James (jamesrfallon) wrote in hotelcali, @ 2016-01-12 22:39:00 |
|
|||
James loved Christmas. He loved the lights, the music, the food, the spirit behind it, it was his favorite holiday. Even the first couple of years after his fatherâs death when it had been hard for the family to let themselves enjoy it, James had done everything he could to lift their spirits. His mother had called him their own personal Christmas elf and still did even though he was now a little over six feet tall. Today he was finishing up his shopping and was in the calendar section at Barnes and Noble. Heâd started the tradition years ago of getting all of his siblings (and of course his mother) a calendar. Something that reflected their interests or sometimes just something that would make them smile. He was looking at a Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar (for Tommy of course) when he saw a familiar face out of the corner of his eye. James hadnât talked to Heather since that night on the network even though he had wanted to leave her a message. Now here she was and he suddenly didnât know what to say so he just went with the obvious. âHeather?â he said and smiled at her. âHey, howâs it going?â While Heather didnât hate Christmas, she didnât exactly love it. Oh she enjoyed looking at decorations, and family dinners and presents were fun, but she didnât quite buy into the whole festive season. Which was why it was less than two weeks to Christmas and she hadnât bought a single present yet. Sheâd been hoping to knock all of her Christmas shopping out in about an hour. The mall was against her though, and she had been out all morning and had managed to stand in line to buy one gift so far. It was going to be a long day. Sheâd stepped in to Barnes and Noble really for herself, but she reasoned she could probably find something for her step father there. So far sheâd just found a bargain book for herself. She glanced over when she heard her name, surprise crossing her face as she spotted James. She wanted to hide really, since she had no idea how to act seeing him again, but she couldnât, heâd already seen her, so Heather smiled. âHey, James itâs going. How are you?â âItâs good. Busy but good,â James had thought it would be easy to talk to her if he ever saw her again but it felt strange. She was seeing the real him, a tall, skinny guy wearing a Spiderman t-shirt, looking at a Swimsuit calendar. Wonderful. âfor my brother,â he said, indicating what he was holding. âI always get my brothers and sister a calendar.â James had no idea why heâd felt the need to tell her that but he had. âSo I guess youâre out Christmas shopping too?â âYea.â Heather nodded as James said he was good. Vacation flings were supposed to stay on vacation, or so you know, she thought, considering sheâd never had one before. It just felt awkward to have him right there making small talk. What was she supposed to say? âCalendars for your siblings? Sounds like it could be a cute idea. And yea, Iâm shopping.â âI came up with the idea a few years ago. Theyâre easy to find and everyone needs one. I mean I know I do.â Why was this so easy in Greece and not in the middle of a bookstore? âYou looking for anything in particular?â âHonestly?â Heather shrugged as she glanced around. âI told myself maybe something for my stepdad, but letâs be honest Iâm over all the lines and crowds, books are solace.â âIâm not a fan of the crowds either. Honestly I did a lot of shopping online but this part is easier to do in person, so I can see what Iâm getting,â he looked at the book in Heatherâs hand. âWhat did you find?â âOnline would have been a good idea.â Heather noted. âI didn't even really think about it.â It would have been a way to avoid the crowds for sure . âThis?â She held up the book and laughed a little self consciously. âJust a Nicholas Sparks for meâ Heather shrugged. âI apparently fail at shopping for other people on a bookstore.â âNicholas Sparks. The Notebook guy, right?â His mother read those books although heâd never read them. âand hey buying a present for yourself isnât a bad thing. Iâll probably buy something for myself before I get out of here today.â âYea, that guy.â Heather nodded. âItâs not great literature,but always a fun read.â Thatâs what she was . The quiet book nerd, and she knew it was showing. It wasnât who she had been on vacation all those months ago though. God, she hated that she wouldnât always be that version of herself to him. âInsures you get something you want.â âI confess, I always get myself a present every year. I just donât tell anybody,â he laughed. Why did this feel strange. It had been so easy to talk to her in Greece but now he was coming off as a big geek which was what he was to be honest. âSo do you have big plans for the holidays?â âNot really.â Awkward. It was awkward small talk and they hadnât even done that when they had first met. âDinner with my family. Thatâs about it. I donât really do Christmas all that much. You?â âI have kind of a huge family,â he said, shaking his head. âand extended family, siblingâs girlfriends, assorted other people who tend to show up...itâs kind of nuts but I love it. And this year my mom has a boyfriend so heâll be there with his kids and that will be new.