by Rebel Hart
She quickly scurried off to her office to do just that, leaving me with a sense that everything would be okay. Again, it was all in the little things. And I was determined to do enough little things to compound into one big perfect Christmas.
Everyone left work early that day to start getting ready for Christmas Eve. I did too, even though I didn’t have much to rush home to. I got some cleaning done, spruced up the decorations, and cooked myself a nice dinner. I was used to being alone, just not on holidays. But like Chris said...they were just more days on the calendar. They were only as special as you made them.
The next morning, I got up early to run a few errands before all the shops closed up early. I finished buying everything for Margo’s gift basket and bought some fresh flowers and bread - two things guaranteed to cheer anyone up just on scent alone. With a few scented candles, my Christmas Eve shopping was complete. I was eager to get home and enjoy it all.
No sooner than I walked in the door and got everything put away, my phone dinged with a message from my parents. It was a photo of them smiling in front of the The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge. They were about to make their trek over the border and they both looked so excited.
I stared at the photo for a moment, feeling an ache in my heart over wishing they were home. But they were happy, and I wanted to be happy for them. I typed a sweet response, telling them to have fun and be safe, and carried on with lighting my new candles. Once my apartment was filled with smells of cinnamon and gingerbread, that pesky ache would be long gone.
But just as I lifted a lighter to the first candle, the phone dinged again. This time from Payton.
Payton: So far Christmas with boyfriend is a bust. His sister might be psychotic, and I think I caught his dad staring at my boobs.
I couldn’t help but laugh a little, but sucked it up and stepped into my shoes of being the older, wiser, big sister.
Hazel: I’m sure Josh is delighted to have you there. They are probably wonderful people once you get to know them. Stay positive and have a merry Christmas. Love you!
It took everything in me not to fire off a follow-up text begging her to come back home to me if things didn’t get any better. What the hell did I know about meeting a boyfriend’s parents anyway? Four years younger than me and she already knew more about relationships than I did. Good for her.
With my candles all lit, I set to putting together the gift basket for Margo. I googled all the best remedies for morning sickness...or all day, every day sickness in her case, including ginger lollipops, sour candy, mint tea, vitamins, gourmet snacks, and anything else the internet said would help. I even threw in the cutest baby onesie I could find to remind her what she was doing all of this for.
Once it was all tied up in the perfect bow, I was eager to pay her a visit, or at least deliver it to her doorstep. But I was disappointed when she didn’t answer my call.
I frowned and put the phone away, wondering if I should go drop it off anyway. It would be a nice surprise for her. The phone quickly dinged again, prompting me to snatch it up and see if it was her.
My heart dropped when I saw the text on the screen.
Chris: Hey, I know this is short notice. But come to my place right away. I have a surprise for you.
20
Chris
I couldn’t believe it all actually came together. The scene was perfect with all my newly purchased entertainment ware and my whole family gathered around it. I thought I had been beating my head against a wall, trying to get through to my family. But apparently something I said worked, because earlier that afternoon they called to inform me they would be in attendance for dinner that evening.
I threw together the best feast I knew how to make, and ordered what I didn’t. Nothing made me happier than seeing my parents, my sister and her husband, and both my niece and nephew sitting together in my home, enjoying each other’s company.
There was just one thing missing.
I jumped at the knock on the door, eager to answer. Hazel was standing there with a look of trepidation, unsure what to make of my sudden invitation.
“Come in,” I smiled.
She slowly came in, still uncertain, and gasped when she saw my family all together. “I thought you said you guys didn’t get together like this for Christmas.”
“We do now, thanks to Chris,” Ann said. She was sarcastic at first, but softened into a teasing laugh.
“No, it’s thanks to you,” I told Hazel. “You inspired all of this.”
“I..I don’t understand.”
Cassie and Luke came running over, eager to meet this new lady. They each said their hello’s, excitedly tugging at her coat.
“Oh, hello you two,” she beamed, kneeling down to greet them face to face. “I’m Hazel. And you must be Cassie and Luke.”
“How did you know our names?” Luke marveled.
“A special little Christmas elf told me.”
“Hazel, do you believe in Santa?” Cassie asked. “I don’t, but my dumb little brother still does.”
“You don’t believe in Santa because you keep picking on your little brother, and you don’t want to admit that if there was a Santa...he wouldn’t be bringing you anything but coal!” Ann scolded from the dining table.
Hazel thought about it for a moment, then replied, “I think it’s harder for some of us to feel the Christmas spirit than it is for others. Maybe your brother just has an easier time with it than you.”
“You should pay more attention to your brother,” I added. “You might learn a thing or two. That’s the great thing about having those holiday lover types around. They start to rub off on you after a while.”
She straightened on her feet and looked at me with a dreamy, hopeful smile. I took her by the hands and led her into the other room to talk.
