Opening my iPad, I respond with, “Of course! You guys can leave them on their easels, and I will take care of the rest. You’ll receive an email and a text once they are dry and wrapped for pick up. We’ll be closed for the next week.”
“Again, thank you so much. Merry Christmas,” she says happily as she hands me a few bills.
Not glancing at the money, I thank her genuinely. “Of course. It’s what I love to do. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
After she walks away and her family makes their way out, I finally look at what she gave me—a hundred dollars.
Holy shit.
When I look back up, the family is already walking outside. I guess I was good this year.
Deciding to clean up while the rest of the group hangs around, I throw all of the brushes in a bucket and grab the palettes to take them to the back to clean. Then, I quickly wash them before heading back out to gather the materials that just need to be stored.
Expecting the remaining class to still be there, I’m frozen in place when I see the only person who remains is Noelle.
“Where did everyone go?” I ask, walking up to the counter, surprised at the now empty space.
She is sitting straight on the stool, looking rather nervous as she says, “They wanted me to tell you that they will be picking theirs up after the break as well.”
Weird that they wouldn’t just wait a few more seconds to tell me themselves, but I dismiss the thought because of the butterflies stirring in my stomach being alone with her again.
“Okay,” I say quietly, marking that in everyone’s account.
Noelle’s voice doesn’t hold its usual confidence as she states, “I have a proposition for you, Kat.”
Nerves instantly flood my body for no reason, and my palms sweat. Calmly and gracefully, I walk around the counter while asking, “Which is what exactly?”
She tilts her head back, looking up and straining her neck. “Well, I’m in a bit of a pickle.” She slouches slightly as she sighs. “I’m going to my parents’ house for the holidays, and I was supposed to bring my girlfriend to meet everyone.” Her fingers tap on the counter. “But the problem is, we broke up a while ago. And I can’t bring myself to tell them because my mom went and got her a custom stocking to match ours and a ton of gifts, and my family can’t stop talking about how excited they are to meet her. She would have been the first girl I ever brought home to my parents’ home.”
My heart rate rises as she continues to talk. I have a suspicion on where this is heading.
“Which leads me to you. You are here by yourself for the holidays, which no one should ever be alone on Christmas, and I am in need of a girlfriend this Christmas to bring home to my parents’ house.” She tilts her head to the side. “Her name is Katy, which is close enough to Kat. I mean, Kat could even be a nickname for Katy, honestly.” Her jaw clenches before she asks, “I was wondering if you would be interested in coming to my parents’ with me and pretending to be my ex. You set the boundaries; you set the rules. It’s all on your terms. You won’t have to be alone on Christmas, and I won’t have to disappoint my parents.”
I don’t know if it’s the newfound self-confidence I seemed to stumble upon today, or the fact that I will be ending things with Nic when he comes back, or because I want to do something in my life just because I can. But not a second after she finishes talking, I say, “I’m in.”
I am absolutely insane.
She immediately lights up. “You’re serious? I mean, take a few minutes to think about it.”
The only Christmas I have ever spent with family was Nic’s family the first year we were together. It was the worst Christmas of my life. And that is saying something when I basically spent all the other holidays alone.
They are obsessed with the material aspects of the holidays, and it makes me sick. It’s all about the most luxurious gifts, thousands and thousands of dollars thrown around like candy. They have never wanted for anything, and I have always wanted for everything. But more than the gifts, I have always wanted a sense of belonging at Christmas.
Although this won’t truly be my whole self, as they will think I’m Katy, it will be me in all the ways it matters. In all the ways Nic has never wanted. The only thing untrue about me will be my name, but even then, it’s not far off.
What an adventurous Christmas I will always be able to look back on, good or bad. I don’t need to think about it more. I don’t need to think about it at all really.
“I am one hundred percent positive. When do we leave? And how long will we be there? And where are we going?” I question with no doubt in my voice.
She squeals and jumps off of the stool, throwing her arms around my waist for a hug. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”
When she pulls away, her eyes are wide, and her teeth are clenched. “Welllll, it’s short notice, I know. And it’s at their home in Saranac Lake. We can be back the day after Christmas. But don’t worry; you pack, and I’ll take care of everything else. I will pay for anything you need or want during the trip. You just enjoy it. I owe you for saving my ass anyway.”
I laugh and almost turn down her offer, but honestly, I don’t have a lot of money, and with me needing to get a place right away when I get back, I can’t afford to spend a lot. “Okay, well, thank you. But you still didn’t say when.”
She tucks a strand of that stunning blonde hair behind her ear. “In, like, two and a half hours.”
My jaw drops. “Noelle! Oh my God. I have to finish cleaning up, get the paintings put in the back, and pack!”