â James was surprised that heâd said that but it had just popped out. âMy dad died when I was a kid and this is really the first serious guy sheâs dated and thatâs taking some getting used to. He liked him, it wasnât that, it was just...well it was his mom. âI canât imagine a huge extended family.â Heather noted. âItâs me, my mom, my step dad and his son. Itâs been that way since I was about twelve, Thatâs good for your mom though, that sheâs found someone?â âYeah, she seems happy. Itâs just...well you donât think of your parents that way, you know? Dating and stuffâŚâ it was the âstuffâ that kind of blew his mind, James thought. Obviously parents had sex or their children wouldnât exist but still, the idea of his motheâ âYea, wellâŚ.â Heather paused. âI grew up with my Mom dating, so it was kind of just a fact, but I can see how that would be weird as an adult if youâre not used to itâŚâShe shrugged. âSo I guess just donât think about it too much? I mean really, just be happy for her and live in the ignorance about the and stuff?â âThatâs what Iâm going with,â he told her. âand Iâm glad sheâs happy. Dadâs been dead a long time and as far as I know, this is the first guy sheâs ever really been that interested in. I mean she probably had dates but I didnât notice.â James had never thought about his mother being young when his father had died but she was and she was certainly still young enough to want to have a relationship. Although the fact that it was Charlieâs girlfriendâs dad was a little surprising. âWell you had your own life to worry about. âAnd Heather figured most moms kept their dating life private, hers really hadnât but that had been different. âSo Christmas, with the new boyfriend? Thatââs got to be interesting. â James laughed. âYeah itâs going to be interesting. They told us all at Thanksgiving so the cat is out of the bag at least. She seems really happy and thatâs really all we could ask for. This will be the first time in a long time weâve all been together. Even my brother thatâs in the service is home now so it should be a good day.â âSounds like a nice, family Christmas.â Heather noted, some amusement in her face as she said that. âI bet you really like Christmas, right? Big family that celebrates?â âYeah I do. Even after my father died, Mom always made sure to keep the traditions going.â He looked at her, a little curious at the question. âI gather youâre not much of a Christmas person?â Not that it was a bad thing but James had always been used to his family and the idea that everyone didnât celebrate the way they did was hard to comprehend. âNot really.â Heather admitted with a bit of a shrug. âI mean we have a smaller family, and we enjoy it. I like the Holiday. I just donât really buy into all the stuff around it? I can take or leave the decorations, and the shopping, and the nonstop music. It kind of seems like a hassle to me.â âI donât mind the decorations and online makes the shopping easy but the music, I mean i like it but they start playing it so damn early now, Iâm tired of it before Christmas actually gets here.â There was also the fact that so many Christmas songs were sad and in the first couple of years after his father had died, James couldnât bear to listen to them. âI personally think you only need to listen to the songs like the week before.â Heather told him. âThen theyâre fun. Itâs the two months before thatâs a bit much. And then the fact that Christmas starts taking over in stores right after Halloween. â James laughed. She was right, it had gotten that bad. âThanksgiving doesnât even get itâs own day anymore. Half the people in my momâs neighborhood already had their Christmas lights up by Thanksgiving Day. The pilgrims get robbed.â âThey so totally did.â Heather agreed with a light, easy laugh. That moment right there, just talking with him, and enjoying it? That was reminiscent of when they had met, and she had really enjoyed him that week. âSo yea, I donât hate Christmas or anything, I just donât quite buy into all the stuff surrounding it.â âIâll accept that as an answer,â he said. This was more like it and he was glad the awkward moment had passed. âLook, I should have asked you when I talked to you on the network but I didnât. I donât know why but would you like to get something to eat some time? Coffee? Anything?â âI donât think either one of us knew what to do when we figured out we were both online.â Heather assured him. It was sweet that he wanted to do something, and really she wanted to to. Maybe it was awkward, knowing who each other really was, rather than their vacation selves, but he couldnât be that different right? She should at least try to find out. âI would like that a lot.â She told him. âFood is always good.â âOkay thatââs good. We can do that. Food,â he smiled. âSo let me get your number and Iâll call you, maybe next week if thatâs good for you?â âNext week sounds perfect.â Heather assured him . She reached for her phone and unlocked it. âIf you give me your number I'll call you so you have mine?â âSound good,â he said and gave her the number and a few seconds later he had hers. âAwesome. So Iâll call you then and weâll work something out?â James was looking forward to it. Things had started out awkward this afternoon but now they felt more normal and hopefully dinner would go well too. âYea. I look forward to it.â And Heather found she really did. Theyâd had an amazing vacation together,and she was hoping that they could at least become friends. |