All I Want for Christmas: A Contemporary Romance Holiday Collection

by S. L. Sterling

  "That will help." I laughed. "I'll drive." I threw the paper on the table and began clearing my dishes, and then I went over to the door and put my boots on. Lexi followed behind, slipping her feet into her knee-high black boots that hugged her legs perfectly.

  "You don't mind if I take some photos along the way do you? I want to capture the snow and some decorations around town, maybe even some families down at the tree farm."

  "Not at all, Lex."

  Soon we were bundled into her father's truck and on our way down to the town center. We traveled in silence for a while, Lexi looking out the window almost as if she were afraid to look at me.

  "Okay, so what are we getting?"

  "Dad said he really wants a Fraser fir this year."

  "Okay. No problem. I think we can handle that. Don't you?"

  She nodded her head but still wouldn't look my way. I turned the radio up when Allan Jackson's “Let it Be Christmas” came onto the radio. I couldn't help but glance over at Lexi as she started humming along and then finally breaking into song. Her voice was pure heaven to listen to, always had been. I remembered when she had been the lead in the church choir one Christmas. She thought she sounded awful, but I could have listened to her sing forever, and I tried to assure her of that, but she didn't believe me.

  "Do you remember the year you were head of the choir at the church?" I asked.

  "Oh God, don't remind me! That was awful. I sounded horrid."

  "No, you didn't. Out of all the Christmas performances I have been to with your family, you were by far the best."

  "Ha-ha, then you, my friend, are completely deaf." She giggled, going back to looking out the window.

  I smiled to myself at her response. That was Lexi, always afraid to admit that she was good at something.

  "So tell me, where was your most interesting shoot done this year?" I asked as I continued driving down the snow-covered road.

  Lexi had always amazed me. When she said she was going to freelance for a year or two, we all figured that she would be home within three months; however, she had succeeded, getting constant contracts and being able to make ends meet without once having to call her parents or brother for help. She had what it took to succeed, along with the drive and passion to go out and look for it when things weren't coming her way. I admired that about her. Most people would take the easy road and get out.

  * * *

  "Honestly, it won't be what you think. It would have to be the time I spent in Rome doing architecture photos for a travel magazine. Just getting to tour around the city, look at amazing and beautiful things, and admire them through my camera lens. It's indescribable."

  Soon I was lost in her words. She had always had a way of filling quiet time with amazing stories.

  I pulled the truck into the town square and parked near the tree lot, both of us climbing out of the truck. She met me around the front of the vehicle. "I figured maybe we could grab a hot chocolate and take a walk around before getting a tree."

  "Perfect. I'd love that," she grumbled. She was trying to get the strap of her camera over the hood of her jacket, which kept getting stuck.

  "Here, let me." I reached around behind her and pulled her soft, long hair out of the way and fixed the strap under her hood. Her eyes rose to meet mine. We stared at one another for a minute, neither saying anything, and then I cleared my throat and rested her hair on her shoulder. "We should go get that hot chocolate."

  Her lips parted slightly, and she nodded her head as she continued staring into my eyes. I had to look away. I could feel the pull of her stare and knew if I didn't turn away now, there would be no turning away.

  We walked over to the little diner on the corner. I opened the door and held it for her as she slipped inside. I walked over to the counter and ordered us each a hot chocolate, marshmallows loaded into hers, while she used the washroom.

  "Here you go!" I held out the cup of hot chocolate to Lex as she came out of the washroom.

  "Thank you." Taking a sip, her eyes lit up. "You remembered!"

  I winked. "How could I have forgotten! You'd steal those marshmallows from me every single time."

  "Well, that is only because I knew you didn't really like them," she said, nudging into my shoulder with hers.

  "Well, that is true. What do you say we get going?"

  We had spent the afternoon wandering around town, in and out of stores, stopping to look up at the ski hills and watch as people made their way down. I watched as Lexi took pictures, her creative spark ignited when she was behind the lens of her camera. She had finally dropped the camera and looked over at me, smiling.

  * * *

  "We should probably make our way back to the tree lot and pick a tree before they close," she put the lens cap on her camera and then placed the camera into her bag.

  "Yeah, you're probably right. Your mother won’t be very happy with us if we don't come home with a tree will she?" I said, gently bumping her shoulder. I really hadn't wanted today to end; I had enjoyed walking, taking in the sights of the town, and just being with Lexi. "Would you ever come back to the area? You really seem to love it here," I asked the question that had been burning in my mind all afternoon as I had watched her.

  She pulled her gloves from her pocket and slid her hands into them, tilting her head in a thoughtful way. She shrugged. "I guess it would depend."

  "On?"

  "If I had a good reason to or not."

  I couldn't help but stare at the look in her eyes as the words fell from her lips. There was something up with her, and I bit my tongue and struggled not to ask her. I was about to say something when she grabbed my arm.

  "Come on, let’s get in there before they close up for the night," She began pulling me across the street toward the tree lot. Their business hours posted on their sign indicated they would be closing in an hour.

