Confessions and Christmas

“Nita, I want to be in a relationship with you. How do you feel about that?”

“How do you think I feel about it?”

“You tell me.”

“I feel great because it’s what I want too.”

He smiled. “I’m happy to hear that.”

They were at her place and after having dinner, they were relaxing in the living-room. In the background, Christmas carols were playing. “You know the Bible says that we shouldn’t covet. I’ve never coveted anything Angie had, not even her easy life until I met you.”

“You know if I’d met you first, I never would have gotten involved with her.”

“I wanted you the moment I saw you.”

“And I wanted you too. That’s why I sought every opportunity to talk to you at Wendy’s party. Angie asked me if you had been there with a date if I would have so sociable and I said yes but I was relieved that you weren’t there with anyone.”

“If Angie wasn’t there, you and I could have gone somewhere and gotten to know each other better.”

“If she hadn’t told me that she was pregnant the day after you and I met, I would have broken up with her and pursued a relationship with you.”

“When I heard that you and she had gotten married, I was devastated. I tried to forget about you but it was no use. And then, you showed up at my mother’s house. I tried to act cool but I was glad to see you. I was floored when you told me that you and Angie weren’t married any more and why. I still can’t believe that she faked a pregnancy. Anyway, I’ll leave her to God who will sort her out.”

“I have a confession to make.”

“What’s that?”

“I committed adultery while I was married to her.”

“What?”

“Mentally, not physically. At nights, when I was lying in bed next to her, I thought about you. I imagined you in the bed with me and us making love. I got so aroused that I couldn’t go to sleep. I didn’t want to have sex with Angie because of her pregnancy. So, I would get up and go into the bathroom and relieve myself. And while I was doing that, I closed my eyes and thought about you. Do you know how many times I wanted to call Wendy and ask her for your number but I couldn’t do it because I was married and a baby was on the way or so, I thought. I eventually did call her and asked her for your number. She didn’t give it to me but told me where I could find you and that’s how I ended up at your mother’s address.”

“I thought and fantasized a lot about you and felt guilty because I was coveting another woman’s husband and the father of her baby.”

“I never thought I would say this, but I’m glad that there wasn’t a baby. And now, I’m free to be with you.”

“Yes. I’m glad too.”

“Do you have any plans for Christmas?”

“Well, my aunt invited my mother and me to spend Christmas with her and the rest of the family in Miami. What about you?”

“My parents want me to spend it with them and the rest of the family in Denver. Which would you prefer, a warm Christmas in Miami or a cold one in Denver?”

She stared at him. “Are you inviting me to spend Christmas with you and your family in Denver?”

“Yes!”

“I’d love to, Paul.”

“Great!”

“Your parents wouldn’t mind, would they?”

“No. I’ve already told them about you.”

“Oh, yes? What did you tell them about me?”

“That you’re the most amazing woman I know and that I’m crazy about you.”

“Did you really tell them that?”

“Yes and they’re looking forward to meeting you.”

“Did they like Angie?”

“No. My mother had advised me to get a paternity test done before getting married. I wish I had listened to her.”

“Yes, because you would have found out then that there wasn’t a baby.”

“Well, I guess there’s no point in wishing I had followed my mother’s advice. I couldn’t imagine that Angie would have tried to pass another man’s child off as mine or that she would have faked the pregnancy. And I wanted to do the honorable thing by marrying her. Look where that got me.”

“Let’s forget about Angie and just think about us.”

“Yes.” He got up from the stool and went over to her. “I can’t wait to get you under a mistletoe,” he murmured as he took her in his arms.

She laughed as she put her arms around his waist and pressed against him. “You don’t have to wait until then,” she murmured.

“No,” he agreed before he lowered his head and kissed her.