The Christmas Arrangement

by A. J. Morrow

  They spoke for a few minutes on a variety of topics: global politics, Tess’s backstory, her love of cats and Gus’s love of sport. They agreed on most things, and, after Gus had offered to introduce her to his cat when they got back home, Tess decided that, of the members of Colette’s family she’d already met, he was her favorite.

  “You know, I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you,” he said after a while, “I’m sure you know how private Colette is. She avoided bringing you home so long I was starting to think she made you up entirely.”

  Tess’s eyes widened and she fought the urge to take a step back. Did he know? Had he sniffed out their farce of a relationship? Tess gave him a strained smile and forced out a laugh. “Oh, I’m not surprised. She’s hardly told me anything about you either; I feel like a fish out of water!”

  Gus smiled, and, although it was friendly, there seemed to be something going on behind his eyes. “Has Bernard talked to you, then? That man can make anyone feel unwelcome.”

  Tess sighed in relief. If Gus thought Bernard was the reason for her nervousness, then they were in the clear. “Uh, yeah, I’ve spoken to him. He seemed…nice.”

  “Not the word I would use, but I appreciate the tact.” Gus picked up a mini hors-d’oeuvre and placed it neatly in his mouth. “I hope you don’t mind if I’m honest, Tess?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “You’re the least ‘business minded’ of all the people Colette has ever dated. I don’t mean that as an insult, mind you—it’s just that it’s clear you’re not used to these settings, where business life is merged with social life.”

  “Oh.” Tess frowned. She thought she’d been doing well.

  “Please, don’t take offense! It’s not a bad thing. You seem very sweet, and I think…I think you might be good for Colette.” Gus scratched his mustache as he tried to put his thoughts into words. “I hope you can forgive an old man for being a little ham-fisted; what I’m trying to say is that you have my blessing. Not that you need it, of course, but you have it anyway.”

  To say Tess was taken aback would’ve been an understatement. “Oh, right,” she said, “thank you.”

  Gus stepped closer and looked up to make sure none of his family were nearby. “I’m fully aware of all the family politics going on at the moment, though I’m trying not to get caught up with it,” he said, “do yourself a favor—stay out of it too, would you? Preserving your relationship with Colette is the most important thing right now.”

  Tess nodded. “Uh, yeah, of course.”

  He took her hands between his and held them tight. “Good, I truly hope it works out between you two.”

  * * * *

  Soon, there was a grand dinner for everyone, complete with fancy side dishes and butter in the shape of cherub heads. The first course had the option of chicken or soup, and dessert included a simply glorious chocolate fudge cake, which instantly won Tess’s heart. She and Colette sat together, but not near any of Colette’s family, so it was easy enough to keep up the pretense of a couple.

  After a few more hours of socializing and some speeches about the charity in question, it was time to leave.

  Tess shivered slightly as they stood in the hallway, waiting for the others. The wind blew in from the open door, cold and biting, in contrast to the warmth and brightness of the hotel. After a moment, Colette wrapped her arm around Tess’s shoulder and held her close. Tess lent into the embrace, happy for the warmth.

  “They’re taking their time, aren’t they?” said Colette.

  “I’m sure they’ll just be a minute.”

  A couple walked by them, hand in hand, laughing as though no one was watching.

  Colette smiled. “Did you have a good time, at least?”

  “Yeah, it was great,” said Tess, “the cherub-butter was so fancy it was almost funny.” She laughed, eyes brighter than the Christmas lights that decorated the hall.

  Bernard and his date, a pretty woman in a yellow dress, appeared in the doorway, followed by Marian, Gus, and a handful of other relatives.

  “There they are,” said Gus, “and under the mistletoe, as well!” A big, booming laugh rumbled out of his chest.

  Tess and Colette both glanced up at the same time, eyes wide and slightly horrified, to see a sprig of pearly white mistletoe tied above their heads. How they’d missed it, Tess didn’t know.

  “Oh, it’s okay, you don’t have to—” Tess began, but she was interrupted by Bernard, who’d sniffed out a weakness.