“I’m so happy for you, Chris,” she said as she followed me. “I know how hard it must have been for you to convince them. And for you all to make the time.”
“I never would have done any of this if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Sorry for the inconvenience,” she laughed.
“I’m not.” I stepped closer with my eyes locked to hers. “I’m not sorry for anything that’s happened with you other than the last time we talked. I got scared and pushed you away. It was so stupid, and I don’t deserve to have you here with me right now. But since you are here...you should know...I lied in my office. I know damn well what was happening between us. I was falling for you. I still am. I’m going to keep falling for a long time unless you stop me.”
She considered it for a moment. “Why on earth would I want to do something like that? How about we both just keep falling for as long as we can?”
“You think people like us can handle giving up that kind of control?” I quipped.
“Eh,” she rolled her shoulders. “I’m learning control isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“There you two are,” my dad appeared in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, but everyone’s starving. One of us needs to carve this ham to kick everything off. I’ve seen enough movies to know that’s how this works.”
“We’ll be right there,” I laughed.
He hesitated for a moment, looking at something up above us. “I’ve also seen enough movies to know you two are supposed to kiss under that thing.”
He walked out, leaving us both to glance up and see the mistletoe hanging overhead.
“Chris Palmer,” she scolded. “Did you put that there and lead me in here on purpose?”
“So what if I did?” I winked.
“You get bonus points.”
I pulled her in close and pressed my lips to hers, feeling like everything in the world was made right again in that moment. Her tongue slipped between my lips, rolling across mine. I had never felt so afraid of something slipping through my fingers. But at least I knew to hold on tight and do everything I could to keep that from happening. I certainly wasn’t going to throw it all away again j
ust because I was scared.
We finally forced ourselves apart and joined the rest of my family at the table for the big feast. We sipped wine, ate all the delicious food, and just talked. I had no idea that my father had to give up golf because of his arthritis, or that mom had been doing some styling gigs with major political figures. Both Ann and Joey had recently gotten promotions at work but were talking about launching their own firm in the next five years. Cassie won first place at her most recent violin recital, and Luke just lost his first tooth.
It was so nice to hear about their lives. Nice enough that I wanted to start making family dinners a regular thing. But for as much as Hazel was happy for me, I could see a sense of sadness lingering in her expression.
“I’m sorry you’re not with your family tonight,” I whispered in her ear. “Your mom told me about everyone disbanding this time.”
“You talked to my mom?” she gasped.
“I assumed you would be with them and was going to come by. I figured I’d better ask her permission first.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for letting me join all of you instead.”
A phone started ringing all of a sudden, and we quickly realized it was Hazel’s.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. How rude. Let me just…,” she glanced down at the screen and paused. “It’s my little sister. If you’ll excuse me, I just want to make sure everything’s okay.”
Hazel stepped out into the hall to answer, and I couldn’t help but overhear her conversation.
“You’re where!?... I thought you were in Oregon!...What do you mean you’re at my apartment!?” Hazel looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Give her my address. Tell her to come over here and join us.”
Hazel did just as I said before returning to the table. “Apparently she hated her boyfriend’s family so much she decided to come home. They broke up...the poor thing.”
“Hope that doesn’t run in the family,” Evelyn joked dryly, sipping her wine. “I’m starting to grow rather fond of you and want you to stick around.”
“Well, so far you are all more than tolerable,” Hazel beamed.
We were surprised again by a knock at the door. “She got here fast.”
But it wasn’t Payton. It was both Mr. and Mrs. Malone at the door.
“Mom! Dad! I thought you were in Canada!? How did you...What are you…”
“Oh honey, it was such a nightmare,” her mom explained, hugging us both. “We got stopped by border control! Our passports were expired! Took us forever to get out of there and back into the city.”
Her dad added, “We figured if we weren’t going on our big trip, we wanted to be with you. Payton told us we could find you here and that she was on her way.”
Payton showed up a short while later, but that wasn’t the last of the excitement. Yet another knock came to the door, and this time it was Margo and Tom.
“I figured we were late enough that most of the triggering food smells might be gone,” Margo explained as she showed herself in. “Sorry for all of us barging into your family dinner like this, Chris. But I guess you’ll have to get used to this sort of thing with us if you’re going to be hanging around for a while.”
“I plan to,” I said, scratching my head as I looked at the dining room, which was rapidly filling up. “I just may need to buy more chairs.”
“What’s this about triggering food smells?” Kathy asked.
“Oh, good. I can just tell you in person now,” Margo replied. “I’m pregnant!”
Everyone erupted in cheers as she went around the room for congratulatory hugs. The noise and intimacy of it all was nothing like the Christmas galas...in all the best possible ways.
Margo eyed me and Hazel holding hands. “It looks like you two have some news to share as well.”
“Not news to me,” their Dad insisted. “I’ve known these two would be a thing from the moment she brought him to the tree farm. My girl doesn’t bring just any guy there, whether she wants to admit it or not.”
