Chapter 5

The bell over the door chimes as I push open the door and step outside into the now blustery day but I'm laughing too hard to notice the strong wind blowing around me.

"Are you serious? You actually set off a stink bomb in your kitchen?" I double over from laughter and clutch my side where a stitch has developed.

Jonas chuckles slightly and nods. "It was an accident, but yeah…"

I take a moment to catch my breath and calm myself down. "Who knew you were such a bad boy, Jonas?"

He adopts an exasperated expression but I see the corner of his mouth twitch, "Okay, if you're finished making fun of me, maybe we can take a walk around town and you can show me around."

I freeze. It sounds suspiciously like he's asking me out on a date, which I'm not ready for but then I quickly brush the thought away; it was just a friendly suggestion, nothing more.

"Sure. But I'm going to have to do a bit of shopping along the way," I say, watching him carefully to gauge his reaction.

He shrugs, "Sounds good. But you might want to put that scarf on. It's getting cold."

I glance down and realize that my scarf is draped over my arm and that it is in fact really cold. Wrapping it snuggly around my neck, I shoulder my bag and head down the block, pointing out certain landmarks. We wander around for a while, and every so often Jonas or I will stop at a shop window if we see something of interest.

It's around four o'clock and I'm beginning to feel a little frozen when Jonas tugs me over to the Concord Toy Shop. For a moment, we stand in front of the shop window and Jonas looks eagerly at the display. I take the opportunity to observe him out of the corner of my eye. He's still as cute as ever with his dark hair and gray eyes and lean frame. The wind has whipped color into his cheeks and his eyes are animated. As well as being good-looking, he's also really easy to talk to.

Soon after Jonas and Josh arrived, Josh announced that he had errands to do around town but that Jonas should stay and try some of Gigi's famous soup. Manners demanded that I ask him to sit with me and after a few awkward minutes, the ice was broken and I rediscovered a "kindred friend" to use Emma's term. In the four hours we've been hanging out we've talked about everything, spanning from childhood mischief to pet peeves. I even told him about Darcy even though it's still pretty raw. He was sympathetic but not pitying which I was grateful for.

"Jess?" Jonas is watching me, his head tilted to the side.

"Yeah?" I ask, snapping my attention back to the real world.

"I asked if we could go in the toy shop," Jonas says patiently.

"Definitely. It's always fun to look around, even if we are too old for anything in there," I say, brushing past him to get to the door with a cheerful wreath strung with lights hung on it. As Jonas follows me into the store I catch him watching me with a thoughtful look on his face which I pretend not to see.

The store is crowded with children gazing wistfully at toy trains and stuffed animals and parents rushing to buy last-minute presents. I make my way to the back of the store where it's slightly less crowded and browse through the books in stock which include The Polar Express, The Cat and the Hat, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As I absent-mindedly flip through a fairy tale, I glance around at the brightly lit store decked out with decorations and filled with holiday spirit. I feel myself being filled with holiday joy and realize that despite everything with Darcy, I am truly happy in this very moment. I'm also surprised to find that when Jonas appears next to me, my happiness doubles, leaving me feeling almost giddy.

"Hey," he grins at me, raising his voice so he can be heard over the babble of the store.

"Hey to you too." I give him a smile.

"So I was thinking that maybe we could get out of here…?"

"Of course, let me just buy something," I say.

"Okay, I'll meet you outside," and with that, he vanishes back into the crowd.

I pick up the copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and wonder briefly if what I'm doing is stupid. Debating briefly, I decide to just go with it, and head to the register to pay. After I've tucked the book into my bag, I exit the store to find that it's snowing lightly and Jonas is lounging on a bench that is covered with a dusting of snow, his back to me and watching the snow float down.

"I'm ready to go," I say.

He jumps and then gets up, brushing the snow off his jacket. "Get what you wanted?"

I nod. "You want a ride back to…?"

"Uh-" He hesitates slightly. "I actually made plans to meet my brother back at Half-Moon Farm, so a ride there would be great."

"Sure, my truck's parked a few blocks away," I gesture vaguely up Main Street.

"Thanks. Let me take some of those," he says, grabbing some of my shopping bags before I can protest.

"Such a gentleman," I tease him, throwing him a grin.

"It's called having manners, Jess," he sends me a mock glare. "And it seems like you could use some yourself."

I laugh and as we walk towards the truck, the playful banter continues, brightening my mood further. When we reach where I left the truck, I unlock the doors and toss all my shopping into the back before climbing into the driver's seat. I notice that Jonas is still standing on the sidewalk.

"Jonas! You going to get in the car or what?"

He starts, "Sorry. I was just looking at the snow and the street lights."

I look and notice that the sky is beginning to darken and that the lights have begun to turn on, casting a warm glow over the street.

"It's nice isn't it," I say softly, not wanting to break this unnatural silence.

"Yeah. My hometown never looks like this," Jonas says, settling himself in the passenger seat and strapping on a seatbelt.

I start the engine before answering. "I thought all little towns looked like this come Christmas time."

"Nope," Jonas replies. "Some can be pretty damn grim."

I laugh slightly and in the darkening car, I see him turn towards me. "What's so funny?" he asks.

"I'm not sure," I say honestly. "I'm just in a good mood."

