Christmas Spirit

By Alexa & Patrick Silver

“Happy holidays!” Mariah tried to inject some holiday spirit into her voice, but failed miserably. She had been on her feet for thirteen hours solid and there wasn’t a break in sight. First, she had worked a half day at the family-owned art gallery. Her parents had taken off on a thirty-fifth wedding anniversary/Christmas cruise. Mariah had intended to spend the holiday with her sister, but Halley has called this morning, explaining that her new boyfriend had been in a car accident and had broken a leg. Of course Halley would choose to stay with her boyfriend instead of her twin sister. “Great, just great,” Mariah muttered.

“Whatever is the matter, dear? Has your Christmas spirit abandoned you?” A gentle masculine voice broke into her thoughts.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, Mr. Snow.” Mariah gave her friend a guilty look. “I was just woolgathering. I’m so sorry. What would you like to eat?” She gestured to the pans in front of her.

“I’ll have some ham and some mashed potatoes and I’d love to have a conversation with you, Mariah. Aren’t you due a break?”

“I guess so.” Mariah moved back as another volunteer took her spot and gently nudged her toward the tables. She made Mr. Snow’s coffee just the way he liked it and got herself a can of soda, then went to join her friend.

Mariah had been volunteering at this senior center for years, since her grandmother had been a very busy volunteer at this very facility. For the last few years, Mariah had been reading books to elderly bibliophiles, bringing her dog by for visits, teaching art classes, and helping out with holiday dinners. She had been here since noon, serving lunch, an afternoon snack, and now dinner, and she would be back in the morning to serve holiday brunch. She really enjoyed her time with the elderly and it seemed like a fitting way to honor her grandmother.

“What is a beautiful lady doing at a place like this on Christmas Eve?” Mr. Snow’s blue eyes were bright with curiosity.

“My family is away. This holiday I’ll spend alone.” Mariah’s voice trembled just slightly. Nikolas Snow knew that her fiancé had been lost in the war four years ago, and that she never discussed it.

“And why haven’t you found yourself another man? You know that you can’t replace him, but surely Jason would want you to be happy.”

“Please stop, Nik. I care greatly for you, but I can’t handle this conversation right now.” She took a long drink of her water and exhaled slowly. “Being alone on Christmas Eve is hard enough, without memories of Jason and the life we could have had on my mind.”

The older man nodded, then stroked Mariah’s hand. She caught her breath as a tingle ran through her, making her feel alive, truly alive, for the first time in ages. It wasn’t a sexual tingle at all—Mr. Snow was old enough to be her grandfather!—but it nudged her heart and soul to life in a different way.

“Eat up, Mariah. Then, go home. You’re exhausted, my dear.” Nik’s voice was soft and gentle. He put a heaping plate on the table in front of her. “When you’re done, we’ll share a cab. I don’t want you walking in this snow.”

“Snow?” Mariah looked out the window in surprise. Sure enough, the darkness of evening was alit with fluffy white snowflakes. “I’d been so busy forgetting this day that I hadn’t even realized it was snowing.” She started to get up, but Nik’s hand on her arm gently restrained her. She made a face at him, and he slipped her fork back into her hand.

“We’ve got about two inches so far. They expect at least twelve. It’ll be a White Christmas and you know what that means, don’t you?”

Mariah shook her head, her mouth full of the succulent meat.

“White Christmases are the time of miracles.” Nik winked at her and resumed eating his meal.

Another thrill went through Mariah at her friend’s words. She finished her meal quickly and went to speak with the other volunteers. They were only too happy to see her go home. Her exhaustion must have been apparent.

After a few minutes, Mr. Snow joined her, dressed in red and white, just like the man many said he resembled—Santa Claus. He gallantly offered Mariah his arm, explaining that he had phoned for a cab, which would arrive any minute now.

Nik escorted her through the newly fallen snow and into a taxi. Before she could speak, Nik directed the driver to her home address, which he must have gotten from the Christmas card she’d sent him.

The roads were empty, even though it was still early in the evening, and they arrived at Mariah’s townhouse in only a few minutes.

“Mariah, may I use your facilities.” He gave her an embarrassed smile. “I’m not as strong as I used to be.”

Mariah paid the cab driver and asked him to wait for five minutes, then escorted Nik into her house. He looked around wide-eyed, a sad smile on his face. “You haven’t even decorated, Mariah. For shame. Where is your Christmas spirit?”

