Christmas Eve Love Story

Nine

On the third Christmas Eve

Fa-la-la-la-la. La-la. La—la!

Wait! Annie sat bolt upright in bed grasping her phone. She did not set her alarm last night. She was positive. Her pulse pounded, and she shut her eyes. Still, she had to brave it. She peeked out of one eye and then the other, opening them both—extra wide.

Noooo!

Dec 24

Winter Storm Warning

She threw back the covers and Leo flopped onto the floor, landing on his feet and looking stunned. Poor kitty!

“It is not December 24,” she told him surely. Not again.

She leapt out of bed and hopped on one foot. “Ow! Ouch, ouch, ow !” She’d stepped on Leo’s wand toy again. Annie dropped down on the bed, holding the kitty toy in her hand. Her head spun, and she caught her breath.

What’s hap-pen-ing???

She left the cat toy on her pillow and strode to the window, yanking up the blinds. The fire escape had a few icy spots on it, but no piles of snow. The sky was cloudy and gray.

What?

She dashed into the kitchen and checked her computer.

Dec 24 7:08 AM

She sprang back against a chair, nearly knocking it over on her way to the window.

Not great. The sidewalk out front was clear too.

Okay, Annie. Think, think, think.

I’m dreaming! Yes.

Right? Noooo.

Wait.

Recurring dream?

Yeah.

Maybe?

Annie gasped. Was she stuck in a time loop? Her heart thud-thud-thudded in her chest. She laid a hand across it, afraid it might burst out of her, and walked into her living room. This was totally—nuts. Not possible. No way. Leo wound himself around her ankles and meowed. He wasn’t bothered in the least. She goggled at his empty Christmas stocking. Oh, nooo. He hadn’t gotten anything from Santa. But wait, look! Yes. Candy canes hung from her miniature tree. She went over and counted eleven, meaning—she turned toward the kitchen—she’d had one last night in her hot cocoa.

So. This wasn’t a total time loop. Only a mixed-up partial one? Some things from yesterday had moved forward. She stared at the snow globe beneath her Christmas tree, and her heart pounded. Believe. Yeah, but what? That she was losing her grasp on reality?

Leo meowed, wanting his breakfast.

“Right. But this time, we’re not spilling any on the floor.”

Annie fixed herself some coffee first, checking the contents of her refrigerator. It looked pretty bare, with no turkey breast in sight. The freezer was fairly empty too, so no frozen TV dinner. Ugh. She was also now out of milk. She’d have to go the store. If only she was one of those people who loved shopping. Fact was, she didn’t. Wait. An empty cocoa mug sat in the sink, and she’d just used up the milk in her coffee. So how had she made that cocoa?

Annie opened a cabinet and took out the box holding individual cocoa packets. It was the instant kind, so you could add milk—or water. She tallied the packets, and there were a few of them missing, but she had no idea how many there’d been to begin with on Christmas Eve. So, okay. She could have made the cocoa last night, in either case. She stared at the melted candy cane smudges in the mug. Somewhere along the line I did buy those candy canes though . Her temples throbbed. None of this made sense.

Time loop? Not a time loop?

Sleepwalking? She took a long sip of coffee. Probably not.

Leo head-butted her shin.

Very hungry cat. She picked up his food bowl and filled it on the counter. “You,” she commanded, “stay put.” She bent to feed him, and Leo lurched forward, but she was ready. She pushed his head back with one hand and placed his food bowl on the floor with a flourish. Whew!

Her intercom buzzed. Annie’s finger trembled when she pressed the button. “Yes?”

“Package for you!”

Of course it was— not .

“Be right down, thanks!”

She drew in a calming breath and took a sip of coffee, glancing around. Okay. This wasn’t happening. However. If it was … She could certainly do better than yesterday. Just look at Leo happily eating his cat food! And the kitchen was mess-free. Annie shrugged on her coat and wiggled into her old boots, descending the stairs to her building’s front door. Would be nice if the package actually was for her. She desperately needed her new pair.

She reached for the oblong box and remembered—jumping back.

Whomp!

She missed getting clobbered by the snow mound by a split second. But she had missed getting clobbered. Which meant—yes! Maybe she could avoid another catastrophe at Lawson’s with her window display and even have a different sort of meeting with Patrice, one with a more positive outcome? Assuming everyone else still thought this was Christmas Eve. She clutched the package to her chest and climbed the stairs, knowing she’d find out soon enough. If it was Christmas Eve again, Jane would say so, like she had the day before.

