The Christmas Bring Back
written by: Mary Kloster
What was supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year quickly turned into the worst time of Cassie’s entire life. First, her plans to spend Christmas at an Airbnb with her boyfriend of a year quickly went south, rather than north, after she caught him sexting with a girl from his work. Next up came her backup plan, she’d just spend Christmas at her parents’ house like old times, but then that failed when she learned her mom and dad were traveling clear across the country to her brother and her sister-in-law’s house this year. So, after two failed plans, when asked if she could possibly cancel her vacation and work instead since her coworker just got engaged and was surprised with a trip to Ireland for the holidays, she graciously obliged. So, there she was, working on Christmas day, alone and bitter.
Well, at least she thought, the restaurant should be busy so I’ll be too occupied to be depressed.
Tiffany her coworker came around the corner of the kitchen dressed in a Santa Claus skirt and reindeer ears.
“Oh, deer, God,” Cassie said cringing as she laughed to herself proud of her pun.
“Just wait until you see what you get to wear,” Tiffany said.
“No!” Cassie protested, “There is no way in hell.”
With a jolly good frown on her face, Cassie left the kitchen ten minutes later wearing an elf hat with gigantic ears and a red and white striped skirt that had literal candy canes taped to it. It only took twenty minutes before she got a snag in her white nylon stockings.
Being one of only two restaurants in town that stayed open on Christmas, Louis’ Dinner was slammed. As soon as the customers saw her, she was pulled in five directions at once, someone even grabbed her arm to get her attention.
God don’t people understand personal boundaries anymore, Cassie thought. Why does Louis have to keep the dinner open? He isn’t even here.
“I’m going to kill him,” Cassie said to Tiffany two hours later after about the eighth dirt joke she’d heard about candy canes.
Tiffany laughed, “It won’t do any good, Louise made the skirts.”
Oh, gag me, Cassie thought, Louis and Louise, of course they would end up together.
“He’s just trying to spice things up, he’s worried about that new restaurant stealing his customers,” Tiffany said while carrying no less than six plates of food.
“Why do I stay here Tiffany, why, why, why?”
“Because honey, free-lance doesn’t pay the bills.”
“It’s not free-lance,” Cassie corrected.
“Well, you’re not part-time, Mr. Davis just calls you in when he needs you, you know when his real secretary calls in sick.”
“Fine,” Cassie sneered.
“What can I get started for you,” Cassie asked the next table to fill up. Of course, it was another family, practically every table was a family or couple, or as she thought of them, people too lazy to cook their own damned food. This one was even worse; it included the antique grandmother.
“I’ll take the special,” she said as she looked Cassie up and down disapprovingly.
What she thought, it’s not like I picked this out. The grandma was definitely side-eying her. Come on, she thought, I don’t look slutty, I’m completely covered up.
“Today is the day to celebrate our lord, not to prance around and make a mockery of oneself,” she said.
That’s it, Cassie thought. She couldn’t take it anymore. She’d had enough of the salacious jokes, the rudeness of the tips, and the judgment of people who didn’t even know her.
“So that’ll be the bitter bitch soup for you,” Cassie said under her breath.
Luckily the place was far too loud for the grandmother to hear her.
The final straw of her sanity was when four more hours later a kid who wanted a candy cane so badly, tucked on her skirt and ended up pulling so hard that it ripped and fell off, hitting the ground, leaving her exposed to the entire dinner in nothing but her underwear and nylon stockings.
One older man sitting on a bar stool shouted for everyone to hear, “Well I got what I wanted this year,” and the whole room laughed.
Cassie angrily pulled the skirt up and fled to the kitchen.
Peggy the cook, who looked exactly like a lunchroom lady, but whose food was too good for high school consumption snickered when she saw the state Cassie was in.
“I’m sorry,” Peggy said while flipping a burger, “it’s too funny.”
“You get a pass since you made me dinner to go.”
“Well, actually honey, I just got an order for the last turkey meal, sorry.”
“Damn,” Cassie said. She could always see if that new restaurant had anything left but Louis would literally kill her if she ever stepped foot inside the competition.
“This is the worst Christmas ever; you know where I was supposed to be right now? In a cabin with Mark getting proposed to.”
“Mark was going to propose,” Peggy asked suddenly interested.
“Well, no, but that was part of the fantasy,” Cassie admitted. They’d been going out a year, they hadn’t even moved in together, thank God for that, she thought now that they had split up. It had been much easier to dump his ass when all he had at her place was a sweater and some nasty protein shake ingredients in her fridge. She should’ve kept the sweater it was cashmere, and tossed out the kale and quinoa seeds just because they were gross in general.
But no, he’d been too stupid and had handed her his phone to order dinner when his real girlfriend had sent him the photos. It was almost as if he’d wanted her to catch him so that she could break it off. She started to wonder if he’d even had the cabin scheduled or if he’d just made it up.
Of course, her brother said she was more than welcome to fly up and join them all, but did they not realize the cost of a last-minute airline ticket on Christmas Eve? She wouldn’t be able to make rent if she did that. So, she’d made an excuse that she could go spend the day at a friend’s house.
Finally, after ten thirty, the diner was closed and all the customers had left. Peggy left first before she collapsed from exhaustion.
“Hey babe, you sure you’re ok if I take off,” Tiffany asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine, you go,” Cassie said.
“Oh, thank you, because Jordan’s here already and you know,” Tiffany winked at her.
“Yup, I get it,” Cassie said. Jordan and Tiffany were in the beginning stages of their relationship, the stage where all they wanted was to get away from everyone else.
Cassie continued lifting the chairs up backward onto the tables. All she had left was to mop the floor. For some reason, the restaurant always felt much bigger when it came time to clean the floor.
“At last,” Cassie said tuning the radio off the twenty-four-seven Christmas channel to the pop station.
Lady Gaga’s Judas started blaring in the diner, and Cassie grabbed her mop and began. Before she even realized it, she was bobbing to the music, mop in hand. When the chorus came, she went full blast, singing and dancing around as she swiped the mop across the black and white tiled floor.
“Well, it’s not exactly a Christmas song but I still think it’s considered religious,” a strange voice said.
“What the fu-, dge,” Cassie said turning around and nearly falling over from the quick spin.
“Sorry,” the man said, he was standing just inside the doorway, he was young and not anyone Cassie knew which was odd considering the size of the small town she lived in.
“Can I help you?” she asked irritatedly. Tiffany must’ve forgotten to lock the door when she left, she frequently forgot things when Jordan was waiting.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said walking in. “I’m Derek, I own the restaurant down the street, and I have a horrible favor to ask you.”
“Huh,” she said surprised, she had a hard time looking away from his blue eyes.
“We’re out of coffee, can I possibly buy some from you,” he asked.
“Who is gonna want coffee at this time of night,” she asked leaning on the mop handle.
