder and reached in. Sure enough, his wallet was THERE. *He
is Unbelievable.* she laughed to herself.
He opened the door to her standing
against the jamb. She stood there holding his wallet tapping
it against her opposite hand. She decided turn about is fair
play, " Why Mr. Steele, I do believe I found your wallet,
but there doesn't seem to be anything in it." She opened
the wallet and dumped it upside down to illustrate her point.
Knowing he had been beat at his own game he gracefully bowed
and conceded,
"Touché, Miss Holt "
She walked passed him into his room threw his empty wallet onto
the dresser, reached into her pocket and tossed an assortment
of credit cards and cash on top of it. She then exhaustedly flopped
on the bed with a heavy sigh. He took this as an invitation to
join her. Remington crawled next to her. He draped his right leg
over hers to prevent her from getting up. She wasn't trying yet.
In a bolder move he started laying a trail of kisses on her brow,
cheek, chin, neck....
Although she wasn't putting up any kind of resistance, she did
interrupt, "You know I can't stay...(more kisses even lower
on her body)... very.... (Undoing a few buttons of her blouse)...
long."
"I can always call you're mother and ask if you can sleep
over."
"We've already been over that" She put her hand over
his stopping his progress.
"Maybe you have car trouble," he resumed kissing her
this time making his way back up her body. He met her lips in
a passionate, prolonged kiss.
Caving in, she panted, "I think I just got a flat tire".
************************************************************
She quietly entered her mother's
house, hoping not to wake her. She felt like she was in high school
again sneaking in after curfew. Abigail was still up. "Laura?
It's almost 2:30! Where have you been?"
"Your car had a flat, I waited for the auto club at the
hotel."
"Laura, have you ever heard of the telephone?"
Now she really felt like she was a teenager again, "I know...
I know... I should have called I'm sorry I didn't think you would
still be up, I AM an adult, mother."
"Well when are you going to start ACTING like one?"
"What do you mean by that?" Laura responded knowing
damn well that this was leading to the why-aren't-you-married-and-settled-down
speech. A small part of her wanted her mom to start her usual
tirade on the subject so she could trump her with the truth of
her involvement with Mr. Steele. But the truth was it was just
an involvement, she wasn't sure it even qualified as a relationship,
which was a far cry from married and settled down.
Abigail simply responded "I am your mother and I will always
worry about you"
Laura sighed to herself relieved that the whole subject was about
to drop, when Abigail turned in the hallway and added, "I
doubt you'll ever have children of your own, to know how I feel."
Laura nodded her head, muttered goodnight and retired to the
guestroom.
********************************************************
The next morning, Christmas Eve,
Abigail was busy in the kitchen. She loved to entertain, making
fancy hors-d'oeuvres and desserts. Laura offered to help, but
everything she did resulted in a "Laura, dear, it's better
to do it this way..." Thankfully, when Frances and her family
arrived, she became a shadow in the background. Laura excused
herself to pick up Mr. Steele from the hotel. She called him
from the lobby phone, the temptation would have been too great
to go to his room and seduce him this time and not return to her
mother's at all. When he emerge from the elevator, he was carrying
several wrapped packages for Laura's family. Sensing Laura's poor
mood, he dropped them at his feet and pulled Laura into his arms.
He whispered a good morning and bent his neck to tenderly kiss
her. His hands gently ran up and down her back as the kiss deepened.
When Laura seemed unmoved he let go, backed away and lightly
suggested, "I know how to get a smile on your face, but I
hardly think the management will condone that in the lobby. Now
is your disposition going to improve or am I going to have to
carry you back to my room and for an attitude adjustment?"
Laura finally grinned and replied, "You know I had a very
similar fantasy going on in my head on the drive over. I doubt
that my mother will miss me at all." The last part of her
statement brought back her somber mood. She grabbed one of the
bags containing packages and finished, "C'mon, I'm double
parked out front."
The day passed in a pleasant blur. Frances and the kids seemed
to keep Abigail occupied and out of Laura's business. After dinner
they opened presents. Most of the gifts were for the children.
Remington's bag of gifts were very tasteful; Waterford candlesticks
for Abigail, Disney video library for the Pipers, and a very unromantic
Franklin Day Planner for Laura. Remington had intended for the
day planner to be somewhat of a private joke referencing Laura's
perpetual compulsion to "organize."
As they were picking up the discarded wrapping paper, Remington
whispered to Laura, "Unzip it and look what I have planned
for the next year." He disappeared into the garage with the
trash as Laura warily opened her portfolio. Sure enough, on various
dates throughout the year, under "special projects",
"notes" and even "things to do" he penciled
in an extensive variety of very graphic appointments for him and
Laura. She only flipped through the first few weeks, when she
felt a heated blush emerging and felt it was best to put her book
away. The kids went off to play with their new toys, Donald and
Danny started to put together a model and Frances was in the kitchen
with Abigail. . Laura tried to maintain an interest in the domestic
topic, but when Remington announced that he "was going to
take a bit of a walk", Laura graciously offered to accompany
him. They put on their coats and headed up the sidewalk. Light
snow gently fell around them when Laura finally spoke, "Thank
you for my gift, it looks like I'm going to have a very busy year
ahead."
You're welcome, Laura, but I certainly don't expect you to do
all those things by yourself."
"I don't think it physically possible to do those things
by myself," Laura replied with a giggle.
Remington stopped in his tracks and pulled on Laura's sleeve,
"Do you think we are far enough away?"
"Far enough?" she questioned, "For wh-."
Before she could finish, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed
her soundly. When their lips parted, Remington spoke, " I
do have another gift for you," he then corrected himself,
"a real gift". He reached into the inside pocket of
his coat and retrieved a small box. Laura froze in place as he
extended his hand out. Without opening it, she knew and started
shaking her head in disbelief, "you didn't... this isn't..."
She looked up, but his stone-faced expression gave her no clue.
He simply said, "Just open it." With a sly smile he
took the diamond solitaire and placed it on her ring finger and
added, "I happen to notice that you have a few open dates
in your calendar next year."