by Holly Rayner
“You really don’t want me to peel these?” he said, skeptical.
Annabelle shook her head as she mixed cream of mushroom soup with green beans and placed some fried onions on top.
“Potato skins are where you get the most fiber. They’re basically the most important part of the vegetable—otherwise you’re just eating starch.”
“Good to know,” he said, taking on task after task as they worked in tandem to get everything cooking at the right time.
When everything was either cooking or out of the oven, Chase took the opportunity to open a bottle of red wine, and poured two glasses before handing one to Annabelle.
Taking a sip, he observed, “After the spiced wine this tastes oddly plain, doesn’t it?”
Annabelle took a sip and nodded. “Still good, though,” she said, taking another sip.
“Thank you. It was from a very good year—one of the best bottles in my collection.”
“And you chose to waste it on a plebian like myself?”
“Only the best for my enemy,” he said with a smirk.
Annabelle grinned as she pulled out the cookie dough and setting up a cut out station on his kitchen table.
“Sit,” she said, gesturing toward an empty seat.
“You know, you’re very pushy for such a small person.”
“And you’re very lazy for so someone so successful.”
“Lazy! I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone accuse me of that before.”
“That’s because you’re probably surrounded by yes men who won’t tell you the truth. You won’t be getting any of that from me.”
“So I’ve learned,” he said, taking the seat next to her as she patted a rolling pin with flour and began flattening the dough on the table.
“Now, this is the part where you pick your favorite shapes and cut them out. The oven’s already hot, we just need to do a couple of batches. Before we begin, do you actually eat cookies?”
“I’ve been told that sugar is a poison that we are societally addicted to, and that it has no positive benefits whatsoever.”
“Nice,” Annabelle said, her tone dry. “How’d you feel about that cookie dough earlier?”
“Oh yeah, forgot about that,” Chase replied, tearing a piece of dough from the flattened whole and popping it into his mouth. “Mmm,” he said.
Annabelle nodded. “That’s right. Everything in moderation, Chase. That’s the key to a successful life.”
“Is it now?”
Annabelle cut piece after piece of cookie, not realizing he was watching her again. When she glanced up, Chase looked down quickly, working on his own batch.
They managed to bake them in record time, and the cookies sat cooling on a rack as Annabelle pulled a medium-sized ham from the oven and began placing casserole dishes on the table.
“Voila!” she said, gesturing to the food when everything had been positioned. “I give you, Christmas dinner!”
“What is all this?” Chase said, his expression dubious.
Annabelle pointed to each plate as she named them off. “Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables seasoned with a secret blend of spices, fresh baked rolls with plenty of butter on the side, and of course, our succulent ham, the main event.”
“This sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen,” Chase observed.
“It’s called holiday cheer, and it’s fine to do every once in a while. Now, let’s dig in, and when we’re done, we can decorate our cookies.”
Annabelle had Chase put on some Christmas music before they sat down and filled their plates with food. Chase put a small portion of everything on his plate and tasted it all before scooping out much larger portions and filling it completely.
“This is delicious! I totally understand fat people now!”
“Chase!” Annabelle scolded.
There was still an arrogance to him that she wasn’t so sure she liked, no matter how wonderful their day together had been.
“Oh I’m just kidding. Lighten up, Belle.”
“I’ve been protesting nearly my entire adult life, Chase. I don’t have room to lighten up. I’ve seen too many people suffer.”
Chase chewed for a moment before asking his next question. “Are you really going to keep blaming me for your town’s downturn? I mean, I’ve been to Bluewater. It’s still as lovely as ever. It’s not as if my rig really ruined everyone’s lives. There are so many factors at play.”
Annabelle stared. Was he really pushing away any blame for what had happened to her family and friends?
“So many factors, huh? Like anything else could keep people from wanting to see our coastal views, funding the little shops on the main street—shops like my parents’ as they now struggle to get by? You promised me to take the rig down. What was today, then? A way for you to earn my trust so you could try and convince me that you should keep it up anyway?”
Annabelle began seeing red as possibilities flowed through her mind of Chase using her for his own gain. He had done it to enough people, after all. How could she think she was any different?
“I have to go,” she said, rising and pulling her coat off the chair.
Chase stood, looking alarmed. “Annabelle please,” he said, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on her wrist.
Her coat was already on one arm, and she froze, looking up at him with hurt in her eyes.
“We just had the most amazing day together. Please, let’s not end it like this.”
Annabelle stared into his green eyes, and in that moment she knew she should have known better than to spend a day with Chase Frost.
“Merry Christmas, Chase,” she said.