  We began wandering the lot looking for the perfect tree—too short, too skimpy, too tall, too fat, not fat enough, needles falling off, the list went on and on. Thirty minutes later, she yelled over to me as I searched again through the Fraser section.

  "I think I found it, Drew. Come look."

  I walked through the mess of trees I had been sifting through when she came into sight, holding up a tree, a large grin on her face. "Isn't it perfect!" she exclaimed.

  I shook my head. It certainly was perfect. Not too big or too tall, perfectly shaped, and so was the girl who was holding it.

  "I think it’s perfect," I said smiling at her, only I wasn't really talking about the tree. When I saw her start to struggle with it, I grabbed the tree by the trunk, taking it from her. I paid for the tree and threw it into the back of the truck, then I walked around to Lexi's door and opened it for her, helping her get in. I pulled the buckle across her lap and adjusted the strap across her chest as she looked into my eyes, the click of the belt lock sounding loudly through the truck. This was going to be a perfect Christmas.

  11

  Alexa

  * * *

  We pulled into the driveway in time to see Zach walk out of the garage. He walked over to the car and pulled his skis from the trunk and carried them back into the garage. Drew put the car in park, and I hopped out.

  "I'll go in and get the decorations down from the storage room; you guys bring the tree inside!" I shouted as I ran up the front steps to the house.

  "Alexa don't slam the door," I heard Mom call from the kitchen.

  "Mom, wait until you see it. It's perfect!" I exclaimed, placing the stand on the floor in the living room—the same spot the tree had gone in since I had been a child, right in the front room window. I had always loved coming home from school and seeing the tree, its lights flashing to the world as I climbed up the front steps. As I would walk through the door, the warm scents of cinnamon and nutmeg greeted me just like they had today. It was as if I had been transported back through time.

  The first thing I did was flip on the radio to the all-day Christmas station and grab the s
tep stool from the closet just as the front door opened. Drew came in carrying the trunk of the tree, with Zach trailing behind holding the top. They were both laughing as they tried to maneuver the tree up the stairs and into the sitting room.

  I climbed on the stool and pulled down the boxes from the top of the storage area, setting them one by one on the table. I couldn't help but giggle as I listened to Zach and Drew as they continued to struggle to get the tree set up.

  "Zach, since you were absolutely no help, as always, why don't you get down on the floor and help me guide this baby into the stand."

  * * *

  "Why? Has it been so long you’re afraid you won't be able to find the hole?" Zach broke out in fits of laughter, dropping the top of the tree onto the floor as Dad smacked him across the back of the head.

  "That is enough of that wiseass," Dad scolded. "You may be an adult, but remember you’re not too old to get a smack."

  Drew started to laugh as he picked up the tree and stood it upright, being careful not to set the trunk down on the white carpet.

  I felt my cheeks redden at the comment Zach had made to Drew but did my best to pretend I hadn't heard a word he had said. Mom came in carrying a tray full of hot apple cider and set it down on the living room table. The hot apple cider was a tradition when we decorated the tree, and so was the cinnamon stick that sat in each of the mugs.

  Mom took one look at me and instantly her hand went to my forehead. "Lexi, honey, you are feeling all right. You look flushed."

  "I'm good, Mom."

  She dropped her hand and looked at me, but I just continued pulling open the box of decorations. I began sifting through them, trying to keep my eyes from wandering over to Drew, who now had his coat off and was adjusting the tree, while Zach lay on the floor shouting out instructions. I glanced up again and watched the muscles in his back flexing through his shirt.

  "Lexi why don't you come and help me in the kitchen with the cinnamon buns," Mom said, diverting my attention away from Drew.

  "All right, Mom." I closed the box I was sifting through and followed her into the kitchen.

  I stood at the counter while she pulled apart the buns from the pan and plated them up before drizzling the sticky sugar topping onto them.

  "I see you have grandma's angel necklace on. You normally only wear that when you are wishing for something."

  I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "I guess I just felt like being close to her right now."

  "Lexi are you sure everything is okay?"

  I toyed with telling her about how I was feeling for Drew and was just about to say something when I heard someone behind me.

  "Finally got the tree up," Drew said, coming into the kitchen to wash his hands. "It is a great tree, Lexi. You really did pick the perfect one." He turned to face us, smiling at me while he dried his hands.

  * * *

  "Thanks!" I noticed my mother watching me in the questioning way all mothers did. “These ready now, Mom?” I questioned and grabbed three of the plates and scurried into the living room, setting the plates beside the tray of drinks that Mom had brought in earlier.

  Mom had more apple cider heating on the stove by the time the cinnamon buns had been eaten. We were all in the living room starting to decorate the tree. The lights had already been put on the tree and were now twinkling away. I pulled the next ornament from the box and unwrapped it from its tissue. I inhaled when I saw the ornament I had in my hand and tears filled my eyes.

  I held the ornament in my hands, turning it over and over. Two red rubies formed the head and dress of the angel, secured together by a set of sterling silver wings. "This was grandma's angel. I remember she told me that grandpa gave it to her when he returned home from the war. I remember her always telling me it had such a special meaning behind it, but she never got the chance to tell me what it was."

