Chapter One
Seth
Five Days before Christmas
The loud sigh echoed through the empty cab of my truck. I looked around outside the windows as I drove into town. The tall trees were covered with a thin blanket of snow. The air was filled with a rich white powder as it fluttered against my windscreen. The roads were almost empty excepting a few cars and emergency vehicles; even as I drove further into town, it was still quieter than normal.
I hadn't been raised in Mercy; my mother moved here to be with my stepfather and his children; I was fourteen at the time. I didn't walk or talk like the other guys in town; they all had cowboy hats and belt buckles you could mount on a wall. I liked things a little simpler. I spent most of my days in Henleys, Levis and high-top Converse; my mother would kill me if she saw me dressed like that. I was already having to find a spot to pull over and change into a suit and tie for the first of our holiday dinners.
I was dreading this. Christmas was complete chaos in my house, between unmatched gift card allowances, a haunted Christmas cake and a blind date that would undoubtedly end in upset and heartbreak. 'Why do I bother?' I asked myself as I flicked the radio on, Christmas carols filled the air. I began mindlessly drumming along on the edge of the steering wheel I was almost starting to forget what awaited me till the shrill ring of my phone cut through the Christmas air.
I clicked the button on my steering wheel to accept the call
"Seth, Honey!" My mother yelled as I jumped out of my skin; she had never quite gotten the hang of the loudspeaker
"Woah, Mom, you don't need to shout; I almost crashed!"
"Careful, Honey..." Her voice was tense for a moment before she remembered why she called. "I just wanted to call and tell you I have found you the most amazing girl..."
"No!" I interjected quickly, firmly, maybe a little too firmly
"No, what?..." my mom responded, her sweet tone gone, replaced with the motherly 'take no prisoners' tone that still to this day had me second-guessing how she'd do in prison.
'Fix it Seth'." D-Uh-a," C'mon Dude!' "You can't invite a girl to Christmas..." I offered awkwardly
"Why ever not?" Back to her sweet voice; Death before dinner avoided.
"...uh..." 'Why? Crap, why? Think Seth why not'?
"Well?" she asked impatiently
'I'M THINKING!' "I already did," I blurted out, only realising what had come out of my mouth after it had been said. '...oh ...no.'
"You did, that's amazing. I didn't know you'd met someone. Tell me about her. I want to know everything. Where did you meet? Whe..."
"Mom," I interrupted her ramblings, "I'm driving into town as we speak; you'll meet her later at dinner. I have to go I'm getting another call. I love you." I lied as my mind began to buzz again
"I love you too."
I hung up and sat up in my seat; I had dug a considerably large hole for myself. I did the only thing I could do in my position I called my best friend
"Sup?" he answered
"Dude, I messed up big! I'm in town for Christmas meet me at the bar for a drink."
The hiss of an inhale let me know I was missing something "Where are you?" I asked flatly
"Driving", he avoided the question
"Noah"
"New Mexico!" he finally relented, like a bad tooth at the dentist's office
"WHAT! Are you serious? You knew I was coming back into town, and you're gallivanting in the southwest?"
"It's a paid job, Seth; I couldn't say no. I had to leave my sister alone at Christmas; I won't get to see my dad in the hospital. Ever since his second stroke, things have been hard. It's money over magic this Christmas... even if it means I'm working and have to miss seeing everyone."
I was an ass. I took a soft breath before I replied, "I'm sorry, that was beyond selfish and immature of me. You know you're like family to me... Look, if you need some money—"
"Seth No, you know I don't take money from friends, especially you."
"I'm sorry, bud..." we were quiet for a moment
"Wait, so how'd you mess up?"
"Dude, I told my mom I was bringing someone home for Christmas...except I'm not. I just wanted out of those stupid blind dates she insists upon, year after year." I laughed softly; Noah was fighting battles, and here I was without a date for Christmas, not quite on the same level. not even on the same battlefield.
He chuckled for a moment; I imagine he was shaking his head, but I couldn't be sure. "So what you need an out, or a date... or a stab-proof vest for when your mom finds out you unbalanced her table," he laughed heartily
I couldn't help but laugh as her voice rang in my head: 'An unbalanced table was not a sight for high society. If you cannot fill a table properly, you have no right to fill a table at all.' The reminder was a sobering realisation of just how proper my mother was and how much of a problem I had made for myself "Dude, it's serious...I need your help",
The laughter cut, and Noah was quiet for a moment "You said you were on your way into town; head over to West Street; I have an idea."
"a-" I checked the clock; I didn't have time to question him, "Upper or Lower?"
"Upper, look for a bookstore 'Paper Adventures"; if you hit the fabric store you've gone too far."
I followed his vague instructions "Paper Adventures", I repeated as I checked both sides of the narrow street till I saw the sign. "Got it. Now what?"
"Go inside and wait until after the phone call."
"A-uh-" I sighed "Cool." I resigned myself to the confusion as I parked up in front of the old store and climbed out of my truck. The shopfront was an old, faded shade of green, and the warm light of the Christmas tree in the window cast a light on the street outside. I walked up to the door and pushed my way in; the 'ding' of a classic bell rang above my head as I entered.
"Be with you in a moment," I heard a soft, familiar voice call out
The store was wall-to-wall books of all kinds, some old, some new. There were piles on tables and piles on the floor. A few more modern shelving arrangements were filled with high school textbooks. I took a moment to take it all in; each shelf had a touch of Christmas. Garlands hung from each shelf top. I'd never seen Christmas like this; I'd never seen it so warm and inviting...so...
