Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cars had been backed up for miles. On a normal day, Andie tried to avoid traffic like the plague. To have this delay be something people willingly ventured into just to see Christmas lights had her a bit perplexed. Sure, she’d enjoy a few she saw along her journeys, when she wasn’t feeling Grinchy and left out of the holiday celebrations. The suburban area had its fair share of lights, but Leo assured her this wasn’t the main attraction.
Up ahead, through a tree bending with the wind, the sky lit up as though they approached the city. “That’s a lot of light,” Andie said.
Leo chuckled. “Just you wait.”
“All I can think is, if that’s not a city, then the electric bills must be through the roof.”
Leo laughed harder, the sound mixing with the wind whistling against the windows. “Astronomical. Jodie’s threatened divorce over it a time or twenty.”
Andie turned away from the lit sky and red brake lights ahead of them. The light cast a glow over Leo, one that created the type of ambience she’d want to snuggle closer in. “So the lights aren’t her idea?”
“They are David’s baby. And he’s extremely proud of them. Then Millie was born and became enamored with not only the lights but also the representation of her holiday and Jodie’s grumblings grew less forceful.”
“Millie must think this is normal.”
Leo flicked on his blinker, like all the cars ahead of them. A chorus of red turn signals mixing in with all the house and yard lights. “She complains about the lack of decorations the rest of the family has. And considers the explanations flimsy excuses.”
Andie continued to be charmed by Millie and with Leo’s relationship with her. “She’s got spunk. I like it.”
“She’s a handful. She’s going to change the world. But not before aging her poor parents.”
“The best kids do.”
Leo turned onto the street, and red and green lights exploded into view. This first house had alternating lights lining every angle of the roof, windows, doors, and arches of the home’s exterior. The lights continued down, lining the front pathway.
“Wow,” Andie said. “That’s impressive.”
Leo held up a finger. “Wait. This is called trying to keep up with the Joneses and not quite succeeding.”
Andie gawked at Leo, and the sexy curve to his lips.
“You’re missing the view.” He turned to her, locking eyes, and in the midst of Christmas wonderlands and slow-moving traffic, Andie wanted to lean in and kiss the amusement off his face.
He broke eye contact and she forced her gaze to the street. The cars had slowed to almost a crawl, people parking where they could and walking. The next house had decorations in white lights and more blowups in the yard than Andie had ever seen: Two Santas—one in a sleigh with reindeer—three snowmen on the snowless grass, a tall gingerbread man, two Christmas trees, and a North pole. The blowups danced in the wind, adding charm to the display, even if the chance of ending up on a neighbor’s lawn was highly probable.
“I didn’t even know that many blowups existed!”
Leo barked out in laughter, startling her from the view.
“Hey, what?”
He held up his hands. “Sorry, sorry. Just wait. Each house attempts to top the other.” Hands back on the wheel, he glanced at her. “I’m enjoying your commentary. I said some of the same things the first time Jodie dragged me here.”
“Was the wind adding to the ambience then?”
“Not like this.” The car rocked from another gust, but Andie had grown used to it throughout the day.
They passed a house with a yard filled with candy canes, making a maze on the front lawn. Several kids raced through the maze, with parents standing off to the side. Another house had a tropical theme, which included blowup pine trees and Christmas fish. Andie had never seen Christmas fish before and could hardly believe they existed, but there they were, flapping in the breeze. Another had more Disney Christmas items than Andie saw on her December Disney World trip as a kid. She had to admit, each house had its own outrageous character and charm, topping the one before or after it in its own special way.
Leo rolled down his window and the sounds of Jingle Bell Rock floated in, syncing with the lights on one rock ’n’ roll–themed house with a large tree in the yard that had a cord and not roots. Luminescent beams danced in tune with the music, and Andie found herself bopping along, beyond enchanted and wishing she could bring her students along.
“This really is something, huh?” Andie asked, sure a note of wonderment was in her voice.
Leo didn’t answer. She wanted to shake her head, of course her voice would be too soft with all the sounds. She touched his shoulder and repeated herself when he looked her way.
“Yup. I couldn’t believe Jodie and David wanted to move here, but apparently David had plans even before the first December.”
Andie tried to think of what he could possibly do to make Chanukah match. Sure, there were options here and there, but at its root Chanukah was a minor, unimportant holiday; meanwhile, Christmas held religious and celebratory weight. “How does he mesh with all of this?” Andie waved a hand, at both sides of the over-the-top street that probably starred in a movie or two about feuding neighbor lights.
“You’ll see.”
Leo turned on his blinker again and Andie looked ahead, where blue and white became the dominant attraction, the blue gleaming brighter than all the red and green from the other homes. Leo waited until walkers and cars passed before he pulled into the driveway, and Andie turned in her seat, the seat belt struggling to hold her still. The front walkway had a blue and white arch, welcoming visitors into the Chanukah Wonderland. The invitation worked, as several walkers ambled inside to see more. Blue and white lights covered the house, the walkway, the trees, anything it could find. A large dreidel spun next to an oversized polar bear in a blue sweater holding a dreidel. More dreidels lined the pathways, three large menorahs stood tall and proud—one blowup, two not. Animals dressed in blue and wearing yarmulkes chilled on the lawn. Leo exited the car, and Andie followed, Chanukah music playing in the air, the blue and white flashing in time to the music.
