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Trick Or Treat
Aundrea rolled over to pick up her phone. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.”
“Hey, you.”
“Up for some company?”
“Hmm, what did you have in mind?”
“I made a gift for you.”
“Aren’t you a doll, Jeb?”
“Guess we’ll find out when you see it.”
“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’m not going to be able to get back to sleep after a tease like that.”
“What time would you like me to come over?”
She snuggled up in her blankets. “I wish you were here already.”
“That could be arranged.”
“Oh, have a deep, dark secret you want to share?”
“Is that what you want for Christmas? All of my deep, dark secrets?”
“A girl could hope.”
“Well, you can unwrap my gift to you first. If that’s not enough, you can unwrap all of my deepest secrets.”
“There’s an offer I can’t refuse. I’m going to go freshen up and start breakfast. Come over as quickly as you can.”
The doorbell rang.
“No, you didn’t.”
He just laughed and hung up.
She thrashed around in her covers, trying to get out of bed. “Well, Jeb, this isn’t Halloween and I’m not up for Trick or Treat.” She scurried into her bathroom. “Well, Mister, you’re not the only one with tricks up their sleeves.”
After a long, hot shower and her full morning routine, she opened up the front door to find Jeb clutching her present and a fruit basket. “Hi, Jeb. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Uh-huh. M-m-may I c-c-come in?”
“I’m sorry. Is it cold out here?”
“G-g-getting warmer b-b-by the m-m-minute.”
She stepped aside to hold the door for him. “Come on in. No point standing on my doorstep all day.”
He handed her the present and put the fruit basket down by the coat tree. “M-Merry C-C-Christmas, Aundrea.”
“Well, now you’re actually making me feel bad. Let me help you warm up.”
“B-b-by t-taking off my c-c-coat?”
“Mm-hmm.” She hung his coat on the tree and turned to give him a huge hug. “How’s this?”
“M-much b-better.” He wrapped his arms around her. “What was the b-big idea leaving me out there like that?”
“Trick or Treat.” She could feel his smile on her cheek.
“You’re a card.” He whispered. “Going to unwrap your present?”
“Let’s have some breakfast first. I’ve got the coffee on. Would you like a cup?”
“Who needs coffee when you give hugs like this?”
He could feel her smile on his cheek. “Then I guess this might be an acceptable substitute for breakfast.” She said before she planted a kiss on him.
“Sure is.” He leaned in and kissed her back.
“Well, we could stand here doing this all day but your breakfast will go cold.”
“Wowee, who’s thinking about breakfast?” He let her slide away from his embrace. She clutched his hand and pulled him to her kitchen table. “Wow, no wonder it took you so long to open the door. This puts The Marbury to shame.”
“I’m sorry about that, Jeb.” She pulled out a chair for him.
“It’s okay. I’d wait outside all day for a kiss like that.”
“I’ve got orange juice or apple but not Concord grape.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I’ve had enough of that to last me the year. I can serve myself. Why don’t you open your present?”
“If you insist.” She jogged over to where she’d put it down. She turned it over and over in her hands and shook it as she returned to the table. “What is it?”
“It’s a Christmas Present.” He took a big fork full of eggs.
“What is it specifically, wiseguy?”
He covered his mouth. “Specifically,” Jeb gulped the eggs down. “it’s a wrapped Christmas present. That’s just paper. You can unwrap it.”
“I ought to bonk you over the head with it.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I put a lot of work into that.”
She clutched it to her chest. “You made this for me?”
“I did say that. Go ahead. Take the paper off. The suspense is killing me.”
She giggled mischievously. “It can wait. I’m going to get some apple juice. Would you like some juice or would you like some coffee?”
“I wouldn’t say no to another one of those kisses.”
“Getting all needy on me?”
“I could go sit under the mistletoe if it would help anything.”
“You stay put.” She bent over and planted one on his forehead. “That will tide you over until after breakfast.”
“I’ll take it.” He said before digging into the sausage and hash browns. “Wow, you aren’t kidding. This really does put The Marbury to shame.”
“Thank you.”
“Actually, thank you. This is delicious. Thank you for this wonderful breakfast. Thank you for having me over and, most of all, thank you for being you.”
“Jeb, I’m very happy you came over.” She picked up the present and began peeling away the paper. “Hmm, what have we here?”
“Do you like it?”
“No.” She wiped a tear from her eye.
His eyes took on a note of panic.
“I love it. Jeb, this is so beautiful. How do you do this?”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “I was going from memory.”
“You didn’t even use a photograph?”
“As if I could ever forget how beautiful you are, Aundrea.”
She jumped on his back and hugged him until he nearly face-planted in his breakfast. “Jeb, you are amazing.”
“I’ll take it.”
She hung on tight. “Jeb.”
“Aundrea?”
“Tell me your deepest, darkest secret.”
“I prefer butter on my toast.”
She tweaked his nose and slid off of him. “You’re a laugh-riot.”
“Well, I already gave you one present. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“That’s very considerate.”
“I aim to please. I think we could probably save deep, dark secrets until at least lunchtime.”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
“I think it’s advisable.” He smiled as he dug into his breakfast.
“Advisable? Yes, I suppose you’re right. Lunchtime should be early enough for deep, dark secrets.”
“Mm-hmm.” Jeb grunted as he swallowed. “It’s wintertime. Sun sets early. Lunchtime is practically dusk.”
“Yes, yes. It is at that. Perfect time for deep, dark secrets. Lunchtime.” She studied the sculpture Jeb had made of her. “Thank you so much for this, Jeb.”
“It’s just-”
“It’s how I look from your eyes. Jeb, this is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. I’m almost embarrassed to give you what I got for you.”
“Anything you give is far more than I deserve.”
“Flatterer.”
“If I’m being honest, there are only two things I’d really like for Christmas.”
“Two things? I only got you one.”
“I’m needy. Remember?”
“Oh, that’s right. You are.” She moved her chair closer to his. “I suppose I’d better look after you.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“So, what’s one of your two things?”
“Christmas cookies.”
“Jeb, you’ve bought enough Christmas cookies in the last month to pay my electric bill.”
“Thing is, my mom used to make Christmas cookies for weeks ahead of time and she put so much love into each and every batch. You know?”
“I think I understand. Did you taste that in my cookies?”
“They’re delicious. Aundrea, they’re so good.”
“But they didn’t have the love you were looking for.”
“I don’t want to insult your work.”
“No, it’s fair. I probably should add some love back into my product.”
“You might make people swoon.”
“Swoon?”
“My cousin, Brendan, he was ready to lose his mind over your bagels.”
“He was? Maybe I’m hanging around with the wrong guy.”
“Depends on how you feel about nerds with massive food allergies.”
“I think I’m probably better off with you.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Jeb, I was just kidding.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“The thought of not having you in my life…”
“Jeb?”
“That brings me to the second thing.”
“The second thing you want for Christmas?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like you to say ‘yes’.”
“To what?”
“Aundrea, I’d like to be your best friend for the rest of my life. I’d give you a ring but I didn’t know what size you wear.”
“A ring?”
“Yes.”
“Jeb, are you asking what I think you’re asking?”
“I just did.”
“No.”
“No?”
“You did it wrong. You’ll have to wait until after lunch and try again. Eat your breakfast.”