Her Christmas Wish

by Nicole Highland

  Christmas music faintly played in the background, and all was calm until the doorbell rang, announcing her sister’s arrival. Maddie’s sister, Nikki, came barreling in with gifts by the armful and enough food to host their own potluck, while her husband, Bryant, trailed behind. Five trips from the car to the house had been required to bring all the goodies inside, and by the time they were through, Bryant collapsed in a heap on the couch, weary from exhaustion.

  “Darling, I’m so glad you made it okay,” Elena lamented. “That weather up in Rochester has been awful.”

  Grabbing Nikki’s coat and purse, Elena whisked them away to the closet to dry. “Where’s Olivia? I haven’t seen her yet!”

  “Last I knew she was still outside, staring at the neighbor’s snowman.”

  Maddie laughed. “Don’t you think you should bring her in here to see her favorite aunt?” she teased.

  “Of course,” Nikki said. “Bryant! Can you do something for me?”

  Bryant sat up from the couch, rubbing his forehead with his palm. “Yes, honey?”

  “Go bring Olivia inside.”

  “You really run that poor man ragged, don’t you?” Elena asked.

  “I do, but thank God he loves me, anyway.”

  The front door opened again, and Olivia bounded into the room, charging full-speed ahead and straight into Maddie’s arms.

  “Aunt Maddie!” she squealed.

  “Inside voice, please, Olivia,” Nikki chided.

  She gave Olivia a tight squeeze. “I’m so glad to see you, Livi.”

  “You know, I’m surprised she isn’t still clutching that little handheld game. We gave it to her early so she could have it on the trip down here, and she hasn’t put it down since.”

  “Kids, these days, right?” Maddie joked.

  Olivia tugged at the hem of Maddie’s shirt, pleading for her attention. “Aunt Maddie, do you want to see my new game?”

  “Maybe in a little bit, Livi. Aunt Maddie has to talk to your mom really quick,” she said, motioning to the kitchen. Time for a little sister-to-sister bonding moment, she thought. God knew it was long overdue.

  Maddie and Nikki scurried off to the kitchen where their mother was pulling down plates and silverware. “I need to talk to you about something,” Maddie asked, a slight tinge of exasperation filling her voice.

  “Oh no. You have a weird look on your face. Is something wrong?”

  Maddie pulled the linen napkins from the drawer, tossing them aside on the counter. “I met a guy recently, and I really, really like him. But he’s only been a widow three years. Do you think that’s too soon?”

  “He’s a widow?” Elena interrupted. “I had no idea he was.”

  “Yeah, he told me last night. We ended up going out on an impromptu date, and we had a great time, but then after he told me that… I’m just not sure.”

  “Well, for what’s worth,” Nikki said, “I think three years is a fair amount of time. Three weeks, no. But three years? I don’t think that’s bad. He gave himself some time. Obviously, he must think that he is ready on some level. And clearly, you’re very smitten.”

  “I am,” Maddie sighed. “He is so sweet, and I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with him.”

  “Well, then that’s all that matters. Focus on being in the moment, and enjoy things for what they are. And if something becomes of it later on, then that’s even better. It’s worth giving it a chance.”

  Christmas Day came and went with its usual gusto along with all the trimmings and trappings that made the day so magical. The mountain of presents slowly dwindled away, leaving piles of shiny wrapping paper in their wake. Bows and ribbons decorated the floor like confetti strewn about on a late-night disco dance floor, and laughs and excited shouts of joy filled the air. It gave new meaning to the phrase ‘merry and bright.’

  Olivia finally got the oversized model horse she’d wanted the last three Christmases, and he was just big enough for her to sit on. Her imagination ran wild as she sat in the saddle, pretending she was out on the open plains.

  Thanks to a heads-up from her sister, Maddie had known that the horse was one of Olivia’s Christmas gifts, so she purchased the perfect riding outfit for her; a pink Western get-up with rhinestones galore, and a matching cowgirl hat, too.

