“That sounds amazing actually. Wanna bake more cookies?” I asked.
“Well, of course I do. It’s the holidays. We’re gonna go ahead and get fat and nap after we get high on sugar, before we do it all over again.”
“Sounds like the best day ever.”
I sat down with my coffee and listened to the girls talking and laughing. The house felt warm and inviting. I was relaxed and genuinely happy, which I can’t say I’d felt in years. Part of me knew it would have to come to an end, but I decided that very moment, that while I was in Friendship, I would enjoy all it had to offer. Including one very rugged and handsome pilot-slash-mechanic.
Chapter Twelve
Jason
That night couldn’t have turned out better if I’d planned every bit of it myself. I didn’t, though, and considered myself lucky as hell. Deep down, I wasn’t really sure where it was going with Samantha, but it felt right. I had felt some kind of pull to her and then a push from Gabe, and that propelled me toward her at almost top speed. How Gabe knew was still lost on me. There was no way that he figured this out on his own simply by being a good listener. I didn’t really care what it was. I felt good, and I was going to enjoy it.
The next day when Robin came to drop Emily off, she teased me a little bit but then helped me plan a surprise for Samantha. It was outrageous and required a ton of legwork, but the wheels were already in motion. Robin couldn’t believe what I was planning.
“Wait, you’ve already found a place to get plastic flamingos in December, a week before Christmas? How is that even possible?” she asked me.
“I have a buddy who’s in the business of getting people what they need,” I joked with her as if I had to call the mob or something. In reality, if you’re willing to pay, you can get almost anything you need. Besides the fact that it’s the season of giving, and people wanted to help me make Christmas wonderful for someone special.
“What about the hats?” she asked.
“That’s where I need your help,” I replied.
“Okay, what can I do?”
“I need you to get me two hundred Santa hats.”
“Two hundred?” she repeated. “That’s a lot of Santa hats, Jason. Where am I going to get that many?”
“Call the moms club and initiate the emergency phone tree,” I replied, completely serious.
“You want me to initiate the phone tree for Santa hats?”
“I do. Someone in Friendship needs their Christmas spirit brought back. I consider that an emergency. There are at least twenty moms on that list, and me of course. Hell, we can make them if we have to. Whatever it takes. The flamingos need hats.”
“This is crazy.” She laughed.
“Crazy and amazing, though, right? I mean, you think she’ll like it, right?” I asked. It was totally over the top, but this was a holiday emergency … sort of. I probably should have asked Robin what she thought of the idea before I started procuring yard flamingos from all over the place, but I had an idea and needed to run with it.
“I think it’s going to blow her mind, Jason.” Robin had a thoughtful look.
“You don’t think it will upset her, do you?” That was the last thing I would want.
“Honestly? I think it might bring a tear to her eye.” I must have looked worried because Robin continued right away. “But I don’t think that is a bad thing! Don’t worry. I think it’s time for her to see that she can enjoy the traditions of the old days with our parents and make new memories at the same time.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for here, Robin. I want to make her happy,” I replied honestly. She grew silent and observed me with a bit of a smirk, which gave me pause. “What?” I asked.
“What do you hope to achieve from this grand gesture?” She folded her hands across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “You know she doesn’t live here. So what’s in it for you? I get you shared a moment or a flirtation or whatever, but you’re a really great guy, and she’s my sister. What’s really going on here?”
Thinking back to the things Gabe said, I couldn’t very well tell Robin the whole truth. It wouldn’t make one bit of sense that an old homeless man made it real clear that Samantha needed to be in my life and that I believed him. So I was as honest as I could be without full disclosure. “I like your sister, Robin. I like her a lot. And for whatever reason, one that I can’t even fully explain myself, I’m compelled to help her make this the Christmas she chooses to move forward. There’s something about her, and about everything that she’s feeling, that just resonates with me.”
“Okay, I mean I’m going to help you, because she’s my sister and I think she’ll love this. But it’s also my job to get to the bottom of your intentions too,” she said with some sternness.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some feelings for her, Robin. But you know me. I’m not a bad guy.”
“No, you’re not a bad guy. Which is why I want to make sure you’ve got a clear head here too. I don’t want to see you get hurt either.”
I knew she was trying to be a good friend, but it mattered little to me whether or not winning the girl happened. In that moment, I felt like I’d been given a mission. My assignment was to get Samantha’s Christmas spirit back, and I chose to run with the operation full steam ahead.