I laughed, tingling again when she touched me. She gently held my chin in place as she drew the lines on my face. She furrowed her brow like an artist might when working on a painting.
“I love your freckles,” she said out of nowhere.
I just stared at her, too scared to make any movements lest it mess up her work. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my lips. It was torture, but it was also the most excitement I’d had in a while. I shamelessly soaked it up.
“It’s rare to see coloring like yours,” she continued.
She put some powder on my face and then took a step back to admire her work. I struggled to remember how to breathe.
“I’ve always had a thing for women with dark hair and freckles,” she said.
“I’m, uh, flattered,” I said, my heart beating hard. Was she teasing again? “Thanks.”
“Sorry,” she said with a sweet laugh. “No more flirting. I promise.”
Flirt all you want, I wanted to say. Sadly, I didn’t have the bold personality that she did, so I simply looked down at the dress, pretending to find areas to smooth out. Our temperaments couldn’t be more opposite, but the attraction I felt toward her was magnetic.
When she turned me around to the mirror again, I nodded. Now with the wrinkles, I looked a little more like the appropriate age. She’d done a good job.
“Shall we?” she asked.
Feeling some stage fright but running high on the adrenaline of the experience I’d just had with Mickey, I gave a thumbs-up. “Let’s do it.”
We emerged from the tiny space and into the brightness and noise.
“Hey, everyone, it’s Mrs. Claus!” Mickey shouted to the crowd.
Cheers erupted, and for a moment, I actually felt like a celebrity. I did my best to act the part. I waved and smiled, and when I reached Santa, he greeted me with a hug as if he’d known me all his life. He leaned in to my ear.
“I’m Tom Frank,” he whispered. “Nice to meet you!”
“Kate Lindsley,” I whispered back.
“Ho-ho-ho!” he shouted toward the children. “Finally, my beautiful wife has emerged!” Then he lowered his voice to a whisper again, “There are some candy canes in my bag beside my chair. Feel free to help Cassandra hand them out as the kids come for pictures.”
“Got it!” I said.
Cassandra approached me and gave me a playful hug, her blonde curls bouncing. “Hey, I’m Cassandra!” she whispered. “You’re going to have so much fun!”
“Kate,” I whispered. “And I already am!”
This was mostly true. I was still slightly anxious at having to act in front of people. I never liked doing things wrong, and I hadn’t even gotten to practice being Mrs. Claus. The kids didn’t seem to notice either way.
I looked out at the crowd. From this vantage point, the line seemed even longer. Had more people arrived in the short amount of time I’d been getting dressed with Mickey? And speaking of Mickey, where had she gone?
Relieved, I spotted her near the velvet ropes, entertaining the children who were still in line. She reached toward the side of a little boy’s head and did the classic magic trick of appearing to pull a coin from behind his ear. The boy’s face lit up especially when he realized the coin was actually chocolate candy wrapped in gold-colored foil. My heart warmed to see that she was so good with children. Then again, to be fair, my heart (and other parts of my body) warmed merely at the sight of her.
Jasmine unhooked the rope to let in a set of adorable twin girls who couldn’t have been older than five. They approached us and first gave me a hug around my legs, and then gave Cassandra a high-five. Finally, they did what they’d come here for and jumped onto Santa’s lap. He gave a big Father-Christmas laugh as they situated themselves and began telling him what gifts they wanted.
As Jasmine readied her camera, I fidgeted with my hands, not sure if I should sit on my chair or stand next to Santa. Jasmine motioned for me to scoot toward Santa and the girls. I did as told and placed a hand on the back of Santa’s chair. As the flash went off on the camera, one of the girls leaned over and hugged me again. I smiled, enjoying the excitement that all of the children here were emanating.
