Christmas Snow Read online

  To Elise, nothing said “home” as much as Christmas with all the trimmings. Perhaps, living so far away played a big role in her feelings, not that she'd moved clear across the country or anything like that, thankfully. She was able to drive home to Ohio in a day or catch a flight and be back in even less time which was one of several reasons she’d accepted the position of library director four years ago. But she had to be honest with herself and admit she loved her job as well as the town where she now lived. The close-knit community surrounding her library had the charm of small-town America which reminded her of home.

  This year Christmas would be completely different with her parents in South America helping with missionary work. They had planned to be home in time for the holidays but four weeks had turned into six and now it looked like they would be gone until the New Year. Elise was grateful when her brother, Ron, and his wife, Nora, offered to have Christmas because she couldn’t imagine spending it alone at her little house in Illinois. She missed seeing her parents but this was one of those times when you simply had to adjust to unexpected circumstances.

  “We’re making good progress,” Nora said, hands on hips while she surveyed the line of pies and cookies. “I should have started baking these cookies a few weeks ago, but honestly there wasn’t any time to do it with all of the school activities and classroom parties.”

  “Things always ramp up just before you go on break, don’t they? But look on the good side, now you have a long stretch of being at home.” Elise patted Nora's shoulder in encouragement. Teaching was a profession that required dedication, commitment and working tirelessly. Her mother had taught school for twenty-five years so she had witnessed the classroom from that end of the spectrum also.

  “Yep, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.” She handed Elise a spatula and a bowl of frosting. “Be as creative as you like.”

  No sooner had they finished one dozen cookies than they heard the thumping of six little feet coming down the staircase.

  “Cookies!” exclaimed Aaron, dashing through the doorway.

  “I want one!” cried Micah, holding out his little hand while he gave them a big happy smile.

  “Me, too.” Jacob, the youngest at just two years old, stood back patiently waiting to be offered a cookie.

  Elise poured milk for each of them, after sitting Jacob in the highchair, then she gave them all a sparsely frosted cookie. She felt Nora watching her and half expected to hear the same advice about getting married so she could have a family to look after, but thankfully nothing was said. When the right fellow came along was her only answer. She guessed that Nora was tired of hearing that response and didn’t ask this time.

  “I want one with sprinkles,” Aaron said with a big frown.

  “And what color would you like?” Elise asked. His sweet little face always tugged at her heart. She’d probably give him anything he wanted.

  “Red.”

  “And red it shall be,” she told him as she shook out a few sugar crystals and did the same for the other two boys.

  The room grew quiet except for the munching and sipping while both women worked at filling the empty container with frosted cookies.

  “Did I hear you talking to one of your sisters earlier?” Nora asked, glancing at Elise. “Laura said she would bake some bread and I wondered how it was coming along for her. She has your mom’s baking ability for sure. I’m surprised she hasn’t opened her own bakery.”

  “I know. I keep suggesting it.” She frosted another cookie. “I called Julie and she said everything is going fine on their end. Our family is big but it isn’t really this big. I mean with all this cooking you'd think we were trying to feed a neighborhood.” She couldn't help shaking her head and laughing. “Is it really necessary?”

  “Yes, it is,” Nora said firmly. “We’re creating memories, you know,” giving a nod toward her three little boys. “Even if they don’t remember all of it, there’s a seed that’s being planted. And that’s worth all of our efforts.”

  Elise smiled. “I don’t know about that. I think this is mostly for the adults.”

  Nora shook her head in disagreement. “Just the smell of baked ham alone is enough to bring it all back. At least that’s how it is for me.” Then she sprinkled another batch of cookies and set them aside. “It’s all part of the reason we love getting together.”

  “You might be right. I hadn't thought of it that way.” It was true that all the fuss and work in the kitchen was tangled up with her own memories. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and easily visualized being one of six children who always hung out in the kitchen where their mother prepared for Christmas.

