vanilla 29 (or: HEY I'M BACK)
vanilla 29. my favorite things
story: second chances ; high school. wordcount: 2614. rating: g.
"I'm giving this to you," she says, "with the caveat that you'll understand it was an experiment. And that I tried." How Darcy's, Mike's and Rayn's families manage the Christmas gift exchange. (With Black Friday, windshield wipers, and bad pottery of course.)
notes : OMG I wrote something. And yes, it's a late entry Christmas story but it's really more of a ~gift-giving~ story anyway. It's a companion to my old multi-part Christmas special (see index) and happens during that same time, but it's a new story about the characters' families. Can I be back again??
They meet up again under the oversized ONE DAY SALE sign in front of the store, gripping their shopping bags and dodging the crowds.
"That was actually kind of scary," Rayn says, glancing over his shoulder. "I wasn't sure I was going to make it."
His mother laughs. "Come on, this was easy. I've been doing this Black Friday thing for seventeen years and that was barely even a riot."
"Well, you're made of sterner stuff than me," Rayn says. "I have your change, by the way."
Anna takes a bag from him so he can get to his pocket. "Did you find something for your sister?" she asks, peering into the bag.
"Yeah, music."
"And did you pick up the headphones for your cousin?"
"I got both pairs of headphones," Rayn says. He tucks a few folded bills into the outside pocket of her purse. "Who's the second pair for again?"
Anna closes the bag quickly. "No one," she says. "What second pair? I don't know what you're talking about."
Rayn smiles, shaking his head. "We didn't get anything for you though," he says. "What do you want for Christmas, Ma?"
"Oh, I don't know," Anna says. "You don't have to get me anything."
"But I want to get you something."
Anna adjusts her grip on the bags as a family of four brushes past her. "Tell you what," she says, "When you're out of school and making a lot of money, then you can buy me all the Christmas presents you want. Careful-"
Rayn looks up just in time to flatten himself against the wall, narrowly avoiding another wave of shoppers leaving the store.
"And," Anna adds, with a smile, "you won't even have to shop on Black Friday if you don't want to. Come on. Let's go."
* * *
Eileen Lane has the Sunday paper spread out across the table in front of her and is quite engaged in the crossword when her husband comes up behind her and clears his throat.
"What do you want for Christmas?" he asks.
Eileen removes her reading glasses. "Is it that time already?"
"It's the second week of December. I think that's when most people start thinking about these things."
"Well, what do you want, then?"
"I don't know," Douglas says. "I think I have everything I want or need right now."
Eileen nods. "Same."
Douglas sits down in the chair beside her. "When I see something I want, I just go out and buy it. I never think to wait for Christmas."
"Same," Eileen says again. It's the same problem they have every year. It's almost the same conversation. Especially the part where Douglas doesn't believe her.
"Are you sure there's nothing you want?" he asks.
Eileen taps her chin. The automotive section of the paper is sitting right in front of her. "How about a Mercedes roadster? One of the new two-seaters."
"Are you serious?" Douglas asks. "Because if that's really something you want..."
Eileen makes a face, unable to decide whether she wants to roll her eyes or smile. "I'm not serious," she says. "I think one car per person in this family is perfectly sufficient. One reasonable car."
"What about jewelry? Penney's is running a sale right now."
"I'm more than set on jewelry. Maybe for Darcy."
Douglas seems to consider this for a second. "I don't think she'll wear any jewelry that's not made of plastic."
"Fair point," Eileen says.
"In any case," Douglas says, "she's easy to shop for. It's you I'm still stuck on."
"Don't worry about it," Eileen says. "We're having the party and that'll be enough Christmas festivity for me."
Before Douglas can answer, the kitchen telephone starts to ring. He glances between the phone and his wife. "This conversation isn't over yet," he says, rising to his feet. "I am going to get you something. You can't stop me."
Eileen puts her glasses back on and returns to her puzzle. "Whatever you say, dear."
* * *
Mike sets the paper cup down on counter and reaches for the coffee pot.
"Hey," Jim says, "don't fill it too full."
"I'm not filling it too full."
"Careful! Don't splash it down the side."
