Christmas in White Oak

by Aileen Fish

  “That’s okay. I know you have work to get back to.” She shouldered her purse and picked up the basket that now held the small gifts she’d received.

  Following her to the door, he wondered what had changed while he’d been helping his mom clean up. He could have sworn he and Sofia were closer than ever up to that point. “Okay, then.”

  “Okay.” She opened the door, calling, “Goodnight,” as she walked away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Nick spent the next three days handling the phone calls and emails he should have looked at while he was in White Oak. He didn’t regret one minute of his vacation, and reminded himself a few times that he was technically still on vacation until after January second, when the office reopened.

  Every time he got a text message, he hoped it would be from Sofia. She’d sounded so final when she said goodnight, he hadn’t wanted to push the issue and call. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship by doing something stupid.

  He turned off the TV since he wasn’t paying any attention. It was a little after nine p.m., not too late to talk to a friend. Of course, Sofia might keep earlier hours as a teacher. He decided a text message was less likely to wake her if she’d already gone to bed.

  Hey. I talked to Holly today and she went on and on about her lunch with you. Thanks for that.

  A few minutes later his phone chirped with her reply.

  It was fun. She’s a very bright little girl.

  Yeah, it’s kind of quiet here with her gone.

  I’ll bet. Are you able to get a lot more work done with her away?

  My mind hasn’t been on work, he typed. Not wanting to scare Sofia off, he didn’t say he’d been thinking of her the whole time.

  That’s good. That’s what vacations are for. Spend a little time on you for a change.

  How did she know he didn’t do that normally?

  That was a stupid question. She could see he spent most of his energy keeping Holly happy. Life was hard as a single parent, making sure there wasn’t a big hole in the child’s life.

  He typed. You are right. I should spend more time on me. What I want.

  She sent a happy face in response.

  You aren’t going to ask what I want?

  ??????

  Did that mean she really didn’t want to know?

  He was being stupid, and he knew exactly where stupid choices landed him. He tapped the phone screen to switch to call mode.

  She sounded hesitant when she answered. “Hello.”

  “I was tired of typing. I’m not good at it.” He wasn’t good at talking about himself, or his feelings, either. “Katie mentioned something about a New Year’s party at the Royal Oak.”

  “They have it every year.”

  “You sound like it’s not very fun.” Was it the party she objected to, or spending time with him?

  She was quiet for a minute. “Let’s just say I had a bad time there last year.”

  “Were you still with that guy, then?”

  “That was the beginning of the end.”

  He waited, unsure what to say next. Where was the line between commiseration and prying?

  “I don’t think I should go out on New Year’s Eve this year,” she said.

  “Because everyone gets drunk and does stupid stuff?”

  “Because my expectations are too high. Everyone makes such a big deal about kissing someone at midnight.”

  Which was exactly what he was hoping for. Wow, had he gotten his cues mixed up. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m volunteering for that job.”

  “I know. I’m just not sure how to feel about that.”

  Ouch. That stung. Had he only seen what he wanted to see last week? “Okay, we don’t have to go. I get it.”

  “No, that’s not it.” She sighed, hesitated, and drew in a breath. “People put such expectations on who they kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve.”

  “People. Like…your friends?”

  “Like me.” She went into a rushed explanation about some guy named Harry who wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sally, but Nick wasn’t sure how it related to him and Sofia.

  Totally lost and ready to give up, he said, “I’m not asking for the rest of your life. I’m asking for one date.” At least for now.

  “See? I put too much into everything. You really need to stay away from me.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes. His gut was a pretzel. “Look, my track record might say otherwise, but I’m not usually a bad judge of people. I think you and I are good together. I just want a chance to see if that’s true. Please go out with me. If you aren’t having a good time, I’ll take you home before midnight.”

  She was quiet for so long, he looked to see if the phone was still connected. Her voice was quiet when she spoke. “I’d like that. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

  His breath came out in a rush. “You could put a little more excitement into that. You’re crushing my ego here.”

  ~*~

  From the size of the crowd at the Royal Oak, Nick decided it was the place to be seen in White Oak now. Easily twice as many people as had been there at the Christmas party, with the age range covering the spectrum. “I didn’t think there’d be so many people,” he admitted to Sofia.

  “Katie and JD know how to throw a party.”

  “JD?”

  As if Sofia had summoned him, the guy Nick recognized as Katie’s boyfriend held out his hand. “Juan Diego. We met before.”

  “Right. I don’t remember any place around here being this busy.”

  Juan Diego grinned. “I do everything in a big way.” He stepped aside so they could push their way to the bar.

  Nick yelled in Sofia’s ear. “I don’t think we’ll get a table tonight.”

  “I guess we’ll just have to dance all night.”

  He followed her deeper into the crowd. Being pressed so close together, he kept getting whiffs of her sweet floral perfume. He liked the scent, and kept bending to sniff it again to try to place what it reminded him of. Then she stopped short and he bumped his nose on the top of her head.

  “Oh, sorry,” she said. “The guy in front of me stopped to talk.”

