Chapter Sixteen

THE ANGELS WON the World Series right on schedule and Joey gleefully collected her winnings from a very annoyed bookmaker. With money in the bank and the knowledge that she could make similar wagers throughout the years, Joey got to work on her Christmas plans. She’d never been able to actually buy her loved ones nice gifts in years past, and it was so fun to pick things out.

She and Taylor had decided not to go home for the holidays, so she couldn’t buy gifts and take them to Arizona, but she had fun choosing things online and shipping them to her house, with instructions for everyone to open their gifts on Christmas. She even sent a watch to Dan. It was something she knew he wanted, or would say he wanted in years to come, and she hoped it could serve as both a peace offering and symbolic gesture. She hoped he’d open it and realize that maybe all they needed was time.

London was all dressed up for the season and she and Taylor spent as much time as they could wandering the streets and kissing under the twinkly lights. As beautiful as the city was, though, she wanted to plan something extra special for Taylor, Will, and Liam. Their summer weekends in Cornwall had been so special, and she thought what better way to say thanks than a trip to Paris for New Year’s Eve? The boys were always asking Taylor to show off her French, which was pretty good after eight years of classes.

It was especially hard to be away from home on Thanksgiving in a country that didn’t celebrate it, so Joey came up with the idea to make a full, traditional dinner for everyone to show the boys what it was like. Unfortunately, she forgot that they didn’t have access to a kitchen, so she called their favorite Sunday brunch place and asked if they wouldn’t mind serving turkey that Thursday. Bob, the owner, obliged, and even posted flyers announcing it as a fun event, in case any other locals wanted to try a real American Thanksgiving dinner.

And so, Joey, Taylor, Liam, and Will found themselves crowded together at a table meant for two on Thanksgiving, since apparently the entire neighborhood was excited to give the food a try. Bob had done his best, but nothing tasted quite right to Joey or Taylor. But hey, they were together and shared what they were thankful for, so at least it sort of felt like being at home. Kind of.

As the other three finished giving thanks, Joey was nearly bursting with excitement. Even though the trip she had planned was a Christmas present, she didn’t want to wait that long to announce it, to make sure no one made other plans.

“And Joey,” Liam said, “what are you thankful for? And why are you bouncing in your seat?”

“I’m thankful that we’re all going to Paris for New Year’s!” she nearly shouted.

“We’re what?” Taylor said, appropriately gobsmacked.

“I booked us adjoining rooms at a really nice hotel, along with tickets to their fancy party! Merry Christmas!”

“Is this an American thing?” said Will. “Do you give out Christmas presents a month early back in the States?”

“Oh, er, no,” Joey said. “I just wanted to make sure we all saved the date. Is that okay?”

“Okay?” said Liam. “It’s incredible. Well done, you.”

“Yes, of course,” said Will. “That sounds amazing.”

Taylor’s shock finally wore off and she joined in the excitement. “To Paris!” she said, raising her glass for a toast.

The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas flew by as it always does, with school finals and holiday concerts jamming their schedules like never before. Taylor was booked solid through the month of December, performing in quartets, symphonies, and solo, usually with barely enough time to get herself and her cello to the next show in time. Joey became her roadie and had the packing-up process down to about ninety seconds. They’d also both gotten pretty good at lugging everything through tube stations and knew which ones to avoid by the time the last concert ended just after midnight on Christmas Eve.

They arrived back in their dorm room that night, exhausted and giddy. Taylor passed out almost immediately, still dressed in her concert attire. Before Joey could join her, though, she let herself think back on her first Christmas with Dan, in their tiny apartment.

They were elbow deep in wedding plans and had said no gifts, but each of them had tried to be sneaky and still get the other something small. After spending Christmas Eve with both of their families, they drove home late that night and searched the skies for Santa and his reindeer. It was something they’d done together since they were kids, and something they’d continue with their own kids, eventually.

They walked in the door and Dan put on the Christmas mix CD he’d made earlier in the month. Joey reached behind the couch and pulled out the small package she’d wrapped while he was in class one day, then laughed as he pulled a gift from the cupboard above the stove, which she couldn’t reach.

“You first,” she had said, smiling as Dan carefully unwrapped the small box she’d used. It wasn’t much, but she’d made him an ornament cube, each side holding a picture of them together through the years. In her best handwriting, she’d written “Our First Christmas” on the top in magic marker. She laughed remembering how it faded a little bit every year. When she’d offered to write it again, Dan had simply said, “Leave it. We know what it says.”

“I love it,” he said, kissing her gently. “Now you.”

She wasn’t nearly as careful as he was, and ripped the paper open quickly, before oohing over the fancy box. She assumed it was an old gift box his mom had somewhere, but as she opened it, she found an actual charm bracelet.

“I got it in Denmark on my class trip last year,” he said. “I couldn’t afford any charms, but I thought we could add those as we go.”

“So, this is why you didn’t come home with anything for yourself?” she asked, as he fixed the clasp on her wrist.

“Indeed it is.”

The memory was sweet, but she reached down to her empty right wrist and sighed. A charm for their wedding day, one for each baby, one for ten years, and other things she loved throughout the years. She wore that bracelet every day, even when it was empty.

She turned to her desk to grab a tissue and noticed the voicemail light on their phone was blinking. They rarely got messages, but maybe it was one of the guys calling with a request for the next day’s festivities. She picked up the cordless phone from its base and pushed the speed dial button to retrieve it.

“Joey, hey, it’s Dan. Look, I just opened your present and it’s too much. Really, please let me know how to return it. I’m not sure what you were thinking, but you can’t just buy my friendship. And, I mean, I know it’s Christmas and I’m sorry, but…don’t contact me again.”