A dozen or so kids and just as many photos later, when I was really getting the hang of things, Mickey broke away from the kids in line to stand by my side for a moment. She’d stayed in my peripheral vision from the very beginning; it was hard to get her out of my mind, much less my sights. Now that she was close again, I felt my heartbeat speed up. She linked arms with me like we were old friends and then leaned her head toward my ear. When I caught a whiff of that now-familiar cinnamon scent, I had to focus my view on the crowd to remember where I was.
“Having fun?” she asked, her breath warm on my skin.
“I am, actually,” I said.
“I can tell you’re starting to relax. That’s good.”
“You’re really good with kids. Did you know that?”
“Thanks!” she said, beaming. “I’ve always enjoyed them. They know how to have fun and not care what people think. I hope to adopt one day.”
Okay, hold the phone. She was a lesbian, she was charming, and she was beautiful. Those aspects alone had me interested. But she also wanted to adopt a kid someday? I looked at her, wondering where this woman had been all my life. Normally the shy one, I suddenly had the impulse to take full advantage of our fortuitous meeting.
I took a risk and asked, “Do you have plans for later?”
Her eyes sparkled. “What, you mean after this?”
“Yeah.”
“Why do you ask?”
I wanted to backpedal out of fear of being rejected, but the truth was already spilling out. “I was supposed to fly to New York today and spend Christmas with my family, but the storms up there have been so bad that flights everywhere have been canceled.”
“Oh! I saw that on the news.” She smiled. Then without missing a beat, she asked, “So I take it you’re looking for something to do later then?”
“Yeah, I mean, if you’re free. I hate to presume. You probably already have plans.”
“Actually, I was probably going to swing by work later. I’m off this week, but I keep finding myself migrating up there. Hard to break away.”
I thought of the lesson plans for the new course I’d chosen to work on and as a result, sacrificed being able to spend more time with my family. “I know the feeling.”
“So it’s a date then?” she asked, her gaze darting to my lips then back to my eyes.
“Sure,” I said, feeling butterflies in my stomach.
She gave my arm a gentle squeeze. Then she was off to discover more gold coins behind kids’ ears. Did she have any clue how fast I was falling for her, and how hard?
***
Several hours later, an echoing voice announced over the loudspeaker that the mall was soon to close. Mickey made eye contact with me from several feet away and then winked. I outwardly maintained my cool, but let’s face it: I was beyond excited. I was about to go on an actual date, and not just any date, a date with her.
Jasmine let in the last set of children. After we took pictures and sent the kids back to their parents, I allowed myself to sit down. It felt good to get off my feet. Tom, who had been sitting beside me all day, stood and stretched. He took off his hat and beard, looking quite different without them both.
Cassandra pulled out a cell phone from the pocket of her elf costume and immediately began texting someone. I looked for Mickey, but she had disappeared, I assumed into the changing room. Jasmine was all smiles as she began packing up her photography gear.
“You were a great Mrs. Claus,” Tom said, patting me on the shoulder. “A real natural.”
“It was really fun,” I said. “I’m glad you all included me!”
A moment later, I lost my breath when Mickey appeared in a pair of snug jeans and a powder-blue sweater that clung to her body. A hint of cleavage peeked out from the V neck. The black high heels
she now wore made her look like a model. Just when I thought she couldn’t get any sexier, she surprised me. What other surprises would the evening hold?
“I’m ready when you are,” she said to me.
“Let me change first,” I said.
“You sure you don’t want to go out as Mrs. Claus?” she teased.
“Yes.” I chuckled. “I’m sure.”
I hurried into the dressing space. As I switched back into my street clothes, Jasmine appeared. She crossed her arms and smiled.
“Y’all going out?” she asked playfully.
“Yeah,” I offered nonchalantly. “Just going to get a drink.”
“Uh-huh. I saw the sparks flying between you two today.” She handed me a wipe to take the old-lady makeup off my face.
“You did?” I asked, feeling totally transparent.
“Hard not to. You two have chemistry. I’m actually kind of jealous! But in a totally platonic way of course.”
“Nobody can replace you, Jasmine.” I gave her a hug and then took in a deep breath. “So what can you tell me about her? Is it a good idea or a bad idea that we’re going out?”
