December seventeenth dawned bright and bitterly cold. Sage bundled up and headed for the firehall. Today was the day for taking stock and shopping to fill in any gaps in gifts. She was meeting Brad at the firehall.
It was a good thing she’d walked over because the street out front was full. There were no parking spots left. She nearly tripped over a string of Christmas lights as she made her way into the station.
“Hello,” she called out. After a moment she called out again as she walked down the hallway, following the sound of voices.
“Oh. Hi,” Brad greeted her. “You’re early.”
She glanced at her watch. “Actually, I’m ten minutes late. I lost track of time.” She’d been reading an Audrey Carnes Christmas rom-com, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.
“Well, come in. We’re decorating.” He waved expansively at the firefighters and medics all busily sorting or placing ornaments. Renna sat in the corner untangling lights. The chief stood beside a half-lit tree, good-naturedly nagged her to hurry up.
“I can see that. I’d ask what the occasion was, but I know you’d just joke about it being Christmas.”
“Here hold this.” He handed her the end of a light string and climbed a ladder with the other end in his hand. “We’re celebrating Christmas.” He looked back and winked. “But also, this weekend is the family Christmas dinner for the hall. All the guys and gals are bringing their family for a big turkey dinner. The hospital ladies’ auxiliary are cooking for us. There’ll be a visit from Santa, and small gifts for the kids. It’ll be a blast. You should come.”
While the party sounded like fun, and who could resist turkey dinner, she didn’t care for the offhand, last-minute invite.
“I know it’s short notice. I totally forgot or I’d have asked you weeks ago. Please join us.” He stepped down off his ladder and grasped her hands. “Please.”
Something in his eyes said he was genuinely sorry for forgetting to invite her. “When is it, and what can I bring?”
“The afternoon of the twenty-second. It starts at two. Dress is business casual meets going to dinner.” He grinned. “The ladies like to dress up and bit and they wrangle their men into dress shirts and ties. Not too fancy, there will be games and some might involve being on the floor.”
“Might or will?” she teased.
“I have no idea. There was floor time last year; this year I’m not on any of the committees as I’ve been assigned as your assistant. We’ll have to wait and see.” He climbed back up. “I’ll be ready to go as soon as I sting up these lights.” She fed him the lights as he moved around the room draping mini-LED lights from small nails already in place. In ten minutes, they were headed for the church.
The basement was aglow with Christmas lights when they arrived. The room smelled of coffee and pine with a faint undertone of cranberry. The minister, his secretary, and Dr. Ingram were already at work.
“Wow, you guys are early,” Sage greeted them. “Anyone want a cookie to go with the coffee I smell?”
“You didn’t tell me you brought cookies? Which ones? Please tell me you brought sugar cookies. Shortbread are too dry. I’ll eat ‘em, but sugar are my favorite. Especially with that crystal sugar on top. So delicious.” He rubbed his tummy as the others hurried over.
“Bless your soul,” the minister said. “The perfect thing to perk me up this morning. Doc and I were up late last night hauling in the last of the bins. We’ve collected them all. After this final sort, we can shop for what’s missing. We’ll have to hit it hard to finish in time.” His easy grin said he was enjoying every minute of the work.
“Well then, let’s get to it.” Brad stuffed the last of his cookie in his mouth and strode to the bins of gifts in the center of the room. “Wow, there’s a lot here. I’m impressed with Cherry Lake’s generosity.”
Despite the size of the pile, they had it sorted and ready to wrap within half an hour. “I guess many hands do make light work,” Sage chirped. “I’ve got a list of what we need.” She’d been compiling as they sorted. “Who is in for shopping?” Everyone was eager to help and five minutes later, the list divided between them, they hit the stores.
“Mall?” Brad asked.
“You bet. We’ve some book requests, and The Accessory Shop is giving us a deal on hair stuff for the girls.”
“And we can hit the toy store! I love the toy store.”
“You’re just a big kid, aren’t you?” She loved this playful side. Funny how when she met him, he seemed a bit grumpy and now he was as eager an elf as she could want.
“Guilty as charged.”
The mall was a zoo despite it being a Wednesday. Usually, she avoided the mall during late December, but today, with Brad at her side the mall seemed full of wonder and excitement.
“Look at the decorations.” She pointed at the sparking stars and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. They stood looking down over Santa’s village where a long line snaked through a winter wonderland. The air above them looked like a blizzard amongst the stars.
“Let’s get our picture taken with Santa.” Brad grinned at her.
“Are you kidding, look at that line. We’d be there for hours.”
“Not if you plan ahead. You can book appointments online.”
She tapped her finger on her lip. “If only we’d done that.”