Annie knocked lightly on the door, and Jane opened it.

“Hi there!” Jane observed the package. “Is that for me?”

“Yeah. The delivery person buzzed the wrong apartment.”

The conversation flowed exactly like Annie expected, right down to the details about Amazing Agatha. When Jane was about to shut her door, she introduced herself, and so did Annie. A beeper sounded inside Jane’s apartment. “That’s my coffee.” She peered over her shoulder. “Would you like to have a cup?”

Annie hesitated on the landing. That sounded nice, and maybe Jane was lonely, despite having a daughter. She didn’t see why she couldn’t have her second cup of coffee here, rather than upstairs. “Sure, I’ll take some.”

“We’ll have to sit in the stairwell,” Jane said, “if that’s all right? Cari’s still sleeping. I’ll have to wake her soon to get her to her sitter’s before work.”

“Where’s that?” Annie asked her.

“Brooklyn Museum. You?”

Annie smiled. “Lawson’s Finest.”

Jane nodded. “Busy time of year.”

Annie shoved her hands in her coat pocket. “Today’s one of the busiest.” She put that out there, leading Jane a bit.

Jane took the bait. “Christmas Eve,” she said. “Bet so.”

So there was Annie’s confirmation. She was destined for another do-over day. A jolt of understanding hit her . Time loop, not a time loop? No. That was too black and white, and this was in Technicolor. She was in a time loop, all right.

A time loop with loopholes .

Annie’s heart beat faster. That meant she had to try to make the most of each day until she could find a way out of it.

***

Despite her best efforts, Annie missed another train. It was almost like the train schedule kept changing ever-so-slightly to vex her. She sat on a bench, and the man with the newspaper sat down beside her as the teenager wearing earbuds walked by. Annie pulled out her phone and opened her text app, staring at the icon of a hand holding a writing pen. This time loop with loopholes was tricky. It was also uncannily precise when it wanted to be.

What would Tina even think if Annie texted her about this now? Maybe if they’d been in closer touch over these past few months, Annie contacting her wouldn’t seem so surprising. It would still be hard to explain what was happening, because Annie didn’t have a full grasp on it herself. She couldn’t open with an odd pronouncement about time loops. No. She needed to make things up to Tina first. Annie bit her lip, her heart pounding, and typed a short note.

Hey Tina! It’s Annie.

I know we’ve been out of touch—

Although Tina hadn’t reached out either. Annie swallowed past the lump in her throat. Maybe she should take that as a sign? Maybe Tina didn’t even want to hear from her?

The man beside her stood, folding his newspaper, and Annie saw a new group of commuters clamoring toward the train. She dashed through its open doors, somehow knowing she’d arrive at Lawson’s at 9:08 a.m. exactly. Again. She hoped this day would bring more good things, and fewer bad.

***

Forty minutes later, Annie scurried past the escalators at Lawson’s, her hat and coat covered in snowflakes. A fancy package caught her eye, and she stopped short. No way, but it was. Amazing Agatha in all her glory. Annie paused to examine the rectangular box containing the doll and her basic office setup, along with that crafty little printer. The box for Detective Dean sat next to it on the display shelf. There were others too, all with different outfits and jobs, but Agatha was clearly the star of the show with her amateur sleuthing prowess. Annie picked up the box and checked the price tag. Whoa. That’s a lot to blow on a doll. No wonder Jane had gotten the knockoff. The woman clearly wasn’t made of money. None of the people in Annie’s building were.

“Morning, Annie.” She saw a swath of sturdy red pants legs and glossy black boots…his thick round middle and his baby-blue eyes.

“Santa!” The box slipped in her hands. Someone else grabbed it to keep it from hitting the floor. A sexy scent washed over her, lemon and spice and everything nice . Braden had a habit of turning up unexpectedly too. He handed her the package, and Annie placed it back on the shelf. “Er, thanks!”

Santa glanced at the doll display. “Buying for someone special?” he asked Annie.

“Oh no, I was—just looking.”

“She’s the hot ticket this year,” Santa said informatively. “Amazing Agatha.”

Annie nodded. “That’s what I hear.” Did Braden remember anything about her at all? Helping her yesterday? Having coffee at the Blue Dot? And what about Old Saint Nick? She peeked out of the corner of her eye at the jolly old elf. What did he know about any of this?

