West Coast Winter

The Best Things in Life Are Free

Charlie

I wrap a towel around my waist as I step out of the shower this morning. I notice it's overcast and drizzling rain this morning as I pass my bedroom window on my way to the kitchen to make my coffee. Once the coffee is on, I head back into my room to dress. I throw on a dark gray sweatshirt and dark blue jeans. Since it's raining, I put on my black Nike sneakers. The coffee is ready. I pour myself a travel mug size coffee, grab my wallet and keys, and head out to pick up Henry. I make a stop first. I can't show up empty handed this early in the morning.

The door chimes as I enter the donut shop. 

"Good Morning! Happy Holidays!", says the especially cheery Korean woman behind the counter.

"Happy holidays", I say not quite as enthusiastically this early in the morning, but I smile and wave as I approach the donut display.

"What can I get for you, sir?", she asks eagerly. 

"Two half dozen boxes please. Two buttermilk, one pink sprinkled, one blue sprinkled, one maple bar, and one raspberry jelly. Let's just go ahead and do the same for the other box. Let me get   two black coffees and a chocolate milk please", I complete my order. 

I pay for my order and as the lady wishes me a happy holiday, I feel this surge of energy and dare I say Christmas spirit. As the rain lightly falls on me, I'm reminded suddenly that the girl I love loves me back. A smile spreads even wider on my face as I settle into my car. LA has never looked more beautiful. Maybe everything is more beautiful when you're in love. I'm alone in my car and smiling like an idiot. I can't stop smiling. I better knock it off before I get to Nicole's house. 

I ring the doorbell. I wait a couple minutes and I ring the bell again. I hear Nicole hollering through the door. "I'm coming! Hang on!"

The door is yanked open and Nicole is wrapping her robe tighter around herself. She's staring at me wild eyed. "Charlie! What the hell?!", she exclaims in a hushed morning rage.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine", I say as I hold up two coffee cups. "Peace offering."

Nicole snatches the cups out of my hand and says begrudgingly, "Thank you."

"By the way, you got a little um... is that? What is that? It looks too thick and fresh to be drool", I ask pointing to her mouth. Nicole practically slaps herself in the face and wipes madly while turning away from me. 

"Fuck!", she says under her breath.

"Did I interrupt something?", I laugh a little bit delighted that I interrupted her morning sex. 

"Shut up. Go get Henry up and ready since you insist on showing up early.  I'm going back to bed", Nicole grumbles as she heads upstairs. 

I call out after her, "Swallow for Carter's sake!"

She turns and hisses at me, "Fuck you! Keep your fuckin' voice down!"

I can't help but chuckle, "You were always a spitter."

Nicole turns to glare at me outside her bedroom door before going in and shutting the door. I enter Henry's room. Nicole has his clothes already laid out. A red Kylo Ren t shirt, black jeans, and black and red Jordans. I walk over and flop on Henry's bed and begin tickling him awake. 

"Wake up! It's Christmas!", I say excitedly.

Henry groans, "Dad! It's only Christmas Eve." There's a short pause and then Henry sits up bolt straight and looks at me. He rubs his eyes and says, "Dad! What are you doing here so early? You usually wait downstairs to pick me up and... you're usually late."