Page 26 of The Nutcracker
“You can’t blame an old lady for wanting to know what’s happening in the neighbourhood. So tell me, when will you open? I can’t wait to see inside.”
“Hopefully this weekend, if all things go to plan.”
“How exciting! I must tell the Spencer sisters.” With that Mrs. Clements shuffled swiftly away.
Curtis looked at me and said, “I hope I get to look inside before she does.”
“Have you been naughty or nice this year?”
“Nice.” He pondered a moment longer. “With a little bit of naughty on the side. But that was behind closed doors so hopefully Santa didn’t see.”
“Then allow me to show you inside.”
I opened the door and led him into the store.
Every detail from my dream last Christmas Eve had slowly but surely come to life over the past few months.
There was color and light everywhere.
Shelves were busy with toy elves and snow globes and tiny trees of candy canes and wooden bowls filled with chestnuts and walnuts and hazelnuts and honey-roasted cashews. Ribbons of light ran in coils around the silver and red and green Christmas trees that filled the corners of the little shop, while mobiles of sleighs and flying reindeer twirled from the wooden ceiling beams.
It was everything I wanted it to be and more… because having Curtis here made it all feel so complete.
No, not just complete.
His presence made things right.
He had made my wish come true.
Or had I made it all come true myself?
Had I actually been the architect of my own fate all along?
“This is incredible, Jordy.” He leaned close and kissed me. “I’m so proud of you. I love it!”
“Thank you. I’ve collected pieces from all over the world. Garlands from Ireland. Candles from Mexico. Sleighbells from Norway. Gingerbread from Germany. Snowmen—and women—from Sweden.”
“It’s so… magical, that’s the only word for it. But I have to ask… and please don’t take this the wrong way… it’s just that, I know everyone in town will come flocking to the store in December, but will we make any money the rest of the year?”
“Trust me, the Christmas spirit is alive all year round.” Suddenly his question replayed in my head. “Wait a minute… did you just say ‘we’.”
He shrugged. “Of course. When I’m not working a shift at Cedar Village I can help stack ornaments or dust shelves or decorate your cute little gingerbread men.”
“They’re from Germany, they come decorated already.”
“You know what I mean. Anything you do, I wanna be right there beside you. I was even thinking maybe… if you like the idea… perhaps I could…”
“Could what?”
“Well, move in with you. If you think it’s a good idea. I mean, only if you have a spare key.”
I smiled. “There’s always been a key for you.”
He kissed me again and I wanted to melt into his arms, but I noticed his eyes stray around the room and stop when he saw something that made one eyebrow head north.
“What’s behind that red curtain?”
I straightened myself, hoping he’d notice, hoping he’d ask. “Behind there… why that’s the best part of all.”