Chapter Two
Neva
It had crossed Neva’s mind to try and convince Angie that maybe this year, they could make do with two or three kinds of cookies instead of four.
She had left the kitchen for a few minutes only to answer a call from her mother, and when she returned, it was too late.
Angie had already put an abundance of ingredients on the counter and started the first batter.
The recipe for the Linzer cookies came from Angie’s grandmother, sugar cookies from Neva’s side.
Cranberry white chocolate was the kids’ favorite.
The delicious Vegan chocolate cookies had been on the menu since Christina started school.
The three girls brought them on the last day of classes, and with those ingredients, no kid was left out.
Good grief, we’ll be at this all night.
Neva loved Angie, and she loved Christmas, but she might not share the exact same ambitions for the holiday.
Not that she would ever say it out loud.
Like Angie, she had a few items on her list she wanted to make time for: Hot chocolate and a movie, visiting the Christmas market, decorating the tree together.
That was what it was all about, spending time with family, wasn’t it?
Most of their family had retreated to their rooms now. Angie had insisted the process would be more efficient that way.
Neva watched her as she studied a recipe, her reading glasses about to slip off her nose. She was overcome with affection, once more wondering how she could raise the subjects that had been on her mind for weeks now.
Deciding to give it more time, she reached out to brush an imaginary smattering of flour from Angie’s cheek.
“You’ve got a little something there…”
Angie gave her look radiating impatience.
“We don’t have time for this. Could you please get started on the chocolate cookies?”
“Of course.”
Neva suppressed a sigh. She couldn’t blame her wife for not being in a playful mood, given the extent of the task ahead.
“I’ll take care of the lights tomorrow morning,” Angie continued.
She cast an unhappy glance outside the window where the snow was still falling, softly now.
They already had four to five inches on the ground.
That was another thing they’d have to take care of in the morning, probably before breakfast. Then the kids would be off to school, and Neva would walk the dogs.
“Okay. Are you sure you want to do all of this tonight? We could push some of this to the weekend.”
“I don’t think we can. We were going to get the guest rooms ready.”
“I told you, Mom and Dad will be okay to stay in a hotel overnight.”
“It’s fine. We have the room, and what if the weather is like this? No, it’s better to stick to the plan,” Angie decided as she added chocolate chips and cranberries to her batter.
Neva tried to keep up, but she had barely any ingredients in her bowl when Angie started to expertly scoop her batter on the prepared tray and put them in the pre-heated oven.
Neva stared at the table, wondering what she was missing, until it came to her.
“We don’t have enough trays.”
“What? I thought you bought some more last week.”
She was supposed to do it last week, but between homework and housework, her own job, and their usual pre-Christmas shopping trips, it had slipped Neva’s mind.
“I forgot. I’m sorry. Usually, we don’t do it all in one night.”
“Usually, we’re not behind like this.” Angie sighed. “We’ll make do. The dough for the Linzer cookies can just go in the fridge until tomorrow. I’ll finish them when I come back from work.”
“I can do that,” Neva offered, knowing it was futile.
“Thank you, but I’ll do it. I’ll try to get off work earlier.”
“Isn’t your colleague still out sick?”
Angie looked surprised that Neva remembered, which she found a bit offensive. Neva let it slide. It had been a long day for all of them, and more long days would follow until she could present her surprise.
The other surprise. She knew Angie was cautious, and perhaps the new kitten hadn’t helped, but this was a good one. Neva was proud of herself for keeping the secret this long.
“Yes, she is, but she’ll be back on Monday. I might even be able to take a day off.”
“That would be great.”
“Indeed. There’s a lot left to do.”
“You know, we have three kids eager to help, especially when it comes to chocolate cookies.”
Angie’s expression softened some, though her words were a little less encouraging.
“Good. We might need another batch anyway.”
Neva decided the best course of action was to just go along for the moment. The sooner they were done, the sooner they could get a good night’s sleep and tackle the last few whirlwind days before it was time for some peace.
***
The next morning came quickly. The room was dark except for the light on Angie’s nightstand, her side of the bed empty. Neva heard her footsteps on the stairs, and a moment later, she entered the room.
“Hey, you’re awake. I found another string of lights in the box, so I changed the ones outside. I also got started on the shoveling. I’ll have to leave you the rest. I have to get ready.”
“Sure.”
Neva hurried to get out of bed so they could share a quick gentle kiss before Angie headed for the shower.
Sounds from Christina’s room indicated that the second bathroom would be occupied soon.
That left the guest bath, but breakfast wasn’t going to make itself.
Neva put on a robe and went downstairs where she started the coffee before checking on the non-human babies.
Ernie followed her around, wagging his tail, eager for food while Bert was sleeping in the cat bed.
The cat…had managed to get into one of the gift boxes they had left on a side table near the tree.
She looked incredibly cute, but Neva knew Angie wouldn’t appreciate the state of the box, or the wrapping paper next to it.
“Let’s get rid of the evidence, Fluffy, okay?”
She would have to drive by the store and get some more sometime today.
When all the furbabies were provided for, she started the coffee and set the table, in time for Fiona and Elsa to arrive.
Both of them had their favorite cereal. Christina liked pancakes made in the toaster.
Neva put in a couple for her, and one for herself.
