by Mary Smith
Lily was going to enjoy Christmas.
Chapter Sixteen
Zane
“Are you ready to join us yet, Z?” Spencer called from the living room. “After all, it is Christmas Eve!”
Zane sat on the steps of his aunt and uncle’s house where he grew up. He had been busy trying to text Lily with no luck. The rock in his stomach told him something was definitely wrong. He was still carrying around the poem he wrote her, but now he wondered if he’d ever get the chance to give it to her.
He was being ghosted.
Joining his family in the living room, he looked around at the decorations and the partly decorated tree brought back a rush of memories.
“Welcome to the party, cuz. We’ve been waiting for you to pull yourself away from your phone,” Spencer called. “Mom wouldn’t let us eat any cookies until you were ready.”
Aunt Alice thumped him on his head. “Spence. It’s polite to wait.” She turned her attention to Zane. “Dear, I am so glad you finally decided to join us. We have all the decorations out and are ready to trim the tree. Uncle Ed has all the lights on, so whenever you boys are ready. First, Zane, get some cookies.”
“Sure, you get offered cookies,” Spencer teased. “Now we know who mom’s favorite is.”
“Spencer! I do not play favorites. I love both of you boys equally.” She patted Zane’s middle. “You’re getting so thin! You look like you could use a few extra cookies!”
“Seriously, Mom? You should see how much he eats!”
“Oh, stop your carrying on, Spencer, and help me bring some cookie trays out to the dining room table.”
He carried the cookie trays from the kitchen to the dining room as Zane placed the gifts he brought around the tree.
“Sweet boy, you know you don’t have to buy us all those gifts,” his aunt said. “You just being home for a few days is gift enough.”
“You can still buy me all the gifts you want though,” Spencer teased, lounging on the couch.
The house smelled of their traditional Christmas Eve feast. Kielbasa and sauerkraut. It was an unusual holiday meal, but it was something his Aunt Alice had made since as far back as he could remember. He and his parents used to come over for Christmas Eve dinner every year and Aunt Alice always made this wonderful feast.
All these years later their tradition continued.
They decorated Christmas cookies with Aunt Alice and trimmed the tree with carols playing in the background. Uncle Ed watched from his chair like he always did. This was the quality family time that he missed, but still, even though it was perfect, it was still missing something.
Uncle Ed yawned as the credits to It’s a Wonderful Life rolled up the television screen. “All right, that’s my cue to head upstairs. I can’t keep the late hours that I once could.”
“Goodnight, hon,” Aunt Alice said as he placed a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be up shortly.”
“See you boys in the morning.” He waved before heading up the stairs. “Don’t stay up too late.”
Zane stared at the television as It’s a Wonderful Life started over again. It was on loop on this channel.
Aunt Alice grabbed the remote and shut off the television. “All right, boys, tell me, is there anyone special in your lives these days?”
“You know me, Mom. I like to play the field not narrow down my options,” Spencer said with a devilish grin.
“Yes, I do, my dear, but someday you’re going to have to narrow down those options and find that one special person.”
“Gotcha, Mom.”
“And you’ll know when you find her. There’ll be no question in your heart.” Aunt Alice smiled at Spencer.
“Maybe you should turn your attention to Z, he’s the one with a Christmas girl.”
“Oh?” Aunt Alice turned to Zane. Her face wrinkled up in curious question. “What’s a Christmas girl?”
His aunt had always been the one person he could talk to. She was the closest thing to a mom that he had, and being his mom’s sister, maybe it was the look in her eyes that made him think of his mom. Or the kindness in her smile, just like his mom, that made him feel like he could tell her anything.
Without any more prompting, he told his aunt all about the want ad and the Christmas excursions he and Lily had been on, and how with each one he grew closer to Lily. And how now, when he thought they might really be a couple, she seemed to be pulling away.
After he was done, his aunt smiled and patted his hand. “Just like I always tell Spencer, when you know, you know. There will be no question in your heart, especially if it aches when you’re not with her. And with that bit of wisdom, I’m going to head up to bed. These old bones need more rest than they used to, and we have a big day tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow…” She headed toward the stairs. “You boys be sure not to stay up too late, Santa Claus won’t come until you’re sound asleep.” She grinned with amusement.
“Goodnight, Mom,” Spencer called.
“Goodnight, Aunt Alice.”
Zane finished the rest of his delicious hot cocoa. It was Aunt Alice’s secret recipe, but it only reminded him of Lily.
“Z, what did you really expect out of this holiday arrangement?” Spencer asked.
“I had no expectations. It was just that, an arrangement. She needed a date for all of the holiday events.” Which is exactly what he and Harley had been talking about right before things got weird.
“Right. But what did you expect to happen after that was over?”
“I had no expectations,” Zane lied. He had big expectations. Wanting to continue to see her was number one on his list.
“You became friends?”
“Yeah, but…” Zane waved off his cousin’s ideas. “It was situational. We enjoyed each other’s company during all of the events.”
“You want to see her again?” Spencer asked.
