T.M. Croke
Carter’s heart thudded to a stop as the stream of red cascaded down the right hand side of the Departures screen.
This can’t be happening.
A snowstorm had struck with fury, and now every plane east of Ontario was grounded. That included Toronto, where she and her partner Amelia had recently arrived after a five hour flight to make their connections. Amelia was going to see her folks in Halifax, and Carter was on her way to St. John’s. Apparently they were going nowhere tonight. They would be lucky to get another flight by Christmas Day, or even Boxing Day.
Risking a glance to the side, Carter held her breath as she waited for a reaction from Amelia, who was rhythmically tapping on her iPhone, her mouth twisted in concentration. Amelia swiped dark bangs away from her equally dark blue eyes, eyes that Carter found herself lost in on a daily basis.
“Damn.”
Amelia’s exclamation startled Carter from her reverie.
“This website is useless. Guess we should go find out how bad this is.”
Carter gripped the handle of the luggage cart, ready to follow Amelia to the ticket counter. “At least it happened here and not in Halifax.”
Amelia turned to face Carter. “At least if we were in Halifax, we wouldn’t be stuck in the airport.”
“You wouldn’t be stuck in the airport,” Carter retorted.
Amelia was very close to her family, but they had never accepted that she was a lesbian, never acknowledged or accepted her relationship with Carter. At Christmas, that translated into separate holiday celebrations for each of the six years of their relationship.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed as she slapped Carter’s arm. “They wouldn’t leave you stuck in the airport alone.”
“Good to know,” Carter said with an incredulous grin. Amelia might have believed that of her parents, but Carter wasn’t so sure.
Carter had wanted them to stay at home in Vancouver and celebrate Christmas together, but Amelia’s need to please her parents made it unlikely that would ever happen. It was a tired and familiar discussion, but she was glad they had gotten past the argument about the holidays and were able to tease each other about it.
Amelia rolled her eyes as she linked her fingers with Carter’s. “Come on, let’s find out what’s going on.”
* * *
Air Canada’s service counter was bombarded with stranded travelers desperate to reschedule their travel plans.
“It’s going to be okay.” Carter rubbed Amelia’s arm. “Hopefully the storm will pass quickly, and we can catch a late evening flight.”
Forty minutes later, they reached the front of the line at the ticket counter, where a harried woman attempted a smile. Carter thought that her expression said she had been yelled at one too many times that day. People lost all their Christmas spirit when it came to travel delays.
“Good afternoon. How can I help you today?”
“Our flights to Halifax and St. John’s have been cancelled.” Amelia handed their boarding passes to the agent. “We need to rebook.”
The agent tapped her computer keys. Her mouth formed a tight, thin line as she reluctantly relayed the results of her search. “It looks like the next available flight to Halifax is tomorrow morning at 10:15, with the connection to St. John’s departing at two.”
“We’ll take it.” Carter turned to Amelia. “One night. We’ll survive, right?”
“Right. When we finish up here, I’ll try some hotels to find a room.”
Her voice cracking with fatigue, the airline agent interjected, “We’ve already contacted a number of hotels in the area, and unfortunately everything in the vicinity is booked through the next few days.” She smiled sympathetically. “We’re offering blankets and small pillows, as well as meal vouchers.”
Carter closed her eyes and counted to ten. She and Amelia only had this one night together for the entire holiday; could they possibly spend it in the airport? She shrugged. People had done it before and apparently survived no worse for the wear.
With their new travel documents in hand, Carter and Amelia tucked their blankets and pillows atop the luggage on their cart and moved out into the crowded airport until they found a spot they could stop and discuss their options.
“Bet you’re wishing we were stuck in Halifax now,” Amelia whispered with a smile.
Carter leaned in, her lips brushing Amelia’s ear, causing her to shudder. “I’ll take my chances with the airport.” She stepped back with a chuckle.
Amelia smiled back. “Say that to me again in the morning, when you’re stiff from lying on a chair all night.”
Carter pulled her phone from her jacket pocket and tapped out a text to her younger brother, notifying him of her change of plans. “Done. I texted David and told him we were delayed. He’ll tell Mom and Dad.”
“If only I could get away with a text.” Amelia blew out a deep breath.
