Winter Season

Lights

Oscar lay on the couch. His stomach felt like a rock. Each time he moved, that rock moved and it was painful. How he just wanted to hold Esther. What a way to spend Christmas Eve.

He should call her. It hurt too much to get up and get his phone. Why? Why did he do this to himself?

Music filled his head. He and Esther were dancing. Where? He wasn’t sure. It looked like they were inside a cloud. It was just the two of them. He laid her backwards. Though he couldn’t see (just that cloud), he could hear the music; he could feel all the things he was doing to her. She was allowing him to explore. The song started playing again. Sweetly she whispered in his ear, ‘wake up my love.’

Someone was calling. When he moved, his stomach hurt. But to his delight that rock was gone.

“Hi,” he half moaned, half yawned.

“I’m sorry. I woke you.”

“I was dreaming about you.”

“Me?” He could hear the playfulness in her voice.

“I guess you trying to call me transferred to my dreams and we were dancing.”

“Do you have plans tonight?”

“No.”

“Wanna go ride around and look at Christmas lights? I’m made a few things we can nibble on when we get back. If you want to.”

Nibble, he thought. He knew something he wanted to nibble on. But yeah, he wanted to be with her. “Let’s do it.”

When he walked through the door, his stomach seized. It smelt so good. He tried his best to hide his pain. When she touched his face, he just closed his eyes, soaking her in.

“Are you sure you feel up to this?” She asked sweetly.

“Yes.” He put his hand over hers before removing it to kiss the top of it. “What have you fixed?”

“Grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs, you may not be able to eat. A cheese ball and pigs in a blanket. I have chips, popcorn. I tried to make fudge but I don’t know if it’s any good.” He hugged her up. “When we get back, we can watch Christmas movies if you want to. What’s your favorite one?”

“You’re gonna laugh at me.”

“Try me,” she teased as she put on her coat. Handing Oscar her keys.

“Trading Places.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever watched that.”

“Your turn.”

“Die Hard.”

They were now standing in the drive way. Oscar had his head down, fiddling with her keys. “We don’t have to go.”

He looked up at her with a sly grin on his face, “Die Hard?”

“What?” She teased.

“We could have a Die Hard marathon?”

He held the door open for her. She turned, kissing him softly, “we could.”

He stopped behind the jeep. Dear God, he pleaded. Help me.

The drive into town was a quiet one. Oscar was back in ‘that place’, Esther observed.

It took them awhile to find people that had actually decorated. But when they did… He took her to a community the locals called ‘Snob Knob’.

“Why?”

“They have big homes and expensive vehicles.”

“But not all rich people are snobbie.”

“I know.”

This community had done a fine job decorating. She guessed because it was Christmas Eve, everyone had the same idea. There was a lot of traffic in this area. If you could dream it, these folks did it. One family was even giving out hot chocolate.

“How big is this community?”

“Maybe a mile back through here.”

“Feel like walkin’?”

They walked hand in hand, sipping at their hot chocolate. Picking out their favorites. Best decorated house, most original, classiest, coolest, hardest to decorate, and of course most over the top. In the middle of it all was a tree. Just a regular tree someone had covered from limb to limb in white lights.

She cuddled closer to him. “I think that is so romantic.”

“Romantic?”

“Yeah,” she laid her head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of it. Light snow started falling as they stood staring at this romantic tree. “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” She caught one in her hand.

“Aristotle.” He commented. She hugged him up. Oscar thought how soft she was. How good she smelt. If it was possible for a man to melt, he might. Was she God’s answer to his screaming?

Winter Season