  “Come on, Colette,” he said, “it’s tradition.”

  Colette eye’s shifted from her family to Tess, who’d gone bright red, and made a decision. With one quick movement, she cupped Tess’s face in her hand and placed a single feather light kiss on her cheek. “Sorry,” she whispered, but Tess didn’t reply.

  “I’m not one for PDA,” Colette said to the rest of the group. They all laughed and teased her, and Tess just stood there, eyes wide and heart beating like a drum. There was no way she was going to admit how much she’d hoped Colette was actually going to kiss her.

  When the laughter was over, they filed out of the hotel and into the cars. Sparing a single look back, Tess caught sight of an unknown man in the foyer. Blonde, with a round face and impeccable looking suite, his gaze was fixed on their leaving party. Tess looked away quickly, and tried to shake off the weird feeling. It was probably just her imagination.

  When they arrived home, everyone was tired and a little cranky. Tea was brewed, the fire was lit, and soon enough they all climbed up to bed. Back inside Colette’s bedroom, Tess felt a sudden jolt of panic. There was only one bed.

  She got changed into her pajamas and took off her makeup in the bathroom, where Colette joined her. When Tess’s teeth were brushed, she broached the subject.

  “So…” Tess began. She slid her toothbrush into the holder. “Where am I sleeping tonight?”

  “In the bed.”

  “And where are you sleeping?”

  Colette narrowed her eyes in surprise. “Also in the bed.”

  “Right, right, cool, good to know.” Tess looked away in embarrassment. “Just so you know, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor or anything, if it makes you more comfortable.”

  Colette raised an eyebrow. “Would you prefer to?”

  “No, I didn’t mean it like that!”

  “It’s probably best to sleep in the same bed anyway,” said Colette, “since my family like to surprise guests in the morning with breakfast in bed. It’s kind of a tradition.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone doing that,” said Tess.

  “Every family has it’s weird traditions.”

  “True. My family line up mini snowmen on the drive. It’s pretty cute.”

  Colette laughed and Tess felt a glow in her chest at making Colette happy. She was starting to think this ‘crush’ was a bit more than a crush, but she stamped down the emotion and focused back on tying up her hair for the night.

  When that was done, they turned off the bathroom light and slid into bed. The covers were soft and thick—eiderdown, or something like it—and Tess was so tired she fell asleep nearly immediately. They slept on opposite sides of the bed, each hoping not to disturb the other in the night, and trying to ignore the blossoming of their feelings, which they both were sure the other didn’t reciprocate.

  Chapter 4: Colette

  Bright white light shone in from a chink in the bedroom curtains and fell onto Colette’s face. She blinked, still half asleep, and shifted from her position. An absolute silence surrounded her, the kind that only comes from fresh snowfall, and she was being held by something warm and soft. Colette turned over, and the arm around her stirred too. Colette froze.

  There was someone beside her. Someone right next to her, with their stomach pressed against her and their arm wrapped around her waist. Tess.

  Colette swore internally, even as her heart fluttered and begged her to sink back into the warmth of Tess’s embrace. Ca
refully, she slid out from under the sheets, gingerly moving Tess’s arm so as not to wake her up. The air outside the bed was cold and unforgiving, but not as unforgiving as Colette was to herself about this whole mess.

  Asking Tess to be her date for the holidays was a bad idea, Colette knew. It was torture—to pretend to be in a relationship in front of her family, all the while pretending that she wasn’t in love with Tess when they were alone. She sighed. If there’d been anyone else she trusted and her family didn’t know, she would’ve asked them. Unfortunately, there was just Tess.

  She spared a glance for the sleeping woman beside her. In the soft morning light, Tess was luminescent. There was something of the sun about her; she was made of warmth, and happy things. Quietly, Colette picked out her clothes and tiptoed into the bathroom to change. As soon as she was dressed and the morning gunk was washed from her face, she headed downstairs. One last look at Tess, who’d curled in on herself without Colette by her side, was nearly enough to make her crawl back into bed.