  Maddie sat back on the couch, taking in every moment of the time they were spending together. She yearned for a little girl of her own someday. She could almost picture it; the endless hours of dress-up, and dolls, and dancing to music…

  Yes, maybe someday she would be lucky enough to experience the joy of having a child, provided the right guy came along first. Her mind drifted to Cole, wondering if he would be at the hospital visiting his mother. Most assuredly he was. And she couldn’t hardly wait for their date the next day.

  As thoughts of him danced in her head, her phone lit up, and her face filled with happiness as she glanced down at the message from Cole.

  Hope you’re having a very merry Christmas. See you tomorrow evening.

  Nikki’s ears perked up. “Ooh, who texted you?” she asked, craning her neck to see Maddie’s screen.

  “Must you know everything?” Maddie joked.

  “Yes. I have a right to know, considering I’m your sister.”

  Maddie sat the phone aside. “It was Cole. He wanted to wish me a Merry Christmas.”

  Nikki hollered at her daughter. “Livi, it’s time to pick up your toys! Grandma’s wanting to get this mess cleaned up.”

  Elena looked over at her and smiled. “Yes, I forget sometimes what it was like to have children in the house.”

  “I don’t think we were ever this messy,” Maddie said.

  “Oh, I think I recall it being just as messy, if not worse with you two.” Elena winked, then headed off to the kitchen to start cleaning.

  By nightfall, a fresh wave of snow had descended on the town, and the thick flakes slowly accumulated on every surface they touched. Olivia had taken her spoils upstairs, sprawling them out on the floor of Maddie’s childhood bedroom.

  Maddie stared in awe at the endless sea of toys on the floor. And they said that I was spoiled.

  Oh, that was quite laughable now, considering how spoiled Nikki’s daughter was. Maddie would dare say it would look like the North Pole in Olivia’s bedroom once she arrived back home.

  “It looks like Santa was very good to you, this year, Livi.”

  “That’s because I was extra good,” she beamed.

  “Well, that’s what I like to hear. Which one of these is your favorite so far?”

  “I’m not sure. I like them all.”

  “Hey, do you want to see something really cool?” Maddie motioned to the window. “Come here and let me show you something.”

  Olivia pressed her face to the window, staring with wide eyes. “What’s out there?”

  “Well, tonight there’s a chance we might see a shooting star.”

  Olivia sat completely still as she stared out into the night, waiting eagerly for a glimpse of a shooting star. She squinted hard, desperate to catch one of the stars in action.

  “I see one, Aunt Maddie, I see one!”

  And sure enough, a few stars glimmered their way across the sky. Maddie made a silent wish to herself, while Olivia made her own wish.

  “What did you wish for, Aunt Maddie?”

  “I can’t tell you because it’s a secret. If I told you the secret, it might not come true.”

  And if there was even a chance that the old wives’ tale was true, Maddie wasn’t going to take that risk.

  Her wish was too important to take that kind of chance on.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Maddie could hardly wait to kick off her boots when walked through the door. She’d enjoyed every minute with her family, but her feet were screaming once more. But, thanks to the generosity of her sister, she finally had a working footbath again.

  Time to put it to good use, she thought. Slipping into her robe and a comfortable set of paja
mas, she sank her toes into the warm, bubbling water, and leaned back in her chair. She’d forgotten how heavenly it was to have her feet massaged.

  The massaging bath worked its magic on her aching feet, and just she was just about to fall asleep when the familiar pinging of her phone jolted her. Anticipation fluttered in her chest, and she reached over the table, smiling brightly as she read the message on the screen.

  Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  Maddie smiled to herself, pleased to know Cole was thinking of her. That was the best kind of feeling, knowing that somewhere out in the universe, you were on someone’s mind. She typed a quick message back.

  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, either. 7:00 PM, right?

  A few minutes passed, and Maddie shut off the spa and patted her feet dry with a towel.