“Oh, it’s not for now, we closed at eight, it’s for the morning, you see we open a six and the store doesn’t open until seven thirty.”
“Hmm, you closed at eight,” she said surprised.
“Yes, I didn’t want to take up any more time of my employees on Christmas than was necessary.”
“How generous of you,” she said slightly rudely, “That must’ve been why we were so busy until close.”
“Oh, I apologize, I didn’t think to consider the hours here, when I made the decision.”
“Are you being sarcastic?” she asked. “I don’t know you, I can’t tell,”
“No, I’m being genuine I promise,” he said.
“Ok, weird,” she said under her breath. “He was obviously new to being a business owner, he still cared about his employees and competition.
“So, the coffee, is that too much to ask,” he smiled at her.
Damn, why’d he have to do that, Cassie thought. “Sure,” she said, she didn’t know why she did, she knew Louis would freak out if he found out.
She walked behind the counter and started digging for the coffee. “It’s just Folgers, nothing fancy.”
“That’ll be fine. I didn’t get your name,” he said taking a seat on a stool.
“Cassie,” she said leaning up. “Here you go, one can, it’s all I can spare without Louis noticing. He’s not exactly the type that wants to help his competition”
“I’ve been meaning to come over and meet the owners, but we just opened up two weeks ago and we’ve been so busy.”
“Are you from here,” she asked.
“No, I’m from Seattle, my uncle left me the building, he didn’t have any kids and I was his favorite nephew so that’s why I came here.”
“So, you moved here,” she asked, she was curious if he was going to be around all the time.
“No, I still live in Seattle, I’m just here for a while to get this place up and running.
“Ooh,” she said handing him the coffee can.
“How much do I owe you,” he asked.
“I’ll just take your word that you swear not to tell Louis about this.”
“You have my solemn oath,” he said standing up and jokingly putting his hand on his heart.
Cassie came around the counter.
“It was nice to meet you,” he said holding out his hand.
She shook it, “You too,” she said awkwardly.
“What do you do,” she asked, stopping him from leaving, “besides restaurant entrepreneur?”
He chuckled, “I’m a paramedic entrepreneur.”
Cassie laughed. “Well, it’s nice to know that when the restaurant fails you’ve got something to fall back onto.”
“Yes, at least if my food poisons people I know how to save them.”
Cassie snorted a laugh and then turned red from embarrassment.
“Have a good night, and merry Christmas.”
“Thanks, you as well,” she said. She couldn’t get the words “Merry Christmas” to come out of her mouth this year she just wasn’t in the Christmas spirit.
Cassie went to lock the door behind him but he popped it back open at the last second, she wondered if he was going to make a move.
“Oh, just so you know, you have a lovely singing voice, but the dancing could use some work,” he teased.
“Shut up,” she said pushing the door closed and locking it.
It was freezing outside, walking home in the snow sucked, really sucked. Luckily it wasn’t still freezing but it still sucked. Cassie’s rain boots were tight on her feet but with every step, the tops of the boots would fall back against her chins in an uncomfortable way.
The one saving grace was that she was able to put her own clothes back on after she chucked that candy cane skirt in the garbage. She cursed herself for being so poor that she didn’t find a car a necessity in the small town. If she had one, she’d be home by now and warm.
She looked up at the stars and felt herself tearing up, thinking of her family far across the country and the horrible lonely day she’d had. It honestly was the worst Christmas she’d ever had and that was a lot considering the food poisoning incident of 2006.
Cassie was only two blocks from her apartment when she noticed a car up ahead pulled off the right side of the road. The hazard lights were on. A shape was bent over by the left rear tire.
“Son of a,” a man’s voice said.
“Do you need help,” Cassie asked stopping behind the man.
He stood up and turned around. He was an old heavier man.
“Do you know how to change a tire,” he asked.
“Actually, I do,” she said. Her dad had taught her as soon as she started driving, he had said it was a skill every young woman should know how to do, and how to use the tire iron to hit a man with if necessary.
“Here let me,” she said reaching out for the tire iron.
“Be my guest.” He stood back and watched her work.
“Well first off, you gotta jack it up more,” Cassie started cranking it up a few more notches, the old Buick Lesabre tilted up to the right angle.
Within five minutes Cassie had the spare tire in place and tightened up.
“Here you go,” she said standing up she handing him his tools back.
“Thank you, that was very nice of you.”
“Nah,” she said.
“Two other people drove by and just ignored me when I waved.”
“Tis the season,” she joked.
“I’m Neil,” he said.
“Sweet Caroline, ba ba bum,” she sang. “Sorry,” she said, “Can’t help it. I’m Cassie.”
“Well would you like a ride home, it’s cold out.”
“Oh no thank you,” she said. “I’m just around the block.” She pointed to the wrong block; she didn’t want this stranger to know where she lived. She’d been taught better than that.
“Well thank you again, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas, what is left of it,” he said nicely.
“Yeah,” she said, she didn’t want to say Merry Christmas, “Have a good night.”
She turned to leave but he spoke again.
“Wait a minute, you didn’t say “Merry Christmas”.
“No, no I didn’t,” she said turning around.
“Why not,” he asked.
“What are you like a mall Santa or something,” she looked him up and down, he could play the part easily.
“Why don’t you like Christmas,” he asked.
“I like Christmas,” she said halfheartedly.
“No, you don’t, I can tell,”
“Ugh, why am I even arguing this with a complete stranger.”
“Tell me,” he asked, and for some reason, maybe because of the kindness in his eyes, she told him without thinking.
“Look, I got nothing against Christmas, but this year has sucked ok, first I catch my boyfriend cheating on me, then I can’t even spend the holidays with my family as my backup plan because they went to spend it with my brother and his perfect wife. And so I ended up having to work because my coworker got engaged when it should have been me, and my shift was the worst shift any waitress has ever worked ever. And to top it all off, I met a nice guy, who probably is married or has a girlfriend because he showed zero interest in me. So do you get it, Christmas spent in the cold and alone, slaving away to serve strangers.”
“I’m sorry about all that,” he said.
“And now I’m getting pity from a stranger, even better.” Cassie put her hands on her hips annoyed with her whole situation.
“You don’t need pity,” he said, “You need the spirit.”
“The what?”
“The spirit.”
“Oh yes because alcohol is the answer to every problem.”
“No, not spirits, you need the spirit, and I’m going to give it to you,” he said.
Before Cassie knew what was happening Neil approached her, his hand held up towards her. She tried to back up but for some reason besides the cold, she was frozen in place.
Flecks of silver light appeared from Neil’s palm, they started to float in the air above his hand like dust.
“Oh my god he’s got ecstasy,” she thought.
Unable to move, Cassie was forced to stand in place wide-eyed as he blew the silver light directly into her face. One light entered her open mouth and instantly she was filled with a warm she’d never felt before. It travelled down her throat to the pit of her stomach, spreading the warmth to her frozen limbs. She felt weightless, as if gravity had no hold on her anymore, and without her biding them, her eyelids shut.
