Christmas Snow Page 5

  He stared at his phone for another minute then called his folks. Within two rings he heard his mom's voice.

  "Hello, dear, how was your day?" she asked.

  "No complaints. How about you and Dad?"

  "Well, it's been very busy. Trying to do some vacationing and baking for Christmas too. So, I'd sum it up by saying things are great."

  He smiled as he visualized them hanging out at the beach and then back in the kitchen. They were still young enough to be energetic and on the go, so it was no surprise to him that they packed as much as possible into their vacation time. He listened as she shared details about his brother, sister in law and their kids. Brett hadn't visited with them for a couple of years and he imagined the kids had changed a lot since then, but he'd catch up on everyone during the video chat.

  After he hung up the call, he concluded that sitting around doing nothing was a waste of time. There was a portfolio that needed a few finishing touches before he was ready to meet with his client after the first of the year. No time like the present so he retrieved his briefcase which was still sitting at the end of his bed where he'd left it when he'd first arrived. He opened the laptop, located an outlet to be assured of a charged battery then sat at the kitchen table staring at the screen. Evidently, he needed a passcode to access the internet which meant he'd have to call his mom to find out what it was. Well, forget that he decided. It would just have to wait till he returned to his apartment, so he shut it all down and packed it back into the briefcase. Honestly he didn't know if he could concentrate anyway.

  He strode to the front door, grabbed his coat off the back of a chair, just as he saw Ron's car pulling into their driveway. He waited to give them enough time to unload the boys into the house and watched as they carried the littlest ones up the steps to the front porch. The dimly lit bulb beside the front door gave enough light for him to see the smiles on their faces. When the door closed behind them and the light was turned off, he pulled on his coat then helped himself to a pair of his dad's gloves and a warm scarf. He promised himself that a long walk would do him a lot of good as he stepped onto the front porch and closed the door.

  ***

  Elise stood on the top step of her home while studying the weather then tugged her knitted cap snuggly into place. It was a beautiful night. The air was cold but not bitter and no sign of a breeze, so she knew she'd be able to stay warm just by walking at a good pace. The snowfall had been intermittent during their drive home from the program but that could change at any minute. She carried a flashlight in one pocket and her phone in the other although she didn't intend on going far, just around the block to enjoy the Christmas lights. The snow crunched beneath her boots whenever she reached a stretch of sidewalk that hadn't been shoveled, other than that she heard nothing but silence.

  There was a lot on her mind, so she wasn't totally disappointed when none of her sisters seemed eager to join her. Actually, their plans focused on getting into comfy pajamas and watching more Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate. She heard Julie asking from the kitchen where the extra candy canes were located so she could put one in her cup. It all sounded tempting, but she needed to unclutter her mind before she could enjoy an evening of movies.

  She walked the length of her block then turned the corner with no particular destination in mind. The row of older two-storied Victorian houses, similar to her parents' home, were bedecked with colorful lights around the porches as well as in the shrubs. Most of them added extra touches of hand-painted signs, pillows on chairs and other welcoming decorations. The yard displays of Santa and his reindeer with a sleigh indicated homes where young children lived. When one particular display attracted her attention she stopped, under cover of darkness, to enjoy it. Needless to say, her walk was taking more time than expected, not that she minded.

  When she reached the next corner she crossed the street and went in another direction, drawn by the brightest lights which she couldn't resist. A gentle snowfall surrounded her and in no time began accumulating on the sleeves of her coat.

  She'd been trying not to make any comparisons between that other Christmas and this one. At that time, she'd just come home from college on break during her second year. The snow had fallen for a couple of days, blanketing the ground in sparkly white and giving everything that magical quality. While it had been beautiful, it was nothing compared to what they had now.

