Chapter 2
JONAS
I stood next to my wife in the insane line that wound through the atrium. Since it was Christmas Eve, the place was completely packed with tourists and families.
So I held Mara's hand as we stepped into place behind a set of parents and their two small children. One of them was crying while the other one watched Bluey on a cell phone. The parents tried–and failed–to soothe the crying child with hot chocolate.
I leaned closer to Mara and whispered, “Any inspiration striking?”
She looked over at me. “The inspiration to go back home.”
I laughed and rubbed her shoulder. “That's the spirit.”
We were quiet for a moment, and I watched her focus slip away. She was daydreaming, like she often did. Her head lost in story worlds, couples falling in love, families coming together, friends supporting each other… Everything that made a Mara Taylor romance something special.
I loved watching her eyes flick around the setting, thoughts piecing together that were wholly her own.
The child ahead of us stopped crying, a big ring of hot chocolate on his lips. I chuckled at the sight. “You’re doing a great job,” I said to the parents.
They gave me a grateful smile, and the dad said, “Trying to.”
When I decided to be with Mara, I thought maybe it would be a big deal that I wouldn't be a father, but I found that my life was full now.
I was able to be there for my parents without having to put a child first. I got to spend time with my sister and her husband and their growing family.
I could travel with my wife as her career grew and expanded and changed.
Not to mention, it had given me time to build the business of my dreams, one that treated its workers with dignity and respect and understood that they had lives outside of work.
It was the thing that I was most proud of.
Mara and I had made a beautiful life together.
Slowly, the line moved us closer and closer to Santa Claus.
It was a strange tradition, if you thought about it, bringing your children to a man in disguise to have them sit on a total stranger's lap and tell him their wishes.
But there was so much magic in it too, and I could see from Mara's expression that she thought it was cute as well.
Eventually, we got to the front of the line. As Santa looked up at us, I could tell he was exhausted. Despite the tired bags under his eyes, he said, “Ho, Ho, Ho! Is there a baby on the way?”
Mara and I cringed at each other. She confided in me once that it really hurt her feelings when people assumed she was pregnant because of her size, but I was proud of the way she responded. She lifted her chin and said, “A book baby. I'm writing a story about Christmas and wanted to meet Santa.”
With his face looking especially flushed, he said, “All right then, sit on Santa's lap.”
She took him in and said, “I think I'm good.”
I snickered to myself as we walked away. “Rejected.”
Mara rolled her eyes at me. “You would think a man who is notorious for having a big belly wouldn't prejudge a woman. I'm so glad I made it out of the house today.”
“Just another day in Christmas paradise,” I said. Then I put on an Olde English accent and added, “But fear not, m’lady; there are better things in the mall than this.”
“Like what?” she replied skeptically.
“Like the food. Obviously.” I said with a laugh.
For the next hour or so, we walked through the mall finding all of my favorite holiday treats. There were roasted candy nuts, minty Christmas drinks, hot chocolate, peppermint candies, and more. It was fun to meander around with her, commenting on anything and everything.
She looked over at me and said, “Thank you so much for bringing me out of the house. It's been nice to get a break from the computer.”
I nodded, “Of course.” I noticed she had a crumb from the candied nuts on her cheek, and I said, “Hold on, let me.”
We stopped in the walkway, people parting and walking around us as I leaned in and kissed the crumb from the corner of her lips. Sweetness flooded my tastebuds, and warmth flowed through my veins.
She smiled up at me, her eyes warm and bright.
“You know something?” I asked.
She looked up at me, waiting for my answer.
“Even though you don’t like Christmas… you embody all that it is.” I cupped her cheek with my hand. “Love, family, warmth, creativity… You’re amazing, Mara.”
“I’ve never met anyone more warm or loving than you, Jonas,” she replied, winding her arms around my waist. “You’re the best partner, the best friend, I could have ever dreamed of. Better than anyone I could imagine and put on paper.”
My chest lifted at her words, and she reached on her tiptoes to kiss my lips.
We kissed for only a moment before someone behind us shouted, “Get a room!”
She chuckled while slipping her hand in mine and said, ”What's next?”
We started walking again with the flow of people, and I said, “This is going to be a treat.”