Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses(111)

She heard a gasp at the door and turned around. “Wow,” her mother said, clearly at a loss for words.

“I feel like I’m in a movie,” she said.

“I’ve never seen you more beautiful.” She stepped aside to let Max enter and Abbey had to hold her tongue so as not to embarrass him. His hair was combed down to the side like a little Robert Redford, his tux fitting him like a glove. He tugged at his bow tie.

“You look so cool,” she said, still holding back.

“Thank you.” He squared his shoulders in pride.

Abbey’s phone lit up on the bathroom counter and she checked the text. It was Nick. It read, Richard should be there any minute. If you’re not ready yet, take your time. He’ll wait.

She slipped her phone into her new clutch and walked with Max into the living room to watch out for Richard, but when they got there, he was already waiting out front. Her mother handed her the tin of cookies.

“Thank you,” she said to her mom, kissing her on the cheek, and nodding toward the window at her car with Max’s presents.

“You’re welcome. Have fun! I’ll lock up! See you tomorrow evening.”

They walked out to the car. Abbey waved to Richard who got out and opened the back passenger door for her. She felt her chest tingle with a thrill when she saw that Nick already had a brand new booster seat in the back waiting for Max. She swallowed to keep the lump out of her throat. They got in and Richard popped the trunk, inconspicuously taking the bag of Santa loot from Abbey’s mother as she hobbled around the car as quickly as possible with her bad ankle to meet him out of sight of the backseat. He placed it into the trunk of the car along with their suitcases. Abbey shivered in the warmth, not having wanted to wear a coat and wrinkle her nice dress. With another wave once her mother was back at the steps, Richard headed toward the party.

The streets were finally clear, the temperatures inching up just above freezing to melt the snow off the roads and walkways. Abbey was glad for that when they parked out front because both she and Max were wearing slippery shoes. Richard hurried in front of them and opened the front door.

Abbey could hear music in the ballroom, and through the large doorway, she could see all the people who had gathered. A shot of anxiety pelted her as she wondered if she could find anyone she knew in the crowd, but before she could even process the thought, she was processing another. Standing right at the front of the crowd waiting for her was Nick with little Thomas by his side.

“Hey,” Max said to Thomas. “We’re twins!” They inspected their tuxedos as Nick reached out for Abbey’s hand.

“Now that,” he said, “is a dress.” He spun her around, the skirt flaring out around her. “You look stunning.”

“Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself,” she said as she took in the look of him in a tuxedo, the neutrals of the crisp white shirt and black jacket drawing attention to those icy blue eyes.

Still holding her hand, he led her to an area of the ballroom where a quartet was playing instrumental music. The music was soft yet a little jazzy, the perfect dancing music. Caroline waved from a nearby chair and Abbey waved back just as Nick spun her inward and put his arm around her waist, leading her as he danced in clearly rehearsed and well-learned steps. He was so good at guiding her that it didn’t matter that she wasn’t familiar with the dance. He pulled her in and they were pressed against each other swaying to the music, her hand in his.

“You were holding out on me at The Crazy Corner,” she teased.

He twirled her around.

“This is amazing,” she said. “The dress, the necklace, the car to pick me up, and now dancing. It’s a little overwhelming.”

“Like Cinderella,” he smiled.

He’d remembered from when they first met how she’d said this ballroom was like Cinderella. Of course he’d remembered.

“The good news is that it all won’t turn into a pumpkin at midnight.”

She smiled up at him as he spun her around again. No, she thought, it won’t turn back into a pumpkin until after Christmas when all of this will no longer be here.

“Oh!” a voice cut through the music and Susan was there beside them, breaking them apart for a kiss on the cheek. “Hello, my dear! You look gorgeous!” she said a little too loudly. Carl came up beside them, offering his hellos. “You have outdone yourself with this house, young lady. I am so thrilled at the results. You have a very bright future ahead of you in interior design.”

Abbey could hardly contain her excitement. She’d done it. It had been tough at times, but she was a natural at it. She decided then and there that she was going to give her dream a chance. After Christmas, she’d set up times to meet Robin and her friends. She still had the suit Nick had bought her to use for her meeting, and she promised herself that she’d buy another one with her first earnings from her next job and finally donate the blue Gucci one to charity like she and Nick had planned.