  That sounds perfect to me.

  Placing the phone on the nightstand, she curled into bed, pulling the thick blanket around her. What a wonderful feeling it was to feel cared about...

  God only knew how long it had been since she’d truly felt that way. It had been way too long, in her opinion.

  And it was about time that something started going right.

  The Day After Christmas

  Lucky for Cole, having the rest of the year off meant he had plenty of time to do everything he’d been putting off until later. Now, he could prepare his home and whip it into pristine shape before Maddie arrived.

  He glanced around, slightly horrified at how much he needed to get done. Floors needed to be swept, pillows needed to be fluffed… everything needed to be spotless for her.

  Cole cranked up the tunes and went to work on the whole house, leaving no stone unturned. And when at last everything on his to-do list had been completed, he collapsed on the couch, taking the breather he so desperately needed.

  It was hard work to impress such a lovely lady, after all.

  By noon, he’d grown restless, watching the minutes slowly tick by. There was nothing left to do except waiting. It was almost painful, constantly checking the clock only to realize that a mere few minutes had passed. Seven o’clock couldn’t come soon enough.

  He sat up on the couch, debating whether to surprise her at lunch. Better not, he thought. Slowly sinking back into the cushion, he resisted the urge and raked a hand through his hair.

  The more time he spent with her, the more he realized how much he’d been missing out on. Slowly but surely, he was regaining his zest for life, and Maddie was the bright spot of his days. Every time they talked, even if it was only a short conversation, he felt happiness like he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  A twinge of nervous energy zipped through him as he saw Maddie’s name light up on his phone. I hope she isn’t canceling.

  A wave of relief washed over him as he read the text, and he smiled to himself, thankful she wasn’t bailing on him.

  Do I need to wear anything fancy this evening?

  Thank God she was only asking a question. He shot her a quick text in response.

  No need to worry about anything too fancy. I will give you a hint, though. It’s a nice little Italian place.

  He hit the send button and leaned back against the cushion. At this time of day, there wouldn’t be squat on television, so he decided to take a walk instead. Maybe a little crisp, fresh air would be the distraction he needed to make the time pass by faster.

  Bundled up and ready to go, he headed out the door. A blast of cold air hit his face as he stepped outside, and the brisk air sent an instant chill across his exposed skin. A few children were playing outside, making an assortment of snowy creations, and even though Christmas had passed, only a handful of the little shops on the main drag were taking down their Christmas decor. Most of them would leave all the bedazzled glory up at least until the New Year.

  ’Twas the season, after all.

  A sparkling snowglobe caught his eye as he passed Stollman’s Antiques, and he paused for a moment, peeking in the window for a closer look. Bells clanged against the door as he entered, and an older woman looked up as he kicked the snow off his boots and headed over the display.

  “Is there something I can help you with?” she asked.

  “Oh, I happened to be walking through the neighborhood, and this snow globe caught my eye,” he said, pointing to one of them.

  A little gleam appeared in the woman’s eyes. “Oh, yes, this is my absolute favorite out of this group. Are you shopping for anyone special, by chance?”

  Maddie certainly seemed to be, at least to him. “I am, actually,” he replied.

  For being a holiday snow globe, it was a unique little piece, with a brilliant red heart poised in the center and a bow on top. He picked up the snow globe, shaking it gently until the little red and green glittery flakes danced around, floating around the heart.

  “I think this is perfect. She’ll love it. How much?”

  The woman pondered for a moment. She wasn’t usually known to haggle, but since he seemed so smitten with his ‘special someone,’ she was willing to let go of it for a lesser price. “Twenty and it’s yours.”

  Cole didn’t even hesitate. “You have yourself a deal.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  The walk home made Cole feel like he himself was in a snow globe. A quick check-in on his phone’s weather app indicated it wouldn’t last long, but as fast it was falling, and as hard as the wind was blowing, it almost seemed like a miniature blizzard. Not the most pleasant to walk in, but beautiful, nonetheless.

