Christmas Carnival
S: Tan and Street take their better halves to a double couple date.
Smell of pine and holly wafted all the way through the lighted stands; all around were laughs and chats, and magic hovered in the air. Though plainly different, this carnival somehow reminded Molly of the toy drive the SWAT organized precisely one year prior, where she'd seen Jim for the first time.
"I know that look, girl," Bonnie said, nudging at Molly. "You're doomed."
"What?"
"You and Jim," Bonnie went on, pointing her head toward Street and Tan, who were lining up at a food stand a few feet from them. "Is it a serious thing?"
Molly shrugged, feeling warmth color her cheeks. Though considering herself a straight shooter, talking about this now with a fellow SWAT guy's partner seemed to make her love story with Jim a lot more real and a lot more advanced.
"You can't lie to me. The way you look at him? It's the same look I see in the mirror after leaving the bed I've shared with Victor all night."
"Jim wants to take things slow, but I know he's very serious in his intentions." Molly beamed unconsciously. "He even went talking to my father, and I feel things are dangerously warming up between us."
"I knew it," Bonnie almost squirmed.
"What about you? You've been living with Tan for quite a while now," Molly threw in, eager to change the subject. "Are you expecting a special gift this year?"
Now it was Bonnie's turn to blush. "Oh, dear, not for Christmas. I don't think so." She glanced at her boyfriend to make sure he didn't acknowledge they were talking about him. "But I think we're headed there. At least I hope."
The girls' talk was interrupted by the guys rejoining them, their hands full and a broad grin on their faces. It seemed they had challenged each other on who could buy more sweets. Bonnie exchanged a look with Molly, mouthing boys, and they both shook their heads.
"Here," Street said, handing Molly a paper cup. "Hot cocoa with cinnamon, I know you like it."
"And I bought you cocoa with marshmallows," Tan interrupted, handing a cup to Bonnie. "I know you loved it since you were a little girl." He shot a glance at his mate. "All sweet little girls love it, right?"
"Hey," Street sounded offended, looking down at his cup. "I have them too."
"Yeah," Tan grinned, "I know. That just proves my theory."
"Well, better than sipping black coffee, Mr. Grinch."
The girls exchanged another meaningful look. Was this what it felt like taking children to such kinds of places?
Nibbling at marzipan and sipping their hot drinks, the couples proceeded through the lanes of stands—Tan and Bonnie first and Street and Molly following. The cocoa and the sweets had been a cute thought from the guys, however, with that load to carry, walking hand by hand now was impossible. Despite that detail, Molly was truly enjoying their little trip.
This village at the foot of the hills, surrounded by a forest of pine trees, was quite surreal. The only missing thing there was snow—one of the few prices of living in Pittsburgh was the chance of a white Christmas, Molly nostalgically thought.
"Uh-oh," Bonnie's voice drew Molly's attention from a stand of glittering snowballs to Tan and Street, grinning at each other broadly. They were now to the part of the fair where the game-stands were placed; they all knew what was coming.
The guys aimed first at Frosty Snowball Toss, then Knock Down—with cans decorated with reindeer, which Molly found a little weird—and then again to Pop the Balloon with darts. Soon the girls were quite full of stuffed animals and things, and the guys hadn't even reached the Shooting Range stand.
For a while, both Bonnie and Molly had cheered for their respective partner, but soon keeping track of who was winning became quite a challenge itself.
In the meantime, a little crowd of kids had gathered around them, eyeing the two SWAT officers with plain amazement. Silent understanding passed between the two women. In no time, they started to give away almost all their prizes. Bonnie kept a rather fluffy little monkey thing with a Santa hat, while Molly held to herself a medium-sized stuffed Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
The moment the guys realized what was happening, they stopped betting against each other and finally focused again on their dates.
"Fair enough," Street said, shrugging. "But I want to put on the records that I was winning."
"In your dreams!" said Tan, clapping his hand on Street's shoulder.
Then off they went, all smiles and glinting eyes until they reached the far end of the carnival and the one last stand. There were wood locks, all painted in white, and boxes and boxes of ornaments and tiny clothes. This time, a challenging look crossed Molly and Bonnie's faces. They grinned at the sign—which said Build a Snowman—then at each other.
"I bet Victor and I can make the best snowman in the history of snowmen."
The guys stood with puzzled faces; clearly, they had never seen such a fair game with blocks of woods to use as the snowman's body instead of snow.
"And I bet Jim and I can beat you with our eyes closed."
Street leaned toward Molly and whispered to her ear, "Appreciate your competitiveness, but I've never even built a real one, let alone this thing…"
"You scared now?" Tan teased, grinning alternatively at him and his girlfriend.
Street's eyes lit and he took Molly's hand. "Let's crash them."