Restoring Christmas

by Kate Kasch

  Finally giving up, Adrienne unlocked the deadbolt, grabbed hold of the doorknob, and with one last look into Gretchen’s worried eyes, pulled the door open quickly. And there stood Nick and Gabe, donned in Santa hats, giant smiles, and carrying a tray of coffee and a box of what smelled like cinnamon buns.

  “Merry Christmas!” They said in unison.

  Adrienne paused, waiting for her brain to catch up with her eyes and then she and Gretchen burst out laughing.

  “You two are crazy! Do you know what time it is?” Adrienne said through her laughter.

  “It's Christmas, that’s what time it is! Didn’t you always wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning?” Gabe asked.

  “When I was six years old! But it looks like you brought coffee and baked goods, so you are forgiven. Come on in.”

  “I feel like I only just went to bed,” Gretchen rubbed her eyes.

  “Oh, Nick, there’s something you should know about Gretchen,” Gabe said, “I remember this from when we were growing up. She is not a morning person.”

  “Hey – leave me alone, Gabe. Nick doesn’t believe you, right Nick?”

  “I don’t believe him – and even if I did, I don’t mind at all. I think you’re perfect,” he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet in a giant hug.

  “Maybe if I could wake up to this, I would be a morning person. Maybe I just have never been able to wake up the right way, did anyone ever think of that?” She asked, as Nick slowly lowered her back to the ground.

  With the tree lights on and the fire blazing, Adrienne, Gretchen, Nick and Gabe sat around the family room chatting. There was something magical about Christmas morning, no matter how old you got. If you let it in, it was there.

  “Why don’t you see if there are any presents under the tree with your name on it,” Gabe said.

  “Did Santa come last night?” Adrienne’s face lit up.

  “I think he may have – it depends – were you a good girl this year?”

  Adrienne hunted under the tree looking for a gift with her name on it. “Found it!” she said. “Hmmm, To: Adrienne; From: Santa,” she walked back to the sofa smiling. “I wonder what it could be!”

  “Well, open it already!” Gretchen couldn’t hide her excitement.

  Adrienne tore at the wrapping paper and as soon as the gift was revealed, she started laughing. “Fuzzy, striped mittens! Just like the ones I lost under the ice at Falls Pond!” She immediately tried them on, and then leaned over to Gabe and gave him a hug. “I love them. Thank you.”

  “Merry Christmas,” Gabe hugged her back. “And I have something else for you too. Put on a coat and come outside with me for a minute.”

  Filled with curiosity, Adrienne held Gabe’s hand as he led her out the front door. She was hyper=aware of the feel of his hand wrapped around hers, which sent tingles down her spine. Out on the front porch, Gabe turned around so the two were face to face. They stared into each other’s eyes and Adrienne completely forgot about whatever else Gabe was planning on giving her. Staring into those icy blue eyes, she felt like this is Christmas.

  “I made you something – I hope you like it,” Gabe stepped to the side to reveal a wooden bench. Adrienne gasped, “It’s so beautiful, you made this?” She asked him surprised. “When did you take up woodworking? This is amazing!” She leaned down inspecting the craftsmanship and running her hand down the smooth seat.

  “I started to learn right after you left. It kept my hands and mind busy, which I needed at the time. It’s made from maple, and I stained it a deep coffee brown, since I know you like coffee,” he teased. “Take a look at the back.”

  Adrienne walked around the back of the bench and saw an inscription carved into the wood. Underneath a monogram of her initials, read: “To making decisions that fill your life with love and happiness”

  Tracing the words with her fingers, Adrienne looked up at Gabe filled with so much emotion she was sure her heart would burst. “I don’t know what to say – it’s the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received. You are incredible.” Walking back around the bench, she kept her eyes locked on hid until she was inches away from him. She put her arms around his neck, and in her slippers, stood on her tippy toes and softly kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Back in the warm house, the Christmas morning fun continued.

  “Okay, who’s next?” Adrienne asked. “I think I saw something for Gretch under there.” With her mittens on, she walked back to the tree and found a gift with Gretchen’s name on it and then handed it to her.