  She and Brett had officially started dating at the end of her last year in high school. It seemed to be the right thing to do, after all, she'd known him forever. And even though he was a couple of years ahead of her, he was her brother's best friend, so they naturally spent a lot of "friend time" together through their high school years. It wasn't until he'd gone off to college, a different one than her brother attended, that she realized he meant more to her than just a friend or a casual date. She believed at the time he felt the same as she did. Everyone thought of them as a couple, Brett-and-Elise, as though it was one single word. They were inseparable. The college she attended was hours from where he went but they’d always kept in touch. Then when the calls and emails went unanswered for long periods of time she made excuses for him but felt less sure of their relationship. By Christmas, it was over. No real explanation, just… let's wait and see.

  Well, she had moved on with her life and so had Brett. There really wasn't any reason to dwell on the past or what might have been. In a few days, he would be leaving and so would she, and it was very unlikely they would find themselves in this predicament again.

  As she turned another corner, she realized she'd taken the route to Ron and Nora's, so she slowed her steps in order to enjoy their brightly lit tree shining through the front window. Their car was covered in snow, most likely banished from the garage due to the gifts being stashed out of sight. Next door, the Andersen house was dark. Not a light peeked out of anywhere, not even one string of Christmas lights could be seen. She was sorry to see that it looked so lonely.

  The sting of the cold on her cheeks reminded her to keep moving and the warm feelings of home pointed her toward that direction. She wondered which movie her sisters had chosen and now that she thought about it, perhaps a cup of hot chocolate with all the trimmings was just what she needed.

  Chapter Six

  Christmas morning revealed a winter wonderland outside Elise’s bedroom window. Another two or three inches had fallen during the night, judging by the amount of snow on top of Kristen’s car. There was no need to wake Laura, so she tiptoed across the chilly floor to retrieve her warm robe. As children, they had always gotten up at the crack of dawn then huddled at the top of the stairs while they waited for a hint of daylight, but things had changed since they’d all grown past childhood. Now, sleeping in was a luxury and none of them would consider getting up so early. She slipped out of the room, closing the door carefully behind her and made her way down the steps trying to dodge the occasional squeaky steps. The living room was tidy with the exception of a few empty popcorn bowls and glasses which she gathered up on her way to the kitchen.

  The old Victorian house was more than suitable for a large family such as hers with its five upstairs bedrooms divided by a wide hallway and an equally wide staircase at the front. Downstairs on the main floor was another bedroom which at one time had been a library with beautiful wooden bookcases when her great grandparents bought it. The unusual shape of the living room followed the curve of the wraparound front porch added an interesting design element so typical of that era.

  Elise loved the roominess of the kitchen where the high ceilings and tall windows allowed plenty of light to pour into the dining alcove that faced the backyard. She brewed a pot of coffee expecting her sisters to be down shortly and uncovered the pan of cinnamon rolls Laura had baked for the occasion. It was a family tradition to forego the usual healthy breakfast on this one day of the year. Sitting at the table with her coffee and pastry, she looked out at the snow covered landscape that used to be their yard and garden. Nothing
moved. The stillness alone added a solemn quality to the scene. She was not a person to reflect on the past or spend much time considering “if only” because she preferred to look forward, but occasionally it happened anyway. Remembering the good times of her childhood was fine and she had no problem with recalling snow days with her siblings or opening gifts with the kind of excitement that had built up for days, even weeks.

  She missed having her parents at home but they had been doing missionary work for the past five years and were dedicated to it. Elise understood and accepted it as part of the changes that came with growing up. Nevertheless, they all looked forward to hearing from them via a phone call later that morning.

  A few squeaks of the stair treads told her that someone else was also up and ready for coffee.

  “Good morning,” Laura said as she selected a seat at the table with Elise. "Wow. Just look at that snow out there. Beautiful, isn’t it? Wanna make a snowman?”

  “Seriously?” Elise gave her a disbelieving glance.

  “Just kidding,” Laura said. “I’d rather look at it than play in it.”

  “You had me worried for a minute.”

  “You know me better than that,” she laughed.

