Part 18 (2/2)
”It is,” I said.
”What time is it?” she asked.
”It's nearly 2 a.m.”
She bit her bottom lip. ”We should probably go in.”
”Do you want to go inside?”
”Not really.”
”Let's not, then.” Determined not to let this day end, I stood up and gave her my hand. ”Come on.”
”Where are we going?”
”To buy a few things.”
We walked the couple of blocks to the all-night grocery store. As we entered the bright lighting of the market, she looked at me inquisitively. ”What are we getting?”
”Since we won't be together for Christmas on Sunday, we should have a little party tonight.”
Nina was grinning from ear to ear. ”I think that's a great idea.”
I picked up a carton of eggnog, a small bunch of overly ripe bananas and some holiday sugar cookies. Clutching the paper bag with one hand, I held her hand with the other as we walked back to our apartment.
”Let's stay out in the snow,” I said. ”I'm just gonna run inside. I'll be right back.”
Ryan and Tarah were watching a movie in the living room when I entered the apartment. It surprised me to see them up so late.
”Hey, Jake,” Tarah said.
”Hey.”
”Where's Nina?”
”She's outside.”
Ryan gave me one of his looks but kept quiet as I did my best to ignore him. Grabbing the blender and plugging it in, I dropped some ice, banana and eggnog inside then went over to the liquor cabinet for some rum. I turned on the blender to mix it all together and poured the drink into two large mugs.
When I rejoined Nina out front, a huge smile formed on her face as I handed her one. She took a sip. ”Mmm...this is so good. What is it?”
”Iced banana rum eggnog. You like it?”
”I love it.”
”Cheers,” I said as we clanked our drinks together.
”Cheers.”
I nudged her with my shoulder. ”This is my kind of Christmas.”
”Mine, too.”
We munched on the Christmas cookies and drank our spiked nog while the snow continued to fall. We looked up in unison at the sound of a squeaky window opening and knew what would come next.
Mrs. b.a.l.l.sworthy didn't say anything as she looked down at us. I took a chance when I held up my mug and shouted, ”Merry Christmas, Mrs. b.a.l.l.sworthy!”
We braced ourselves.
Nothing.
Nina and I looked at each other before giving up on a response.
Several seconds later, we heard it.
”Merry Christmas, motherf.u.c.kers!”
We fell back in laughter onto the snow-covered stairs.
”Now, that's a Christmas miracle.” Nina laughed.
Lifting my mug up toward the sky, I chanted, ”Merry Christmas to all motherf.u.c.kers and to all a motherf.u.c.king good night!”
It was practically morning by the time we finally went inside. Nina retreated to the shower, and as always, I snuck into her room. I opted not to leave her a bat that night because I'd been holding onto a pair of plastic gold pilot's wings to congratulate her on making it through her first airplane ride. I left the wings on her nightstand and went back to my room but couldn't sleep.
I'd have to leave for work in the morning and wouldn't see her again before she left since she and Ryan would be hitting the road to beat weekend traffic sometime in the afternoon. It was a Friday, and per usual, I'd be heading to Boston after work.
Before I left the following morning, I snuck a paper bat into her room. It had a hole punched into the top with some fis.h.i.+ng line tied into a loop running through it. It was supposed to be a Christmas ornament.
What I almost wrote: I can't thank you enough for yesterday.
Not just for letting me take you away, But for seeing it through to the end.
And for being a true friend.
What I wished I could have written: My Christmas wish this year, Is to overcome MY fear.
Bet you never knew...
My one fear is losing you.
What I never could have written: I'd just about die to f.u.c.k you in the sky.
So, if you ever want to try mile-high, Thirty minutes would be more than enough, To make you come, slow and rough.
What I actually wrote: Hang this on your tree.
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