“Uhhhh,” Cassie groaned as she rolled over. That was the best sleep she’d ever had and she didn’t want it to end. Her alarm clock went off, it was seven am. She rose from bed, her feet hitting the carpeted floor, and started to dance.
“Huh,” she said aloud, she had startled herself. She stood up and danced to her alarm clock across the room and turned it off.
She turned on the radio on the old clock and Irene Cara’s singing was blasting throughout the studio apartment.
She shrugged out of her pajamas and went to the bathroom.
Cassie didn’t know why she was in such a great mood, maybe because yesterday had been so terrible today could only possibly be better.
Freshly showered she went to the kitchen to get a quick breakfast before work. The day after Christmas was surely to be a busy day at the diner. Cassie poured herself a cup of coffee and opened the fridge to get the milk, she nearly dropped the cup when she spotted David’s open container of organic quinoa seeds in the fridge. She’d thrown those out two days ago.
What the hell, she thought, did he still have a key to her apartment? No, she was positive she remembered taking that from him right away.
Before she could figure out what was going on there was a knock at her door. She put down the coffee and went to answer it but David let himself in before she could get there.
She stood there in shock, as he came over and grabbing her greeted her with a kiss.
“Hey Babe,” I got the cabin all booked, we’ll have to leave tomorrow at eleven if we want to make it in time.”
“Wha, what,” she asked confused.
“Unless you’ve changed your mind,” he said, and she noticed that he didn’t look disappointed.
“Of course, I’ve changed my mind, you idiot, you’re cheating on me,” she yelled.
“How did, how did you know,” he asked.
Wow, he wasn’t even going to deny it. Suddenly Cassie was really confused. They’d already had this argument. And what did he mean they’ve had to leave tomorrow at eleven? They were supposed to leave on Christmas Eve at eleven, not the twenty-seventh.
“I want you out of here now, and take your damn seeds with you,” she said going to the fridge she threw the container at him. I never understood why you had to put them in the fridge anyway.”
“Because I told you they stay fresh that way.”
So that’s what he was choosing to argue about. “And I want my key back,” she said.
She’d be sure to get it from him this time.
“Fine,” he said taking it off his key ring, he placed it on the counter.
“Bye Cassie,” he said.
Cassie went and locked the door behind him, she didn’t understand what kind of madness he was trying to pull but she was over it and over him. Surprisingly she didn’t feel sad or upset, she felt a weight lifted.
Walking to work was a much more pleasant experience than it had been the night before. The ground was still full of snow, but Cassie wasn’t freezing this time.
“Good morning, Cassie,” Mrs. Jackson said as she was walking down the street.
“Good morning Mrs. Jackson and how are you today,” she asked.
“Just fine thank you. Dear, do you know what the time is.”
Cassie smiled, she didn’t know when someone had ever asked her that, not with everyone having cell phones.
She pulled out her phone and read the time seven forty-five am, December twenty-third.
Cassie dropped her phone in the snow and quickly bent over to fish it out. “Oof, it’s uh, seven forty-five,” she said.
“Thank you, I better go, I have a hair appointment at eight. Don’t want to be late,” she said before scurrying off.
“What is going on,” Cassie said out loud.
“Ahh, I see you’ve finally realized.”
Cassie spun around on the sidewalk and saw Neil standing behind her, a smile on his face. Suddenly she remembered, she didn’t just walk home last night, she met him, she helped him with his tire and then, and then, and then she didn’t remember.
“Oh my god,” she said, “did you drug me?” She jabbed a finger at him.
“Ho ho ha ha,” he belly laughed. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.”
“It’s not funny, what is going on,” she said but without meaning to she started to laugh with him, his laughter was infectious.
“I gave you some Christmas spirit,” he said.
“Hahaha,” she bent over with laughter, “yeah I think I can feel it, what how?”
“Really it’s quite simple for me, I’m Father Christmas.”
“Well, that makes a lot more sense now. Let me guess you are father time as well, and you turned back the clocks just for me.”
“No, but he owed me a favor and it was relatively easy for him to do.”
“You’re serious,” Cassie said, she wasn’t laughing anymore now.
“I’m always serious, except when I’m joking,” he winked at her.
“It really is December 23?”
“Unless Verizon lies,” he said pointing at her phone before he chuckled again.
“I, I don’t understand why?”
He smiled at her, and it was the warmest smile she’d ever received. “You did several good deeds for everyone around you, you had the spirit of Christmas inside of you all along, but life happened and because of that you didn’t get the Christmas you deserved, so I thought it only fitting that you get a do-over.”
Slowly a smile spread across Cassie’s face and she understood, logically her brain was telling her this couldn’t be real, it didn’t make sense, but in her heart she understood.
“So, what I get to redo the last three days of my life, and if I don’t do better this time everything goes back to the way it was before?”
“No of course not. There are no strings attached to this gift, no ribbon either,” he added with a wink.
“I, I don’t know what to say,” Cassie said.
“You don’t have to say anything, you just have to live. You better go, you’ll be late for work,” Neil said.
Cassie turned towards work, “It’s just up head,” but when she turned back he was gone.
She really was going to be late for work.
“Good morning, Louis, Louise,” Cassie said as she entered the diner. She gathered her usual apron and tied it on.”
“Someone is in a chipper mood this morning,” Louise said.
“Must be because of that boyfriend,” Louis said.
“Nope,” Cassie said happily, “I dumped the cheater.”
“Hallelujah,” Louise said dropping her pen and paper she came and gave Cassie a hug. “Finally, I can tell you that I can’t stand that man, you deserve much better.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said. “Someone else thought so too.”
“If you girls are done gossiping, we’ve got to figure out the shifts this Christmas and how late we’re staying open. I’m sure that new place will be open late so we better stay open til ten this year.”
“Oh no, they are going to close at eight,” Cassie pitched in.
Louis looked at her over his glasses, “And how would you know that,” he asked.
Cassie shrugged, “I heard it somewhere. I’m sure we could close at the same time.”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you go and ask the new owner, I heard he’s been wanting to meet you.”
“Ha, and sojourn with the enemy? Over my dead body.”
“Honey nobody says “sojourn” anymore,” Louise said.
“I’ll go,” Cassie offered.
“Good idea,” Louise said.
“Yes, go and get all of his secrets for us, and don’t tell him you work here.”
Cassie just laughed.
The new restaurant, which was just going by “the new restaurant” at the time was just around the corner.
The place had just opened for the day and wasn’t busy yet. Cassie felt butterflies in her stomach.
A high school kid was working at the counter, she recognized him, last summer he’d been working at the gas station.
“Hey Eddie, is the owner in?”
“Hi Cassie, yeah he’s in the back, go on in,” he offered.
