Because Paige had come up with the idea of spending Christmas with Emily's family so close to their travel date, she wasn't able to get a seat on Emily's flight. She exchanged her original ticket for a later flight on the same day, a bit relieved that Emily wouldn't have to see her airport-induced grumpiness again. Emily would have liked to have had a friendly face next to her for the flights – someone into whom she could sink her nails during take-offs and landings. They rode to the airport in San Jose together, went through security (with no wanding incidents) together, and Paige waited with Emily at her gate until her flight took boarded. Great, Paige thought, Now what am I going to do for the next two hours?
She decided to get something to eat. That didn't kill much time. She watched people for a while. That got boring rather quickly. She started working her way through the pictures on her phone. That helped to make the time fly. There were so many pictures of Emily and of the two of them together. She realized that she had a smile on her face.
Emily sat next to a couple that was a little older than her parents. The woman talked with her throughout the flight. She was just so calm and self-assured that Emily hardly noticed that the plane had taken off. Her husband seemed to know every landmark between San Jose and Chicago, and he, periodically drew Emily's attention to things as they overflew them, apologizing each time for interrupting, or saying something like, "I know that you probably want to sleep, but here's something you have to see!" The two of them were an absolute delight. Emily found herself wanting what they had. She could see herself talking to a young lady on a plane some thirty years down the line. And Paige would definitely be looking out of the window, announcing every landmark.
"Do you have a boyfriend back home?" Gloria asked her.
"I…" Emily hesitated, not knowing how it would go over, "I have a girlfriend at Stanford."
"Oh, a girlfriend!" Gloria sounded excited, as though she were meeting a visitor from some exotic, foreign land. "I shouldn't assume," she said as her hand descended on Emily's arm. "I apologize." Emily smiled, to let her know that she wasn't offended. Gloria asked about Paige: How they met, how long they had been together, where Paige was spending Christmas. Gloria and her husband were flying out to see their oldest son's family just outside Chicago. "We're used to having everyone at our house, but the kids wanted to host Christmas this year," she explained. "It's good to let them start traditions of their own, but Chicago in December?"
As they waited on the ground in Chicago for the doors to open, Emily squeezed Gloria's forearm. "You know, I hate flying. I'm terrified of the take-offs and landings. So, I just wanted to say thank you. I've never felt so relaxed on a plane before."
"You're welcome, dear," Gloria said with a warm hand on top of Emily's. "Have a great Christmas. And, listen, I want you and Paige to come visit us sometime, okay? Fred," she said, turning to her husband, "Give Emily a Christmas card." Fred reached into his carry-on and pulled out a custom-printed post card with a picture of them in garish costumes. He was dressed as a carton of milk, and she was dressed as a wedge of Swiss cheese. The caption read, "The Herndons Wish You a Dairy Christmas."
"It's silly, I know," Gloria apologized, "But there's our address," she said, pointing to where it was printed on the back of the card. She wrote her phone number underneath it. "Now, I'm serious! I want to meet this girlfriend of yours! Promise me?" Emily nodded her head and gave her new friends a hug.
When she got to Philadelphia, she called her dad to let him know that she had arrived and went to check the arrivals board to find out at what gate Paige's flight was due to dock. Paige had checked both of their bags so that Emily wouldn't have to leave the terminal to go and claim her bag and tote it around till Paige's flight got in.
Emily exchanged texts with Hanna to pass the time. She found herself getting very tired. In what seemed like no time, though, a plane taxied up to the jetway. Once the doors were open, Emily didn't have too long to wait for Paige to emerge, and, Emily noticed that she wasn't alone. She saw her girlfriend was talking to a tall, athletic looking guy in a Purdue sweatshirt. And she was smiling - not being the grumpy traveler whom Emily remembered. Paige's eyes lit up when she saw Emily. "Hey," Emily overheard her tell the athletic guy, "There's my girlfriend, now!" Paige grabbed her as if it they hadn't seen each other in much longer than the eight hours that had actually passed and gave her a kiss, forgetting, for a moment, about her new friend. He stood awkwardly by, not knowing whether or not to wait to be introduced. Paige eventually remembered that there were people other than Emily in the world. "Oh, sorry. Brad, this is Emily. Emily, Brad swims for Purdue!"