  Downstairs, most of the family was already gathered in the kitchen. Conversation stopped as Colette entered, but she paid it no mind. They were waiting for her to speak.

  “Good morning, everyone,” she said, and turned her attention to the coffee pot.

  Arthur, Colette’s younger brother, had a tray in front of him, which he was hurriedly filling with breakfast food. “I was going to bring you breakfast,” he said.

  Colette smiled. “Much appreciated. I’ll bring it to Tess in a bit, when she’s woken up.”

  “Is she not awake yet?”

  “No, not quite. It is the holidays, to be fair.”

  Marian raised an eyebrow. “Does she work hard?”

  Colette paused, her mind turning to all the effort Tess had gone to since starting as her assistant. “Incredibly hard,” she said, “I don’t know how she does it.”

  Marian hummed. “That’s good to know.” She pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table, opposite Gus.

  “What are the plans for today?” Colette asked.

  “The Christmas market is open in town,” her grandfather said, “and we were planning on a visit before the rest of the family arrives. You know how much I love the carolers.”

  “Of course. We’ll want to get there before the crowds, though. Maybe you should wake Tess up now,” said Marian.

  Colette paused. The tray her brother made had orange juice, tea, toast, and a little chocolate croissant on the side, but that didn’t make the idea of disturbing Tess any more appealing. It felt almost cruel to wake her up after the late night they’d had.

  “I suppose you’re right,” she said eventually. Colette took the tray from her brother with a thankful smile and headed back upstairs.

  Shockingly, Tess woke without any complaint, and she was more than grateful for breakfast—apparently chocolate was her favorite. When she was done, Colette went back downstairs to wait for her to get ready.

  As she reached the bottom step, Arthur appeared. “Bernard’s here,” he said with a grimace.

  “Ugh.”

  “I know. He’s laying it on thick with Grandpa.”

  “Do I need to go save him?”

  Arthur laughed. “I’m sure he can handle himself.”

  “I meant Bernard. I don’t think Grandfather is in the mood for any of his nonsense.”

  “Oh dear. How’d he react to Tess?”

  Colette frowned, but there was no unhappiness to it. “Didn’t like it one bit, poor thing. Being engaged was the one thing he had over me—I just hope he doesn’t take it out on Tess.”

  “She seems smart enough to deal with him,” said Arthur.

  “But she shouldn’t have to.”

  Arthur nodded. “No one should be subjected to Bernard. He’s trying to get me to go drinking with him tonight, so I’m avoiding him.”

  “But you’re not twenty-one yet.”

  “I know.” Arthur made an exasperated face and started back upstairs. “Hopefully he won’t find me in the attic.”

  Colette gave him a sympathetic smile, but Arthur was already gone.

  * * * *

  Half an hour later, when Colette had replied to all her work emails and made a few phone calls, she was called away from her spot in the living room and back into the kitchen. The room was full when she entered, with each chair taken up by an extended family member, and several people stood by the counter. Colette knew that in the next two days more of her relatives would arrive, until every guest bedroom was full, too.

  Seated next to her grandfather, at the kitchen table, was Tess. She hadn’t noticed Colette come in, but was instead cooing happily over the cat in her lap. He was called Roger and owned by Colette’s grandfather, though he was so friendly that most people loved him.

  “Aw, who’s a lovely little boy?” said Tess, her voice high. Roger purred and rubbed his head against her.

  “Looks like you’ve made a new friend,” Colette said with a smile.

  “Oh, yes, I love him already.” Tess looked up at Colette and grinned.

  Gus laughed and, from the back of the kitchen, Marian frowned.

  “Are you ready to leave, Colette? The rest of us have been ready for some time.”

  “Of course, Mother.”

  Marian nodded. The others began to file out of the kitchen while Colette waited for Tess. She watched, an amused smile on her face, as Tess stroked Roger one last time before lifting him from her lap. She pouted as he scurried away, her heart temporarily broken, and walked over to Colette’s side.

  “I hope he’s around when we get back,” she said.

