Chapter Four

Zane

 

With his second cup of coffee half-finished, Zane sat at the kitchen table eating a bowl of sugary breakfast cereal. His favorite. He kept going over last night in his mind.

Before meeting up with Lily for their first Christmas encounter, he had no idea how it was going to go. It wasn’t a date, not really. Even though it was a place he would probably take a date to. The whole thing seemed awkward and like something he would have never done. He knew very little about her, so it could’ve been a blind date. Zane was typically a confident man. However, his self-assurance had already been shaken when he’d walked up to her on the street.

The warm glow from the streetlight lit up her face, making her eyes gleam. He hadn’t noticed at the diner how stunning she was. A few snowflakes were falling, and with one smile, a calm fell over him. He puffed out his chest and the corners of his mouth pulled into a smile. Lily had a way about her that made him feel like he’d known her forever.

The night had gone better than he could’ve planned. It shocked him how easy Lily was to talk to, and he was generally able to be himself. Zane was an intelligent man, and most girls were only looking for a jock-type. He was no jock—far from it. Lily surprised him with an intellectual side of her own. He even found himself discussing the Christmas themes more in-depth than ever before.

Zane was anxiously staring at his phone waiting for it to buzz. Lily was supposed to send him the details for tonight’s date, err…adventure.

“So?” His cousin’s voice echoed through the kitchen. “How was it?”

Zane looked up from his breakfast. “If you mean the Christmas display, it was interesting.”

“Interesting as in you had fun, or interesting as in you’re going to pound on me for getting you mixed up in this?”

“Interesting as in I won’t be beating you up, yet, but better sleep with one eye open just in case.” Zane smirked.

Spencer tilted his head like he wasn’t sure whether Zane was joking or not.

“Relax, cuz.” Zane shook his head. “She seems pretty cool. We talked Christmas stuff, and it got a little philosophical. You know how I can get. She seemed to be able to keep pace, but I’m still not convinced that my brainiac-self didn’t scare her away.”

Spencer sat down and filled his bowl with heart-healthy cereal. “So, you’re not going out tonight then?”

Before Spencer could finish his sentence, Zane’s phone buzzed. Lily’s name lit up his screen.

“Is that your girlfriend?” Spencer annoyingly sang with a smirk.

“Shut up. And yes, it is Lily.” He swiped open her message and looked over the information about tonight’s adventure.

“Candlelight tour?” Spencer’s eyebrow raised in question as he eavesdropped on Zane’s text. “For real?”

“Yes, it’s a Christmas thing.” Zane ignored Spencer’s judgmental tone. He turned the phone screen off before going back to his breakfast.

“Candlelight Christmas tour? And it’s only day two? Man, this is all so perfect for you. I am so glad I gave you that subtle nudge.”

“You call that a subtle nudge?” Zane gawked at his cousin.

“Yes,” Spencer said matter-of-factly and finished his cereal. “Sometimes Christmas miracles need a little help. Just call me Santa’s little helper.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you getting out of your comfort zone and mingling with the opposite sex.”

Zane waved off his cousin. “I date.”

“No, I would never label what you do dating. It’s more of a…” Spencer tapped the counter and ruffled his brow while in thought.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Zane fluffed off his cousin’s comments.

“Oh, I know plenty. Zane, you think you’re dating. Tell me, how many of those turned into second dates?”

Zane readied a comeback because there was no way he was going to let his cousin be right about this. He dated plenty. He just hadn’t found that special someone yet. It did dawn on him that there weren’t many second dates, if any at all. Pushing the thoughts aside to psycho-analyze at a later time, he waved off his cousin’s question.

“That’s what I thought.” Spencer smirked at Zane’s non-response.

Zane didn’t like being judged, and his cousin knew that. “I just haven’t found someone worth spending time with.”

Spencer got up and walked around to Zane, clamping his hand down on Zane’s shoulder. “You’ll never find one unless you try.” Spencer made his way into the kitchen and poked his head in the refrigerator. “That’s why this Twelve Days of Christmas thing with Lily is a good idea for you.”