Mike stops pouring. "You want to do it yourself?"
"But you're supposed to wait on me," Jim says, leaning his elbows on the counter. A woman seated two stools over turns to stare at them, and Jim waves it off with a laugh. "It's okay, he's my kid."
Mike finishes filling the cup and pushes it over to his father. "Are you on your way home?"
"I have some Christmas shopping to do," Jim says. "Hey, where's your car parked? I want to check on something."
"It's back behind the building," Mike says, nodding his head in the direction.
"All right, give me a topper-thingy for the coffee and I'll get out your hair."
"You mean a lid?"
"Hey, don't make fun of your feeble-minded father."
Mike laughs. He hands his father a plastic lid. "When's your flight leaving again?"
"Noon tomorrow. You sure you don't want to come? I can still get you a ticket."
"I'm fine," Mike says, "I've got stuff to do here anyway."
"See you back at the house then?"
"Yeah, I'll go straight home once my shift is over."
"Sounds good," Jim says. He picks up his coffee cup and turns to the woman who was watching them before. "He's actually a good waiter," Jim says. "That's not why I didn't tip him. I just don't have any change right now. And anyway, I do put a roof over his head."
Mike shakes his head and goes to replace the coffee pot.
* * *
"Here," Darcy says, digging a hand into the oversized gift bag. "I color-coded them. Yours is the blue one and the red one's for Rayn. Voila!"
Mike shoots her a look as he takes the blue box. "You said you weren't doing any shopping this year."
"I didn't do any shopping," she says. She thrusts the other box at Rayn. "Look inside."
Rayn lifts up the lid and peeks inside. "Cookies? Did you make these?"
"Hell yes, cookies! And they are completely homemade."
"That's awesome, Darce," Mike says. "Thank you! They look great."
"Yeah, thank you!" Rayn says. "What kind are they?"
"Yours are oatmeal raisin. Which I still can't get behind, but whatever floats your boat." Darcy points her thumb at Mike. "His are pecan sandies."
"The better kind," Mike says.
Rayn closes the box again. "Cookies were a really good idea. Why didn't I think of that?"
"I don't know!" Darcy says. "I would totally eat your cookies!"
"And no one would want to eat mine," Mike says. "Which is too bad. I still have all my shopping left to do."
"Why the moratorium on shopping anyway?" Rayn asks Darcy.
"I figured I'd save myself some trouble," Darcy says. "I think my folks are going nuts looking for the perfect gifts. Every conversation I've had with either of them has been 'what do you think she wants for Christmas?' 'what should I buy for him?' They're both just waiting for me to advise them or something."
"Maybe they should make each other cookies," Mike says.
"Well..." She tilts her head to the side. "They both cook like you do, so that's probably a no go. But that did just give me an idea..."
* * *
When it's been almost an hour since dinner and Anna is still scrubbing dishes, Dinah takes it upon herself to gently steer her sister out of the kitchen.
"Angela and I can take care of those in a little while," Dinah promises. "For now, let's sit down and relax."
With a towel still clutched in her hands, Anna allows herself to be led into the living room. Dinah has a bottle of Grand Marnier open on the coffee table and has already poured two glasses. Anna finally allows herself to exhale as they sit down on the couch.
"Thanks," she says, lifting one of the glasses. She takes a sip. "You know, I wasn't even stressed out until Mom showed up. Then I just kept thinking about everything that wasn't perfect-
"Mom stresses me out too," Dinah says, "Try living next door to her."
Anna shrugs a shoulder. "Maybe I still feel like I have something to prove."
"Well, I think it went well."
"I think it did too." Anna smiles down at her glass then looks up at her sister. "It means a lot to me and to the kids that you were all able to come down here."
Dinah nods, swallowing a large mouthful of her drink. "Speaking of the kids," she says, "How about we call them in here?" She turns towards the hall. "Hey, kids! Come here for a second!"
Angela emerges first, and swings in to give Anna a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, Auntie," she says, "Tina and Rayn are coming."
Before Anna can respond, Tina and Rayn are right behind Angie. Tina's holding a box wrapped in red paper with a gold bow on top.
