"No, Luis." Sheridan shook her head and a small smile danced on her lips. "I love you more."
"Sheridan! What am I going to do with you?" He laughed and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder. "I'll show you."
He dropped her on the couch and she giggled. Diving on top of her as if to shower her in kisses, he started tickling her. He tickled every sensitive spot and she giggled and squealed wildly.
"Say it, Sheridan. Say, "Luis Loves me more"," he demanded.
"No....ooooooo!" She squealed.
"Yesssssssssss!" he kept tickling. After awhile, he knew she'd give up.
"Okay! Okay, Luis! You love me more, you love me more!," She giggled out as he tickled her.
He let up and kissed her sweetly on the lips. "That’s better," he said, and kissed her again, this time set out for a long, passionate kiss.
Sheridan pulled away. Smiling, she shimmed out from under his body and leaned over him.
"I had my fingers crossed," she said in a singsong voice, showing her crossed fingers.
He gave her a playful glare and said, "I'm going to get you!"
She giggled and ran as fast as he could, Luis chasing after her.
Sheridan's smile radiated throughout the room. She couldn't help but be proud of herself. She'd never decorated for anything before, much less Christmas. Normally when she lived in the cottage, she'd go out one day, and when she came home, whalaa, the house would be decked out in decorations.
The maids did a wonderful job, however this year the cottage had a personal feel. It was turning more and more into a home, and less and less from merely a house.
"And now there's only one more thing to do." Sheridan happily bounced out the door.
Careful not to drop the packages, Luis eased the car door shut with his foot. Luis was quite a sight with nearly a dozen boxes in his hands and between his legs, bags in his teeth.
He got to the door and squealed out, "Sheridan, honey can you get the door? My hands are just a little full." He impatiently waited outside the door. Concluding that she wasn't going to come to the door, he set everything down and got Sheridan's spare key under the mat. Opening it he tossed the packages in with a large thud echoing through the house.
"Sheridan, you here?" He asked straightening his mess and scoffing his shoes. "Hey I thought maybe we could..." He finally looked up and gasped.
It was beautiful. Stockings were hung on the fireplace, ceramic Santa's on the mantel above them. Silver garland was draped around the railings and the fire was blazing. Cinnamon candles burned filling the room with a warm scent. A nativity scene was placed out on the shelves. Soft music was playing and the lights were dim, the room absolutely glowed.
And in the middle of it all was the Christmas tree. It towered high and was adorned with gold garland and silver tinsel and dozens of ornaments. An angel glowed from the top and the colored lights shimmered. He sighed. It was beautiful.
Luis smiled; he knew Sheridan had done this herself. He walked over to the Christmas tree and fingered it; it was freshly cute and very real.
As Luis' eyes scaled the tree, he noticed the ornaments. They were beautiful, and one caught his eye. He looked closer, and saw it was he and Sheridan. On a gold bulb a picture of Luis and Sheridan on Thanksgiving rested. Sheridan sat in Luis' lap, smiling fondly up at him. He was looking down at her with the same love shining in his eyes and his hand rested on her cheek. On the back was inscribed, "To Luis, in memory of our first Christmas together. I love you always and forever. Merry Christmas! Love, Sheridan. P.S: I love you more."
Luis remembered telling Sheridan that that picture was his favorite ever taken of him and her. He smiled; she had this made for him. He sighed; he loved this woman so much.
He felt another presence and turned to see Sheridan standing in the doorway. She bit her lip and smiled a small smile. "Do you like it?" She said nervously.
He set the bulb back on the tree and started over to her. Embracing her in his arms, he whispered, "I love it. I love you." He brought her to him for a long, slow, loving kiss.
They made love in front of the fire.
Awhile later, Sheridan lay in bed, propped up against a pillow. Luis laid, his head nuzzled in her neck and his arm loosely draped across her waist.
Sheridan flipped through her notebook. "Pilar, check. Ethan, check." She looked up and thought to herself for a moment. "Then again, maybe I should pick up that tie for him. Hmm. Ivy, done, Ethan's sister's- sending presents out in the morning. Luis, check." She said to herself, going over her Christmas shopping list.