Carter kissed her forehead. “You call your parents. I’m going to scout out the airport.”
* * *
Carter returned to find Amelia leaning against a wall, engaged in an animated phone conversation, their luggage cart propped against her leg. Her body slumped forward as she ended the call, which Carter assumed had been with her mother. She looked tired, Carter thought, and it was only the beginning of a long night.
Carter grasped Amelia’s hands in hers and tugged her forward. “Come on.” She pulled Amelia against her in a warm embrace. “Grab the cart and follow me.”
“Where?” Amelia grabbed her jacket, which she had thrown across the cart. “Most of the chairs are taken.”
“Come on. I’ve found us a prime spot, and I don’t want to lose it,” Carter blurted out in delight.
“You found us a room in a four star hotel?”
Carter rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on.”
She led Amelia down a hallway to an almost secluded alcove, where she took the handle of their luggage cart and tucked it against the wall.
“Here?” Amelia questioned indignantly. “You want me to sleep on the floor?”
Carter stared back at her. “It will be more comfortable here than trying to sleep on chairs. I’ll spread the blanket so we can stretch out, and it doesn’t seem to be that busy down here, so we’ll have some degree of privacy. We can pretend we’re camping.” She grinned.
Carter knew that Amelia hated camping, but she shook out one of the blankets and laid it on the floor in invitation.
Amelia took a moment to size up the small space, then gave in with a loud sigh. “I guess it’s better than nothing.”
Carter was surprised by how easily Amelia had given in. “That’s my girl,” she said in a low voice, rubbing Amelia’s arm in a comforting gesture.
Giving Carter a half-hearted scowl, Amelia grumbled, “You better have cards or something in your bag to entertain me.” She dropped down on the blanket.
“I have my iPad. We can watch a movie later.” Carter knelt down on the blanket in front of Amelia and cradled her face in her palms. “It’ll be Christmas morning before you know it.”
Their eyes locked, and twin smiles appeared on their faces. In the rush of the day, it was only now that Carter realized this would be the first Christmas they would actually be spending together in their six year relationship. For so many years they had made separate plans with their families, but now they would be together on Christmas Day. It didn’t matter that they were spending it on a dirty floor in a crowded airport, just that they would be together when they woke on Christmas morning.
Amelia laughed. “Who thought the first time we would get to spend Christmas holidays together would be in an airport.”
Euphoria poured from those few words, and Carter’s eyes lit up as she kissed Amelia soundly. “You okay here if I go get us something to eat before everything closes?”
Amelia nodded. “Okay, but don’t be long.”
Carter quickly kissed her again. “Back in a flash.” She stood and strode toward the concourse, Amelia’s soft laughter trailing behind her.
The shops were crowded with people picking anything and everything off the shelves. Carter snagged a few packets of almonds and a couple of bottles of water. Snacks in hand, Carter hurried through the airport in search of a sandwich shop to use the food vouchers.
In a way, it was like any other day at the airport and not at all like Christmas Eve. Of course, it was an international airport, and not everyone celebrated the holiday, but then, as she turned a corner, the glow of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree appeared before her.
She stood and stared. A tingle danced down her spine, and Carter’s smile widened. She was determined to make this Christmas an amazing experience for Amelia, starting with the small gift she had slipped into Amelia’s suitcase earlier that morning for her to find when she got to Halifax. Carter would have to distract Amelia when she returned, or wait until she was asleep before taking it out. Seeing Amelia’s face light up when she opened it would be a thousand times better in person than over a choppy ten inch screen on her iPad.
She turned away from the tree towards a small deli, searching her mind for ways to make this a Christmas to remember.
* * *
After a few shopping stops, Carter made her way back to their airport home with food in hand. Stopping about thirty feet away from their campsite, she stood and stared at Amelia, who sat propped against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles. Long dark hair tumbled about her shoulders, framing her delicate face. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips slightly parted. Carter’s heart skipped a beat. She was definitely the luckiest woman in the world.
As if Amelia sensed her presence, blue eyes turned in her direction. A slow smile crossed Amelia’s face, and Carter’s knees shook. Despite the many years they had been together, one look from Amelia still made her heart flutter.
