One Winter’s Day: A feel-good winter romance

by Laura Briggs

  She tucked it in place, then glanced back at her friends. They hadn’t noticed. With a lopsided smile, she lingered by the tree a moment longer, then turned to go. Tessa’s fingers stretched to touch the front door handle, but it suddenly opened as if by magic. On the other side was Blake. He had a coil of electrical wire looped over one shoulder, his cheeks reddened by the cool wind outside. A cheerful smile was on his lips, and the last of a whistled Christmas carol died away as he entered the building. One glance at those blue eyes, and she felt her own breath sucked away with a rush of feeling as strong as the surprise of him materializing before her.

  Tessa took a step backwards. “Hi,” she managed, when she recovered herself. Was she blushing? She hoped not. There was no good reason in the world to blush, just because she was confused and conflicted about Blake and Mac, and missing her chance for telling him how much she cared.

  “Hi,” he said, looking surprised to see her, too. “I didn’t think I’d catch you before you left—”

  “—I’m on my way out, actually,” she said, trying hard to seem casual. “Just stopped to wish the girls a merry Christmas before I hit the road. Merry Christmas,” she added to Blake, in a breezy, casual voice that she didn’t feel was really hers at all.

  “Hey, I have something for you,” he said, his hand diving into his coat pocket. “Again, I didn’t think I’d see you in time—”

  Tessa’s heart was pounding strangely as he pulled the box from his pocket. It was wrapped in perfectly ordinary red-and-green Christmas paper, a bow tied around it—but it was from Blake, and that made it different. He’d bought her a present? This, after her outburst—after Mac had become the girl in his life, if an arm around Blake at the wedding reception was any proof of togetherness.

  “For you,” he said, holding it out.

  “You didn’t have to.” Her voice was softer, more honest in its betrayal of her feelings, as she accepted it from his hand. “I mean… I’m not implying that you… that I… I only meant…”

  “Open it.” The corner of Blake’s mouth twitched with a smile of amusement at her bungled apology. Tessa knew her face was on fire now. Cheeks scarlet, her fingers dove beneath the ribbon, untucking the corner of the paper with a noisy haste that covered for her embarrassment and bewilderment. The folds parted, revealing a box underneath. Its flap lifted, and there it was: a little Christmas ornament of an old-fashioned brownstone house. A tiny little Christmas wreath decorated its door, glittering silvery-white with artificial snow. There was a tiny fir tree decorated in its window.

  “I saw it and thought of you,” said Blake. “It’s your building. Not exactly, because the windows are different, and there’s a basement entrance—”

  “I love it,” she said. “It’s perfect. It looks so much like it, I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.” She held it by its ribbon, watching the miniature version of the Wedding Belles’ headquarters gently sway over the gift paper from the open box.

  “I thought you’d like it.” Blake’s voice had softened.

  “You didn’t have to get me a present, though,” she said. He didn’t, and not merely because she had waved away that last opportunity to tell him the real reason she had been jealous of Mac.

  “I got ones for the other girls, so it would’ve been rude to forget you,” he said. From his other pocket, he produced two more small packages, shaped differently. Tessa wondered if it was wrong that she felt disappointed by this fact. It was every bit as irrational as feeling jealous of Mac. Why was being rational such a hard choice these days?

  “I—” she started to speak, then remembered the box behind the tree. “I have something for you, too.” Her hand reached for the box under its branches, and she held it out to him. “It’s nothing, really.”

  “You got me a present?” Blake sounded genuinely surprised, although he had just given her one.

  “It’s just a little thank you for all you’ve done for us,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. Thankfully her blush had faded by now. “And not just for the building, I mean.” Blake’s snooty performance as Stefan’s imaginary assistant was particularly vivid in her mind. Maybe it was in his, too, because his smile was still a faintly humorous one as he undid the taped corner of the gift-wrapped tie box. His fingers rustled aside its gift tissue, then lifted out the tie.

  “I like it,” he said. “I think it would look great with the Hugo Boss suit. Or maybe the Armani. What do you think?”

