by Holly Rayner
Putting the phone down, Adison sat up. That’s right. Christmas. It was probably the first one where, the moment she woke up, she was thinking about something other than what day it was.
Turned out, Ken knew what he was doing in the kitchen. He cooked up eggs, bacon, and pancakes, and brought them to her on the couch. Taffy, done with her breakfast, slinked her way to the tree to see what kind of trouble she could get into.
“Merry Christmas,” Adison said.
Ken paused the slightest bit. Most people might not have even noticed it. “Merry Christmas.”
He looked down at his plate.
There was a pang in Adison’s chest. Christmas. One of the happiest times of the year. And for Ken, no doubt the hardest.
Her throat thick, she put her plate on the coffee table and covered Ken’s hand with hers. “I’m sure today isn’t an easy one.”
He lifted his face, and she saw the layers of pain in his eyes. “This is the best Christmas I’ve had in a very long time,” he said. “Thank you for that.”
He turned his palm around so that their fingers were laced.
“Yeah, well, you’ve really brightened it up for me as well.” She squeezed his hand. “Before you came over, my plan was to hang out all day in my pajamas and consume sugar nonstop.”
“Feel free to do the holidays your way.” He chuckled.
“Mm.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m pretty sure I like this better.”
They ate in silence for a couple of minutes before Ken spoke again.
“Thank you for being understanding.” He cleared his throat and worked his jaw around. “I would…I’d like to come to love Christmas. I really would. It’s what Becca would want. This was her favorite holiday.”
Adison nodded. “Maybe celebrating it can become your way of honoring her.”
He smiled slightly, his mood shifting. “Yes. Maybe.”
They took their time with breakfast, their conversation flowing easily.
“I still can’t believe you rented me an office space,” she said.
“Believe it. The rent is paid for a whole year, even if you don’t use it.”
Adison shook her head and laughed. “What am I gonna do with a guy like you?”
“Keep me around, hopefully.”
Butterflies flitted through her belly. “I’d like that.”
“Good,” he murmured, leaning over and kissing her.
As they finished up breakfast, Adison realized she didn’t have a present under the tree for Ken. Even though she hadn’t expected to have him as a guest, it felt wrong to have someone over on Christmas and not have a present for them.
“What is it?” he asked, noticing her frowning.
“I wish I had something to give you.” She loaded their plates into the dishwasher. “You gave me such an amazing Christmas present, and I don’t have anything for you.”
“Hm.” He took both her hands in his. “How about you take a walk with me?”
“That’s what you want for Christmas? A walk?”
“Yes,” he said, completely serious. “I would like your time. Can you give it?”
“I can do that. Let me get dressed in something warm.”
Letting go of his hands, she walked around the island, pausing briefly to smell the roses in a vase there. Her step had an extra pep in it, and she felt like her heart was singing.
Only the afternoon before, she had felt like she was weathering Christmas, doing whatever she could to get through it. Now she was breezing through it, wishing it would never end.
She didn’t bother checking her weather app. It was the same every day in December: cold and snowy. Pulling on some flannels, she dressed in her snow pants and jacket, then bundled up with thick gloves, hat, and a scarf.
Not surprisingly, Taffy and Ken were back on the couch. This time they were playing with some pieces of paper Ken had balled up.
“It’s official,” Adison said. “You two belong on a calendar.”
“What month?” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Every month.” She grabbed her keys off the hook. “You deserve a whole calendar.”
Leaving Taffy with her paper balls, they left the apartment and tramped into the cold. A light snowfall tickled their faces as they crossed the parking lot and walked for the adjacent woods.
Other than it being where Corinne lived, the reason Adison had moved into this apartment complex twice was because of its close proximity to nature. A hiking trail wound past a pond and up a hill, where at its apex a nice view of the neighborhood waited.
The snow was fresh in the woods, only an occasional animal track from squirrels and foxes here and there. The crisp air shocked their bodies into wakefulness, and they walked quietly, lost in the silence and the peace of the morning.
At the view at the top of the hill, they stopped and gazed at the streets below. You could see Adison’s building, as well as the neighboring apartments and houses.
“It’s beautiful up here.” Ken looped his arm around her waist, and she leaned into his chest.
Closing her eyes, Adison listened to his heartbeat. It was steady. Reliable. She hoped it was a sign that things between the two of them would be the same.
She felt his lips press against her hair. Since she’d warmed up considerably on the hike up, she’d taken off her hat and stuffed it in a pocket.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” he said into her hair.
Wrapping both her arms around his torso, she looked up at him. “Thanks for coming with me.”
He dragged his gloved thumb along the line of her jaw. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner how I felt about you.”
She blinked in surprise. “Oh. It’s okay.”
His lips twitched, and he rolled his eyes. Clearly, he didn’t think it was okay.
“Just out of curiosity,” she said, “how exactly do you feel about me, and how long has that state of emotion been going on for?”
Ken chuckled—which was the reaction she’d hoped for.
