All I Want is You this Christmas Final

by Codi Gary

  She rolled her eyes. Little Carly won the gossip-in-training award.

  When Anna Beth got all the way to the other end of the tents, she found her aunt speaking to Karen Jeffries. Sarah held two bags and they had their heads close together, as though conspiring.

  “Hey, there. What’s up?” Anna Beth asked.

  “Nothing, dear.” Sarah held out her bag. “Your wreath supplies.”

  “Thanks. How are you, Karen?”

  Karen smiled. “I’m good, Anna Beth. Did you go by and see Jared?”

  “Yeah, he looks great. Tammy did an awesome job making him look the part. Are you going to make a wreath?”

  “I am.” She held up the paper sack she was carrying. “It’s for Jared. The Christmas décor at his house is incredibly lacking.”

  Anna Beth laughed. “The cookie jar you got him is adorable.”

  “Oh, you’ve been to his place?” Karen asked.

  “Yeah, I went over there after we went sledding. Jared let me borrow some clothes because mine were wet.”

  “Interesting. Well, it looks like they’re ready for us to go in and start creating. You can tell me more about what’s going on with you and Jared while we make our projects.”

  Anna Beth followed behind her aunt and Karen into the tent. A long table was set up with metal wreath frames. They walked around to the other side and sat down. Anna Beth realized they flanked her on either side.

  She pulled out her supplies, putting it in piles to better organize it.

  “Hi, Mrs. Claus!”

  Anna Beth looked up to see Carly waving at her enthusiastically. She waved back and obviously satisfied, Carly dragged her mom out of sight.

  “Mrs. Claus?” Sarah asked.

  She closed her eyes. “I’ll explain later.”

  “Does it have anything to do with our new Santa?” Karen prodded.

  Anna Beth’s cheeks warmed.

  Karen grinned and started wrapping a green ribbon around her frame. “Interesting. Very interesting.”

  Twenty-Three

  Jared kept moving different muscles in his face as he walked out of Santa’s Shack and headed towards the tents. The heavy prosthetic nose and beard made his face sore and itchy and although it had been removed, his face hadn’t fully recovered.

  The tree lighting ceremony kicked off in fifteen minutes and then everyone headed over to the Community Center for the stocking raffle and dinner. He pulled out his phone and shot Anna Beth a text.

  Where are you?

  It didn’t take long for her to respond.

  At the Ornament Creation Station.

  I’ll be right there.

  Jared weaved his way through throngs of people, most of them heading in the opposite direction toward the tree to get the best spot. He stepped into the ornament tent, surprised to find his mother sitting next to Anna Beth and Sarah. He wanted to head straight for Anna Beth and give her a kiss, but wasn’t sure if public displays were on or off the table. He settled for laying a hand on her shoulder and giving her a squeeze.

  “Hey,” he said.

  Anna Beth leaned her head back to look at him, smiling. “Hi.”

  “How is it going?”

  “Great. We’re about finished.”

  “Hello, Jared,” Sarah said.

  “Evening, Sarah. Mom? You going to say hi or are you too busy for your favorite.”

  His mom didn’t even look his way, too busy concentrating on her ornament. “Hi, honey. Did you have fun at the North Pole?”

  “Not as much as you three,” he said, noting several full bags around each of their chairs. “Did you hit every craft hut?”

  “We did,” Anna Beth said. “I can go with you if you want to do one.”

  “No, it’s fine. It’s almost time for the tree lighting ceremony, anyway.”

  “I made you something,” his mom said. She set her ornament down and reached under the table, revealing a large Santa tote bag. From inside the bag, she pulled out a burlap ribbon wreath with holly berries, pine cones, and a little wood cabin. On the porch of the tiny structure was a figurine of a couple embracing and a brown dog sitting at their feet.

  The woman had blonde hair.

  Jared gave his mother an exasperated look. She’d made no secret she wanted to see Jared and Anna Beth together, but she didn’t need to make it so obvious.

