Page 28 of Jingle Bell Jilt
I frown. I shouldn’t think of us as ‘us’. We’re not a couple. We’re barely acquaintances. Although, in the last six hours, it’s felt more like we’re more than acquaintances. Maybe we’re friends? She’s just so easy to talk to.
Her ideas have me anticipating what’s coming. I mean, I have no idea how any of the things she bought are going to make anything remotely resembling Christmas decorations. Or at least nothing I would expect to see outside of an elementary school or retirement center. But I must admit, I’m kind of excited to see the outcome. It’s the first time I’ve been excited for Christmas in years.
I give her a you’ll-be-sorry look. “Hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you. I play to win.”
“Consider me warned.” She looks out the side window. “Thanks for agreeing to all this. You probably think I’m as weird as that Mrs. Claus lady.”
I chuckle. “I thought she looked like that too.”
“I suppose working in a Christmas store doesn’t help with the stereotype.” She flashes me a smile. “Anyway, I do appreciate you going along with my crazy.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy.” I turn into my neighborhood, and, for the first time, I’m a little sad that I don’t have Christmas lights up like some of the other houses. But it’s too late for that. “It’s probably about time that I decorated for Christmas. You’re just ripping off the BandAid.”
She chuckles. “That’s just how I hoped you’d describe it. It has such a merry tone to it.”
We pull into the driveway in front of what should have been her rental. The door is still open, and hoses and cords clutter the walkway from the van parked in front.
“Let’s get this stuff inside,” I say as I hold her door open and wait for her to step out.
She stands next to me, her bag hanging on her arm but held close to her body. “I’ll grab the ones I got at Walmart. Do you mind getting the others?”
I nod. “I wouldn’t want you to see the awesome sweater you get to wear.” I open the tailgate. “Speaking of sweaters, when are we wearing them exactly?”
“Tomorrow. When else would we wear them?”
I admit to being pleased about that, as it seems unlikely we’ll leave the house on Christmas Day. “Okay. So will my cookies be made tomorrow too?” I grin and flick my brows up at her.
She nods. “I’m pretty sure I can eat brownies and ice cream any day of the week or on any holiday.”
We each load our arms with bags and head inside.
* * *
I lookaround my family room and can barely believe it. The decorations would likely never be featured in a society magazine, but considering she only spent forty bucks on supplies (including the eight dollars on glue guns, glue, and elastic bands), I am pleasantly impressed with the outcome.
Silver, light blue, and red Christmas tree ornaments hang from differing lengths of Christmas ribbon off the builder-grade light fixture over my kitchen table. It’s by far the best the light has ever looked. She’s inverted black spray-painted champagne glasses and added small lidded candy dishes onto the former bases. Little battery-powered votive candles flicker inside, casting a warm glow on the fireplace mantle. Tuffs of real pine boughs—apparently if you bat your eyelashes at the guy in the tree department, he’ll let you have some of the branches that have been cut off the bottoms of the live trees—decorate the space around the new base of the ‘candlesticks’.
There are two green tinsel trees of different sizes standing in the corner. Neither is taller than four feet, but they add a much-needed festive look to the room. The same silver, blue, and red bulbs have been glued on the trees and a string of lights add just the right amount of sparkle. Not even the entryway table has been ignored. Three boxes of candy canes line the outside of the vase. I’m guessing the elastic band she had to buy the whole bag for, is hidden under the Christmas ribbon holding them in place. Branches covered in clear and white glitter stand upright, making it feel very high-end.
Holy crap. I totally lost this contest.
I stare down at the two boxes of decorated garland in my hands and wince. Compared to what Shay has done, the pine looks rather sparse and the ‘decorations’ and lights look cheap. Some of the paint is already chipping off. The worst part? I actually spent four dollars over our limit.
I sit on the couch and stare at the felt Christmas stockings hanging from the entertainment center. Yes, she even made stockings. I’m not sure why we have them, but I have a sneaking suspicion that perhaps she bought things to fill my stocking.
This sends a shock of panic through me. I hadn’t thought to get her anything other than the sweater. And that can hardly be considered a ‘gift.’ I check my watch. “Hey, if we’re going to get pizza, I should probably order so I can go grab it before it gets too busy.”
She looks up as she attaches a big ribbon bow to the tops of the tinsel garland trees. “Do you have to go pick it up? They don’t deliver?”
I shake my head. “Not the good kind of pizza.” It’s a lie, pure and simple. But if the pizza is delivered, how am I going to sneak out to buy some stocking stuffers for her?
She puts her hands on her thighs and pushes herself up. “I can come with you.”
“No.” It comes out a bit harsher and louder than I intend. But that would definitely ruin my plans.
She looks away, but I can see her brow is deeply creased. “I’m sorry. I’ve taken over your Christmas Eve.” She shakes her head. “I haven’t even given you a chance to say no to all of this.” She waves her hand around the decorated room.
“No. It’s not that.” But I don’t know what to tell her besides the truth. And I’m not certain I want her to know the truth. I put my hands out in front of me like I’m trying to calm a skittish dog. “Surprisingly, I love all this. You totally won the contest. Hands down.” My shoulders drop. “I forgot to get something when I was at the store earlier. And I thought I would just grab it on my way to get the pizza.”
