Page 43 of Can I Tell You Something?
Chapter 26
Cameron
Whenthesungoesdown, we bundle up in hats, scarves, and coats for the annual walk down to the village. Strings of lights hang high between buildings, twinkling decorations in the shape of snowflakes, bells, and candles everywhere you look.
Many houses have nativity scenes in their front gardens and though they’re all similar, Cheryl makes us stop to admire each one. It’s kind of nice to take it slow rather than rush through the day.
In the village, shop windows are lit up too, each fitted out with different displays. Hannah’s face lights up as she guides me from window to window, pointing out things she’s loved since she was a child. The streets are closed to traffic with stalls on either side selling fresh crepes, hot chocolate, and mulled wine. I feel like I’m in a Christmas movie.
“Marrons chauds! Marrons chauds!” a man in a fleece-lined hunting cap calls out, and Hannah loops her arm through mine to lead me towards him.
“Deux, s’il vous plaît,” she says, fishing a note out of her pocket. She exchanges it for two cups of suspicious looking brown lumps.
“What are you about to make me eat?” I ask once we’re out of earshot.
“Roast chestnuts,” she smiles, popping one in her mouth.
“Like in the song? I didn’t think they were a real thing.”
“Yep. Real thing, and much tastier than they look.” I take her word for it, but am pleasantly surprised when I try one. Buttery and sweet, with a hint of rosemary and salt.
We pass them around as we follow her parents down towards the village square, passing the snowy slopes surrounding the base station, all lit up in pink and gold. Christmas music blares from the speakers as parents drag kids on sledges up and scream their way back down.
The square is packed with people, generations of families out together, wrapped up warmly in scarves and bobble hats. Ryan finds Kayla in the crowd, and everyone makes room for children to come forward for the best view. A chorus of‘Joyeux Noël’and ‘Bonnes Fêtes’rings out as we pass people, and since the Richmonds say it back to everyone, I do too.
“Your French accent is good,” Hannah says.
“Maybe I should give that a try sometime,” I reply quietly, for her ears only. “A French lover audio.”
“It would never beat your natural voice.” She smiles up at me, and I want to kiss her so much. I don’t know if it’s her, or the overdose of festive cheer, or our warm breath hanging in the cold air between us, but this feels like a moment.
I should be able to hold her hand whenever I like, stroke her cheek and tell her what she’s doing to me. I should be able to wrap a protective arm around her shoulder, hold her close to my chest, and rest my chin on the top of her head while she watches the parade.
I can’t look away, and neither can she, until sleigh bells ring out and the crowd sends up a cheer around us, pressing us all closer together.
“He’s here!” she beams, grabbing Ryan on her other side and jumping up and down. Whatever is going on between us, I can tell thatthisis the moment that means everything to her. Further along the street, a wooden sleigh on the back of a not so authentic flatbed truck, inches towards us.
“Joyeux Noël, Joyeux Noël,” the bearded fellow in a thick maroon robe cries out. He waves to both sides of the street, an army of elves in hats with bells on the end walking alongside him. Working quickly, they drop candy in shiny wrappers into the outstretched palms of children and adults alike. In every direction there are happy, smiling faces, and I finally know what it means to experience a real Christmas. Not one sponsored by giant corporations, one where everyone is present in the moment, and all they need is each other.
I quietly slip my gloved hand into Hannah’s, and she leans into my side, discreet in the throng of people. This is how it should be. Me and my girl.
On my other side, Cheryl grabs my arm, and I begrudgingly drop Hannah’s hand before anyone notices. “As the story goes, this is his last stop before he flies off to deliver presents on the other side of the world. Ryan and Hannah have cousins out in New Zealand, so they were very jealous he would visit them first.”
“I think we said that one time, Mum,” Hannah says. “You make out like we were always complaining.”
“Oh, I know. You were good kids, but I thought it was cute,” she chuckles softly, but it turns into a little sort of sob and when I look down at her, she’s wiping away a tear.
“You OK, love?” Mark asks, wrapping an arm around her. She nods, sniffing as she composes herself and leans into his hug.
“I’m just so happy we’re all here together. Quick, get a photo of me and the kids when he goes past.”
Mark and I step back to make enough room for Hannah and Ryan to stand on either side of their mom, waiting for the moment the elevated sleigh appears in shot.
“Cameron, Kayla, you get in here too,” Cheryl says, waving us towards her.
When Mark shows us the photo afterwards, my hand is on Hannah’s shoulder, looking right where it belongs.
“That’s a framer for sure,” he says, patting me on the back.
