by Bria Marche
“Crap, I didn’t know Vic told you she knew about us. I’m so sorry, Max.”
“Don’t be sorry. Nobody will ever take those memories from us. I hope you didn’t delete the pictures, but I’d get them off your phone.”
“I already did. I put them on a stick and locked them in my file cabinet. Okay, I guess I just have to shake this off. I’m normal and it’s okay to love you, and the time we shared last summer.”
“That’s right, no worries. Now relax and I’ll grab us a couple more beers.” He looked back at her and winked as he walked to the bar.
Chapter Twenty One
The incoming train slowed at the station. Sasha, being the thoughtful one, sat in her truck and waited for the group with five coffees and a bag of filled donuts. She glanced at her watch: 8:52 a.m. The outbound train into the city departed at 9:15. They should be here any minute. Today is going to be a blast shopping on Madison and 5th Avenues. Sasha hadn’t been back to Manhattan in months, and it surprised her to realize she didn’t miss the hustle bustle at all.
Three cars pulled into the parking lot. Sasha looked through her side mirrors to see who it was. Vic and Tina drove together, and Mia and Karen pulled in right behind them. Note to self. Start carpooling with Mia. We only live a few blocks from each other now.
Sasha bounced out of her truck, happy to see her friends together at the same time. “Hey, ladies, I bought breakfast,” she said, gleaming.
“Of course you did,” Vic said. “Let’s sit inside and wait for the train. Coffee and a donut? What could be better?”
The five sat in seats facing each other as the train rumbled into the city.
“So did everyone bring their Christmas list? Mine is on my phone, clever, huh?” Sasha said, proudly.
“Very clever,” Karen agreed. “My question is, if Tina and I don’t have significant others, who are we buying gifts for? We don’t have kids.”
“Buy me something!” Sasha eagerly suggested. “I love stuff.”
Everyone laughed at her innocent, but truthful comment.
“I’ve got an idea. Let’s put our names in a cup. We’ll each pull out a name, and that’s who we’ll buy a gift for. We can make the spending limit a hundred bucks.” Tina reached in her purse and pulled out a small spiral notepad. She wrote down all their names, tore the pages out, and folded each piece of paper. “Sasha, get a paper cup out of the bathroom.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Ten minutes later Sasha returned.
“What the hell? Did you take the scenic route, or what?” Vic grumbled.
“I got lost.”
“Oh for crap’s sake. How do you get lost on a train? Sit down and give me the damn cup.” Tina dropped the pieces of paper into the cup, put her hand over the top and gave it a thorough shake. “If anyone picks their own name, they’ve got to go again.”
Sasha sat on the edge of her chair, rubbing her hands together with anticipation. “This is so exciting. I’ve never done this before.”
The girls gave each other eye rolls, but kept quiet. Inside, they felt sorry for Sasha.
“Okay, Sasha, since you’re way too jacked up, you can go first.”
“Oh yippee!” Sasha stuck her hand in the cup and swished the folded papers around. With bulging eyes and a Cheshire cat grin, she pulled out the first name. “Can I open it?”
“Yeah… that’s the idea.” Tina shook her head, chalking it up to Sasha, being Sasha.
“Okay… ready? Ta-da! I have Karen. Oh good. I’m sure you need something for the house, right?” Sasha was gleeful. Not only was she shopping for Josh, she also had one of her dearest friends to buy a gift for.
The name drawing was completed just as the train began its approach into Grand Central Terminal. The plan was to shop until noon, take a ninety minute lunch break, and continue after that for another two hours. If they caught the four-thirty train back to Tarrytown, everyone would be home for dinner.
The shopping began on Madison Avenue. Most of the stores were out of the price range of what anyone planned to spend, except Sasha. She was determined to buy a cashmere sweater for Josh at Barney’s. “We can all afford Ralph Lauren, right? Let’s check it out.”
Lunch at Macy’s was in the hip, sixth floor, Stella Trattoria. They dropped their bags in the booth and fell in next to their purchases. After lunch, shopping would continue right there at Macy’s. Anything, anyone ever wanted or needed, was at Macy’s, including a Starbucks on almost every floor.