"Ohhhh, whadya get me?" Luis asked at the mention of his name.
"I'm not tellin." She teased. He nuzzled her neck and ran his teeth lightly across it and she giggled.
"Tell me!" he begged.
She only smiled at him. "Hank, check, kids at the Youth Center, check..."
"Tell me!' She shook her head. "Okay, then you are going to have to pay."
With that, Luis picked up her Christmas list and chucked it clear across the room. He dived on top of her and she giggled, prepared for another glorious round of lovemaking.
"Oh...Luis." Sheridan whined. "Do you think everything is okay? I've never had a party here before!"
"Sheridan, everything is fine. You did a wonderful job."
"But-Luis." she sighed.
Luis put a finger on her lips to silence her. "Everything is absolutely perfect. No one will be here for a few hours, anyway, so calm down."
She smiled and went to check on her cookies.
"Hey Sheridan," Luis called to her. "I've got to go to the station and finish up some things, I'll see you at church, okay?"
"Okay."
"I love you,” he said. He turned to leave, but was stopped by Sheridan's hand on his shoulder.
"I love you more." she said, and kissed him. He backed out the door.
"No, I love you more,"
He was out the door now. "Nope, nope, nope. Not even close, I love YOU more."
"I love you.... a billion times more." He smiled.
Sheridan closed the door so it was only opened a crack. "I love you more!" She exclaimed and shut the door.
She giggled. "I got the last word in this time."
Pilar, Sheridan and Luis walked outside of the church.
"That was a very nice mass" Sheridan commented.
"Yes. They're always very nice, especially on Christmas Eve," Pilar said, smiling at Sheridan.
"Goodbye Mama," Luis said. "See you in a bit."
Luis and Sheridan walked hand in hand to his car. A light snow rained down on them and the town was lit up with excitement and cheer, for it was Christmas Eve. Sheridan hummed along to the Christmas music that softly played from a shop across the way.
Back at the cottage Sheridan rushed around to make sure everything was ready. She was having a big Christmas party, all of their friends were invited. The Bennett’s, The Russell’s all the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s as well as Ethan, Ivy and Chad would be there. Sheridan was excited; but so nervous that something would be wrong. Luis tried to reassure her, but he wasn't much help.
Sheridan was arranging cookies on a platter, and the door rang.
"Oh, oh I'll get it!" Sheridan squealed. Luis laughed at her excitement and stole a cookie as she bounced out of the kitchen.
"Ethan! Theresa! Come in!" Ethan hugged Sheridan and pecked her on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas!" Theresa exclaimed to Sheridan.
The doorbell rang a little while later and it was the Bennett’s and Miguel. Soon, everyone was there and it was going wonderfully. Luis watched Sheridan fulfill her duties as a hostess in awe. He was so very, very proud of her, for so many things; so many reasons.
So that night the little cottage was filled with music and laughter echoing off the walls. Everyone had a wonderful time; and that Christmas Eve was the day that house really turned into a home.
Sheridan Luis sat on the floor in front of the fire. She snuggled close against him and watched the flames dance around
“Sheridan, I know I’ve said this, but I’ll say it again. You did a wonderful job tonight. I told you everything would go fine. I’m so proud of you,” he kissed her forehead.
“Do you think they had a good time?” she questioned.
“No. I know they had a good time.”
As they drifted off to sleep, Sheridan whispered to Luis, “I love you.”
Luis smiled. “I love you more.” He said without opening his eyes.
“No, it’s no contest,” Sheridan said. “I love you more.”
“Here, Sheridan. I have a proposition for you. How ‘bout we say that we love each other the same. The exact same,” he asked.
“Hmm…well, I guess so. Okay. We love each other the same.” She smiled and he took her into a sweet kiss.
“Merry Christmas, Luis,” she said.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
They kissed again. Once Luis knew Sheridan was asleep he stroked her hair.
”I love you more!,” he said, and drifted off to sleep with a satisfied grin.
THE END