Dana Bell - The Ornament: Simon and Becky

Holy crap. I didnt think it would turn out like this.

Simon stared at his house, glaring at the massive amounts of colored lights Max had snuck up on the roof. And since when am I Jewish?

What? Max finished boxing up the leftover lights, shoving them into the passenger seat of his Durango. Simon had no doubt those lights would wind up all over Adrians house.

Isnt that a Star of David on top of my house?

Adrian nodded. Yeah. Isnt Becky Jewish?

Uh, no.

Adrian shrugged. Oh. Sorry.

I dont know why youre complaining. Max shoved the box into the trunk of Adrians car, stretching his back out when he was done. You saw what we did to my house.

Yeah, but that was your house. And at least there we got the religion right. He stared at the light up animals decorating his lawn. Becky was going to kill him over the giraffe alone. Maybe we should take the giraffe down.

Why?

Simon turned and stared at Adrian. Didnt the man know her? Because Becky is going to shoot me in the face with a bazooka, thats why.

Adrian slapped him on the back, no doubt trying to make him feel better. Becky doesnt have a bazooka.

Simon stared at Adrian. You really dont know her, do you? For this, shell go out and find one.

Bwacawk!

Simon glared at Max. Max had his thumbs tucked in his arm pits and was flapping his elbows. You did not just call me chicken.

Aw, whos afraid of his widdle mate?

Simon snickered. You are.

Max stopped, looking concerned. True. He shook himself. Too late now, though.

Well, I dont know about you two but Im ready to go do my house. Adrian rubbed his hands together. I cant wait to see Sheris face when she gets a load of the penguin Ferris wheel.

Lets just hope the women dont bury us under it. Simon walked towards his truck, ignoring the shuffling feet behind him. Cmon, wussies, lets go get this over with. Because we may not live long enough to give the girls their real presents.

Becky answered her cell phone before it had finished ringing. She was just turning down the street, heading towards the house she shared with Simon.

Becks?

Emma! Guess she found her surprise. It took every ounce of her willpower not to snigger. Yes?

Santa smoked a reefer and decorated my house.

Becky bit back a laugh. What? Hold on, Ill be there in a few minutes.

She turned her car around and headed for Max and Emmas house. She already had a clue what she would find. Simon had filled her in a little bit and told her how to react.

Watching him craft the special ornament for Maxs Christmas tree had been a rare treat. Simon didnt often allow her into the furnace, but that day hed made an exception.

Those large hands of his had shaped the globe, his dark eyes intent on what he was doing.

Watching him etch the glass and adhere the curlicues, surrounding the pairs name, had been an incredible turn-on. And shed thanked him in the best way possible, too. She tingled all over just thinking about how theyd made love that night.

She pulled up outside what used to be Emmas stately house. She could barely contain her giggles at the sight of the glowing baby Jesus and the light up snow globe.

My God. Who hit the Kmart blowout sale?

The two women exchanged a look. Max.

Thats my cue! Oh, my God. Simon and Adrian were spending the day with him. Becky raced back to her car. Ill call you!

Of course, she wasnt planning on calling. She figured Emma would be too busy chewing a certain cats ass, right before said cat chewed back.

She turned down her street once more, glaring at the garish lights someone had put up along their house. Might as well light the roof with Santa Park Here. Sheesh.

The closer she got to home, though, the lower her heart sank. The overly bright house looked suspiciously like... No. Oh, no. He wouldnt.

He had. Light up animated animals were dotted all over her lawn. The circle of life has apparently found our power outlet. And why the fuck is there a Star of David on my roof? She wasnt exactly the most church-going member of the community, but youd think Simon would know what religion she was. After all, she knew exactly who was going to officiate at his funeral.

She picked up her cell phone and called Emma. Im going to kill him.

You too, Becks?

Yup.

Sheri too.

What? This little joke had gone a bit too far if theyd done the same to Sheri and Adrians house.

Becky checked the clock. Damn. Need to eat. Simon was relentless about making sure Becky ate at appointed times, thanks to her hypoglycemia, but hell if she was going to be here waiting for him with a home cooked meal. Not after that... travesty on her front lawn. She wasnt even going to go into the fact that hed set up some sort of sound system and was playing Oy To The World at top volume. Franks?

On my way. Emma hung up.

Becky glared at the six foot tall light up giraffe. Oh, Garfield. You are one dead kitty.

She ignored the little voice in her head that asked how many ornaments Simon had made. Hed spent at least a couple of days in the furnace without her. Could he have?

She wasnt about to hope for that. Not yet, anyway. It was way too early in their relationship for Simon to have made her one of those.

Wasnt it?

She pulled her VW Beetle into the driveway, wincing at the electric menagerie on her front lawn. Dinner had gone a long way to calming her down, but just hearing Here Comes Santa Claus sung by the Chipmunks was enough to set her off again. She did her best to ignore it as she opened the garage door, pulling the Bug into the space next to Simons big truck. Good. Hes home. I can kill him now. Her hands shook as she turned off the ignition.

How many?

She went into the house and headed straight for the great room. And then stopped dead, stunned.

Becky stared at the red and green Christmas tree, her jaw hanging open. Hed decorated it in delicate hand-made glass ornaments she just knew hed made himself, making it that much more precious to her. Crisp white lights lit clear red and green bulbs graced with lacey gold filagree. Pale crystal drops, light red and pale green, sparkled in the twinkling lights. The entire tree was a testament to Simons artistic senses. A glass and gold star sat atop the tree, a steady light shining through it.

His work was always so gorgeous. Her heart ached at the thought of all the work that had to have gone into each and every decoration, even as it sank over the knowledge that he probably hadnt made them a special ornament.

The man himself sat on the sofa, a smirk playing around his lips. Welcome home, sweetheart.

Simon.

What?

She stared at the big. Were you guys drunk when you did the front lawn?

Nope.

Then could you please explain what happened? Because what happened was only supposed to have happened at Emmas. Becky knew what Max was up to, but since when had Simon decided that three and a half foot light up elephant looked good? And she just couldnt bring herself to look at the four foot tall light up giraffe in the Santa hat.

He got up and stared at the front lawn where blinking penguins danced around light up presents, dancing to a jaunty Chimpunk Christmas. Whats wrong with it?

Simon!

He gave her big brown eyes, pouting a little. You dont like it? I worked so hard on it.

She ground her teeth together. I love it.

He grinned, crossing the room to pull her into his arms. Liar.

She blew her curly hair out of her eyes. Well, the tree is gorgeous. She looped her arms around his neck, offering her mouth up for a kiss.

He took her invitation, kissing her sweetly. Well, the front lawn was the bad surprise. Want the good one?