A Baker's Dozen of Christmas What-Ifs

Dashing Through the Snow

The Twelve Prompts of Christmas - Prompt #12

Your character is going to invent a Christmas drink.

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Splash!!

"Ugh! Ungh!" I struggled to stand up in the slush puddle at the curb. One moment I had been making a dash for the bus, and the next, I was airborne. Now there was so much snow and slush and mud! I couldn't find a footing, my feet flying out from under me.

Suddenly, under the edge of my hood, I saw an open hand. I grabbed it. Moments later, I was vertical. I looked up to thank my rescuer.

"Rose Bud Guy!" The tall, handsome Gallahad drew me up beside him. Now we were both ankle deep in a mess of slush.

"It's Kenneth. Dillon? Remember me?" He pulled me back up onto the sidewalk, shielding me from the splash from a passing car.

"Of course I remember! But to me you're still Rose Bud Guy."

He laughed, a full happy sounding belly laugh. For a moment, I was transfixed by his laugh. Then I realized we were on a street corner and I was freezing!

"Oh, here, let me take those for you." Kenneth relieved me of my dance bag and backpack.

"Thanks, oh, man, I really needed to catch that bus!" I started to panic. The next bus wasn't for another hour! "I need to get on that bus! I have to..."

"You have to get out of the cold. You are soaked to the skin, and it's freezing out here. Let me get you warmed up and I can drive you home. I still remember where you live. Bedford, right?"

The last time I'd seen Kenneth, he was returning my lost handbag to me. He had driven all the way out to the family home in Bedford, then got snowed in. He stayed in the guest room and drove me to the bus in the morning, only to disappear from my life ... again.

"Actually, I live in Boston now, but I'm headed home for Christmas." I took a long look at him. He seemed older. Not as lanky. And more confident, if that is even possible.

"I live just the next street over. I can loan you some dry clothes, and fix up a hot drink. Sound good?" Kenneth was already steering my elbow towards a destination.

"Okay. Thanks. Are you sure it's...?"

"It's no trouble at all, believe me."

The next thing I knew, I was shuffling into a toasty warm entryway. I had been too cold to notice where we were—just grateful to be surrounded by warmth again. I shucked my coat, and moments later, Kenneth handed me some grey sweat pants, a hoodie, and socks.

As I emerged from the bathroom, he produced a plastic bag for my soaked clothes.

"Better?"

"Much. Thanks."

"Here." He took the bag of clothes and replaced it with a steaming hot drink in a big coffee mug.

"That was fast! What's this?"

"It's a special recipe passed down through the generations in my family."

"Really?" A delicious aroma wafted up from the cup.

"No, I just made it up. It's powdered mocha with a dash of pumpkin pie spice."

"And the peppermint stick?"

"Tis the season?" He shrugged and grinned. I remembered that grin. It was a very endearing grin.

"Cute."

"I'll take it." He winked.

I nearly choked on the yummy hot drink. Am I flirting with him? Is he flirting with me? I looked up from the mug, and, yup. He was definitely flirting. I was about to panic, but Kenneth suddenly stood up from his kitchen stool.

"Oh! I nearly forgot! I have to pick up dessert for tomorrow! My firm is doing potluck for the Holiday party, and I was assigned dessert. Care to help me pick it out?"

...

A half hour later, we were stomping snow off our feet in the foyer. What is it about shopping with someone that makes them feel like family?

I borrowed the phone to call my parents to let them know my ETA. As I hung up, I turned.

"Hey Kenneth? I have been wondering."

"Mmmm?" He was busy stacking pies in the fridge, and cookies in the freezer.

"Two years ago. When you gave me that rose at the bus terminal. Why? Why did you have a rose? Why me? And why did you dash away without a name or anything?" This question had haunted me for two years. I couldn't believe I actually had a chance to solve the Rose Bud Guy mystery.

I looked up at Ken to see his reaction. He paused at the fridge, then closed it and leaned against the door. He was blushing, but he held my gaze.

"Well, Deb, there was this lovely girl, on the train. I kept trying to drum up the courage to talk to her. But she was so beautiful. And I was just a nerdy intern, not even out of school. Then I saw the flower vendor. Before I could talk myself out of it, I bought the rose, and tapped on her shoulder."

He was standing close to me now. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, and I was feeling warm all over. I made myself keep looking into his brown eyes, watching his feelings playing out. It was beautiful to see. He was so vulnerable, so available.

I turned fully to face him.

"But why did you run away?" I asked softly.

"I still don't know if that was a mistake. I was headed for the interview that landed me my job, and my bus had just pulled up. I somehow thought I would see her again. I... hoped I would see her again. When I found her lost handbag, I knew Fate had given me a second chance, and now a third. Is... that okay?"

"It's more than okay. I'm glad you took a chance. I would never have found the nerve. And then I would have missed ... meeting you."

Kenneth's smile was warm. His eyes sparkled. He took my hand in his, and reached for my laundry bag.

"Come on. Let's get you home. It's probably going to be a long night."

THE END.