Christmas or Bust

by A. M Burke

“I’m sorry to cut you short after throwing all this at you but I need to go get ready.”

  “Sure, of course, go,” Claire said quickly. “Oh, is it a fancy party? If it is you should wear that blue dress, the one with the gold belt. Then you can wear those gold bangles you love but never get to wear. Oh and those gorgeous hoops you can’t wear at work.”

  Nora laughed at her friend. “Alright, alright, I’ll take it all under advisement,” Nora promised.

  Nora already had the outfit her friend described planned out. Nora had bought the too expensive dress at a sale the year before for fundraiser she’d had to miss after getting called in for an emergency surgery. It had been worth it because Nora had been able to perform her first transplant but she hadn’t had an occasion to wear the dress until now. She hadn’t been planning on bringing the dress but was now glad her roommate had snuck it into her bag, even if the shoes she was wearing with them were ridiculously tall and dangerous by her standards. Though she loved the line of her legs when she was wearing heels Nora was certainly more of a flats and sneakers kind of girl. The blue dress was cut at the knee, fitted through the waist with a square neckline and thick straps. It wasn’t obscene but flattering, a hard combination to come by in Nora’s opinion.

  “So the party is sort of a neighborhood tradition,” Nora warned fumbling with the strap of the heel. “The Jacobsons host it every year and for some reason it’s been evolving over the years from a cheese tray and football on the big screen kind of party to a formal event with champagne and a dress code. When I was a kid I remember watching Rudolph and drinking hot cocoa in my pajamas, a few years ago I was looked down at all night because I dared show up in khaki pants.”

  “Sounds intense,” Elliot said watching her struggle with her ridiculous shoes.

  “You have no idea,” Nora said blowing at a piece of hair that had fallen across her face as she bent over. The top of Elliot’s head was suddenly in her line of vision and she jerked back as he knelt in front of her and wrapped her ankle in his large hand.

  “Let me help,” he offered and tightened his fingers around the ankle when he felt her start to pull back.

  “Elliot,” she started to say but he shushed her.

  “I’ve got surprisingly nimble fingers,” he told her resting her foot on his bent knee and set about getting the strap buckled down. Nora kept her opinions on his fingers’ ability to herself and just hoped her parents didn’t choose that moment to come up the stairs. She and Elliot were sitting in the loft’s small longue area that Nora had frequented a in her youth. She was confident she would hear them coming into the sitting room, giving her enough time to kick Elliot away if need be. Nora watched in fascination as his fingers deftly buckled the tiny strap and he pulled his hands away. “Tada,” he said smiling up at her. Nora couldn’t help but smile back at him. He looked so nice in his grey collar shirt and dark blue tie. It was almost the same shade as her dress, maybe a bit darker but it suited him.

  “You clean up nice,” she told him and then her eyes widened in surprise as Elliot’s hand slid up the back of her calf.

  “So do you,” he repaid the complement. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen you in anything but jeans and scrubs. Well that’s not entirely true I suppose.” His grin had a lecherous tint to it and Nora felt her face heat up with the reminder that he’d seen her naked, repeatedly.

  “You need to knock that off,” Nora said trying to be stern but failing miserably. Elliot’s smile told her she wasn’t fooling anybody.

  “Pretty girl,” he commented leaning forward and kissing her slowly. Nora liked it when he kissed like this, lazy but thorough and heavily arousing. Too bad they were in her parents’ home and due for a Christmas party she suspected neither of them really wanted to attend.

  “Handsome man,” Nora told him and then heard her mother and father in the kitchen and hung her head, leaning into Elliot’s hand cupping her cheek. “Are you going to laugh at me if I say I wished we were still on the road?”

  “No,” Elliot said the word so quickly and with such confidence that Nora looked up at him in surprise but he was already standing, his eyes averted from her.

  “Nora? Elliot? Are you two ready?” Nora’s mother called from the bottom of the stairs. Nora cut her eyes back to Elliot who was buttoning the cuffs of his sleeves and looking anywhere but her.

