Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit. "Peter Gunn" was created by Blake Edwards and produced by Spartan Productions.
A/N: This is a series of short Christmas-themed ficlets involving Peter Gunn and Edie Hart. All the action takes place during December 1960. There will be 31 entries, one for each day of the month.
Christmas Traditions: 1960
• Thursday, December 1
Edie Hart brushed snow from several boughs of a handsome Fraser fir she'd discovered in a corner of the Christmas tree lot farthest from the street. It had been propped upright to lean against the dark red brick wall of the hardware store that hosted the lot each year.
"This is a nice one."
She pulled off one red knit glove and touched the nearest twig, delighting in the feel of the soft dark green needles that brought back so many childhood memories.
"It's big enough to hold your ornaments and mine both, plus those Mama sent after Papa cleaned out the attic last month. We can stop at Chadwick's on the way home for lights and tinsel – " She smiled at the tall dark-haired man who came to stand next to her. "We need a tree stand, too. Can you think of anything else?" She put her glove back on.
"How about a smaller tree?" Peter Gunn's gaze raked the tree from top to bottom. "This thing must be eight feet tall. Even if we managed to get it upstairs in the elevator there wouldn't be room for it in the living room. How about this one?" He reached for a smaller tree of the same type, about six feet tall with beautifully spaced branches. They'd have to drive home with the top down but at least the tree would fit in the car. He walked across to the convertible and lowered the top, leaving Edie to guard the tree, then motioned to one of the kids who was manning the lot.
"Why are you in such a hurry to put up a tree anyway?" The PI reached into his pants pocket for some paper bills attached to a money clip. He handed the required dollar amount to the teenage son of the proprietor and he and Edie waited as the tree was tied to better fit into the back seat of the Plymouth Fury. "Today's only the first of the month. I remember as a kid that Mom never wanted Pop to put ours up until Christmas Eve. She said it took away from the meaning of the season to have it up any earlier."
"I know, Mama and Papa were the same way. Mama always had the other decorations up early but the tree had to– Pete?" She touched his arm and he turned to face her fully, his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he tried to keep them warm.
"Yes, dear heart?" His voice was a low rumble.
"Do you realize this will be our first real Christmas, Pete?"
"How do you figure that?" His blue gaze admired the blonde curls peeking from beneath the knit cap that matched her gloves. The medium-length white wool coat she wore was accentuated by the accessories and reminded him of candy canes and peppermints.
"Our first Christmas you didn't have a tree at all and I had that stick in a pot that sat on my coffee table. I managed to get six ornaments on it and they bent the puny little twigs almost in half." She gave him a reminiscent smile. "A lot of good things happened that Christmas. We spent time together and I met some of your friends. I learned new things about you and it was the first time I talked to Pop. But then it was over. After you took me to work the next evening you ended up with a client clamoring for your attention and I was back at my own apartment. I felt very lonesome there. I remember wishing Christmas had lasted longer and I missed you." She laughed softly. "And I think that was when I really began hating the sound of the telephone ringing because odds were there was someone on the other end of the line who was going to steal my time with you."
Pete pulled his hands from his pockets, circling his arms around her waist as he leaned in to place a kiss on the tip of her nose. It was a cold nose, and her cheeks were a rosy pink from the chill of a light breeze.
"And last year..."
Edie didn't like thinking of the previous year's Christmas. Pete had been in jail, arrested early that December after being framed for murder. Even to this day she wasn't sure how she'd made it through the holiday. Everything had been a blur at the time and remained so to this day. Maybe her subconscious was trying to protect her from any feelings that might arise if she dwelled on it too much.
"...last year there wasn't anything to celebrate," she finished.
"Yet here we are." The man's lips tilted in an affectionate smile. "But none of that really answers my question. Why so early with the tree?"
"I guess I want to make up for those times." She reached a gloved hand to the side of his face and returned his smile. "For the Christmas that was too short and for the Christmas that never was. This year everything is perfect. I want to celebrate it as long as possible. I want it to start earlier and last longer than any Christmas I've ever had."
This time the kiss found her lips, slow and lazy, their breaths mingling foggily in the icy winter air. The couple eventually drew apart at the sound of someone close by clearing his throat. Pete glanced over Edie's shoulder to find their teen-aged helper standing awkwardly and trying not to stare.
"I loaded the tree into your car, Mr. Gunn."
"Thanks, Terry." The PI reached into his pants pocket again and handed the boy a folded five dollar bill. "Merry Christmas."
"Gee, thanks, Mr. Gunn!" A big grin lit his freckled face and he carefully placed the cash in his inside jacket pocket, another customer beckoning him from across the lot. "I made sure not to scratch anything or poke any holes in the upholstery," came to them over his shoulder as he hurried away.
"Come on, Silly." Pete's arm around her waist ushered Edie through the snow to the car. "Let's get this thing home and save the rest of the shopping for tomorrow."
"I still have a few hours before I need to be at the club." She grinned at him as he slid behind the wheel. "Maybe we can think of some other ways to start celebrating early."
"Start our own Christmas tradition?"
She answered with a sly wink and tapped the side of her nose.
They made it home in record time.
The tree could wait until tomorrow, too...
