Chapter Twenty-Six
Happy Ho Ho hold on for one more present
Ivy
We re soon feasting again back at the house, this time with everyone crammed around the dining room table.
Hamish and Pinky Collar are distracted with their own pig ear feast in the living room.
A row of candles glows down the center of the dining room table.
Christmas music plays from the living room.
I recognize some Mannheim Steamroller mixed in with Harry Connick Junior and Nat King Cole.
I can say without a doubt this is a million times better than any Christmas Eve I ve spent working at a hospital these past eight years.
Nana s elbow bumps my arm. Pass me another one of the rolls. She s seated on my left, Beau on my right. I hand Nana a roll while Beau offers me more ham.
No thanks. I ve already had too many servings of ham. And cheesy potatoes. And green bean casserole. And rolls. And whatever divine salad Beau s mom made that contains grapes and Butterfinger bars.
I ve had too much of everything except the conversation bouncing around the table while Beau and I sneak each other amused glances.
Back then we d go to the midnight service, Beau s dad is saying to Janey s husband, Walter. And it was truly a midnight service.
You re thinking of Val s other grandson, Beau s mom is saying to Janey. He couldn t make it back this year. Soon as he does though, I ve got the perfect girl for him.
No, honey. No more pickles, Janey says to Mia. Is he the one who looks like Bill Pullman? she asks Cecilia.
Here, honey, Nana whispers, and I don t have to look to know she s passing contraband pickles to Mia.
Cecilia scoops some cheesy potatoes onto her fork. Is he the new guy who started coming to our church because he said the music was too loud at his last church?
I m talking about the actor from While You Were Sleeping , says Janey.
I proposed to Cecilia before a Christmas Eve service, says Rob. Not a midnight one, though.
The guy who was in love with his typewriter? asks Cecilia.
You re thinking of You ve Got Mail , says Walter. What? A guy can t know his rom-coms?
That s the one based off that old Jimmy Stewart movie, right? says Cecilia.
The first time I watched It s A Wonderful Life I thought it was the beginning of an old Twilight Zone episode, says Rob.
I m talking about Bill Pullman, not Greg Kinnear, says Janey. The one who looks like Val s grandson.
Pretty sure I dated a Bill Pullman once, says Nana. Terrible dancer.
Soon as the dishes are all cleared and everything s washed and put away, Beau directs us out to the living room. Before we do games or dessert, I have a special gift everyone needs to open tonight.
Where on earth did you find Justin Bieber wrapping paper? Janey says with a snort as Beau starts handing out packages covered in Justin Bieber s face wearing a Santa hat.
The basement. Beau grins.
My basement? says Cecilia.
All right. Beau claps his hands together once, which is enough to get the dogs excited. I toss a ball for Hamish to chase into the other room while Beau scoops Pinky up. We all have to open them up at the same time. Ready? Three, two, one—now!
A flurry of paper sounds. A wadded-up ball of wrapping paper flies through the air, quickly followed by another. And another. One hits my shoulder. I launch a counterattack at Beau since he s the biggest and easiest target.
Okay, children, scolds Janey from her seat on the couch. Which only makes her the next target for everyone.
As she gets pummeled by more wrapping-paper balls, I open my box to find a pair of pink pajama pants covered in cute little green Christmas trees. A quick glance reveals everyone pulling out the same style of pants.
Beau s mom holds hers up for a better look. Are we finally a family that wears matching pajama pants now?
Pink? Really? Walter mumbles.
That was all that was left by the time I got back to the store, Beau mumbles back.
Anyway, since tomorrow s Christmas and we ll be hanging around the house all day, new family tradition is we put them on tonight and wear them all day tomorrow.
Everybody needs at least one day where they can just stay in their pajamas, right?
His blue eyes land on me with a gaze softer than the fabric of the cozy pants.
For me. He did this for me. As if I wasn t already having a hard time not falling in love with him.
Well, I m all for it. Mom stands from her rocker and bounces a ball of wrapping paper off Rob s head. I say we all get changed, eat some dessert, and play games.
Can my stomach even hold any more food?
It can. Once I change into the pajama pants, the elastic waistband assures me I have plenty of room for the pistachio-layered pudding bliss covered in little bits of Heath bar that Janey brought.
After dessert we play a game called blitz, which involves cards and nickels and, in Beau s family, everyone singing the Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye song whenever a player is removed from the game. Mia and Felicity handle it well. Nana, not so much.
I m pretty sure I ve laughed off all the dessert and cheesy potato calories by the time Janey s family is walking home in their new pajama pants and I ve taken the dogs outside for one more run around.
Beau s parents have already headed upstairs to bed when Beau finds me in the kitchen grabbing a drink of water. Feel like staying up a little bit longer?
I must ve caught up on all my sleep these past few days, because I m not tired at all. Unlike the dogs, who are already passed out next to the Christmas tree on top of the doggy cushion Beau s mom said was an early Christmas gift for them. What did you have in mind?
He motions his head to the living room and grabs my hand. Close your eyes. It s a surprise.
You better not be leading me to one of the make-out bells.
Don t think that thought hasn t crossed my mind. He guides me into the living room to the couch. Keep them closed, he says as the weight of a blanket drapes across my lap. The couch dips a second later as he takes a seat next to me. Okay, you can open them now.
I blink my eyes open, not sure what I expect to see, but the opening credits to Babes in Toyland playing on the TV screen isn t it. For real? My cheek muscles are stretched to the limits with my smile.
Thought this might be a better tradition to bring back than the oyster stew, considering all the food we ve already eaten today.
Aw, Beau. I stare at the screen because I know if I turn my head now and see his handsome face, I ll kiss him. Bell or no bell. And I ll want to keep on kissing him, bell or no bell. Why does he have to be a professional athlete of all things?
Thank you, Beau. I snuggle down on the couch with my comfy blanket and comfy pajama pants while I rest my head on Beau s shoulder to enjoy one of the sweetest Christmas presents anyone has ever given me.
A present that will have to be enough. Because in two days I leave. And the last thing I want is to leave brokenhearted.
Something tells me it s already too late.