His eyes widen comically. "Folks, a miracle has just occurred. Jessica Delaney has announced that she is in a 'good mood'. This moment will go down in history!"

I swat him playfully. Honestly, it feels like he's been my best friend forever and I haven't just met him for the second time. "Hey! That's not fair! I'm usually in a good mood."

Jonas laughs, a deep ringing sound that's infectious. "I know; it's just fun to tease you."

I roll my eyes and turn into the driveway where I park behind the mini-van. I guess that the rest of my family is home and my suspicions are confirmed when I see a light in a kitchen and shadows moving around.

Switching off the engine, I turn my body so I'm facing Jonas. "Did Josh set a time for you two to meet?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, Josh has never been one for setting times. He gets carried away with something and completely forgets the time."

"Well, I think for once he's kept to his word. There he is." I point to a figure crossing the barnyard, hunched against the wind that's blowing.

"Wow, that's a first," Jonas murmurs.

I shake my head in mock disbelief and climb out of the car, grabbing my bags as I go. "Josh!" I yell, waving my free arm.

"Jess!" he calls back, coming towards me with long, confident strides. "How was my baby brother?"

"Fine, thanks," Jonas says, sounding disgruntled. I chuckle. He comes around the truck to stand beside me and take some of the bags.

Josh throws an arm around his brother who's taller than him by a couple of inches and laughs loudly. "Let's get you guys inside, it's freezing and snowing hard now and I'm not wearing a coat."

"Were you going to the barn?" I ask.

"Just to check up on one of the goats but it can wait," he says, waving a hand dismissively.

He easily plucks the remaining bags from me and heads towards the house. Jonas and I follow him and together we all crowd into the foyer, placing the bags on various tables, shedding our various coats and other layers and then join my family in the kitchen. My brothers are at the table involved in a heated card game of War while my mother chops vegetables at the counter and my father prepares a roast chicken.

"Hi mom," I say cheerfully.

"Hey sweetie," she says, twisting around to look at me. She takes me in, my flushed face and bright eyes, looks satisfied, and turns back to the vegetables.

"What, no hello for your old man?" my father teases me.

I smile and give him a warm hug and even drop a kiss on my brothers' heads, much to their disgust.

My father looks at Jonas and Josh who are standing by the doorway awkwardly. "Do you boys want to stay for dinner? I know it's Christmas Eve and all, but we humbly offer you two chicken and roast potatoes. If you don't have plans of course."

"Only if you're sure we won't intrude," Josh says.

"Not at all," my mother says. "Christmas Eve is pretty casual around here. No fuss, no muss."

Josh and Jonas settle themselves at the table and start joking with the twins and I take the chance to dash upstairs with my shopping. Once in my room, I dump everything on the floor and madly search through the bags for the copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that I bought today. I finally find it, and grab a pen from my desk. Flipping it open, I find a blank page and write

Jonas—

Thank you so much for not letting me being the Grinch that stole everyone's Christmas. I hope you enjoy this present—I guess I was wrong when I said the toy store only had things we were too old for.

I frown and tap my pen against my chin. How do I sign it? I rack my brain and all of a sudden I remember Cassidy telling me about the book Tristan got her and how he signed it "fondly". I smile and finish the note.

I know it may be too young for you but it was one of my favorites when I was little.

Fondly,

Jess

I dig through my closet and find some Christmas themed wrapping paper. I quickly cut a square off and wrap the book up, writing in thick letters JONAS. Scurrying back downstairs, I leave it on the hall table and enter the kitchen. My father is just taking the chicken out of the oven along with roast potatoes and my mother is sliding vegetables onto a platter.

"Just in time," my father says, smiling at me.

"Yeah, getting out of setting the table," Ryan scowls.

I ruffle his hair to his annoyance and take a seat at the table between my mother and Jonas. Dinner is delicious and the conversation is full of laughter and jokes. An hour and a half later all our plates are clean and everyone is starting to look contented and sleepy.

Josh pushes back his chair. "Well Delaney family, that was delicious and I've enjoyed your company but Jonas and I should probably get going."

"Wait!" I leap out of my chair and get my present for Jonas. I return to the kitchen and thrust it at Jonas, suddenly feeling bashful. "Here you are. Happy early Christmas."

He looks pleased and a bit embarrassed but he pulls off the wrapping anyway. He opens it and reads the inscription and begins to laugh. "Thanks Jess. And you weren't being a Grinch, I promise."

My family laughs and for another half hour the conversation continues. Finally Josh clears his throat, "Jonas and I should probably leave. And I mean it this time."

My father smiles and Jonas and Josh get up to find their coats. For the next five minutes, it's chaos. Everyone mills around saying goodbye and finally Jonas and I are next to each other.

He hugs me and I notice he smells like sandalwood and soap. Finally he lets go and I step back, slightly intoxicated from his closeness. "Thank you for the present Jess. Honestly. I'm just sorry that I didn't get you're a present."

"It's okay," I assure him. "It was nice to see you again."

He smiles and pulls me in for another hug. "Bye Jess. See you soon."

He and Josh leave and I stand there, still smiling. Life is good.

Author's Note: I'm so, so sorry for the long wait (over a month!) but I've been super busy the past few weeks. I hope you all are still interested in this story despite the lack of updates but I promise they'll be more frequent now that everything's calmed down. Any suggestions are welcome

-Ana