"I was just looking for a bow," Tina says. She holds the box out to her mother. "It's for you."
"Merry Christmas, Ma," Rayn says.
For a second, Anna's mouth drops open. "Is this-"
"It's from all of us," Dinah says.
Anna takes the box. "You didn't have to-"
"We wanted to," Rayn says.
After a quick glance around at her family, Anna turns her attention to the box in her hand and eases one corner of the paper open. When she pulls out a little white box, she raises her eyebrows. "What is it?"
"Just open it!" Angela says.
Anna pulls the top from the box. Sitting inside, stuck to a little tan-colored card, are a pair of sapphire earrings. She touches one with her thumb and the tiny diamonds by the post catch the living room light. Immediately, she looks up at her family, her mouth hanging open.
"You-" she starts to say, but Dinah laughs, cutting her off.
"Just say thank you," Dinah says. She holds up a finger. "And nothing else."
"Thank you," Anna says. And that is all-she chokes up.
* * *
"Are you feeling settled yet?" Mike asks. He sets a mug of coffee down in front of his father and sits down in the arm chair.
Jim laughs, scratching the back of his head. "As much as I can be, I guess," he says. His suitcase is still sitting in the entry way; he'll unpack it later. He picks up the coffee cup. "Some Christmas this is, huh?"
"It's not your fault. Anyway, you're here now."
Jim cocks an eyebrow. "You want to do gifts now?"
Mike laughs. "Well, yeah."
"Small stuff first?"
"Of course," Mike says. He leans over the arm of the chair and retrieves a small sloppily wrapped package. "Obviously I've been waiting to give you this."
"There's one for you in the roll-top desk," Jim says, pointing with his chin.
"I'll grab it," Mike says, handing his father his gift. He retrieves a long rectangular box wrapped in blue paper from the desk. "This it?"
"Yup. Now come back over here and open it."
"You first," Mike says, flopping back into the arm chair.
"Same time?"
"Sold."
Jim starts to work loose the tape from the paper on his present, keeping an eye on his son. Mike tears through the wrapping paper faster and gets his open first.
"Oh!" Mike says. Grinning, he holds up the box. "New windshield wipers! Perfect, Dad- I really needed these! Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jim says.
Mike glances out the window. "I can put them on today, even. There's still some daylight left."
Jim chuckles. "I'm just glad I have a kid who can get excited about windshield wipers. Other parents are much less fortunate."
"Dad," Mike says, in a way that almost sounds embarrassed. "Open your present!"
"I'm opening it," Jim says. Vey deliberately, he tears back a strip of paper. "See?" he starts to say, but when he looks down at the present, he laughs. "Hey, Lifesavers! And the individually wrapped kind!" He looks at Mike. "These are hard to find."
"Yeah they are," Mike says. "I had to go to like four or five places."
"You did that for me?"
"Well, I knew that was the kind you liked. So they didn't get gross in your desk or whatever."
"Great present.," Jim says, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mike says. After a beat, Mike adds, "You kinda knew what it was, right?"
Taking a swig of coffee, Jim answers him with a look. "You knew what yours was too."
"Yeah, I guess."
Jim sighs, but he's smiling. "We know each other too damn well, you know."
"Well, yeah," Mike says, "but I like it."
* * *
Locking eyes with her husband, Eileen holds out the present-done up with snowflake wrapping paper and a silver bow-and is struck by the thought that the box looks so much better than what's actually inside. "I'm giving this to you," she says, "with the caveat that you'll understand it was an experiment. And that I tried."
"Perfect," Douglas says, producing a package from behind his own back. "And I'll say the same to you."
They exchange presents and Eileen weighs hers in her hand. It's surprisingly heavy. "Thank you," she says.
"Don't thank me before you open it. Which you should do now."
"All right," Eileen says. She pulls the paper open on one end and slides out the box inside. When she lifts the lid, her eyebrows shoot up and she moves the tissue paper aside to find... "Oh! It's..." An interesting lump of clay? Maybe a bowl. "You made this, didn't you?"
Douglas looks a little embarrassed. "I took a ceramics class."
