Melody's Christmas

by ID Johnson

  “Of course,” Sarah said with a shrug. “Why not? Michael’s delightful. I’m sure we’ll have a great time together. And you and Reid need a chance to spend some time alone. What kind of a date would it be with your mother and his son there the whole time?”

  Melody had been wondering the same thing ever since Reid had asked her out, though she was willing to take what she could get. Still, having even an hour or so of Reid to herself would make it so much easier for them to really get to know one another better.

  Before Melody could express her thoughts, Sarah asked, “Do you still have his booster seat in your truck?”

  Sparing the chuckle at her mother’s term for her SUV, Melody said, “Yes, it’s still in there.”

  “Why don’t I drive it over to our place, and Reid can bring you home and pick him up? That is, if you think Reid will trust me with his child.”

  “Why wouldn’t he trust you?” Melody asked. “You were a teacher and a child care provider—not to mention a mother.”

  “I know. He just doesn’t know me that well.”

  “I’m sure he’ll trust you. What about your car?”

  “We can come get it tomorrow. I know how much you hate that Oldsmobile of mine, and I think a proper date needs to end with a gentleman dropping a lady at her front porch. Although, I will remind you it is a first date, and there’s a chance Michael and I will be peeking through the windows to make sure everyone minds their manners.”

  Chuckling, Melody imagined what that would be like and had no doubt her mother meant it. There’d likely be no first kiss at the end of this date—and Melody was okay with taking things slow. Still, the chance to have Reid to herself was enough to make her heart sing, a sensation she hadn’t allowed herself to experience for a long time. “Thank you, Mom,” Melody said, not knowing what else to say.

  “You’re welcome,” Sarah said, turning back around to straighten a few items on the counter. “It’ll be time to close up soon. Are you excited for the parade?”

  Melody had been so ecstatic all day, she could hardly stand it, but it had nothing to do with the floats, marching bands, and antique cars that would soon be making their way down the street out front. “I’m very excited,” she replied. She just prayed that this evening would turn out even half as well as it had when she’d played it out time and again in her imagination. As she finished dusting the shelves, she wondered if Reid was as excited as she was, what he was doing, and if he’d be willing to take her mother up on her offer. Whatever he was doing, she was certain Michael had to be driving him crazy asking if it was time to go yet. The idea made her giggle out loud. She figured the customers who had just come in must think she really enjoyed cleaning, but she didn’t care—it was almost time for the Christmas parade!

  “Is it almost time for the Christmas parade?” Michael asked for at least the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. “I want to go see Miss Melody!”

  Reid was standing in front of the mirror in the master bathroom trying to decide if he had made a mistake wearing his blue sweater over the top of his blue-and-white plaid shirt. “Will this be too hot with a coat on, too?” he mumbled to himself. He’d already changed at least four times, and it seemed odd to him to even care what he was wearing for a change, especially since he’d likely have his coat on the whole time, but he wanted to look nice for Melody, even if she couldn’t see it, and he was lost in his own reflection when Michael’s yelling from the attached bedroom became more invasive.

  “Dad? I wanna go!” the kindergartner said, coming in and slamming his hands down on the counter.

  “We will. In just a few minutes. I promise,” Reid said, running a comb through his hair one more time, trying to make sure the part was just right.

  “I thought you were wearing your red sweater,” Michael said, sitting down on the edge of the whirlpool tub he’d helped Reid install over the summer.

  Reid turned to look at Michael. “What—you don’t like the blue?”

  “I like the blue,” Michael said, shrugging. “I liked the red. I. Just. Wanna. Go!”

  Reid glanced at his watch. “It’s not quite time yet, Mikey. Chill out.”

  With a loud groan and a death march only an angry child can pull off, Michael exited the bathroom. “Fine, then I’m eating more candy.”

  It took Reid a moment to process what he had said, and Michael was down the hall before he shouted, “No, you’re not!”

