December 24th
148 Festive Lane
11:45 p.m.
The party was still going strong as the grandfather clock ticked closer to midnight, and the advent of Christmas Day would soon find its way to the dilapidated old house. Martha was sitting in a large dark burgundy upholstered Queen Anne-style chair. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was of little use. It had been a very long day, and Martha was exhausted. As she drifted off into a sound sleep, her guests visited with one another. The few children at the party were playing with several dogs in the family room toward the back of the house. In their late twenties, a younger couple walked hand in hand to the foyer that led to the second level of the mansion. As they ascended the carpeted stairway, they glanced down to the lower level to see if their actions were noticed. The guests below were absorbed with each other, and not a soul was aware of the young couple's absence.
The couple reached the second floor and proceeded down a dimly lit, long, narrow hallway. They walked deliberately as if they knew their way and passed several closed doors on either side of the corridor. As they reached the end of the hallway, they stopped at the very last door on the right. The entrance to this room was complete with dark wood six-panel door that hosted a tarnished brass doorknob. An engraved pewter-colored plaque affixed to the door at eye level with the words, “Guest Room.” The young man reached for the doorknob and twisted it to the right as the door opened with a slight creak.
The room was obviously a guest bedroom and was adorned regally. The furnishings were antique in style, but this room showed no signs of wear or damage, unlike the rest of the house's furnishings. The bed was a solid, dark wood frame with four tall hand-carved posters. The room ceiling was at least 12 feet high and was covered with inlaid copper tinted foil. The double-hung windows boasted beautiful ivory satin window coverings that appeared to be brand new. The top of each treatment had an extensive swag in perfect folds and was complemented by extra full pleated draperies below. A cherry wood dresser directly across from the bed matched the frame. A large ornate gold-framed-looking glass was centered on the chiffonier. An old-fashioned white with blue flowers porcelain washbasin and pitcher set on the far left side and a lace doily runner that flowed from each end of the antique bureau.
The couple entered the room, and the young man closed the door behind them. Their tryst was complete. As he walked over to a small two-drawer nightstand that sat along the right side of the large queen size bed, the attractive young woman took her place quietly on the opposite side of the bed. The young man lit a long white candle in a polished brass holder with a small finger handle on its base. The candle softly illuminated the room as he turned off the overhead chandelier.
He climbed into the bed and placed his hands on the shoulders of the young woman. She softly sighed. In the distance, they could hear the muffled sounds of conversation overshadowed by Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas” as a holiday album played on the phonograph in the dining room below. He kissed her gently and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I love you with all my heart, Alyce. Merry Christmas, darling,” he whispered into her ear...
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