"The glaze is very nice. Thank you."
"It was Darcy's idea," Douglas says, almost by means of apology.
His wife smiles. "I know. Open yours."
Douglas seems to take a moment to admire the box before sliding off the bow and tearing through the paper. When he opens the box inside, his face lights up. Chuckling, he reaches inside and unfurls a bright red piece of knitting. "A scarf! You made this, Leeny?"
Eileen notices for the first time that it's a little short and flinches. She already knew that it started narrow on one end and got progressively wider, but she'd had no idea how to fix that. "First thing I ever knitted," she says. "I took a class too."
"Thank you," her husband says, holding the scarf to his chest. "I love it."
Eileen beams. "And I love my...um..."
"I think it's an ashtray," Douglas says.
Eileen laughs.
"I wanted to make you a bowl or a vase," her husband continues, "but wouldn't you know? Throwing clay is hard."
"Well, it's a lovely ashtray, in any case. Unfortunately had to sell all my cigarettes to pay for my knitting class."
Douglas tosses the scarf around his shoulders. "Well, I donated my neck to charity, but I can still find it in myself to be grateful."
Eileen grins openly, wrapping an arm around her husbands waist. "I doubt anyone would want your neck, dear."
"Well," Douglas said, "I tried."
Eileen presses a kiss to the side of his throat. "Merry Christmas, dear."
"Merry Christmas."
They pause for a moment, facing the entryway, and Eileen notices for the first time how nice the lights along the staircase bannister look. "Our daughter did a nice job with the decorations," she says, "didn't she?"
"She did," Douglas says. "Let's go find her."
A/N: Lol so I'm kind of worried there are a million typos/errors in this because I'm so out of practice I've forgotten how to proofread. But anyway, I started this piece a lonnnng time ago and I'm just excited to have finished it! My only notes are, err...in case you haven't read the original story-Jim gets stuck in Idaho visiting his family until the last minute, and that's what the 'Some Christmas' business is about. Also Jim keeps Lifesavers in his desk/car for blood sugar drops. He's old school.
Look, it's a poll! (for EZ feedback? idk)
Poll
story: second chances ; high school. wordcount: 2614. rating: g.
"I'm giving this to you," she says, "with the caveat that you'll understand it was an experiment. And that I tried." How Darcy's, Mike's and Rayn's families manage the Christmas gift exchange. (With Black Friday, windshield wipers, and bad pottery of course.)
notes : OMG I wrote something. And yes, it's a late entry Christmas story but it's really more of a ~gift-giving~ story anyway. It's a companion to my old multi-part Christmas special (see index) and happens during that same time, but it's a new story about the characters' families. Can I be back again??
They meet up again under the oversized ONE DAY SALE sign in front of the store, gripping their shopping bags and dodging the crowds.
"That was actually kind of scary," Rayn says, glancing over his shoulder. "I wasn't sure I was going to make it."
His mother laughs. "Come on, this was easy. I've been doing this Black Friday thing for seventeen years and that was barely even a riot."
"Well, you're made of sterner stuff than me," Rayn says. "I have your change, by the way."
Anna takes a bag from him so he can get to his pocket. "Did you find something for your sister?" she asks, peering into the bag.
"Yeah, music."
"And did you pick up the headphones for your cousin?"
"I got both pairs of headphones," Rayn says. He tucks a few folded bills into the outside pocket of her purse. "Who's the second pair for again?"
Anna closes the bag quickly. "No one," she says. "What second pair? I don't know what you're talking about."
Rayn smiles, shaking his head. "We didn't get anything for you though," he says. "What do you want for Christmas, Ma?"
"Oh, I don't know," Anna says. "You don't have to get me anything."
"But I want to get you something."
Anna adjusts her grip on the bags as a family of four brushes past her. "Tell you what," she says, "When you're out of school and making a lot of money, then you can buy me all the Christmas presents you want. Careful-"
Rayn looks up just in time to flatten himself against the wall, narrowly avoiding another wave of shoppers leaving the store.
"And," Anna adds, with a smile, "you won't even have to shop on Black Friday if you don't want to. Come on. Let's go."
