Page 46 of A Christmas Spark
It was, indeed, shaping up to be a wonderful Christmas.
Imogen stood near the edge of the dance floor, a warm cup of her own hot chocolate cradled between her hands, watching Katie spin and twirl with a group of other children to the cheerful strains of “Jingle Bell Rock”. Her daughter’s face was absolutely radiant, her cheeks flushed pink from excitement, her dark curls bouncing with every enthusiastic movement. Imogen couldn’t get over how adorable she looked in her tartan party dress, which Imogen thought made Katie look like a little Christmas angel.
It did her heart good to see Katie so carefree and happy. The past few weeks had been challenging, between the business of the holiday season at the chocolate shop and discovering Katie’s letter to Santa. But tonight, watching her daughter laugh and dance and simply be a child, all of those worries seemed to fade into the background.
The Christmas party was exactly what they’d needed, Imogen thought. After months of busy lives and responsibilities, it was wonderful to just relax, to spend time with their neighbors, and let loose for an evening. It was festive, and joyful, and she could feel all her worries and tension draining away.
She took another sip of the hot chocolate, glad that she’d been able to contribute something too. That made the night extra special, she thought.
“This is amazing,” Vanessa said behind her as she walked up, with a cup of the hot cocoa in her own hand. “The peppermintis my favorite. Seriously the best. I think I’ve had three cups already?”
Imogen laughed. “You’re going to have a sugar crash, is what you’ll have, if you drink any more.”
“Worth it,” Vanessa said firmly, then glanced toward the dance floor where Katie was spinning in circles with two other children. “She’s having such a wonderful time. I don’t think I’ve seen her sit still for more than thirty seconds since you two arrived.”
“She’s been looking forward to this party for weeks,” Imogen said with a laugh. “She’s already planning her outfit for next year, and she’s made me promise we can stay until the very end. No bedtime for her tonight, although I’m sure she’s going to crash the second we get in the car to go home.”
Vanessa laughed, standing there with Imogen as they looked around, watching the festivities unfold around them. Jackson was at one of the food tables, helping to refresh things, while George was chatting with Christopher and a couple other men. Mabel was chattering away with a couple of ladies who frequented the toy store, and she noticed Lincoln off to the side, making conversation with a group of friends.
“Did you ever end up taking Lincoln up on his offer to help transport Katie’s bike?” Vanessa looked at Imogen curiously. “It was very nice of him.”
Imogen felt a slight flutter at the mention of Lincoln’s name, and quickly pushed it aside. “I did, actually. That box was huge. I’d never have managed it all on my own. And you’re right, it was very nice of him. He was a big help.”
“Very thoughtful,” Vanessa echoed, and Imogen thought she heard a note of something amused in her voice, which she opted to ignore. She didn’t know what she felt about Lincoln, exactly, but now was not the time to explore it. Not tonight, anyway.
Vanessa was quiet for a moment, then asked gently, “How are you feeling about everything? With Katie’s letter to Santa, I mean. You seemed pretty shaken up when you first told us about it. Did it all blow over?”
Imogen bit her lip. “We talked about it,” she said finally. “Katie and I. I explained to her that I’m happy with our little family just as it is, and that I truly don’t need anything else to feel complete. She said I seem lonely sometimes, but I tried to explain to her that’s just part of being a grown-up. It’s not as easy as just writing a letter to Santa to find someone, and the right person will come along, if there’s going to be an addition to our family.”
Vanessa smiled. “So you haven’t totally written it off.”
“No,” Imogen admitted. “But I’m not making it a priority either.”
“So you feel better about it all?”
Imogen nodded. “I do. I get where Katie is coming from too. I’m sure there are things she sees her friends’ dads do, and wonders what it would be like to have that. But I think we’re in a good place now, and she won’t be disappointed on Christmas.”
“She could never be, with you as her mother,” Vanessa promised, and Imogen smiled.
“And who knows?” Imogen said with a laugh, shrugging as she finished off her hot chocolate. “Maybe next year, I’ll have a date of my own to the Christmas party. That would be crazier than even your grandmother having a date,” she added, and they both laughed, looking at Mabel and George fondly. The two of them were swaying on the dance floor.
“They’re adorable,” Imogen said, and Vanessa nodded her agreement. And a small part of Imogen, very small, couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have her own dance partner, out there on the wooden dance floor.
A small part of her hoped that maybe, next year, therewouldbe someone, after all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vanessa sat cross-legged on her living room floor, surrounded by an explosion of wrapping paper, ribbons, and the three gifts she absolutely should not have bought for Jackson. The coffee table had been pushed aside to make room for her impromptu gift-wrapping station, and Christmas music played softly from the tv while the fireplace in the living room of her small apartment crackled, creating what should have been a peaceful, festive atmosphere.
And itwas, other than the way that her stomach was tied up in more knots than the bows going on the presents.
She bit her lip, holding up two different ribbons—one burgundy velvet, the other forest green satin—trying to decide which would look better on the package containing the “Overload of Christmas Spirit” t-shirt. It was ridiculous how much thought she was putting into the presentation when she was already breaking the very clear agreement she and Jackson had made just a few weeks ago.
No gifts. No pressure. Just enjoying the season together. And then she’d found gift after perfect gift, when just before they’d made the agreement she’d been lost as to what she should get him, and it had all gone upside down. How was she supposed toignore three perfect gifts when they practically threw themselves at her?
She glanced at her phone. It was just after six in the evening—Jackson would be there in less than an hour to go get dinner together. They’d been planning a date night at Maplewood Tavern all week, and she’d gotten ready early so that she’d have time to wrap and hide his gifts among the other presents, so there would be no chance of him finding them by accident until Christmas.
There was plenty of time left, but at the rate she was going, she’d still be wrapping presents by the time he arrived. She settled on the burgundy ribbon for the t-shirt, humming along to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as she worked. The multiple timer device was already wrapped in festive paper covered in tiny Christmas trees, topped with a silver bow. For the books, she’d done something extra special—she’d found paper that looked like aged parchment, thinking it was fitting for the special editions, and tied it with a simple twine bow that gave it a rustic feel.
