The Perfect Christmas

Chapter One

Angie

To Angie Winters, family mattered the most. Christmas was a close second. Creating the perfect holiday required meticulous planning, and her loved ones assured her each year that she was more than up to the task.

As rewarding as she found the joy in their eyes, something was different this year, she reflected as she left work and stepped into a blizzard, or so it felt. The snow was coming down hard.

She should be home right now, mixing cookie dough, writing cards, and checking their wrapping paper supply, among many other things.

Angie hoped that Neva, her wife, had gotten a head start on the cookies.

They still had multiple boxes to fill, and this was only one item on her ever-expanding to-do list.

With one of her colleagues being sick at home, and another one new to the job, there was no way she could have left the office early.

She still had to pick up her gift for Neva, a handmade, customized piece of jewelry she had commissioned from a local jeweler to mark their fifteenth Christmas together.

Without question, this year had to be extra special.

It would be, right after she dealt with a few more inconveniences. Driving around the small shopping center’s parking garage without finding a spot, she couldn’t help the rising frustration.

Only two weeks, and there was still so much to do. She was lucky that Neva, who worked from home, could help the kids with their homework, and address any immediate crisis, but she, too, had a job to do.

It meant that dishes sometimes stayed in the sink until the next day, or dust settled on surfaces. And that was without a major holiday—the holiday—only a couple of weeks away. Neva had a small studio, but she hadn’t been able to make time to paint in some time.

Christina, Fiona, and Elsa helped out, but along with school, they had their own social lives, and Angie didn’t want to interfere too much.

Above all, she wanted everyone in their home to be happy, and she was determined to succeed, even if it meant she would collapse in a heap on the couch on Christmas Eve.

No, come to think of it, that was not possible, given that they were hosting both sets of parents on Christmas Day. She might sleep for a couple of days straight after that day, but until then, she would make sure it would be the perfect celebration.

Her and Neva’s anniversary. The twins Fiona and Elsa’s birthday. Everyone they loved under one roof. What could be better? It was truly the most wonderful time of the year.

She sighed in relief when another shopper pulled out of their parking spot, only for that spot to be taken before she could move in.

Relax. Take a deep breath. Angie took pride in the fact that she neither yelled at the other driver, nor used a swear word, but turned around and left the parking garage instead.

The snowfall had intensified, and when she finally found a spot on the curb, she nearly ended up with one wheel on the sidewalk.

Angie headed back to the shopping center’s front doors, waiting for the familiar effect. It never came. While she appreciated the heat inside, the sounds of Christmas music, children’s laughter, and the warm scents of baked goods did nothing to calm her.

This was her favorite season. She loved the organizing, the hunt for the perfect presents and decorations, and the way it all came together for unforgettable moments of joy and peace. Every year. This year would be no exception.

Angie wasn’t going to allow a little exhaustion to impede her plans. She had lists, detailed lists, many of them. Perhaps she could manage to take a day off before…

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said out loud when she stood in front of the jeweler’s door. The store was dark, a sign left on the closed door.

We had to close early due to an emergency. We are sorry and will be back tomorrow.

Tomorrow? She did feel bad for the jeweler who was a well-known and beloved artist in town, but…There was no way Angie could come back tomorrow. After the workday, she had planned to make headway on the gift-wrapping, and finish planning the menu for the next grocery.

She might be able to leave some of that to Neva…or not. While the latter was the most kind and beautiful soul Angie had ever met, she wasn’t much of a cook. Or a planner.

Angie loved her with all her heart. Regardless, some of the items on the list—lists—still had to be done by her and her alone. She had managed each of those fourteen years before, and even when she was younger and had full control over her parents’ home and decorations for the holidays.

She took out her cell phone, only to find a text message from Nadine, the jeweler.

I’m so sorry, she wrote. There was a burst pipe at my home, and I had to close the store. You can pick up your order tomorrow morning or at lunch, whatever works for you.

The message had come in during Angie’s search for a parking space. Why hadn’t she checked earlier? She could be home right now.

Did you all have dinner yet? she texted Neva.

The answer came right away, full of heart emojis that made her smile.

Yes, but don’t worry, we left you some. We have a surprise for you.

Emojis aside, the tension that had almost dissipated was about to return full force. With this little time to spare to get everything done, Angie didn’t care much for surprises. If she was honest, she didn’t care for them most of the time.

It didn’t matter. She had to head home and adjust her plans. First, she sent an encouraging message to Nadine and promised she would come back for the necklace. Her text to Neva was a blatant lie, but it was all she could do at the moment:

Can’t wait!

Great. See you soon? Love you.

Love you too. That was nothing but the truth. There was nothing she was more certain of. Angie hoped it would make up for the other part, and that the surprise wouldn’t throw off the evening schedule too much.

She passed the bakery again on the way back out, tempted. Angie resisted, not wanting to disappoint her family who had left some of the dinner she and Neva had prepared the other day.

Driving home, Angie listened to her favorite Christmas mix, on constant replay in her car for all of Advent.

Some people disliked it. It usually centered her, though not tonight.

This late in the evening, traffic should be light, but it was close to Christmas, and the heavy snowfall had slowed down late commuters almost to a stop.

It meant she would have dinner while the first batch of cookies was in the oven.

