Page 26 of Just A Dash of Holiday Magic
“What did you go and do that for?” Gabe frowns. “Did you tell him you took mine? Why am I the bad guy?”
"Because I'm his little angel, and you are the evil boy who put his penis inside me.”
“Please tell me he didn’t say it that way.”
I chuckle. “Not in so many words.”
“Okay, well, I guess I have to move now. I hear Siberia is desolate enough that he might not track me down and kill me there.”
It’s so cute that he still cares so much what my Dad thinks of him. He was always so concerned not to upset either one of my parents. He admitted that he didn’t want to take any chances of losing me.
“What are you doing here?”
"Well, I came to see if you wanted to build a midnight snowman with me."
I check the alarm clock on my nightstand. It’s not midnight yet.”
Gabe leans close to me, and I can smell the familiar scent of his woodsy aftershave. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Yes," I say excitedly and give him a quick peck on the lips. Unfortunately, I realize my mistake too late.
Being around Gabe, I feel like I have slipped back into the girl I was back in high school when Gabe hung my moon and stars. I was so sure then that we were going to get married.
“Meet me downstairs.” Gabe returns the kiss and gives me a quick wink.
I’m careful to avoid the squeaky stair third from the bottom after pulling on some extra layers to play in the snow. It's fun to pretend that I'm a teenager again, sneaking out to meet my boyfriend.
Gabe is already hard at work when I get outside. He’s rolling the base towards the middle of the backyard.
“I start on his torso,” I whisper to him.
Together we laugh and shush the other to be quiet as we work. We keep the conversation light, not wanting to break the spell of reliving our past.
“Do you remember our first midnight snowman?" I ask as I pull off my scarf to wrap around the snowman’s neck.
Gabe pulls a carrot from his pocket and jams it into the snowman's face. "How could I forget? I used one of the carrots my Dad was saving to cook in the Christmas pot roast."
"He sent you over here to bring it back." I laugh. "How is your dad?"
Gabe gets quiet and looks down at his feet. “He passed away a few years after you left. Heart attack.”
“I’m so sorry, Gabe. I didn’t know.” I reach for him, but he steps back.
I know that it isn't my touch he's pulling away from, but that he needs to feel his feelings on his own. He's always been like that—just like Mr. Anders.
“It was a long time ago.” He tries to smile and reassure me he’s fine, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
I hold my hand out to him, letting him know I'm here when he's ready for me. But just as he's about to reach back, the porch light clicks on, and my father comes outside.
"Gabe, is that you?"
“Yes, sir.”
“Midnight snowman again?”
Gabe chuckles. “Yes, sir.”
Dad shakes his head. “I’m going to forgive what I learned about you tonight and still ask you to stop by tomorrow for lunch. It’s been too long since we’ve caught up.”
Gabe shoots me a look. “It has, sir. I would love to stop by.”
“Good.” Dad nods. “Now go home.”
“Yes, sir.”