They shared two large Neapolitan pizzas from the restaurant’s own wood-burning ovens and several side salads. The views were spectacular. They were seated within sight of the Empire State Building, and luckily, it was a crisp day with the bluest skies ever.
Agreeing to meet up again at Starbucks on the mezzanine level at four, they each went their separate ways to shop. They returned one by one, their arms loaded with bags, and their faces wearing exhausted expressions.
“Whose awesome idea was this to get our shopping done in one day?” Vic asked.
“Mine.” Sasha raised her wobbly arm, then dropped it back down in her lap. “Look, there’s imprints of bag handles embedded in my forearms,” Sasha said, as she licked her fingertips and tried to rub them away.
“Yeah, we all have that same disease, hon,” Mia smiled, wearily. “Did everyone find the gifts they wanted to buy?” Mia asked, looking at each one as they nodded yes. “Good… that’s done. Sasha, I think you overspent on that gift for Josh. You’ve only known him for three months. That sweater was four hundred dollars.”
“Mia, how to you put a price tag on gratitude? I care about Josh, and he’s done so much for me. He’s never asked for anything in return.”
“Yeah, but I bet he’s got a lot without having to ask.” Vic giggled at her fast comeback. “I’m just saying…”
“Vic, you’re so immature.” Sasha didn’t mind the teasing. She adored each of her friends, and she loved the attention.
They held their bags tightly as the train back to Tarrytown rocked them to sleep.
***
Mia walked up the sidewalk and knocked on the door of her old house. It was nice to have one of her best friends living there, as the guardian and caregiver of the home Mia once owned. She smiled and reminisced about memories as she waited on the porch. Very few of those memories included Jack. She heard footsteps approaching the foyer. She knew how long it took from hearing the sound, to the door opening—four seconds. Karen welcomed Mia in, lunch was ready.
“I really love the yellow walls. The kitchen seems happier, brighter. You’ve done amazing things with this house, Karen. I’m so glad you wanted to buy it.” Mia plucked a cherry tomato from the fresh vegetable platter and popped it in her mouth. “So, now that we’re alone, how did you like spending two weeks with Mario?”
“He’s perfect, Mia. I just don’t know if he’s perfect for me. Here, sit down.” They sat on the ladder back maple chairs at the antique Queen Anne table, and nibbled on finger food.
“What’s not to like? He’s as hot as hell and has that wild, carefree edge. He’s also a successful businessman. I’m not getting it. Where’s the wine?”
“Sorry, I forgot.”
“Seriously?” Mia’s head spun around as she furrowed her eyebrows at Karen.
“It’s in the pantry. It isn’t that I don’t like him, I just think I’m not his type.”
Mia couldn’t decide if she wanted to open the Cab or the Merlot. She grabbed the Merlot. “Corkscrew?”
“It’s in the same drawer you used. I’m too stuffy for him. I’ve never been a free spirit or a hippy, dippy, wild child.”
“So start. You’re only six years older than Mario. You’ve got to look deeper than what’s on the surface, hon. Think of all the people that don’t seem like they’d be good matches. You know, some of the celebrities, and shit like that. Fat, bald, rich guys with the gorgeous, lanky models. Sometimes they make great couples. What I’m saying is you have a connection alr
eady. You’re both extremely intelligent and business minded. Look at the great ideas you came up with for the stores. That’s got to be a turn on for Mario.”
“I’m sure he appreciates it, but I don’t think it physically turns him on. That’s a reach, Mia.”
“Well, yeah. Have you flirted?” Mia poured two glasses and handed one to Karen.
“Kind of.” Karen’s face broke out into a full blush.
“Did he respond? I’ll be damned, you’re blushing.”
“Shush… it’s the wine. Anyway, sort of. It seemed like he enjoyed it. He made a few small innuendos.”
“Then you’re golden. Move in for the kill. I’ve known Mario most of my life. He’s a little shy, but not shy enough to be unresponsive. Be bolder, he’ll react.”
The conversation with Mia made Karen hopeful. She hadn’t told anyone just how much she liked Mario. He was constantly on her mind.
