Christmas Eve Love Story

Thirty-Seven

On the day after Christmas

Annie snatched her cell phone off her nightstand and sat up in bed.

Okay. This is it.

The big moment she’d been waiting for.

Right. But why?

Her alarm hadn’t gone off. She’d imagined it. Maybe it was like getting a song stuck in your head. She used that same ring tone every day during the holiday season, starting with the day after Thanksgiving and running until after New Year’s. But today, she’d woken up naturally, roused by the sound of snow thudding against her window. There was no reason her phone should be intimating. Still. She viewed it askance. She drew in a deep breath and released it, daring to look at the date.

Dec 26

Winter Storm Warning

Relief crashed over her like a heavy ocean wave. Yes. Time was moving forward again. She’d gotten to—and through—Christmas Day. Yeah, she had. She’d hosted an enormous Christmas dinner too, for all the folks in her building! Wow.

Leo raised his head and blinked, kneading the covers by extending and withdrawing his claws. “Morning, boy.” He kept up his work, purring louder.

Braden’s surprise arrival had been the biggest wow of all. Maybe the universe had been kicking them in the head, because him showing up here, after the days they’d had together at the store? That had to mean something. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and a text message popped up on the screen. Braden.

Braden

Got the official word. Lawson’s is closed today.

Another day off! Maybe she could spend some of it with him? Sigh.

Braden

Feel like going for a walk?

Not saying no this time.

Annie

I’d love that.

Braden

How’s noon?

Annie

Noon sounds good!

Braden

Great. See you then!

Time to get going . Annie threw back the covers and Leo plopped onto the floor, looking stunned. Annie laughed. “Sorry, Leo!” She started to set her sock-covered feet on the floor but yanked them back. Why? She peered over her bed, but the floor was clear, of course. A couple of Leo’s new cat toys sat on her dresser, along with one of his older ones: the wand toy with the feather attached. She gingerly placed her toes on a floorboard and rocked back on her heels, standing up and holding her arms out at either side for balance. The floor didn’t open up, nor did the room cave in. What had she expected? Not that. It was December 26, the day after Christmas! She’d really broken out of that time loop!

She surveyed the window and then Leo. He sat down by the open doorway and meowed. She smirked. “Fine, okay. I’ll feed you.” But first! I’m checking the fire escape. She briskly strode to the window and yanked up the blinds. Deep mounds of snow covered the fire escape’s rungs and clung to its railings, as more white flakes cascaded from the sky. Yes! Woo-hoo! Not a great day for work, but a fine one for a wintry walk with a very special someone. If only I had those new snow boots.

***

A few hours later, Annie was dressed and enjoying a second cup of coffee at her kitchen table. She’d read through Patrice’s email at least a dozen times, making sure it had really happened. She was getting promoted to Lead Visual Artist, and Kira was her new full-time assistant. Leo strutted into the kitchen, and she picked him up and hugged him. Now he’d be taken care of too.

The intercom buzzed, and a weird déjà vu hit her. The room seemed to spin, and the lights grew brighter. Come on, stop it, Annie. Get a grip. It was probably someone buzzing the wrong apartment. That happened all the time. She put Leo down and walked to the intercom speaker in the hall, pressing its button. “Hello?”

“Package delivery for you.” Her heart soared. She’d know that voice anywhere. That was Braden. She checked her watch. A few minutes early, but she’d take him.

Annie laughed. “Well then, come on up.”

He knocked on her door, and Annie opened it, greeted by his big, handsome grin. He wore a heavy coat and snow boots and held his hat and gloves. “Found this for you down in the foyer.” He passed her the package, and she took it, letting him in and shutting the door.

“Yeah? What were you doing down there?”

“Checking my mom’s mail and peeking at the weather. Still coming down pretty hard. We may not last long.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

His blue eyes danced. “So am I.” Leo pranced toward him, and he stooped to pet his head. “Good morning, Leo. Have you been a good boy?”

“He has been very good. Not like he was on Christmas Eve.”

Braden straightened to his full height. “Yeah? What happened then?”

Annie shook her head. “He jumped up and hit my hand when I was feeding him breakfast. Made a nasty cat food mess all over the kitchen floor. He also hid my name tag before work— and went a little wild with some toilet paper while I was gone.”

“Oh nooo.” Braden chuckled and glanced at Leo’s empty stocking. “But he still got Santa?”

“Of course.” Annie squared her shoulders, feeling sassy. “Santa’s always forgiving and kind.” She carried her package into the kitchen and set it on the table, fishing through a drawer for her heavy-duty scissors. She hoped this was what she thought it was.

“Speaking of Old Saint Nick.” Braden leaned his shoulder into the door jam. “I caught up with Jerry over text.”

Annie located the kitchen shears and shut the drawer. “HR Jerry?”

“That’s the one.” Braden crossed his arms. “Funny thing about that department-store Santa. No one can find his records anywhere.”

Annie’s mouth dropped open. “How can that be?”

“He came from an agency, but they’ve got no paper trail. Said he must have been sent by the other staffing firm Lawson’s uses, but they claim it was the other guys, not them.”

Annie wrinkled up her nose. “He didn’t just appear out of nowhere.”

Braden rubbed the side of his neck. “No.”

“Because, obviously , there is no Santa Claus.”

“Right.”

Braden laughed first, and then so did she.

“Santa Claus!” She shook her head. “Ha-ha-ha!”

He snorted. “I believe that’s ho ho ho!”

The room fell silent, and they stared at each other.