  “By the way,” Elise pointed at her plate, “this cinnamon roll is excellent. What’s different?”

  “Just a little experiment with the icing. I used something else instead of the usual powdered sugar. But it’s a secret recipe so don’t ask.” Laura winked at her.

  “No problem. I’m just fine letting you do the baking while I play in the snow.”

  Shuffling feet followed by loud yawns announced the arrival of two more late sleepers.

  “Do I smell cinnamon?” Julie asked, stifling another yawn.

  “I’ll make the coffee while you dish up a couple of plates for us,” Kristin said. “Give them a quick warm up in the microwave, please. That should get Brianna moving.”

  “Up late again?” Elise asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes, that’s why she’s in a room all by herself. I’ll be just as glad as she is when she graduates.”

  “We should probably open our gifts before Mom and Dad call. Don’t you think?” Julie asked as she plopped into a chair then propped her chin on her hand. “You know they’ll ask how we like everything.”

  All heads nodded in agreement, but nobody made a move toward the living room.

  “What time are we going to Ron and Nora’s?” Laura asked, looking at Kristen who was always their designated chauffeur.

  “Not until the snowplow goes through, that’s for sure. My small car will get hung up in deep snow and I sure don’t want to push it. Does anybody else?”

  They all shook their heads with an emphatic "no."

  “Seems like going in the early afternoon will be enough time,” Elise said. "If we can even get out of the drive. It looks kinda iffy to me."

  “You mean, enough time to miss Brett?” Laura tilted her head toward Elise. “I think he’s sorry.” She sipped her coffee. “And he’s still cute, you know. Okay, not cute. He’s handsome.”

  Kristen smiled. “He’s very handsome in an executive kind of way.” She waggled her eyebrows and grinned.

  “He’s too old for me,” Julie said with a frown. Then added, “Besides I don’t like guys who break up a good relationship. I think you should just ignore him.”

  Elise had no intention of sticking up for him or his actions, not that she wanted to openly blast him. She didn’t. Hopefully, after today she’d be able to just enjoy the rest of her visit at home and not deal with Brett Andersen.

  "When is he leaving?" Laura asked, and everyone stared at Elise.

  She shrugged, "I don't know for sure."

  "Good answer," Julie said.

  Brianna arrived in the doorway looking disheveled. "Who's leaving?" she asked as she chose a large cinnamon roll for her plate. Bypassing the microwave, she put a forkful into her mouth then poured herself a tall glass of milk before sitting at the table with the others.

  "Brett," Julie said, rising from her seat. "Anyone want a refill?"

  Nobody spoke up so she helped herself to another serving and a fresh cup of coffee before returning to the table.

  "Sure looks like a lot of snow out there," Laura said. "I can barely make out Kristen's car. And the driveway looks impossible to shovel."

  Kristen made a face. "Not good. Even if we manage to get the drive shoveled, which shouldn't be too hard if we all help." She glanced around the table for support. "But I'm more concerned about the roads and how likely is it that the snowplows will get to our street. Especially since it’s Christmas day."

  "We can walk," Elise said. "I mean, we already delivered the gifts yesterday."

  "Really? Walk?" Laura stared at her. "You're kidding, right?"

  "It's only a couple of blocks," Elise replied. "And it beats shoveling," she said with a pointed look.

  "I'm with Elise. I'd rather walk in it than shovel it," Brianna added emphasizing her last words.

  "Come on, Laura. I don't want to make everyone push the car if we get stuck," Kristen added with a worried frown. "Two blocks is even longer if we have to push it both ways."

  Laura gave a long sigh. "Okay, okay. I suppose it could be fun."

  "Let's leave earlier and go caroling at a few houses on our way to Ron's," Julie offered. "Spread a little Christmas cheer."

  "That's not a bad idea," Kristen said thoughtfully. "I kinda like it."