  “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow? Christmas Eve dinner at noon or later in the evening?” Elise was fine with either choice. Her mother had done it both ways depending on who she needed to accommodate. Years ago, they had invited older family members who preferred earlier meals, and then there was the evening program at church they had always participated in, dressed as angels in the choir or sometimes as sheep. She smiled at the thought of lopsided halos and scratchy wool caps.

  “We’ll eat at one o’clock then clean up the dishes. In the afternoon we'll play games or very likely nap in a chair." Nora laughed at that common occurrence. “In the evening we'll all go to the church because the boys are participating in the play for the little ones and if anyone is hungry before we go we’ll just have leftovers. You know, sandwiches or whatever suits us.” Nora paused, looking like the proverbial cat who got the canary. “And we do have a guest who will be joining us for dinner too.”

  “One of my sisters has a boyfriend that I don’t know about?” Elise said, perking up with interest. Sometimes they left her out of the loop especially since she’d moved away from home.

  “No. Ron’s buddy from high school. Brett Andersen.” She angled a look at Elise with a quirky half-smile.” You do remember him, don’t you?”

  She most definitely did, and Nora knew it. “I haven't seen him since you and Ron got married.”

  “Well, the two of them lost touch since then but then not much wonder since Brett doesn’t live hereabouts. It was a last minute invitation and he really couldn’t say no under the circumstances.”

  “You’ve got my curiosity raised. What circumstances?” Elise gave each of the boys another cookie minus any frosting while she listened to Nora, her back half turned so she didn’t appear too interested.

  “Well, he showed up unexpectedly at his folks' house next door last evening, expecting to surprise them. But it turns out they had already made plans to visit their other son in Florida, so the surprise was on Brett.” Nora snickered and shook her head. “The trickster got tricked for once.”

  That was so appropriate, Elise thought, keeping it to herself.

  “Anyway, I saw him through the dining room window wandering around the outside of their house talking on his phone. Mind you it was nearly dark and the cab that dropped him off had already left. There were no lights on inside the house, of course, and apparently, he had no key. On top of that, he didn’t know we had moved into this house.” Nora snickered again and studied Elise. “Come on, you’ve got to see how funny this is, right?”

  Paybacks were heck but sometimes well deserved. She smiled and raised an eyebrow. “You’re right, it is funny.”

  “So, naturally, I took pity on him and asked him to come in and get warm. How could I not?”

  “And you invited him to dinner because he was all alone.” A feeling of near panic came over Elise. This wasn’t what she had in mind for their Christmas gathering.

  “Of course. It is Christmas and, well…” Nora looked a bit more contrite. “I mean that sincerely.”

  Here was another example of the way unexpected changes could alter what had promised to be a great time with family. She never would have guessed she’d be spending Christmas with Brett Andersen of all people.

  Elise put on her best imitation of a smile and tried to sound genuine. �
�You did the right thing. Leaving someone in the cold isn’t even a choice. Whether it’s Brett Andersen or not.” She loved Nora as if she were one of her many sisters so honesty between them came naturally. “Sorry, that just slipped out.” Then she added a cheesy fake smile that undercut her apology.

  Nora laughed, obviously unable to hold back. “What is it with you?”

  “Nothing. Really.” She brushed her words away like dust in the air and rose from her seat. “How about some coffee to go with these delicious cookies?” Changing the subject was her best bet and she used it. She tugged the scrunchy out of her long hair then reapplied it a bit tighter.

  “Coffee sounds great to me,” Nora replied, still grinning. “You make it and I’ll turn the boys loose as soon as I get them cleaned up.” She tucked Jacob, the youngest one, under her arm and the others followed, giggling and dancing all the way to the bathroom.

  When the doorbell rang, Elise called to Nora down the hallway, “I'll get it. That’s probably Kristin. I told her to pick me up and we’d go out for pizza tonight unless you want me to stay over and help?”

  The doorbell rang again and she hurried to open the door.

