As the elevator doors open, I step forward without looking and crash into someone. A middle-aged woman with curly brunette hair in an oversized cat sweater and snug pair of jeans catches me as I stumble. Her yellow purse falls to the ground spilling its contents. My grocery bag hits the ground too but at least the woman and I don’t.
“I’m so sorry!” I apologize quickly.
I’ve always been clumsy, but I’ve never tried to run someone over before. I blame Oliver. If it wasn’t for my pathetic attempt to avoid him this never would have happened.
“It’s okay honey. Just a little Christmas craze is all.” She brushes the accident off kindly.
I smile even though I’m still dying inside. My face feels hot, and I can’t undersell my embarrassment. Dropping to my knees I start helping the woman collect her makeup and wallet that fell out of her purse.
“I really am sorry. This isn’t like me.” I say, more to soothe my humiliation than to assure her I’m not a crazy person who goes around tackling strangers.
“No harm no foul, really.” She tells me. Her smile is warm and comforting. The elevator doors close as we finish picking up her things. “I’m just headed to the store. Like you I have some last-minute shopping to do.”
Wincing I tell her, “The supermarket just closed. But one of the bigger chains might still be open.”
“Oh no!” She gasps, “The local store always stays open late on Christmas Eve.”
Shaking my head, I watch as she whips out her phone to call the same store I left. Can’t blame her. She looks like somebody’s mother and that means she has a Christmas dinner to cook.
“You’re right.” She murmurs after she gets the store’s answering machine. “My kids are all grown so it’s not that big of a deal. They can live without a ham for one year.”
Glancing down at the ham I’m holding I make a snap decision as we reach 15thfloor. An older man enters the elevator and I step around him to talk to the woman.
“You can have mine.” I tell her thrusting the bag out.
Her eyes widen and she pushes it back towards me. “No I couldn’t.”
“I insist.” I tell her, “It’s just me this year, and I bought such a large one. I’m sure it will be enough for your family and really, it’s too big for just me.”
She’s quiet for a moment and she stares at me with her blue eyes as if she’s reading my soul.
“If you’re sure.” She says demurely.
“I’m certain.” I say with a smile.
This is why I love Christmas after all. The common cheer and doing goodwill towards strangers. If I hadn’t ran into her then she wouldn’t have a ham to feed her family tomorrow.
She takes the ham and looks at it.
“Thank you.” She says, “You know it’s not going to be a big affair at my house this year. Why don’t you join us for dinner?”
“Oh no I couldn’t.” I say. I can’t intrude on their family dinner.
“Can’t share a meal with a stranger? But you can give one the ham you braved the holiday crowds for?” She counters and I sense I’m about to lose this battle. “You said you’ll be alone, and I can’t let a nice girl like you be alone after you’ve done this for me.”
The elevator dings and the doors open as I search for an excuse. But do I really want to find one. She’s so nice and kind. And I don’t want to be alone tomorrow.
“Okay.” I say and she hands me her phone with her contact list already pulled up. I add my name and number and she sends me a text right after.
“That’s the address. We live just outside the city. Six o’clock sharp and if you have an ugly sweater feel free to wear it. We really like to get into the spirit of things.” She says as she exits the elevator.
I push the button for my floor and stand there empty-handed wondering how quickly my plans changed. My mother always said I was flighty and impulsive, but I don’t think until now that I really saw the truth in her words. I’ve just agreed to go to a stranger’s holiday dinner.
But maybe I’ve made a friend.
My phone vibrates and I see that I have a text message.
I’m Sandra btw but you can call me Sandy