Brad laughed. “I did. I took a chance that we’d end up here. Come on, Sage. It’s our first Christmas together. Let’s make a memory. Start a tradition.”
He was more excited than most of the children in the line below them. “What the heck. Let’s do it. What time is our appointment?”
“We have forty-five minutes to shop. Then Santa. Then we’ll get back to shopping. Unless we need lunch.”
“You planned it all out, didn’t you?”
“Indeed, I did. I’ve even finishing my Christmas shopping and wrapping. Wait until you see what I got you!”
Holy cranberries. It hadn’t occurred to her to get him a gift. Her mind spun through possible ideas until they got to the book store. “They should have baskets. I need dozens of books.”
“I’ll be your Sherpa. You pick, I’ll carry.” He held out his arms like he was waiting for her to pile things on.
“Okay. If the load gets too big, we’ll figure out what to do.”
He followed her around the store. Occasionally, he made suggestions, most of which were very insightful. After twenty minutes, he said, “I’ll go find a place near the register for these. I’ll be right back.”
He wasn’t back immediately, and when she finished the last few items on her list, she searched the aisles for him. She found him, in the section for art and coffee table books, chatting with an elderly gentleman. She approached so Brad would see her, but didn’t interrupt the conversation. They were eagerly discussing antique fire engines and which represented the greatest jump in technology in one remodel. Brad’s passion and fire for the subject brought his entire body to life. His facial expression, his body language, everything spoke of happiness. Her heart swelled with love.
She stopped walking. Love? Did she love him?
A slow smile crept over her face. She did love him. She’d been attracted to him since she saw him hanging lights in the firehall window. Each and every time they got together that attraction grew, despite her attempts to keep her distance. Yeah, she was head over heels, break out the mistletoe in love. The moment needed bells, lights, sirens, something more than just the bliss in her heart.
When she looked up again, Brad was smiling at her, the gentleman was gone. How long had she been thinking about being in love?
Brad strode down the aisle toward her. “That’s a lovely smile. What are you thinking about?” he asked.
Heat flooded her face. “You.”
♥♥♥
Wow!
It was crazy that thinking of him made her smile like that. Brad couldn’t believe the peace and joy on her face. It echoed the feeling he got every time he thought about her. Sage was it. The woman he hadn’t known he was waiting for.
He realized she was the one shortly after they met. Love at first sight? Maybe not, but he’d fallen not soon after. Her happy demeanor. He upbeat smile. Her eagerness to ensure everyone had a great Christmas.
She’d pitched in and helped when he went out with the guys shoveling snow for seniors and those who were less mobile. There was something about her that was irresistible. And right now, here, in the middle of the mall, it was all he could do to keep himself from kissing her. He closed the distance between them.
His phone chimed.
Dang it!
It was their turn with Santa.
Probably for the best because he wasn’t much for public displays of affection, at least not kissing. Hand holding, a brief hug, okay. But he definitely didn’t want their first kiss to be public.
“Santa time,” he proclaimed. “Let’s get them to hold the books until we get back.”
They hurried from the store and down the mall to Santa’s sleigh.
“Really?” the pink haired teenage elf said with a frown. “Adults?”
“I did book the appointment,” Brad said. “We’ll be fast, I promise. In and out. A quick snapshot.” He held his hands together prayer-like. “It’s our first Christmas together. Please.”
The elf rolled her eyes. “Ya. Whatevs.” She opened the rope and they high-tailed it to Santa.
“Well, what have we here?” The pink cheek old guy proclaimed merrily.
“First Christmas,” Brad repeated his explanation. “We want to capture it. Forever.”
Santa slid to the middle of his sleigh seat. “One on each side then. Make it quick. Kids are waiting.” The words were gruff, but his tone cheerful. “Did the same thing with my wife back in the day. We’ve been together for forty years. I hope this picture, this memory brings you guys all the holiday magic and love.”
Brad hoped so too. And judging by the look on Sage’s face, she felt the same.
“Santa, you’re the best.” They hopped up and each slung one arm behind Santa and held hands in front of him.
“Say mistletoe,” the photographer called then snapped off half a dozen quick pictures. “One more, with you guys together on one side.” They repositioned and he took a few more shots. “See the elf over there,” he pointed to an igloo on his left. “He’ll give you a jump-drive of your pictures.”
The whole thing took less than three minutes. It took longer to preview and pay for the photos than to get them taken. They each tucked their memory sticks safely away and returned to the bookstore.
Brad smiled all the way there. Sage had agreed to the pics without issue and had played along. Now, they had memories for whatever the future brought them. Next year, he’d book their visit early, while the kids were still in school. Despite his joy in having the adorable pictures, he felt guilty for taking up time that was meant for kids.