Braden smiled at the older man, clearly amused. “Bet you’ve been keeping careful track of who’s been naughty and nice.”

“Ho ho ho.” Santa’s big, round belly jiggled when he laughed. “Indeed. Although everyone’s nice”—he winked—“in my book.”

Braden smirked playfully. “If you say so, Santa.”

Santa patted down the cuffs on his tunic’s sleeves. “I most certainly do.” He turned toward Annie and Braden. “I hope you both have a very merry Christmas.”

Annie stopped him before he left. “Santa, wait!”

Santa spun back around. “Yes, Annie?”

What could she say? She couldn’t very well ask him if he’d thrown her into a time loop with loopholes. Thrown all of them into one. Not in front of Braden. How would that sound? Santa might call security. She darted a glance at Braden. Oh yeah, right . “Er. Hope you have a very merry Christmas too.”

“Why, thank you.” He bowed his head, and the pom-pom on his hat swung forward.

Braden shook his head as Santa waddled down the aisle. “That guy’s something else .” His eyes shimmered in that sexy way that made her heart pound. Because. Of course. He was so attractive and kind, and she knew that even more clearly now.

“Yeah, he is.” Her pulsed hummed when she recalled the way Braden’s mouth had been so close to hers seconds before Veronica Lawson had interrupted. Hello! We were at the store! It’s not like something could have happened. Her mind took that little road trip anyway.

“If I didn’t know better,” Braden joked as Santa walked away, “I’d swear he’s the real deal.” He picked up the box for Detective Dean, scanning its contents.

Annie watched Santa approach his workshop, chatting with his elf assistant. “Just wait until you see him later.”

Braden looked up from the box, somewhat distracted. “Who? Santa?” Detective Dean looked a little like Braden with dark hair and blue eyes, and Agatha slightly resembled her. Annie held her breath. She was not playing dolls with Braden, or house either. Sadly.

“Yes,” Annie said. “With the kids, I mean. I have this really strong hunch he’ll charm them all later—a certain few, especially.”

“Hmm, I’m sure you’re right.” Braden turned the package around, holding it toward her. “Look at this guy.” A grin tugged at his lips. “He’s got a badge and everything.”

“Ha! Yeah.” Annie’s gaze shot to Braden’s badge, dropping to his duty belt. She jerked it back up again to Braden’s sparkling blue eyes. He put Detective Dean back on the endcap and she read his name tag, pointing to hers. “Hi. I’m Annie.” A small part of her hoped he’d remember. No, okay. A large part. Very, very huge.

He hooked his thumbs over his duty belt and grinned. “Nice meeting you, Annie. I’m Braden.” So much for leaving a lasting impression.

She shifted her canvas bag handle on her shoulder. “You too.”

“Hey.” He rubbed his dimpled chin. “Aren’t you the lady who—?”

“Yep! That’s me.”

Braden folded his arms. “How did you know I was going to ask about your windows?”

She shrugged meekly. “I, er, guessed?”

“Well, you, Annie, are a really good guesser.” If only you knew. He grinned and shook his head. “I bet you get comments about them all the time.”

“Um. I do!” Including from Ms. Lawson. Unfortunately, her comments hadn’t been glowing.

“Well, you do great work.”

“Thanks!” She checked the time on her phone against her watch. She really needed to get to work if she was still hoping for that promotion. Maybe since this was her third try, she’d find a way. “Sorry, I—”

He glanced toward the back of the store. “Yeah, I’ve got to stop by the security office.” He tried to move out of her way when she attempted to step around him, and both sprang back. Annie’s bag slid off her shoulder, its handle hitting the crook of her arm. She grabbed for it, and it gaped open. Out plopped one of her winter-white pumps, plummeting to the floor.

Braden bent to retrieve it. “Looks like you dropped something,” he said, standing and handing her the shoe. She grabbed the toe of it, and he had the heel. Both of them froze. His blue eyes widened, appearing more sparkly and bluer than ever. He shook his head, bringing himself out of his trance, and shoved the shoe toward her. “Hey, have we—?”

“Ah no. No, I don’t think so,” she said, cramming the shoe back in her bag.

“No. Of course not. That would be weird.” He backed up a step. “Well, okay”—he licked his lips—“better run!”

“Uh-huh, right. See you around!” She inched away from him, nearly trampling over some folks exiting the elevators.

“Yeah, Annie. See ya!”

Hope so.

Her heart pounded.

At least she hadn’t said that out loud.