Clearly Eddie didn’t realize that just because he knew Cassie didn’t mean that the new owner did and would appreciate an intrusion, however, she went anyway.
“If you want twenty pies, I should have started baking two days ago,” Gregory said.
Cassie knew him from the diner, he ate there frequently, but she hadn’t seen him lately.
“Huh,” Derek said, he had his back to her and hadn’t noticed her walk in, he had a tablet in his hand and was staring at it. “I wonder how far the nearest Costco is, I could get pies there and drive them back here.”
Cassie started laughing, “There isn’t a Costco within a hundred miles of here.”
Derek jumped slightly and turned around, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“Ah this here is Cassie,” Gregory said interrupting. “She worked at the Louis’ diner around the corner.”
“Yes, and hello to you too Gregory, I see you’ve gone to the dark side.”
Gregory laughed, “Nothing against Louis and Louise, you know I’ve been looking for work for a while now.”
“I’m happy for you,” she said. “Yes, I’m Cassie,” she said offering Derek her hand.
“Derek,” he said shaking it.
“Sorry to just come in, Eddie knows me. Uh, the reason I’m here, is my boss Louis wanted to know what time you plan on closing on Christmas. He’s trying to figure out how late he has to stay open.”
“Oh,” Derek said, he was fumbling for his words. “Yes, uh, I think we planned on closing at eight, isn’t that what we said Gregory,” he turned to him.
“Yup, that’s good for me boss.”
“Yes, and I can cover so that Karen and Sophia can leave at six.”
“So, you were working as a waiter,” Cassie said surprised. “I mean you plan to work as a waiter.”
“Yes, so that way I can send as many of my employees home as early as possible on Christmas. I wasn’t even going to have us be open but there are some people who don’t have the ability to get a home-cooked meal on Christmas so we’re going to be open to service them.”
Does he mean the homeless, Cassie wondered.
“That’s perfect then, I’ll let Louis know and we’ll close at eight too then. Welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Thank you,” he said.
Cassie left quickly, too nervous to continue the conversation.
“Oh Cassie,” Eddie said stopping her before she could leave fully, “My high school is having our talent show tonight, can you come, my band is playing a song?”
For a second Cassie was confused, she tried to remember what she had originally done that night, and then she remembered, she had sat in front of the TV, and cried while watching the latest true crime show on Netflix.
Oh yeah, she was definitely free tonight.
“Sure thing, I’ll be there.”
“Great, it’s at seven.”
Later that morning Cassie’s other coworker Kayla came in to tell everyone of her engagement and that she couldn’t work the next few days. Instead of being asked, this time Cassie offered to work for her, giving her a big hug and congratulating her.
“Hey Louise,” Cassie called. She knew another way she could make Christmas better this year. “I know your secret.”
“What,” Louise said panicked.
“Oh, a little elf told me that you are making skirts and hats for me and Tiffany to wear this Christmas.”
“How did you know?”
Cassie thought quickly, “Well I saw some of the supplies in the back,” she said and Louise bought it.”
“Louis, I told him to hide those.”
“No, no I think it’s a grand idea, I was just wondering if you’d like some help.”
“That would be wonderful,” Louise said.
On her lunch break, Cassie took the makeshift clothes to her car and walked to the craft store to get the rest of the supplies she’d need. She smiled to herself, no one was going to be grabbing candy off her skirt this time.
On her way back to work Cassie texted her parents and brother in their group family thread.
“Hello all, I just wanted to let you know that I will be staying home this year. I broke things off with David, but I swear that I am doing ok, I just wanted to let you know where I’ll be. I love you all.”
“OMFG, said her brother instantly. He really did live with his phone.
“Honey are you sure you’re ok,” her mom asked.
“Perfectly fine, actually I’m a lot better,” she said with a big smiley face emoji.
“This is so wonderful,” her mom chimed in again.
Huh, Cassie thought confused.
“We’re finally all going to be together again for the holidays!”
“What,” Cassis typed.
“Mom and Dad were going to come up and visit us,” her brother said. “But we surprised them, we’re coming to you all, we’ll be there tomorrow.”
Cassie couldn’t believe it. Neil had changed more than the date. Her family was going to be home for Christmas.
“I’m so happy! I can’t believe it.”
“Your father is so excited too,” her mom typed. “He just can’t do the text thing that well. Everyone come over tomorrow at five. See you all then, love you kids.”
“Dope, we’ll be there unless our flight is delayed.”
Cassie felt like the Grinch at the end of the cartoon, her heart was bursting, it must have grown three sizes at least today.
It was three thirty and Cassie was serving ice cream for a six-year-old boy when Derek walked into the dinner, looking right out of GQ magazine.
“Here there,” she said, “let me guess, it’s also your birthday and you came for the free sundae?”
He laughs, “How did you know? Really, I came to meet Louis?”
“And Louise,” Cassie corrected and gave him a knowing look.
“But of course, I’m going to guess that Louise is the brains of the operation.”
“Oh yes, she’s the CEO, drill sergeant, and president all rolled into one.”
Derek met both owners, sitting at a bar stool just like he had before, the three owners stood and talked for half an hour, getting to know one another, while Cassie eavesdropped and watched with wonder as the competition quickly became friends.
She vowed she’d repay Louise when she asked Derek if he were single.
“Yes, frankly back in Seattle I’ve just been too busy to even think about dating.”
Cassie looked up, “thank you Santa,” she whispered.
She looked down to see the boy who’d had the birthday sundae staring up at her.
“What’d he get you,” he asked.
“Uh, he got me,” she looked around for something plausible, “this beautiful Christmas snow we have,” she said turning the kid she pointed out the window.
“Yeah, sure lady,” he said before running off.
Cassie laughed and went to clean tables.
She felt Derek approaching but went about her work.
He cleared his throat to get her attention, “thank you,” he said.
“For what,” she asked.
“Well, honestly, I’d been meaning to come make introductions but I was too shy about it, but then when you came over today, that gave me the courage to come meet the competition.”
“I am so glad that I was able to bring peace to your two rival nations,” she joked.
He laughed at that and an idea occurred to her.
“Hey, would you like to go to the talent show tonight? Your busboy Eddie is in it,” she asked.
She couldn’t believe she had asked him out before she would’ve died before asking but now, she had no fear, and she was in too good of a mood to even consider staying quiet.
“Oh yes he told me about it, I’d love to go with you,” he said quickly.
“Great,” she said smiling.
“Pick you up here say six-thirty?”
“Okay,” she said.
Derek left and Cassie went about her work, but she heard the bell on the door ring again and as she turned around to greet the next customer he stood there again.
“What time does your shift end today,” he asked.
“Five,” she said not understanding.
“How about five I picked you up and you come to my restaurant for dinner,” he asked.
Cassie’s surprised expression must have alarmed him, “Oh I’m sure Louis wouldn’t mind, you’re not consorting with the enemy I promise.”