  "Great," Elise said pushing away from the table. "We'll open the gifts first, then shower. I’m sure Mom and Dad will call before we're ready to leave."

  The rest of the morning went smooth but busy. Julie cranked up the Christmas music and everyone either hummed or sang along as they rushed in and out of the bedrooms and bathrooms getting dressed. They exchanged gifts, laughing over the silly ones, particularly the coffee mugs with suitable depictions or sayings. When the phone rang they were already seated on the floor in a circle near the tree. Elise pushed the speakerphone button and they all spoke at once.

  "Hi, Mom and Dad! Merry Christmas!"

  "It's so good to hear your voices!" Elaine said with laughter and tears in her voice. "We miss each of you."

  For the next fifteen minutes, they exchanged weather reports, health updates, and travel plans. Everything was going well for them and they would be home the day after New Year's. Elise was pleased that nobody brought up Brett's name. She didn't want to discuss her past personal life anymore and apparently, her sisters understood. The conversation of Christmas gifts and family dinners more than filled their limited phone time. When the call was ended they all sat back and smiled while the happy thoughts that floated among them were almost tangible.

  "Well, I think we should get going. It's not a long walk but we have some stops to make!" Julie said, breaking into a round of "Jingle Bells."

  "I’ll let Nora know we're on our way," Elise said. The others were pulling on boots, buttoning up coats and wrapping scarves around their necks while she made the quick call.

  "Nora said to take our time. Nothing special is planned and dinner is just leftovers on paper plates today."

  Elise bundled up and followed the girls out the door, loving the crisp, cold, invigorating air.

  "Wow!" Kristen said, inhaling deeply. “This is brisk.”

  "That's not what I'd call it," Laura mumbled through the layers of her scarf.

  "You spend too much time indoors," Kristen replied. "You need to get outside more often."

  "No thank you, not until spring."

  “Oh, listen to you. I think you should go skiing with me up in Michigan next month. I know you’d love it.” When Laura squawked in disagreement, Kristen said, “I’m serious. Think about it.”

  They had all agreed in advance about which houses they would stop for caroling, limiting the number to just a few close friends of their family. Singing softly between houses to warm up their voices, they trudged through the deep snow that crunched
beneath their boots. Each time they sang they were greeted by laughter and smiles as the families came out to listen. As they walked away they wished them all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  "You know, this is more fun than I expected," Laura said as they rounded the last corner near Ron and Nora's home.

  "I knew it," Kristen said with a laugh.

  "Well, it helps when everyone shovels their walks like this."

  Laura was right. Elise also appreciated the sidewalk that someone had cleared all along that side of the street. It would be their job to take care of the sidewalk in front of their own house before the day was over.

  When they all stood on the porch, stomping their feet to shed the snow, the door opened to reveal three happy little boys shouting Merry Christmas to them. Laughing and giggling, they had hopes of escaping into the snow for some fun and games.

  "Oh, no you don't," Nora said, pulling the youngest ones back inside. "Maybe later."

  "Watch your bare feet, Aaron," Julie warned. "This is really cold snow even though I'm trying not to bring it inside."

  He curled his toes then backed away a few steps, smiling. "I like it."

  "Sorry we're so late but we had so much fun," Elise said. "Caroling on Christmas day. I don't think we've ever done that till today."

  "Don't be sorry," Nora said. "It's very laid back here as you can tell. Just relaxing with the kids while they play with their new stuff." Nora put Jacob down to play with the others.

  Elise scanned the living room area with a quick glance and wondered if Brett had been there and gone already. After hanging up her coat and setting her boots aside, she stepped into the dining room. Still no Brett. Perhaps he'd changed his mind and if he had, that was okay with her and she breathed a little more freely. She'd been dreading having to make small talk with him when there was so little to say. At one time they'd had a lot in common and enjoyed long talks about almost anything, even if they disagreed. But now, there was a rift between them that was as obvious as a brick wall and just as hard to get over.