All I Want for Christmas

By R Vadim

A young woman bumps into a widower while Christmas shopping.  By happenstance, they are thrown together for the holidayin the home of the man;s ister, where the Spiriet of Christmas gift wraps the pair as a couple.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Vadim
• Release date: Nov 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215296271

Book preview

All I Want for Christmas

A Christmas Eve Romance Novella

R Vadim

Copyright © 2021 by R. Vadim

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All I Want for Christmas was previously published in the collection Vadimville 3 , Copyright 2019 Richard Vadim.

This is a work of fiction. While some places and venues are real, the characters, names, organizations, and dialogue in this novella are either the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

To my family

All I Want for Christmas

Christmas music fills a tumultuous shopping mall packed with shoppers, some smiling and gleeful, others serious, a few troubled. Stephanie Fleming, early thirties, snug in her wool business suit, is leaning against a display window, struggling to consolidate her packages into a few manageable shopping bags. Completing her task, she steps out into the crowd but stops abruptly.

Moving through the throngs in her direction is a young couple. The strikingly handsome man smiles broadly and leans down to kiss the dainty cheerleader blonde clinging to his arm.

Stephanie is a few steps from the entrance to Joe’s American Bar and Grill, a popular bistro. She lowers her head and hurries in. With her eyes on the floor, Stephanie barrels into Robert John Manners, late thirties, tall, well built, a touch of gray at his temples. He turns to Stephanie.

Oh! Excuse me, she stutters, I'm sorry.

No harm done.

The hostess, middle-aged, wearing a snowflake-covered sweater, turns from the seating chart she had been studying and smiles at Stephanie and Robert. Table for two?

Oh! No! Stephanie replies.

We're not together, Robert clarifies.

Oh. Well, I have only one table available. I'm afraid that it may be twenty minutes before another opens up. Unless one of you would like to squeeze in at the bar?

No, no, give him the table. He was here first.

I can sit at the bar. You can have the table.

No, please, I'd feel terrible!

Well…perhaps we could share the table.

Ah…

Unless you prefer to dine alone.

Oh, no…that would be very nice. Thank you.

We'll take that table for two, Robert informs the hostess.

Splendid. This way, please. The hostess leads the couple through the noisy restaurant to a table next to a large window that looks out into the bustling mall. Stephanie scans the crowd as she stuffs her packages under the table against the wall and takes a seat.

The hostess presents them with menus. Your waitress, Katrina, will be with you shortly. Enjoy your meal.

The hostess retreats. Stephanie's attention is still on the shoppers.

Looking for someone? Robert asks.

Oh, I thought I saw someone I know, but I don't see them now.

As Robert looks out the window, Stephanie spies her ex, hesitating at the entrance to the restaurant.

Can you believe the crowd? Robert asks.

Isn't it something? Everyone seems to be here.

Stephanie sees her ex and his companion turn from the restaurant entrance and begin moving. In a moment, they will pass right by where she is seated. Stephanie holds up her menu to prevent from being seen.

Is it too bright for you next to this window?

It's all right. My eyes will become accustomed in a minute.

Robert looks out the window again. The couple, passing close to the window and studying the interior, smile and nod as they catch Robert's eye. Robert smiles back. Stephanie looks askance from behind her menu and observes the lovebirds pass by. She slowly lowers her menu.

I'm astonished that so many put off their Christmas shopping until the last minute.

Stephanie raises her hand. Guilty as charged.

Oh, that wasn't aimed at you. Besides, judging by the packages you have, you must be nearly done.

Yes, I think I am, even though I did wait until the last minute to start.

Busy life?

Actually, I have been swamped this past month. I tried shopping a few weeks ago, but the lines at the cashiers were so long I just gave up and decided I would squeak it in Christmas Eve. Big mistake!

What do you do?

I'm an interior decorator.

Oh, so we're kind of in the same field. I'm an architect.

An architect, really? Well, we might be on the same farm, but it would be a stretch to say we're in the same field. I think you hold the high ground.

Ha, I like that.

Katrina, their bright-eyed, twenty-something waitress, appears, brushing