It’s now or never. Should I tell my husband, Jasper what I did earlier today to save our marriage or not? The successful and wealthy chanteuse Dominique Deveraux confronting Alexis Carrington on the TV show, Dynasty would probably be calm, relaxed, and collected in my situation, but I’m a basket case. Hopefully, my inner Diahann Carroll, with her alluring elegance, glamour, and grace that made her a force to be reckoned with, will inspire me. 

Just as I think a bit of liquid courage would help my situation, my favorite cocktail, pink champagne, appears in front of me thanks to our waiter. It’s the perfect cocktail for the best time of the year. Something about the fabulous pink color and all those tiny little bubbles feels like the holidays to me. What could be better than drinking a glass filled with glitter? And let’s not forget, it contains fewer calories than wine! Red or white wine has between 135 and 200 calories, a glass of pink champagne clocks in at only 95.

Jasper must have ordered my cocktail for me before I arrived. The thoughtfulness of his gesture makes me melt inside. He knows me, my likes, my dislikes, my interests, my passions, my moods, and my heart. Emotions surge inside of me. The ice around my heart begins to thaw. I can’t help feeling that Jasper is deliberately trying to woo me. 

My husband’s eyes drink me in as I take a sip. I ask Jasper about his day. He seems a bit flustered at first, grasping for words before the smooth tenor of his voice returns. He doesn’t mention being at the restaurant earlier or with a woman, which doesn’t surprise me. Jasper doesn’t like to cause a scene in public. He’ll do anything to avoid it. Anytime our kids would cry in public when they were younger, Jasper moved mountains and earth to get us somewhere private as quickly as possible. He might be one of New York’s most successful ligators in court, but at home, he shies away from confrontation. I guess I do too. After all, I have never mentioned how I really feel about his early morning departures and late arrivals. 

It’s actually a relief that Jasper doesn’t mention his lunch date to me. On the one hand, it means he didn’t see the children or me earlier, which means my surprise is still a surprise. But, on the other hand, if I can be so bold, his date doesn’t warrant a mention, which means we may not have a confrontation after all. Now perhaps that’s hope talking, but I am getting a strange feeling that my husband chooses me. He’s leaning forward in his chair, looking directly into my eyes and attentively listening to every word from my lips. If I believed in paranormal and mythical things, I’d say a time machine has sent us back to our first Christmas Eve together. Back then, we were so in love with each other that nothing else in the world mattered to us. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. 

While I take another sip of my pink champagne, Jasper shares the astronomical amount of money his client received in a settlement he negotiated today. Jasper talks with his hands as he describes his closing argument to the judge. I’m caught off guard by how my husband is talking to me. He’s not condensing, not cross or irritated. In fact, he seems determined for me to understand him as if my opinion truly matters. When I offer my praise, he seems genuinely grateful to be acknowledged.

His voice cracks when he mentions that he’s hiring a new assistant. I’m a bit surprised because I thought he loved his assistant, Monique. Monique always seems to know exactly what my husband needs before he’s able to tell her. It doesn’t matter if it’s a client file, a phone number, an internal memo, or even a take-out menu from a nearby restaurant. She’s always one step ahead of him. Although I have only met her once, I like Monique immensely. Jasper tells me that Monique left three months ago to be closer to her aging father. Apparently, she works for a law firm in her hometown, down South. I’m surprised I didn’t know sooner. Then again, we’ve said more to each other in the last thirty minutes than we have in the past three months.  

I practically spill my pink champagne when Jasper asks me if I would consider coming to the office and helping him out until he finds a replacement. A wide smile spreads across my face. Jasper hasn’t asked for my help since he started practicing law. He couldn’t afford to hire anyone back then, so I readily agreed to be his assistant. I actually enjoyed the work. We were so close back then, working together as a team. My husband returns my smile when he hears my response. I agree with his request. He’s elated. 

What’s going on here? Jasper is looking at me like I’m the only person in the woman. Now, I’m in a quandary about what to do. Do I go through with my plan? Do I tell him why I didn’t buy him a Christmas gift? Or do I make an excuse and pretend I forgot it at home? 

TO BE CONTINUED …

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 1

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 2

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 3

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 4

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 5

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 6

Click HERE for Pink Champagne Christmas Story Part 7

Divabetic Holiday Playlist: We’re loving Lady A’s rendition of Paul McCartney’s iconic song,  “Wonderful Christmastime”. Lady A decided to revamp their 12-track On This Winter’s Night Christmas album from 2012. According to Canadian actor Ryan George, it’s actually “about friends practicing witchcraft but then someone walks in and they have to suddenly play it cool.”

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge,  named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic along with our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie Gentle, Terri Seidman, MaryAnn Nicolay, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford. Special thanks to the Houdeshell family, and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion’s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons that they teach.