Andie’s jaw dropped open in awe. She swept her gaze back and forth, catching some new delight each time, completely enamored. “This is amazing!”
“My brother-in-law aims to please.” Leo stepped up beside her, yelling over the music. He held out a gloved hand. “Shall we?”
Andie put her own covered hand in his. The wind picked up, blowing her hair and scarf, but she hardly felt the cold. Together, they slowly walked around, taking in the view. The setup had larger-than-life gelt and presents, and the music changed from one Chanukah song to another, in both English and Hebrew. Andie had never felt more represented than she did in that moment. She wanted to bottle it up and send it to her younger self when she felt left out during December.
Andie rose up on her toes, angled toward to Leo, hoping he could hear. “I wish I had something like this to see as a kid. I wouldn’t have felt as lonely.”
Leo pulled Andie into a side hug and she stayed there, in his warmth and the blue lights, until the front door opened.
“Uncle Leo!”
They broke apart as Millie raced toward them, not wearing a jacket, and flung herself at her uncle.
Leo let out an “oof” but managed to catch her.
“You made it!”
“Of course we did. Andie deserved to see this.”
“It’s the best house on the whole block!” Millie leaned back, smiling at her father’s hard work, the wind whipping her hair around.
The door opened again, and a woman a few years older with a strong resemblance to Leo came out. She wore an open coat and carried a pink one. “Millie Jane Bernstein.”
“Uh-oh.” Millie slid out of Leo’s arms. “Sorry, Mom.”
The woman came over, holding open the jacket, and Millie slipped inside. “It’s much too cold and windy to come out here without a coat on.” Her gaze tracked to Andie. “Hi, I’m Jodie, this one’s mom and that one’s sister. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She held out her hand.
“Jodie,” Leo muttered.
Andie reached out her gloved hand and shook Jodie’s ungloved one. “Nice to meet you. This is quite the display.”
Jodie leaned back toward the house. “David! Leo’s new girlfriend likes your display.”
Andie felt her cheeks burn, even in the cold wind. Beside her Leo shuffled his feet.
Jodie smirked. “Sorry, it’s what big sisters do.” She flung an arm around her brother.
The music began another loop.
Leo ducked out of his sister’s grasp. “I’m going to take Andie on a walk to show her the rest of the houses.”
“You’re coming back though, right?” Millie glanced up, batting her eyelashes. “Dad’s going to make his famous hot chocolate.”
Leo turned to Andie. “The only thing more impressive than the decorations is his hot chocolate, you don’t want to miss it.”
A gust of wind burst through, ruffling jackets and pushing around the inflatables and lights. Andie shivered. “I suspect hot chocolate will be a nice warm-up after the walk.”
They waved and Leo took Andie’s hand as they walked to the next house. Couples and families did the same, and they ended up in a slow stroll between two parties. Fathers pushed strollers, mothers carried small children. People laughed with the familiarity of family; by blood or choice. It made her think of Leo with his niece, and now with his sister. Love existed there. All Andie ever got from her extended family were unpleasant looks, or a half-hearted pat on the back at her father’s funeral. Leo’s family truly cared for each other. What Andie wouldn’t give to have the warmth of family to visit, and that had nothing to do with shivering a bit in the cold night air.
“You have a nice relationship with your sister and her family.” She wanted to know more about what it was like, the unconditional love from many people.
A blowup Santa ho-ho-hoed from amidst a pile of wrapped gifts.
“She’s a pest and a thorn in my side, but we’re family.”
Family . Spoken like anyone would know what that meant, the love and annoyance of a sibling. Andie tugged her coat closer around her, not in defiance to the wind. “I always wanted a larger family and siblings.” Leo had been helping ease the loneliness of this time of year, but seeing his happy family cut through the fog.
“I’d say I wished for the opposite, but that would undermine your pain.” He stopped beneath a tree covered in white blinking lights. “Come here.” He reached out and pulled her in, sharing his warmth with her.
“You don’t have to—”
He put a gloved finger against her lips. “I know. I want to. Besides, I can hear you better this way.” He glanced up, the wind blowing his hair around. “I’d love to say something grand like you can share mine, but I know that’s foolish for what we are. All I can say is that you are welcome here, with me and mine, at any time. And someday some family will be very lucky to include you in their fold.”
Andie often worried that would never happen, but standing there, in the midst of lights and music and people and cars, looking at how Leo’s brown eyes sparkled like the tree behind him, and Andie knew, down to her core, that he somehow spoke the truth, her truth.
“Thank you.” She rose on her toes, pressing her cold lips to his equally cold ones. They warmed with the contact, the chill and wind momentarily forgotten in the embrace.