  Standing on the large front porch was none other than Brett Andersen in the flesh. He smiled down at her, not looking nearly as surprised as she was. His dark brown hair was neatly trimmed and his face was clean shaven. In place of a coat, he wore a gaudy knitted sweater with Merry Christmas emblazoned in big red letters across his chest. The rest of it sported bright colored ornaments, gingerbread men and Christmas trees. Besides all the attention-getting gaudiness, it appeared to be a tad too tight. Behind him, heavy snow had started to fall once more, creating a thick white cloud effect.

  “Hello, Elise,” he said, his smile friendly but distant. “It’s been a while.”

  She returned his smile, overcoming the uncomfortable feeling that settled on her. “About seven years I'd say.”

  “I suppose Nora told you about my predicament.” He ducked his head slightly in an offhand way, looking sheepish. “Poor planning on my part.”

  “Yes, she did mention it. I’m sorry to hear you missed your parents.” Actually, she was very sorry for several reasons.

  “It was nice of Nora to save me from eating cold tuna while I’m here.”

  If that was a ploy for sympathy, she ignored it. “Nice sweater,” she said, giving him a critical glance with a lift of one eyebrow.

  “Thought it might put me in the spirit of the season."

  “Well, it is… cheerful,” she replied.

  His usual wide grin was a weak attempt to lighten the strain between them.

  “Yeah, it is that. But now I’m thinking it’s probably time for it to go into the second-hand shop.” He tugged on the bottom edge of the sweater which was at least two inches too short.

  Behind her, Elise heard Nora calling from another room. “Who is it? Ask them to come in.”

  Elise stepped aside. “Please, come in.”

  “Thanks.” He stomped his feet on the porch then stepped into the entry and thoroughly wiped his feet on the rug before following her toward the living room.

  Nora hurried around the corner, saying, “The boys are playing in the toy room down the hall, so I think we’ll have some peace and quiet for a little while. Oh, hi Brett. Would you like some freshly made coffee?”

  “I’d like that, thank you.” He smiled but didn't appear to be any more comfortable than Elise.

  “Umm, it’s not made yet but I’m on my way,” Elise replied as she made a smooth exit and headed to the shelter of the kitchen.

  “Bring some cookies too,” Nora called after her.

  Elise took her time making the coffee then chose a few cookies to put on a plate for Brett. She needed this opportunity to gather her thoughts and adjust to the current surprising circumstances that she hadn’t quite come to grips since Nora had brought it up. Even though, one Christmas visit in seven years wasn’t unrealistic. She simply was unprepared for this meeting. Never mind that he’d spent years hanging out with Ron after school at their home, eating meals with them and playing basketball in front of the garage. The two of them had been nearly inseparable. Later, after college, he’d been the best man at Ron’s wedding. She reminded herself that she had long since stopped thinking about Brett and had survived just fine. There was no sense in reliving the past, particularly heartaches.

  She carried a tray with cookies on a plate and three mugs of coffee then offered them to Nora and Brett, taking a cup for herself. Elise sat on the sofa, across from Brett’s chair while Nora hid her smile behind her cup, her eyes sending glances from one to the other.

  Elise bit into a cookie as she searched for small talk. “Not much doubt about having a white Christmas, is there?”

  “I’m okay with that,” Brett answered. “Even getting snowed in won’t matter to me. Nora has offered to include me at the dinner table.” He smiled and nodded at Nora. “Thank you.”

  “We have more than enough to share and that goes for Christmas spirit as well as meals,” she replied. “Tonight, it’s just a casserole with a salad but there’s plenty of extra cookies to go with it.”

  The doorbell rang almost at the same time the door opened as Kristin and Laura let themselves in, balancing dishes and pans while they shed their coats. A thin layer of snow covered them and fell to the rug in a shower.

  “You two look like you’ve been dusted all over with flour!” Nora said as she rushed to relieve them of some of their load.

  “This snow is so wet,” Laura replied then carefully brushed it off her head.