Cassie laughed, “Sounds great to me. I can tell him which meals suck and then we can serve the good version of them.”
“Hey now, Gandhi fasted for his peace protests.”
“Ugh such high standards,” she joked and smiled.
Derek left and Cassie immediately started counting the hours.
Cassie clocked out a few minutes early so that she could freshen up in the bathroom. Tiffany kept checking her, making sure she looked just right.
“How fun would it be if we could double date,” she said excitedly.
“Woah there, slow down,” Cassie said.
“Boo party pooper,” she said.
“Really,” Cassie looked at her, “party pooper?”
“We see how many little kiddos in here every day?”
“Good point,” Cassie said.
Derek was precisely on time down to the minute. Cassie waited outside so that her coworkers couldn’t ambush him with jokes or comments.
“I didn’t know if I should bring my car or just walk,” he said. “I opted to walk, I didn’t think it was too cold,” he said nervously.
“It’s fine,” she said as they immediately started walking to the restaurant.
Once inside, he led her to a table in the back that was already waiting for them.
“Can I take your coat,” he offered.
She let him help her out of it.
“What would you like to drink,” he asked.
“Do you have tea,” she asked.
“Sure, we do,” he said looking around. “I just don’t know what kinds,” he said leaning into her conspiratorially.
“I’ll take anything but Earl Grey.”
“Hmm, has a prejudice against Earls, does that include Duke’s too or is it just Earls?”
She laughed out loud unable to answer.
He ended up bringing her chamomile and then left to bring two plates of food.
Dinner was roasted chicken and vegetables with mashed potatoes, a bread roll, and a jellied sauce.
“Sorry, but I already ordered,” he said.
“Hmm a restaurant that only has one meal, good luck,” she teased.
“I made this myself, the special tonight is fish and I heard you don’t partake in seafood.”
Cassie looked at him strangely.
“I may have called Louise and asked her what I should cook for you.”
“Sneaky, but very sweet,” she said. Nobody had ever cooked for her before. She was very impressed.
Cassie ended up having the best dinner. Time was flying by and before she knew it he was serving a desert he’d made himself, apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.
“Now be honest and let me know what you think, because I may put it on the menu.”
“Did you make the ice cream too,” she asked already impressed.
“No,” he said guiltily, “it’s store-bought, but I’m sure I could.”
It was heavenly. Cassie thought if he put it on the menu, she’d be there to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Wow we better get going, it’s past six-thirty,” he said getting her coat.
“Wow I had no idea,” she said. They’d been having such a good conversation she hadn’t even noticed how long it had been.
Derek drove them to the high school, luckily the town was small enough that they didn’t require tickets to be bought ahead of time and they were able to get seats.
The place was packed, it seemed as if the whole town had shown up. The talent show ended up being one giant Christmas pageant with every performance being a Christmas show. After hearing the same songs repeatedly, the audience was getting restless. Cassie saw several people yawning. Didn’t people realize that putting on a good Christmas show didn’t require every song to be a Christmas song?
Cassie had put her phone on silent but it kept vibrating in her pocket. Finally, in between performances, she checked it. She had a message from an unknown number
“911 911. This is Eddie, please come backstage now I need your help!”
“Where did he get my number,” she said aloud.
“Who,” Derek asked.
“Eddie, he texted me, he needs me to come backstage right away.”
“Well, it is a small town,” Derek said.
“Ok, I’ll go see what he wants I’ll be right back.”
Cassie squeezed through the row full of people and quickly headed to the stage area. She remembered how to get backstage from when she was in high school and performed in the school pageant.
It didn’t take her long to find Eddie, he was so nervous he was sweating.
“Eddie, what’s up,” she asked approaching him and his bandmates.
“We’ve got a HUGE problem.”
“Ok,” she said not understanding.
“Our lead singer ditched us,” one of the other kids she didn’t remember the name of said.
“I see,” she said. “So, you want me to what, go tell the teacher for you?
“No, we can’t do that,” another kid holding drumsticks said. The three of them just stared at Cassie strangely like.
“What,” she asked getting nervous.
“You can do it,” Eddie said patting her on the back.
“Do what? Perform?”
“Sure, why not, you did it before back when you were in high school, I remember. You and that other girl you guys rocked it.”
Cassie and her best friend had performed “American Girl” six years ago.
“That was a long time ago,” Cassie said.
“Come on, we need you!” Eddie said.
Cassie groaned.
“Please,” the drummer said.
“I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”
“We can’t let this show end like this,” the other kid said.
It had been a long time she Cassie had rocked it out on stage, and honestly, she kinda missed it. What’s the worst that could happen?
“Alright, but I have one condition,” she said pointing at the band.
“Anything,” Eddie said.
“We are not playing a Christmas song.”
“Thank god,” the drummer said. “Because this show sucks.”
“Here we better get you strapped up,” Eddie said.
“I beg your pardon,” Cassie said.
Eddie gave her a guilty look, “Robbie was also our lead guitarist.”
Cassie rolled her eyes, “Of course.”
“Boys are you almost ready, everyone’s waiting,” the teacher said suddenly appearing backstage.
“Yes Mrs., Murphy, give us two minutes.”
Eddie gave Cassie a guitar, he’d been working on learning to play but so far hadn’t accomplished much, opting instead to stick to the keyboard.
“What’s your guy’s name,” Cassie asked the other two members.
“I’m Bo,” the drummer said, “this is Zach,” he pointed to the bass guitarist.
“Wait,” Eddie said. “What are we going to play?”
“I’m thinking,” Cassie said. “What do you guys normally play?”
“The good stuff, you know rock and roll, the real band music.”
“So, nineties early two-thousands?”
“Yup exactly,” Eddie said.
“I know,” Cassie said, pulling on the guitar strap. She played for herself at home all the time, but she hadn’t played for anyone else in years.
“Guys we need a song,” Zach said.
“I’d do anything,” Cassie said.
“Good then pick one,” Zach said.
“No that’s the song,” Cassie corrected.
“Perfect,” Eddie said as the curtains pulled back.
Mrs. Murphy walked to the front of the stage, “Alright everyone, well we are finally ready for our last performance of the night, a rendition of jingle bell rock,” The audience let out an audible groan.
Cassie looked out and met Derek’s eyes in the audience. He tilted his head a smirk on his face. She winked at him.
Alright, Cassie thought, time to do Simple Plan justice and remind everyone what good music sounds like.
“One, two, three,” Bo said and together the band started playing.
Cassie sang the first line of the song.
The audience started to cheer right away, clearly excited for some rock and roll music. By the chorus, they were standing on their feet.
Eddie, Bo, and Zach sang along with Cassie for the chorus, with her doing lead vocals.
Cassie had forgotten how good it felt to perform, to just let go and be in the moment. Zach standing on Cassie’s right grinned at her while she sang the second verse.
Derek was on his feet cheering. Cassie recognized several other people she knew from the audience. She knew Tiffany was working right now but she wished she was here to see this.