"I know that you're an amazing swimmer," Brad said as they shook hands. "Your girlfriend couldn't stop talking about you!" Paige dipped her rapidly blushing head. "It's cool, though," he added genuinely. "It's great to meet someone else who's passionate about the water. Merry Christmas, you two!"
Emily gave Paige a coy look. "Couldn't stop talking about how great your girlfriend is, huh?" Paige smiled resignedly and shook her head, knowing that she'd never hear the end of it. "I know exactly how that feels. By the way, we're going to dinner with these fine folks back in California," she said, showing Paige the post card. "They can't wait to meet you after I talked their ears off about how great you are!"
Once they had their luggage, Emily called her father in the cell phone waiting lot, and he pulled his SUV around. Emily was delighted to see a dusting of snow on the ground. The closer they got to Rosewood, the more snow there was. Emily couldn't contain herself. She was bouncing up and down in her seat, pointing out to her father and Paige how magical it all looked.
When they finally made it home, Emily bounded out of the front seat like a bull let out of the chute, charging off in every direction. Paige whipped her phone out of her back pocket and began posting videos to Instagram – Emily making snow angels, Emily throwing snowballs at her dad, Emily tossing handfuls of snow into the air and watching in delight as the flakes floated to the ground in slow motion. "You'd think that she'd never seen snow before!" Paige said to Emily's dad.
"She gets like this every year. Ever since she was a little girl. I don't know what she'd do if we moved to someplace warm."
Emily and Paige were settled in their sleeping bags in front of the Christmas tree when Emily broke the silence. "So. It was just kind of weird when you stepped off the plane with Brad tonight."
"Weird?"
"I guess I was surprised to see you smiling like that. I mean, that's not how you were when you traveled with me. And then I saw that he was there."
"Emily, you think..."
Emily rolled over to face Paige, quickly cutting her off. "No, Paige, I don't. I don't think that at all." She rolled over again, not willing to face Paige as she exposed her fear. "But, I admit, I was worried for a second by the sight. And I couldn't help wonder..." Emily didn't finish.
"Whether or not I'm still into guys?" Paige guessed.
Emily turned over briefly to look at Paige again, turning back quickly. "It's okay. I'm sorry. You don't have to say anything. I know that you love me."
Paige tugged at Emily's shoulder to get her to look at her. Emily rolled over again. "Yeah," Paige affirmed, "I do love you. And, to be honest, I don't know whether or not I'm still into guys. I haven't been into anyone other than you since I got to know you. When I was with Sean, it wasn't because he was a guy, and, now that I'm with you, it's not because you aren't a guy. I'm with you because I'm in love with you, Emily."
"Thank you," Emily said. She gave Paige a kiss. "I love you, too." She kissed Paige again, more slowly. "I love that we can talk about things." She rolled over one final time, spooning her sleeping bag against Paige's and relaxing into sleep.
The next morning, Emily got Paige up early to bake Christmas cookies, which they loaded into the car and drove to Shady Days Nursing Home. Emily went from room to room spreading Christmas joy. Paige was in awe of her girlfriend. Her love of Christmas wasn't just personal; it was something that radiated from her onto everyone whom she encountered. Paige could see how excited all of the residents were to see her.
Mrs. Lacey was a long-time resident who was rarely able to leave her room. When Emily came by, her face brightened. "I didn't think that I'd see you this year! They told me that you went away to college!"
"I did, but I couldn't miss Christmas in Rosewood! And it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't get a chance to see you, Mrs. Lacey!"
As they talked, Emily learned that, because Mrs. Lacey had fallen and hurt her hip recently, she wasn't able to go and hear the choir from Rosewood High when they visited this year. "I'm so sorry," Emily said, "But Paige and I can sing some carols with you!" Paige, who had been standing off to the side beaming as she watched Emily's interaction with Mrs. Lacey, suddenly widened her eyes in panic. When Emily grabbed her by the arm, Paige protested, "But I can't sing, Emily!"