In a moment of spontaneity, and perhaps filled with a desire to end on a more positive note, she stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. Instead, her lips pressed gently against his, and her whole body erupted in butterflies.
Unable to meet his gaze, Annabelle turned as she shrugged into the rest of her jacket and grabbed her purse before heading out the door.
She didn’t look back.
SEVENTEEN
Annabelle sighed heavily as she paid the taxi driver the handsome fee it took to get back home without asking for Chase’s help. She was in no position to pay out that kind of money on wasted attempts in seeing the good in someone who clearly only cared about profit.
Deep down, though, Annabelle knew that wasn’t the whole truth. She was angry and hurt, and the truth was she was fighting feelings she didn’t want to name. Chase Frost was right up there with the devil in her house, and to find good in him…well. It was probably for the best that she got out when she did.
She had been lucky to find a cab at all on Christmas Eve, and when she walked in the door, her sister was the first to greet her with a big smile.
“Well, well. Look who’s come home with an entirely new wardrobe. That date of yours must have been quite the adventure! What did you guys do all day? And where is your dress?”
Annabelle winced as she realized that not only had she left her dress and shoes and Chase’s apartment, she had also left the beautiful red scarf he had bought her. Almost instantly, she scolded herself for being so irrational. It wasn’t even really hers to begin with.
“It was…something. I doubt I’ll ever see the guy again, though. The date was uneventful and I stayed at my friend Julia’s house. She gave me these clothes to borrow, but I forgot my dress and shoes there. I’ll have to grab them next time I’m in town.”
She watched her sister’s expression carefully. Kate seemed to buy the story well enough, and went back to the kitchen to help their mother with some final meal prep before the big day.
Later on, Annabelle, Kate and their parents dressed in their comfiest pajamas and met in the living room, where they snuggled under blankets on the couch and watched Christmas movies until no one could keep their eyes open any longer.
Turning the TV off, the family shuffled to their respective rooms and waited for Saint Nick to come befor
e the next day. As Annabelle settled into her bed, her last thought before drifting off was of the softness of Chase’s lips, and how she really needed to forget about that.
Christmas morning was a quieter affair than it had been in past years. The girls were far too old to wake up and jump on their parents’ bed, and instead everyone got up one at a time, meeting in the kitchen and drinking cups of coffee with a dash of Irish cream. When everyone had assembled, they headed to the living room and opened presents together as a family.
While part of her missed the unhinged excitement of Christmas morning when she was young, Annabelle truly enjoyed the relaxed adult Christmas she shared with her family.
As Annabelle watched her sister open up a handmade scarf she had knitted, Annabelle’s gaze drifted off as she thought about Chase, and what he must be up to at that moment. She had filled his world with Christmas spirit, then left him to wake up alone in a decorated apartment with no one to celebrate it with.
Had she been wrong to do so?
“Annabelle, your sister is thanking you for your gift. Where is your head at?” her mother asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
Annabelle blinked, forcing a laugh. “I’m just tired is all. You’re welcome, Kate. I hope you like it.”
“I love it!” Kate exclaimed, wrapping the scarf around her neck and posing for her family to admire.
When all the presents were opened and the floor covered in colorful wrapping paper, Annabelle’s father clapped his hands together.
“You all know the drill now. Let’s get dressed for Aunt Rose’s brunch. We’ll stay there for a few hours and get all the family gossip, then we can come back home and enjoy the delicious meal you girls have worked so hard to prepare.”
Everyone agreed with this plan, which generally followed what they did every year at Christmas, and Annabelle headed to her room to get ready. She tried not to dread brunch with her family, as the one question she expected was whether or not she’d found another job yet, followed by well-meaning, but terribly annoying advice.
And one must never forget the dreaded, “Are you seeing someone yet?”
She pulled her purse off her dresser and began to empty out the contents. Her hand wrapped around the wooden Christmas tree ornament, and she paused. Taking a breath, she gripped the little handle and pulled it from her bag, staring at Chase’s inscription.
For all you taught me today.
Had she really taught him anything? While the day had certainly been wonderful, he had made it clear that his first priority in life was to mine for oil, regardless of the consequences. Still, as much as she wanted to keep hating him, Annabelle found it impossible, and instead, it just left her feeling sad.
She joined her family at the front door before they piled into their station wagon and headed to Aunt Rose’s house.
When the door opened, they were met with a room full of cheers, hugs and kisses from all of the family members they hadn’t seen in a while. Annabelle did her duty, chatting with everyone and painfully answering the questions of her employment and relationship status.