  There was no response, so Reid could only assume he’d already broken back into the goodie bag of sugar Michael had received at the party. Thinking the crash would hit about the same time as the first float went by, he took one last glance in the mirror, decided that would have to do, and went off to attempt to pry the candy out of Michael’s grubby hands.

  Just a few minutes later, they were on their way downtown. Melody had warned him that it would likely get crowded and that he may as well plan on parking in one of the remote lots and walking. Sure enough, there were cars lining both sides of the street for blocks before they could even see the shops. Eventually, he pulled his Sierra into a spot and got Michael out of the back seat, hoping they would make it to their meeting spot in time. Michael slipped his mittened hand into his dad’s, his smile visible above the red scarf he had wound around his neck, and they headed off in the cold toward the lights and the sound of music.

  Along the way, they ran into a few familiar faces and some not-so familiar ones, but everyone had a smile and a greeting of “Merry Christmas.” As friendly as the people in their hometown in Montana had been, there was nothing quite like the feel of small town West Virginia, and Reid was glad he’d chosen this place to raise his son.

  The sidewalk was crowded with people getting in position so that they could see the parade, and all the way from Delaney’s to the antique shop, Reid had to say, “Excuse me,” and frequently turn sideways to slide through, keeping a tight grip on Michael’s hand. Despite the throng of people, it was all worth it when he saw Melody sitting on the bench outside of her mother’s shop, a smile on her face, her green eyes twinkling in the soft glow of the Christmas lights around her. She didn’t see him at first, and he took a second to admire her unassuming grace as she flipped her long brown tresses over her shoulder. She was stunning, as always, and as difficult as it had been to finally take the leap and ask her out on a proper date, he was glad he had done so.

  “There’s Miss Melody!” Michael shouted, and before Reid could even attempt to stop him, he shot through the crowd shouting her name.

  Melody looked up in surprise and opened her arms just in time for Michael to dive into a hug. “Michael! You’re here!” she said smiling and righting his hat that had gone slightly askew with the hug. She looked up and smiled at Reid, too, who had just caught up with his son. “Hi,” she said, the rosy glow in her cheeks turning just a bit pinker.

  “Hello,” he said, trying not to stare, though it was difficult. “Sorry we’re a few minutes late. You weren’t kidding about the traffic.”

  “It’s unbelievable how many people are here this year,” Sarah said, scooting over on the bench to make room for him next to Melody. “It’s wonderful to see so many happy families out for the parade.”

  Reid took a seat between the two ladies as Michael wiggled his way onto Melody’s lap. He considered saying something to his son about asking first, but he could tell by Melody’s reaction that it was absolutely fine with her. “How are you?” he asked Sarah. “I bet you made a lot of sales today!”

  “We were busy,” she said. “I’m good. Did you have fun at the Christmas party at school?”

  “The best time ever,” Reid replied, trying to hide any hint of sarcasm. “No, it really was nice to get to spend time with Michael and his friends.”

  “I got a whole bunch of candy,” Michael said, more to Melody than anyone else.

  “You did?” she asked, peering around his hat to see his face.

  “Yep. And I made something for you.”

  �
�Oh, I can’t wait. What is it?” she asked.

  Shaking his head, he said, “You’ll have to wait until Christmas.”

  “I will? All right,” Melody sighed, pretending she didn’t think she could wait that long. “Well, I bet it’s the best present ever.”

  “It is,” Michael assured her. “’Cause I made it.”

  Melody nodded, and Michael hopped down off of her lap, spying one of his friends from school nearby. Reid yelled at him to stay nearby and then shook his head at the impulsivity he couldn’t quite seem to get a grasp on.

  Now that Michael’s dangling legs were no longer an obstruction, he slid over a bit closer to Melody. The smell of warm vanilla and peppermint alighted in the breeze, and he debated whether or not to tell her she smelled good or she looked nice—or neither since her mother was sitting right beside him.

  Melody smiled at him, and said, “You look really nice,” as if she’d been reading his mind.