  “Be down in a minute Mom.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Nora had forgotten how much she hated the Jacobsons. Not so much them but their pretentious attitudes and their little toy poodles that had more rights in the house than the human guests. The little dogs had aged and apparently multiplied since Nora’s last visit. There had been two when she’d last appeared during the dreaded khaki incident and now there were four, two old and even crankier than before and two young and even more misbehaved than the older pair.

  The house was even more cluttered then Nora remembered from a few years back. Though she’d been home for Christmas just three years earlier it had been only for a short time and the party had already been held earlier in the month. It had been a silent relief for Nora and she’d thought she’d dodged the bullet this year as well but apparently she could only count herself lucky so many times. At least this year she could hide behind Elliot for a while, he was certain to be a good deterrent since he’d been looking surly since their little exchange upstairs and then she could beg off that she was tired and duck out early.

  “We only have to stay for a little while,” Nora had whispered to Elliot from the corner of her mouth as they’d crossed the street. “We can leave whenever you want.” Elliot had only replied with a noise somewhat equivalent to a grunt and had then shocked her by allowing himself to be steered away by her father as soon as they’d cleared the threshold leaving Nora to the mercy of the Jacobsons.

  “It’s so nice to see you again Nora,” Francine Jacobson said embracing her without permission. “We’d begun to worry that we’d never see you again.”

  “Good to see you too Mrs. Jacobson,” Nora said with a forced smile that she hoped looked sincere. The woman was swimming in perfume and making Nora’s head spin.

  “Oh please, by now you can call me Francine,” she insisted with a laugh. “And I guess I should call you doctor shouldn’t I?” Francine laughed loudly at her joke and Nora’s mother joined in though Nora couldn’t see what was so funny. “Come on, come on,” Francine said switching gears and ushered mother and daughter further into the home. “You need to have some food and drink and oh be sure to look at the desserts, they are to die for. And if anyone were to actually keel over I suppose we wouldn’t have to worry since Dr. Ellis is in attendance.” Again Francine laughed and again Nora couldn’t see what the joke was.

  “Nora’s just completed fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology,” Nora’s mother added in and Nora glanced at her mother in surprise who gave her a conspiratorial wink. Nora smiled back and accepted the glass of wine pressed into her hand.

  “Oh, that sounds hard,” Francine said not sounding sincere in the least. Nora glanced across the room and saw Elliot in a crowd of her father’s friends but he was watching her. Nora smiled at him and he barely returned the favor.

  “It’s not so bad,” Nora said turning her attention back to her mother and Francine.

  “So is that it then? Is that what you’ll do? Be a gastroenterologist? Is that the right word?” Francine asked sounding out the word carefully.

  “I’ve been offered a fellowship with a very well-known neonatal physician,” Nora answered. “There’s a good chance I’ll be starting that in the spring.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Sarah said sounding surprised.

  “It just came up before I left,” Nora said truthfully, “and I haven’t decided if I’ll accept. I think I’m ready for some actual practice, a little less learning.”

  “You’ve been at it for so long,” Francine agreed, “I don’t know how you stand it. Alex just started his Master’s this year.”
She smiled gamely at Nora who grinned back and then quickly scanned the room for the aforementioned Alex. “I don’t know how he does,” Francine went on. “Georgia is the same way. She’ll be finished with college this year and won’t even take a year off the plan the wedding, just wants to get going with graduate school.” Francine turned to Nora’s mother and shook her head while still smiling. “Maybe there’s something in the water, all of our children seem hooked on school.”

  “I didn’t realize Georgia was engaged,” Nora interrupted. “I’ll have to make sure I congratulate her.”

  “Oh Georgia couldn’t make it tonight,” Francine said looking miffed. “She and Arthur, that’s her fiancé, had a prior engagement.” The way Francine said ‘prior engagement’, like it was something trivial made Nora think it was a sore subject so she didn’t press. “But I’ll be sure to pass on your congratulations. Now what about you?” Francine asked glancing none too subtly at Nora’s left hand. “That gentleman you walked in with getting ready to propose?”

  “Elliot is just a friend of Nora’s,” Sarah explained and Nora thought she could hear a trace of disappointment in her mother’s voice. Perhaps her mother wished she’d introduced Elliot as her boyfriend? “They drove together from New York.”