  “My fault, I should have been paying attention.”

  A voice called out from the darkened dance floor. “Sofia!” Her friend Pauly’s head bobbed up and down through the crowd like a dog bounding through a wheat field. He finally broke through in front of them. “I thought you were staying home,” he said to Sofia.

  “I was asked out,” she said.

  Pauly looked over her shoulder at Nick and grinned. He threw his arms wide and hugged Sofia. “I’m so happy for you.”

  When he turned to Nick with his arms spread, Nick took advantage of the crowded room and offered a handshake. He wasn’t the hugging type.

  The three of them found a clearing in the crowd where they could dance, if you could call the controlled thrashing going on dancing. Still, it was fun. Loud music, tons of laughter—including his own.

  The constant music, live band alternating with a deejay, made the night pass quickly. Pauly disappeared with friends. Familiar faces said hello. Everything was a whir of motion and sound, keeping him from talking to Sofia.

  She looked happy though. Not as happy as Christmas Day, maybe, but happy enough. If the vision of her joy was all he got from the evening, it would be enough.

  The deejay’s voice suddenly cut in to the song. “Okay, people, it’s time! Grab your guy, your girl, your best friend, your wife, your best friend’s wife…and count it down with me!”

  Numbers flashed on the screen and the crowd called them out. “Ten…nine…”

  Nick realized he had no idea if Sofia would kiss him or not. She turned from watching the screen and her gaze met Nick’s.

  She chewed her lower lip, and her eyes dropped to his mouth.

  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, inhaling her sweet scent one more time.

  “Three…two
…”

  Nick tipped his head in question. Sofia nodded. His heart jumped and he leaned down to kiss her as the room exploded in cheers and a scratchy recording of Auld Lang Syne.

  He lifted his head. “Let’s get out of here,” he yelled.

  “Yes, let’s.”

  They hurried through the freezing air to his cold car and he drove straight to her apartment. When they got inside they pulled off their coats in the heated room. Sofia flipped the switch to light her fireplace and they stood in front of it.

  The only light came from the streetlamp outside and the flickering fire. Shadows danced across Sofia’s face, not letting him make out her expression. Suddenly it was extremely urgent that Nick knew what she was thinking. “I had fun tonight.”

  “It was fun.”

  “You let me kiss you.”

  “I did.”

  “You aren’t disappointed?”

  She shook her head.

  “I like you, Sofia. You know that?”

  “I like you, too. I kind of always have.”

  “I really hurt you with Morgan, didn’t I?”

  Her gaze lowered. “Yeah, but you didn’t know I liked you then. It’s not really your fault.”

  His lips pulled back on one side. “Don’t let me get started on what all was my fault. I’m just getting over that.”

  She stood a little taller. “You’ve done well with your life since then, even if you did put yourself last for a bit longer than you should have. Not only did you help Morgan’s parents to heal this Christmas, you helped me tell my parents what is important to me.”

  “I get lucky sometimes and come up with a halfway decent idea.”

  “Like when you texted me?”

  “Like when I asked you out tonight. I’d like to do it again sometime.”

  “Next New Year’s Eve?”

  “Sure. And maybe a few times between now and then, if you aren’t busy.”

  “I think I can pencil you in.”

  Relief almost overwhelmed him and he kissed her again. And again. He could do this, stay in White Oak when he brought Holly for visits. Maybe even come up more often. Not rush into anything, but take the time to really find out who Sofia was. Find out who he was, when he relaxed and forgot about work.

  He stepped back to better see Sofia’s beautiful face. “I know what to get you for Valentine’s Day.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A pen.”

  She frowned.

  “A pencil can be erased.”

  Epilogue

  When Valentine’s Day rolled around, Nick’s stomach was clenching and unclenching like he was doing crunches at the gym. He drove up with Holly on Friday night to drop her at Morgan’s parents’ home, but hadn’t let Sofia know he was staying for the weekend.

  Of course, the joke could be on him if she wasn’t home when he came by, but what would she be doing? He didn’t think single girls got together to commiserate how Cupid’s bow had missed them completely.

  When he got home from dropping Holly off, Mom was all over him with curiosity. “What are you and Sofia doing tomorrow?”

  “I haven’t made plans. I actually told her I had work to do and apologized for not being able to see her until next weekend.”

  Mom tipped her head to one side in that way she had when she thought he had made a stupid decision. “Do you know what kind of message that sends to her? That you couldn’t even take her out to dinner the night before, or make plans for the day after?”

  “We’ve been dating for two months, how big can her expectations be?”

  “She’s been in love with you for at least six years. Believe me, her expectations are huge.”

  He didn’t want to tell anyone his plans until he sprang them on Sofia. Not that he was worried about what her answer would be. They’d fallen into such a natural rhythm that it was a given they’d marry one day.

  At least, it was given in his head. Who knew what women think?

  Mom’s comments had him worried now. He’d hate himself if he hurt Sofia. The last thing she deserved was a jerk for a boyfriend. Or a husband. “Do you think I should go over to her place first thing in the morning, then, so she doesn’t think I didn’t care enough to see her?”