“Let’s see…” He drew a deep breath and thought about it. “The first time I saw you, I was captivated. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, sure. You were my employee, and deep down I think I knew there was something special about you. You weren’t just another beautiful woman. You were a force to be reckoned with.”
“Okay. I like that.” She stuffed her hands in his jacket pockets. “You didn’t really answer the first question, though. Unless the answer is merely that you’re captivated by me. Which is fine. I’m down with that. If—”
“I love you,” he interrupted. “That’s how I feel about you.”
Adison’s breath hitched in her chest. She pressed her tongue against her teeth. She ought to respond, but once she did, the moment, the moment where Ken first told her he loved her, would be gone.
And so she just gazed up at him, waiting for her heart to stop expanding and filling with light all while hoping it would never do exactly that.
“Is that okay?” Ken ventured.
Adison burst into laughter. “Yes. It’s more than okay. I love you, too.”
“Wonderful.” He chuckled, his hands sliding down her shoulders and looping under her arms. “One more thing.”
“Okay.”
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
Adison’s jaw dropped.
“What?” he asked. “I just told you I love you. You’re really surprised?”
“Yes. I mean no.” She collected her thoughts. “I love that you officially asked me to be your girlfriend. Guys don’t usually do that.”
“I hope I’m not a usual guy.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Cupping her face, he kissed her gently. The touch caused a tingle that started in her lips and spread to her toes.
Drawing back, he slid his hand into hers. “Ready to walk back?”
“Depends,” she said. “Are you hanging out for the rest of the day?”
His eyes shone. “I’m hanging around for
much longer than that.”
Epilogue
A Year Later: Adison
Adison snuggled deeper into the sheets, enjoying the steady hum of the central heat. There was a warm ball against her legs that could only be Taffy, who was purring loudly in her sleep.
“Good morning, kitty,” Adison said.
Taffy continued purring, and Adison smiled to herself. Since Taffy wasn’t batting at Adison’s head, that meant Ken had already fed her.
Suddenly, Adison’s phone began ringing. Sitting up, she blinked away sleep and reached for the bed stand.
“Hi, bestie,” she said, answering Corinne’s video call.
“Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas.” Adison blew her a kiss, taking in the fact that Corinne was already dressed for the day in a reindeer sweater. “What time is it? I think I overslept.”
“You’re allowed to oversleep. Plus, it’s Christmas. Does it really matter what time it is?”
“I guess not,” Adison chuckled. “But you’re still coming over here at noon, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And I’m just curious… Will Ken’s cute friend be there?”
“Simon? You like Simon?”
Corinne made a scene of flipping her braid and acting nonchalant. “I was only asking.”
“Yeah. He’ll be here. He’s bringing the pie.”
“Oh, a man who can bake. I like that.”
“And you’re still good to make the green bean casserole?”
Corinne gave her a pointed look. “I was born to make today’s green bean casserole.”
“In that case, I’ll be getting my hopes up and expecting this meal to be the best ever.”
“Do it. Oh! Have you told him yet?”
“No.” Holding the phone so Corinne could still see her face, Adison climbed out of bed and padded for the bathroom. “Sometime today.”
Corinne clapped her hands. “I can’t wait.”
“I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. He’ll be thrilled.”
Adison drew a deep breath. “I think so, too.”
“See you soon. Love you.”
“Love you. Bye.” Adison waved and hung up the phone, then turned on the faucet and brushed her teeth.
Six months had gone by since she’d moved in with Ken, and she still wasn’t used to having a gigantic bathroom all to herself. The master bedroom in his house hadn’t been built with a bathroom with his-and-hers sinks—it had been built with his-and-hers bathrooms, one on either end of the bedroom.
Even though she wasn’t used to such extravagance, that didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate it. That and the indoor salt pool. As well as the outdoor pool that she’d enjoyed in the summer. And the hot tub. And the library. And the kitchen decked out with all the latest appliances.
Yeah, Ken’s house was a dream come true. Adison had been hesitant when he asked her to move in with him. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, only that she’d been burned in the past. Things had moved too fast with Danny and she’d suffered because of it.
She’d gone with her intuition, though, which told her that everything with Ken was different. Turned out, her instinct had been right. Life with the man of her dreams got better each day.
Finished brushing her teeth and combing her hair, she went to her walk-in closet and considered her options. It was then that she remembered it was Christmas, and Corinne and Simon wouldn’t be over for at least a few more hours. Why bother getting dressed?
Sticking to her flannel pajamas, she crossed through the bedroom.
“Come on, Taffy,” she called.
When she looked, though, she saw that Taffy had already vacated the bedroom.
As Adison grew nearer to the bottom floor, she understood why. The distinct smell of bacon filled the air. Undoubtedly, Taffy was in the kitchen mewing for some of it.
Adison took her time descending the stairs, smiling at the photos lining the wall. In addition to pictures of her and Ken traveling in Italy and Alaska, there were ones of her parents and his sister Becca. Even though Adison had only lived in the house for half a year, she hadn’t felt so at home somewhere since her mom and dad passed.
She’d been right about Taffy. Of course.
Ken flipped bacon at the stove while Taffy lay on her back on the rug, purring up at him.