  “For me?!” Gretchen asked, surprised. “To: Gretchen, From: St. Nick. I guess Santa did come last night,” she smiled at Nick.

  Ripping the paper off revealed a cardboard box. As she opened the box and got a peek of what was inside, she gasped and tears filled her eyes.

  “What is it?!” Adrienne was dying to know.

  Gretchen held up her Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR. “How did you . . . it’s too much! I can’t accept it,” she shook her head.

  “I’m pretty sure Santa doesn’t take returns,” Nick smiled. “Let’s just say I know a guy, who knows a guy, who happens to own a pawn shop.”

  Gretchen put the box down on the coffee table and jumped on Nick’s lap wrapping him in a giant hug. “You are amazing.”

  “Okay, enough of the sappy stuff,” Adrienne wanted to move things along. “Let’s see what else I can find under this magical tree. Oh! Look at this – it has Gabe’s name on it!”

  After handing the gift to a very surprised looking Gabe, Adrienne sat back and watched him open it.

  “Ha! A Giants hat just like the one Adrienne stole from me years ago - same pompom on top and everything.” He put the hat on and tapped on the pom pom. “Santa must have known how much I missed this hat.”

  “Or he just likes the way the blue hat brings out the color in your eyes,” Adrienne smiled.

  “Thank you, it’s perfect,” Gabe leaned over and kissed Adrienne on the cheek.

  “I think Santa definitely likes when Gabe wears blue,” Gretchen laughed. “Okay, my turn to play Santa! She ran over to the tree, picked up a large rectangular gift and handed it to Nick.

  “What could this be?” Nick asked. He unwrapped the gift and his mouth dropped open in surprise. He turned the large gift around so that Adrienne, Gabe and Gretchen could see it.

  “This is incredible, Gretchen. Did you make this?” he asked her amazed.

  “I did,” Gretchen said shyly. “I used some of the branches that get trimmed off the Christmas trees before people take them home – you know, from Saint Nick’s Tree Lot? And I made the frame with those. And then I painted this picture of a Christmas tree in it.”

  “I didn’t know you could paint?” Nick said, now even more in awe of Gretchen than before.

  “I took some classes in college and haven’t done much with it since, but thought I would play around with it a little. My mom used to paint, remember Adrienne?” Gretchen looked over at Adrienne who nodded. “I no longer had my camera, so I felt a little lost. But now, thanks to you, I am whole again,” she looked deep into Nick’s eyes.

  “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten on Christmas morning. Thank you,” Nick said to Gretchen, who blushed at the compliment. “I will display it proudly.”

  “I have one more gift to hand out!” Adrienne felt the need to break up the intense staring happening between Nick and Gretchen. And to remind them that there were other people in the room, she took a small little gift from under the tree and handed it to Gretchen. “From me,” she smiled at her.

  Gretchen tore off the paper to reveal a small red box. She opened the lid of the box and there resting on white satin was a shining gold locket. Gretchen pulled the locket out of the box and let it dangle in her hand. “Adrienne, it’s beautiful! I absolutely love it!”

  Adrienne smiled at her, “Open it.”

  Gretchen opened the locket and for the second time that mo
rning, tears sprung to her eyes. On one side of the locket was a tiny photo of their mom, and on the other side a photo of their dad. Gretchen clutched it to her chest and closed her eyes. “I will never take it off,” she whispered.

  Adrienne reached around the neckline of her sweater and pulled out an identical locket. “I have the same exact one. This way, they will always be with us, whether we live in this house or not.”

  The sisters held each other for a moment, filled with gratitude for each other.

  “I have one more gift to give,” Gretchen said as she slowly pulled out of the embrace. She picked up another large gift and handed it to Adrienne.

  Adrienne opened the present and held it on her lap, breathless.

  “Where did you get this?” Adrienne’s voice came out in a whisper as she continued to marvel at the framed photo in her lap.

