Once again David dragged her out of her comfort zone to an unknown Christmas event she tried to avoid for the last three years. She frowned staring at the sidewalk in front of her. It was tempting to just avoid him completely and seclude herself in her room until Christmas eve, when he would return to where he came from. Or her thoughts drifted to a theory of throwing a grown up tantrum like a two year old did to get their way. Rachael scowled. What kind of a sophisticated business woman would find herself pounding her fists and feet on the ground to avoid a sticky situation? None, she told herself.
David noticed the scowl on her face and thought perhaps Rachael believed Christmas had a strong fowl oder that only she could smell. Rachael caught David looking at her from the corner of her eye. She ignored him keeping her focus straight ahead. Her steps quickened then slowed realizing her destination was unknown.
"If you plan on running, it might benefit you to run in the direction of your house." Rachael stopped, feeling her cheeks flush with anger. She swallowed and bit her tongue before she faced him.
"Running? I'm just excited to see where you are taking me," she lied. David frowned, "Not everyone is fooled by lies." Rachael looked crossed and she raised her hands to her hips.
"Okay angel boy, you want the truth?"
"Naturally." David crossed his arms patiently waiting for Rachael's confession. She rolled her eyes, heaved a big sigh, and waved her hand as though she changed her mind at the last second tossing the idea from a frustrated stance. She turned and started walking again. David shook his head. Sooner or later she had to give up. He knew she was fighting her feelings. They walked down the sidewalk a few feet. Rachael looked around, her small neighborhood turned into snob lane. Large Victorian homes towered over some of the smaller homes mixed in between. They were eloquently decorated with colored lights, tall Christmas trees that advertised money in every window. It was all too familiar. Rachael shifted her eyes in David's direction. She could see he was enjoying the sights and sounds of Christmas for rich pompous jerks who obviously thought nothing of anyone else but their own pride in showing off. She opened her mouth to speak.
"Time has a tendency to control our lives and take away from whats important. I took advantage of mine. You have to learn to cherish all the moments in between, including surprises. They aren't all childish, Rachael." David made her swallow her words. He knew what she was about to say. She faced forward prepared to swallow her losing point to David's win, when a thought popped into her head. She smirked.
"Time is money, to waste is a sin." David turned slowly in her direction smiling at her comment.
"If time is money, is it a sin to spend time with your family?" Rachael froze in her spot looking at him in surprise. She felt the cold chill crawl over her skin, a chill that her coat refused to warm. Her eyes wandered over his questioning face. No words sprang to her lips. David smiled. Good, he thought. It was time she realized what was important. Maybe it would spark a memory he could use. Her weak expression showed signs of personal thought and reflection. Her lips parted prepared to challenge a response back,
"Rachael Taverson! I can't believe my eyes. I never expected to see you here." Rachael and David both jerked their heads toward the bubbly high pitched voice echoing off the porch of the Victorian house in front of them.
"I thought you'd crawl back in your hole and turn into Scrooge again." Rachael waved uneasily then turned to David who smiled warmly at the woman waiting on the porch.
"You brought me to Kristen Appleton's Christmas social?" Rachael couldn't believe David would stoop so low. She scowled.
"I'm not staying." She moved passed him heading back to her house.
"Wait, Rachael just give it a chance," he said taking her by the arm and turning her to face him. Rachael laughed sarcastically. "A chance? David, do you even know this woman?" David looked over at Kristen standing with her back turned to them. She obviously grew tired of waiting for them so she busied herself with another couple. David turned back with a half smile.
"No, but if we stay for an hour maybe..."
'I'll start enjoying Christmas?" She smirked. "David that's exactly what she wants us to do. Its like saying its alright to play with poisonous reptiles. If you had any common sense you'd leave while her back is turned." Rachael turned again. David stopped her.
"Just one hour, Rachael. Please. That's all I ask." Rachael stared at him for a moment. She let out a frustrated sigh, rolled her eyes, and averted her gaze from his. "Okay, but so help me David, If I get bit," She pointed her finger and narrowed her eyes, "You'll have worse problems waiting for you after I get finished with you." Rachael turned flustered and mumbling under her breath as she walked up to the house. David nodded, one step closer.
Inside the warm smell of cinnamon and pine hung heavy in the air. Rachael and David noticed the elaborate decorations hanging from every possible ledge or railing. Green tinsel wrapped around the crowed stair rail with white twinkling lights like Rachael's. Mistletoe hung in every doorway giving any couple or loose singles a chance to show a little Christmas love. Through the open entryway they saw a tall seven foot Christmas tree decked out in colored lights and fancy caterer of her party. Once in awhile a server with some type of appetizer or alcoholic beverage on a tray would push past offering what they had to the guests. Kristen noticed David and Rachael standing stiffly by the door. She immediately left the caterer's side with the smile of a sly fox prepared to rob a chicken coop. There was a bitter taste in Rachael's mouth as she approached. It was the smile and the way she flaunted her body like some exotic peacock during mating season that made her stomach lurch and her blood boil. This woman knew how to exercise her sex appeal on any man and she knew it, but Kristen had no idea what Rachael knew or saw years ago. Kristen's loose girlish behavior triggered feelings in men Rachael was tired of witnessing through years of social parties at Kristen's home. Rachael knew Kristen's husband remained oblivious to his wife's affairs, and though it was none of Rachael's business to reveal Kristen's wildly filthy behavior, she felt it a duty to make it right through revenge....
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