Episode 1220: Ribbons and Bows

“Happy holidays to you, too,” her husband replied.

“Oh, Ry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t even look at who was calling. My phone has been ringing galore and the texts won’t stop either and it was so annoying when I’m in the middle of finalizing the theater’s spring season. If I’d realized it was you, of course I wouldn’t have been so rude.”

“Had you known it was me, maybe you would have answered sooner so I wouldn’t think you’d crashed in this snowy weather, never mind so I’d know what to say to our kids who have been stuck watching everyone else chat with Santa while we wait for mom to join us.”

“Oh, no! I lost track of time!”

“You left the kids hanging again, Addie,” he said with more gentleness than circumstances called for, “and this time it’s Christmas stuff, last month it was Miranda’s birthday. You know how supportive I am of your work at the theater, but this is not okay.”

Jesse quietly let himself into the apartment. Hanging his snow dampened beanie and coat on the coat tree. Boots removed, he turned, surprised he wasn’t actually alone at such a late hour. While the living room sat dark, the kitchen light was on, his parents set up at the table wrapping gifts.

“Hey baby,” his mom greeted him. “Did you have a nice Christmas Eve with Caroline?”

“Yeah, it was really good.” Jesse stopped at the tree to place the small gifts Caroline had for his parents and Nate then brought the gift she’d given to him into the kitchen. Maybe it was juvenile to want to show it off to his parents at his age, but it had been a long road back to being Caroline’s boyfriend, it felt good to revel in it.

“She sewed this utility bag for me herself. See the embroidery on the flap. There’s our initials, and symbols of things that have been important to us, like our movie dates, so there’s a little popcorn box, too.”

Jesse felt his cheeks pink slightly, still, he kept on bragging. “Caroline filled it with some gloves and small tools and things for the outdoors side of my job, then there are pens and ledgers and other supplies like that for the office side of my job. Do you know if Nate’s still awake? I want to show him this part of the embroidery from one of the Halloweens we hung out with him.”

“He was still up when I was in the hall a little while ago,” his dad said.

“He’s studying, of course,” his mom added, her mouth twisting up in distaste.

“This had better be the news I’ve waited for,” Curran Gable said, as his attorney strode into the office.

“It’s all but done,” the lawyer said. “But before it is, before I file these papers, you should really consider one more time how it’s going to affect-”

“I’ve done all the considering I need to do. This is the right move for my family, exactly what I want for Christmas, it may as well be wrapped up in fancy paper and tied with a bow.”

Episode 1221: Cozy Little Christmas