Zane, done with this conversation, picked up his cereal bowl and finished his breakfast secluded in his room.

As he stared at the remaining flakes in his bowl, his cousin’s words were on repeat in his brain. He wasn’t wrong. Dating was like a mental block for him. He enjoyed the company of young women, but his cousin was right. He had issues in the commitment department. Now that Spencer brought it to light, he worried something was wrong with him.

His phone buzzed with another message from Lily.

All worries of his commitment issues dissipated as he read her message about tonight’s plan. They were meeting at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Spending more time with Lily had him anxious for the hours to fly by.

 

 

Zane parked his car and followed the signs up the walkway toward the mansion. Lily was standing at the entrance of the Orientation Center.

The mansion was massive and impressive. He’d heard stories about this place from his parents but had never been here. The history nerd in him couldn’t wait to see it inside. His aunt and uncle weren’t history buffs like his parents. Apparently, it was in his blood.

It was already getting dark, and the lights from inside the building glowed with warm, inviting luminescence. Zane looked around to see people bundled in knit hats and scarves with folks leading them around the grounds by a lantern. He could hear faint holiday music playing, and there was a happy hum of people enjoying themselves.

Before she turned in his direction and waved at him, he took in everything about Lily. Her hands clad in white mittens. Did people even wear mittens anymore? Obviously, she did.

“Hey!” she greeted him with a warm smile. “Glad you made it.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it.” He flashed her his best smile, the one that the girls claimed to love.

Lily’s cheeks turned a rosy color. She cleared her throat and suddenly appeared nervous. Yep, the smile still worked.

“Ready?” Lily pointed toward the building.

Zane nodded and put his arm out for her to take. Holding hands just seemed odd since it wasn’t a real date, yet he was still a gentleman.

Luckily, he didn’t have to wait long before she smiled and looped her arm with his.

They walked arm in arm into the Orientation Center. Cheerful sounds of the season filled his ears as soon as they walked into the building.

Turning his attention to Lily, she was staring as if in a trance. Her face was filled with wonder and amazement. Zane followed her gaze to many stunning Christmas trees lining the far wall. There was no shortage of sparkling lights and ribbons on the evergreen branches.

“Let’s go check them out.” Lily grabbed Zane by the hand and pulled him to the row of Christmas trees.

Each tree was decorated from a different era, and a sign in front of each stated they were inspired by past Christmas trees of George Washington.

He stood back and watched as she admired each and every decoration. She was like a kid in a candy store, and it was nice to see how much she was already enjoying herself.

“You know.” She circled around one of the Christmas trees, pointing at the dark red ribbon that was dramatically draped down the enormous evergreen tree. “I have never been able to master the ribbon.”

Zane gave her a crooked look of confusion.

“You know, on my own tree. The ribbon is so classy looking and looks so effortlessly draped along the branches, cascading down the tree. But it’s not effortless. Not even close.” She shook her head and silently laughed. “One year I spent hours trying to mimic a tree I saw in a magazine. And when I say hours, I am not even kidding, just ask my roommate.”

“Did you ever get the ribbon right?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Ended up tossing it back in the box for another year and just went with the traditional garland.” She wrinkled up her nose in the sweetest way. “But I really wanted the ribbon.”

Before he could come up with anything else to say about the ribbons or decorations, Lily gasped and made a beeline for a row of brilliant red poinsettias that lined the other side of the room.

“So, you’re a flower person too I take it?”

“Please tell me that you know these aren’t just flowers, they’re poinsettias.”

Zane snickered. “Yes, I know what they are.”

“Nothing says Christmas like poinsettias. And to see all of these lined up here…it’s beautiful.”

A man could be overheard saying the next candlelight tour would start in a little over a half hour. Which meant they had some time to kill.

The scent of fresh baked cookies caught Zane’s attention. “How about a cookie?” He turned toward the stand and noticed they also had hot cocoa. “And some cocoa?”

“Sure.”