* * *
Eileen Lane has the Sunday paper spread out across the table in front of her and is quite engaged in the crossword when her husband comes up behind her and clears his throat.
"What do you want for Christmas?" he asks.
Eileen removes her reading glasses. "Is it that time already?"
"It's the second week of December. I think that's when most people start thinking about these things."
"Well, what do you want, then?"
"I don't know," Douglas says. "I think I have everything I want or need right now."
Eileen nods. "Same."
Douglas sits down in the chair beside her. "When I see something I want, I just go out and buy it. I never think to wait for Christmas."
"Same," Eileen says again. It's the same problem they have every year. It's almost the same conversation. Especially the part where Douglas doesn't believe her.
"Are you sure there's nothing you want?" he asks.
Eileen taps her chin. The automotive section of the paper is sitting right in front of her. "How about a Mercedes roadster? One of the new two-seaters."
"Are you serious?" Douglas asks. "Because if that's really something you want..."
Eileen makes a face, unable to decide whether she wants to roll her eyes or smile. "I'm not serious," she says. "I think one car per person in this family is perfectly sufficient. One reasonable car."
"What about jewelry? Penney's is running a sale right now."
"I'm more than set on jewelry. Maybe for Darcy."
Douglas seems to consider this for a second. "I don't think she'll wear any jewelry that's not made of plastic."
"Fair point," Eileen says.
"In any case," Douglas says, "she's easy to shop for. It's you I'm still stuck on."
"Don't worry about it," Eileen says. "We're having the party and that'll be enough Christmas festivity for me."
Before Douglas can answer, the kitchen telephone starts to ring. He glances between the phone and his wife. "This conversation isn't over yet," he says, rising to his feet. "I am going to get you something. You can't stop me."
Eileen puts her glasses back on and returns to her puzzle. "Whatever you say, dear."
* * *
Mike sets the paper cup down on counter and reaches for the coffee pot.
"Hey," Jim says, "don't fill it too full."
"I'm not filling it too full."
"Careful! Don't splash it down the side."
Mike stops pouring. "You want to do it yourself?"
"But you're supposed to wait on me," Jim says, leaning his elbows on the counter. A woman seated two stools over turns to stare at them, and Jim waves it off with a laugh. "It's okay, he's my kid."
Mike finishes filling the cup and pushes it over to his father. "Are you on your way home?"
"I have some Christmas shopping to do," Jim says. "Hey, where's your car parked? I want to check on something."
"It's back behind the building," Mike says, nodding his head in the direction.
"All right, give me a topper-thingy for the coffee and I'll get out your hair."
"You mean a lid?"
"Hey, don't make fun of your feeble-minded father."
Mike laughs. He hands his father a plastic lid. "When's your flight leaving again?"
"Noon tomorrow. You sure you don't want to come? I can still get you a ticket."
"I'm fine," Mike says, "I've got stuff to do here anyway."
"See you back at the house then?"
"Yeah, I'll go straight home once my shift is over."
"Sounds good," Jim says. He picks up his coffee cup and turns to the woman who was watching them before. "He's actually a good waiter," Jim says. "That's not why I didn't tip him. I just don't have any change right now. And anyway, I do put a roof over his head."
Mike shakes his head and goes to replace the coffee pot.
* * *
"Here," Darcy says, digging a hand into the oversized gift bag. "I color-coded them. Yours is the blue one and the red one's for Rayn. Voila!"
Mike shoots her a look as he takes the blue box. "You said you weren't doing any shopping this year."
"I didn't do any shopping," she says. She thrusts the other box at Rayn. "Look inside."
Rayn lifts up the lid and peeks inside. "Cookies? Did you make these?"
"Hell yes, cookies! And they are completely homemade."
"That's awesome, Darce," Mike says. "Thank you! They look great."
"Yeah, thank you!" Rayn says. "What kind are they?"
"Yours are oatmeal raisin. Which I still can't get behind, but whatever floats your boat." Darcy points her thumb at Mike. "His are pecan sandies."
"The better kind," Mike says.
Rayn closes the box again. "Cookies were a really good idea. Why didn't I think of that?"
