Christmas Morning, Philadelphia, Elizabeth's house
She grabbed her bags of goodies and presents and left her house, heading to her parent's to set up for the party.
"Merry Christmas, Beth," Lucas texted just as she got in the car.
"Merry Christmas, Luke. What plans do you have today?"
"I'm going to see my Mom and step-dad and step sister and then I'm volunteering at the soup kitchen."
"That's amazing."
"What are you doing?"
"Going to open gifts and make breakfast with my parents and then setting up for the party."
"Oh yes. The extravaganza! Have fun!"
"Maybe next year, you could come too."
"That would be great. Then we could volunteer together in Philly."
"Absolutely. Well, I'm going to get driving. Text you later?"
"Of course. Have a great day."
"You too!"
…..
Thatcher house
"Merry Christmas!" Elizabeth yelled as she walked into the house.
"Merry Christmas, Beth!" William said, walking into the room and hugging her.
"Hi, Dad."
"It's good to see you, sweetheart. How are you doing?"
"I'm good."
"Your mom mentioned that you aren't taking a date to the wedding?"
"Nope."
"I heard Kyle asked you. Why don't you say yes? At least you won't have to be alone."
"I don't want to go with Kyle, Dad."
"Why's that?"
She kissed his cheek. "I have my reasons. Now, let's go make breakfast and open gifts."
As they opened their gifts, Elizabeth's mind wandered 582.3 miles to the west. Was he sitting around in the living room at his mom and step-dad's house opening gifts? Maybe they listened to Christmas carols while they ate breakfast. Was he thinking about her?
"Beth?"
"Hm?" she asked. She hadn't been paying attention.
"Your turn to open your gift," Grace told her.
"Okay. Sorry."
"Something on your mind?" Not something. Someone. But she wasn't ready to let them in on that bit of news yet.
"I'm alright." She opened the box on her lap and smiled. Alpaca socks and an alpaca scarf and gloves. "Wow! Thank you, Mom. I needed these."
"We spoke with Julie this morning," Grace mentioned.
"That's good."
"She told us about the m trip. Now we want to hear about it from you."
"What do you want to know? All three of us were together pretty much the entire time so I don't want to repeat everything."
"She told us you may have met someone."
Elizabeth sighed. She should have told her sisters not to spill the beans. That would be like asking a dog not to bark.
"Yes. I made friends with a nice man from Michigan."
"Friends."
"Yes. That's all we are." For now. She hoped that would eventually change.
She got up and left the room, going into the kitchen to grab another cup of coffee. She pulled out her phone to see if by chance he had texted.
He had and actually it was a selfie of him wearing a perfectly hideous Christmas Sweater.
"Nice sweater!" she texted back.
"Thanks!"
"It makes your eyes look beautiful," she sent off without second guessing herself.
"Flirt!" he texted back.
"Miss u, friend."
"Miss u more."
She took a selfie and sent it off to him.
"For the record, ur eyes are my favorite color," he texted in response.
She hearted that message and put her phone in her back pocket.
"Friends, huh?" Grace asked as she walked into the kitchen.
Elizabeth blushed and sipped her coffee. "We are but I'd be lying if I said I don't have feelings for him."
"Tell me about him," Grace said, sitting down at the island with her own cup of coffee. "If you want."
"He's single, lives in Michigan. He is a manager at a bank, no kids. He's kind and tall and handsome. Beautiful eyes. Dimples."
"Do you have a picture of him? I'd love to see one."
She found the ugly sweater picture and showed him. Grace smiled.
"Handsome."
"Excuse me?" William teased, walking in. "Is this the guy that caught your eye and apparently your mother's?"
"Will, you know my heart is only yours, dear. He is handsome though."
"I suppose," William said, looking at the picture. "What does he do, Bethie?"
"He's a bank manager."
"I think you should go for it," Grace told her.
"Wow, Mom. Really?"
"Yes, dear. I know how much you want what your sisters have. You very obviously like this man. Why not see where things go?"
"He just broke up with someone so he and I agreed that being just friends is best right now."
"My love," Grace said, raising her eyebrows. "You and he are flirting in this thread. He obviously is moving forward too."
Elizabeth blushed deeper and took her phone back. "It hasn't been that long for him. I don't want to jump in, all in, and then he realizes its too soon and we both get hurt."
"Fair point," William told his daughter. "I think Beth should jump in when both of them are ready."
"Thanks, Dad."
"In the meantime, what's the harm in having a dance or two with Kyle?"
"No, thank you. I don't want to dance with anyone if I can't dance with Lucas."
Thankfully her parents let it go and she could concentrate on the party that was happening in a few hours. Well, mostly concentrating.