“I think it’s a good idea. She’s a nice woman. She’s volunteered for me the past several years.” Her tone softened. “She doesn’t usually have anywhere to go on the holidays. I’ve had her over for Christmas with the family before. Her family doesn’t like the fact that she’s a lesbian, and that’s putting it nicely.”
“Oh, one of those families.”
“Yeah. I don’t think she likes for people to know, though. It’s kind of a sore spot.”
I nodded, my heart breaking a little inside. I was so lucky to have family who loved and accepted me as I was. Many people weren’t so lucky. Here I was, thinking I was alone this Christmas, but Mickey was the real lonely one.
Maybe it didn’t have to be that way.
Maybe missing my flight was more fortuitous than I had previously thought.
“Y’all be safe,” Jasmine said with a knowing smile before stepping out of the room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you then.”
When I emerged, Mickey was waiting for me.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Ready,” I replied.
“Bye, Tom!” she said, and Tom waved. “Bye, Cassandra!”
Cassandra was preoccupied with her phone and didn’t seem to hear. Tom nudged his daughter, and she looked up, her eyes wide in surprise.
“What?” she asked. “What’d I miss?”
Mickey laughed. “Goodnight, Cassandra.”
“Oh!” Cassandra grinned. “Night!”
Mickey looked at me as we walked together, and the world seemed to slow down around us. I couldn’t believe the day’s turn of events. By all means, I should have been exhausted, but I felt like the evening was just getting started.
“Where are you parked?” she asked.
“Over on the north side.”
“I’m parked over on the south side,” she said. “Meet you at The Glowing Skull?”
“The where?”
“The bar, it’s a total hole-in-the-wall, so if you get lost, just call me. There’s a small neon sign that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.”
She gave me the address, which I typed into my phone’s map app, and we parted ways. I watched her walk away, looking as if she’d been born in those sexy heels. Her curves were positively alluring. I bet she’d feel wonderful to hold.
Snapping out of my fantasy, I headed in the opposite direction through the emptying mall. I couldn’t get to my car fast enough.
***
Lucky for me, the sign was working, sort of. In place of words, a neon pink glowing skull flickered in the night. If it hadn’t been there, and if I hadn’t known the name of the bar, I would’ve passed it by for sure. When I parked and walked down the stairs to the entrance, I could hear a familiar Christmas tune done in heavy metal style. I opened the rickety door, and a tall, muscular guy tattooed up to his neck asked to see my ID. I showed it to him, smiling at his Santa hat, which was almost too small for his bald head.
Mickey was waiting for me at one of the tall tables near the entrance. She waved me over, and I took in the alternative crowd as I made my way to her. Many of the patrons had tattoos, piercings, and hair dyed a rainbow of colors. I probably could have worn the Mrs. Claus outfit, and nobody would have cared. Everyone seemed to be relaxed and happy and having a good time.
“What would you like to drink?” Mickey asked when I sat down. “It’s my treat.”
“I’ll take a glass of red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon if you have it. If not, whatever red you have.”
“I’ll check.”
She slid out of her chair and headed to the bar. I took the opportunity to look around some more. The place was dimly lit, but strings of Christmas lights gave it a holiday vibe. There was a skeleton motif, some of it Day of the Dead sugar skull art on the walls and shelves. There was a full-size skeleton in the corner decorated with a Santa hat, tinsel, and a wreath. A skeleton Mona Lisa hung above the bar. Several fully occupied black leather sofas were arranged around a big fake fireplace. A few people stood in the corner playing pool. I watched as a woman put a coin in a brightly lit jukebox, and a techno version of “Jingle Bells” began playing. Though this was certainly a different sort of place for me, I liked it. It was unique, like Mickey.
Returning with my drink, she placed a jar of olives between us and said, “We don’t have a kitchen, so this is about the best I can do for food.”