"I don't know!" Darcy says. "I would totally eat your cookies!"
"And no one would want to eat mine," Mike says. "Which is too bad. I still have all my shopping left to do."
"Why the moratorium on shopping anyway?" Rayn asks Darcy.
"I figured I'd save myself some trouble," Darcy says. "I think my folks are going nuts looking for the perfect gifts. Every conversation I've had with either of them has been 'what do you think she wants for Christmas?' 'what should I buy for him?' They're both just waiting for me to advise them or something."
"Maybe they should make each other cookies," Mike says.
"Well..." She tilts her head to the side. "They both cook like you do, so that's probably a no go. But that did just give me an idea..."
* * *
When it's been almost an hour since dinner and Anna is still scrubbing dishes, Dinah takes it upon herself to gently steer her sister out of the kitchen.
"Angela and I can take care of those in a little while," Dinah promises. "For now, let's sit down and relax."
With a towel still clutched in her hands, Anna allows herself to be led into the living room. Dinah has a bottle of Grand Marnier open on the coffee table and has already poured two glasses. Anna finally allows herself to exhale as they sit down on the couch.
"Thanks," she says, lifting one of the glasses. She takes a sip. "You know, I wasn't even stressed out until Mom showed up. Then I just kept thinking about everything that wasn't perfect-
"Mom stresses me out too," Dinah says, "Try living next door to her."
Anna shrugs a shoulder. "Maybe I still feel like I have something to prove."
"Well, I think it went well."
"I think it did too." Anna smiles down at her glass then looks up at her sister. "It means a lot to me and to the kids that you were all able to come down here."
Dinah nods, swallowing a large mouthful of her drink. "Speaking of the kids," she says, "How about we call them in here?" She turns towards the hall. "Hey, kids! Come here for a second!"
Angela emerges first, and swings in to give Anna a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, Auntie," she says, "Tina and Rayn are coming."
Before Anna can respond, Tina and Rayn are right behind Angie. Tina's holding a box wrapped in red paper with a gold bow on top.
"I was just looking for a bow," Tina says. She holds the box out to her mother. "It's for you."
"Merry Christmas, Ma," Rayn says.
For a second, Anna's mouth drops open. "Is this-"
"It's from all of us," Dinah says.
Anna takes the box. "You didn't have to-"
"We wanted to," Rayn says.
After a quick glance around at her family, Anna turns her attention to the box in her hand and eases one corner of the paper open. When she pulls out a little white box, she raises her eyebrows. "What is it?"
"Just open it!" Angela says.
Anna pulls the top from the box. Sitting inside, stuck to a little tan-colored card, are a pair of sapphire earrings. She touches one with her thumb and the tiny diamonds by the post catch the living room light. Immediately, she looks up at her family, her mouth hanging open.
"You-" she starts to say, but Dinah laughs, cutting her off.
"Just say thank you," Dinah says. She holds up a finger. "And nothing else."
"Thank you," Anna says. And that is all-she chokes up.
* * *
"Are you feeling settled yet?" Mike asks. He sets a mug of coffee down in front of his father and sits down in the arm chair.
Jim laughs, scratching the back of his head. "As much as I can be, I guess," he says. His suitcase is still sitting in the entry way; he'll unpack it later. He picks up the coffee cup. "Some Christmas this is, huh?"
"It's not your fault. Anyway, you're here now."
Jim cocks an eyebrow. "You want to do gifts now?"
Mike laughs. "Well, yeah."
"Small stuff first?"
"Of course," Mike says. He leans over the arm of the chair and retrieves a small sloppily wrapped package. "Obviously I've been waiting to give you this."
"There's one for you in the roll-top desk," Jim says, pointing with his chin.
"I'll grab it," Mike says, handing his father his gift. He retrieves a long rectangular box wrapped in blue paper from the desk. "This it?"
"Yup. Now come back over here and open it."
"You first," Mike says, flopping back into the arm chair.
"Same time?"
"Sold."
Jim starts to work loose the tape from the paper on his present, keeping an eye on his son. Mike tears through the wrapping paper faster and gets his open first.