They ordered some cookies and hot chocolate and continued to walk around the orientation center. Next up was a row of gingerbread houses.

“Oh look.” Lily moved closer to the sign and read aloud. “These were made by local groups and elementary classes. They each have a tag saying which group made it. I love gingerbread houses.”

“To eat or look at?” Zane teased.

“Both, of course,” Lily said, just as spirited as Zane. “Oh, look at this one! It has a tiny little ice rink in the yard.”

“Wow. Now that’s talent!”

“It’s hard to believe they are all made out of cookies and candies.” She laughed.

“Um, am I missing the joke? Why is that funny?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…well, I was going to say I’m no good at making gingerbread houses. Every time I’ve tried the walls have collapsed and the roofs have fallen in, and it ended up just being bricks of gingerbread stacked up. I mean, it all eats the same, but it’s not pretty. Who wants a pile of gingerbread bricks? And the reason it is so funny is because as much of a Christmas person that I am, I just realized I’m terrible at using ribbon to decorate trees, and I can’t make a gingerbread house. I’m a pretty lame holiday fanatic!” She dissolved into laughter at her own words.

Zane shook his head in amusement. “I would hardly call you lame. Unless of course your cut-out cookies are all circles with some icing slapped on them, then…maybe,” he teased.

“Oh, hush your mouth!” Lily sarcastically gasped. “I am the master at Christmas cut-out cookies. And to prove it I’ll make you a batch.”

Zane was amused at how offended she was at him questioning her cookie making skills.

“Whew.” Zane mocked relief. “But seriously, I see things a little differently than most and constructing a gingerbread house is all about angles and numbers. If you want, I could help you build one this year?”

“Oh? Numbers and angles?” Lily asked then added with sarcasm, brushing her blonde hair out of her face. “Is that all?”

“Sure. It’s easy. Just name the day and time, if you’re interested that is. No pressure. I mean, we can always go buy one at a bakery.” He has never bought a gingerbread house before but was sure that you could if you wanted. He just always had good luck making them. It was the one time his nerdy brain came in handy.

“Buy one? Are you kidding me?” Lily looked at him. Her mouth dropped open as if he said the worst thing ever. “I will absolutely take you up on helping me make one. I’m determined to make a gingerbread house!”

Their conversation was interrupted by the announcement that the next candlelight tour was starting. Zane finished the last sip of his hot cocoa and tossed the cup in the trash can as they moved toward the group of folks gathering for the tour.

Lily adjusted her hat and scarf as they followed the crowd out the exit toward the historical area. The tour guide held a lantern and waited on a dirt path as the crowd filed out of the building.

Lily was focusing on the buttons of her jacket when Zane saw a dip in the pathway. The hole was hidden by the shadows of the evening and he didn’t want her to fall. “Lily, be careful of the—”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get his warning out before she stepped into the small ditch and lost her footing. She twisted and fell, landing softly in his arms.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, but her words were so soft he could barely hear her. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t move. She simply stared up at him, her blue eyes wide. Likely shocked by her sudden fall.

“Are you okay?” Zane asked.

She nodded, her lips parted, yet no words came out. She didn’t move from his arms.

He couldn’t help but stare at the beauty that was cradled in his arms. Her knit hat was crooked now with her blonde hair strands a bit amiss.

The crowd moved ahead, and the tour guide talked about where they were headed first.

“We should…” she mumbled and pointed at the tour.

“Yeah.” Zane snapped back to reality. He set Lily upright and cleared his throat. “Right.”

Suddenly, awkwardness set in, and Zane did the first thing that came to mind. He put out his arm for her to take. “C’mon, let’s make sure you don’t fall again.”

A minute passed before she moved, and he figured he had already blown this new friendship. He chose not to back down and waited for her to take his arm.

“Thanks.” Lily looped her arm in his. “And I shall make sure you don’t fall as well.”

As Lily led him toward the rest of the group, the awkward moment was gone.

There was obviously more to Lily than he first thought, and he was looking forward to getting to know everything about her.