  “My, my,” Francine murmured, “that’s quite a trip to make for ‘just friends’.”

  “It was more of a matter of convenience,” Nora said taking another sip of her wine. “He’s a good friend of my roommate Claire; he was making the trip and offered to give me a ride.”

  “It’s such a nice trip to go across the States,” Sarah commented. “I think it’s something everyone should do at least once. Eric and I did it after Nora started in New York. It was a lovely trip. Good time of year, no bad weather. Nora and Elliot ran into some on the second day.”

  “Oh no,” Francine said looking only mildly interested. “That’s no good.”

  “No, no it wasn’t,” Sarah agreed and launched into a retelling of the tale like she’d been involved firsthand. Nora let her speak and took the opportunity to slip away and edge around the room. She had a mission. She was going to find Alex and get the meeting over with. If she did that then maybe she could enjoy the party for a little while before sneaking out early. The room was crowded with familiar faces but Nora was able to move around easily. She was either easily looked over or easily forgotten or maybe a combination thereof. Either way Nora didn’t really mind. Most of the guests were her parents’ age with a few young children smattered in looking bored in their holiday finest but Nora noticed a lack of people in her own age group. She wondered if they just hadn’t been invited or if there was an organized boycott of the party she hasn’t been clued in on. Not that she would have been clued in on it even if she was still living in the area. After transferring fulltime to Weatherwood it had been hard for Nora to maintain the friendships she’d formed in elementary school, even the ones living on her block. She’d withdrawn into her studies, only emerging for a few birthday parties or Friday night engagements that were obviously the results of invitations force by parents. The only one who’d ever seemed genuinely interested in keeping her around was Alex Jacobson.

  Speaking of Alex, Nora was pretty sure she’d spotted her former flame coming from the direction of the basement stairs that led to the furnished den that had been a popular hangout when they were younger. He looked as good as ever. While Elliot was tall with broad shoulders and visibly toned throughout his body Alex was equally tall but lean throughout but Nora knew that he was deceptively strong. Nora knew he’d continued with all three of his high school sports in college and if his facebook was to be believed he’d also taken up training for marathon running. He was in school getting his Masters in forensic anthropology and was apparently in high demand in the field. They’d broken up when Nora had moved east but Alex hadn’t been eager to end the relationship and had tried to pursue it long distance. Finally the message seemed to get through and they remained friends and Nora was happy they were able to maintain the friendship since Alex was one of the few, possibly the only, Nora could count as a childhood friend.

  Alex saw her across the room, his smile broadening and Nora returned the smile, genuinely happy to see him. She waited as Alex made her way to her from across the room and was surprised when he immediately embraced her in an all-encompassing hug.

  “I’m so happy to see you,” he whispered before releasing her and stepping back. “I didn’t think you were coming home this year, I’m really happy.”

  “It’s good to see you too Alex,” Nora said sincerely. “You look good. Still thinking about a marathon?”

  “Right after New Year’s,” he answered. “What about you?” He stepped back and gave her an exaggerated look over. “Does the doctor find time to work out?”

  Nora rolled her eyes wondering why everyone made such a big deal about her being a doctor, like it was something unusual or strange in her having a medical degree. “I work out when I run between floors and between operating rooms,” Nora exaggerated.

  “Well you look good for an abbreviated workout routine,” he smiled and then surprised her a second time but embracing her again. “Damn it’s good to see you,” he repeated and then stepped back. “My mother couldn’t get a straight answer from your mother if you’d be here or not. She kept asking me to call you and find out. I don’t think she gets that we don’t talk everyday anymore.”

  Nora knew he mentioned that to make her feel guilty but she shrugged it off. “We’re both busy,” Nora said making excuses. “Your mother said you were starting your masters?”

  “Yeah, not all that exciting,” he shrugged and then grinned at her. “Nothing like being a surgeon.”

  “Yup, being a surgeon totally outdoes a Master’s in forensic anthropology,” Nora agreed sarcastically. “Been hiding in the basement again?” Nora asked changing the subject.