  “I found it in one of the boxes in the attic when I was looking for Christmas decorations. I had it blown up and printed in black and white. Isn’t it beautiful?” Gretchen looked over Adrienne’s shoulder at the framed black and white photo of Adrienne and their mom. “I think you were probably about four years old; don’t you think?”

  “I was five years old – in Kindergarten. I remember that dress I have on; it would swish around when I would twirl. I wanted to wear it every day to school. Mom would ask me to dance for her and she would laugh and clap along with me. I remember it like it was yesterday. She had the most beautiful smile, didn’t she?” Adrienne looked at Gretchen.

  “She did. And that’s why I chose this photo with Mom laughing and you dancing for her – so carefree and happy. This is the childhood I want us to remember. I want us to think about all the happy times we had together. I know that’s what mom and dad would want for us.”

  Adrienne nodded her head as a single tear slid down her cheek. “Thank you, Gretchen. It is just what I needed.”

  Adrienne wiped her eyes and stood up. “Okay, I’m feeling a little bad here. We all gave and received such thoughtful gifts, and all I got Gabe was a winter hat.”

  Gretchen and Nick laughed as Adrienne looked at Gabe apologetically.

  “Can I make you breakfast to make up for it?” she asked him.

  “That sounds perfect. And trust me, Adrienne, I love my hat.”

  The foursome spent the rest of the morning lazily, hanging around talking, laughing, and eating – just the way Christmas morning was meant to be.

  “I have an idea,” Gabe said. “Let’s go ice skating! It has been so cold; Falls Pond is definitely frozen right now. Wouldn’t that be fun?!”

  “Are you serious?” Adrienne’s eyes widened. “Are you hoping for a repeat of the last time we were there?”

  “Ah, no - absolutely not. But I am hoping to skate around with you again. It’s been a long time since we did that. Remember how much fun we used to have?”

  “I’m not even sure I remember how to skate!” Gretchen laughed. “But I’m up for it!”

  “Me too!” Nick chimed in. “The fresh air will do us all some good.”

  “I guess we’re going then. I will go dig up some of our old skates in the basement,” Adrienne said.

  What seemed like an easy suggestion ended up being a giant production. Nick and Gabe had to both run home and get their skates. The girls had to find skates that fit and “felt right.” And then as Gabe and Nick sit and read the paper in front of the fireplace for what seemed like hours, Adrienne and Gretchen showered and got ready. Who knew ice-skating required so much primping? And we can’t forget the snacks and the drinks! God forbid that we be farther than an arm’s length away from food or drink at any given moment!

  Finally, everyone was ready. The four of them were showered, dressed, bundled up, food and drinks packed, and skates slung over their shoulders. It was a Christmas miracle. They piled into Gabe’s truck and made the thankfully short drive over to Falls Pond. Down by the lake, each of them took a seat on a tree trunk that had been turned on its side to form a makeshift bench. They all laced up their skates and were ready to go! Until Gretchen stood up and forgot that she was on ice – and immediately fell right on her backside. Adrienne burst out laughing which caused her to wobble and then fall too. Gabe and Nick skated around like they were competing for Gold in the figure skating Olympics, circling around Adrienne and Gretchen to tease them.

  “Okay, that’s it,” Adrienne tried to control her laughter. “I’m doing this. It’s been a long time, but I have my lucky mittens on, and I’m going to crush this ice-skating thing.”

  “I’m not quite sure I would call those mittens lucky,” Gabe laughed.

  “Adrienne has always been the competitive one,” Gretchen said, “I think I’ll just sit over here on the log and cheer you all on.”

  “Oh no you’re not,” Nick said to her. “Come on, give me your hands. Let me help.”

  Gretchen couldn’t resist the chance to hold Nick’s hands, so she let him pull her up and lead her around slowly.

  Wobbling to her feet, Adrienne started to awkwardly shuffle around the ice.

  “Do you need help?” Gabe asked her.

  “No, I don’t need help, thank you. I can do this. I used to be good at this, I’m not quite sure what happened.”