  “Thanks,” he replied. “I was just about to say the same thing. I mean, that you look nice. Not that I look nice.”

  She giggled, and he hoped she knew him well enough now that his silliness wasn’t enough to send her running for the hills. “Thanks.”

  An older gentleman stopped to say something to Sarah, and he watched Melody’s eyebrows raise and then lower. She stared at her mother for a long moment and then, with a hesitant smile, said quietly so that her mother and her friend couldn’t overhear, “I see him at church, but I don’t know who he is.”

  Reid took a closer look at the man. He didn’t think he’d ever seen him before. Glancing at Melody, whose hands were folded in her lap, he looked at Sarah who was smiling and laughing at whatever the gentleman was speaking about. When a break came in the conversation, he said, “Hello,” and extended his hand.

  The older man was dressed in a long gray coat and a matching hat. His smile was friendly, and he took Reid’s hand, giving it a shake and said, “You must be Reid. I’m Curtis Haywood. I go to church with Sarah and Melody.” He smiled at Melody, who gave a slight head bob and then smiled in return.

  “It’s very nice to meet you,” Reid said as the man released his hand.

  “Likewise,” Mr. Haywood replied. “Sarah said you sure did a nice job on her attic door knob. I’m not very handy myself. It’s nice to know if something happens around my place there’s someone I can call.”

  “You do that,” Reid assured him. “I’m glad to be of service.”

  Sarah smiled at both of them and then asked Curtis a question about something that had happened at church last week, and Reid returned his attention to Melody. Quietly, he said, “That’s Curtis Haywood. He goes to church with your mom.”

  “Yes, thank you. I caught that,” she said, clearly trying to hide a smile.

  “He knows you.”

  “I heard. I know who he is now. It’s just been a long time since I’ve seen him.”

  “Well, apparently, you’ve seen him at church recently.”

  “Okay, smarty pants,” she whispered sharply. “I mean, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him and knew who he was.”

  Mr. Haywood said loudly enough for all three of them to hear, “It was nice to see you all. Have a nice evening!” They all wished him a good night, and Reid watched Sarah’s face as the gentlemen disappeared into the crowd. He wasn’t sure, but he thought there might be something there.

  Returning his attention to Melody, he couldn’t tell if she’d noticed anything, and deciding there were better topics to be discussed, he glanced around and made sure he could still see Michael, who was standing nearby with two other boys, and then asked Melody, “So what’s your favorite part of the parade?”

  She seemed to think for a moment, tipping her head to the side. “Well, it’s usually the part when Santa comes by,” she finally said.

  “But not this year?” he asked, wondering why she was hesitant.

  “No, probably not,” she said with a shrug.

  “Why not?” he asked, curious as to what she was getting at. She had that twinkle in her eye that meant she was toying with him.

  “Because it’s at the end,” she said.

  “And?”

  “And that means the parade will be over.”

  He nodded, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. “I see. Then maybe our favorite part should be whatever is first.”

  “The Grand Marshall is first,” Melody explained. “And I have no idea who it is this year, but yes, that can be our favorite.”

  Off in the distance, they began to hear the sounds of a marching band, and Reid assumed that meant the parade had begun. He watched Michael to see if he had noticed, but so far there had been no reaction. Melody cleared her throat, and he looked back at her, an expectant expression on his face.

  She licked her lips. “My mom said that she’d take Michael back to our house for a little while after the parade—if you want.”

  Before she even finished the phrase, he interrupted. “Yes. Of course. That would be awesome.”

  Melody began to laugh. “You’re sure you trust her? I mean, she did teach elementary school and run a home daycare, but….”

  “How much does she charge? A thousand dollars an hour? Sold.”

  She was laughing even harder now. “I don’t think she was planning on charging anything.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Whatever she wants. She can literally have my first born child—for a few hours.”

  “Speaking of your first born child, I think he just realized the parade is starting.”

