Eternity Will Never Be Enough - Chapter Five
William:
When I was younger, Christmas Eve was the most special day of the year, aside from my birthday and you know, Christmas itself. My sister, Claire, and I would always be up at the crack of dawn, long before our mom would wake up. We would sneak around every closet in our home trying to find exactly where she hid our presents. Delaney, who lived with us a good majority of the time when we were young, would always sit on the top step. Her arms were always crossed and she would beg us to stop looking because it would ruin the surprise. Every year, she would very calmly explain to us that Santa was still watching and that if he saw us so much as looking for our presents we could be put on the naughty list, and that we would be sorry the next morning when she woke up to presents and we found coal in our stockings. Regardless, we never found where our presents were hidden and we always woke up with dozens of them under the tree. We would spend Christmas Eve day in the kitchen with my mom and Grandma, baking enough cookies, cakes, and pies to feed a third world country. The family would always show up around five pm, ready to eat some of my Grandma’s wonderful cooking and play cards. The kids, those of us under the age of fifteen, would spend the evening playing in the snow. Or, in the case of me and Delaney, would curl up beside the fireplace reading the latest Harry Potter to each other.
This year Christmas Eve is spent, like always, in the corner of my mom’s house, Delaney sitting in between my legs. By now, the deep cuts that line every inch of her tiny body have turned into scars, with the exception of a few on her arms that are currently covered by her soft white sweater that I can’t keep my fingers off of. She’s settled against my chest, a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. Every few seconds, she turns her head ever-so-slightly so her lips can meet mine. I can feel my family’s eyes on me, fine tuned to every move I make with her. Claire, as all younger sister’s do, occassionally calls out her PDA announcements. Which, I always respond with something about how I’ll get her back when she brings a boyfriend home. I don’t mention, however, that I not so secretly hope that she never brings a boy home. I’m so not ready to deal with my baby sister being in a relationship, even though she’ll soon be eighteen years old.
It’s not until my mom has attempted to give Delaney her third piece of pumpkin pie and eighth cookie before I find myself helping Delaney to her feet. She looks at me, utterly confused, because we haven’t even opened presents and it’s usually late into the night when I’m leaving my mom’s. I lace our fingers, using my free hand to set the hot chocolate mug down on the mantle of the fireplace, and lead Delaney into the kitchen. With ease, I lift her onto the counter and grab her converse off the floor, sliding them onto her feet. Once both of our shoes are on, I help her off the counter and lead her out to the back porch. Outside, the snow is falling from the skin in heavy chunks that’ll make the drive home slick and nerve-wracking. I’ve never been a big fan of snow, I’m not too fond of things that are cold and wet. But here, with her close to me, it’s gorgeous.
“What are we doing out here?” Delaney asks as I’m reaching back inside the door and pulling our coats off the back of one of the chairs. I slide her arms into it gracefully, but she still shivers. I tug my arms through my thick coat and then gather her in my arms. Her back is pressed tight against my chest and we’re watching the snow fall for minutes before I finally find the right words to say to her.
“I feel like we’re being watched?” I find myself chuckling. Even though, I’m sure both my mom and Claire are pressed against the kitchen window, watching as I sway with her to music that only I can hear. I find myself looking up over Delaney’s shoulder, and sure enough they’re there. I flash them a quick smile before I’m focusing on Delaney again. “I just wanted to be alone with you.” Delaney turns in my arms, her coming up to my shoulders for a moment before she lets them slip down my chest until her hands find mine. She presses her face into my neck, breathing slow, hot bursts of air onto my skin. She’s breathing slow and steady, and soon her arms are wrapped tight around my body.
I hold her like this for what seems like hours until Claire opens the back door, smiling at me. “Will, Momma says it’s time to open presents,” She calls. I give her a quick nod, and by then Delaney’s cheeks are pale with bright patches of red from the cold. I wait until I hear the door shut again and press my lips against Delaney’s.
“Coming, precious?” I ask, my cold lips landing on her neck, making her shiver and a burst of air to come rushing out of her parted lips. I smile. “I’ve got something special to give you.”
She looks up at me and for the first time all night, her eyes look sad. “Will….” She murmurs, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. I instantly reach up and pull her lip free. “Will I didn’t get you anything.”
I put a finger to her lips. “Sshh,” I say simply. The truth is, I didn’t really want her to get me anything. And I really didn’t have the chance to get her much either. My arm slips around her waist, pulling her towards the door. When I get her inside the kitchen, my mom is waiting with two cups of steaming hot chocolate for us. Delaney blushes, murmurs out a small thank you as I’m slipping our coats off. I drape them across a chair, then scoop up the mugs and lead her back to our spot by the fireplace. Instantly, my grandmother gets to her feet. I watch her carefully as she goes over and gets one of the thick quilts my mom keeps up for wintery nights like this. She walks over and drapes it across Delaney’s lap.
She runs her hands through my hair, ruffling up and her lips turn up in a smile, catching Delaney’s eye. “Delaney, dear, you’re so unlucky to have landed this one,” She says teasingly, and in the distance I hear Claire crack up laughing. I look past Grandma and scowl at her. I would get up and chase after her, but Delaney’s squeezing my hand.
“I don’t think so,” She murmurs, and her lips meet mine once again. She flashes my grandma a quick smile before she turns slightly in my lap. She smoothes out my hair quickly. Her fingers send shivers down my spine, and I instinctively curl closer to her.
Claire, with her elf hat perched upon her head, gets up and starts distributing presents. I watch her carefully, recalling the times when she was too little for this job and it would be left to me and Delaney. I’m sure by now everyone has noticed that I’ve dropped no present to Delaney in the pile of presents I brought for my family. That’s because her present is safe within the pocket of my jeans.
“Figures,” Claire mumbles. She really shouldn’t be complaining, I went through the trouble of getting her the Gibson guitar she’s had her eye on for months. “Will would forget to buy his new girlfriend something. No wonder you can’t keep a girlfriend.”
Delaney’s cheeks redden but I shake my head. “I didn’t forget Delaney,” I whisper, one of my hands digging into my pocket. I pull out the velvet box that contains my present to her. The room silences, and I want to tell them that this isn’t exactly what it looks like. Because I wouldn’t propose to her here, not in front of everyone. I push the top of the box up, so she can see the ring that’s inside. It’s not really engagement ring material, silver and in the shape of a dragonfly. I scoop up her right hand, gently pushing it onto her finger. She smiles at me, holding up her hand so the ring glistens in the light.
“Like it?” I ask, and all she can do is nod. I lean in closer, where I know only she’ll be able to hear me. “Lane, I’m serious about this,” I whisper, wanting her, and only her, to hear the significance of this. I want her to know that this isn’t an engagement, but more of a promise that I’m hers. I want her to know that I’m never going to leave her, I’m not stupid enough to let her away from me again. She wraps her arms around my neck, drawing me closer to her. Her lips press against mine, and I can’t help but smile.