Zane shrugged in response to his cousin’s question.
“You do want to see her again. I know you better than you know yourself. I can see it in your eyes now that the events are over and that she’s not responding to your texts.”
“It was never about becoming a couple.” But it was the first time he’d ever felt this way about someone.
“Bro, there aren’t rules to this kind of thing. Sometimes love just happens.”
His cousin’s wise words were not lost on him.
“Well, things seemed pretty final the way we left.” There was something about Lily’s tone that day that made him think no matter how close they grew over the last few weeks this was the end. “She only wanted a partner for the holiday. It was all laid out in the beginning. I was just hoping that had all changed.”
“I already told you, if it was me—and I know it’s not—I’d be finding her and telling her how I feel.”
That was easier said than done. “I don’t even know where she is. She went home to the city for Christmas.” He had no idea where ‘home’ was in NYC for Lily. “Do you know how big New York City is? Even if I did want to find her, how would I?”
“Well, you are in luck then because there’s this girl I know that knows Harley, Lily’s roommate.” Spence typed away on his phone.
“Spence, it’s late and Christmas Eve. Do you really think bothering this poor girl at this hour is such a good idea? It can wait until the twenty-sixth.”
“Nah. You need to seize the moment, Cuz. Carpe Diem and all that crap!” Spencer’s jovial comment was accompanied by a serious look on his face. He wasn’t joking around.
Zane shook his head in frustration. “I don’t know.”
“Ah, I knew she’d come through for me. Sweet, sweet Hannah.” Spencer smirked at his phone. “Hannah is waiting to hear back from Harley, then she’s going to let me know.” Spence typed some more on his phone. “And now we’re going out on New Year’s Eve. Bonus!”
His cousin always ended up with the girl, so Zane wasn’t surprised that while helping him he still managed to get a date out of it. The onl
y thing that surprised him was that his cousin didn’t already have a New Year’s Eve date!
“The only real question now is, what are you going to do with the info once you have it?” Spencer asked as he gulped the rest of his drink and stood up to stretch. “I’m heading to bed, but I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back from Hannah.”
The real question was, what was he going to do with that information once he had it?
Chapter Seventeen
Lily
Christmas Eve was finally here. Lily couldn’t handle her excitement. Next to Christmas Day, this was her favorite holiday. She’d spent the morning helping her mother arrange some gifts under the tree. The afternoon brought the joy of spending time cooking with both of her parents. Her mother held the title of ‘chef’, but Lily and her father made excellent ‘sous chefs’.
After cutting the pineapple up for the ham, she watched her mother strategically place it around the ham. Lily then peeled a massive amount of potatoes. Even though her hands hurt, she still had a smile on her face. Her father sat next to her, prepping the green beans that were going to be placed in a crockpot with bacon and onions. After the main dish and side dishes were prepped and/or cooking, Lily and her mom began starting on the pie crusts. Apple pie wasn’t a normal Christmas dish, but it was her favorite. Her mom would make it every year, just for Lily.
Her father began to create his famous eggnog. Lily has drunk it ever since she was small. He’d joke and say it was his one true contribution to Christmas dinner. Even though they were making everything today, they also had a big dinner tomorrow as well.
“Okay. Let’s get the movie going.” Lily’s mom’s glee seemed to spread across her face.
Lily headed to the living room and turned on the TV. “I have it all ready.”
The screen glowed with the words It’s a Wonderful Life.
This was her parent’s favorite holiday movie.
The three of them cuddled up on the couch, with her father in the middle. As they watched with intent as George Bailey’s life unfolded on the screen, they only had to pause a couple of times to check on the food.
When the movie ended, Lily and her mother wiped away the tears of joy from the happy ending. There were so many outstanding holiday movies that brought back amazing memories, but this movie topped them all for her. She’d seen it hundreds of times, and each one was better than the last.
She proudly set the table with the plates that had snowmen in the center of them, lit candles, and placed the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation replica cups in front of each setting. Her father brought over all the food as she and her mother watched with empty stomachs and utensils in hand.
She enjoyed the food and conversation with her parents as her mind wandered thinking about what Zane was doing right now. Was he enjoying Christmas Eve with his family? Did they sit around and watch holiday movies? What were their family traditions?
As quickly as the thoughts came, she pushed them away because she wouldn’t ruin her favorite time of year because of him. He was just some guy in her past and no concern of hers anymore.
When dinner finished, they cleaned up as a family and moved back into the living room. It was a tradition of theirs to give each other one gift before heading off to bed. Taking her usual spot right next to the tree, her parents sat on the couch.
“Okay, Lily, pass them out,” her mother said.
Only three boxes were under the tree. One for each of them. Lily read each tag, handing them to the correct parent and then picking up hers. She knew, partially, what would be inside. A new pair of pajamas and a book. Her parents did it every year and she loved it. Ripping off the paper and opening the box, a pair of sky blue flannel pajama pants with a penguin on the long sleeve matching T-shirt stared up at her. Reading the book cover, she smiled at the title. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She was one of Lily’s heroes and had wanted to read the book. She watched her father open a box showing off his new watch. Her mother beamed over several sets of fuzzy socks in a variety of colors. No one would ever think this hardcore attorney loved to lounge around in sweats and fuzzy socks while typing up million dollars worth of contracts. But she does.
