Chapter Three #2
“You asked her that question?” Mina almost gasps with shock.
“Yes, I did. Because I think it’s important. You know Mom and Dad have always told us to be clear with who you are and what you want. I was curious.”
“Gutsy to try that with a stranger.”
“Yeah, but it didn’t feel like the two of us had just met. There’s something different about her, Mina. I can’t describe it yet.”
Her hand comes to rest on my arm, her expression thoughtful.
“Jay, you’ve always been so strong for all of us.
You’ve been my protector more than once.
You make everyone who gets the honor of knowing you feel like they’re important.
” She claps softly, her final words coming in a rush.
“And you love Christmas more than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life, which has to be one of your most endearing qualities. ”
I laugh, picking up the mug of tea—both to drain the last of it and to do something to distract myself from the uncomfortable attention.
Talking about Ivy is one thing. But talking about who I am is harder for me, especially because I’ve so often been misunderstood by anyone other than Mina.
Although now, it seems that Ivy might be interested in getting to know the real me as well.
“What’s not to love about Christmas?” I say toward the windows. The chill from the frigid air is starting to creep in despite the space heater that looks like a fireplace on blast in front of us. A chill runs down my spine, but I shake it off.
“Did you get her number? When are you going to see her again?” Mina reads my mind and throws me a blanket from the basket beside our seats.
“Tomorrow.” Preemptively, I wince. “But I didn’t get her number.”
“What?” my sister’s voice rings loudly throughout the space.
My eyes widen, and I crouch down as her hands fly to her mouth. We are frozen for twenty whole seconds before we realize that no one has woken inside the house. We’ve escaped getting caught out of our beds like when we were kids.
“What do you mean you didn’t get her number?” Mina hisses a few moments later.
“I’m trusting fate with this one.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Like Serendipity.”
“You modeled your love life off a heartbreaking movie?” Mina has always preferred action movies more than the romances I enjoy, but her furrowed brow does not bode well for her opinion of my choice. Her lip is pulled in between her teeth, and an uncomfortable feeling settles in my stomach.
“Was that not a good idea?” I put my head in my hands. “It wasn’t, was it?”
“Hey, don’t do that.” Mina grabs my arm. “You took a chance. That’s so . . . unlike you.”
I nod. “I know. But in the moment, I just felt like I had to go with it. Like what was happening between us was bigger than me. It felt like something we could tell our kids about one day.”
Mina’s eyes widen.
“You know, if that ever happens,” I say quickly, realizing that I’ve absolutely shown my hand. I know that meeting Ivy has to mean something for my life. I’m determined not to mess up this gift I’ve been given.
“Okay, well, if your meeting was as magical as you say it was, and it seems to have been, then we’ll have to believe.” A wide yawn overtakes her face, and I shove her knee.
“Thanks for staying up with me, but please get some sleep.”
“Okay,” she relents, standing to go inside. “I do have students to teach and, hopefully, direct them to paint on paper and not their hair.”
I chuckle and collect the mugs, rising to follow her. When she reaches the sliding door, she turns back to face me. “Just tell me this. Did you at least get to hug her goodnight? Kiss her on the cheek?”
The memory of Ivy’s lips on mine and the feeling of kissing her back sends an immediate flare of heat across my skin. I toss the blanket over my shoulder with one hand.
“We kissed,” I say in a quiet tone.
Mina lets out a squeal and rushes back to sit on the coffee table, facing me. “I love this for you! Tell me more.”
“Would you like to see her picture?” The Polaroid feels as if it’s burning a hole in my pocket.
“Yes!” She waves her hands in the air. “Why didn’t you lead with this? You have a picture? Let me see!”
I pull the Polaroid from my pocket. Only a couple of hours ago, the owner of Four Leaf Cookies offered to take it when he realized we were on our first date. Mina pulls out her phone to shine a light on it and inhales sharply. Her eyes fill with tears, a contradiction to the smile on her face.
“She is beautiful.” Her eyes move to mine as she holds up the picture. “And you look so happy, Jay. Whenever I’ve thought of you happy, this is what I’ve hoped for.”
I clear my throat and pull her in for a hug, careful not to bend the picture. “Oh, M&M, what would I do without you?”
“Good thing you’ll never have to find out.
” She releases me and sighs. “Now, I’m going to bed.
And you need to do the same. You’ve got your woman to go and see again tomorrow.
Or later today, given the time. But who’s counting the hours?
” She gives me a wink and rises, a blanket trailing behind her like a cape.
She slides the door open to step into the house and turns toward me again.
Her smile is sweet and hopeful. “I think this could be your Christmas miracle.”
With that, she disappears. The door closes, leaving the porch quiet except for the humming of the space heater.
I look at the photo of Ivy and me, even though I’ve already memorized it.
The curve of her red lips and the shine in her eyes are imprinted upon me permanently.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the piece of ribbon.
She trusted me with something meaningful to her, and the significance of that isn’t lost on me.
I rub my thumb over the edge of the fabric.
If it is a good luck charm, then I’ll hold on to it with everything I have, just like I plan to hold on to the woman who gave it to me.