“Far far away,” she replied, flushing at the way her friend looked at her. “I’m sorry, Nik. I’m just not feeling it this year.”

“Maybe I can change that.” Nik gave her an enigmatic wink and disappeared into her bathroom.

In a few minutes, her friend was gone, taking with him a pumpkin loaf one of her friends had baked. He’d been fed dinner at the senior center and he had plans to go to his daughter’s place up north for the rest of the holiday week.

 Thoroughly exhausted, Mariah curled up on the couch in her den, tucking her aching feet under a blanket. She closed her eyes, just to rest them, but sleep beckoned. Warmth ran through her body and she let out a sigh, surrendering to her comfort. She’d move to bed…later.

“Wake up, Mariah.” A gentle voice penetrated through the layers of sleep. Mariah knew that voice. But it was impossible. Surely…

Her eyes snapped open and took in the scene before her. Snow floated lazily down inside her house, bathed in red and green lights from a Christmas tree. The fluffy flakes disappeared once they touched her hardwood floors. Mariah caught a snowflake in her hand, the small dart of cold wetness adding to her wonder. But the most incredible thing of all was the man leaning over her.

The angles of his face gave him a lean, hungry look. He wore desert fatigues and while his eyes were even more deep set and serious, he wore a bright smile.

“J-Jay?” Her hand trembled as it met the warm flesh of his cheek. She stroked his face in wonderment, tears coursing down her cheeks. “But you’re…” She wouldn’t say the word and ruin whatever dream this was.

“I’m not, Mariah. Touch me. I’m alive. I’m here. And I’m never leaving you again.”

She stood, embracing him tightly, memorizing his every muscle, the familiarity of his embrace. “Four years, Jay. What happened? You were listed as missing…”

His expression changed, and she gasped as a haunted look came into his eyes. “Never mind. I’m here now and I’m never leaving you again. I just got back into town a couple of hours ago. I saw my parents. They said they never see you any more. Was it too painful?”

She nodded, clutching him tightly. The impossible had come true. Jay was in her arms again! “What can I do for you? Are you hungry? Do you need anything at all?”

There was a different kind of hunger in his eyes now. “Just you.”

The wonder of her decorations paled in the face of having Jay back. Mariah tugged him toward the bedroom, intending to give him a very special welcome home present.

After a night of lovemaking, at times tender, at times urgent, Mariah got up slowly, her muscles aching in ways they hadn’t in years. She was contemplating making some coffee when her doorbell rang. As she passed her den, she looked in, shaking her head in wonder at the decorations. She had no idea how Jay had set everything up, especially the snow that seemed so real and still fell.

“Mr. Snow! Merry Christmas!”

The jolly old fellow gave her a tin and a hug. “Some of my special holiday tea. Did you have a good evening?” He waggled his eyebrows comically, and Mariah colored deeply. It was almost as if the man knew what she’d been up to.

“I…um…yes. Something amazing happened., you won’t—“

“Believe?” he cut in? “Ah, but I would. Remember, Christmas is the time of miracles.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “My work here is done and I’m expected elsewhere. Enjoy your miracle, Mariah. You deserve the best.”

She peered out into the street. All the cars were covered in snow, the streets empty. “Do you need a ride somewhere? I don’t see a cab…”

“Never you mind, dear.” Nikolas Snow patted her hand and gently closed the door. Mariah was almost back into the kitchen when she heard the clomp clomp of horses or some other hoofed beasts on her roof. She ran to a window, only to see an honest-to-god sleigh rising into the sky, led by eight animals. Could they possible be reindeer? She threw the window open to get a better look.

“Mr. Snow? Is that really you?”

Freshly fallen snow swirled around the sleigh as it climbed higher and higher. Was it her imagination or did a faint “ho ho ho” echo through the air.

“Mariah? What’s going on? Who was at the door?” Jay looked wonderfully sleep tousled.

She held out the tin to him, tears of abject joy running down her face. “I…I think it was Santa Claus. Do you believe in miracles, Jay? All I wanted for Christmas was you.”

Copyright December, 2006 by Alexa & Patrick Silver. All rights reserved. This story may not be copied or distributed anywhere without express written permission from the authors. To contact the authors, email alexa@alexasilver.com and Patrick@alexasilver.com