“Merry Christmas Eve,” the hostess says as I walk past her to the table where my friend, Lana sits. She’s wearing a wide brim hat, the kind you find on the beach, only we’re in the middle of a restaurant.

“Who are you hiding from?” I ask as I sit down. She’s the only call I’ve taken since I arrived back home, aside from my mother’s. When Lana invited me out for lunch, I was tempted to tell her no because I don’t feel like it, but staying home and wallowing isn’t doing me any good either.

“The paps are everywhere,” she mutters before picking up her drink. “I can’t escape them.”

I giggle, and keep my comments to myself. I met Lana when she had a three-scene part in one of my movies. We hit it off, sort of, and stayed in touch. Lana is everything but what she wants to be, an A-list celebrity.

“I think you’re fine,” I tell her even though I’m not sure, but I’m not worried and neither should she be. Besides, cameras aren’t allowed in this restaurant.

“You never know.” Lana removes her hat slowly and pulls a compact out of her oversized purse so she can fix her hair. “This one time I was at NoVu and they were everywhere. Their flashes kept blinding me. I couldn’t see for days and when I could, I saw white lights. It was horrible.” It takes everything in me to keep from rolling my eyes. To each their own, I guess. “Where’s your delish bodyguard?” she asks.

I shake my head slightly. “On vacation, hopefully somewhere tropical.”

“I may be in need of his services. My agent keeps telling me I’m getting the lead across from Denz, and well, you know how aggressive the paps are when he’s around.”

Denzel Washington? I want to scoff and call her out, but it’s no use. Instead, I drink from my glass of water and study the menu while telling her Calvin isn’t for hire.

“But surely, he freelances?”

“He doesn’t. I mean he could, if he wanted to, but he works for me.”

“And you’re not interested in sharing?”

I shrug. “It’ll depend on my shooting schedule. If I’m not doing anything, sure.” It’ll never happen in a million years. If Calvin knew I was out right now, he’d throw a fit.

The waiter comes by and takes our order. Once he’s gone, Lana continues talking about her upcoming job where she’ll play a private investigator hunting Denz. Why she doesn’t call the man by his full name boggles my mind, but I let it go without saying anything.

“What’s your next role?”

“Well, I have reshoots starting the day after Christmas and about mid-January I’ll start working on a rom-com where I play a jilted bride.”

“Oh, it’s like true life imitating art.”

I look at her oddly and she smiles. “I’ve never been left at the altar.”

“Well close enough, when Trey ran off with his baby mama. I mean, it’s probably a good thing because had you married him, he probably would’ve taken your money to give to her.”

And this is why I should’ve stayed home. If I wasn’t already depressed, I am now. Thanks, Lana. “Well, luckily for me, Trey made the right decision and… well, did whatever.”

“Have you heard from him?”

I shake my head. “We have nothing to talk about. So tell me, what else is going on?” I ask quickly changing the subject.

“Oh nothing really,” she says. “I go for auditions and sit by the phone. This role with Denz will really catapult my career. I’ll be on your level and every part will land in my lap.”

“I wish. I have to work for mine just as you do.”

“Yeah…” she trails off and picks up her phone, which is a no-no in this restaurant. If she plans to make it in Hollywood, she might want to start by following the rules.

“You know, Lana. I just remembered I have to meet my agent. I completely forgot.” I throw down a twenty for the food I’m not going to eat.

“But it’s Christmas Eve.”

“I know, she’s such a slave driver.” For the second time this week I make up an excuse about work to get out of a situation. Not my finest moments, that’s for sure.

Outside, I slip on my hat and wrap my scarf around my neck. It’s not cold, but a bit chilly, and I find myself missing the snow. I don’t miss the wet though.

I pass through the park on my way home, the one with all the decorations. The fake snow machine is pumping out flakes. I stand under it, hoping to catch one or two, but they flutter in every other direction.

I’d give anything to make a snow angel right now, to be with Holly, to be ice skating and holding her hand.

