Christmas Eve Love Story

Fifteen

Annie brought the train track pieces over to the Christmas tree, and Braden carried the engine and three of the boxcars. They’d set these things by the front of the window earlier while cleaning up and re-dressing the tree. “This should make easy work,” Braden said. The toy train itself wasn’t that big. There were six boxcars altogether and the bright-red caboose.

Annie squatted to connect the track pieces until they formed a wide circle around the base of the Christmas tree and its skirt. She smiled up at him. “Yes, we’re almost done!” The icicle lights had been secured over the window, and the decorations were all back on the mantel.

“Everything’s shaping up.” Braden set down the engine and boxcars, going back to get the rest of the boxcars and the caboose. He handed them to Annie, and she held up an empty boxcar, peering into it. “It would be fun to fill these with something.”

“Any ideas?”

“I’ll think on it.”

He passed her the caboose, and Annie chuckled. “Guess that’s you!” she said, holding it up.

“Sorry?” He glanced over his shoulder, stealing a peek at his bum.

“Oh! Um. Not that— What I meant was—” Think. Think. Think. “Didn’t you say something about being the baby brother?”

“Did I? When?”

“Uh, earlier?”

“Earlier?” He scratched his head. “But not today?”

“I, er—think we spoke at the”—she peered at the shimmering lights on the tree—“holiday party!”

She could tell he was searching his mind and drawing a blank. “That’s funny,” he said. “I don’t remember seeing you there.”

“That’s because I was only there briefly. Very, very briefly, like in the blink of an eye!” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“If you say so,” he said, still looking unsure.

Enough about the party you didn’t go to, Annie! “So, erm”—she lifted the engine and a boxcar, one in each hand—“should we hook up?”

Braden blinked. “Well. Annie.” He cleared his throat.

Noooo. “No, gosh, no.” She scrambled to her feet. “Not hook up .”

He set one hand on his duty belt, dangerously close to those handcuffs.

Annie’s chin jerked up. “I mean, n-n-not yet .” Eeep! Did you actually say that? Please, floor, open up and swallow me now. “Or-or probably ever!”

“Never?”

She couldn’t exactly promise him that. But he did not need to know about her fantasies. She’d already blabbed enough. “What I meant was! Ha!”

“Ahh, gotcha.” He stared down at the track. “You want us to put the train set together.”

“ Yes. ” Thank God. She kept her eyes glued to the floor as they did that, not daring to peek at Braden. First the elevator, then the window tackle, now the hookup talk? What was wrong with her? She was making a mess of this day, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t had practice.

They attached the train cars, and Brandon switched on the engine. It took off circling around the tree, merrily pulling the other cars along. They both stood and dusted the fake snow glitter from their pants. She peeked at Brandon and caught him staring at her. Who knows what he thought of her now. But maybe this wasn’t a bad thing. In a very weird—and okay, okay awkward —way, they were bonding.

Braden shifted on his feet. “Cute train.”

“Yeah, er. It looks really sweet!” She straightened her vest. “Braden?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks for breaking my fall earlier, when”—she shrugged—“you know.”

“Glad no one got hurt.”

“Plus, nothing got broken!” she said.

He nodded with amazement. “Good thing about Santa’s cookies and milk all being fake, and that plate made of plastic. Those Christmas tree balls too.” He grinned at her. “You really planned this carefully.”

Maybe not the first time. Annie heaved a breath. “Yeah.” Keeping this alternate reality from Braden just felt wrong . She’d tried talking to him about it earlier, but there didn’t seem to be any great way to explain things so he’d understand. Still. She seemed to be punching holes through this time loop bit by bit. She was spending more time with her neighbors, and obviously with Braden too. If only all the people she was getting to know better, were also getting to know her better back—so they were truly connecting.

Santa stopped to examine the window. “Nice job, you two!” He adjusted his Santa hat.

“Wait for it,” Annie whispered to Braden. “He’s going to say something isn’t quite right.” Even though she’d majorly embarrassed herself in front of him, many times now, she was growing more comfortable around Braden. Maybe it was because of those moments that they felt more like kindred spirits? He’d never judged her negatively in any way, and all her assessments about him had been heart-poundingly favorable.

Santa eyed the table holding the fake cookies and milk. “Still. This display could use a little something.”

Braden repressed a grin. “How did you know?” he asked under his breath.

“I’m a very good guesser.” Annie winked, feeling emboldened and maybe a tiny bit flirty. And flirting with Braden felt good, like she should have done it a little more.

Oh yeah, right.

She had.

Duty belt, hook up, gah.

“I’ve got it!” Santa snapped his gloved fingers. “Those cookies! They’re not quite right.”

“Cookies?” Annie asked. “They’re not real ones, Santa.”

“No, but what kind do you have there?” He ambled over to get a closer look.

Annie retrieved the plate and took it to him. “Fake sugar cookies and gingerbread people.”

Santa clicked his tongue. “That’s what it is!” He smiled at Braden and Annie. “Everybody knows Santa’s favorite cookies are oatmeal raisin.” Annie didn’t want to argue with the older man, but she’d never heard that one before.

“You don’t possibly have any of those in back?” Braden asked her.

Annie thought on this. “The box of prop cookies is a variety pack.”

“Aha!” Santa said. “You see there? Should be simple enough to add some.” Annie winced at Braden. She felt kind of caught, but what did it matter in the scheme of things?

Braden held open his hands. “Why not?”

True. Everything Santa had suggested had helped improve the window display. She wasn’t sure what oatmeal raisin cookies would add, but she decided to humor Kris Kringle. “Sure, Santa,” she told him. “Really great idea, thanks!”

Braden followed her into the stockroom and chuckled. “Man, oh man. That guy thinks he’s the real deal.”

“Maybe he is the real deal?” Annie teased.

“Now, Annie. Don’t go getting any ideas.” Her nerves skittered happily at the thought of them spending more time together. She really hoped they’d get to go to the Blue Dot. Maybe she shouldn’t chance it? Why not ask him?

Come on, Annie, Tina’s voice egged her on, be brave .

“Aha! Here it is!” She pulled the cookie box from a shelf and examined its contents through its clear plastic window. There were four of each kind of the different varieties and— yes— oatmeal raisin was included. She slid out the plastic tray holding them and removed two oatmeal raisin cookies. She passed Braden the oatmeal cookies and he held them. “The only idea I’m getting,” she said, “is that I’d like to finish this up so we can go get coffee.” Annie flushed. That came out so direct . So different from how she was—normally.

But maybe this was her new normal? Every day was changing ever so slightly. Maybe she was too?

Braden cocked his head, looking pleased. “Are you asking me to coffee, Annie?” At least that was tamer than what he’d thought she’d been suggesting earlier.

She slid the cookie box back on the shelf. “Might be.”

“Only if you’ll let me buy.”

“That hardly seems fair—when you’ve done so much to help me.”

“How about this?” He smiled. “You can buy next time?”

Her heart pounded so, so hard. Next time? Yes. She’d love that, she really would. Annie wanted there to be a “next time” with all her heart. “All right,” she said, like her pulse wasn’t racing and her mind spiraling off in all sorts of directions. Braden seemed so nice. Outgoing and kind. He’d probably make the very best boyfriend someday.

Don’t get ahead of yourself, Annie.

You’ll have to get out of this time loop first.

Braden held open the stockroom door. “So. About that coffee,” he said as she walked past him. “Where were you thinking?”

“The Blue Dot has great jelly donuts, I hear. ”

He grinned, and his voice went husky. “I love that place.”