"Oh, sure you can!" Emily assured her. "It's Christmas! Mrs. Lacey, what's your favorite Christmas carol?"
"I've always loved 'O, Holy Night.'"
Soon, Paige, Emily, and Mrs. Lacey were singing. Emily sounded like an angel. Mrs. Lacey's voice was weak but steady. Paige did her best. Paige didn't know that there was more than one verse, but Emily and Mrs. Lacey sang three verses from memory. Paige faked it as best as she could, joining in on the chorus. Everyone was in tears by the time they said their good-byes and Merry Christmases.
In the corridor, Paige hugged her girlfriend tight. "I love you so much right now!"
"I love you, too," Emily replied. "I'm so glad that you came to Rosewood with me. And thanks for coming to visit the seniors with me. You really made their day."
When they finished at the nursing home, Emily drove Paige to one of hiking trails with that led up to the lake. They walked arm in arm, with Emily resting her head on Paige's shoulder. "Thank you for coming to spend the break with me," Emily said.
"Thank you for inviting me," Paige replied. "This is the best Christmas that I've had in a long time."
"Same here, Paige." Emily pulled off the trail and leaned up against a tree, her arms around Paige's waist. "You know that Christmas is my favorite time of year. It always means family to me. My dad can't always be where we are, but he always manages to find his way home for Christmas. I don't want to freak you out Paige, but I guess that what I'm trying to say is that it just feels right to have you with us." Emily's eyes were focused on her fingers that were idly fiddling with the zipper on the breast pocket of Paige's coat. "I mean, you feel like family, to me. I… really love you."
Paige smiled. "Come here," she said, drawing her into a kiss. "I love you, too!"
"Come on!" Emily grabbed her gloved hand and pulled her toward the lake. "Let's go watch the skaters!" Emily half trotted the few yards to the frozen lake that had been turned into a skating rink, turning back to smile at Paige, occasionally, to confirm that Paige was as excited as she was. There was a wooden stand off to the side. Emily led Paige over to it and bought two steaming cups of hot chocolate. They sat on a bench, Emily leaning into Paige, as they watched the skaters and sipped their hot chocolate.
After they had downed their drinks and the chill started to set in, Emily worked her way under Paige's sleeve, pleading, "Warm me up, Paige!" Paige obligingly rubbed Emily's arms to generate some heat. As much as they would have liked to have stayed in the moment forever, the cold and Emily's family beckoned, so they headed back to the car, cranked up the heat, and drove back. They huddled in front of the fireplace as the smell of dinner wafted in from the kitchen. Paige recalled Emily's words from before. "This feels like family," she echoed.
"Hey, you two, don't get too comfortable!" Wayne's voice boomed. "Let's get cleaned up and get the table set!"
Paige and Emily obediently got up to set the table and helped Pam set out the food. Pam wanted a complete recap of the girls' day together, including information on how several of the Shady Days residents were faring. She was excited at the mention of the skaters on the lake. "Ooh, Wayne, when are we going to go? When was the last time that you took me ice skating?"
Wayne just laughed. "I don't even know where I packed away my skates!"
Pam rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, you're useless! I guess you girls are going to have to take me! Paige," Pam turned, placing a hand top of Paige's, "do you skate?"
Paige laughed at the direction that the conversation had taken. "I've been known to lace up the old ice skates on occasion! If I had known, I would've brought my skates with me! Actually, no; I don't even have them with me at Stanford."
"We can get you a pair of skates! I'm sure that someone has a pair that you can borrow!"
As they were clearing the dishes, Emily spoke up. "Sorry about all that ice-skating stuff. I don't know where that came from!"
Paige squeezed Emily's shoulder. "I love your mom, Em. It feels as if she's known me all her life."
"That's my Mom - she's never met a stranger! She's really glad that you're here. She was so excited when I told her that you were coming for Christmas." The girls finished up in the kitchen and went to join Emily's parents in front of the TV.