Carter bridged the gap between them, and Amelia grabbed for the plastic bags in her hand.
“What did you get?”
“Hey!” Carter held the bags away. “It’s a surprise,” she teased, knowing full well that Amelia hated surprises.
Amelia rolled her eyes. “I am starving. I hope you brought me something good to eat, or your hunter-gatherer status might be called into question.”
Carter laughed as she pulled out a sandwich and handed it over. “Turkey, mustard, no mayo,” she said, listing off the ingredients she knew so well.
“Yum.” Amelia smiled as she accepted the sandwich.
“I did splurge and pick up a pack of chips for us to share.”
Carter had barely held them up when Amelia snatched them from her. Chuckling, Carter took out her own sandwich, casually setting the other bags down behind her carry-on, away from Amelia’s prying eyes.
“So…many people around?” Amelia asked between bites. “It’s so quiet here, it’s as if we’re the only ones around.”
“There’s still a lot of people milling about, killing time. When it gets later, more people will be hunkering down, I suspect. There are all sorts of makeshift sleeping areas popping up.” Carter finished the last of her sandwich. “After dinner, you should take a walk around the airport to stretch your legs and have a look.”
“And find some coffee.”
Carter smiled. “Yes, find some coffee. I forgot. After you finish your dinner, you should see if you can find a Starbucks.
Crumpling her sandwich wrapper, Amelia said, “That hit the spot. Your hunter-gatherer status is still in good standing, but I still need coffee.”
Amelia got to her feet, grabbed her knapsack, pecked Carter on the cheek, and departed. She was gone so long, Carter wondered if she had caught a plane to Colombia to get the beans first hand, but when she returned with small white cup, Carter’s eyebrows raised.
“Starbucks was closed, but I managed to find a vending machine.” Amelia frowned as she pointed at the cup. “They say its coffee, but I think they skimped on the beans.”
“That good, huh?” Carter kidded, enjoying the smile that the warm elixir put on Amelia’s face. Coffee was her one true addiction.
“It’s caffeine. You know how I hate to go without.” She plopped down next to Carter. “Everything is closed now, and people seem to be settling down for the night.”
Carter put an arm around her and sighed. Content. It was the first word that came to her mind. Amelia filled her with such contentment. Their first Christmas together, Carter thought, but would it be their last? Would their tradition of spending separate holidays ever change? Would Amelia’s parents always have the priority hold over her? Carter wanted to think that at some point, she would come first. It was silly, really. For the last six years, they had gotten through the holidays just fine by celebrating on another date, but now that Fate had given them this day, she couldn’t help wanting more.
They sat in comfortable silence, people-watching and playing chess on Carter’s iPad. Carter lost every game, distracted by her opponent. As the hours crept by, they took turns stretching their legs by wandering about the airport, bumping into other wayward travellers, returning to share the stories with one another.
The night was winding down as they sat snuggled together reading. Amelia yawned and rested her head against Carter’s shoulder.
Carter kissed the top of her head. “Stretch out, get comfortable.” She smiled at Amelia’s sleepy eyes. “It’s going to be a long night.”
Amelia quickly acquiesced. She threw off her shoes, lay down, and wiggled her toes against Carter’s hip. “Why don’t you curl up with me,” she asked through a deep yawn.
“I want to finish this chapter,” Carter lied. She knew Amelia would be asleep before long. It had been a long day and they were both exhausted, but Carter’s excitement was keeping her awake.
“Well, read fast, and then come cuddle.”
Warmth enveloped Carter as Amelia wiggled her toes on Carter’s thighs.
“Oh yeah?” Carter wanted nothing more than to curl up with Amelia and wrap her arms around her, to kiss and touch her, but they weren’t alone. That didn’t satisfy her active libido. After six years together, time had not diminished the desire Amelia stirred in her. She peered out into the airport where a few people were still trying to find a place to settle for the night, and then she looked back at Amelia and waggled her eyebrows.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. I just want you to keep me warm.” Amelia chuckled and curled onto her side.
When she was asleep, Carter eased away and watched her for a while. She could have continued doing so for a long time, but it was getting late and she had many things to do before she would get the chance to close her own eyes.