……
Michigan, Lucas' Mom and Step Dad's house
"Where's Janette today?" Helen asked.
"We aren't together, Mom. Not anymore."
"Since when?"
"Since she broke up with me in Oahu and had her friends move her things while we were there."
"How do you feel about that?"
"Um, kind of relieved? We haven't had a good relationship for a long time. I just didn't see it before recently. She's already moved on with the bartender at the resort."
"I knew there was a reason I never really liked her."
"You didn't? You guys went to lunch and got your nails done all the time."
"I did that for you, son. Janette was flighty and snooty and I say good riddance."
"Wow. Okay. What if I had married her?"
"I'd support you, but I'm glad you didn't. You deserve someone who will love you for you, supports your choices and makes you happy."
Beth. That's who makes him happy. She loves Elf! She is funny, beautiful and smart. Owns her own business. Wants a family.
"You are smiling. Did you find someone?"
"Sort of. I met someone in Oahu. Kind of by accident."
"Oh yeah?"
"She's super sweet but she doesn't live here. She lives in Pennsylvania."
"Not too far."
"No. I'm actually going to her sister's wedding in January in Phoenix to surprise her."
"Take her flowers. Girls like flowers."
"Thanks, Mom. Maybe I will."
……
That evening, Lucas got home from volunteering at the soup kitchen. His feet were sore but it was so worth it. He loved seeing everyone's faces when he helped them get their food. They were so grateful and he felt good that for at least one meal, they wouldn't have to worry.
He wished he could do more. Maybe one day, he could somehow own a facility that temporarily housed the homeless? Fed them, gave them clothes if needed? What an amazing thing that would be.
"How was your day?" a text from Beth said as he sat down after showering.
"So good. Fed so many people."
She sent a video chat request so he accepted. "Hey."
"Hey, Luke. That's awesome."
"It was. How was your party?"
"Its still going on," she said, looking behind her. He noticed her red dress and her pink cheeks.
"Nice dress. You look beautiful."
"Thank you. The party is loud and fancy, just like my parents like. So festive, white lights and red ribbons everywhere. Mistletoe in the doorways, carols playing in the background. Eggnog and tons of christmas cookies and spiced cider."
"Mistletoe, huh?"
"Shush. I think you just like saying things to make me blush."
"Perhaps."
"Let's just say, I plan where I'm going to stand so I don't accidentally have to kiss one of my dad's coworkers or something."
He laughed and then their eyes connected. "Beth, what's your favorite flower?"
She laughed and turned pink again. He loved that.
"So random. White roses. Why?"
"No reason really. Just curious."
She bit her lip and that drove him crazy. He wanted to bite that lip.
"Um…I just remembered something, Beth. Can I text you later?"
"Sure. See you."
"See you."
What was he thinking? What did it say about him that he broke up with his live-in girlfriend two weeks before and he already wanted to be with someone else?
He dialed Lee.
"Hey, bro."
"Am I a bad guy?"
"What are you talking about? Lucas, you are the best guy I know. That's why you were my best man. They named that position after you."
"Funny. Thank you."
"Why did you ask that?"
"Janette just broke up with me like two and a half weeks ago at the most and I already want to kiss someone else. How can that make me a good guy?"
"What would make the situation questionable is if you were still dating Janette and kissing someone else."
"That's true. So…you don't think its too soon? What should I do?"
"Bro, listen. You are a grown man. Not my son. My best friend but not my son. I can't tell you what to do but if you have feelings for someone, show her. Tell her. Janette isn't in the picture anymore. If you feel in your heart that this woman is someone you want to spend time with, then do it."
"Thanks, Lee. I just talked to her…well, video chatted. She is so beautiful, Lee. Inside and out. She bit her lip and all I wanted to do was fly to Philly and kiss her senseless."
"So do it."
"Nah. I am going to see her in Phoenix for the wedding. I can wait. I wanted to though."
"Well, Merry Christmas, friend. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Sounds good."
…..
Lucas didn't bother decorating his own house for Christmas this year. Janette was usually the one who did that. Now, his house was bare but that was fine.
"Are you good at decorating?" he texted Beth.
"Hey. I'm not a pro but I like doing it."
"I wish you lived closer so you can help me. My house needs help."
"I wish I did too."
"Maybe we should make a plan for you to come visit."
She was silent. He wondered what she was thinking. Was it too soon?
"I'd like that," she said a few minutes later. "Maybe in the spring?" she asked.
"Sure. Then I can show you around Michigan. Take you to the Tulip Festival."
"That sounds beautiful. Then maybe in the summer, you can fly out here to Philadelphia."
"I would love to."
So they had a plan and for both of them, spring seemed way too far away. Lucas was glad he'd be seeing her very soon though. He couldn't wait to surprise her.