Once everyone settled in, Payton looked around the room with a frown. “I know half of you have already eaten and preggo here might have to hide in another room for a bit, but are there any leftovers we can heat up? I’m starving.”
“Actually,” Margo said, rubbing her stomach. “For the first time in days, I think I actually feel better. Maybe getting out of the house was what I needed after all. And yes, I’d love something to eat if you have it, Chris.”
“There’s plenty for everyone,” I smiled, showing them all to the extra dishes and containers of food. “Let dinner, round two, begin!”
With more food reheated, we gathered around the table once again. I thought having my family together was great on its own, but having Hazel and her family around made it even better, no matter how chaotic it was. I realized I never really understood the warmth of family time the way people described it until that moment.
I looked to Hazel sitting beside me, looking as radiant as ever, and kissed her cheek as I held her hand tight. “Mission accomplished.”
“You finally got all of your family together for dinner,” she grinned. “And mine too. Very impressive.”
“Yeah...but that’s not the mission I was talking about.”
“Oh?”
“You did it, Hazel. You’ve officially made me love Christmas, and I’m quite certain you made me fall in love with you in the process.”
Her face lit up like the Christmas trees she loved so dearly as she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me right there in front of everyone. Even if my niece and nephew did start making gagging sounds.
It truly was the perfect Christmas, which it turns out...does exist.
Epilogue
Palmer Department store looked more magnificent than it ever had before with cascading string lights swirling from the floor, all the way up to the ceiling. Elegant white reindeer were suspended all around with their red velvet harnesses and jingle bell collars. The live tree in the center was decked out all the way up to the perfect glowing star on top. Just as I did when I was a little girl, I took it all in with my mouth and eyes open wide as I spun around in soft circles, feeling full to the brim with wonder and awe.
But my favorite part of the whole display was the strapping gentleman in the corner, looking dapper as ever in his Christmas tux. He smiled at me and came over, planting a big kiss on my lips.
“You’ve really outdone yourself this year, Palmer.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” he replied, holding me tight.
We both turned towards the cloaked doors and windows, knowing there was an anxious crowd waiting outside.
“It feels so weird to be on this side of things for the unveiling,” I squirmed with excitement. “If eight year old me could see this now, she’d never believe it.”
I walked from one end of the lobby to the other, studying the grand window display from behind. I could imagine exactly what it would look like from the street once it was unveiled, but this time the behind the scenes look did nothing to curb the magic of it all. If anything, it made it even better.
“It feels like you’re the king of some fantasy Christmas wonderland,” I laughed at Chris.
“And you, my dear, are my queen.”
I swelled with joy. “Again, my eight year old self is dying from excitement right now.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Jack Palmer entered from the back door, beaming with pride as he took it all in. “To think, this time last year we didn’t even know if we’d still be in business by now. And now look at us. The store’s doing better than ever, and the annual window display lives on. I’m proud of you, son.” He took Chris into his arms for a big hug. “You did it. You did everything I hoped you would and then some.”
“We owe quite a bit of credit to Hazel,” he admitted.
I wanted to be modest, but Chris wasn’t wrong. Certain connections of mine made the whole thing more cost effective. My dad was happy to provide trees from his
farms in exchange for a little free advertising. Plus they had so many decorations laying around in storage, the display wasn’t nearly as expensive to put on as it had been in years past.
Not that the store was in nearly as bad financial shape as it was last year. With a little consulting from lifelong fans, such as myself and a number of NonPareil readers, we were able to guide Chris and his team on what exactly it was we valued about Palmers, and what we didn’t.
Much to his surprise, online shopping wasn’t something we wanted from them. We preferred the fantastic displays in store and all the age-old traditions. The verdict was to leave all the modern advances for other stores. Palmers was to remain classic and timeless. The feedback turned sales right around, starting with Valentine’s Day. Turns out there was a real market for holiday splendor, as much as Chris hated to admit it.
The new partnership between Palmers and my blog worked so well, it felt like something that always should have existed. They were like two peas in a pod, which was an awful lot like Chris and me had become.
As it got closer to time for the big unveiling, both of our families came in from the secret side entrance of the building and joined us in the lobby. Jack and Evelyn had done a great job at bringing their family together more often, and Ann started finally giving her nanny a day off every once in a while so everyone could be involved in Luke and Cassie’s upbringing.
Margo and Tom showed up with their precious baby girl bundled in their arms. I squealed and went over to scoop her up.
“Beautiful Noel,” I whispered, brushing the tip of her nose. I had to really push them on the name, but once they came around to it, they realized it was perfect...which I knew all along.
I smiled up at our little sister, Payton, who for the first time since she was a teen had been attending all holiday family functions solo. Not a single guy in tow. I guess after her traumatic experience of meeting Josh’s family, she decided she wasn’t in such a big rush to give up her singledom so young.