Surrera Advent Calendar 2021

Day 24

Today's story is by Kat.Marie19.

Andy looked from the beautifully decorated box of cookies on the seat next to her to the front door of her destination, debating what she wanted to do next. It was Christmas Eve, and she had spent the day baking cookies with Maya and Carina. When the happy couple had settled on the sofa to look through binders of potential sperm donors, Andy had decided it was time to make herself scarce. The cookie baking had been fun; she had some skill in the kitchen, but Carina took everything to the next level. She had even purchased plain white cookie boxes, and carefully decorated each one. After briefly pondering when Carina found time to do her actual job, Andy filled one of the boxes with an assortment of cookies they had just made and headed down to her car. They would fill the rest of the boxes later and take them to the fire stations and hospital when they were all back at work the next day.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she picked up the box and went to knock on the door of the home she had once shared with her soon-to-be ex-husband. After their talk in the PRT almost a week ago, she had filed the divorce papers. Now they would wait 90 days, she would appear before the judge, and their divorce would be final. As she walked up the path to Robert's door, she briefly pondered that fact. She had never planned to get married, and now she would be married and divorced in less than 2 years.

She wasn't sure why she was there. Perhaps the cookies were a peace offering of sorts, a gesture of goodwill during the holiday season, or an expression of her hope that they might be able to return to some semblance of a friendship in 2022. After she knocked, she almost lost her nerve and debated leaving the cookies on the step and rushing back to her car. She might have done just that if Robert had not opened the door so quickly.

"Andy," he said by way of greeting. It wasn't the warmest of welcomes, but he didn't seem angered by her presence either.

"I, um, brought you some cookies," Andy spoke hesitantly, handing him the box.

"Thank you," Robert said, taking the cookies from Andy.

"Would you like to come in?" Robert finally asked when Andy neither spoke nor made any move to leave.

"I don't have to," Andy began. "But if you want me to, I will."

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you to," Robert noted, shaking his head slightly.

How did things end up so awkward and uncomfortable between them? Even before they were together as a couple, he found it easy to talk to Andy. Now, it was like they didn't know what to do or say around each other.

"Ok," Andy agreed as Robert stepped aside slightly so she could make her way through the door, which Robert closed behind her.

Robert set the box of cookies down on the coffee table and walked toward the kitchen. "I have some fresh coffee. Would you like a cup?"

"Yes, please, that would be nice," Andy replied, her words sounding formal and stilted even to her ear.

As Robert poured the coffee, she took off her jacket and tossed it on a chair before sitting down on one end of the sofa. Robert returned quickly with two cups of coffee and plates. He handed one to Andy, and opened up the box of cookies, offering it to Andy first, who picked one out.

"These look delicious," Robert said as he helped himself to a cookie.

They sat quietly for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts as they enjoyed the sweet treats and the warm coffee. After a while, a small smile crossed Robert's face, and Andy noticed.

"What are you thinking about?" Andy asked.

Robert paused, not sure whether to share the happy memory. Given the current state of their relationship, it was bittersweet.