  “It’s nice, Mom. Do you have an extra bag for me to take it home in?”

  “Of course I do.” She handed him one with green cactuses wearing Santa hats. “I want my bag back though.”

  Jared slid the wreath into the bag and away from Anna Beth’s gaze. She’d been too busy finishing her ornament to see what his mother created. Hopefully when she did see it, she’d be flattered.

  Bells rang, indicating the tree lighting would commence in five minutes. Anna Beth set her ornament down and grabbed a white box from the center of the table. She placed the ornament inside, but he didn’t see what it was before it disappeared.

  Sarah stood up on the other side of Anna Beth, gathering up her bags. “Ernie is going to meet us for the ceremony by the drink tent.”

  “I’m ready,” Anna Beth said.

  Karen grabbed a box and placed her ornament inside. “Me too.”

  “Can I help you with your bags, ladies?” Jared asked.

  “That’s okay, sweetheart,” Karen said with a smile. “I’m going to find Mike and Casey. They’ve been delivering the wooden snowmen and reindeer all afternoon, so I don’t know if your dad is going to feel up to going to the raffle. Anna Beth, Sarah, thank you for letting me tag along with you.”

  “Thank you for joining us,” Sarah said.

  “Absolutely.” Anna Beth hugged his mom. “It was so much fun.”

  Jared held his arms out and his mom came in for a hug. She stood up on her tiptoes and whispered, “I love this girl.”

  “I know you do.”

  His mom winked at him and walked out into the crowd. Jared reached down and grabbed Anna Beth’s bags.

  “I can carry those.”

  “I know you can, but I want to. Is that okay?”

  Sarah huffed. “Anna Beth, stop arguing with the man and let him carry your bags.”

  Anna Beth grinned sheepishly. “My aunt says I shouldn’t argue.”

  “You should listen to your elders.”

  “I was on your side, until you called me old,” Sarah deadpanned. “I’ll see you at home, Anna Beth.”

  “I didn’t call you old!” Jared called after her, but she didn’t turn around. Jared looked down at Anna Beth. “I think I upset your aunt.”

  “No, she was teasing you. She does that now. It’s slightly unnerving.” Anna Beth looped her arm through Jared’s. “Should we go?”

  “Sure.”

  They gathered at the back of the crowd just as the Mayor stepped up to the podium. “Citizens of Snowy Springs! Thank you for joining us tonight for our annual Christmas Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony! It’s you, our citizens, who make this town a wonderful place to raise a family. I’m proud to be a part of this community and I hope everyone here feels the same way. Without further ado, let there be light!”

  The mayor flipped the switch and colorful sequence lights lit up the tree, flashing different patterns. The silver star on top sparkled and the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

  “Thank you to Cortez Electric for volunteering their time to make this tree shine. Now, please join us across the street at the Community Center for dinner and our stocking raffle!”

  Jared held up the bags. “Should we put these in the trunk of your car and head over?”

  “Yes, please. I don’t think either one of us want to carry them around all night.”

  Anna Beth took his arm again and leaned her head against his shoulder, her sweet scent surrounding him. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I had so much fun tonight, “she gushed. “Being back here is so different.”

  Stay.

  The
word tickled the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t want to ruin their night by bringing up her future plans. They'd agreed to one day at a time.

  “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “Are you happy?” she asked.

  “Yes. This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

  Anna Beth kissed his shoulder. They arrived at her car and when she unlocked it, Jared placed the bags in the trunk.

  Jared took Anna Beth’s hand and brought her in for a kiss. Her arms looped around his shoulders and he pressed his hands into the small of her back. Jared slipped his tongue inside her mouth, kissing her deeper.

  “Mrs. Claus?” A chorus of voices cried behind him.

  They broke the kiss, spinning to find three families with small children standing behind them, little Carly in front. Her tiny hands were fisted on her hips, a scowl twisting her cute as a button features.

  “I’m telling Santa you kissed Officer Cross! You’re going to be on the naughty list for life.”