Carter quietly eased to her feet and stretched. No matter how often she moved, the hard floor still made her stiff. She gingerly bent to retrieve her now mostly empty knapsack, and then she set off on a quick trip around the airport to get what she needed.
Her first order of business took her down one concourse and through another, stepping over people resting in bunches on the floor. In the centre of the aisle between two departure gates was the Christmas display she’d spied earlier. Again she stared at the tree, mesmerized by the twinkling of its gold and glitter decorations.
As she fingered the bows, she took a quick look around to make sure that no one was looking or wandering nearby. If not for the fear of getting caught, Carter would have lifted the whole tree and carried it back to their airport home. Borrowing four or five balls and a small amount of ribbon would have to do. She would return them tomorrow; she just wanted to make Christmas morning special for Amelia.
Childhood memories washed over her, memories of enchantment and wonder. This was the way she hoped Amelia would feel when she woke in the morning.
A large red teardrop bulb with gold glitter stood out, and Carter delicately lifted its hook from the supporting branch and placed it into her knapsack. With a racing heart and trembling fingers, she liberated a few more ornaments from the limbs of the artificial tree.
“And what do you think you’re doing?” a stern voice questioned from behind.
Carter jumped, covering her mouth to suppress a scream, then she reluctantly turned around. “Um…I… This doesn’t look good, does it?”
The security guard folded her arms across her ample chest and shook her head. “No, it doesn’t.”
Carter released a nervous breath. “I was just trying to borrow…” she emphasized that she was not stealing the ornament. “…a few things to decorate for my girlfriend so she would have a nice Christmas morning. It’s our first Christmas together.”
The confession came out in a quick jumble. Carter hoped her honesty would persuade the husky security guard that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.
Eyebrow raised, the security guard studied Carter hard.
Carter swallowed. What kind of trouble am I in? Is it a felony to borrow Christmas ornaments in an airport?
The security guard stared at Carter, her stoic expression unchanging.
Surely she wasn’t the only hopeless romantic caught doing something stupid at Christmas. What was supposed to be a quick trip to pick up a few things was now going to bite her in the ass.
“Come with me.”
It was a command, not a suggestion.
Shit. Carter followed behind the security guard. Weren’t they supposed to read her her rights or something?
She knew the airport was large, but as she was dragged through concourses and white walled back corridors, she doubted she would find her way back if she was ever free to go. I hope Amelia doesn’t wake up and worry about me. I should have left a note.
They stopped in front of a plain door painted the same colour as the walls. Except for the black scuff marks on the bottom panel, there was nothing on it to tell Carter what lay behind. The long corridor behind them was empty, dead quiet, a whole other world going on behind the scenes beyond the view of clueless travelers. Carter wiped a bead of sweat from the back of her neck. Any possible trouble she might get into for borrowing the Christmas decorations became a secondary concern as she realized she had just followed a stranger into the bowels of the airport at two in the morning.
Carter closed her eyes, and Amelia’s face filled her mind. Was she wondering where she was? All Carter could think about was getting back to her.
The sound of jangling keys dragged her from her despair. The door was now open, and the guard motioned her inside.
Carter obediently walked into the small room. There was a round table in the middle and a loveseat against either wall. A small kitchenette in one of the corners was equipped with a Keurig, a sink, and a tea kettle. It looked like a snack room or staff hangout. Unsure of what she should do, she froze as the security guard moved past her.
The guard grabbed something off the counter, turned, and started to laugh.
Carter stood rigid in the centre of the room, afraid to move as fear knotted her stomach.
The guard pushed the object toward Carter, who blinked.
“Don’t just stand there, take it,” the guard said, her laughter changing into a smile.
Carter stared down at the guard’s hands. She held a small Christmas tree, complete with decorations. Carter blinked again and awkwardly extended her hands to accept the tiny Charlie Brown Christmas tree. “Thanks,” she murmured, totally confused.
“I know what that first Christmas feels like.” The guard beamed at her. “I’ve worked so many Christmases here, I can’t even remember how many. At least I get to go home to my wife tomorrow morning. You can borrow my Christmas tree. Just drop it off at Security before you leave tomorrow.”