They spent another hour chatting about everything and nothing before Lily cradled her new book and pajamas in her arms and went up to her bed. Laying in her bed, she thought about starting her book but didn’t feel like it. As much as she fought it, she wondered about Zane again. The thought of him made her remember his present. He probably wouldn’t have liked it anyway. It was a silly snow globe with a Christmas tree in it. She didn’t even know why she brought it with her.
Rolling over to her side, she figured she’d just regift it.
Chapter Eighteen
Zane
Christmas morning, the house was filled with the wonderful aroma of ham and potatoes intertwined with the delicious scent of Christmas cookies just like it always was in his youth. Aunt Alice never disappointed.
These traditions are why he and Spencer spent a few days here. With college and life, they just never get the quality time with family that they need.
After opening their gifts, they filled up on Aunt Alice’s delicious meal. Then they all sat around the living room, the lights of the tree and the fireplace illuminating the room. Aunt Alice did her best to force more cookies and eggnog in them, but Zane couldn’t eat another bite.
The rest of the afternoon would be filled with watching football games and random Christmas specials as well as picking at leftovers and cookies. If Aunt Alice had her way, they’d be eating a second full meal for dinner.
Then, at the end of the day, the boys would do the dishes for Aunt Alice so she could sit down and put her feet up because she deserved it after preparing all the food and desserts.
For now though, they were slipping into a food-induced coma while watching football, one of Zane’s favorite pastimes, but his mind was elsewhere. His mind was on Lily.
He had no intention of getting this close. Zane never imagined this girl would have such an effect on him.
The buzz of Spencer’s cell phone broke the silence and had Zane’s full attention.
“Oh, well look at that.” Spencer looked at his phone, typed a few things, then grinned like a Cheshire cat. “There you go, Z. The ball is in your court now.”
“I don’t even want to know what you boys are up to.” Uncle Ed laughed.
Zane’s cell phone buzzed with the text message that Spencer just forwarded him.
“Just doing my cousinly duty, Dad. And in the process, I got myself a New Year’s Eve date! I’m blessed.”
“Blessed?” Uncle Ed choked on his words with laughter. “Blessed my ass! Spoiled maybe. You better not be up to no good, boy.”
Spencer laughed it off. “It’s all good, Dad. I swear. The one you need to be lecturing is Z. He’s about to let the best thing that’s ever happened to him slip away.”
Zane had about as much of this nonsense as he could stand. Standing up from the couch, he went over to the fireplace. The mantel held their stockings, full of goodies, and was where a host of framed family photos sat. He stared at one, in particular. It was a photo of him and his parents in front of Aunt Alice’s Christmas tree. He was eight years old. He was all smiles in the photo, of course he had no idea that his life would come crashing down around him only a few short months later.
“Dear.” He didn’t hear Aunt Alice approach and her voice, even though it was soft, startled him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He would never admit that he wasn’t, and she knew that. Asking was just a formality. “I was just thinking.”
“I know,” Aunt Alice said, thoughtfully. “I find myself doing a lot of thinking these days too. I miss your parents too, kiddo.”
She pulled Zane into a hug. Neither of them spoke, and they both kept their focus on the photo of his parents.
“It doesn’t ever get easier, does it?” he asked.
“No, hon, it never ge
ts easier, the pain just becomes different. I don’t want to say less because that isn’t the case. You don’t miss them any less, and neither do I. But your life has to go on, that’s what they would want for you.”
It’s been many years since he lost them, and he has been living his life, a very good life, thanks to his aunt and uncle. She knew that, but obviously, she felt he needed some reminding.
Aunt Alice looked him straight in the eye. “So are you going to go get her or what?”
“Who?”
“Your Christmas girl.”
“Oh, Aunt Alice, I don’t know. I’m not sure she wants me to.” What if he went to her and she slammed the door in his face? He still had no idea what he had done to make her upset with him.
“I don’t believe you. Everything you need to know is right here.” She put her hand over his heart. “Follow your heart, dear.”
His aunt knew him better than he knew himself. He had all the information he needed to find Lily from the text message Spencer forwarded him. Maybe he did need to seize the day and follow his heart. Two pieces of very good advice from two people who cared about him very much.
Aunt Alice grinned like she had something up her sleeve. “And if you want, I have something you can give her.”
The train ride to New York City took about four and a half hours, but it felt like it took no time at all. He could’ve used another hour to sit and plot what he was going to say once he came face to face with Lily. Now here he stood at her front door, too nervous to knock, and too stubborn to turn around and leave.
Standing here, in awe of the size of this house, Spencer’s friend Hannah didn’t say anything about Lily living in a large mansion-looking house. For that matter, neither did Lily.
He had to do something and fast. Surely a house this size had security cameras and the longer he just stood there, the more he would look like a creeper.
