Will

There was a knock at Will’s front door and he leapt off the couch. Finally! He was beginning to think Emma was ignoring him again. But disappointment flooded Will when it wasn’t Emma at his door.

“Hey, Colin. What’s up?” Will asked trying not to sound dejected.

“This is for you,” the little boy replied, thrusting an oddly folded bundle of paper at him.

Will took it and examined the folds as nostalgia flooded him. It was a piece of lined notebook paper folded to look like a small envelope. But in the center there was a tab that read, ‘pull me’. Beneath it a tiny arrow was drawn to indicate the direction. He and Emma used to write notes to each other and fold them that way when they were kids. Emma learned how to do it at summer camp one year and when she’d come home she taught Will. They spent an entire year exchanging them in their lockers.

He was about to open the note when he realized Colin was still standing there, staring at him expectantly. “Do you need anything else?” Will asked.

“Emma said I need to wait for your response.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Will pulled the tab. The note unfolded and a silver ticket fell out. He picked it up and read the information printed on it.

Will grinned. This couldn’t be more perfect. He’d been planning to ask Emma to the rooftop party and she was already a step ahead of him. His eyes slid to the note she’d written.

Will, You were right. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. But I’m all out of doubts. I know what I want. If your offer still stands, meet me at the rooftop party tonight. – Emma

Below her message were three hand drawn boxes, each with a word next to them. Yes. No. Maybe. Beneath the boxes was a question.

Do you still believe in mistletoe and miracles?

Will blinked at the paper in disbelief. Emma was quoting him. That was the exact phrase he’d used to ask her to the winter formal last year. That had to be a good sign. Maybe they could finally put that awful night behind them. Flush with hope, Will took the pen from Colin’s outstretched hand without hesitation. His answer was yes. It had always been yes. Will drew a bold checkmark in the box before refolding the paper and handing it back to Colin.

The little boy giggled and gave Will a salute before turning to march down the hall.

“Wait!” Will called after him. “Can you give Emma something for me?” He darted inside to grab the corsage. When he placed it into Colin’s little hand he said. “Tell Emma, she’s a mind reader, and I’ll always believe in mistletoe and miracles.”

Emma

Emma had barely managed to rein in her excitement when Colin returned the note from Will, delivering a stunning corsage with it. He’d been planning to ask her to the rooftop party, too! It made her heart flutter when they were in sync like this. At times it was like they could read each other’s minds. It was something she’d never experienced with anyone other than Will.

Now for the final part of the plan—the dress. Emma needed something fabulous and nothing she’d shoved into her Louis Vuitton carry-on was up to par. But judging by the wardrobe she’d seen thus far, Emma knew just the person to turn to. She steeled herself as she prepared to knock on Tara’s door.

“Come in,” Tara replied after Emma knocked.

Emma poked her head into the lavish bedroom Tara shared with her father, surprised it was the only room in the apartment with a pop of color. Tara was sitting in a large wing-backed chair, her feet up on the hot pink satin bedspread. The image made Emma want to giggle. Never in a million years would she have thought her father would sleep in a pink bed.

Tara looked up from the baby book she was reading and greeted Emma with a warm smile. “Hello, honey. Is Colin driving you crazy?”

“No, actually I wanted to ask if I might be able to borrow a dress for the rooftop party tonight now that we’re all going? I didn’t really bring anything that formal.”

Tara sprang to her feet, clapping her hands together. “Of course, honey. My closet is your closet.”

Emma was surprise by the genuine kindness in Tara’s voice as she pulled Emma into the walk-in closet, chattering excitedly. “I’m sure you didn’t know this about me, but I’m an only child and I always wished I had a sister to play dress up and do girly things with. Now I’m not going to be presumptuous and think we’d ever be that close, but I just want you to know that I’m so excited to have a beautiful girl like you in my life, Emma. And I’m really looking forward to getting to know you.”

“Um, thanks Tara. That means a lot.”

Tara’s smile made her already beautiful face glow. “So, dresses,” she exclaimed as if she’d forgotten why they were in her closet for a moment. “All my formal attire is over here. And please, help yourself to anything you like. And not just for tonight. You can borrow anything anytime.”

“Really?” Emma asked running a finger over the soft leather of a black Hermés handbag.

“Of course! And what size shoe do you wear?” Tara asked opening a mirrored panel to reveal a backlit shoe wall that would’ve made Carrie Bradshaw swoon.

“I wear size seven,” Emma replied, praying for the first time ever that she and Tara had something in common.

“Me too!” Tara squealed. “Oh this is gonna be so much fun! You pick out some dresses, I’ll be in charge of shoes!”