"Oh!" Mike says. Grinning, he holds up the box. "New windshield wipers! Perfect, Dad- I really needed these! Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jim says.
Mike glances out the window. "I can put them on today, even. There's still some daylight left."
Jim chuckles. "I'm just glad I have a kid who can get excited about windshield wipers. Other parents are much less fortunate."
"Dad," Mike says, in a way that almost sounds embarrassed. "Open your present!"
"I'm opening it," Jim says. Vey deliberately, he tears back a strip of paper. "See?" he starts to say, but when he looks down at the present, he laughs. "Hey, Lifesavers! And the individually wrapped kind!" He looks at Mike. "These are hard to find."
"Yeah they are," Mike says. "I had to go to like four or five places."
"You did that for me?"
"Well, I knew that was the kind you liked. So they didn't get gross in your desk or whatever."
"Great present.," Jim says, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mike says. After a beat, Mike adds, "You kinda knew what it was, right?"
Taking a swig of coffee, Jim answers him with a look. "You knew what yours was too."
"Yeah, I guess."
Jim sighs, but he's smiling. "We know each other too damn well, you know."
"Well, yeah," Mike says, "but I like it."
* * *
Locking eyes with her husband, Eileen holds out the present-done up with snowflake wrapping paper and a silver bow-and is struck by the thought that the box looks so much better than what's actually inside. "I'm giving this to you," she says, "with the caveat that you'll understand it was an experiment. And that I tried."
"Perfect," Douglas says, producing a package from behind his own back. "And I'll say the same to you."
They exchange presents and Eileen weighs hers in her hand. It's surprisingly heavy. "Thank you," she says.
"Don't thank me before you open it. Which you should do now."
"All right," Eileen says. She pulls the paper open on one end and slides out the box inside. When she lifts the lid, her eyebrows shoot up and she moves the tissue paper aside to find... "Oh! It's..." An interesting lump of clay? Maybe a bowl. "You made this, didn't you?"
Douglas looks a little embarrassed. "I took a ceramics class."
"The glaze is very nice. Thank you."
"It was Darcy's idea," Douglas says, almost by means of apology.
His wife smiles. "I know. Open yours."
Douglas seems to take a moment to admire the box before sliding off the bow and tearing through the paper. When he opens the box inside, his face lights up. Chuckling, he reaches inside and unfurls a bright red piece of knitting. "A scarf! You made this, Leeny?"
Eileen notices for the first time that it's a little short and flinches. She already knew that it started narrow on one end and got progressively wider, but she'd had no idea how to fix that. "First thing I ever knitted," she says. "I took a class too."
"Thank you," her husband says, holding the scarf to his chest. "I love it."
Eileen beams. "And I love my...um..."
"I think it's an ashtray," Douglas says.
Eileen laughs.
"I wanted to make you a bowl or a vase," her husband continues, "but wouldn't you know? Throwing clay is hard."
"Well, it's a lovely ashtray, in any case. Unfortunately had to sell all my cigarettes to pay for my knitting class."
Douglas tosses the scarf around his shoulders. "Well, I donated my neck to charity, but I can still find it in myself to be grateful."
Eileen grins openly, wrapping an arm around her husbands waist. "I doubt anyone would want your neck, dear."
"Well," Douglas said, "I tried."
Eileen presses a kiss to the side of his throat. "Merry Christmas, dear."
"Merry Christmas."
They pause for a moment, facing the entryway, and Eileen notices for the first time how nice the lights along the staircase bannister look. "Our daughter did a nice job with the decorations," she says, "didn't she?"
"She did," Douglas says. "Let's go find her."
A/N: Lol so I'm kind of worried there are a million typos/errors in this because I'm so out of practice I've forgotten how to proofread. But anyway, I started this piece a lonnnng time ago and I'm just excited to have finished it! My only notes are, err...in case you haven't read the original story-Jim gets stuck in Idaho visiting his family until the last minute, and that's what the 'Some Christmas' business is about. Also Jim keeps Lifesavers in his desk/car for blood sugar drops. He's old school.
Look, it's a poll! (for EZ feedback? idk)
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