Christmas wish

'And the reindeer even ate the carrots,' Ryder whispered, leaning closer to Joey as if his words betrayed a closely guarded secret.

"They did?" Joey smiled, leaning back on the couch as the little boy crawled up beside him.

"Uh huh," he nodded. "Mama said the reindeer were probably real glad we left them something too because she bets Santa doesn't share his cookies, but I don't know if reindeer would eat cookies. Do they Uncle Joey?"

He hadn't seen that picture in years. In fact he wasn't even sure he knew it existed. Santa and Mrs. Claus...Kelly's smiling face...his arm around her...

"Uncle Joey!" Ryder's voice boomed beside him.

Joey's eyes darted back towards his nephew. "Yeah," he said softly, blinking hard to refocus. "Yeah, buddy. Sorry..."

"Do they?" Ryder repeated, his wide eyes shining up at him.

Joey stared at him, wondering just how long he'd been lost in his thoughts. "Uh..."

"What are you two up to in here?" Jessica called, walking in to the room.

"Jess." Joey stood, wrapping his arms around his sister and smiling. "Merry Christmas. It's so good to see you."

"You too," she smiled, glancing back at Ryder. "I'm sure Ryder's been giving you the play-by-play of our morning."

"It's been great. I love talking to him. Sounds like you all had a great time."

Jessica nodded. "Hey Ryder, why don't you run outside and show Grandma how much you love the scooter she bought you."

"Ok Mama."

Hearing the door close, she turned her attention back to Joey. "Go ahead," she began, moving towards the couch and taking a seat.

"What?"

"Joey," she smiled. "We both know why you were so anxious for me to get over here. Even Brody knew...and let's face it, he's a man."

"I wanted to see my niece and nephew on Christmas," Joey protested, knowing it was a lost cause.

"Right..." Jessica sighed. "Come on Joey...Just ask me the question you want to ask..."

He sighed, moving across the room and taking a seat beside her. "I really did want to see the kids," he said quietly, looking down at his feet, more than a little ashamed of himself.

Jessica smiled. "I know you did," she smiled. "There's just someone else you want to see too, right?"

Joey looked up. "So, is she here? Have you talked to her?"

Jessica nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah," she whispered, "Actually, I have."

"You didn't have to come with me, you know. It's Christmas. You should be home with husband and your kids." Joey opened the passenger side door and reached for her hand.

Jessica smiled, "Trust me Joey, my kids have a Playstation 4...If I'm not on a tv screen, I'm irrelevant."

"Still," he sighed, "I could have come here by myself. You didn't need to..."

"I wanted to," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "Look, like I said, I don't know anything for sure. All I know is he came with her for Christmas. I don't know that it's a serious thing."

Joey eye's narrowed. "Kelly wouldn't bring some random man home for Christmas...you and I both know that. If she's bringing him home with her, he's important to her."

"So then why...why did you come over here? Why put yourself through this?" Jessica pulled back on his arm, stopping him as he approached the entrance to the Palace. "Look, we can just go back to the house—you can play games with the kids, we can drink hot chocolate, and sing Christmas carols...it will be like it used to be."

He shook his head, his eyes peering through the window. "No, he said softly. "Nothing will ever be like it used to be."

"Excuse me."

Kelly stilled as she felt a hand on her arm. "Yes, can I help you?"

"Are you Kelly Cramer?" the young man asked.

"I am," she said softly.

"Then these are for you."

"Are you sure?" Kelly whispered, glancing back at Greg, who stood behind her. She reached out for the arrangement of long-stem red roses. "Who would?"

"Guess you'll find out," Greg said softly gesturing to the card nestled in between the blooms. "Here," he said, reaching into his inside coat pocket to retrieve a generous tip. "Merry Christmas."

Kelly watched as the young man left the room. She turned to Greg, smiling up at him. "Should we finish our dance?"

"Don't you want to find out who your secret admirer is?" he asked, his eyes still focused on the card.

Her fingers brushed the glossy paper. "You mean it isn't you?"

"Not this time." Greg leaned in closely, brushing his lips against hers. "Why don't I go get us a drink and then we'll solve this mystery."

Kelly nodded, forcing a smile as he walked away. Walking quickly over to a side table, she laid the arrangement down, carefully plucking the card from the middle. Her hands trembled as she opened the envelope. She didn't want to think...to dream...to hope...but God if it was from him...

Kel,

I hope this Christmas brings you everything you've ever dreamed of. Be happy.

Love always,

Joey

"Here you go," Greg said, sitting the glass of wine in front of her.

Kelly jumped a bit, surprised by his sudden appearance.

"So, what's the verdict," he asked, gesturing to the open envelope. "Do I have some competition?" he smiled.

"Uncle Joey, No offense, but you kind of suck at this game."

"Bree," Jessica hissed, "You do not say that!"

"Well, he does," Bree whined.

"She's right," Joey admitted, smiling a little. "I do."

"Still," Jessica continued, barely suppressing a giggle, "We don't use that kind of language."

"But..."

The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Jessica turned her attention to the door, standing and beginning to walk from the room. "You're lucky young lady. You better thank whoever this is."

Jessica pulled the door open, the cool crisp air not nearly as shocking as the sight of the person standing before her.

"Kelly," she breathed, stepping back and gesturing for her to step inside. "Come in...get in here."

"Hey Jess," she smiled, "I just wanted to come by and see..." Her voice stopped as her eyes fell on him.

"Yeah," Jessica smiled, "We both know who you came to see." Walking into the living room, she softly pulled the door closed behind her.

Joey stood still, willing his mouth to move. There were so many things he wanted to say. So many nights he'd stared at the ceiling thinking about what he would say if he just had the chance, but now...in this moment, he was lucky to remain upright.

"I got your flowers," she said softly. "They were beautiful."

"So are you," he said quietly. He closed his eyes, breathing in sharply. Of all the cheesy, cliche lines...that? That was the best he could come up with. But as he opened his eyes again, she was smiling.

"Thank you," she whispered. "What you said...in the note..."

He stopped her. "I...I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to interrupt and I know that you're with someone else, but I wanted you to know that I still think about you and that I still...I still wish...that..."

She watched him for a moment, smiling as he stumbled over his words. "I know...I do too."

Silence. He'd swear he actually stopped breathing for a moment. Did that mean? Did she say? His eyes shone back at her.

She continued. "What you said about me having everything I ever dreamed of...that's not possible...I'll never have everything I've dreamed of...not unless I have you."

"You mean...You..but what about the guy...the guy you were dancing with..."

Kelly smiled, "Greg's a great guy. He's warm and thoughtful and generous, but there's one big problem. He's just not you. I love you, Joey and no matter what I do—no matter who I'm with—no matter where I go...that has never changed."

He smiled, pulling her closer to him. "I love you too," he whispered, moving in closer, confused when she stopped.

He looked down at her, "What...What is it?"

Kelly reached into her jacket pocket. "I believe there was a little some extra in that bouquet." She smiled as she pulled out the sprig of mistletoe. "Clever, Mr. Buchanan," she smiled."

"I had to be hopeful, he whispered, his lips hovering just above hers. "After all, you were all I asked for this Christmas."

The End