  “Either one.” A smile played at the corner of Tessa’s mouth. “I’ll let you decide.”

  He knotted it deftly and tried it on, although it looked ludicrous with his green flannel shirt. They both managed not to laugh, although the urge was strong. Then Tessa made the mistake of meeting his eyes again, and felt herself slipping into a tender state of mind. Thoughts of snooty Blake in those rectangular-rimmed glasses were being vanquished by a surge of other memories: of Blake presenting the antique altar for their first clients, Molly and Paolo, of him across from her in the coffee shop, talking about love and life’s hesitations. Especially of his hands catching her when she fell off the ladder, holding tight to her.

  Blake’s gaze had changed in this moment, too, and for a second, hope rose in Tessa’s chest, a quick pattering of heartbeats at the memory of the look in his eyes that she had seen—or imagined seeing—in the garden after Molly and Paolo’s ceremony in the summer. Was his smile the same now as it was that day? Or was she telling herself so at this moment just because she wished for it?

  He reached to hug her, but Tessa’s arm was in the way, the one holding the ornament, blocking his embrace by accident. His arms drew back at the moment she automatically moved into a hug position—a laugh escaped Blake, and Tessa bit her lip, holding in her own smile of laugher and embarrassment. Awkward to the last, she thought to herself. A perfect ending, given how clumsily their connection began. It wasn’t the one she wanted, however, no matter what she had suggested to Blake as recently as a few days ago, when he left the door open for her to confess her real emotions.

  When he took a step toward her in the midst of these thoughts, Tessa thought she was dreaming. He lifted his hand and touched her cheek lightly. It was all she could do not to touch him back. Her fingers held the ornament tightly, as if freezing her hand in one position beneath the shock this tender touch brought her.

  If her fingers moved to his own, with a touch that suggested everything she’d grown to feel for him, for instance… but before they could, an awkward expression entered Blake’s eyes. Tessa’s gaze broke from his own guiltily, as if aware she’d betrayed too much. Whatever crossed Blake’s face was hidden from her as he glanced downwards, recovering himself as well.

  He glanced at her with a smile again afterwards, one that Tessa returned. He had no idea what was really in her mind, she told herself. He probably thought she was sensing the awkwardness of his change in status with Mac or something like that—entering the ‘be careful how you act around other women’ stage of a relationship, for instance—and not that she was upset at herself for her own lack of decisiveness and self-control when it came to him.

  He cleared his throat. “I guess I’ll see you after the holidays,” he said.

  “Sure. After the New Year starts and we’re back to our normal routines around here,” said Tessa, although nothing would be the same next year. After all, things had changed for Wedding Belles, now that it was finding its legs as a business. And, of course, there was the thing about Blake being in a relationship. Not that it was supposed to have any consequence for life around here.

  “Merry Christmas,” said Tessa softly.

  “Merry Christmas, Tess.”

  They lingered not even a breath’s length after these words, their eyes meeting one more time in that instant, which felt like an hour to Tessa. Her mind had stopped the clock there. Then Blake offered her one last smile and stepped through the foyer to the reception area. He glanced back, and Tessa did the same—then Natalie and Ama spotted h
im, and it was over. She put her hand on the doorknob and opened it.

  I wish I knew which one hurt more. That I let myself fall in love, or that I let my chance with him go by. If I could turn back time… if I could do just one thing over…

  She sighed and stepped outside to the brisk cold and snowdrifts of a winter day in the city. In the bright sunlight, Tessa turned right and walked in the direction of her borrowed car. The windows of their neighbor were decorated with tinsel trees in assorted bright holiday colors, little lights twinkling among the branches of blue, red, and green. A toy steam train looped through a winter wonderland made from white cotton wadding and glitter, bearing tiny little gifts wrapped in metallic paper.

  She glanced at it as she passed, and almost bumped into a fellow pedestrian approaching from the opposite direction. Turning quickly, Tessa was confronted by a woman in a well-tailored grey suit, a vintage-print holiday scarf adorning the collar of her camel coat. It was Mac, looking beautiful and model-esque as always.