Maybe Neva’s surprise meant that they were all done already.

The fantasy helped carry her all the way home.

It was almost a miracle that she had made it safely in this weather. There was always something to be grateful for, Angie mused as she made her way to the front door. The cookies could wait a few more minutes. She was hungry, and she wanted to change into something warm and comfortable first.

If the snow didn’t let up overnight, she would have to add some shoveling to the agenda. She would deal with that tomorrow. She noticed that two of the colorful lights in the string decorating the fir in the front had burned out. Another item for the list.

All the lights were on in the house, decorations in the window a bit crooked, but giving the place a welcoming appearance. It made her smile. Coming home to her family was the best part of the day, not just at this time of the year.

Angie unlocked the door and went inside only to be greeted enthusiastically by their two dachshunds, Bert and Ernie. They jumped up and down, demanding to be petted.

“Guys. Relax.”

“Mommy!” The humans had caught up on her arrival as well, and Fiona and Elsa joined her in the hallway. Angie noticed that neither of them was in PJs yet. To her disappointment, the house didn’t smell like cookies either.

“Hey. Did you have a good day?” She gathered the twins close, assuming that Christina was upstairs video-chatting with a friend or reading.

“The best!” Fiona claimed. “You won’t believe what happened. We have a—”

“A kitten,” Angie finished her sentence, staring at the tiny bundle in disbelief. There was no doubt though. The bundle meowed. When did that happen?

“Neva?”

“Right here.”

Neva stood in the doorway, regarding the scene with unmistakable affection and pride.

Angie, too, was proud of their family, their babies, human and fur…

She had not expected this spontaneous addition, especially when they were so busy.

She pressed two fingers against her temple, feeling a headache build.

“Can we keep her, Mommy? Mama said we should ask you. If you say yes, you can name her.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Angie straightened and looked from the pleading eyes of her child clutching the kitten to her now apologetic wife. “Can we talk for a second?”

“Of course. Let’s go in the kitchen. I’ll heat up your dinner.”

“Mommy?”

“I’ll think about it,” she called. “Mama and I need to have a word.”

In the kitchen, she slumped into a chair and dropped her purse on the one next to her.

Neva fixed a plate for Angie and put it in the microwave.

“I can explain,” she said. “Amanda called this morning. They found a home for all of the kittens but one…”

Angie distantly remembered that Amanda, Neva’s sister, had been fostering a litter of kittens.

“And you thought this was a good idea?”

“Amanda can’t keep her, and we didn’t want her to go to a shelter. Bert and Ernie seem to like her well enough, and the kids are already in love. What do you say?”

She had many things to say. Angie would hold them back until after she had eaten, changed, and baked a couple of sheets of cookies. At least. Once she’d accomplished all of that, it would be easier to accept that she was likely going to lose the argument.

Three children, two dogs. Now they wanted to introduce a kitten into the mix? Impossible. It didn’t look like she had much of a say in the matter though.

“There you go.” Neva, sounding hopeful, set the steaming plate in front of her. Crispy chicken, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes.

“Thank you. We’re going to need a new string of lights for the tree outside, and check if the ones for inside are all functioning. Oh, and the wrapping paper. Did you check if we have enough?”

“Not yet, but I’ll do that tomorrow. I promise.”

“Good. I’ll get started on the cookies as soon as I’m done. I’d like to have that out of the way. What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned, when Neva’s expression became somber.

“I don’t know, the way you said it…”

“How did I say it? We have a lot to do.”

Don’t go there. All she wanted was to scratch a few more items off the list. Her work situation or the snowstorm weren’t Neva’s fault. Angie had no reason to snap at her.

“I know that,” Neva acknowledged. “I just want you to enjoy the season, too.”

“I am, don’t worry.” How was that even a question? She wouldn’t be doing all this if she didn’t enjoy it, would she? She was looking forward to this all year. Angie was starting to get impatient with herself. She needed to manage her time better. “Is it true that I can name the kitten?”

“Of course you can.” Neva took her hand and held it in hers. “Thank you for this. They were smitten the moment they saw her. I swear, there was nothing I could do.”

“I know the feeling.”

When Neva’s lips curved into a smile, Angie knew she didn’t have to elaborate.

“All right. This one can stay, but we agree that’s it, right? No more additional occupants after Fluffy?”

“Fluffy?” Neva’s voice went up a notch. “I’m already regretting this decision.”

For the first time today, Angie let out a genuine laugh.

“That’s what you get for letting me name a kitten I didn’t even know we’d have yesterday. I’ll come up with something better, right after those cookies are done.”

“You really want to do them tonight? I was kind of hoping we could have a quiet evening when the kids are in bed.”

“I wish, but not tonight. Maybe after Christmas? We could get a babysitter and go out. Thank you for this.” Angie indicated her plate. “I’ll just go say hello to Christina, and then we can get started.”

“What about dessert?”

“I’ll have it later,” Angie, already on her feet and on her way out of the kitchen, called.

On the stairs, she could hear the twins sneaking back into the kitchen, followed by their four-legged friends.

What did she say?

She said yes?!

Oooh, awesome!

Angie suppressed a sigh, ignoring that her eyes were welling up from sheer exhaustion. Cats and Christmas trees did not mix. Had anyone considered that?