Chapter 14 John #2
‘Ah, no, actually. It was never really a tradition growing up,’ Sam replies. He clears his throat. ‘We’re not exactly close like your family is, Mia. Everyone had a TV in their own rooms, so what was the point of sitting together in the living room?’
Mia shakes her head. ‘Well, that’s a shame. But surely you’ve seen The Santa Clause?’
Sam shakes his head.
‘Miracle on 34th Street? It’s a Wonderful Life? White Christmas?’ Mia clutches her heart. ‘Oh my goodness, Sam. This is awful. How is it possible you were so deprived?’
‘I didn’t realize it was such an offence,’ Sam replies.
‘Well, lucky for you, we have several days of this holiday left. Enough time to get you mostly up to speed. Where should we start? Something light-hearted, not too serious. Oh, I know!’ Mia claps her hands together. ‘We’ll watch The Grinch.’
‘Is that the green guy?’ Sam asks innocently.
Mia slaps her forehead this time. ‘Sam. You’re killing me. Here, grab your hot chocolate. Your Christmas cinema indoctrination begins now.’ Mia heads for the family room, but she doesn’t get far.
‘What about the snow?’ Sam asks, angling his head at the bowl on the counter.
Mia offers him a pained smile. ‘Oh, yes, of course. Can’t forget the snow.’ She scoops a minuscule portion into her mug, and a slightly larger clump into Sam’s. With a grimace only John can see, Mia takes a sip. ‘Perfect. All right, let’s get started.’
Sam obediently follows Mia and takes the seat beside her on the deep sofa.
He sinks down into the fluffy cushions, carefully holding his cocoa aloft so that it doesn’t spill.
Mia is engrossed in finding the film and doesn’t notice as Sam leans a little further back so that he can watch her.
A small smile plays around his lips as Mia scowls at the TV, scrolling through countless other films. He seems captivated by the light playing over her features, and his expression softens even more as she takes another sip of the cocoa and sighs in appreciation.
Sam’s expression turns almost wistful at the sound.
John relaxes in one of the armchairs, considering what he’s just seen.
Sam has made no mention of girlfriends, past or present.
Is it possible that he is still pining after Mia?
The story Mia told about her humiliation at the pool was all from her perspective, but what if Sam had truly just made a mistake and forgotten to tell her others were invited?
He could still have had a genuine interest in Mia, and might even feel terrible about what happened.
Having watched Sam over the last few days, John has the mounting suspicion that it all comes down to something that simple. Sam doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to plan out something so brutally sinister and deceptive as the humiliation that Mia described.
Mia sends John a conspiratorial look, and he surmises that she’s hoping he will continue to prey on Sam’s sensibilities. Perhaps she wants John to fiddle with the lights and make them flicker. Or howl down the chimney or some other such nonsense.
Sam shivers from his place on the sofa. ‘Mmm. It’s quite chilly in here. Mind if I light a fire?’
‘Knock yourself out.’ Mia is clicking through film titles.
Sam lays the wood in the hearth, then strikes a match. The draught snaking through the room blows it out, and he lights another, with enough gusto to make John smile. This one also blows out.
‘What in the world?’
Mia snickers under her breath and darts another look at John.
She clearly thinks he’s responsible for the draught.
Somewhat frustrated, Sam pulls a third match from the box and strikes it.
Taking pity on the man, John crosses the room and positions himself so that his body is blocking the draught.
The match stays lit, and Sam is finally able to light the logs.
‘Now we’re in business,’ Sam crows triumphantly.
Fires are inherently romantic, or at least John’s always thought so, and he begins looking round to see if there’s anything else he can do to set the mood.
It would be a shame to waste this rare moment where Mia and Sam are alone and on good terms. He quickly strides over to the light switch by the door and dims the lights so that the room is bathed in a golden glow.
The fire crackles heartily and Sam burrows back into the cocoon that Mia has created on the sofa.
He picks up his hot chocolate and takes a long sip.
Mia’s attention seems to be trained on Sam as he tilts his head back, letting the rich drink slide down his throat.
John hides a satisfied smile and sneaks a quick sip of Mia’s hot chocolate.
‘Damn,’ he says, accidentally drawing her attention back to him. He sets the mug down carefully, making sure the disembodied cup isn’t visible to Sam.
Mia shoots him a look that is clearly asking why John is upset.
‘What I wouldn’t give for an actual sip of hot chocolate. Or a bite of something that doesn’t taste like cardboard.’
‘Poor baby,’ Mia croons, with just a touch of sarcasm.
‘Sorry?’ Sam leans forward to catch her gaze and Mia snaps to attention.
‘Nothing. Don’t worry about it! I was just feeling bad pre-emptively for the Grinch.
OK, so what do you need to know about this film before we start?
’ Mia presses a button on the remote and the intro music plays merrily.
‘Well, actually, it’s pretty self-explanatory.
The biggest thing you need to understand is that in every Christmas film, the spirit of Christmas prevails over any and all obstacles and challenges.
Once you accept that, you can accept the premise of any of them. ’
‘Got it.’ Sam nods definitively and leans back against the sofa, draping one arm across the back.
Mia sips from her mug as the film plays, and after a few minutes she relaxes back into the pillowy comfort of the sofa.
Sam’s arm is just a few inches above her, and John spends several minutes debating how he could move that arm down on to her shoulders.
How will Mia react, though? Will she swat Sam away?
Will this interference shatter the tenuous peace between them?
Sam is taking the Christmas film watching very seriously.
He’s giving the film his complete attention, as if he expects Mia to quiz him at the end, and knowing Mia, that does feel like a distinct possibility.
Sam is barely moving a muscle, so any interference on John’s part will be obvious.
It will have to be Mia, then. A sudden burst of genius hits him.
Watching for the perfect opportunity, he waits while Mia juggles the remote in one hand and the mug of cocoa in the other.
Then John slides behind the sofa and lifts one corner just a few inches, toppling Mia in Sam’s direction.
Trying to compensate without spilling her drink, Mia drops the remote between them while she steadies herself. Once she’s secured her sloshing mug, she looks around wildly for the remote.
‘Oh, sorry,’ she mumbles, reaching between them.
Sam, still engrossed in the film, does his crooked smile and says, ‘No worries.’
Mia roots around in the blankets, looking for the remote. She’s moving closer and closer to Sam, and when she’s in the perfect location, John lifts the sofa again. Mia falls into Sam’s side with an aggravated ‘oomph’.
Exactly as John had planned, Sam’s arm curls around Mia reflexively.
‘Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry.’ Mia keeps looking but can’t locate the remote in the mound of blankets. ‘I just can’t find the remote, but I guess it doesn’t matter. I’ll move back.’
He smiles down at her, now nestled in the crook of his arm. After a moment of careful deliberation, Sam ventures, ‘I don’t mind if you don’t.’ He licks his lips. ‘The point of this was to be cosy and relaxed, wasn’t it?’
Mia mumbles out an embarrassed, ‘I guess so.’ But she doesn’t immediately move away.
John takes her response as a good sign and decides this is his cue to leave.
They seem to be working things out between them just fine.
There’s just one more tiny detail to adjust as he leaves.
John heads for the doorway into the front room, but right before he leaves, he takes out the remote that he smuggled into his pocket and switches the film over to a much better selection.