A Cozy Christmas, part 2: A Christmas Day

Once again, the collision of their fingers made her heart flutter to life, like she was the Grinch and his touch had caused her heart to grow three sizes...

A Christmas Day

Elle woke the next morning from the best sleep she’d had in months. Her headache was gone. A smile spread across her lips. The fireplace had certainly worked its magic. She folded the plaid blanket and headed to the kitchen to caffeinate. While her favorite holiday tea brewed, she measured and mixed the ingredients of her family’s coffee cake. Growing up, she had made it with her sisters every Christmas morning. It was a tradition that had stuck with her, even when she moved out of her parent’s house. She slid the cake into the oven, filled her favorite Santa mug, and settled at her breakfast nook, warm drink in hand. As the smell of cinnamon wafted from the oven, she mentally went through the day’s schedule.

Eleven a.m.: Her family would begin arriving.

One p.m.: Big lunch of ham, sweet potato casserole, roasted veggies, and rolls.

After that: Presents

The timer beeped. Elle took out her breakfast, setting it aside to cool. She was on her way to get dressed, when a dull knocking drew her towards the front door. Curious about who was out so early on Christmas morning, she wrapped herself up in a coat and scarf and stepped outside. More snow had fallen overnight and the street was blanketed in quiet, except for the banging next door. Carefully, Elle inched down the steps to find her neighbor ramming his shoulder into his front door over and over.

“Eddie!” she called out. “What are you doing?”

He stopped and turned toward her, brown hair flopping over his eyes, damp from the snow and physical exertion.

“Well…” he pulled his eyebrows together. ”It seems as though I left my keys at my sister’s house. In California.”

“Son of a nutcracker!” Elle blurted out. She clamped her hand over her mouth, cheeks burning. “Um… I may have watched Elf a few days ago.”

His frown transformed into a half-smile. “That’s one of my favorites too.”

Silence spread between their sets of stairs as they awkwardly looked at each other.

“Um… Is there anyone who has a spare key?” Elle finally asked.

“Not really. My ex had a copy, but it’s probably in the box of my stuff she left on my steps a few months ago.” Elle remembered seeing that box. She had wondered what it was and why his tall blonde girlfriend hadn’t been around lately.

“Well, do you want to come inside while you think of something?” Elle asked. “You must be cold.”

“I’m fine. I don’t want to impose…” Eddie said, his teeth chattering.

Elle shot him a look telling him she knew better. He ran his hand through his hair and scuffed the snow for a moment. Then, he breathed out a puff of air and walked down his steps and up hers.

“You sure you don’t mind?” He stopped halfway up.

Elle smiled broadly at him. “Nope. In fact, I just made coffee cake, and there’s tea in the teapot.” She opened her front door and led him inside.

Eddie left his snow-covered shoes alongside hers on the front stoop and stepped over the threshold. He took a deep breath. “That… smells amazing.” He shrugged off his caramel-colored peacoat and hung it on the hanger Elle offered. “The cheapest flight home was a red eye that left LAX at one a.m. and landed here at nine a.m., so I didn’t get a chance to eat.”

“That I can fix,” Elle said as she started off toward the kitchen. Eddie followed along. She pulled a candy cane mug from the cupboard and handed it to him. When his hand closed around it, their fingers brushed. A flurry of sensations flew up Elle’s arm. She pulled her hand back quickly, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. She hadn’t felt anything for a man since Chris. She busied herself, gathering two tree-dotted plates from the dishwasher, two forks, and two festive napkins.

“So…” she said as she set them down on the table, returning to the oven for the coffee cake. “Did you have a good time visiting your sister?” Elle slid the snowman potholders off her hands and dished out a piece of the warm cake for each of them.

“Yeah, I did.” He pulled a plate toward him before continuing, “We don’t get to see each other as often as we like. And my niece and nephew are getting so big!” He shook his head, seemingly transported to another place.

“Have you guys always been close?” Elle asked before taking a bite.

“We have. But we got closer after our parents’ death,” he said, eyes focused on his next bite. Elle’s heart pinched with concern.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Elle, don’t apologize. I miss them, and I’m sad they aren’t here. But I love talking about them. It keeps their spirits alive.” He took another bite. “Christmas was actually their favorite holiday. They went all out. A real tree, freshly-baked cookies, Santa footprints…” His eyes looked misty.

“Mine too,” Elle shared. They finished their coffee cake in amiable silence, both caught up in childhood memories.

“You done?” She stood to clear away the plates.

He nodded and handed it to her. “That was so much better than the Entenmann’s coffee cake my sister served me.” He laughed. “She’s the coolest sister I could ask for, but she’s not the best cook.”

“I have one of those too. But I feel the same way about my sisters. We’ve had our share of disagreements and yelling matches over the years. But when it comes down to it, they always have my back. My whole family will be here in an hour or so actually.”

Eddie’s hazel eyes snapped to Elle’s. He stood up abruptly, bumping his mug in the process. She moved forward to mop up the liquid right as he did. Once again, the collision of their fingers made her heart flutter to life, like she was the Grinch and his touch had caused her heart to grow three sizes. She felt her cheeks flame again.

“Well, I should get going then,” he said. “I don’t want to keep you. The emergency locksmith will be around in thirty minutes anyway.” Disappointment washed over Elle. All these feelings were new to her, but she didn’t want Eddie to leave.

“Listen,” she said a bit too loud. She cleared her throat. “We’re having a big dinner and mulled wine and we’ll probably break the karaoke machine out…” Her eyes moved over Eddie’s face, trying to discern his thoughts. He was staring intently at her, but gave nothing away. She huffed out a breath of air. Just say it, Elle!

“Would you like to join us?” she finally asked. She felt hope surge inside her as his face lit up as bright as a Christmas tree.

“I do sing a mean ‘Santa Baby’.” They both laughed.

“So, is that a yes? It sounds like a performance that shouldn’t be missed.”

“I would love to,” he said. “As long as it’s no trouble.”

Elle shook her head. It would definitely not be any trouble at all to spend Christmas in the presence of this man.