  The other children nodded in agreement while their parents snickered.

  Anna Beth buried her face in Jared's jacket. He shook his head. “Sorry kids. It was all my fault. Mrs. Claus is too cute. I’ll apologize to Santa.”

  “You better,” Carly said.

  Jared arched a brow at Carly's mother. “That’s a live one you got there.”

  “Come on, kids. Let’s get some food.” The mother mouthed, I’m sorry as they passed.

  Jared hugged Anna Beth hard. “How does it feel to have officially ruined Christmas?”

  “Shut up,” she laughed into his chest.

  He rubbed her coat covered shoulders. “Come on, A.B. Let’s get inside.”

  Warm air rushed from the Community Center when he opened the door, hitting his cold cheeks. Inside was brightly lit with red and green garland roped across the ceiling. Several people stood behind a table with a gold tablecloth, two of them handling the cash boxes while the rest handed out raffle tickets. Jared took in the giant display fireplace in the middle of the room, red stockings nearly covering the massive prop. A fake fire with floating cloths of red, orange and yellow danced inside.

  “Welcome, Jared! Do you already have your meal tickets?” Margo asked.

  “Yes, there should be two under Cross.”

  Margo flipped through her list and grabbed a highlighter. “Got you. Do you want to buy more raffle tickets?”

  “I would,” Anna Beth piped in.

  They each bought fifty extra tickets for twenty-five bucks a piece. Margo passed them over with table number fifteen written on the bottom of the stub. White table clothes adorned the surface of the large, round tables and at the center sat beautiful red poinsettias. The place settings were white with gold trim and several baskets of rolls were placed between each seat.

  When they reached table fifteen, Vance sat with his back to them at an otherwise empty table.

  Jared released Anna Beth’s hand and squeezed Vance’s shoulders. “What’s up?”

  Vance held his hand up above him and Jared took it in a firm shake. “Hey buddy. You ready for this?”

  “Yep, going to get some food and win some stockings.” Jared held the chair for Anna Beth and took the one on the other side of her. “You here alone?”

  “Yeah. I asked Olive if she wanted to come, but she had a date.”

  Vance seemed nonchalant about his bed-buddy being there with someone else, so Jared didn’t question it.

  “I’m glad we ended up at the same table.”

  Vance held his fist out. “I took care of it, my broski. Told Margo I needed to be with you, because you give me luck.”

  “Do you two want to sit next to each other? I feel like I’m the Yoko factor in this bromance,” Anna Beth asked.

  Jared slid his arm around the back of her chair with a laugh. “Nah, we’re good.”

  Their table filled up with other adults their age as servers came around with salads followed by the main course dishes. By the time they finished dessert, the MC started the raffle.

  “Make sure to have all your tickets out. Stocking number one…”

  Everyone looked at their tickets, but an excited cry from the other side of the room echoed.

  Anna Beth’s fork darted over and snaked a bite of his chocolate cake.

  “Hey! You chose the cheesecake.”

  “I just wanted to try a bite.” She picked up a piece of her dessert with her fork and held it out to him. “Wanna try?”

  Jared took the morsel and licked his lips. “Yum.”

  “You two make me want to gag,” Vance said.

  Jared ran his palm across Anna Beth’s cheek, turning her face toward his. He didn’t actually plan on kissing her, Jared just wanted to tease Vance, but when her lips parted, her gaze caressing his mouth, he couldn’t help himself. He forgot all about public displays or who may be watching, and kissed Anna Beth like they were the only two people in the room.

  Vance’s less than subtle coughing finally broke them apart, their gazes holding for for several moments until they were both smiling.

  “I regret sitting next to you two, now, so thanks,” Vance said.

  The MC called out the ticket numbers for stocking number two and Anna Beth jumped up in her seat. “I won!”

  Jared, Vance, and the rest of their table clapped as she stood up and weaved through the tables to claim her prize.

  Vance lowered his voice and leaned closer “Things seem to be going well.”

