Holiday Cheer

The coffee shop had decided to close early on Christmas Eve and Julia couldn’t wait to spend the evening lying in bed with a cup of tea and a good book. Christmas week was always crowded and Julia would be lucky if she avoided another eggnog latte until the next year.

She frowned thoughtfully as her eyes raked across the room in search of her cat, who had the unfortunate habit of sneaking into the living room and peeing in her fake flower pots. Sniffing suspiciously she sagged in relief when she found him sleeping on the bed and the flower pot nowhere in sight. Oh yeah I threw away the last one.

Sitting down she stacked her feet up on the table and was just about to turn on the television when her cell phone rang shrilly in the silence of the apartment and startled the cat who jumped in fear and hissed in annoyance.

Julia frowned when she saw her ex-boyfriends name flashing through and she hesitated before answering.

“Hello?”

“Juliaaaaaaaaaaaaa” he slurred loudly. She could hear loud music and laughter in the background.

“Julia I need you where are you?”

Julia pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and took a deep breath.

“Derek please tell me you aren’t drinking alone.”

“Julia where are you?” He was lucky they grew up together otherwise she would have blocked him ages ago.

“I’m home. Where are you?” she asked tiredly.

“Larry’s.”

Larry’s was the local pub just a few blocks away from her apartment so at least she didn’t have to get a cab.

“I’ll be there in five.”

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Larry’s was bustling with people. Christmas decorations ranging from a miniature Christmas tree and cheap poinsettias were crammed in between the corners of the pub and added a somewhat cozy feel to the otherwise dull place. She found Derek slumped on the bar, his long hair a frizzy mess and seemingly half-asleep.

“Come on Derek you can crash on my couch tonight.”

“Mmmm Julia. You the best.”

She grimaced as he leaned his full weight on her, “Yeah you better say that again so I could record you and make you watch it on repeat.”

“Julia I still love you.” He moaned pathetically

“Yeah sure you do.” She panted as they neared her apartment.

“Weren’t you the one who wanted a break?” she added lightly.

“Noooooo I changed my mine. I want to marry you and have babies.”

She burst out laughing, “I thought you didn’t like kids Ricky.”

He didn’t seem to hear her.

“Yes! We should get married! Marry me Julia!”

“Propose again in the morning and I’ll reconsider.”

He beamed and started humming Jingle Bells while she clumsily fiddled with the keys to the apartment before finally opening it and practically throwing him on the couch.

“We’re getting married aren’t we?” he murmured sleepily.

“Sure we are. We’ll even have a beach wedding.”

“Awesome.”

She chuckled and threw a blanket over him before switching off the lights.

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Julia flopped tiredly on the bed and was mostly asleep when her phone started ringing again. She moaned pathetically and was considering ignoring it when she saw that it was her mother calling.

Ignorance never sat well with her.

“Hey mom. What’s up?”

“Hey sweetie! I just wanted you to know that we’re making red velvet cookies and I was hoping you’d pass by.”

Red velvet cookies were her favorite. Suspicious.

“Hmmm sounds great. You wouldn’t happen to be hiding a certain Andrew near you now would you?”

“Wh-What? No of course not!”

Andrew was the son of her mom’s best friend and he was, as her mother always liked to remind her, “filthy rich and single” and always took the chance to set them up.

“Really? So Mrs. What’s her face also isn’t there?”

“Mrs. Jenkins and no!”

Julia started laughing “Relax mom. I’ll be there in a bit”

Her mom sniffed indignantly, “Good. Make sure you pick up some chocolate chip while you’re at it.”

“Deal.”

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Her parent’s house smelled like a bakery and Julia smiled wistfully before setting the groceries on a nearby table and kissing her mother in greeting.

“Merry Christmas mom.”

“Merry Christmas sweetie. How was work?”

“Crowded but I was let out early today.”

“Good. So I’m going to put these things in the kitchen while you keep Andrew company, ok?”

“No mom please_”

“He’s in the living room.” She interrupted gleefully.

Julia sighed in frustration and took a vicious bite out of her cookie before stomping into the living room.

Andrew was sitting awkwardly on the burgundy sofa, his hands tucked together and his hair styled backwards like it always was. He smiled uncomfortably when he saw her and stood up to greet her.

“Julia you look lovely how are you?”

“Andrew it’s been too long. I’m good and you?”

“Good.”

An awkward silence descended over them and Julia shuffled aimlessly pondering on what to say or do.

“So how’s work been?” she tried desperately.

“Oh! It’s uh it’s been good. A new deal with one of our partner companies went really well.”

“Oh that’s great. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Julia knew the polite thing to do was ask more about the deal but she was tired and couldn’t care less at this point.

“You know our parents are trying to set us up right?” She asked nonchalantly.

Andrew choked on thin air, “I uh really?!”

She rolled her eyes “Don’t act stupid we both know it’s true. I just want you to know that it doesn’t have to be this weird. I have no interest in you and I also know you’re into guys which is totally fine by me.”

Andrew blinked in shock before throwing his head back and laughing heartily.

“Oh thank God. I was worried we were going to keep up the constipation act.”

Julia burst out laughing just as her mother took the opportunity to come in with a tray of cookies. She beamed at them “What’s so funny?”

Andrew and Julia exchanged amused glances and Julia saw a spark of mischief in his eyes.

“Oh nothing Ma’am I was just about to tell Julia a very important announcement.”

Julia gave him a weird look and he winked discretely before getting down on one knee and taking her hand in his.

Her mother gasped loudly and covered her mouth with both hands.

