Holiday Advent Story 6

Abbi pulled her coat in closer as they walked down the path. She and Josh had decided to take a couple of days and stay up at a cabin Josh knew about. They’d arrived last night and Abbi had been enchanted with the little cabin from the start. It was decorated for Christmas with fun lights and decorations. A huge tree had been placed inside the cabin and was covered in antique ornaments, lights, and handmade decorations.

It wasn’t great that they were well out of cell service but the cabin boasted a wide assortment of outdoor activities. Josh talked about a hiking trail he’d read about and wanted to try it out.

The trail was nice and clear despite the mounds of snow that surrounded them. The forest was beautiful; filled with hearty winter flowers and beautiful fir trees. There were fun lamp posts along the way to mark the trail. Each one with a wreath hanging from it. While it was cold, it wasn’t as unbearable as Abbi had originally thought it would be. Occasionally, a soft breeze would blow through the trees and remind you it was winter.

Josh took Abbi’s arm and held it in his. “I’m glad we came up here this weekend.”

Abbi leaned against Josh. “Me too.”

“I know I’ve never told you a lot about my family,” said Josh. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” said Abbi though she had always wondered about his parents. Josh had always dodged the topic, saying they lived to far away or were too busy to come visit.

A family of deer walked from the trees and stood in the path. Josh pulled something from his pocket. He began to inch forward on the path, clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth and holding out his hand. The largest deer moved forward and bent its head sniffing at Josh’s hand. After a moment, the deer seemed to decide that Josh’s offering was safe and took it in its mouth and ate it.

Josh reached back and took Abbi’s hand and guided her forward. He slid a piece of bell pepper into her hand.

“Just hold it out,” said Josh.

Abbi did as Josh said and the smaller deer walked up and took the piece of pepper from her hands. Josh was moving past her and feeding some more pepper to the mother deer.

After the deer ate the peppers and waited long enough to see no more were coming they moved off the path and disappeared into the forest.

“That was amazing,” Abbi whispered at Josh afraid to raise her voice and scare away any other animals in the nearby woods. “I’ve never been that close to deer before.”

“They were reindeer,” said Josh. “They’re pretty common in these parts of the woods.”

Josh took Abbi’s arm and moved along the path.  “I was talking about my family.”

“It’s okay,” said Abbi. “You don’t have too.”

“I want to,” said Josh. “I don’t talk about them very much. It’s not that I don’t love my family. It’s that it’s complicated.”

Abbi stayed silent. Torn between comforting Josh and knowing more about his family.

“My family comes from a long line,” said Josh. “They’re busy and can’t come to me very often.”

“What do they do?” asked Abbi.

“That’s the question, isn’t it?”

Abbi noticed bright twinkling lights up ahead. Josh stopped talking and quickened his pace. “You’ll want to see this.”

The trail rounded a sharp bend and opened into a wide clearing. In the center of the clearing was a forty foot Christmas tree topped with lights. Candy cane lamp post surrounded to clearing. Under the tree were packages; dozens of them. They were piled up in stacks six and seven feet high. The snow had been cleared from the area and the green grass carpeted the earth. A small white squirrel dashed from underneath the tree and darted into the woods.

“That’s Skippy,” said Josh. “King of the Squirrels.”

Abbi laughed.

They wandered the clearing. Abbi looked at the candy can lamp posts. They were hand painted and carved from wood. The long fence that surrounded the clearing seemed to be made from living trees that looked as if they grew into the shape of the fence. Strands of twinkle lights filled the trees around the border and lit the clearing.

Abbi turned her attention to the tree. Each of the packages was covered with a unique paper, wrapped with an original bow, and marked with a hand written calligraphy note. The lights on the trees flickered in a pattern. Abbi concentrated on it and tried to discern the pattern the lights blinked too.

Josh leaned in and whispered. “They blink in time to Jingle Bells.”

Abbi ran the song through her head until it matched up. She smiled. It had always been her favorite song growing up. It was the one everyone sang. Huge groups of people would come together and sing along whenever a band or choir started the tune. The togetherness of the song made her happy.

Josh took her hand they walked away from the clearing and down the path.

“I’ve wanted to tell you about this for a while but I was afraid it would make you leave.”

Abbi’s mind started to wander. Could they be criminals? Is that why they never came to visit?

They walked along and the green grass of the path gave way to a red carpet. The decorations in the trees around them changed. The lights were gone but cookies hung from the limbs. They were made to look as if they had grown in the tree, like fruit.

Josh reached up and grasped a peanut butter cookie and handed it to her. It was warn to the touch and melted in her mouth.

“The reason I wanted to tell you this,” said Josh. “I love you Abbi. I want you to share my life with me. Part of the life is that one day, I’ll be expected to come home and take over for my father…”

Josh let the sentence fade away. Abbi took his hand. They were trembling. She looked into his eyes and smiled.

“I love you too,” said Abbi. “You can tell me anything.”

“Santa Claus,” said Josh. “My dad is Santa Claus. One day I’ll come back here and replace him.”

Abbi stared at Josh wondering if this was some sort of joke. There was no real reason for it to be true. Yet, she wanted to believe it. She hugged him.

Josh waited until the hug faded and then very gently knelt before her. He reached into his pocket and pulled a small red box wrapped in a candy cane ribbon. He tugged the ribbon and let it fall to the ground. “I’ve talked to your parents,” said Josh. “I’ve gotten their blessing. I’ve spoken to mine and they are ready to meet you. Abbi, will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

Josh slid the ring on to her finger and rose to his feet. He dipped her backward and Abbi saw dozens of sprigs of mistletoe hanging from the canopy of trees. Josh kissed her. It was long and perfect.

When they parted a small cough from one side drew Abbi’s attention. There was a person there. They were twelve inches tall and dressed in fancy, handmade, clothes in a bright blue. Abbi stared. Was he an elf? He must be.

The elf bowed. “Hello Abbi,” said the elf. We’re so glad you chose to meet us. Josh has said so many wonderful things about you.”

“Hello Sparkles,” said Josh. “Is everything ready at the house?”

“Dinner is prepared,” said Sparkle. “And everyone is waiting. Shall we go?”

Abbi paused to look up at Josh. Then she wrapped her arm in his and leaned against him. “Yes.”

end

Winter Wonderland