Merry Christmas

“That should do it, don’t you think, Meow Meow?” Kate Abbott asked the white-faced orange tabby that laid sprawled across the yards of wrapping paper covering the pale gray carpet beneath her feet as she sprinkled the last of the gleaming silver tinsel across the needle branches of the impressive evergreen.

Meow Meow squawked a throaty reply as he battled with a shiny red bow. “Let’s see how it looks,” Kate said, picking her beloved cat up into her slender arms and plugging in the string of flashing lights. The darkness erupted with a festive glow, basking Kate and Meow Meow in neon twinkles of light. The flashes reflected in her bottomless blue eyes and bounced off the golden highlights that cascaded throughout her chocolate-colored hair.

The phone ringing snapped Kate’s azure gaze from the ornately decorated evergreen. Setting Meow Meow amidst the wrapping paper and ribbons, Kate reached the phone on its third ring. “Hi, Mom,” she answered with a smile, knowing her mother wouldn’t forget her annual ritual of calling Kate at exactly 8:09 pm on Christmas Eve. The exact moment Katie Abbot entered into the world.

“Happy birthday, Katie,” her mom replied to her only daughter’s usual greeting. “So how does it feel to be 26?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know. The same as it felt yesterday. And the week before. And the year before,” Kate replied with a laugh. “Birthdays don’t seem to matter as much after you hit 21. All they mean is you’re a year older. A year closer to dying,” she added.

“Katie!” her mother scolded, feigning shock. It was the same routine year after year. The same conversation recited for a different age.

“Will he be home for Christmas?” her mom asked, changing the subject to a topic neither Abbot had broached in a while.

At 26 Kate hadn’t had much experience in dating and relationships. She was a bright, attractive woman. But she was also fiercely independent, which tended to drive men away after only a few nights together. For a while, both Kate and her mother thought she’d never find someone who would love and appreciate her independence. But last New Year’s Eve, Kate finally met that someone at a party thrown by a wealthy friend who headed the public relations department at a reputable record label. A beautiful, talented man with flaxen hair and eyes the color of cornflower.

Kate hadn’t expected to ever hear from him after their initial meeting. He did, after all, have a waify blond attached to his arm. But only a few days later, his voice spoke clearly through the phone, asking Kate to dinner the following night. Things picked up from there. Phone calls. Letters. The occasional visit when and if he could work into his already hectic life.

“He’s on tour, Mom. He won’t be home for Christmas,” Kate replied with a sigh. Their first Christmas as a couple and Nick wasn’t even here to share it with her. Meow Meow hopped up into Kate’s lap as she settled onto the floral loveseat, and pawed a comfortable spot into Kate’s thighs before curling up in a ball, his tail wrapped around his legs to his nose. Kate scratched behind his ears as the conversation continued to an end.

“I’ll call you next week, Mom. Have a Merry Christmas,” Kate said into the receiver, signaling the end to their rather lengthy talk.

“Love you, sweetheart.”

“Come on, Meow Meow,” Kate groaned as she rose to her feet, the tubby cat cradled in her arms like a baby. “Time for cocoa and schnapps.”

With a steaming cup of spirit enhanced hot chocolate in one hand and Meow Meow under the other arm, Kate settled into the leather easy chair, kicked her feet up, and dove into the pages of the latest Sandra Brown novel. The faint strains of O Holy Night seeped in through the window glass as carolers passed down the dimly-lit residential street.

This is just any other day, Meow Meow. Another Christmas with my favorite author and my loyal cat, Kate thought to herself. Then why do I want him to be here so much? The silent tears rolled down her cheeks as Meow Meow purred contentedly in the comfort of his owner’s lap.

The ivory taper candles had diminished to a pile of wax by the time Kate closed her book and headed for her empty double bed down the hall, Meow Meow tucked securely under her arm. “Merry Christmas,” Kate whispered into the darkness as she closed her eyes to the cheer around her.

“Hello?” Kate answered groggily early the next morning when the phone rang shrilly, arousing Kate from her peaceful slumber.

“Hey, beautiful,” the familiar voice said.

Kate sat up in bed, her shoulders resting against the wooden headboard. “Hey, Nick,” she said with a smile. A smile she couldn’t contain when she heard his tenor voice. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas,” Nick replied.

“How’s the tour?” Kate asked.

“Fine,” came Nick’s reply. There was a long pause that crept into the lull of the conversation. “God, I wish I was there. Holding you in my arms as we spooned in the silky sheets that cover your bed. Smelling your sweetly scented hair and caressing your satiny skin,” Nick finally murmured.

“I wish that too.” Kate closed her eyes, visualizing the handsome man that loved her with all his heart holding her close to his chest. So close that she could hear the soft beating of his heart and the faint breaths that filled his lungs.

“Did you get your present yet?” he inquired.

“No,” Kate said with confusion.

“It should be on your front porch.”

Kate rose from the bed and shuffled to the front door. As soon as she cracked it open, the cordless phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. She covered her face with her hands as the tears of joy slipped down her cheeks.

There he stood. Looking exhausted, but happy as a heart-melting smile spread across his lips. “Merry Christmas, love,” he said, taking the phone away from his ear and closing the gap between him and Kate.

He gathered Kate in his arms and held her tightly. She could hear the soft beating of his heart and the faint breaths that filled his lungs. Nick captured Kate’s lips with his, smothering her mouth with a longing kiss.

“I love you, Katie,” he murmured when the kissed ended.

“I love you too,” Kate said just as quietly. She brought her lips to his again and kissed him passionately, their tongues dancing together in love.

“Let’s go to bed,” Nick suggested. Taking Nick’s hand in hers, Kate led him to the silky sheets that covered her double bed. Nick stripped himself of his clothing, leaving on only his boxers, and climbed in-between the sheets still warm from Kate’s sleeping body. Kate crawled in next to him and Nick spooned up behind her.

But the tranquillity of the moment was short lived as Meow Meow leaped onto the bed with a heavy pounce, making his presence known with a long, loud meow. He wrapped his massive body around Nick’s head, sticking his wet nose against Nick’s cheek. Kate and Nick shared a laugh. “Merry Christmas, Meow Meow,” Nick chuckled as he scratched behind the tabby cat’s ears.

Kate turned toward him and draped her arm across Nick’s midsection. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered before falling asleep in the silky sheets covering the double bed, listening to the soft beating of Nick’s heart and the faint breaths that filled his lungs accompanied by the methodical purring of her loyal cat.