She finally managed to escape to the back porch, and she wrapped her arms around her shoulders as she stared out at the lush green yard her aunt meticulously pruned.
“Are you all right, darling?”
Annabelle turned to see her aunt’s concerned stare. She forced a smile and nodded. “I’m fine, Aunt Rose. Just taking a breather.”
Rose nodded, moving over to stand by Annabelle’s side. “I understand. Family is wonderful, but can be overwhelming at times. Don’t worry about their questions, dear. You’ll find a job soon enough, and the bastard that ruined all our lives will be driven out of here somehow.”
It took everything Annabelle had not to wince at those words. Until about twenty-four hours before, she would have vehemently agreed.
She swallowed and nodded, and her aunt seemed to accept her silence as tacit approval. She patted her shoulder and turned back toward the house.
“Take all the time you need, Belle. We’ll be here when you’re ready to come back.”
“Thanks, Aunt Rose,” she said, and she meant it.
While her aunt was totally off base about the source of Annabelle’s melancholy, the promise of familial love was one she heartily appreciated. It was the very reason she’d fought as hard as she could to save them from the economic strife of the town.
And hadn’t she succeeded, beyond her wildest dreams?
Somehow, that victory rang terribly hollow. She stared out into the cold gray December morning and tried unsuccessfully not to think about Chase. Finally, she realized that staring off into space wasn’t going to clear her thoughts any better, and she went back inside and rejoined the festivities.
The party wound down as the afternoon progressed, and the Williams clan bid everyone goodbye before heading back home and resting for a bit. As the sun began to set, the women of the house gathered once again in the kitchen, and set to work preparing their own holiday meal.
It was much the same as Annabelle had prepared the night before for Chase, only they had already frosted their cookies and had no need to work on them beyond eating them for dessert. Annabelle poked at her food, wondering if Chase was eating the leftovers, or if he had simply thrown them out as so much fatty waste.
She hoped not.
Annabelle’s father poured four flutes of cheap but delicious champagne and the family toasted to another wonderful Christmas, their glasses clinking together in perfect harmony. They enjoyed some cookies and milk, got back into their comfy pajamas for one more movie fest, and went to bed a bit earlier than the night before.
Before Annabelle had a chance to realize it, Christmas was already over.
EIGHTEEN
Annabelle stared out at the gray mist, but this time her view was a beacon of hope.
The oil rig was being dismantled, piece by piece. Annabelle almost broke down in tears at the sight of it. Chase had been true to his word, and not only that, the deconstruction had started only days after Christmas. As she watched, she heard footsteps behind her.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it? I wonder what changed his mind. Last I heard there is still a huge amount of oil under there.”
Will stood by Annabelle’s side, staring out at the bay. He held out a paper cup filled with steaming hot coffee, and she took it from him with a smile.
“Thanks,” she said, her breath puffing out like smoke in the air.
They watched the horizon for some time, not saying a word as Chase’s promise was fulfilled.
“Did you have anything to do with this, Belle?” Will asked.
She glanced sideways at him. “Do you really think I have that kind of power?”
His gaze was serious as he watched her profile. “I think you’re capable of anything. I’ve seen you spend all night writing a twenty-page paper due the next day and still get an A.”
Annabelle chuckled. She really had known Will all her life, hadn’t she? Still, as much as she trusted him, this was one secret she planned on keeping to herself. She didn’t want the attention—just the results.
“Any word on whether tourism will go up after this?”
Will shrugged. “We can hope. The town has enough going for it, it’s only a matter of time before we get back to our former glory.”
Annabelle nodded in agreement. If progress didn’t happen fast enough, she would make it happen, then get her old job back and go back to being an independent, adult woman, and not living in her childhood bedroom.
Annabelle and Will stood in comfortable silence, watching their town’s salvation as the rig continued to fall into the sea, scrap metal being collected as it went.
After a long time, Will cleared his throat. “So I know that we’re just friends,” he began, and Annabelle glanced up at him in surprise. His eyes were full of hope. “But as it is New Year’s Eve, and I don’t have a date to the Soldier’s Bed and Breakfast party tonight, I was wondering if you’d care to join
me.”
Annabelle stared into his eyes, so different from the pair that had been haunting her for the past week. Chase Frost was an enigma—an alluring unknown. Since their time together, he had remained completely silent, not even returning her belongings. It was clear he wanted nothing to do with her after their parting words.
Will was here, in front of her, asking her to give him a chance, and she had refused time and again, for what? It was time to accept the life she was born to live.
“I’d be happy to,” she said, and Will’s smile practically chased all the clouds from the sky.