  Mom sat down beside me and took the ornament in her hand. "I haven't seen this in years." She sniffled. "What box did you find it in?"

  "This one right here," I said, pointing to it.

  "Funny, I’m sure I had that box down last year. I don't remember seeing it," she said, looking it over, a soft smile coming to her lips.

  "Do you know what the story or special meaning is behind it is, Mom?" I asked, folding the tissue paper that it had been wrapped in and placing it back in the box.

  "I do. You see, grandpa was never supposed to return from the war the Christmas he gave her this. He was supposed to go on another two tours before he was discharged from the Army. He was sent home on a two-day relief just before Christmas and he surprised her with this ornament. He said he always wanted to be with her, even though he was far away, and that this angel would watch over her while he was gone. He was deployed two days later as scheduled, and grandma was beside herself. She was convinced he wasn't going to be coming home to her.

  “Anyways, she prayed every night to that angel to send him back to her, and two weeks later, on Christmas Eve, grandpa showed up on the doorstep, surprising her. When she asked him what he was doing back, he explained that two days after he had been deployed, he got a strange feeling in his gut, one that wouldn't leave. Apparently, he requested to be discharged and pulled out of the deployment. Since the deployment was voluntary, they granted him that and sent him home. He got word two days after Christmas that on Christmas day, the troops he had been with had stumbled into a war zone and were caught in gunfire. Every one of the soldiers he had been with were killed."

  I wiped the tears that fell from my eyes and looked over to where Zack and Drew sat. Both had tears in their eyes as well.

  "This," my mother said, picking up the angel that sat on the chain around my neck, “is an exact replica of this one. Grandpa had it made for grandma the month before he died. It had special instructions to be passed down to the first girl born in the family, which is you, Lexi."

  I smiled and held the angel pendant tight in my hand.

  "Why don't you put the ornament on the tree, Lexi," Mom sniffled, handing it over to me.

  I took the angel from her and walked over to the tree, placing it right near the top. I stood looking at it for a minute, grasping the angel charm around my neck, thinking back to the last Christmas grandma had with us.

  I sat in the dimly lit kitchen, everything now cleaned and put away from dinner, staring down into the cup of hot peppermint tea that sat in front of me. Mom and Dad had gone off to a banquet on the other end of town. Zach and Drew had gone to the store for some snack food. I was glad to have this time alone after what Mom and Dad had told us at dinner. It wasn't something that I was expecting, and it had completely thrown me for a loop. They announced that they were getting rid of my childhood home, the only place I knew to come for comfort when I needed it. They wanted to downsize and move somewhere warmer, sunnier, and smaller.

  I looked over to the pantry door and saw the familiar black marks on the doorframe that told us how much we had grown over the years. There were even marks there for Drew, because they always wanted to make sure that he felt a part of the family.

  I breathed in deeply, trying to figure out what I would do when I no longer had this home to come to, but nothing was coming to mind. A tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away when I heard the front door open and close. I stayed where I was, hoping that no one saw me sitting alone in the dark. I really didn't want to be bothered with anyone or anything.

  I kept my head down, looking into that steaming cup of tea, when I felt two strong hands grip my shoulders. "What do you say, Lex, want some cake?" Drew asked, walking around the island and pulling out the coconut cream cake from the fridge.

  "Please," I whispered.

  * * *

  He cut two rather large pieces, plated them, and slid one in front of me, holding out a fork for me to take. As I reached for it, he pulled it away, a gorgeous smile plastered on his face. I looked up at him but couldn’t help the tears in my eyes. The thought of this being our last Christmas in this hous
e was almost too much to bear.

  "Lex, what's wrong?"

  "Where's Zach?" I asked, trying my best to avoid the inevitable.

  "I dropped him off at Ann Marie's." He pulled the chair out beside me and sat down. "So spill it. What’s got that pretty head of yours in such a mess?"

  I took a forkful of cake and put it in my mouth, trying to figure out how to share with him. "I guess it was the shock of the news that they want to sell the house. I always thought I would spend every Christmas here forever, you know, with my kids. I imagined all of us in that living room drinking apple cider and eating cinnamon buns while decorating the tree, forever."

  Drew was quiet and shook his head. "I get it."

  "You do?"

  "Of course, this is the only home you've known. It's natural for you to feel this way, but honestly, Lex, they are getting older. This place is huge, and I can't even begin to imagine the cost or the work of the upkeep. You aren't here to help, and Zach is in New York. I mean, it’s only them, all alone."

  "I know, it's just this place holds so many memories."

  "I know. It does for me too. You guys were all a big part of my childhood. After all, this is the only real feeling of home and family that I have."

  "It just comes as a shock, I guess. I certainly wasn't expecting them to say they were planning on selling." We both took a bite of cake at the same time, chewing in silence. "I wish there was something I could do."

  "Lexi, you have to support their decision and understand where they are coming from. I get it, it’s not easy. This place holds lots of memories for me too. It holds most of my memories, more than the actual house I grew up in. But memories, Lex, are in your heart and mind, not in some brick and mortar building. I mean, look at tonight, look at what a simple ornament can bring back to your memory."