  “Don’t worry.” Colette took Tess’s arm in her own. “He’s an indoor cat.”

  They exited the kitchen, followed by Gus, and stopped briefly to put on their coats and shoes. Tess wore, unsurprisingly, a rose-pink sweater beneath her red coat, and a Christmas themed wool hat. Colette, in contrast, was all green, from her coat to her slightly heeled shoes.

  The walk up to the Christmas market was short but bracing. A cold wind blew hard against Tess’s short frame, forcing her to seek refuge in Colette’s arms. The trees, though bare, were dark and striking against the pristine snow.

  All in all, there were about ten people making the trek from the Sylvestre house to the Christmas market, which was situated in one of the oldest parts of the city; Bernard walked up front, next to Colette’s parents, while her grandfather came last, walking only a step behind her and Tess. The path had been cleared by children, who’d used the snow to make a line of little snowmen by the side of the road.

  “Wow, it’s so pretty,” said Tess, her face hidden in Colette’s shoulder. She was doing a very good job at the whole fake relationship thing.

  “Yes, it’s like this every year. I don’t think I could handle Christmas without snow.” Colette was trying to loosen up around Tess and be honest. Method acting, she tried to tell herself, but she knew it was a lie. Tess made her want to be honest with her feelings, however selfish that might be.

  Soon, the trees grew sparser and the houses closer together. A few stray cars passed by them, and then a few more, and then the sound of a Christmas choir took over from the steady quiet of the snow. Colette and Tess turned a corner and there they were, at the beginning of the Christmas market, surrounded by people and stalls and merrymaking.

  Bushels of holly and mistletoe covered every surface, and the smell of gingerbread and hot chocolate made Colette’s mouth water. Everywhere they looked there was a new stall, decked with candy canes and tinsel and little toy trains, and children rushed from stall to stall, faces shining with excitement. The sellers called out to hawk their wares, each promising handmade cards, or a glass bauble or a rose, for the pretty lady.

  “It’s marvelous,” said Tess, and Colette remembered that, unlike her, Tess hadn’t gone there every Christmas since she was four.

  “Indeed,” she said. Colette still didn’t know what to say when it came to Tess.

  The rest
of the family began to peel off in pairs so they could shop in secret. They’d been walking for about a minute before Colette realized that the others were completely gone, and she turned to look at Tess. The cold had turned her cheeks apple red and a few flakes of snow were caught in the frizz of her hair. They framed her face, making Colette wonder how she’d managed to live her whole life without ever seeing Tess in the snow. The sight was truly magical.

  “So, what are we doing now?” asked Tess.

  “Shopping, I suppose.” Colette patted her bag. “You can help me choose out Christmas presents, if you’d like. We’ll put both our names on the card, so don’t worry that you’re unprepared.”

  Colette fought a laugh as Tess sighed in relief. The poor girl was not subtle about her discomfort when it came to Colette’s family, or how unprepared she’d been for their arrangement.

  “Right. This is going to be so much fun—I love shopping for presents.” Tess swiveled her head to get a good look at all the stalls. “Who’re we shopping for first?”

  “My grandfather.”

  “Oh, that’s easy, then. He was telling me how much he likes writing this morning—he said he likes to write best in leather notebooks.”

  Colette frowned, shocked at how quickly Tess had come up with something. Usually it took her hours to pick something her grandfather might like, and even then, she was always unsure about her choice.

  “That’s…actually a good idea,” Colette said.

  Tess slapped her arm. “Don’t act so surprised! I’m full of good ideas, I am.”

  “Okay, then, Miss Full-Of-Good-Ideas, why don’t you choose one from the stationary stall? There’s one further down here, if the market is laid out the same way it was last year.”

  They made their way through the market, stopping occasionally so Tess could moon over a tiny nativity set or clap for the carol singers at the center of the market. Eventually they reached a stall that peddled stationary, though it was different from the stationary found in most shops. From the fountain pens with carved wooden handles to the embossed leather notepads, it was prettier than stationary had any right to be.