  A wave of warmth greeted him as he walked in the front door, and Cole was glad to finally be home. At least now he could finally wrap up in a blanket and get warm.

  But not until the snow globe was wrapped.

  As he wrapped the gift box he put the snow globe in, he smiled to himself, knowing Maddie would love it, and he could hardly wait to see the look on her face. Before long, the box was wrapped with shiny, red paper, and wrapped with a makeshift bow. No one needed to know that actually came from a pajama set his mom had bought him a few years back.

  Knowing the hour was drawing near, he changed clothes and waited for her to arrive. It seemed like an eternity had passed before the doorbell finally rang, signaling her arrival.

  He ran at breakneck speed to answer it, and arctic air rushed in as soon as he opened the door. Dressed in a bright red, wool coat, Maddie looked so beautiful and festive, and just the sight of her made his heart swell. Her teeth chattered, and Cole ushered her inside.

  “Come in before you freeze.”

  “Thank you. It’s quite frigid right out,” Maddie complained.

  “Yes, it is. I think I was frozen solid by the time I got back from my walk earlier today.”

  “Good to see you’ve thawed out, at least,” she said, smiling up at him.

  “And thank goodness for that.”

  And even if he hadn’t, one look at her smile and his whole body would’ve thawed out for sure.

  For being a weeknight, the little Italian bistro was unusually busy. Having only been there twice, Cole wasn’t sure how long the wait would be, but even if it was a little long, the food was definitely worth it. He only hoped Maddie would feel the same.

  Maddie scooted in close to Cole as they sat waiting to be seated. Even through his coat, she could feel his warmth, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder.

  “The food smells delightful. I can only imagine what it tastes like,” she said.

  “Well, you are in for a real treat.” He reached for her, enveloping her hand in his. “You’ll see.”

  Minutes later, the two were seated, and the waiter brought a basket of fresh, warm breadsticks to the table. One bite in and Maddie was already hooked. “This is delicious,” she said, stuffing the last remaining piece in her mouth.

  “They’re the city’s best, in my opinion.”

  Maddie took a sip of wine, savoring every last drop of the delicious flavor.

  “So, how is your mom doing?” she asked.
>
  Cole blotted his mouth with a napkin before answering. “She’s doing much better, actually. She’s definitely glad to be home.”

  “That’s good. I trust she’s following the doctor’s orders?”

  A slight laugh escaped him. “I wouldn’t exactly say that. My mom has a mind of her own sometimes.”

  “I think we all do,” she said taking another sip of wine. “But as long as she takes care of herself, I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

  Dinner was promptly served a while later, and by the time they were through, they were stuffed to the gills. Like all the time they spent together, the evening went by at the speed of light, and before Maddie knew it, it was eight o’clock already.

  “It’s funny, when I’m at work, even if I’m busy, the time just drags, but every time we’re together it goes insanely fast.”

  “I hope it’s because you’re having a good time.”

  She smiled, setting his heart ablaze once more. “Yes. I always do.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  “You know, I didn’t mention it earlier, but you really do have a lovely home.”

  Cole took her coat and hung it up in the closet alongside his. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied his blanket, making a mental note to offer it to her while he tended the fireplace.

  “Here,” he said, offering her the blanket. “This will help you more than it will help me.”

  Maddie swaddled herself in the blanket. “Thank you.”

  Cole loaded a few more pieces of kindling to the fire, letting it roar to life with all the beauty and heat of its flames. “Of course. Make yourself at home.”

  The words were music to her ears, making happiness flow from her head to her toes. She could easily see herself spending more time here, wrapped up in his arms…

  She curled up on the couch, and eyed him with anticipation.

  “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?” he asked.

  It was like he’d read her thoughts. “I don’t mind at all. Besides, it would be very unfair to tell you what to do in your own house,” she teased.