Christina was next to arrive. A mumbled “morning” was all they would get out of their eldest until she had some food in her.
Angie was last, and she ignored the toast Neva had made for her while drinking her coffee standing up.
The hot shower didn’t seem to have melted the tension from her shoulders, so Neva got up to step behind her, starting to administer a quick massage.
“That’s heavenly, but I don’t have time,” Angie said, her regret audible. She would love the surprise. Neva was sure of it.
“When you have that day off, we’ll make time.”
“You have a day off? Can we go to the Christmas market? You said we could go ice-skating this year!” Fiona claimed.
Had they really promised that?
“How about giving Mommy a real day off? We will see the market, but remember we also have a new kitten.”
Said kitten was currently curled up in Elsa’s lap.
Neva caught the soft smile on Angie’s face, certain that a few relaxed days would do wonders for all of them.
Angie’s perfectionism often got the better of her, but she did love the holiday and all that it meant, including their own, specific miracles.
Fifteen years. The twins’ birthday. Christina might not believe in Santa Claus anymore, but that didn’t hinder the wonder in her eyes. Maybe they didn’t quite reach perfection on any given day, but their family was joyful, and this holiday would be no exception.
“That’s fine,” Angie returned. “We could go on the weekend, right after we prepared the rooms for Grandmas and Grandpas.”
Their house would be bursting at the seams. At least their respective parents got along well, and everyone loved the girls, and Bert and Ernie, and they would love Fluffy too.
Apparently, the name had stuck for now, and given Angie’s ever-expanding lists, she had no time to come up with a new one either.
Neva had big plans, and the previous night of frantic cookie baking was once more confirmation that she was right.
Everyone had their comfort rituals, especially around the holidays, but Angie was heading straight for a burnout if she didn’t make any changes.
Neva was determined to help those changes along. She just had to find the right moment.
“I have to go. Love you all. That includes you, Fluffy.” The kitten gave a soft meow as Angie went around the table for goodbye kisses.
After she had left, Neva made sure the girls were dressed and ready for school. Christina took the school bus. Neva, too, got ready and walked Fiona and Elsa to their school, as usual taking Ernie and Bert along for their morning walk.
Once they were back home, she brewed herself another pot of coffee.
She couldn’t change much about the upcoming plans. She was lucky to have found a few co-conspirators in Angie’s parents, and her own. They would arrive on Christmas Eve as planned to celebrate with them. On Christmas Day…That’s where the surprise came in.
She couldn’t afford to be daydreaming about it now, because she had to finish shoveling, get some work of her own done and clear the table before picking up Fiona and Elsa.
Last night’s baking dishes were still in the dishwasher.
Neva stared at them for a second, wishing she had convinced Angie to stick to two recipes for the night.
One more thing for her list. She knew she would have to tread carefully, but she couldn’t postpone that conversation forever either.
After taking care of the dishes, she went upstairs to make the bed only to realize Angie had done it earlier.
Neva went into the office where she turned on her computer, intent on getting some work done.
She had done a few extra hours lately to make up for the time off she had scheduled.
Since Angie was out of the house for long hours, she didn’t know about Neva’s scheming, though it seemed she had noticed something anyway.
Focusing on the task at hand, Neva didn’t stop until it was time for another quick walk with the boys.
She learned that due to the updated weather forecast, classes were canceled for the rest of the day and took them back to the house first before she went to pick up Fiona and Elsa. The sidewalks were still slippery, and they were lucky to make it back home without an incident.
She prepared a late lunch while Christina arrived, and they ate together, chatting about their days before it was time for a few more hours of work. Christina’s afternoon classes had been canceled as well.
She and Neva emptied another load of dishes and replaced them with those from lunch.
Back in her office, Neva put on some Christmas music and sat down to finish for the day. Something kept nagging at the back of her mind, like she had forgotten an important item. Fluffy had new water, food and litter, and she had claimed her own bed.
Had she promised anything else? Angie had insisted she wanted to finish the baking herself.
“Oh no,” Neva said out loud when she remembered the torn box and wrapping paper. Angie would not be amused when she came home and wanted to get a move on the wrapping.
Neva had better take care of this now. She went to the upper floor to knock on Christina’s door.
Christina was listening to music on her headphones, definitely not Christmas music, while reading. How she could do the two together, Neva wasn’t sure, but growing up in a loud and loving family had to help with multi-tasking.
“Could you watch the twins for a few minutes?” Neva asked. “I have to run an errand quickly.”
“Now? It’s snowing again.”
“I won’t be long,” Neva promised.
“Sure, okay.” She got up to follow her to Fiona and Elsa’s room.
“Thank you. You’re the best.”
Christina gave her a wry smile that was far too adult for Neva’s taste.
Couldn’t they keep the wonder a little bit longer?
Regardless of her woes, she had to get going.
If she was lucky, she could get started on the wrapping and surprise Angie…
again. But from now on, she vowed, they would all be good surprises.
Angie might have been caught off guard by Fluffy, but Neva had seen the way she looked at her. Those eyes had clearly melted her reservations.
Neva shuddered when she stepped outside, despite wearing her warmest coat, scarf, and gloves, but braced herself. Nothing she couldn’t handle
Her name meant snow, after all.