You forgot cranberries, too?

“No one should have to eat turkey without stuffing and cranberry sauce,” Ashley said to herself as she pulled on her snow boots. Fat flakes of snow swirled onto the windshield as she backed the car out of the garage. What a year it had been. 

She was determined to make a delicious Christmas Eve dinner for herself, with all her favorites: turkey, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, pie, and of course stuffing and cranberry sauce. Sure, it was a Thanksgiving menu, but she didn’t have to negotiate it with anyone this year. Add a glass of red wine, and it would be perfect. And to top off her evening, a cheesy holiday movie — one that Dan never would have watched. 

The turkey was in the oven, skin crisping. The apple pie with brown sugar crumble topping cooled on the counter, the heavy cream in the fridge awaited its whipping, and Ben & Jerry’s vanilla in the freezer for extra indulgence. 

And tomorrow, she’d go to her sister’s house and let the roar of the family surround her. Quiet time tonight would be her new tradition, time to think Big Thoughts, or maybe sketch out some travel plans for January. Thoughts of Dan would not ruin her evening. Sure, she missed his enveloping hugs that pulled her off the ground and his skills at changing snow tires, but his drama, demands and detritus were thankfully out of her life. She turned up the holiday carols on the radio. She’d focus on her dinner.

***

The Mehuron’s parking lot was almost empty, but the lights in the grocery store were still on as she raced in. Jolene, the head cashier, shook her head as she stood in the doorway, getting ready to turn the lock.

“Just two things. I promise,” Ashley said as she angled into the store. 

Turning down the first aisle, she jogged right into a grocery cart, banging her knee against the metal grill and jostling the cart and its contents. “Ow. Damn it. Sorry. In too much of a rush,” she said as she looked up at the man steadying the cart with two little girls sitting inside. The man looked like he could be a neighbor: a Carhart camel-colored jacket, gray knit hat over dark hair, short beard, kind eyes, a slight scent of something floral she couldn’t place. The two girls blinked at her from their pink jackets and hats. Did she know them? 

“Ashley?” the man asked.

The voice. That deep bass. A fit for radio or Disney’s Mufasa. It rumbled in her chest. It was the voice she’d heard on the phone three or four times this past year. “Josh? Is that you?”

He chuckled. “Well, it’s one way to finally meet each other in person.”

Her sister Jessica had tried to set them up at least twice. Jess worked with Josh at Beta in the engineering department. She’d talked him up: single dad, smart, nice guy. “Even if you’re just friends, at least it’s someone to get a beer with,” Jessica had said. “You need to get out.” 

“I’m sorry,” Ashley said to Josh. “We were supposed to do a September hike, right?”

“But you sprained your ankle,” Josh said.

“Yup — playing indoor tag with my sister’s youngest. I smacked into the end table.” She patted his grocery cart. “As you can see, I’m good at banging into things.”

 “And it was my fault for the missed Halloween party at your sister’s house.” He gestured to the two girls in the cart. “My sitter’s car broke down, and I couldn’t get a backup at the last minute.”

“Bet you had a great costume,” Ashley said.

“He was Wreck-it-Ralph,” one of the pink-clad children said. “But I wanted him to be Elsa.” She rolled her eyes at her dad. He smiled in response.

“I’m sorry; where are my manners?” Ashley held out her hand. “My name is Ashley, and what are your names?”

“I’m Dolly and I’m six, and this is Polly, she’s only two,” said the blonder older child, giving Ashley a high five. Polly blinked her brown eyes solemnly, agreeing with her sister.

“Closing time,” Jolene’s voice rang out. “Get your butts up to the front. I’ve got to go home and wrap gifts.”

“Oh no,” Ashley said. “I need stuffing and cranberry sauce.” Her eyes darted down the aisle.

“That’s what I came in for,” Josh pointed both items resting in his carriage. “We forgot it. It’s been that kind of year for us, too.”

Jolene clapped from the front of the aisle. “Let’s go, people. Especially you, Ashley. You said only two things.”

“Should we combine forces?” Josh said. “Can you join us for dinner?”

Dinner made by someone else. Ashley sighed with delight, Then snapped her fingers, remembering her turkey already in the oven and her plans for a quiet evening. “My oven is still on. And I made a pie. I can’t.”

Silence hung for a moment in the air. 

“Well, there’s always next year,” Josh said in a disappointed tone. He placed his hands back on the cart and stepped toward the register.

Ashley wondered if they could see the light bulb forming above her head. Tradition be damned, especially traditions that hadn’t even started yet. Her quiet dinner could happen another time. And who was she kidding? She hated thinking Big Thoughts. This was a better plan. “Why don’t the three of you come to my house for dinner?”

“Are you sure?” Josh asked with a quick glance at his girls. 

“Positive. You’ve got the stuffing and cranberry sauce after all,” Ashley answered.

***

Josh thought that Ashley’s dinner was the best thing he’d eaten in months. Just having someone else to help wrangle the girls was a gift; but that apple pie... I should say something.