  Kristin laughed, shedding her coat. “Looks a lot like Christmas out there.”

  “How are the roads?” Nora asked. “Ron should be home soon. I hope it doesn’t get worse.”

  “Not too bad at the moment,” Kristin replied. “Maybe he’ll leave work early.”

  Laura slipped out of her boots and hung up her coat. “Tomorrow we’ll have plenty more to bring so I thought we might as well take a load now since Kristin was picking up Elise anyway.”

  “Greetings,” Brett said to the group of girls as he walked toward the crowded entryway. “Nice to see all of you again.”

  His charming smile, dimple and all, had the effect of a warm fireplace judging by the pink cheeks, Elise noticed. When he offered to help with the containers, Laura handed him two pie carriers.

  Elise stayed back and let the way others lead the way to the kitchen while she followed with a bag that must have had loaves of bread in it, judging by the scent escaping out the top. She stopped in front of a window to study the weather. She could barely see the neighboring houses through the thickening snowfall. Thankfully, her parents’ house was only a few blocks over so they should be fine when they left for home.

  In the kitchen they all searched for the right place to put their cargo. Nora had everything so well planned that in no time at all each dish and pan had a specific holding spot in a cabinet or on the counter.

  “This is the sweet potato casserole,” Laura said as she juggled it into the well-filled refrigerator.

  Brett glanced around at all the dishes laid out. “I’ve died and gone to food heaven.”

  “Wait till tomorrow,” Kristin said, then she eyed his too-small gaudy sweater and burst into laughter. “Oh, that’s so cool. But you’ll want something with a little more breathing room after dinner. Where did you get that?” Her face scrunched up in distaste.

  “I have no idea,” he replied. “I found it in my old closet. I think it has the holiday spirit. Don’t you?”

  They each gave him a sympathetic look as they walked by him on their way to the front door.

  “It was worth a try,” he said with a shrug.

  Laura gathered up the empty bags then glanced toward the snowy scene beyond the window. “Well, I think we’d better get back to the house before the roads get worse. I’m sure the snowplows and salt trucks will do their jobs but no point in waiting for that.”
/>   Without disagreement, they hurried to get into their coats, laughing while jostling each other and Elise happily joined them feeling anxious to leave. Nora stopped at the open door as the snow swirled onto the porch. The girls made their way through thick snowfall until they reached the little car in the driveway then waved before they climbed inside. Elise felt a ridiculous sense of relief as she leaned back against the seat. From her view through the side window, she studied the snow that surrounded them. This was a magical kind of snow, but only in the sense of transforming the familiar world around them into an unknown place. Evening came earlier this time of year, but the darkening sky brought out the beauty of the Christmas lights adorning porches, shrubbery, and light poles. The decorated trees inside each house added an unusual glow. So much beauty, she thought as she snuggled her coat tighter around her.

  “Should we stop at the pizza place before go home?” Kristin asked. “Brianna and Julie will be disappointed if we show up empty handed.”

  “You’re doing the driving so you decide,” Elise said, and Laura agreed.

  “Okay, then pizza it is.”

  “I’m only having one small piece and there’s leftover salad in the fridge,” Laura said. “If anyone cares to join me.”

  “Count me in,” Elise said. She knew that gaining weight came too easily for the oldest of her younger sisters while the rest of them rarely gained anything at all. Although, to her way of thinking Laura was too hard on herself. Her appearance was that of a lovely young woman who was well proportioned in spite of a few extra pounds. At age twenty-six, Laura had a professional look that Elise quietly envied.

  Kristin pulled into the parking lot that obviously had been scraped earlier but was already snow covered again.

  “I’ll go in by myself,” she said. “No point in all us of sliding all the way to the door.”

  As they watched her progress across the parking lot, Elise and Laura couldn’t help chuckling at her attempt to hurry through the falling snow and at the same do a few imitations of a windmill with her arms flailing around. She only spent about fifteen minutes inside then she was out the door and walking very carefully back to the car.