Karen got out the warming grill and plugged it in. “Ready for Panini?”
“Oh yeah, my stomach is growling. Let me give you a hand.”
Mia cut the ciabatta bread in half as Karen loaded the sandwiches with deli meats and cheese, then squeezed them in the hot grill.
“Vic, Tina and I have a Christmas tradition we’ve been doing for fifteen years. Well, I skipped a few years because of Jack. Anyway, I’d like for you and Sasha to join in on it too, if you want.”
“Okay, I’ll bite, what is it?”
“Each year we buy real Christmas trees, no fake shit, and set them up in the stands. Then we go to each other’s houses, have dinner and help trim the trees. It’s always been a blast and we usually drink too much and gossip a lot. I guess it won’t just be the girls anymore, but we can still make it fun. The more, the merrier, right?”
“That sounds like a wonderful tradition. This year especially, since you and Vic have men and Tina doesn’t. Who in the world would ever want to trim a Christmas tree alone? Let’s eat.” Karen dropped the hot, grilled sandwiches with melted cheese on two individual plates and carried them to the table.
“Karen?” Mia asked, feeling like she just opened an enormous can of worms. “What did you do for Christmas after the divorce?”
“Not much,” she responded, brushing an invisible crumb off the table.
Mia waited for the real answer.
“I usually visited my neighbors for a while Christmas Eve afternoon, then midnight mass at night. I didn’t set up a tree, too much bother. I always bought Claire a few gifts though,” she said, laughing.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up old memories.”
“Don’t be silly, it’s fine. How do you like the sandwich?”
“It’s delicious. Anyway, none of us will ever be alone again when the trees are trimmed, or on Christmas. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“So we’re all going out to buy Christmas trees next weekend, okay? Now that Sasha has a truck, we can cut our own.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Karen hugged Mia. “I love you, sister.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty Two
Today, the Christmas trees would be cut and trimmed. The closest place in Westchester County was a tree farm in Yorktown Heights. Everyone would meet at Vic’s house at nine o’clock, then head to Peekskill to pick up Max. The farm was only fifteen minutes farther down the road. Mis searched online a few days ago and found this farm had a gift shop, hot cider and homemade pies and breads. They could make a day of it and have fun.
Reggie whined at the foot of the bed, an obvious sign to Mia he needed to pee. “Reggie, remind me to train my next dog how to use the toilet. It’s way too early to get up.”
With the shorter days, darkness lingered at six in the morning, not to mention, the cold. Coming out of a warm, snuggly bed to go outside and watch your dog pee was wrong on so many levels.
“I’ll do it honey. I haven’t gotten up with Reggie in weeks. Go back to sleep.”
“Are you sure, Aaron?”
“Yep, no problem. Aaron slipped his heavy winter coat over a sweatshirt and sweatpants. He sat on the bench in the foyer and put on his Sorel’s. Reggie’s leash hung on the key rack. “C’mon Reg. Let’s make this fast.”
With a flick of the switch, Aaron turned on the porch lights and stepped out. The sight in front of him took his breath away. The first snowfall arrived without notice during the night. No heads up on the evening news, yet there it was. Snow glistened like small diamonds in the dark. Almost like magic, the brown, dormant grass in all the yards was transformed into a blanket of white sugary crystals. Quiet and beauty filled the air. It was like you couldn’t speak above a whisper, in fear of disturbing the magic. No tire tracks in the snow, or lights on in the houses. The street lights glowed faintly through the shroud of snow covering them. He caught the morning at its best, still pristine and glorious. Aaron took Reggie around to the side yard. He didn’t want to disturb anything in the front yard or on the sidewalk. He returned to the porch and sat with Reggie, wearing a huge smile on his face.
Aaron went inside, took off his boots and dried Reggie off. He placed his boots on the boot tray and started a pot of coffee. Mia had to see the magic, right now. He knew the photographer in her would want to capture this pristine moment. This first snowfall wouldn’t happen again until next year. He silently walked in his stocking feet to her office and got her camera equipment ready. He poured two cups of coffee and took them out to the porch, then tiptoed to the bedroom to wake Mia.
