Chapter 3

When I get home, I drag the tree inside and set it up in the corner next to the couch. It would be our first tree as a couple. The year before, Chris had taken me to London to meet and spend time with his family.

I have some ornaments from childhood and a few newer ones that I have added in recent years. I elect to wait until Christmas Eve to decorate. It will give me something to do in case Chris truly doesn’t make it for the holiday.

After dinner, I settle in bed with my laptop and check to see if my lover is online. He works late a lot, so whether or not he’s four or five hours ahead of me, I can usually find him up, if he’s available. Not tonight, though, it seems. With a sigh, I sign in to Netflix to catch up on my shows.

I’m drooling on my pillow when my laptop wakes me up. It’s four o’clock on Christmas Eve, and Chris is calling me. Bleary-eyed, I wipe the corner of my mouth and click answer.