Christmas from L.A.

chapter six: the biggest meal of the year

  "Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind." 

~Miracle on 34th Street

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kelsey sat in the passenger seat of the Toyota, a haunted expression on her face.

She dared a peek at the clock.

One-thirty.

It was one-thirty, and she hadn't started anything on her list!

"Should I speed back home and we'll either get there quicker or die in the process, relieving ourselves of this insurmountable stress?" Jacob asked, turning up the heater a few notches.

Kelsey nodded.

But they couldn't speed back home.

The road was congested with traffic.

"I hate everyone right now," Kelsey grumbled.

"C'mon, Kel, it's Christmas!" Jacob cried. "What would Ethan say if he was here?"

"He would say that I need to get over it, then he'd turn on the radio."

Jacob nodded. "Okay then. Get over it, Kelsey." He reached over and turned on the radio, dialing the volume up and rolling down the windows for all to hear.

"Jacob! Stop!" Kelsey cried, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering.

"Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" blared through the snowy street.

"Just spreading Christmas cheer!" Jacob shouted above the noise.

Kelsey tried to glare at him, but ended up laughing and singing along anyway.

Once the song ended, she smiled at her brother. Her heart swelled when she thought about how grateful she was for him. Despite all his annoying ways, he'd always been there for her.

One of the reasons she loved Ethan so much was because he reminded her of Jacob in some ways. Jacob had been a good example of the standard she'd set for a boyfriend. One that Ethan matched.

As Kelsey thought about her new life in L.A., she realized that all the good things she loved about it were things that reminded her of family. She loved cooking for people, going shopping with Becca, teasing Ethan, and then talking on the phone with him late into the night.

Those were the things she missed about her old life in Kansas. But, somehow, in some strange way, she got a version of all those things in L.A.

"What are you smiling about?' Jacob asked. "You look like an idiot, not gonna lie."

"Ah, nothing."

~~~~~~

Kelsey rushed into the house, eight bags of groceries weighing down each arm.

Ethan met her at the door to open it.

She gave him a quick kiss and said breathlessly, "There's more in the back. I think Jacob's trying to get it all in one go, but you can pick up the things that tumble out when he tries to pick it up."