Shannon here: Linda Wood Rondeau shares a Christmas memory adapted as seen in Christmas Moments, a short story collection. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for winner’s choice of Joy comes to Dinsmore Street, A Father’s Prayer (aka A Christmas Prayer) or It Really IS a Wonderful Life. Deadline: Dec 27th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:
WHERE DID PRINCE CHARMING GO? by Linda Wood Rondeau
He opened his Christmas gifts first, then dancing with anticipation handed me my present. The gift bag was securely closed with a ridge of scotch-tape, evidence of his own hand in this artful presentation. I exercised all the pre-opening rituals: gently stroking the outside, carefully shaking it near the ear, and complimenting the packaging, as well as the obligatory, “Thank you, Honey.” I even ventured a few guesses.
“Jewelry?”
“No.”
“Well, judging by the shape, it’s probably not candy.”
“You’re right. It’s not candy.”
“Pajamas! Silk, right?”
“No. It’s not pajamas but you’re getting closer. Go ahead. Open it.”
In an instant, I popped the row of scotch tape and looked inside the satiny red wrapping bag. I froze in disbelief as I stared at what my husband deemed the perfect gift. “A SHOWER MASSAGE!” I knew right then and there the romance was more than dead. It was beyond resuscitation. In fact, it was stone cold. “For me?” I feigned pleasure.
“Well, it’s really for the both of us. That’s why I spent a little extra.”
Since we bought a video camera as a mutual Christmas present to each other, we set a personal gift limit of $25. He went over the top to $30. “You shouldn’t have,” I said honestly.
“I know you said you wanted jewelry. Surprised?”
“Oh, yes. I’m speechless!”
At some point over the past few decades, the Prince Charming I married went through a metamorphosis. Practicality slowly replaced sentimentality. I wanted to tell my middle-aged Prince Charming to take a hike, find my misplaced fairy godmother, and tell her to bring back the original version.
Instead I muttered a half-hearted, “Gee. Thank you.”
“Pour yourself another cup of coffee and relax while I get the shower massage ready for you.” He took the monstrosity from the bag; and with his toolbox in hand, bounded up the steps like a schoolboy at recess.
He whistled while he worked. In the meantime, I stewed in my disappointment. “A shower massage. Ump!” I felt like Grumpy while he played the part of Happy.
“All set,” he beamed. “You first! After all, it is your present.”
“That it is.” I trudged to the upstairs bathroom, took off my robe, and stepped into the wide spread spray. To my pleasant surprise, the steamy mist enveloped my senses. I felt as if I had just entered a sauna.
“Well, now. This is sort of nice.” I took the showerhead in hand and experimented with the dial. Suddenly, reams of pulsating gushes hit my arthritic joints. I let my mind drift, imagining I was under a waterfall in Tahiti. “Hey, I thought. This is not bad. Not bad at all.”
When there was no more hot water, I reluctantly turned the shower off, towel-dried, put on my bathrobe, and wandered downstairs.
He stood like a child with a handful of dandelions anxiously awaiting the verdict. “Well?”
“Perfect.”
He smiled his cute little boy smile. Behind the smirk, I recognized the faded but familiar royalty that I fell in love with so many years ago. My once darling Prince Charming still lived inside that paunchy but adorable man, and he knew exactly what this tired, achy body needed.
About Linda: Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel The Other Side of Darkness, LINDA WOOD RONDEAU, writes blended contemporary fiction that speaks to the heart and offers hope to those with damaged lives. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Her most recent release, A Christmas Prayer, (aka A Father’s Prayer) was a finalist for both the 2014 Selah and Carol Awards.
Other books include: , It Really IS a Wonderful Life, Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street, Days of Vines and Roses and her non-fiction book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children, also part of a compilation (Uplifting Devotionals).A sequel Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street, (Snow on Eagle Mountain) is expected to be released soon.
Rondeau’s, Jolly Angel, is also part of a compilation, Blue Heaven Romances.
Learn more and connect: www.lindarondeau.com, http://lindarondeau.blogspot.com/, lindarondeau@gmail.com, or find her on https://www.facebook.com/writerlindarondeau?ref=ts&fref=ts, https://twitter.com/lwrondeau, https://plus.google.com/107687194607537790658/posts and http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5352394.Linda_Wood_Rondeau.
About the book – Christmas Moments: Inspirational Stories of the True Meaning of Christmas Life is made up of moments strung together like a garland draped around a Christmas tree. Certain of those moments are so meaningful they become memories that last a lifetime. For some, those memories center on Christmas. In this book you’ll find Christmas stories from 34 authors. They range from serious to funny, sad to joyful, entertaining to insightful. All are encouraging and inspiring. Each points to the same thing: The reason for the Christmas season is celebration of Jesus’ birth! The most important part of Christmas is Christ. So while Christmas day comes but once and year, and years give us Christmas memories that last a lifetime, the Spirit of Christmas is eternal. And the way we keep Christmas sends a message to the world about what we believe.
Purchase Link: http://ow.ly/FotRt
Proceeds to benefit Samaritan’s Purse.
Question: What’s the most unromantic Christmas gift you ever received that you ended up loving?
Come back Dec 24th for a yummy gift in a jar with a Christian theme!
A candle that at first I did not like but I later loved
would love to win.
New silverware. I wanted a laptop that year. I got silverware. After we’d finished opening our gifts, hubby brought out the laptop. I loved the laptop, but I ended up loving the silverware too. What we had before was a wedding gift and totally not something I’d have picked. This silverware is so me.