  “Just like high school,” he told her with a wink. “A bunch of us are done there, you should come down, unless you have to make appearances up here.” Nora glanced around the room looking for Elliot. She wanted to check in on him, make sure he hadn’t been high-jacked by anyone too outrageous. Nora was about to explain this to Alex when she noticed his eyes sift to something over her shoulder. Alex’s green eyes narrowed slightly just as she felt a presence behind her and knew of only one person at this party who could make her nerves come all to attention by merely standing next to her.

  “I was just about to look for you,” Nora said looking up at Elliot.

  “Is that so?” Elliot asked pushing his hands into his pant pockets and not looking at her, his gaze was locked on Alex. Elliot fought the urge to sling his arm around her shoulders and give her a quick kiss.

  “It is,” Nora said ignoring his rude glare. “Alex this is my friend Elliot Grimmald,” Nora said making introduction. “Elliot this is my childhood friend Alex Jacobson. This is his parents’ party. Elliot was kind enough to give me a ride home for Christmas.”

  “That’s quite a ride home,” Alex muttered and then stuck out his right hand to Elliot. “Nice to meet you Elliot, thanks for getting Nora home this year.”

  Elliot took the offered hand and smirked as he shook it. “Oh the pleasure was all mine, I enjoyed getting to know Nora better,” Elliot told him and Nora felt her face heat up. She wanted to haul off and slug him but resisted the urge.

  “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing her for a long time,” Alex replied not shaken, “she’s a great girl.” Nora’s face heated up again and wondered what the hell was wrong with the two of them. But then again maybe she was reading too much into it. Then she noticed the two of them were still shaking hands, and that their grips were strained and Nora rolled her eyes.

  Boys.

  “Alex was just telling me there were some people our age hanging out downstairs that I’d like to see. Would you like to join us?” Nora asked Elliot and the two finally dropped each other’s hands. Elliot slid a glance at her that Nora couldn’t r
ead.

  “Sounds good, let me freshen our drinks,” Elliot said plucking the wineglass out of Nora’s hand. Before she could offer to go with him Elliot headed towards the temporary bar set up in the corner.

  “Your friend is interesting,” Alex said politely and Nora gave him a weak smile.

  “That is an understatement,” Nora told him. “He’s a good friend of my roommate Claire. I’d met him before the trip but didn’t know him well. When I found out I’d be able to make it home for Christmas Elliot’s trip was already planned and he was nice enough to let me go along for the ride.”

  “So you two aren’t?” Alex trailed off as he asked the question hanging in the air.

  Nora decline to answer, watching Elliot interact with the bartender. Whatever he said had the young man nodding empathetically, looking eager. Nora wondered what the conversation was about.

  “I was curious,” Alex went on and Nora shrugged, not wanting to verbalize any of the thoughts in her head at the moment. “Why don’t you move back home?” Alex asked out of the blue drawing Nora’s eyes back to him. “Just wondering, I mean you’d be able to be home for holidays and everything,” Alex said locking eyes with her. “Maybe not home exactly but closer? I like San Francisco,” he explained. “It’s far enough away that I don’t have to worry about my mom and dad breathing down my neck but I’m close enough to feel like I’ve got freedom. Probably lots of hospitals there that could use a good doctor like you.”

  Nora blinked at Alex, trying to process what he’d just said. If she didn’t know any better she’d think he was asking her to move more toward him, for him. Alex’s eyes were steady on her face and Nora was grateful when Elliot rejoined them.

  “Got you a fresh glass,” Elliot said stepping up and angling his body so he was breaking their extended eye contact.

  “Thank you,” Nora said quickly accepting the glass and smiled weakly at him. Elliot smiled back at her and Nora completely forgot about Alex and the awkward moment that had just occurred. Elliot moved closer to her, sliding his free hand around her waist surprising her but secretly enjoying the contact and the familiarity. For a moment she was conscious that the move was in direct contradiction to what she’d told her parent’s, Alex’s mother, and to Alex just a few moments before. But that concern quickly pushed away and she was absolutely grateful that Elliot was next to her now. She wanted to grab his hand, pull him from the house and maybe run back to the car. Things had been simple and small and manageable in that car. Now with outside forces bearing down on them everything seemed complicated, disjointed and overwhelming, until Elliot put his arm around her.