Cookies at Christmas

by Kelvin Bueckert

So, there it was another rejection. Another failure in the quest for the perfect Christmas cookie.

Charlene tossed one of the rejects on the floor much to the delight of her cat, who leaped at it happily. Not that he needed it. His black and white belly had grown fat during the course of the day by feasting happily on her failures. Sure, it had seemed a cute tradition at the time, making each other cookies at Christmas. But the work she needed to do to get the cookies ready was a nightmare this year.

Sharing the cookies as they opened their gifts to each other underneath the red and green lights of the Christmas tree, a cup of hot apple cider in their hands was an ample reward though. Devon had suggested the tradition.

Her boyfriend of three years and counting, Devon McMasters. That handsome Doctor she had worked with for months before he had caught her eye that one fateful spring morning. Charlene brushed a stray strand of black curly hair back into its place as she glanced at the clock, soon he would be here.

Devon and his dark tan that never seemed to fade, his piercing blue eyes, his clean-shaven face that concealed a smile so dazzling white that he could star in a toothpaste commercial.

"Hello . . . anybody home?" a soft rich voice asked cautiously. Awakened from her daydream,

Charlene shifted in her seat "I'm so sorry—I guess I . . . " she stammered.

Devon's thin form stepped into the apartment "Don't worry, I can let myself in."

Leaving the ruined cookies, Charlene ran into the living room in search of a comb to organize her muddled hair "I'll be right there" she called over her shoulder. "Right where?" Devon was leaning over her shoulder, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" he said teasingly "I know I'm early, I got off my shift ahead of schedule for change if you can believe it. But I can step out for a bit if there's something you need to do yet . . .  I don't want to crowd you." Charlene's fingers brushed against her hair self consciously. Her skin was so white, she should've tanned it. Her hair was a mess, her lip stick needed an update, her mascara was running at the corner of her eye. So many things she should've done already, she knew she was beautiful by the way men looked at her as they walked by on the street. But, for Devon she wanted to be someone special, someone who put the effort in to be perfect.

"No hurry" Devon was saying. "I think I'll just step out and breath in some of that fresh air, maybe clear my head a little, it feels like I've got a headache coming on . . . " And with that he was gone, ducking first into the kitchen then back through the same door he had entered. He seemed a little nervous, edgy even. But he was working long hours recently, maybe it was getting to him.

Charlene ran the comb through her shoulder length hair absentmindedly, staring through the window into the chill darkness. Looking into the  winter night for Devon, but seeing nothing. Nothing but the gentle flutter of snowflakes as they slowly drifted to the ground. Streetlights glowed yellow, splashing pools of illumination on the sidewalk below. She reached for her parka, Devon was considerate in allowing her time to tidy up. But really, her vanity was no reason for him to stand outside in the cold.

Charlene opened the door and headed down the stairs, clutching her parka closer to her slender body to protect it from the cold. Once outside She could see moonlight reflecting off of Devon's Lexus, which was parked illegally alongside the curb as usual.

He was a handsome doctor with a wall full of diplomas, but unfortunately driving wasn't a strong point. He did know how to bake cookies' quite well, in fact it was he who suggested their Christmas eve tradition of baking each other a special cookie, then eating it as they opened their gifts under the Christmas tree. It was a bit sappy, but she loved him for thinking of such details to fill an already special time. He always said that Christmas was for giving.

Now all she needed to do was haul him in from this cold that he'd banished himself to while she  finished cleaning her apartment. He had said he needed fresh air anyway, but that was no reason to stand alone in the cold.

Where was he?

"Fancy meeting you here" Devon said as he moved out of the shadow where he had been waiting, a warm smile across his face "I was just thinking to myself what a beautiful night for a walk this would be. Care to join me?" he held out his gloved hand invitingly. Charlene accepted the invitation, feeling the welcome warmth of her hand in his. "I was thinking the trail through the park would be beautiful on a night like this" he said as they began to walk. The night was beautiful, the snow-covered evergreens alongside the trail added a certain charm to a path they had walked many times before. They walked in silence, a communion of souls where words would only provide an unwelcome intrusion. The path curved, heading toward the clearing where they had spent their first date together, sitting on the park bench and dreaming the foolish dreams of youth. Charlene felt a flutter run through her chest as the clearing came into view. It was lit up by the light of a hundred flickering candles, strategically placed in the snow throughout the clearing. A suspicion flashed through her mind, a suspicion that was confirmed a moment later as Devon dropped to one knee. Holding out a golden ring, his mouth uttering the five musical words "Charlene, will you marry me?"

 "Of course" she could hear herself responding, her mind shocked by this sudden, but welcome surprise. She could feel the ring slipping over her finger as she responded.

Devon rose to his feet, his cheeks red from the cold but plainly pleased at her response. "I hope you don't mind" he said, pulling two bags of cookies from his coat pocket. "I took the liberty of taking some of your cookies before I came out to prepare this. It seemed so much more romantic to continue our tradition out here, even if it is cold."  There was silence as they both bit into their cookies. Charlene smiled into his eyes as in the distance, flashing lights of a tow truck could be seen pulling up to a black Lexus.

She brushed a stand from her face, "um mm, You always said Christmas was for giving right?"

"Yes, Why?"

Charlene pointed wordlessly in the direction of the tow truck.

Devon struggled to his feet, "Giving indeed! Wait here, I'll be right back!"

Charlene sat alone, smiling to herself as she bit into the cookie.

Entertainment was also a Christmas gift.

It was the sign of a good husband.

An entertaining one.

The End