  “Oh Adrienne, some things never change. Why is it so hard for you to accept help?”

  Ignoring Gabe’s comment, Adrienne attempted to pick up speed. She was doing pretty well until her skate hit a bump in the ice and she almost face-planted, but she caught herself with her hands, actually, her mittens.

  “See! What did I tell you? Lucky mittens!” she and Gabe laughed.

  Before long, Adrienne picked the skating right back up and gracefully glided along the ice. She and Gabe held hands and let the wind push them across the frozen pond. It felt like they were flying. Adrienne closed her eyes and savored the moment.

  “My toes are numb,” Gretchen said a little while later. “Are you all ready to go back home and sit in front of the fire?”

  “Yeah, I can’t feel my face,” Adrienne laughed. “Let’s pack it up.”

  Sitting four across on the bench unlacing their skates, Gabe asked Adrienne, “Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to do this all the time?”

  She looked over at him, understanding the deeper meaning of the question. “It would.”

  “I don’t really want to bring it up, mostly because I am afraid of the answer, but don’t you have to let work know tomorrow whether or not you are accepting the promotion?” Gabe asked her.

  Gretchen and Nick pretended they were busy with their skates, but were quietly listening in.

  “I called Elaina while I was upstairs getting ready. I already gave them my answer.”

  “You did?!” Gretchen was shocked by this news.

  “I did.”

  “Well, don’t leave us in suspense, what did you tell her?” Gretchen asked. Gabe stayed quiet, mostly because he was holding his breath.

  “I turned the promotion down,” Adrienne said firmly.

  Gretchen jumped on Adrienne and hugged her tightly. “Yay! I’m so happy for you, Adrienne. I think that was a good decision.”

  Gabe visibly relaxed and was able to breathe again. “What does that mean exactly? Do you plan to try and work fewer hours? Or . . .”

  “I gave my two weeks’ notice as well,” Adrienne said nonchalantly.

  “Are you serious?!” Gretchen screeched. “You quit?! I can’t believe it! I’m so proud of you, Adrienne!”

  “Calm down, Gretchen. Yay for me, I’m unemployed.”

  “You are Adrienne Harkins. You’ll figure it out,” Gabe looked at Adrienne with a sparkle in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile at him.

  When the four friends arrived back at Oak Street, they were red-cheeked and weary. Nick immediately got the fire started back up, and Adrienne put the kettle on for hot cocoa.

  Alone in the kitchen, Gabe asked Adrienne, “So what is your plan going to be? Are you going to stay in your apartment in the ci
ty? What kind of job are you going to look for?”

  Adrienne sighed, “I am not sure of anything right now. When things started to come together with the house, I really believed that maybe I could stay here. But now, it seems strange to move back to Chestnut Ridge and not live in this house.” Adrienne set out four mugs and started to fill them with the warm milk. “I have to work in the city for the next two weeks. I said I would help train someone to take over for me and wrap up some projects – things like that. I guess I will figure it out then?”

  “That sounds like a good plan. And just so you know, I could definitely picture you back in Chestnut Ridge – whether you’re living at 22 Oak Street or not,” Gabe put his hand on Adrienne’s. “You can do anything. Think of this as an opportunity to do something you’ve always wanted to do. You do have the runner-up money from the contest to get you started . . .”

  “You’re always one decision away from a totally different life,” Adrienne whispered to herself.

  “What’s that?” Gabe asked.

  “Oh nothing. I think I told you – it was something Angela said to me once, and I can’t seem to get it out of my head.

  “Yes, I remember. And I have also been thinking about that quote. It’s so true. So what decision are you going to make to change your life? You already made a big one quitting your job. What’s next?”

  “OHMIGOD! Adrienne! Gabe! Get in here!” Gretchen screamed hysterically from the other room.

  Adrienne and Gabe rushed into the family room fearing the house was on fire, they were being robbed at gunpoint, or Nick collapsed and was having a heart attack. They rounded the corner and saw Gretchen standing on one of the sofas jumping up and down while holding an e-tablet.