Amy's Christmas Story
The Christmas Bug
Michelle could not believe this. It was her first Christmas as Mrs. Danny Santos, and she had the flu. Not just the sniffles and a sore throat - the full blown flu. Complete with stuffy nose, sneezing, fever, cold chills, headaches, body aches, cough, watery eyes, nausea - the works. You name it, she had it all. She was absolutely miserable.
She had wanted to make their first Christmas together so special. She had so many plans to make it memorable. She was going to decorate the lighthouse, cook dinner on Christmas Eve (well, maybe she would have it catered). She�d even bought a little sexy red teddy, which came with a Santa hat, for the fireworks she had hoped to create with her husband. She knew none of it would happen now. All she could do was lay in bed
and feel like total crap.
Michelle was at her lowest when Danny came through the door. He�d gone out about an hour ago, to get some things for her. He noticed she was awake, and said, "Still feel bad?"
"No, I feel just great, Danny," Michelle said sarcastically. "That�s why I�m laying in this bed, in a nightgown, at 12:00 noon on Christmas Eve, instead of being up, running around, getting ready for our first Christmas celebration together. I feel great!"
"Stupid question, I know," Danny relented.
Michelle suddenly felt bad for biting his head off. He was trying to be such a help to her. As he walked toward her with a glass of orange juice, her guilt was even heavier.
"I�m sorry I�m such a grouch. I just can�t believe I had to get sick on our first Christmas together."
"It�s o.k. I understand why you�re grouchy. You haven�t had the
pleasure yet of taking care of me while I�m sick," Danny laughed.
A small smile lit up her face, and Danny was proud of himself for
giving her at least a moment of laughter.
Michelle took a sip of juice and said, "Thanks for the juice, and
thanks for being such a sweet husband."
He kissed her forehead. "I have something for you," he said as he reached behind him a pulled out a small package. It was wrapped in beautiful gold foil wrapping paper, with a dark green bow.
"It�s too early for presents, Danny," Michelle said as she fought off a sneeze.
"Not for this one," he said. "Go on, open it."
Michelle obliged, and began tearing at the paper. Danny was such a wonderful man. He was giving her a Christmas present early, just to lift her spirits. She loved him so much.
Inside the package, Michelle found an assortment of flu remedies.
There was Nyquil, honey flavored cough drops, saline nasal spray, and Vicks Vapo-rub. She laughed as she pulled out each item, and thought about Danny standing in the pharmacy, picking out all these things.
"Is this supposed to be some kind of hint?" Michelle asked.
"It just means that I hate it when you feel bad, and I want you to get better."
Michelle took a big gulp of the Nyquil, and put one cough drop in her mouth. As sick as she was, she still enjoyed Danny rubbing the Vicks vapo-rub all over her chest. It would take more than the flu for her to not be turned on by her husband and his touch.
"Now, you get some rest," Danny said.
"Wait a minute," Michelle said. "I�ve got some gifts for you that I haven�t even wrapped yet. Will you bring me the wrapping paper and some tape?"
"As long as you promise to go to sleep once you have them wrapped."
"It�s a deal."
Danny went to the closet and found the big paper bag with all the
wrapping supplies in them, and Michelle retrieved his presents from the dresser drawer. Luckily they were all in boxes already, so he wouldn�t be able to see them as she wrapped them.
Danny went to the refrigerator to get Michelle another glass of juice while she began wrapping. She was having a hard time controlling the rolls of paper on the bed, and Danny couldn�t help but laugh.
"OK Mr. Santos! Let�s see you try to wrap something neatly, even
without the flu!" Michelle snapped.
"Sorry honey, you�re right. I shouldn�t be laughing. I�ve got some more things to get out of the car. I�ll do that while you finish."
Danny sat the glass of juice on the nightstand, and went outside to get the rest of the things he�d bought. Sick or not, Michelle was going to have that special Christmas Eve she wanted. He was going to make sure of that.
When he got back up to the lighthouse, after unloading the car, he saw her laying still in the bed. The three packages were wrapped and sitting on the floor beside the bed. He walked over to her, and found her not yet asleep, but not still awake either.
"I love you sweetheart," he said as he brushed her hair from her face.
"I love you too," she smiled back, just before she drifted off into sweet slumber.
"That Nyquil should keep you out for a while," Danny whispered. It would give him time to finish his project.
Michelle was vaguely aware of Danny stirring around inside the
lighthouse, but that medicine she�d taken had really done the trick. He could run bull-dozer right next to the bed and still not disturb her. It felt good to rest, and knowing that Danny was right there if she needed him, gave her plenty of comfort.
Michelle was beginning to move around in the bed. Danny knew she would wake up soon, and he was almost finished with the preparations. She�d slept for almost three hours, so he hoped she would feel at least a little better after the rest.
Danny was sitting next to her on the bed when she opened her eyes. She loved waking up with him next to her. "Hi," she weakly said. "How long have I been sleeping?"
"A little over three hours," Danny said. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I think - rested anyway. And I think I might actually be able to eat something. Why do you have all the lights turned off?"
"Well, I have a surprise for you," Danny said. "Close your eyes."
Michelle closed her eyes and then sat up in the bed. She felt Danny get up and heard him walk across the room.
"OK, open your eyes," he said.
Michelle opened her eyes and could not believe what she was seeing. Danny had strung Christmas lights all over the inside of the lighthouse. There were candles burning in the windows, and across the room was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. No wonder he was making all that noise while she was sleeping.
"Oh Danny," Michelle said. "This is just beautiful."
"I did it for you. I knew how much you wanted to make our first
Christmas together special, and just because you�ve got the flu doesn�t mean it can�t be great."