When it came time for the bridge Cassie played her heart out, thoroughly enjoying herself. Eddie sang the backup vocal while playing the keyboard.
At least by playing and singing Cassie didn’t have to dance around the stage awkwardly for three-plus minutes. Eddie had a great voice, he could’ve been lead if he had the guts to do it, but Cassie could tell he was too shy.
The song ended and the audience roared with applause. The band bowed politely.
“That was certainly an amazing performance, thank you all,” Mrs. Murphy joined the stage again.
Cassie had the most wonderful feeling inside, the warmth spread outwards from her chest and she wished they could play again. She could do this all night.
The curtain closed and Cassie took off the guitar.
“That was freaking awesome,” Bo said.
“Who needs Robbie,” Zach said, “You were great.”
“Why thank you,” she said and high-fived him. “But don’t be getting any ideas about me joining your band.”
Cassie said goodbye to the boys and made her way back to the auditorium band found Derek waiting for her while the crowd worked on filling out the doors.
“Cassie that was amazing,” he said giving her a hug.
“Thanks,” she said shyly as she reached up to fix her hair.
“I gotta say this has been the most entertaining first date I’ve been on.”
“First date!” she said. “Ahh, we should’ve played that!”
“I think you actually got the third of the audience that was asleep to get up, well done.”
As they walked outside several people were still standing around, waiting for the packed parking lot to empty out. Cassie spotted Neil standing off to the side by himself, he gave her a thumbs up and then a rock-on hand gesture.
Cassie was surprised to see him, but she smiled, she thought about waving but wasn’t certain if everybody else could see him or not.
Derek drove her home and walked her to the door of her apartment building. He asked her out again and gave her a quick kiss before leaving shyly before she could say anything.
Cassie was on cloud nineteen as she went to sleep. She didn’t know what she’d ever done to deserve the second chance she was getting. No one had ever gotten a Christmas gift as good as the one she had received. She felt as if her whole life had changed. She felt different, happier like she could take on the world without fear or regret, or nerves, or self-consciousness.
In the morning Cassie got up early to work on the skirts for work. She was almost finished but stopped in order to get to work on time. As she jogged and slid through the snow to get to work, Cassie kept her eyes open, wondering if she’d see Neil again. She saw several people she knew and greeted each of them by name as she passed. She left a trail of smiles in her wake. Normally she’d listen to music or just ignore people on her way but she felt the need to brighten the day of everyone around her.
The diner was already packed full of customers there for the early bird Christmas Eve special.
“Tables three and four are ready for you,” Tiffany said.
“On it,” Cassie said.
“Oh god because I heard you’d do anything,” Tiffany said with a chuckle.
Cassie laughed, “I wish you could’ve been there.”
“Don’t worry I’ve already seen the YouTube video five times.”
“There’s a video?”
“Uh duh, babe it is twenty twenty-two. I’ll send it you to,” she said before taking off to serve.
During her break Cassie decided to walk over to the store for some candy canes, she thought instead of gluing them to the skirt she’d pass them out to people. When she left the store, she noticed a man digging through the trash.
He wasn’t anyone she recognized; he must be new to town.
“Hey there,” she said. “I’m Cassie,” she held out her hand.
The man stopped what he was doing and looked at her, fear in his eyes. She smiled at him and kept her hand outstretched.
Fifteen minutes later, Roger, was sitting at one of the barstools at Louis’ diner, waiting for his lumberjack-sized breakfast to arrive.
Cassie got a few strange looks as she had led Roger inside, and taken his order. She ignored them all, treating him just like every other customer. It didn’t matter that she was buying his meal.
Before meeting Neil, Cassie would’ve been too afraid to ever approach a man like Roger, but now, she didn’t know fear, she just knew that it felt right.
While Roger was eating his food, another man, a regular took a seat next to him and started up a conversation with him. Turns out Roger was a very talkative sort of fellow once you got him going.
“You’re different,” Peggy said when Cassie went to fetch more plates of food.
“No, I’m not,” Cassie said but then immediately smirked.
“I don’t know if it’s the new boyfriend or if you took some happy pills but whatever it is I want some of it.”
“It’s there for the taking,” Cassie said. “All you gotta do is try.”
Flowers arrived for Cassie in the afternoon. She didn’t know how, she suspected that someone told Derek that tulips were her favorite. She decided to go and thank him in person and invite him over to her family’s house for Christmas Eve dinner. Normally she’d be terrified to bring a guy over to meet the family, and never would she even consider it when it was still so new but it felt right and he didn’t have any family in town.
To her surprise, he agreed right away and picked her up at four forty-five. Simple Plan was playing in the car, and Derek was grinning as she got in.
“I thought you know, in case you wanted to repeat the performance.”
She smacked him in the arm, “Well I would but I don’t have my guitar.”
They talked about music the whole way to her family’s house and learned that their tastes weren’t that far off and that Derek couldn’t carry a tune to save his life.
Cassie’s mom opened the door decked out in her famous Christmas sweater featuring pop-ups of the twelve days of Christmas gifts. It was a marvel Cassie could get close enough to wrap her arms around her mother.
The family was surprised to see that Cassie brought a guest, but he was welcomed by everyone. Cassie’s mother always made a turkey and other Christmas-related dishes on Christmas Eve so that on Christmas day they could all enjoy leftovers. Towards the end of dinner, her brother got up to make a toast, and he announced that the family was about to grow a little larger. Cassie squealed with delight, realizing she was going to become an aunt.
Everyone was in the best spirits after the announcement. It was the happiest Cassie had seen her family in a long time. Cassie and her brother helped their mother clean up the table and do the dishes while the soon-to-be grandpa fawned over his daughter-in-law and entertained Derek with his baseball card collection.
“What movie should we watch this year,” Cassie’s mom asked the group as they made their way to the living room.
“We always watch,” Cassie said whispering to Derek, “the real entertainment is watching the fight that ensues over what to watch.”
Derek laughed quietly to himself.
“Watch this,” she said, “Lethal Weapon,” she said loudly.
Her mother gave her a look.
“What it’s a Christmas movie.”
“Doesn’t a hooker die in the beginning,” her brother asked.
Cassie just shrugged as Derek elbowed her in the ribs.
“Oh, oh, I know,” Cassie’s sister-in-law said. “The Greatest Showman!”
“Is that a Christmas movie,” Derek asked.
“It is isn’t it,” Cassie’s dad asked.
They all stared at each other, “sure” they said collectively.
The best part of the evening was when Cassie’s dad started shaking while trying to hold in tears.
“Dad it’s not even a sad part,” her brother said.
“It’s just so emotional,” he said grabbing tissues.
At the end of the movie, and after many cookies were consumed the party started to disembark for the night.
“Alright Cassie make sure you come back tomorrow morning, and Derek you are more than welcome to join us if you like,” Cassie’s mother offered.