  “Sorry,” Tessa apologized. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, I guess.”

  “Same here,” said Mac. “Going home for the day?”

  “Leaving town for the holidays,” said Tessa, holding up her car keys. “Are you in the neighborhood to meet with a client?” As if she didn’t know why Mac was here.

  “I was just walking to your place, actually,” said Mac. “I took the day off, too, in fact—a little celebration time for me.”

  “Landed a big client, huh?” said Tessa, who was thinking of the glitzy Christmas display Mac had designed for the historic home. “They were probably impressed by your display at the Canton house, weren’t they?”

  Mac laughed. “I’m celebrating something other than work,” she answered. “I had an early Christmas present this week.” As she spoke, she drew her hand from her pocket—her left one—and held it up so the ring finger was facing Tessa, showcasing a sparkling princess-cut diamond.

  The breath in Tessa’s lungs dissolved. Her heart sank low as she gazed at the sparkling ring.

  “Congratulations,” she managed to say. “A proposal at Christmas. Who wouldn’t love that?”

  “Thank you,” said Mac, blushing. “It’s kind of sudden, but I’m getting used to it. Besides, how could I say no to the most perfect guy in the world?”

  “How?” echoed Tessa, removing herself from here as far as possible emotionally—which was to say, a million miles, in order to be safe and certain in her replies and show no unsuitable feelings.

  “I’m thinking a June wedding, so there’s months of decisions to make. I’ll need an event planner, too,” said Mac. “Do you have a card? I’d love to use your business—Blake brags to no end about what a great job you always do.”

  Automatically, Tessa’s fingers moved slowly into the pocket in the side of her purse, withdrawing one of the many business cards she kept there. “Here you are,” she said. She managed to release it when Mac took it, though a part of her wanted to take it back and tear it up hastily… to say she was booked through next autumn, no openings for clients at all.

  “I’ll give you a call when we set the date officially,” said Mac. “See you after the holidays. Merry Christmas.” She continued on in the direction of Tessa’s headquarters, a smile of anticipation on her lips already.

  “See you,” answered Tessa. She forgot to add her wishes for a merry Christmas, though it was the polite thing to do. She kept on walking, knowing Mac was probably on her way to the front door of Wedding Belles now, and would be inside in a few seconds, asking which room Blake was working in today. Would Natalie and Ama see the ring? Would they see Blake and Mac steal a kiss beneath the mistletoe, or would the couple keep their post-proposal reunion a private one?

  She didn’t want to know. She was fighting the tears as she walked to her car, keeping her head high and her heart as far away from the truth as possible. I shouldn’t cry. I shouldn’t cry because Blake and Mac have a magical connection, the one that he and I missed. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be for us. He was destined not to call, I was destined not to admit that day how much I cared about him.

  Carry on thinking this way and she could keep the horrible disappointment at bay for hours. Nobody would know how devastating it felt to see that diamond sparkling on Mac’s hand, and know that ‘the most perfect guy in the world’ had sealed the deal with her. This explained everything about Blake’s confusion the day of their near kiss, and this reason was even worse than what Tessa had formerly assumed.

  This was the furthest thing from a merry Christmas that Tessa could possibly imagine.

  In the Wedding Belles’ headquarters, Tessa’s business partners were ignoring their last-minute work in an exchange of holiday well wishes with Blake. Natalie twirled the gift between her fingers—a novelty pen with a tiny fashion diva in impossibly stacked heels and a mini dress—while Ama admired the spoon rest that the contractor had carved himself from a piece of oak.

  “Nice tie,” Natalie informed him, giving the fabric a tug. “I didn’t know you had such great taste in fashion. Although I’m not sure it really complements that shirt,” she added with a wicked smile.

  “Very funny,” he replied. “I should’ve expected you to be the Grinch this holiday season. Just for that, maybe I should take back these presents I brought you.”

  “Don’t take mine back,” Ama protested. “I mean, I’m not the one who insulted your wardrobe, after all.” She dodged a playful smack from Natalie’s hand.

