Chapter 52 - Dean
Dean
Iset three fresh eggs on the stove and stoked the fire, bumping the tree so one of its ornaments jingled, granting us a jolly start to our holiday morning.
“Lily. Wake up. It’s Christmas.” I shook her and chuckled at her sleepy groan. “I’ll start your coffee while you wake up.”
We celebrated the night before with a board game and homemade sugar cookies. It’d continue today with fresh venison, roasted potatoes, and more cookies.
Lily dragged herself out of bed and pulled one of my shirts over her naked body before wrapping her arms around me as the coffee percolated. “Extra Merry Christmas morning to you.”
I laughed, louder this time, at her unique greeting. “A double extra Merry Christmas morning to you.”
We discovered a shoebox of holiday ornaments inside the wooden chest before Thanksgiving, shared a laugh over it, assuming it had held old shoes without bothering to check first. I chopped down a small pine tree, and then we spent an evening creating popcorn strands and decorating it.
At her insistence, we even sang a few off-key songs.
I fried the eggs, adding canned mushrooms and bacon to our meal, while she made more sugar cookies. We ate in front of the fire, as we often did in the mornings, with her feet in my lap and matching smiles on our faces.
Our time, isolated with only each other for company, wouldn’t last forever, but we indulged in and appreciated every moment. This Christmas was the first time I had celebrated since my mother died.
“Presents?” Lily clapped her hands together, signaling the next part of our day. “I hid it under the bed.”
She handed me a small package, one of her shirts, with a small item hidden inside. I unwrapped it to find a knit cap with my name embroidered on it. “How did you manage this?”
“It took a few tries. Some letters are wobbly, but I did it. I found the thread in the basement and worked on it whenever you left. Do you like it?”
The quiver in her voice at the end inspired mine. “I love it more than you can imagine.” A gift from my wife is more than I once dared to dream of. “Your turn.”
Lily accepted the small box, noting the label. “A box of matches?” she teased.
“Look inside.”
Lily opened the box, pulling out her gift with a soft gasp.
“I found it and thought of us.”
“It’s stunning.”
“See this.” I opened the hidden clasp on the two gold hearts. “Two hearts can become one.” I joined them together. “It’s corny, yes. Still true.”
I’d stuck it in my pocket on the third day of foraging, and there it stayed until after our frozen walk in the woods.
“That makes it more heartfelt. Put it on me.” Lily lifted the hair off her neck as I placed the simple gold chain around her neck. “It’s beautiful. How do I look?”
“Like my secret dreams came to life all at once.” I cleared my throat. “Let’s sing another song.”
Lily launched into another painful song, and I smiled as the snow fell outside.
“Merry Christmas,” I said once she finished.
“Not so bad for a homemade holiday while we hide in the mountains?”
“It’s everything I imagined and could want.”
Lily covered her mouth, trying and failing to hide her third yawn of the night.
“Hey, you can’t do that.” I laughed, teasing her. “Not for a few more minutes. Then you can pass out.”
“It’s almost midnight,” she said before the rest formed another yawn. “Let’s do this. Hard core.” She slammed her fist on the table. “Only a couple of minutes. I can make it.”
“It might already be midnight,” I said, and she pursed her lips before sticking her tongue out. “The clock is off. The time is only our best guess.”
We’d slept in one morning, not realizing the battery on our cheap, plastic alarm clock had run out. Life in our cozy cabin didn’t require an exact time, so we shrugged and ignored it. New Year’s was the one evening when a precise time mattered.
“Feel sorry for me.”
I set two shot glasses on the table, filling them both with the remaining vodka we’d found among the basement supplies. “This stuff is disgusting, so consider yourself warned.”
“We ate weeks of oatmeal. This is nothing.” She yawned again.
“Happy New Year, Lily.” I set one shot glass in front of her and smiled. “I love you.”
“Happy New Year, Dean.” She picked up her drink. “I love you, too.”
“There’s a lifetime’s worth of these in our future. Are you ready?”
We counted together. “3…2…1.”
I whistled as she cheered before we swallowed, capping the celebrations with both of us coughing.
“Here’s to all our beginnings,” she said.
“Every single one.” I leaned in and kissed her.
“Close your eyes,” Lily ordered. She didn’t wait, covering them before guiding me to the table. “Are you ready? Don’t open your eyes until I light the candles.”
I rubbed my hands together, relishing the moment and the sweet scent of cake. “Let’s celebrate the second greatest day of the year.”
“Wait. Open your eyes.” I did, finding Lily’s head tilted to the side. She put her hands on her hips and asked. “Most people think their birthday is the best. What makes this the second greatest day?”
“It’s great, but it’s not any of our anniversaries.” I teased.
“Anniversaries?” She licked her lips as confusion fell away. “Plural. Are you including the day you kidnapped me?”
“Especially that one. It’s up there.” I gave her a thumbs-up.
“Yes, you would like that one.” She kissed my cheek and went to get a candle. “Don’t eat the frosting.”
“I’ll wait until you get back.” I swiped the strawberry frosting off the cake and moaned. “The cake is stunning.” Strawberry cake with strawberry frosting, and my name in big letters. “This is the best birthday I’ve had in years.” Since my mother died.
Lily set a candle on the cake, already lit from the fire. “Make a wish.”
I blew out the candle.
“Don’t tell me what you wish for, or it won’t come true.” Her smile widened, teasing me.
“I didn’t wish for anything. Why would I when everything I dream of is here right now?”