Before he could reply Cassie said, “I do have to work tomorrow but I’ll be here after, we’re closing at eight.”
“What? You have to work, but you had the time off?”
“Yes, but Kayla got engaged and she’s going to Ireland, so we traded shifts.”
“Oh poo,” her mother said.
Cassie cringed at that.
“I can pick you up after,” Derek offered accepting her mother’s invitation all at once.
“Sounds great,” she said.
Cassie couldn’t believe how quickly her life had changed. One chapter had been ripped out of her story and the replacement one had completely changed the style and course of the plot.
This time, she tip-toed, kissing Derek herself. He wrapped his arms around her and she wondered if any of the warmth she felt inside transfused to him in the process.
Cassie entered her apartment and after locking her door, leaned against it, thinking back to the moment before.
“Happy Christmas Eve!” a voice boomed.
A shriek erupted from Cassie. She jumped, her hands shaking, but quickly recovering when she realized Neil was standing in her living room.
“How did you get in here?”
“Sure, you can handle my turning back time, but entering your apartment without a key freaks you out.”
Cassie recovered her breath, “I don’t know, I kinda believe in that whole multiverse thing after Doctor Strange, I mean, it makes sense.”
“You know I was disappointed there wasn’t a Christmas world,” Neil said. “But I’m getting off-topic.
“Ok I have to ask, are you Santa?” Cassie eyed Neil, standing in her living room, dressed like any normal guy, he certainly had the beard and hair for it.
“Yes and no,” he said. “But we have a problem.”
“Oh my god,” Cassie said forgetting her question. “I knew it, a problem, on Christmas Eve, tomorrow isn’t going to happen, is it? I’m going to wake up and it’s going to be December twenty-six again and everything will be the way it happened originally, and this will all have been a dream, on my god I can’t believe I got my hopes up.”
Neil laughed, “Calm down there, drama queen.”
“Huh,” she said.
“You’re so close,” he said, “You’re almost there, I’d say you’ve got about ninety-seven percent Christmas spirit.”
“What? I thought you gave me Christmas spirit, but then I had some originally too?”
“Yes, I did, I sensed you had over seventy-five percent, so I gave you some extra, and now you’re almost there and if you get there before midnight tomorrow you get a job.”
Cassie stared at him blankly.
“You can be me,” me said gesturing at himself.
“A middle-aged man in plaid?”
“No, an ambassador for Christmas, someone who can spread and keep the spirit alive all year long.”
“Oh, so not a real job with an income that is tax deductible?”
“You just lost three percent.”
“I was being sarcastic. So, what happens to you?”
“Nothing, I go on, and find someone else again next year and so on and so forth.”
“You’re really a real person and your name is Neil?”
He looked at her and she could’ve sworn she saw a twinkle in his blue eyes.
“You’re just not gonna answer all my important questions, are you?”
“Just remember you’re almost there.”
“What do I have to do, rescue a litter of kittens, deliver a truckload of gifts to orphans, ooh, I know, donate a kidney?”
Neil gave her a funny look.
“Come on, tell me what I need to do? I want to stay Cinderella past midnight.”
“For the last time, nothing is going back, I can’t have time reset twice.”
“Oh right, but what if I want to be a Christmas snow angel spirit thing?”
Neil rubbed his hands together as if he was cold. “We shall see. I must go now.”
“Got some presents to deliver?”
A light appeared between Neil’s hands and expanded and suddenly he was gone.
“Let’s cool,” Cassie said. “Just disappear.” She started to take off her boots but stopped for a moment and rubbed her hands together, nothing happened. “Ah, maybe later.”
The smell of pine and cinnamon woke up Cassie instead of her alarm clock. She sat up in bed, not understanding where the smell was coming from.
“Is it coming from me?” she asked out loud.
She sat up further and rubbed her hands together. Warmth started to spread from her fingers up towards her arms and for a moment a bright light started to appear between her palms.
She stopped and laughed, “Almost got it,” she said proudly.
It was early, she had plenty of time. She jumped in the shower, singing and walking in a winter wonderland the whole time. As soon as she was finally done, she started baking in the kitchen.
Two hours later she was walking down the street with a basket full of muffins. The local sheriff’s deputy drove by slowly, being careful of the sludgy snow.
“Good morning, Officer Harris,” she said.
The patrol car stopped and she offered him a muffin. Officer Harris offered her a ride, so Cassie was able to drop in on her family unexpectedly with a surprise.
“I can only stay a minute, Officer Harris is waiting,” she said handing the basket to her mom.
“You’re riding in a cop car,” her brother teased.
“Relax, I’m sitting up front.”
“This time,” he said under his breath.
“By the way, he said you still owe twenty hours of community service,” Cassie said before running back towards the car.
“You’re lucky these muffins are so delicious,” he yelled.
Cassie smiled as she entered the diner and saw Roger sitting back on a bar stool chowing away on his breakfast.
“Morning Cassie,” he greeted her.
“Merry Christmas Roger,” she said.
“Here you go,” she said handing a wrapped package to Tiffany. “I made some improvements.”
“You know how I love presents!”
Tiffany ripped into the package like a five-year-old. She pulled out a pair of bell bottom candy cane striped pants.
“Oh my god, I love them!”
“I know you love your MC Hammer time.”
“And they’re stretchy,” Tiffany said pulling on the waistband. She put them on right over her leggings.
“I’ve got hats for Louis and Louise too, and for Peggy,” Cassie pulled out a package for her as well.
“What’s this,” Peggy eyed the package suspiciously.
“Open it,” Tiffany said.
Peggy slowly opened the package as if it were a bomb instead of a present.
A slow smile spread across her face as she opened the box of fuzzy slippers.
“And I put gel inserts in them,” Cassie added.
“These puppies are going on RIGHT NOW,” Peggy said.
“Sweet,” Cassie said.
Everyone was in a good mood at the diner. And nobody made rude comments to Cassie as she ran around in her elf skirt and green and red striped leggings.
Cassie kept looking around for Neil, wondering if he’d make an appearance. She couldn’t figure out what was missing. What else did she need to do?
Derek came over to say hello and to also borrow coffee. He gave Cassie a funny look when he said there was something he needed to borrow and she said “coffee” before he could finish his sentence.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Derek said pulling Cassie aside for a moment.
“Okay,” she said quietly, not sure what to expect.
“I’m so happy I get to spend Christmas with you,” he said kissing her softly.
Cassie recovered and went back to working the tables feeling better than she could ever remember having felt before.
It began to snow lightly outside. Bo and Zach came in to say Merry Christmas to Cassie.
She came around the corner and after a few elf jokes they each gave her a hug and left. Peggy was in the back, singing badly to Christmas songs and shuffling around in her slippers.
It was six o’clock and the dinner rush was in full swing. Cassie had just finished with a family of five when she went to clear the table and realized one of the kids had forgotten their stuffed penguin.