I pull out my phone to call Aiden, praying he’ll let me speak with his daughter, only I can’t bring myself to push the button to make his phone ring. I owe him an apology, but don’t know if I have the right words to tell him how sorry I am. I never meant to make him feel like less of a man.

Instead of grabbing a cab, I decide to walk a bit longer. The decorations on these houses look nothing like the ones in Ramona Falls. The lack of snow makes the giant inflatable snowman and wooden Santa with his reindeer look out of place, but at least they’re in the spirit. That’s more than I can say for my house.

I finally call for a taxi once the sun goes down. The young man tells me about his daughter having her first Christmas, and how she’s already trying to open the presents under the tree. I think he’s hoping his story will make me smile, but all it does is make me miss Aiden and Holly more. Even my parents. I should’ve never left so hastily. When he pulls into my parking lot, I give him a large tip and wish him and his family a merry Christmas.

Inside, all my lights are off, which is odd since I have everything on a timer. I flip the switch as I walk into my living room and scream out, not only in fear, but in elation because standing there, in front of a fully decorated tree are Aiden and Holly.

“Surprise!” Holly yells as she comes barreling toward me. I catch her in my arms and we both fall to the ground. I’m unable to stop the tears from flowing.

“What’re you doing here?” I ask her as I hold her face between my hands. I need my eyes to see that she’s real.

“We came for Christmas?”

“I’m sorry what?”

Aiden clears his throat and offers me a hand to help me stand. When I go to pull my hand away, he tightens his grip. “I have something to say.”

I nod, waiting for him to continue.

“I know your secret,” he says. “The one you told Santa.”

“How?”

Aiden smiles and steps closer. “Because I filled in that night. I was Santa. I called you up to sit on my lap so I could get an idea of what to buy you for Christmas and you told Santa… well me, that you wanted me to choose you. Thing is, I chose you the day I pulled you over, and I’m here to ask for your forgiveness. I acted like a fool and I wasn’t thinking properly.”

“No, Aiden, I shouldn’t have done what I did.” I refrain from blurting out that I bought all those presents in case he’s tossed them out or given them away.

“True, but I overreacted, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me, but only after I tell you. Ever since Heather passed away, I’ve struggled to make ends meet. Men have pride when it comes to taking care of their families and when we can’t, well let me just say, it weighs heavily on us. So to walk in and see everything you did for us, I took it hard when I should’ve talked to you first about it.”

“I’m sorry I overstepped. I promise, it won’t happen again.”

“Do you forgive me?” he asks.

“Of course,” I tell him. “Do you forgive me?”

He nods. “I do, Laney.”

“Is it my turn?” Holly asks, jumping up and down.

“Yes, punky. It’s your turn.” Aiden pulls me farther into the living room where I can see the tree clearly.

“What’s her name?”

“Her name is Merry,” Holly says.

“Merry. I love it.”

“Me too, but this isn’t our surprise.”

“It’s not?” I look from her to Aiden. He shrugs even though I know he knows what’s going on.

Holly grabs my hand and makes me stand in a certain spot. She then crawls under the tree and pulls out a box before situating herself on one knee.

“Holly?”

“Delaney, you’re the bestest person I know and I was wondering if you’d be my bestest friend?” Holly holds up a black box. I take it and open it. Tears instantly cloud my vision. Nestled inside the black velvet is a friendship necklace with both our names on it.

“Oh Holly, I would love to be your bestest friend.” I pull her into my arms and whisper into her ear, “I love you, sweet girl.”

“I love you, too.”

When she steps away, I gasp. Aiden is now on his knee with a box in his hand. “What’re you doing?”

“Open it.”

With a shaky hand, I push the lid open to find a beautiful gemstone ring. “Aiden?”

“It’s not much, it’s a start.” He takes the ring and slips it on my finger. “This is my promise to you, Laney, to build a foundation for us to strive together as a couple and family. I promise to always see both sides of the coin, and when I don’t, I’ll ask you for an explanation. Most of all, I promise to be your Fish and Santa when you need me the most.”

My hands cup his cheeks and I finally, after all these years, get to kiss this man knowing I never have to let him go, all while his daughter and my bestest friend cheers us on.