Feeling like a kid at Christmas, Carter cradled the tree. “Thank you! You have no idea what this means. I will make sure it gets back to Security tomorrow, I promise.”
“Just make it special.” She smiled and put two candy canes in Carter’s shirt pocket. “And all you need for that…is you.”
As the guard guided her back to the main concourse, Carter learned that her name was Kris, and she couldn’t help but think she had found her own Kris Kringle. Kris and her wife had been together for just over ten years. Both from the Toronto area, they officially tied the knot two years before. They chatted about their significant others, Carter’s face alight as she told Kris about Amelia.
Within sight of Carter’s temporary home, Kris bade her adieu and “Merry Christmas” before heading in the opposite direction.
Holding the Christmas tree securely, Carter rushed back to their corner to lie down beside Amelia. Carter found her curled on her side, her knees tucked up and her hand resting under her cheek, her other arm draped across her abdomen. Her wayward dark hair fell over her eyes, and Carter thought she detected a smile on Amelia’s face.
Trying not to wake Amelia, she quietly placed the tree and all the trimmings down next to their sleeping area. It was close to three, and Carter was fading fast. Her earlier adrenaline high was rapidly fading. She gently drew back the zipper on Amelia’s suitcase and fished through its contents until her hand cupped the gift she had strategically placed inside earlier that morning. She tucked it under their tree, then knelt for a moment to admire Amelia’s features before stretching out behind her.
Amelia shifted into Carter’s embrace and mumbled in her sleep. Carter feared she might wake, but she settled, her breath a steady cadence to the beat of her heart beneath Carter’s hand. Its beat lulled her.
Content that their Christmas Day would be as special as she could make it, Carter drifted off to sleep, her most precious gift wrapped tightly in her arms.
* * *
Daybreak came quickly, and despite only a few hours of sleep, Carter was already awake.
The airport had come to life at an ungodly hour. People milled about, shuffling their luggage toward the rousing airline counters in hopes that the delays of the previous day would not be repeated. Choruses of “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas” echoed against the walls.
Amelia stirred beside Carter, her blue eyes fluttering open, focusing on her surroundings.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” Carter whispered, kissing her temple.
Amelia closed her eyes again, apparently debating waking.
Carter’s lips tickled Amelia’s cheek until she squirmed, a bright grin gracing her face. “Mm,” she mumbled. Blue eyes opened and stared up at Carter.
“Sleep okay?” Carter asked. She herself remembered nothing after falling asleep with Amelia in her arms. They could have been sleeping on a bed of rocks, she wouldn’t have known.
“Yes. Did you?” Amelia brushed the loose strands of hair from Carter’s face. “Merry Christmas, baby.” She kissed Carter’s lips. “Our first one where we’re actually together. I guess you got your Christmas wish.”
“Not the way I envisioned it, but I’ll take it,” Carter admitted with a smile.
Amelia stretched in her arms, her curves gliding under Carter’s hand. Carter’s body responded, and she shook her head. She wasn’t supposed to be having lascivious thoughts whilst lying on the floor in the middle of an airport, but with Amelia’s body directly beneath her fingertips, she couldn’t help it.
She sat up behind Amelia and forced herself to focus on her plan to pamper her this Christmas morning. “Come on, sleepyhead. We should get up.” Carter twined her fingers with Amelia’s and pulled slightly to coax her.
Sitting up, Amelia stretched and yawned. “Why does it have to be so damn—” Her eyes went wide as she turned slowly toward Carter, tears welling in her eyes. “You did this?” She gestured toward the festive display.
Carter shook her head, “Me? No. I think Santa had a layover while he was waiting out the storm.”
Arranged before them was the borrowed Christmas tree, neatly decorated with miniature ornaments. Taped to the wall were the larger ornaments and bows Carter had borrowed from the bigger tree. Next to the tree was the pair of spare socks Carter kept in her carry-on in case of lost luggage, only now they were filled with the traditional treasures of her childhood stocking—an orange, an apple, a banana, and a small toy she had gotten from a bubble gum machine. It was impossible to find the loose shelled nuts her mother used to fill the spaces in her and her brother’s stockings, so a bag of roasted almonds served as a suitable substitute under the circumstances. Topping off the goodies in the stockings were the two candy canes Kris has bestowed upon her.