“Julia I know this is really sudden but I just don’t want to wait anymore. I love you, I’ve loved you ever since we were kids and I’d be the luckiest man on earth if you marry me.”

Julia was about to answer when her mother beat her to it. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!”

Julia and Andrew exchanged a look before they burst out laughing.

Her mother’s smile faltered, “What? Why are you two laughing?”

They both didn’t answer.

It took about ten minutes for them to calm down and another ten minutes to convince her mother that it really was a joke. She disgruntledly admitted that she might have “overdid it just a bit” before disappointingly leaving them for the kitchen again.

“Well that was fun.” Andrew said as she walked him to the door.

“I know we should do this every year.”

“Next time my mother’s here.” He said in agreement.

They shared one last smirk before he clasped her shoulder in farewell.

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Putting her coat on Julia kissed her mother farewell and stepped out into the cold. She opted for walking and admired the brightly lit streets and Christmas decorations that adorned the neighboring houses. She passed by an old man using a walking stick and tried to help him cross the street but he waved her away “Thanks kid but I’m not that old.” Before continuing on the way.

Julia shrugged and considered getting a drink somewhere when a car honk made her jump out of her skin and she squinted her eyes at the sudden blinding light and beamed when she saw her best friend April waving enthusiastically at her. Julia ran and hopped in excitedly.

“Oh my God Jules! You didn’t answer my calls last night.”

“I know I’m sorry but I had the night shift yesterday and I was out cold the minute I reached the house.”

“No worries. So what are we doing tonight?”

Julia shifted cautiously, things never ended well when April asked that.

“How about movie and pizza?” She tried desperately.

April sent her a look “Yeah real cute. I say we go to Sally’s, she’s having a small get-together and I need a new boyfriend before New Year’s.

Julia snorted, “Yeah count me out.”

“Aww come on Jules! We haven’t done anything fun in forever.”

“I hardly see that as fun.” She said drily.

“Ok look,” she said turning fully towards her, “We’ll make an appearance at Sally’s, I’ll check out if there’s anything worth staying for and if there is, then you can take my car and drive home and if there isn’t then we both leave and have that movie night.”

Julia pursed her lips together before sighing in defeat, “Fine but I’m not staying longer than an hour.”

April beamed “Thank you! I knew I could count on you.”

“Oh shut up and have a cookie.” She said as she stuffed one of her mom’s cookies in April’s mouth.

“Yummmmm. Oh these are so good. Marry me girl.”

“Haha. No thanks.”

“Your loss asshole.”

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Sally’s “small” get-together was in fact another full-blown party and Julia grimaced at the loud music and strong scent of alcohol. She already knew she was taking the car and leaving within the next ten minutes.

“Not your scene I know.” April said apologetically.

“It’s OK. I’ll get a drink or something until you’re done.”

April smiled brilliantly and tucked her short hair behind her ear before sauntering away and getting lost in the crowd.

Julia decided that the best thing to do was get a drink and catch up on her Instagram. It’s been a while since she had time to check her social media. She sat back and was surprised to find more than a few messages in her DMs. Most of them were Christmas wishes from her high school friends whom she lost touch with and she took the time to answer each one when she frowned at a message from a strange profile picture.

She opened it and scowled at the contents. “Hi there, my name is Dan and I am looking for a sweet girl who I can take care of and spoil. I’m not just looking for a good time but someone who I can spend the rest of my life with_” Here there was an engagement ring emoji.

Julia blocked the messenger and disgruntledly leaned back.

What was it with proposals tonight? She thought in irritation.

“Hey Julia how’s it going?” asked a voice to her right.

She turned and found Aaron, Derek’s younger brother beaming at her. He was wearing a dark blue sweater and his hair looked wind-swept. He looked good.

Julia smiled, “Hey Aaron, I’m good, what about you?”

“I’ve been good. Just finished finals a few days ago.”

“That’s great. Guess which couch your brother passed out on?”

He laughed, “No way! I guess that explains why he hasn’t been answering my calls.”

“Nah. You’re just annoying.”

“Haha. You’re hilarious.”

She smiled and a comfortable silence descended on both of them.

“You know I got four proposals tonight?” she said out of the blue.

“Woah really? Look who’s having fun. I’m guessing my brother was one?”

“He was the first yes.” She said amusedly

“Well he finally got some sense into him, eh?”

“He was drunk.”

“Oh. Never mind.”

Julia laughed brilliantly and gently gave him a shove. He smiled and shoved her back.

“You know I used to have a huge crush on you when we were younger?”

Julia’s mouth fell open in shock, “WHAT?! No way, I never knew.”

“It’s alright I was a bit shy back then.”

“You were weren’t you?” She murmured thoughtfully.

“I guess the right thing to do is to ask you to marry me.”

She choked on her drink, “Wait what?”

“Yeah you know, make an honest woman out of you.”

Julia laughed freely “Oh my God you’re such a little shit.”

He laughed in return, “So what do you say? Marry me?”

Julia smiled, “I think I’ll pass thanks.”

He smirked but got the hint, “Well if you change your mind…

She blew him a kiss, “I’ll know who to call.”

He saluted her in farewell and winked before making his way towards the snacks near the end of the of the room.

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Julia decided then and there that five proposals were enough for one night and was thinking about ordering in when she made it to her apartment.

Opening the door, she discarded her scarf and coat on the couch and gently scratched her cat behind the ears. “Oh Spiky, I’m so glad I’m single, aren’t you?”

“But I thought we’re getting married?” a sleepy voice asked from behind her.

Julia screeched and put her hand on her chest. “Oh God Derek, you scared me.”

“Merry Christmas Wifey”

“Oh shut up.”