"You are the most thoughtful man in the world," Michelle said, as she clumsily got out of bed. "I feel sorry for the rest of the women in the world who had to settle for second best, because I married the best one!" Just then, she noticed that the table was beautifully set, with candles and china.
"Oh Danny, you made dinner, too?" she asked.
"Well, not exactly. I stopped by Company earlier, and Selena put
something together for us. And, by the way, she and Drew are actually going to spend Christmas together. They really must be getting closer."
"I�m so glad," Michelle said. "I just wish I didn�t look so gross for our Christmas dinner together."
Danny leaned down and softly kissed her lips. "You never look gross, Michelle," he said as he handed her another gift to open.
"More medicine?" she asked as she began tearing into the gold foil paper.
"You�ll see," he said with a smile.
Michelle opened the box and found a beautiful set of hunter green satin pajamas. The sleeves and pants were long, and they felt incredibly luxurious.
"I knew you�d want to get dressed up for dinner," Danny began, "and I also knew you wouldn�t really feel like it. So I bought these for you. You�ll look magnificent and sexy in them, and you won�t have to dress up in something uncomfortable."
Michelle was stunned. This man must�ve written the book on being a romantic husband. "I cannot believe how much trouble you�ve gone to. You are so amazing!"
"You�re worth it," Danny said. "You�re worth all this and so much more."
She smiled and asked, "Do I have time to take a shower before dinner?"
"Sure, take all the time you need."
Michelle disappeared into the bathroom with her new pajamas, and Danny began getting things together for dinner. In the champagne flutes, he poured chilled apple juice. Michelle had already been through a gallon of orange juice in the last two days, so he thought she might enjoy a change. He carefully arranged the food that Selena had prepared. He found a large crystal bowl for the tossed salad, and small crystal
compote dish for the shrimp cocktail. The toast points spread with cream cheese and smoked salmon smelled especially good, and he arranged them on a silver serving tray. He left the crystal cake stand, adorned with two large slices of cheescake topped with blueberries, in the refrigerator. He would get that out when they were finished eating dinner.
Everything was ready, and Michelle emerged from the bathroom wearing the pajamas Danny had given her. She was beautiful, and the fact that she wasn�t wearing any make up made her beauty even more evident. She had pulled her hair back in a pony tail and was wearing the Santa hat that she thought she�d be wearing with the red teddy.
Danny was always taken aback when he looked at Michelle. She never ceased to amaze him, and everytime he saw her, he was more astounded that she loved him.
"You look great, Michelle," Danny said. "And the hat is perfect."
"Well, I wanted to be a little festive," she responded.
"I hope you feel like eating something."
"Actually, I am a little hungry."
They sat down to eat, and to Michelle�s surprise, her appetite had returned. They lingered over their dinner, enjoying the special moments they were sharing. Danny brought out the cheesecake when they finished, and Michelle�s eyes grew wide with delight. He knew how much she loved cheesecake.
After they finished eating, Danny arranged a blanket and some pillows on the floor next to the Christmas tree. He wanted to make Michelle as comfortable as possible while they exchanged gifts. They sat down by the tree, and Michelle handed Danny one of her gifts.
"You�ve already let me open two, so you get to go first this time."
"Whatever you say, Michelle."
Danny tore into the package, and inside, he found a beautiful watch. The face was gold, and the band was black suede.
"Michelle, this is beautiful," he said, as he kissed her cheek.
"Look on the back," Michelle said.
Danny flipped the watch over, and his eyes watered as he read the
inscription. "To my sweet husband, the love of my life� - Michelle."
He kissed her again, this time on the mouth. He didn�t care if he caught the flu.
"Here, you open this one now," Danny said, handing her another package. Then he put the watch on his arm.
She opened the small box, and pulled out a gold charm bracelet. Three charms hung on it - a pair of intertwined wedding rings, an "M", and a "D". She was speechless.
"See, I can add to it, every year," Danny said. "Do you like it?"
"Oh Danny, I love it. And I love you," she said, as she put her arms around him. Danny fastened the bracelet around her wrist.
Danny opened Michelle�s second package, and found inside, a picture of the two of them. It had been taken on the fourth of July, when they renewed their vows at the Bauer Barbecue. Abby had taken the picture, and given it to Michelle. Michelle had it enlarged, and framed.
"I want you to always remember how special that day was for us,"
Michelle said as Danny stared into the picture.
"I could never forget, Michelle. This is perfect, just perfect."
Danny handed Michelle another package to open. When she opened the box, she found an antique vase. It was a gorgeous amethyst color, with gold etching around the top.
"Danny, this is breathtaking," she said, as she examined the vase.
"It was my grandmother�s," he said. "My grandfather gave it to her when they were first married, and she said everytime she looked at it, she was reminded of how much he loved her. She gave it to me, several years after he died. I want you to have it, so that when you look at it, you�ll be reminded of how much I love you."
Michelle had tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Danny. I�ll treasure this always."
Danny picked up the two remaining packages, one for him and one for Michelle. "Let�s open these at the same time," he said. Michelle agreed.
Simultaneously, Michelle and Danny ripped into the packages. They burst into laughter, when both of them pulled out a sprig of mistletoe!
"Great minds really do think alike," Michelle said as she continued laughing.
"I guess they do," Danny said, as he held both sprigs above their
heads.
They leaned closer and their lips met. They fell onto the pillows, and kissed for a long time, in the light of the Christmas tree, before they fell asleep in each other�s arms. Yes, Michelle still had the flu, but Danny had created a very special and memorable first Christmas for them.
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