  After a few more ‘merry Christmases,’ Blake made a quick check of his workspace and his tools, then offered them a quick goodbye and was out the door again. Only to be waylaid on the sidewalk in front of their display window by a gorgeous woman in a camel coat, as Ama and Natalie untangled yet another string of pearl white lights.

  “Isn’t that Mac?” Ama said. “The decorator from Blake’s last job?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” said Natalie. “Same glamorous taste in clothing at any rate. That coat is no knock-off design, believe me.”

  “Trust you to notice,” teased Ama. “Look, it is her,” she added, as the woman turned so that her profile was visible. “And—is that a diamond on her hand?”

  The hand in question lay in Blake’s now, showing off its dazzling stone in the winter light. Mac’s eyes were glowing as she gazed up at him, and brought her other hand to rest on Blake’s shoulder. He was smiling down at her, saying something that made her laugh.

  Natalie and Ama stared. Ama’s jaw dropped slightly. “Is this real?” she said. “Did Blake—?”

  “No,” said Natalie. “No, no, no. This is not happening. This is… this is totally ruining things…”

  “Ruining what?” asked Ama, who was now confused in addition to being shocked. She looked at the scene outside again, where Mac was now tucking her hands in her pockets, hugging her coat around herself for warmth.

  “Wow. That was one impressive engagement ring on her hand,” said Ama. A look of realization now dawned on her face at the meaning in Natalie’s mind—Tessa’s romantic confession. “Oh no,” she said. “Did Blake really—?”

  “Of course not. Blake would have said something if he just got engaged, right?” Natalie’s tone was firm. “He’s not a guy who keeps secrets. Not from his friends.”

  “Of course not,” said Ama, still in shock. “But… are we really Blake’s friends?” She left this question hanging as they watched Blake and Mac walk away together, the contractor never glancing back to notice he was being watched.

  “Sure we are,” said Natalie. But so softly she almost didn’t hear herself say it aloud. Ama glanced at her.

  “Why did you say this ruins everything?” Ama asked.

  A pause. “No reason,” answered Natalie.

  Untangling lights had ceased to be fun. Even the distant strains of an instrumental carol medley being played at the newly opened holiday shop a few doors down didn’t lift the sudden gloom cast over the Wedding Belles’ foyer, its Christmas c
heer vanishing like the winter sun behind a cloud.

  Natalie stuffed the rest of the lights back in their box. “Let’s call it done. That’s good enough for my taste,” she said, plugging in the lone strand that encircled the corner tree. “I better go soon. I promised my mother I would help cook. My brother is too lazy when it’s his turn to help for the holidays. Let’s just say that my phone would be ringing with pleas for assistance if I didn’t show up on my own.”

  “I’ll hold the fort here for a little while,” said Ama. She rose slowly from her kneeling position, brushing the snow glitter from her skirt. “I thought about starting next month’s window display a little early by finishing dressing that mannequin in your office… maybe finding some Valentine’s Day cake toppers, and make a red-and-white bunting…”

  “I thought it was your market day,” said Natalie, as she wrapped her scarf around her neck. “Don’t you usually buy spices and chocolate and stuff on Saturdays?”

  “I’m not exactly planning to shop today,” said Ama. “I have a little time to kill. I don’t need any help, though, so you can go.” Her smile was the same as Natalie’s now, filled with regret for what Tessa would be thinking when she found out about this.

  Neither of them asked if the other was going to tell Tessa. Neither of them would have the heart to do it, not during Christmas.

  “Thanks,” said Natalie. “Merry Christmas.” She shrugged on her coat and grabbed her shopping bags again.

  “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” said Ama, as she opened the box containing the white dress from Natalie’s garment stash, and fluffed its skirts.

  While Tessa was driving her way southwards in a borrowed car, fighting back tears as Perry Como’s ‘Home for the Holidays’ played on the radio, Natalie was testing apple turnovers in her mother’s kitchen as two of her cousin’s kids raced around with paper reindeer antlers on their heads.