Beneath the tree lay a small, square box wrapped in glossy silver foil paper.
Amelia was silent for a long while as her fingertips skimmed over the festive display, and Carter’s palms started to sweat. Did she like it?
“How?” Her blue eyes turned to Carter. “Never mind, tell me later.” She laughed, brushing pieces of gold glitter from Carter’s cheek. “I love you.”
Three simple words that meant everything to Carter.
Amelia leaned in. Her lips barely brushed Carter’s, but the tingle resonated through her entire body.
“I love you too,” Carter declared, resting her forehead against Amelia’s.
“I can’t believe you did all this.” She shook her head, and her hair tickled Carter’s face.
Carter blushed. “Well, you know me, always the romantic.”
“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” Amelia confessed. “That you would go to all this trouble to make Christmas special for me when we’re stuck…here.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
“I don’t care where I am, as long as I am with you.” It was true.
Taking a moment to peer down the hall through the large window overlooking the tarmac, Carter saw that the snow had subsided and the cleanup crew was hard at work with shovels and plows. The calm after the storm meant they would be going their separate ways today. A tinge of melancholy gripped her and she wished they were home, tucked in their bed, celebrating Christmas morning together. They’d open their presents, and then Carter would make breakfast while Amelia prepared the turkey and popped it into the oven. Carter chuckled. She knew they’d end up back in bed once the turkey was roasting, and it would be a wonderful day with just the two of them.
Looking at Amelia, she knew it didn’t matter. They would make the best of this, their first Christmas morning.
Amelia leaned in and kissed her, and this time it wasn’t just a brush of her lips, it was an out and out “make your toes curl” kiss.
Carter didn’t want to let the moment go, but thoughts of the crowded airport pulled her reluctantly away.
Amelia’s eyes lit up. “So, do I get to open my present now?”
Carter removed the present from under the tree, fingering the glossy paper before handing it to Amelia. She bit her lip in anticipation as Amelia slowly, carefully unwrapped the tiny present.
“Open it.”
Carter’s excitement was palpable. She wanted to see Amelia’s face when she looked inside the box. She had wanted something different this year, something to show Amelia that she loved her and that her love was infinite.
Amelia gazed down into the box, gasped, and then looked up at Carter with tear-filled eyes.
Carter swallowed audibly and reached for the contents of the box. She took a deep breath. “I saw it and immediately thought of you.” She held up the white gold chain with a delicate infinity symbol dangling from it. The words “love forever” were engraved on the inside of one of the loops. She draped the chain around Amelia’s neck and managed to close the clasp despite her shaking hands.
Carter sat back, then cradled Amelia’s face in her hands. “I love you now, I’ll love you always. You’re my heart, my home, my family.” And she kissed Amelia with every ounce of love she could convey.
“Oh, sweetheart, this is the best Christmas ever!” Amelia stroked the pendant, then looked up at Carter. “I have something for you, too.”
“You do, do you?” Carter teased, feeling she had the best Christmas present ever.
Amelia rummaged through her knapsack, pulled out their plane tickets, and handed them over.
Why was Amelia giving her their plane tickets? They still had a few hours before their scheduled departure.
Amelia nodded at the tickets in Carter’s hand. “Open them.”
She slowly lifted the flap. Tickets. She looked up in confusion.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
Amelia rolled her eyes. “Read one.”
Carter’s eyes went wide. Amelia had changed their tickets. They were not scheduled to fly out to two separate destinations; they were flying home, together.
“Really?” Carter breathed.
Amelia nodded. “Really. Merry Christmas, beautiful.” She wiped a wayward tear from Carter’s face. “You’re my family, and it’s time we start our own family traditions. I want to put up a tree,” she laughed as she gestured at Carter’s socks, “hang real stockings, and burn the turkey. But mostly, I just want to spend the holiday with you.”
“Christmas with you is all I’ve ever wanted. At home or someplace else, it doesn’t matter.”
Carter captured Amelia’s lips in a soft kiss, and the sights and sounds of the airport fell away.
“I love you,” Carter whispered against her lips.
“I love you, too,” Amelia said, her eyes twinkling. “Let’s go home.”