  “Why do you have to surprise her at all?”

  “It’s a special day. I want my gift to be really unexpected.”

  “If she thinks you have forgotten the day, or put work before her, her reaction might be unexpected. Girls look at Valentine’s Day differently than boys,” Mom said.

  “What if I know she’ll love the gift?”

  “What if she’s so mad she doesn’t want the gift?”

  Mom was being a royal pain. She sounded like he did when he was younger and just felt like arguing for the sake of arguing. There was one way of ending this conversation. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Call her and make plans to see her tomorrow night.”

  He nodded and went to his old room. He didn’t want her expecting him to show up. It took away half of the surprise. But that was the lesser problem compared to her sitting at home tomorrow feeling unloved. He’d arranged for flowers to be delivered in the morning, so she’d know he thought of her. The way he planned it, she’d think that was all he was getting her.

  Mom had a point about choosing work over Sofia, though. That wasn’t a precedent he wanted to establish. He needed to surprise her.

  The obvious answer finally hit him. He unzipped his duffle bag and dug for the things he needed and stuck them in his coat pockets and called to his mom as he went out the door, “Be back later.”

  It was after eight. Sofia was sure to be at home. She was a homebody, she’d told him, rarely went out at night.

  Her car wasn’t in front of her apartment. Served him right. Still, he strode up the walkway and knocked on her door. A light shone through the front window, but she might have left it on.

  No answer.

  He turned and looked around the small apartment complex as if he expected to see her. He huffed out a breath that swirled visibly in the cold air. Walking back to his car, he decided to wait‑with the heater on‑for her to come home.

  After about fifteen minutes, he texted her. Hey, just got home from work. How are you?

  Good, thanks, she replied.

  Any snow yet?

  No, but there’s rain due next week so we might get some. Bring chains when you come.

  I will, he typed. How could he figure out where she was or when she was due home, without sounding like a jealous boyfriend? A part of him was surprised she was out on a Friday night, but he knew Sofia too well to think the worst.

  Just as his phone screen went dark he tapped it and typed, Call me before you go to bed?

  Okay. It’ll be late, though. I’m at a bachelorette party.

  Cool.

  Who was getting married? That was a dumb question. Sofia had a ton of friends, it could be anyone. He hadn’t kept in touch with most of their classmates, so he wouldn’t presume he’d be invited.

  Now he had to find something to do for the next hour or three. He didn’t want to face Mom and the Spanish Inquisition. He couldn’t go to the White Oak Bar and Grill, on the chance her party was there.

  He ended up with the safest bet, a cup of coffee at a fast food place filled with high schoolers. Within half an hour, he was so glad he wasn’t that age anymore.

  After checking his email, Facebook and the sports news, it was still too early to expect her to be home. He opened his War of Ages game app and got into character as a medieval warrior. Time passed so quickly, when he looked up he realized most of the kids were gone.

  He jumped up and almost ran to his car, driving back to her apartment. Her car still wasn’t home. She’d said she’d call before going to bed, so he doubted she was playing it safe and staying with a friend after a bit too much partying.

  Sofia would never party that hard.

  Nick parked far enough away that she wouldn’t n
otice his car, but he could still see her door. Not long after, she pulled up and went inside.

  Patting his pocket to be sure the box was still there, he shut off his car and followed her.

  When he knocked on her door, she answered quickly, peering through a few inches of space as she blocked entry into her apartment. “Oh, Nick, it’s you.” She stepped back and let him in.

  “Who were you expecting?” So much for not being the jealous type.

  She showed him the baseball bat she’d been hiding behind the door. “I thought you were some creep who followed me home from the bar.”

  He laughed. “I wanted to surprise you.”

  “You succeeded. I’m glad to see you, though. And not just because you aren’t a drunken creep.” She gave him a quick kiss. “You smell nice. Hey, I thought you had to work this weekend.”

  “I lied. Oh, and you smell good, too. But you always do.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Why on earth would you lie about working?” Her lips pressed firmly together and her brow lowered.

  Mom knew something about women after all. “It was part of the surprise.” He needed to give her the gift before he took off his coat, and he was getting warm, both from her ire and the heated room.

  “I hate surprises,” Sofia said at the same moment he pulled out the gift.

  Trying to lighten the mood, he said, “Oh, then I’ll take this back.”

  She caught his hand before he could put it back in his pocket. “We can’t let a gift go to waste.”

  Studying the oblong box, she peered up at him as she untied the ribbon. “You were kidding about getting me a pen to put you in my calendar, weren’t you?”

  “Guess you’ll have to open it to find out.”

  She tore the paper and let it fall to the floor, then snapped open the box. Her eyes widened just as he’d hoped, and she gasped.

  Nick dropped to one knee. “Sofia, I know we’ve only been together a short time, but it seems like no time has passed since we were best friends. I’ve made some big mistakes in the past, and hurt you in the process. But if you’ll have me, I promise to spend the rest of my life keeping your heart safe. I love you more than Snickers bars. Say you’ll marry me.”