Page 4 of When You're Home for the Holidays
“I knew it was important to you,” he replied with a shrug, unfazed that he had just spent $500 on five ornaments. “Want to look around some more while we wait? I think I saw some kids in line to talk to a ginormous snowman with light up eyes. That, or I’m reallyreallyhigh.”
Tori shook her head. Fielding wasn’t kidding when he called this trip an adventure. “Sure. But let’s try to make our way to the front and check out sooner rather than later. Once your buddy Martha is done, I want to go home.”
They meandered through the aisles, all of which were less crowded now that it was almost closing time. There were sports ornaments and animal ornaments; entire aisles organized by color and theme. They walked through three rows of life-size Santas, which was funny at first, then creepy by the end of the third row. And much to Fielding’s delight, there was, in fact, a gigantic snowman named Archie set up in the corner of the store.
He insisted on waiting in line for his turn to talk to Archie, even though Tori refused to participate. She stood back and recorded the entire encounter, then sent the video to Jake and Fielding’s twin brother, Dempsey.
“I’ve had enough gummies tonight,” he said as he made his way back to her with a goofy grin on his face. He handed her a sugarcoated green gumdrop wrapped in plastic that he must have picked up from Archie’s elf escort.
Tori accepted the candy, ripped it open, and popped it into her mouth. “Want to go check on the ornaments?” she tried to ask around a mouthful of sticky lime-flavored gelatin.
Fielding just looked at her and laughed. “If I wasn’t high, I wouldn’t know what the hell you just tried to say.” He kept chuckling as he turned on his heel. “I’ll go track down the magnificent Martha. Why don’t you head to checkout, and I’ll meet you at the front when we’re done?”
Tori smiled, then grinned even wider when she looked down at her phone to read Jake and Dempsey’s reactions. Outside the group text Jake had messaged her separately.
Jake: You guys heading home soon?
Tori: Yep. Finishing up here, then it’s just 30 minutes back to the cabin.
Jake: Who’s driving?
Shit. She should have led with that. Fielding was clearly not fit to drive, and she didn’t want Jake to worry.
Tori: I’m driving. Fielding is obviously high. It’s barely raining here now.
Jake: Just checking. Go slow and be safe. I’ll have dinner ready for you guys when you get here. Want to watch a movie tonight?
Tori: Yes! As long as it’s NOT The Holiday…
Jake: What? Why not? You know that’s my literal favorite Christmas movie.
Tori: It barely counts as a Christmas movie.
Jake: Two words for you, baby: Jude. Law.
Tori: How is that supposed to convince me?
Jake: Baby. It’s JUDE LAWWWWWW
Tori: Still not convinced.
Jake: Fine. Jack Black as a talented musician without all the pesky 5thgraders?
Jake: Kate Winslet showing off the breaststroke she didn’t know how to do in Titanic?
Jake: Cameron Diaz drunkenly dancing around to one of the greatest songs of all time?!
Jake: Seriously. There are so many things to love about that movie. Take your pick! But don’t pick Jude. He’s mine.
Tori: You’re ridiculous. I want to watch a classic holiday movie, not a rom-com that happens to include a few mentions of Christmas and Hanukkah.
Jake: Yet Tootie and Agnes throwing flour on people on Halloween is supposed to put me in the Christmas spirit?
He had her there. ButMeet Me in St. Louiswas her favorite.
Tori: We’ll let Fielding decide.
Jake: You know he’s going to side with you.
