Page 32 of Planes, Trains, and Candy Canes

A smile returned to her face, slow and shy. “Yeah. That. Except you see him building cribs and taking the cat to the vet with you.”

“Hmm. Just because something starts fast doesn’t mean it has to end fast. I’m not going anywhere. I know tonight we’ve got to be with our families. What’s tomorrow look like for you?”

“Jet lag, emotional upheaval, and pigging out?”

“Same, probably. Want to share some post-traumatic Christmas cookies and mindless movies tomorrow night at my place?”

Reese smiled. “Okay...and on Saturday, do you want to go to Manny’s Automotive and help me look at cars? Mine was a three-year lease that’s up at the end of the month, so I’m not only luggageless, boyfriend-less, and homeless, I’m also car-less.” She ended with a rueful laugh.

Derrick shook his head. “Car shopping, and then hitting the mall for sales. Your luggage will arrive eventually. You can stay with your mom and dad—or even crash at my place. I canhelpwith all of those things, but there’s one issue I can actually fix, Reese Brittijn.” He grabbed her hand—and pulled the ring off of it.

“Derrick!”

“That was Jeff’s promise ring. He broke his promises.” Derrick wriggled his way down to the floor in front of his seat, squished in the narrow amount of space provided for legroom and secretly glad they were in the bigger, better business class seats. “Reese Brittijn, will you be my girlfriend? I promise to take you with me to adopt my next cat from the shelter. I promise to go with you to look at cars, clothes, or whatever else you need. I promise to go along with whatever plans you throw at me. I promise to haul your crazy ass back to safety if you go too far off the rails. I don’t have a ring for you right now, but I promise that by next Christmas—I’ll put a different kind of ring on your finger if you still want me.”

Reese put her hand to her mouth, covering her smile, but he could see it in her eyes. They were sparkling, shining, and welling up as she pulled him back to his seat.

“I accept—and I’ll hold you to it, boyfriend.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“DADDY! MOM!” REESEbolted from Derrick’s side and into the arms of her parents as they stood on the side of the platform. No one else got off the train, and no one else got on it.

“Oh, thank God you’re home! And this must be Derrick, the nice young man who helped you get here,” Mrs. Brittijn hugged Derrick as he came closer.

“It was my pleasure. I would say no trouble—”

“But he’s the nice, honest type,” Reese supplied with a laugh.

“Thank you for giving me a lift.”

“It’s nothing! You know, Derrick’s parents actually live at the end of Pinecrest Avenue, so it’s not out of the way,” Reese’s mother addressed her.

“And Derrick lives in Pine Point development. We’re going to hang out together tomorrow night.”

“Hopefully more often than that,” Derrick smiled and nodded as he shook Mr. Brittijn’s hand.

“Everyone, into the car!” Mr. Brittijn said briskly. “I have mulled wine waiting, and you have several meals’ worth of leftovers to get through, young lady.”

“I can’t wait. Derrick, do you want to come to the house for a while?”

“I do, but my parents are probably about to hyperventilate. Tomorrow night, though, I’m whisking you away for Christmas cookies and comedies.”

“Ohhh. Sounds like you two have certainly hit it off,” Reese’s mother said in a smug voice, one eyebrow arching.

Reese hesitated. She and Derrick had shared one long, lingering kiss as the train slowed into the station. It felt like an end—and the promise of a new beginning. She was afraid if she admitted just how close they’d gotten, her parents would classify him as another of her impetuous decisions, maybe even as one of her numerous mistakes. As if sensing her trepidation, Derrick had hung back and was acting like a cordial companion and nothing more, charming her parents with politeness and respect.

He’s a good guy. Awonderfulguy—and I’m proud that he wants to be with me. I’m proud that I get to be with him.

She boldly slipped her arm through his, hugging her now un-padded torso against his side. “This is going to sound crazy, but this started off as my worst Christmas ever—with a break-up and planes, trains, and way too many candy canes—but it turned out to be the best one.”

“Why is that, honey?” Mrs. Brittijn asked as she led the way to the car.

Reese didn’t answer. She was too busy kissing Derrick.

“Ahhh,” Mr. Brittijn sighed knowingly. “I thought that might be the case. Okay, lovebirds. You can either walk home in the snow or ride in the nice warm car. What’s it going to be?”

“Car!” Reese and Derrick shouted as one, laughing as they finally made it home.

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