“Okay,” Ken was saying to her. “A little bit, but don’t tell Mom.”
Adison paused in the doorway and pressed her fingers to her lips to stifle a laugh. It wasn’t until Ken had already given Taffy the bacon that she allowed herself to giggle.
“Busted,” she said.
Ken looked over his shoulder in surprise, but a smile broke across his face at the sight of her. “How much did you hear?”
“More than heard, buster. I saw you give the cat bacon.” She crossed the room and gave him a kiss. “If she gets sick, you’re cleaning it up.”
“Don’t worry.” He raked his fingers through her loose hair.
“It was a cat-sized piece.”
“A cat-sized piece.” She shook her head. “That sounds exactly like a Ken argument.”
“Are you ready for breakfast?” he asked.
She looked at the bacon frying in the pan, her stomach roiling. A couple of weeks ago she would have been all over it, but now…
“That looks good,” she said, “but I’m more in the mood for fruit and oatmeal.”
“I’ll make the oatmeal,” he said without hesitation.
“Thanks, babe.” She kissed him again. “Oh, and by the way, Corinne has the hots for Simon.”
“What?! They’ve only talked once or twice.”
“She knows what she likes.”
“Hm.” Amusement flickered in his eyes.
“What?” she pressed.
“I’m pretty sure he’s interested in her, too. He’s asked about her a couple times.”
“Oh, really?” Adison bit into a grin. “Okay. Today should be something else.”
She opened the fridge, then gasped and turned back around to him. “I forgot to say Merry Christmas!”
He grinned. “It’s not too late. Merry Christmas, hot stuff.”
“Merry Christmas to you.” She pulled some cut fruit from the fridge, surprised when she felt Ken sidle up to her from behind and wrap his arms around her waist.
He nuzzled the side of her neck, and she closed her eyes, lost in the delicious touch. Even after a year, Ken made her go weak in the knees on a daily basis.
“So when am I allowed to give you your Christmas present?” he whispered.
She opened her eyes and reached up to press her palm to his cheek. He hadn’t shaved that morning, which meant the stubble she loved on him tickled her hand.
“When do you want to?” she asked.
His hands slid lower, coming to settle on her hips. “Uh…what was I saying?” He nibbled her ear.
“Ken.” She laughed.
“Mm-hmm?” He pulled her flush to him, and she almost dropped her fruit.
“The bacon is burning.”
“Shoot!” That got him moving. Letting go of her, he leapt to the stove and killed the burner.
“How about this?” She put the fruit on the counter. “Meet me in the den in five minutes, and we’ll exchange gifts then.”
“Perfect.” He dumped the charred bacon in the trash. “Looks like I won’t be eating this anyway.”
“You can share my oatmeal.” She winked on her way out of the kitchen.
While rooting through the fridge for her breakfast, an idea had come to her. Quietly, she let herself into the room on the second floor that they referred to as her home office. It was really more like a storage room, though.
Around the time Adison moved in with Ken, she also left her job at the Montoya Foundation to start up as a full-time party planner. Her work at the charity had felt meaningful, but it turned out the office hours and lack of physical movement drained her. Planning parties, she was often
on the go—something that worked with her high energy.
In the last year, she’d planned three weddings, a Fourth of July bash, several engagement parties, and a handful of baby showers. Work had been nonstop, but she’d loved every minute of it. Operations still ran out of the office space Ken had started renting her a year before, and things were getting so busy that she was considering hiring an assistant.
In the home office, she pressed a finger to her lips and took in the space. Talk about stuffed. Plastic bins were stacked in the corner, the chair and desk were heaped with craft supplies, and rolls of wrapping paper were everywhere.
Moving a couple of wrapping papers aside, Adison found exactly what she was looking for. The ribbon was red and shiny, long enough that she could wrap it around her middle once and then tie it in a perfect bow.
She inspected herself in the mirror hanging on the back of the door, proud for coming up with such a cute idea.
As she walked downstairs, though, her self-satisfaction gave way to anxiety. What would Ken say? What if he wouldn’t be as happy about his “present” as she hoped?
He was already in the den, fixing one of the ornaments on the tree. For someone who had ignored Christmas for years, he’d been pretty into the last few weeks of decorating and shopping. No doubt, Adison’s love of the season had rubbed off on him.
“It looks perfect.”
He turned at the sound of her voice, his gaze falling to the bow on her belly. “What…”
“It’s your present.” Pulse racing, she stepped up to him. She wanted to touch him, to snuggle against his chest and calm her fears, but that needed to wait. First, she needed to deliver the biggest news of her life.
“My present?” He blinked in confusion, but she only had to wait a moment longer. “Adison. Are you pregnant?”
She swallowed. “About six weeks.”
Ken’s jaw dropped, his gaze flicking across her face. “Oh, my God. We’re having a baby.”
“We are.”
The next thing she knew, she was in his arms, his mouth covering hers. All the fear and anxiety melted away, and she grinned against his kiss.
“Amazing,” he whispered, breath tickling her cheek. “Just amazing.”