  “So far.”

  “Have you asked her to stay yet?”

  “No. I’m going to wait a little longer. We’ve already had one hiccup this week. I need to show her this is what I want.”

  “Just don’t wait too long.”

  Anna Beth came back to the table and pulled an envelope from the stocking. “I got a shopping spree at Tammy’s!” She did a little dance in her seat and Jared laughed.

  Jared’s hands were still empty when the MC called out his number for stocking sixteen. Anna Beth hugged him and he walked to the center of the room to collect. He didn’t look inside until he got to his seat and pulled out the envelope.

  “What did you get?” Anna Beth asked.

  “A two-night hotel stay for New Years' weekend at that swanky new hotel outside of town.”

  “Wow, that’s great.”

  Jared left it at that because the last thing he wanted to do was ask her to join him with a table full of people watching. He slipped the envelope back into the stocking.

  If he couldn’t convince Anna Beth to go, it would make a nice gift for his parents.

  After the last stocking was claimed, Vance grunted beside him. “I got skunked again.”

  “I’m going to the ladies' room. Make sure Vance stays away from my gift certificate.”

  “Oh, I’m taking it! I need me a new pair of satin chonies.”

  She laughed. Once she was out of earshot, Vance picked up Jared’s stocking and looked inside.

  “This is great. Gives you a reason to jump the gun and ask her.”

  “She already saw and didn’t say anything.”

  Vance nudged him with his shoulder. “Maybe because she knows you’re unsure and she’s afraid of spooking you again.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Look, I’ve been on the other side of her all night and she is into you. And not just for a late-night booty call. Keep that prize your back pocket. I think things are going to work out for you this time.”

  Jared caught sight of Anna Beth coming back and his heart squeezed.

  “I really hope so, man.”

  Twenty-Four

  On Thursday afternoon, Anna Beth stood in the middle of Tammy’s shop, decked out in an ugly Christmas sweater and Santa hat over the green, fuzzy costume she had on. Tammy spent two hours applying prosthetics and green makeup to her face and neck. Tammy giggled as she took a picture. “Eat your heart out, Jim Carey. There’s a new Grinch in town.”

  Anna Beth turned and looked at herself i
n the mirror. The prosthetics made her nose non-existent, and her voice nasally.

  “Jared is going to die,” Anna Beth said.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, how are the two of you?”

  “We’re good.”

  They were, although she hadn’t seen much of him the last few days because he’d been sleeping during the day while she’d been helping her aunt. After he went back to work Sunday night, they’d done a lot of texting and phone calls in the morning and late afternoon, but she missed his face. His kisses. Pretty much, everything.

  Tammy grabbed a few items from a clothing rack and walked around, putting them away, talking as she worked. “I know it’s hard to move on when you lose someone. I closed myself off when my first husband died.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks.” Tammy leaned against the front counter, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “It was twenty years ago. We were high school sweethearts. Married at eighteen and madly in love. We were twenty-two when he went for a ride on his motorcycle and a truck took a blind corner too wide. It hit him head on.”

  “How horrible.”

  “It was. Even years after, I didn’t want anything to do with men or relationships, no matter how many times my mom tried to set me up. I left town for a while, went to school and got a job as a makeup artist in New York. I finally came back here and the first thing I did was get stuck in the snow and need to be rescued by a cantankerous tow truck driver.”

  Anna Beth smiled, already knowing what happened next.

  “What’s funny is, I fell in love with him and we have two beautiful boys. Life puts you where you need to be when the time is right. You just have to watch for the signs.”

  The bells above Tammy’s door jingled. Tammy glanced over Anna Beth’s shoulder; her eyes wide. Then she burst out laughing.

  Anna Beth turned to see what had her in stitches and she covered her mouth in shock. Jared stood in the doorway in a dog costume, a single antler horn tied atop his head.

  “I’m Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Jared said. “I thought the kids would love it.”

  Tammy still couldn’t catch her breath from laughing too hard.