  Reid looked over to see Michael jumping up and down. He gave Melody a smile and then got up to approach his son. Even though there was a good view from the bench, Melody had mentioned some of the floats may throw candy, and he could see Michael flinging himself into the middle of the parade route in an attempt to snag a Tootsie Roll.

  “Look, Dad! Here they come!” Michael shouted. The noise from the marching band grew louder as a bright red convertible approached with a sign reading “Grand Marshal.” An older woman and a few children, who might have been her grandkids, sat on the top of the back seat, waving, and the crowd began to cheer and wave back. Behind them, the Washington High School Marching Band from the local high school came into view playing “Jingle Bell Rock” and Michael could hardly contain his enthusiasm. Reid put his arm around his son’s shoulders and smiled. He knew they’d both remember this evening for a long time, and once he realized that Melody was standing next to him now, he knew it would be a night he would never forget.

  For the next thirty minutes, they stood together on the edge of the sidewalk watching streams of floats, another marching band, cars, horses, and all sorts of Christmas characters come by. Whenever anyone threw candy, Michael instinctively dove for it, even though after he pocketed a few pieces, Reid made sure he gave the rest to the other children around them. When a gingerbread house float complete with faux gumdrops and white icing came by, Michael laughed with glee. But nothing compared to his expression at the very end when Santa’s sleigh glided by, complete with two real reindeer and Mrs. Claus.

  As much fun as it was to watch Michael enjoying himself. Reid was also very aware that Melody seemed happier and more relaxed than he had ever seen her before. Despite the Christmas music and all of the memories she must have associated with this parade, she seemed to forget all of those things and lose herself in the magic of the moment. At the sight of Santa’s sleigh, the twinkle in her eye and the joy in her smile gave him a glimpse as to what she must have looked like as a child, full of wonder and possibilities.

  Santa’s sleigh was passing right in front of them, and Reid slipped his arm around Melody’s shoulders. She smiled up at him, and he couldn’t help but hope part of her happiness was due to him and not all because of the jolly elf in front of them. She was clapping and bouncing up and down just a bit, though not as ferociously as Michael in front of them, and as they stood poised on the sidewalk together, Reid could have sworn Santa winked in h
is direction. Whether it was real or imagined, it made him smile even more broadly. If that was Santa’s way of spreading Christmas magic, then Reid would gladly take some.

  Once the sleigh had passed them by, Michael stepped off into the street a foot or so and waved, shouting, “Bye, Santa Claus! I’ll see you tomorrow at the library!” The other children joined in with similar choruses, and Reid glanced around at all the friendly faces. If any town could generate some Christmas magic, he believed Charles Town might just be the place.

  Chapter 12

  Bishop’s Diner was just a block or two off of the main drag downtown, and even though it was crowded with other people who had the same idea to stop by after the parade, Melody and Reid were able to get a booth. The waitress, a woman Melody had gone to school with named Valerie, was nice, though her usual chattiness was curtailed by the crowd, and she’d hustled off to get their drinks while Melody pretended to look at the menu though she was really paying much more attention to Reid than what was printed on the laminated paper in front of her.

  “So what’s good here?” he asked, flipping it over a few times before setting it down and locking eyes with her.

  Melody felt her cheeks warm and glanced down at the menu. “The chicken fried chicken is good. That’s what I usually get. Most everything is pretty good.”

  “Chicken fried chicken,” Reid mused, steepling his fingers in front of his face. “I wonder where that name came from. Some waiter a long time ago with a sarcastic customer. ‘How would you like your chicken fried, sir?’ ‘Like chicken.’”

  Giggling, Melody said, “I don’t know. I’ve wondered about that before, too. But then there’s chicken fried steak, so maybe that came first and somebody was trying to insinuate that chicken fried chicken is fried like chicken fried steak and not like regular fried chicken.”

  “I think you lost me there. If I’m going to live in the South, I guess I need to figure out all these unusual terms and dishes.”