“That apple pie was perfection. My taste buds and stomach thank you.” Josh wiped his mouth and folded his napkin. He glanced at his daughters sitting at the kitchen counter, wrapped in aprons and giggling. “But, sadly, I’m not sure we’re good guests...your counters are never going to be the same.”

“Counters wash. And I don’t really have any toys, but everyone likes sugar,” Ashley said, cringing only slightly as a shower of decorative sprinkles hit the floor. She swiveled back to Josh. “I’m glad you liked the pie; my grandmother’s recipe never fails.”

Josh poured them each another glass of red wine and raised his glass. “Thank you again for an unexpectedly wonderful Christmas Eve.”

She clinked his glass. “Ditto.”

They held eyes for a moment. 

“What was your plan before our grocery store collision?” Josh sipped his glass, keeping his eyes on her.

“Eating most of the pie by myself,” she chuckled. She shook her head. “My ex, Dan, and I didn’t have a Christmas Eve tradition, so perhaps running into people at the grocery store is my first one.” She sighed and looked out the window.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

Her sigh reached his ears. “I would—except it’s so cliché. He cheated. I caught him.” She twirled her wineglass on the table. “We parted in a grown-up way, I guess. He’s not in my life anymore.” She took a sip. “Probably never should have been.” 

“We all make mistakes,” he said.

“Is that what happened to you, too?”

He glanced at his girls, heads down in the sugar cookie mess, and lowered his voice. “Vivian died right after Polly was born. It was hell. My mom came for a while to help.” He took a deep breath and focused on the candle lit on the table. “It’s been —”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t know.” The words tumbled out of Ashley.

“History...” he said. “Recent. But still... history.”

“How do you do it?”

“Couple days a week of remote work helps. And lots of favors,” Josh said. 

He looked back at his wineglass. Flicking a glance at Ashley, her eyes were downcast, too. He clapped his hands once. “Enough about me.” His eyes roamed the walls of her house before focusing back on her, taking in the lean face and short hair. “I see you ski.”

“What gives it away? The skis as décor?” She waved her hand to the pile of colorful skis near the front door.

“I think it’s the trophies and medals over there.” He pointed to the corner cabinet.

She smiled. “Yes, I may have won a race or two back in college. Do you ski?”

He shook his head. “Worse. Snowboard,”

“Maybe we can fix that,” she said. 

“I ski,” Dolly piped up from the counter. “We go at school.”

“Good ears,” Ashley said.

Josh nodded. “Too good most days.”

“If you don’t ski,” Ashley said. “Do you think we have anything in common?”

“Spicy food?” Josh offered.

“Nope. Not for me. Red wine?” She held up her glass.

“Half points on that,” he answered. “Scotch is more my goto. I like pie, though.”

“Thanksgiving dinner on every holiday?” Ashley asked.

“Definitely a match on that. Down to the required cranberry sauce.” Josh patted his belly.

“And I like to bake, so a few more points there,” Ashley said. “How about movies? Action? Drama? Foreign?”

He paused. Was it the right time for admissions? She’d invited him and his girls in, made dinner, and a pie. He owed her. 

Her face wrinkled in concern as she waited. He took a deep breath and said softly, “Cheesy Christmas movies.”

She placed a hand over her heart and feigned a gasp. “You had me worried. I thought you were going to say porn.”

Josh glanced at the kids and quickly raised his index finger over his lips.

“What’s porn?” Dolly asked.

Ashley laughed out loud and swiveled to look at the girls. “You do have good ears.” She glanced at Josh. “Sorry!”  

Ashley snapped her fingers. “Cheesy movies! Another thing in common. Hey girls, if it’s OK with your dad, do you want to watch a movie on my TV?”

“Yes!” Dolly said, sliding off the kitchen stool. “Wait. Is it Disney?” 

“No, it’s called White Christmas, and it has singing and dancing—”

“Does it have girls?”

“Yes! Sisters even.”

“Yay! Can we, Daddy? Can we?”

Josh placed his hand on Ashley’s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze. “I love that movie,” he whispered. He cleaned up the dishes, the counter and the girls as Ashley turned on the movie and spread a fuzzy blanket on the floor. Josh joined her on the sofa.

“Can I ask you something?” Ashley said as they settled on the couch.

“Sure,” Josh answered.

“What’s that cologne you are wearing? I can’t place it.”

His deep laugh rumbled with joy. “It’s either Hello Kitty or Strawberry Shortcake. I let Dolly choose.” 

The Paramount mountain filled the TV screen, followed by the red letters in script type and orchestral strains of “White Christmas.”

Josh placed his hand, palm up, between them. Ashley looked at his hand and then his eyes. Nodding, she placed her hand in his. “Well, this isn’t the way I thought a first date with you would go,” he said.

“No,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “But it was perfect. Now, shush, Bing and Danny are starting,” Ashley said with a light in her eyes as she pointed to the TV.

He wondered whether he should kiss her, but held back. Too soon. Too many little ears and eyes. “Merry Christmas Eve to you, Ashley. And thank you for making this one a happy one.”

Inspiration comes from many places. With thanks and all apologies to The Waitresses 1981 song, “Christmas Wrapping.”