The Celebration

Charlotte smiled happily as she looked at the people gathered at their dining room table. Gordon sat beside her, his father, mother, and grandmother, as well as his uncle and aunt also sat at the table. Her mother was on her other side in her wheelchair.

It was a rare treat these days for Mary to leave the suit of rooms she lived in with Cora. Charlotte fed her mother and listened to the conversation around her.

Normally she'd be uncomfortable for Calvin and Julia to be in her home, but since it was the New Year and it was bad luck to discuss unhappy things, she felt minimally confident that they would restrain themselves from unkind talk. At least publicly.

"This is delicious!" Anna exclaimed over one of the dishes.

"Gordon helped make that!" Charlotte quickly spoke up, wanting to brag on her husband. Everyone at the table turned and stared at Gordon in shock.

"You were in the kitchen to cook!" His mother asked in amazement.

"Charlotte was teaching me." Gordon explained.

"She's a good teacher then!" His father praised.

Charlotte blushed. "Gordon is so intelligent that I hardly had to do anything. I think he could do anything he set his mind to do." She said quietly.

"Charlotte, I'm fairly sure you are either an enchantress or a miracle worker. Since Gordimer you, he has accomplished things we never imagined." Grandma Stella said.

"Behind every successful man is a supportive woman." Calvin spoke up, truly shocking them all. Julia frowned darkly but said nothing.

Gordon spoke up, "Uncle, I am indeed blessed with a supportive wife. She is also successful in her own right.

The meal continued, and Gordon looked over at Charlotte. She was hurriedly eating after having fed her mother. Gordon felt the urge to be a bit mischievous.

He put his hand on her knee. Her eyes widened in surprise. Then he slid his hand along the inside of her thigh. Her breathing hitched and came heavily.

He hadn't intended to take it further, but her response lit a fire in him. He slid his hand past her underwear and stroked her. She gasped softly. Still not enough for him, he moved a finger inside her. She dropped her chopsticks and gripped the table. She moved one of her hands to her lap, trying to brush his hand away.

Gordon chuckled softly and slipped in a second finger. Charlotte bit back a moan. He was truly shameless. He knew how vocal she could be during intimacy. What was he thinking, trying to arouse her with his family present!

She forcefully pulled his hand out and stood.

"If everyone is finished we can move to the entertainment room to watch the New Year's Gala." Charlotte announced. Everyone stood to make their way to the indoor cinema Gordon had installed. Only Gordon and Charlotte remained.

"Really, Gordon? At the dinner table. With your entire family and my mother present?" Charlotte scolded.

He smiled down at her. "I was only going to tease you a bit, but I am quite addicted to you and your amazing body." He admitted.

She couldn't stay angry with him. She merely shook her head and took his hand as they went to join the others.

As they settled into their theater styled seats, Charlotte had an idea to get back at Gordon. As the light dimmed all the way down and the gala aired live on the huge TV screen, Charlotte glanced over at Gordon and moved her hand to his crotch. He startled in surprise, not expecting a retaliatory attack.

Charlotte's hands gently stroked, caressed, and squeezed. Gordon's labored breathing and smothered groans weren't missed by Charlotte. She turned to look at him and smiled seductively.

"Checkmate." She whispered in his ear.

————————

Cora and Andrew had eaten with his large family earlier. She had met his parents before but this time she met his grandparents and two uncles and their families. It was a lot to take in, but overall they seemed kind.

Andrew had taken her in his car to the festivities on the streets of Beijing. They were waiting for the fireworks to start at midnight. Andrew put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. She stiffened and tried to relax.

A few minutes later everyone began counting down.

"10, 9, 8...." Suddenly Andrew knelt down on his knee.

"7, 6, 5...." He pulled out a small box.

"4, 3, 2, 1!!!!"

"Cora, will you marry me?" He asked her, looking up expectantly.

Shouts of New Year greetings and fireworks bursting above them faded from her mind as she heard his question. She felt panic rising in her heart. She wanted to run, like a scared white rabbit.

"Andrew, I...please not yet. I'm not ready. I don't really have a right to be with you anyway." Her voice faded as she stared at the ground.

"What?" Andrews voice was full of confusion and hurt.

"I'm so sorry, Andrew. I really am." She said.

"I thought we were in love. I thought you loved me." He spoke pain filled words.

"I do love you. So very much. But—" She was cut off.

"Never mind. Just forget it. Let me take you home." His words were detached of emotion.

Cora sighed. They made their way to his car.

The drive back was made in complete silence as the two of them wrestled with their emotions and what they should say.

Finally they arrived at the Zhou villa and the driver opened the door for Cora. She climbed out and looked back at Andrew.

"I'm so sorry. I do love you." Her words squeezed out between chocking sobs.

"Goodbye, Cora." Andrew said. The finality in his tone wasn't missed by her.

She turned and ran inside. She ran up the grand staircase and stopped at the door of her sister and brother-in-law's bedroom. She wanted to cry in Charlotte's arms, but even though the light was still on, she could hear them laughing and talking. She didn't want to interrupt what sounded like a pleasant conversation. She trudged down the hallway and took the elevator to the third floor where she, her mother, and two nurses stayed. She peeked in on her mother. She was breathing evenly with her oxygen tubes inserted. Mommy needed them to sleep now.

The nurse smiled up at her from her place near her mother.

"Happy New Year, Miss Xia." She said softly.

"To you as well." Cora managed to say. But she felt this year would be anything but happy.