Cold December Night
He breathed heavily on the cold evening. Even if he didn't mean for Meg to see, she saw it. He breathed out of his mouth causing the breath to spiral in a cloud of vapor making her snicker. He glanced over at her with that worried look.
"Don't be nervous." She teased him as they walked the slick sidewalk. He clutched the casserole Meg slaved over. She kept her red cardigan pulled tightly around herself.
"I'm not nervous," He lied through his chattering teeth.
Meg couldn't help the small laugh out of her mouth as they scaled the stairs. She helped him up holding his elbow making sure he, and the casserole, didn't slip and tumble to the ground. "You're terrible at lying."
George glanced over at her, and then to the red door of the country home, the only thing between the two of them and her family. He audibly swallowed. She turned to face him still holding onto his arm. Her other hand held her cardigan tightly still trying to bite back the cold.
"They're going to love you," She assured him knowing he was most worried about what her family would think. She knew they would love him even after such a short time of dating. He was sweet, and adorable. He cared about Meg, and that was the most important thing. They would love him based solely on the fact that Meg loved him. That was all that mattered. He turned to her hunching slightly.
"How do you know?"
"Because I love you, and they've been excited to meet you since I last telephoned." She tucked her hair behind her ear shying her glance away. She still felt a little nervous alerting him to the fact she talked about him outside of their conversations. To be fair, she couldn't stop thinking about him when they were apart. She wanted to be with him, and when she wasn't with him, she wanted to talk about him.
"Well, maybe I can do this." He let out a low chuckle, and she looked back at him.
"I know you can," She returned the faith. She looked over him carefully taking in his appearance as she had many times earlier. His shaggy brown hair poked out from under the Santa hat that adorned his head. His coat was pulled snuggly over a green one, matching her red cardigan. He looked dapper in his black slacks and matching dress shoes. He was handsome.
She let a small smile peak at her cheeks while she reached forward to adjust the Santa hat. His eyes looked up to watch her fingers making it easy for her to pull him down slightly and surprise him with a soft kiss. She stood on her toes to reach him and not bump the casserole as her fingers slid from the hat to his face. He seemed at a struggle with himself wanting to pull her closer, but the casserole in his hands prohibited it.
Meg didn't let the kiss linger for too long, keeping it short and sweet before she pulled away. As her heels touched back onto the porch, she shifted her from one foot to another.
"We better announce ourselves or they'll think we slipped and fell in the snow." She let out a nervous laugh, her breath now giving away the nervousness.
"Don't be nervous." He reiterated teasingly before they both turned towards the door, knocking, and entering for a warm Christmas.