“Honey? Wake up. I have to show you something very special.”
“What? What’s going on, Aaron?” Mia grumbled and rolled over.
“Please, babe. You won’t regret getting up. Trust me on this one.”
“Okay, I guess. What are we doing?”
“We’re going outside. I already have a cup of coffee for you on the porch.”
“Have you been drinking, Aaron?”
He laughed out loud at her clever wit, especially since she was still half asleep. “No Mia, I haven’t. Bundle up and put on your Uggs.”
Within five minutes Mia resembled the Michelin Man, as bundled as she was. There were two scarves around her neck and a stocking cap pulled down to her eyebrows. A pair of mittens, a down parka and boots completed her early morning ensemble. Aaron led her to the front door as she zombie walked with him. Her camera equipment waited on the bench in the foyer.
“What’s my camera stuff doing there?” Mia had a place for everything and that definitely was out of place.
“You’ll see.” Aaron opened the front door and smiled at Mia as she gasped.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I don’t believe this happened over night. It’s like a Currier & Ives painting. Where’s my camera?”
“It’s right behind you, babe.” Aaron smiled as he watched Mia come to life.
Mittens flew and the stocking cap disappeared. Nothing would obstruct her view of this wonderment. “You only catch a first snowfall once a year, if you’re lucky. I’m speechless at how beautiful this is. It’s like we’re in a snow globe.” The camera clicked nonstop as Mia entered her comfort zone. The photographer had arrived. “Give me a sip of coffee,” she begged, “my damn fingers are numb.” Mia swapped out the lens for the wide angle to capture the entire street in its untouched beauty.
Aaron sat on the porch and watched Mia do what she loved best. She was in her element. Twenty minutes into it, the sun began to break the horizon. Aaron went inside to warm up the coffee. Mia didn’t even realize he was gone. She had to catch the sun glistening on the snow in the stillness of the morning.
She was done and exhilarated. Aaron returned with two steaming cups of coffee, and handed her one. She needed it to warm her fingers. On the porch together, watching the sunrise, they sat, smiled and drank coffee.
By seven-thirty, Mia’s cell phone sang out.
Aaron laughed. “Gee, I wonder which one of the girls that is.” The bacon sizzled on the griddle while he scramb
led a bowl of eggs.
“Hello, Sasha.” Mia giggled as she looked at Aaron. “Yes, we’ve seen the snow. I know, it’s magnificent. Uh huh… you’ve never seen clean or fresh snow before? I can’t wait either, hon. Okay, we’ll see you at Vic’s. We’re going to eat breakfast now. Yep, see you at nine. Dress warm.” Mia hung up and laughed. “She’s over the moon, sweet thing. That bacon smells wonderful.” Mia snuggled up behind Aaron and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Aaron. I like that about you.”
“What’s that?” he asked, as he flipped the bacon.
“You know what makes me happy. You get me, and I love you for that.”
He turned and tipped his head down to reach her warm lips. He kissed her softly. “I love you, Mia James.”
***
Max watched out the window for the troops to pull up. He loved the snow and had already talked to Mario this morning. The Hunter store was buzzing. Mario went to work to help out, even though it was a Saturday. There were only two weeks left before Christmas. Mario promised to be in Tarrytown by early evening. He wouldn’t miss the tree trimming and the small plate meals at each house. Max bundled up and went outside. He started his truck, turned on the heater and let it idle, as he brushed the snow off the windows.
The entourage arrived. Aaron was driving Sasha’s truck since she had never driven in snow. That would be another week of training. Aaron, Mia, Sasha and Josh were in the truck. Vic followed in her car with Karen and Tina. Vic jumped out and climbed into Max’s truck.
Karen went around to the driver’s side of Vic’s car. “Where’s Mario?” she asked, expecting him to be waiting with Max.
“He can’t make it, he’s swamped at the store with the new snowfall. He says he’ll be at the tree trimming for sure, though. Let’s go. Aaron, lead the way.”
Karen tried not to appear disappointed, but the expression on her face said it all. Mia gave her the sad eyes, knowing how much Karen was looking forward to spending the day with Mario.