Braden shook his head. “No.”

“Of course not,” Annie said. Because, seriously? There were no elves or reindeer. And there most definitely wasn’t such thing as Santa. Outside of her snow globe, and many hopeful kids’ imaginations.

Braden noted the kitchen scissors in her hand, poised over the package.

“What do you have there?” he asked, bringing her back down to earth and away from fanciful musings. Santa Claus? Really, Annie.

“New snow boots, I hope.” She cut through the tape on the box and flipped open its lid. “Finally!” She pulled one shiny red snow boot out of the box and then the other. They were waterproof and fleece lined with sturdy nonskid soles.

Braden studied her boots. “I like the color. Very Christmassy.”

She sat in a kitchen chair to try them on. “Yes, but Christmas is over.”

His smile took her breath away. “Not in my mind, it’s not.”

Yeah, she got that part. She couldn’t believe it was the day after Christmas, and she was spending it with Braden, the most handsome and charming guy she knew. Annie wiggled into her new pair of boots and stood, doing a small pirouette in the center of the kitchen. “So, what do you think?”

“They’re perfect,” he said. “They suit you.”

“Let me get my coat.”

He nodded and followed her into the back hallway. She grabbed her coat off a hanger in the closet and put it on. Her arm caught in one of the sleeves.

“Here, let me.” He held the coat up for her.

“Thanks.” Annie peered over her shoulder, and her heart fluttered. His face was so close, his blue eyes shining.

“You’re welcome.” Her pretty snow globe in the living room caught her eye, its shiny dome glistening beneath the colorful lights of her Christmas tree. She did believe , she did. Now more than ever. In so many things.

“Annie.” He pointed above them, and she spied the mistletoe. “I think”—he gently held her waist and turned her toward him—“that’s a sign.” His heady scent washed over her, lemon and spice and everything nice .

Her face warmed. “Has to be.”

He pulled her into a hug. “I had the weirdest dream about us.”

“Did you? Oh?”

“It was like we’d done all these things together, and then? I woke up, and poof! It was gone. Annie, level with me.” He scanned her eyes. “Did we spend more than one day together at Lawson’s?”

“Er.” She bit her lip. “Is that what you remember?”

“It’s what I believe,” he said. “And something in my soul says maybe that’s what that napkin was about. Believe Annie . Funny thing.” He cocked his head. “This morning, I did a little research on my phone. I was looking for information on our department-store Santa, but guess what popped up on my browser?” Annie’s pulse stuttered. When she’d erased her contact information and his Christmas Eve notes from his phone, she’d forgotten all about his internet search history. It hadn’t even occurred to her. “Tabs from my previous searches on time travel,” he said. “Wormholes, black holes, causal loops. Any idea why I would have looked up those?”

“Braden.” She swallowed hard. “Yes, actually.”

He grinned and tugged her nearer. “That’s what I thought.”

“And you’re—okay with that?” she asked.

“Maybe not okay , but I am okay with admitting there’s a lot to unpack here.” He smiled softly. “‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio—’”

“Shakespeare,” she said, growing breathy.

“Yeah.” He laid a palm on her cheek. “I’m still not clear on everything in the past, but I do have a sense about my future. I want you in it, Annie.” His mouth drew nearer. “I mean,” he added hoarsely, “if you’ll have me?”

Yes, yes, and yes! “Boy, will I ever.”

“That’s good to hear.” He kissed her full on the lips, and she went all melty inside.

After a lingering moment, he pulled back and nodded toward the door. “Now, how about that walk? Still want to brave it?”

She put on a sassy smirk. “I will, if you will.”

“All right.” His eyes glinted impishly. “Just watch out for flying snowballs.”

“What?” She gasped at his challenge. “You wouldn’t dare.”

He held up his hands. “Just a friendly warning.”

“Friendly? Ha!” She nudged his arm. “In that case, I’ll warn you too.”

Braden took her hand and kissed it. “Can’t wait.”

She couldn’t wait for a lot of things with Braden. She peeked at her open bedroom door, but no. Not yet. If things kept going well though, time would tell.

They got all suited up and traipsed down the stairs, passing Harrington in the hallway. He stood by the line of mailboxes, retrieving his mail. “Hello, lovebirds.”

Annie blushed hotly. “Harrington, hi.”

He winked at her. “Can’t put much past this old man.” She didn’t mind Harrington noting the happy glow on her face, and—more than likely—the stars in her eyes. A couple of weeks ago, she never would have imagined starting a relationship with a brand-new man. A brand-new gorgeous and wonderful man.

Braden latched on to Annie’s hand, holding her mitten in his glove. “Come on, sweetness.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s go play in the snow.”

Frigid gusts blustered through Annie’s hair as they trod carefully down the outdoor steps in their snow boots, and her eyes burned from the cold. Braden cuddled Annie in his arms on the sidewalk where heavy snow pummeled them, coating their hats and eyelashes. “Maybe this was a bad idea?” he joked.

She traced his handsome jaw with her mitten. “I’m okay so far.” Despite the icy winds, Annie wasn’t cold. She felt blanketed in his warmth.

He tightened his embrace. “I have a feeling this is going to be fun.” His smile lit up her soul. “And I’m not just talking about our snowball fight.”

“Yeah.” She grinned, her heart so happy and light. “Me too.”

They kissed sweetly, and visions of their tomorrows flitted around them like tiny snowflakes in a snow globe, swirling and twirling through the air, and putting the challenges of the past behind them.

Soon, nothing was left but the present—and a very bright future.