Thinking back on when he was a kid it was actually kind of rare for them to have a white Christmas. But since returning stateside it’s now happened twice; unusual but still pleasant enough to see. This year, however, would be no different from last. Church on Christmas Eve for the candle lighting ceremony and children's play followed by dinner at his cousins before caroling around the neighborhood.
There was a time in his life when simple traditions such as these were something he dreamed of and only after being adopted by the Harrisons did those dreams become reality. However, his decision to join the military made it hard to come home every year. Nonetheless, so long as he was back he intended to stick with them the best he could.
Dinner with the family had been divided up between each of the adults and he, unfortunately, got stuck with desert despite being far more willing to switch with Mr. Carrington and taking on the turkey. Unfortunately, doing so also meant hosting dinner at his condo however his place was simply too small to fit everyone. Next year maybe if he could find a house at a reasonable price and sell his current place but that’s a worry for sometime next year; right now he needed to figure out what to bring.
It was the little things this time of year that made Delilah slow down just long enough to remember that there was a larger reason for the season than the big man in the red suit. Coming out of one of the few local stores that could make her give up Lush products, the raven haired woman was looking down at her phone going over her list. Mom and Dad had been taken care of already. The girls were getting picked off one by one. This purchase took care of Sita. That left Ginger.
What did one get their friend who could scare the pants off nearly anyone when she was carrying her bat?
Turning into the moving crowds of people, red eyes were gazing out at the window displays across the street. Some had really gone above and beyond. One of those she almost had to guess was a human in a Frosty the Snowman outfit instead of an automation. Otherwise those were really good sensors.
“It’s so easy to forget things.” Delilah chuckled, glancing up at the sky just as she noticed the snow was beginning to fall once more. “And so easy to forget the beauty.”
Just as she smiled to herself and turned to pay attention to where she was walking, Delilah felt herself smack straight into something. It was too big to be a child and too soft to be a pole.
“Oh! I’m so sorry.” Delilah stumbled back, arms going out to balance herself as she tried not to spill her bags. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you alright?”
Isaac transferred his drink to his other hand then shook the coffee off the back of his hand and onto the snow. “I’m fine. It’s nothing an ice pack won’t take care of.” He replied in that all too serious tone that made it hard to tell if he was being serious or not.
However when he turned around and saw that almost mortified look in her startling red eyes Isaac found it hard to contain his laugh. Instead of continuing to make her feel bad he stuck his hand in the three inches of snow that had piled up in the flower bed. “There, all better.” His smile broadened when she gave him that infamous woman ‘look’, that devil's eye thing his father claimed his mother gave him when he needed to shut up
For a split second Delilah felt as if she was going to be sick. Hot coffee was painful and from the way the male sounded, he was none too pleased with the accident. Delilah faced death enough times but his tone scared the heck out of her.
That was until he looked at her and began to laugh.
Taken aback by the sudden tone change, Delilah felt her eyes flutter and then narrow into the look that said it all. “Well, seems you are fine.” Her voice nearly huffed watching the snow melt around his hand. “And here I was concerned you were burned. Excuse me for caring.” Delilah huffed again before her eyes rolled.
“Nut.” She mumbled, deciding if he wanted to be a child, she would do the same and kicked snow at his feet.
“I’m sorry,” he leaned in close with his head turned to the side. “Care to speak up? I didn’t catch that last thing you said.” True he had been told before that he was hard of hearing; though several of those cases it was simply that he was uninterested in the topic and not paying attention, but the way her lips pursed gave him the distinct feeling she was probably calling him an obscene name.
Delilah could only stare at the man as others seemed to sense the tension in the air and worked to steer clear of them. She wanted to shout, to make sure he heard her clearly this time but in all truth, Delilah knew it wouldn’t make any difference.
With one deep breath, she mentally counted to three but before she could say another word
“Try some fruit cake?”
The tray appeared between them and caused Delilah to blink just as quickly as she had before before glancing at the woman in an apron from the bakery down the street. She was smiling weakly as she glanced between them, clearly doing this because she sensed a disagreement. “It’s some of the best in town. Promise you have never had better!”
“I...um…” Glancing from her then back towards the male, the raven hair woman had to reach up and take a small piece. “Thank you Miss.”
In turn, Isaac straightened his back and nodded his thanks to the bakery clerk when she handed him a slice to try for himself. However, years of elderly church goers bringing in the ‘old family recipe’ fruity treats to give to each of the families made him hesitant to try it.
Instead he watched the woman who had bumped into him, carefully judging her reaction to the holiday dessert before taking a bite of his own.
“So,” he paused. “How is it?” In his life Isaac had never tasted a fruit cake that was worth a second bite be it too dry or overly baked, whatever the case may be the only memorable ones had been disasters in the past.
Had the man not prompted her, Delilah would have just disposed of the fruit cake in the nearest trash can. Now, put on the spot, it was either lie or suck it up and try one of the of the icons of the holidays.
The cake melted in her mouth and Delilah could only stare into the abyss in surprise. “Whoa.” She blinked and looked at the woman now smiling brightly at the pair. “See? Didn’t I tell you it was good. Why don’t you two have coffee and try some more down at the Bakery.” And with a wink, she went on to the next woman offering the snack to her kids.
“That good huh?” Isaac asked, although he didn’t expect a response. “Why not?” He shrugged then took a bite of his own piece. To his surprise it actually didn’t taste half bad, to be quite honest it was actually quite good.
“I don’t know what they put in it.” He began once he washed down the food with a drink of his coffee. “But that was actually pretty good.” Not quite enough to prompt him to go buy one for fear of what his family might say, such as ‘did you really not want desert so much that you bribed Ms. Keaton for one of her cakes?’ Granted the surprise would be on them once they tasted it but they’d all know he definitely didn’t make it himself.
The words were met with silence as Delilah now glanced back at the male and then away. The woman had done whatever she had intended: got them to stop going at it and gave out two of her samples. They had a good sales woman on their side.
“Anyway. Sorry.” Delilah offered, glancing at the snow that was starting to pick up the density ever so much. Something about how it looked at that moment made her eyes shine. It was beautiful. Like diamonds from the sky.
“I um…” Delilah glanced back at him and gave a nod. “Merry Christmas.” She made out, turning to move around him and back into the crowd before her face could turn any more red.
“Merry Christmas to you as well.” Glacier blue eyes followed her as she brushed past, her gaze cast downward unwilling to make contact with him. For a moment he wondered if she would at least look back but that curiosity was quickly dismissed as the sound of snow crunching beneath each footstep carried her further away and around the corner.
“Such personality,” Isaac commented with a shake of his head causing white strands of hair to fall into his face. “Whomever she ends up with is going to have their hands full with that one.” With a deep breath of cold air he pulled his scarf up to cover his nose and continued on down the sidewalk, window shopping until something caught his attention and brought him inside to check it out.
Sirene Naiads
I will color code it later.