“Oh shoot,” she said. She looked around and saw them walking across the street to where their car was parked.
She rushed outside without getting a coat, to catch them before they left.
“Hey kid,” she yelled.
Just as she entered the street a brown Buick Lesabre came skidding around the corner, hydroplaning in the snow, the driver tried to swerve again but the vehicle was going too fast. Cassie turned at the sound and saw the vehicle coming, unable to move fast enough she tried to brace for impact.
A loud crunching noise sounded followed by a thud.
Cassie felt number for a moment and then an icy chill went up her fingers and throughout her body. She realized she was standing; a crowd was forming but she couldn’t see what they were looking at.
“Nice job kid,” Neil said appearing by her side.
“What happened,” she asked confused.
“You made it. One hundred percent.”
“Just out of curiosity, how did I make it to a hundred?”
“You went to give the kid his penguin.”
“I guess that was decent.” Cassie folded her arms across her chest. “What are we all staring at by the way.”
“I think it’s time we go,” Neil said pulling her arm. He’d never touched her before.
“Go where,” she asked. She felt a need to see what was going on.
“Cassie don’t,” he said but she moved anyhow.
She moved around people, not sure how exactly since the crowd was quite large.
She stopped, frozen as she made it to the clearing and saw herself, lying on the ground, her body broken. Derek was there, she hadn’t noticed him approaching. He was doing CPR on her, his movements frantic.
A lightheadedness passed over Cassie, she didn’t feel grounded anymore.
“What is going on,” she screamed. “Neil, Neil!”
“Relax Cassie, I’m here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Remember the spirit I gave you, remember that feeling, and you’ll be fine,” he said as he moved to stand in front of her, blocking her from seeing herself dying on the ground.
“This, this whole time, I was supposed to die?”
Neil smiled but his eyes were sad. “I’m sorry kid, but your time was up. I just didn’t think it right that it ended the way it did.”
“So that whole thing about the spirit and being the ambassador for Christmas was all crap?”
“No that was true, it’s all true, and you’re pretty good at this.”
“Pretty good at what? Dying?”
“Rub your hands together,” he said.
Cassie didn’t move, so he grabbed her hands and started to rub them together for her. The light appeared instantly, growing bigger and stronger, as it did Cassie once again felt the warmth pour through her and her panic subsided, a calmness overcame her, she was on the cusp of acceptance.
“I never should’ve changed that tire,” she said.
“It was going to happen right before that,” he said.
“Is the driver okay,” she asked.
Neil smiled. “He’s just fine.”
“So, this is it then,” she said, a touch of sadness was trying to claw its way to her heart but the feeling of acceptance was too much for it.
“Come with me, we have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Cassie turned to go but took one last look at Derek, who was still trying furiously to save her, and she stopped.
“No,” she said firmly. “This isn’t right. I can’t go like this.”
“You’ve had your time.”
“Yes, but it’s not for me, I can’t do this to him, and to my family and my friends. I can’t die on Christmas. It will crush their Christmas spirit forever!”
Neil stopped to think.
“If my whole purpose is to keep my Christmas spirit around all year and to pass that on to others, then my death is going to wreck that.”
“I don’t make the rules kid, I just follow them.”
“This happened to you didn’t it, you died and then you became Santa or Father Christmas ghost of Christmas pasts and all that.”
“Yes,” he said slowly. “I was chosen to carry on the spirit, just as you have been chosen.”
“Well then, I need to be allowed to live to carry on my job. I will be ten times more effective alive than dead, that I promise you.”
“I need a moment,” he said before disappearing.
“Great, I’ll just stand here, and watch myself die,” Cassie said.
It felt like no time had passed at all when Neil returned.
“Father Time is willing to make a deal, you obtain and keep the Christmas spirit threefold and he will give you your time back.”
Cassie didn’t really understand what that meant, all she knew was that she was being given a second chance, again.
“I’ll take it,” she said.
“Let’s shake on it,” Neil said offering her his hand.
Cassie stuck out her hand “Deal,” she said.
“Merry Christmas Cassie,” he said.
They let go and Neil disappeared.
Something forceful was pressing down on Cassie’s chest, she closed her eyes and looked up to see Derek above her. He immediately stopped chest compressions and she took a giant breath.
“Thank god,” he said.
Cassie blinked several times, then slowly sat up. She gingerly moved her arms and legs, amazing to see that her body wasn’t broken, she was whole.
“I’m ok,” she said more to herself, “I just got the wind knocked out of me,” she said to him.
“It’s a miracle,” someone standing by said.
“Oh my god miss I’m so sorry,” a man said approaching, he must’ve been the driver.
“No worries, I’m okay,” she said as Derek helped her stand up, she locked eyes with him, and she wondered if he could see the twinkle that she felt in her eyes.
“Alright, well let’s everyone get back inside,” Louise said.
“Some of you fellas help us push this car off the road,” Louis said.
“I think the tire needs changing,” Cassie said.
Derek kept an arm around her as they walked into the dinner.
Cassie looked around but Neil was gone. She had a feeling she wouldn’t see him again.
The paramedics had already been called and even though Derek had already looked her over, he insisted she let them as well but nothing wrong could be found.
That night, after spending the loveliest Christmas night with her family and Derek, Cassie snuck outside just before midnight.
She looked up at the clear night sky and embraced the beauty of the stars. She knew now that every breath was a gift, every moment she earned.
“Thank you,” she said looking at the night sky.
Just for fun, she rubbed her hands together and a little golden light appeared, not enough to make her disappear or whatever it was that happened when Neil did it, but enough for her to feel the warmth of the spirit of Christmas.
Epilogue
“I thought we’d open with some Green Day,” Cassie said.
“Sweet dude I love it,” Eddie said.
It was two minutes before the show began, it was their first annual Christmas charity concert. Cassie’s whole family was in the audience, including her new fiancé Derek, she couldn’t get used to calling him that yet. He’d just proposed last night, the anniversary of when they met, the twenty-third of December.
Cassie laughed, peeking through the curtain, “I can’t believe they brought Rose,” she said looking at her brother and sister-in-law, holding the baby, who was wearing adorable baby earplugs.
“They probably couldn’t find a sitter, the entire freaking town is out there,” Bo said.
Zach was laughing to himself, “The anti-Christmas music Christmas concert.”
“Nothing keeps the Christmas spirit alive like rock n roll,” Cassie said.
“So, which one,” Eddie asked.
Cassie smiled, “There’s only one to kick off this thing.”
Eddie and Bo exchanged looks.
“Well, she is a rebel,” Bo said.
As Cassie sang the chorus, and slayed the guitar, she looked out at the crowd. At the very back, she saw a man standing alone, bobbing along subtly to the music.
Neil smiled crookedly at her.
Yes, she was keeping the spirit alive.
- The Christmas Bring Back - December 24, 2024
