Chapter 12
Angel
After I finished making and editing my videos for the day and updating my scheduled posts, I dropped Belle off at my mother’s house, and I drove over to Christian’s.
He had gotten off work earlier and had the next two days off.
I wanted to talk to him about the incident that occurred at the volunteer event since we hadn’t had a chance to discuss it.
“Hey, baby.” He greeted me at the front door as he opened the door to his one-bedroom loft apartment.
Christian’s apartment was one gigantic space, and he used his furniture and rugs to create visually separated spaces.
Upon entering his home, a small hallway led to the living room.
Large glass doors to the right led to an intimate balcony with two chairs and a tiny table.
To the immediate left was the living room that held an L-shaped sectional with a table behind it that backed against the wall.
It was decorated with candles and tiny wreaths.
There was also a chaise lounge with two small tables, the larger of which held two candles and a gingerbread house.
The chaise lounge and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree separated the galley kitchen from his living area.
Opposite the chaise and the tree were fourteen steps that led up to his bedroom.
The galley kitchen was divided in half by an island that held a nativity scene, and two red candles surrounded by small green wreaths.
Christian could have used the other side of the space for a dining area, but he chose to leave it empty to hang paintings on the wall.
The wooden staircase with a black metal handrail led upstairs to the bedroom and bathroom.
A king-sized bed and a sofa with matching cushions and pillows dominated that space.
He had a TV mounted on the wall, but cream linen-paneled doors usually hid it.
Barrel-shaped vaulted ceilings and a large curved window across from his bed gave the illusion that the space was bigger than it was.
The fireplace in his living room was lit, creating a cozy and intimate setting.
In front of that, a baby blue and royal blue blanket was spread on the floor.
It served as a table setting for two plates of food, two champagne flutes, an ice bucket with champagne, and little rose petals were littered around the blanket.
“We’re having a picnic-style dinner?” I asked in delight.
“Yeah. I thought we might do something different. Usually, you cook for me at your place, or we’re at a restaurant. I thought we might try something a little different tonight.”
“I like this a lot,” I stated with a broad smile.
“Come on then. You can wash your hands in the kitchen while I put your coat away,” Christian stated, taking my hand in his and leading me further into his apartment. He took my coat, and I washed my hands in the kitchen.
I noticed that after he put my coat away, Christian disappeared upstairs.
I took a seat on the blanket in front of the fireplace and basked in its warmth and the ambiance created.
Christian had done a wonderful job of decorating his place for the holidays.
Pre-lit boughs of holly decorated the handrail to the stairs and the top and bottom of the glass partition that separated his bedroom from the living area.
A large pre-lit wreath with ribbons and antlers sticking out from it hung over the TV area of his bedroom.
On the couch, three red and white throw pillows with reindeer were scattered carelessly around, and a green, red, and white throw blanket appeared to be tossed aside on the couch.
I hopped back up when I noticed the three hand-knit stockings hanging from the fireplace. I fingered each one of them carefully. “Christian, Angel, and Belle,” I read as my heart exploded in my chest. “God, why is this man so sweet? Was he the one You made for me?” I whispered.
“Definitely,” he replied behind me as he wrapped his arm around me.
I jumped. “Oh my God! Don’t do that again, Chris. You scared me.”
He kissed underneath my jaw and replied, “You never have anything to fear when I’m in your presence. As much as I’m your lover and your friend, I’m also your protector.”
I turned in his embrace. “What’s behind your back, Chris?” I asked. He was holding me with one arm, and his other arm was behind his back.
“Oh, just some early Christmas gifts,” he replied, pulling his arm from behind his back.
He held a bouquet of amaryllis out to me. “These are for you, beautiful. I know women love roses, but they’re so cliché. You will get your roses, but I thought these were more fitting for the season.”
I poked my bottom lip out in a pouty smile and looked up at him with watery eyes. “Why couldn’t I have met you first?”
“Because I wasn’t ready for you. Although I was attracted to you, my spirit, my soul, and my heart weren’t ready to care for a gift as precious as you at that time. Jeremiah was a distraction in your life while God prepared me for you.”
I hit him in the chest, and he frowned. “What’s that for?”
“You’re gonna make me mess up my makeup, Chris. Quit already.”
“I thought that was a good thing.”
“It was a great thing, baby, but I swear you’re about to have me over here bawling like Belle.”
“You’re still gon’ be beautiful to me. With or without makeup, gorgeous, your beauty is incomparable. So, it doesn’t matter.”
“Okay, not to be a big baby, but you said, ‘gifts’ with an ‘s’ a minute ago.”
He chuckled and shook his head. Turning around, he pointed behind him to one of the tables. He had set a couple of bags on the table when I was looking at the stockings.
“Those are yours. Go open them,” he instructed with a smack to my behind.
I sashayed to the bags, snatched them up, and immediately opened them.
“Ooh, I love scented candles, especially this fragrance.” I cooed as I opened the candle from a popular candle store downtown.
There were two candles in the bag, and both were the same scent.
I set that bag aside and opened the next one.
It was a lavender and gray throw pillow with a love letter etched on the face of the pillow.
I read it aloud. “Angel, I always knew you were meant for me. You were a precious gift to me, even as a friend. I never took your friendship for granted. When I lost it, life as I knew it would never be the same. The Lord took mercy on me and sent my Angel back to me. Your heart is a gift that I treasure and never take for granted. I will love you with all of my being. I love you, Angel. Forever Yours, Chris.”
If I hadn’t been on the verge of tears before, I was over the edge now. I cried my heart out at his tender words and his kind heart. He pulled me close to him and held me for a few minutes before I finally calmed down.
“So sorry. Operation makeup is officially ruined.” I laughed.
He laughed with me and wiped my eyes. “It’s okay. You’re still gorgeous to me.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Hey, you’ve got one more gift.”
“I do, don’t I?” I moved out of his arms and opened the third bag from the lingerie store, Leather it won’t get that man or woman off the streets, but it will make them feel seen or cared for. It will make their hearts glad.”
“You know what, Chris? You never cease to amaze me. I always loved your spirit and energy back then. You were the clown out of the crew, and you were always happy and upbeat. But I never saw the compassion in you. I knew that it had to exist because of what you do for a living, but I never got to see it in action. I never saw the depth of your soul or knew you were this deep.”
He smiled shyly at me and replied, “That’s because I didn’t let anyone see certain parts of me.
When I was around you, Angel, it was easier to clown than to acknowledge that I was feeling you.
I knew that shit was dead wrong, and you were my boy’s girl, but I couldn’t turn my feelings off.
So I did what I do best and just clowned and acted silly all the time. ”
“I’m glad that I got to see this side of you.”
“I’m glad you could too,” he replied before he placed a gentle kiss on my lips.
And just like that, I forgot all about what I wanted to discuss with him when I arrived.