Page 46 of A Not So Merry Ex-Mas

Odds are, I’m worrying for nothing. That expression could’ve been about anything and not have anything to do with me.

I shake the snow from my coat and stomp my boots before slipping them off and putting them away. I rub my hands together, trying to eliminate the chill embracing me from the inside out.

“I hear the plow coming down the street; I’m gonna wait for it to pass to clear the driveway.” Cole closes the door before I can respond.

Why does the closing door feel like it’s closing something in me?

“Noelle. He got a look…that’s all. A look.” I chastise myself and try to shake away the fear gripping me.

What if he’s uncertain of us getting back together? What if he’s regretting the time here with me?

Thoughts roll in like storm clouds, and I give myself a mental and physical shake.

“Cole will tell you what that look was about when he’s ready,” I try to comfort myself. “He will!”

Doubt that I can’t do anything about at the moment consumes me. So, instead of dwelling on it, I head to the kitchen and prepare to bake sugar cookies.

Yeah, just plain old sugar cookies. From how insistent Mel is about getting them fresh, you would think I made something like Jam or Ricotta cookies. Of course, I know how to make those, too. Gran loved baking and passed that joy on to me.

A small smile lifts the corner of my mouth as I think about Gran, and almost simultaneously, a heaviness clenches my chest. This time of year is bittersweet forme. It’s the time I feel closest to my grandmother and saddest that she’s no longer with me.

I faintly hearJingle Bellsplaying and realize I left my phone on the nightstand. I run down the hallway and grab it but miss Mel’s call. I’m attempting to call her back whenJingle Bellsplays again.

“Merry Christmas Eve,” Mel and Mike all but scream on the phone, and besides having my hearing potentially permanently damaged, a smile crawls across my face. “Dan told us that he was plowing the street, and we’re officially on the road.”

“Merry Christmas Eve! I can’t wait to see you,” I say as I walk down the hallway and back into the kitchen. Turning on the speaker phone, I go back to gathering mixing bowls, baking sheets, and anything else I need.

“Do those sounds mean what I think they mean?” Mel's voice inches up a few octaves, but Mike’s comment has me grinning. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“It could mean anything,” I tease, having a bit of fun torturing my best friend.

“Noelle, please don’t tease her,” Mike begs. “It’s been a rough morning.”

A laugh spits out at the desperation in his voice.

“Michael!” She yells just as Mike responds, “What? It has been.”

Suddenly, everything is muffled, and it sounds like Mel may have covered the phone to lecture Mike on what to say and not say.

Which has me wondering what my best friend is hiding.

The front door closes, and I hear Cole fiddling around by the front door.

“The driveway is clear,” he yells as I hear him pick up a log and put it on the fire.

“Mel already gave me an update,” I yell back. “They’re on their way now.”

He walks into the kitchen and puts his head over my shoulder, unaware that Mike and Mel are on the phone.

“Mike will be relieved that these will be ready when they arrive. Apparently, Mel has been a bit on the cranky side.”

“MICHAEL!” Mel screams, and I hear a muffled slap from the other end of the phone. Cole cringes when he realizes his mistake, but I can’t stop the laugh that escapes me.

“Thanks a lot, man!” Mike scolds. “Now I have another hour in the caralone—”

“You’re not gonna make it five more minutes if you don’t stop,” Cole says before he and I cover our mouths as our glances meet.

“With my amazingly beautiful wife,” Mike says, attempting to cover his massive mistake.

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