“I love green olives,” I said, taking a toothpick from her. “I’m stuffed from all the junk food I ate this afternoon, so this is perfect.”
“Great!” She raised her wineglass, and I did the same. Her sleeve fell back, revealing a little rainbow tattoo on her wrist. “To new friends.”
“To new friends,” I said, tapping my glass against hers.
Her eyes never left mine as we took a sip. I felt a warmth rush though me that was not totally attributed to the wine.
“I like your tattoo,” I said.
“Thanks!” She offered me her wrist so I could get a closer look. “I have a few more, but I can’t show them in here.”
My imagination started to go wild.
“Do you have any?” she asked.
“Sadly, no. I’m not very exciting.”
“You are to me,” she said. “You’re a good person, helping a friend on the fly like that. I notice these things.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. And I think you’re sexy as hell. Is it okay if I say that?”
“Sure.”
“Good.”
As she let her words hang in the air, my heart skipped a beat. Then she switched gears and began asking me questions about my teaching job. I asked her about acting and bartending. We talked about our favorite movies and music, many of which we had in common, and many we decided we needed to introduce to one another. We chatted about places we’d traveled and about places we wanted to visit someday.
As the place grew more crowded, she scooted her chair closer to me, and before long, she was putting her hand on my arm and my back, her touch sending electric lust all through my body. After more than an hour, and two glasses of wine, I was fully under the evening’s spell. I didn’t want to leave, but I knew if I had any more to drink, I wasn’t going to be able to safely drive. There was also a good chance that I was going to lean in and kiss her with how close she was sitting, and I didn’t want to be too presumptuous. Before I could open my mouth to inform her I needed to go to the bathroom, she spoke.
“Would it bother you if I kissed you?” she asked.
I froze. I stared at her, hoping I’d heard her correctly. Her cheeks were rosy from the wine.
“No,” I said, my eyes falling to her lips. “It wouldn’t bother me.”
“Would you like me to?” she asked with a little smile.
“Yes,” I whispered, too quiet to hear in the noise of the bar, b
ut she could clearly read my lips.
She leaned in.
Her kiss was as soft and warm as I had imagined. It was a sweet, gentle kiss, a simple meeting of our mouths, but it was filled with possibilities. Savoring it, I tasted the wine on her, a sweeter wine than the one I’d been drinking. When she flicked her tongue into my mouth, it shocked me. And it turned me on. I slid my tongue upward, caressing hers, and she pulled back, her eyes gleaming with the light of the virtual fireplace behind me.
“What is it?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes.” She leaned in for another kiss. This one had me tingling all the way down to my toes. “Okay, Kate. Here it goes. I’m going to say something that might sound corny.”
“Okay,” I said, longing for another taste of her.
“And I promise I’m not trying to get into your pants.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you were,” I breathed.
Her lips spread in a knowing smile. “Oh?”
“I’m sorry, what were you going to say?”
She placed her hand on top of mine. “I haven’t felt this connected to someone in a long time. I feel like somehow, we were meant to rendezvous tonight. Like we were meant to be here, right now, together, in this moment. It’s like deja vu.”
My heart thumped in my chest. I identified with every single thing she was saying. Maybe it was a combination of being overwhelmed by these feelings and also having had a couple glasses of wine, but what I said next, surprised the both of us.
“I know about your family,” I said, not realizing at that moment that it was the absolute wrong thing to say. “And I just want you to know that if you don’t have anywhere to go on Christmas Eve tomorrow, I would be so happy to have you come over and share it with me. I can cook dinner for the two of us, whatever you like, and we can turn on some old cheesy Christmas flick neither of us has seen, and—”
I stopped when she slowly slid her hand away from mine. Instead of it making her happy, what I’d said had done the opposite. Her smile was gone. She sat against the back of her chair, both hands in her lap, her eyes now downcast and distant. The cosmic connection I’d felt mere seconds ago was now replaced by an uncomfortable silence.
A Twist of Christmas Fate Page 2