Leo pulled back. “Come on, let’s continue our journey and then defrost with hot cocoa. Maybe I can even get David to light a fire.”
Andie shivered as she lost Leo’s warmth. “A fire sounds delightful.”
An hour later they all sat by the fire, warm cups of hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallows. Leo tucked a still-shivering Andie into his side, kicking himself for not returning sooner.
“This is really good hot chocolate. I’m impressed,” Andie said. Leo resisted the urge to lick the marshmallow off her lip, and nearly groaned when her tongue snaked out to catch it.
“Told ya,” Millie said. She sported a marshmallow mustache and didn’t seem to care.
“David, relax. If the wind topples anything over it’s going to topple it and countless other items along the street,” Jodie said.
The entire room turned to where David stood, holding back the curtain, staring out into the night while his own cup of hot chocolate waited by the fire.
“I don’t need a dreidel to end up in a creche and be mistaken for a baby Jesus.”
“Daddy, no one will ever think that a dreidel is Jesus.”
David sighed and let the curtain fall back into place, joining the family and setting himself up on the ottoman closest to the fire.
“I have never seen a display like yours, David.” Andie placed her mug on the coffee table, then snuggled back into the love seat she shared with Leo. He wrapped his outstretched hand around her shoulder, cuddling her further into his side. “To be fair, I’ve never much checked out Christmas lights on purpose, so this entire evening was something new.”
She turned to Leo, eyes filled with something. He swallowed. Her expression made her words take on a heavier weight, as though she’d cherish this night and experience for years to come. And it hit him just like every other time, he didn’t want to be a memory, or a footnote, he wanted to experience these moments with her again and again.
Too many thoughts, too many feelings, and only his failure to act quick enough to blame.
“All right, Millie, it’s bedtime, time to say good night,” Jodie said.
Millie glanced back and forth between all the people in the room so fast her hair swirled around her. “Awww, Mom! Uncle Leo and Andie are still here!”
Leo saw his opening and knew his sister would thank him. “We’ll be leaving soon,” Leo said. “And you’ll see me tomorrow at Grandma and Grandpa’s to celebrate Chanukah with our family.”
“And Andie?” Millie batted her eyelashes, all pure innocence that wasn’t innocent at all. “Will your girlfriend be joining us?”
Andie sputtered over a sip of her cocoa and Leo rubbed her back. While he’d love to bring Andie and introduce her to the rest of the family, he knew even her being here had “premature” written all over it.
“I don’t think Grandma would appreciate an unexpected guest.”
Millie rocked on her feet. “Andie isn’t unexpected. I told Grandma.”
Leo barely held in a groan. Andie glanced at him, and if he read her right, part amusement and part fear lit her gaze. The amusement got to him, as though this thought he deemed outlandish might hold potential. As though Andie’s mentions of wanting more family life might actually be soothed—he hoped—by seeing his in action.
“I’ll have to discuss this with Andie.”
“I can wait.”
He shot a look at his sister and brother-in-law, but they both avoided eye contact. He’d remember this. He faced Andie with something akin to hope filling his lungs. “If you don’t have plans, would you like to come to the Dentz family Chanukah gathering, where my mother is apparently expecting you, at no notice.”
The range of potential reactions were enormous, and they mounted in his head as he waited for Andie’s response, no longer able to even guess her expression.
“Please, Andie! Uncle Leo’s never even brought a date and Uncle Dean has!”
Leo closed his eyes, dropped his head, and wished for death. Hope dashed in a flame.
A hand on his knee had him cracking a lid, finding Andie smiling at him. “I guess I better say yes then. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the family.”
“Yay!” Millie ran over, flung her arms around both Leo and Andie, before racing off up the stairs to get ready for bed.
“You don’t have to be roped into this,” Leo said softly to Andie.
She sipped her hot chocolate. “I know. I’d like to see what the rest of your family is like. And help you finally bring a girlfriend to the holidays.”
A half chuckle, half groan worked its way up Leo’s throat.
“Don’t complain, that kid has your back,” Jodie said.
“She also is a puppeteer and gets her way.”
“Blame Jodie for that.” David poked the fire.
“I am raising a strong, ball-busting woman who will one day rule whatever business she gets into.”
“Right.”
Leo shifted to the end of the love seat. “You two can have this fight after we’re gone.”
Jodie waved a hand. “We’ve had this fight many times, we’ll have it many more. It’s called ‘marriage.’” Jodie smiled at David, though, and he smiled back.
I want that , Leo thought. And he’d thought it for years. David had stepped into Jodie’s life and supported her and loved her. They clashed and bickered and always came back together. Jodie knew David would always have her back and she’d always have his.
Leo had been too focused on work, thinking he’d have time for that later. And now, with the deadline nearly down to the wire and no answer, and with Andie moving far away, he could be starting out the new year with truly nothing.
But not yet. He still had more time with the woman beside him. And he’d do his best to enjoy it.