“Or tacky, but let’s go with festive.”
Summer tears into the present like a five-year-old who just got the okay from his parents to open his first gift on Christmas morning. She opens the box, looking inside, and her smile grows to its full width. What I thought was dazzling before has just been topped. Her blue eyes swing to me with excitement.
“New snow clothes?”
“Well, I felt bad that I got your others stolen.”
She pulls the coat out first. “These are way nicer than the ones that got stolen. I think my mom bought those off Amazon.” She eyes me. “This is name brand. It probably cost you a fortune.”
“No, it wasn’t too bad.” She lowers her chin, giving me a playful, pointed stare. “Okay, fine. It cost me a fortune.” But she’s worth it. “In my defense, all the activities I’m asking you to do are outside, and I didn’t want you to be cold like you were ice climbing.”
“How did you know I was cold?”
“The shivering and dancing around to keep yourself warm was the first giveaway. “My seriousness shifts into something a little more flirty. “I mean, if you were my girlfriend, I’d keep you warm myself.”
I’m glad when her eyes fill with a little flirtiness. “But you can’t do that.”
“No, so I figured you better have warm snow clothes.”
“Very true.” She throws me a smile as she tries on the coat. “I like the color.”
“Yeah, I thought you’d look good in the mint. I tried to get white again, but they didn’t have it.”
“I lovemint-green.”
I know. Unfortunately for me, my mind keeps a running list of all the things Summer likes and dislikes. She’s an addiction I can’t shake.
She leans over the box, pulling out the snow bibs and holding them up to her body. Her head pops up with another one of those smiles that are brighter than the strands of Christmas lights hanging in her family room. “Thank you!”
“That’s it?”
“Were you hoping for more than a thank you?”
“No.” I laugh. “I thought you would fight me on it and not accept the present.”
“I love giving thoughtful gifts and watching people use the things I bought for them. I don’t want to be a hypocrite by not accepting your thoughtful gift. So thank you. I love it.”
“You’re welcome.” Everything inside lightens with a new kind of satisfaction I haven’t felt before, and now I’m generating a list of ideas of what I can get Summer for Christmas just to feel this same feeling again.
* * *
At Christmas,Telluride looks like it came straight out of a holiday card painting, especially with the fresh dust of snow from yesterday’s storm. Summer and I walk toward Elk’s Park, where the traditional lighting of the ski tree takes place. A huge fire glows up ahead as Summer and I make our way through the crowd.
“My parents have a spot saved for us up front by the tree, so we have a good view of the lighting.”
“How early do your parents have to get here to save spots for you guys?”
“I don’t know. Like two hours ahead.”
“That’s commitment to the tradition.”
“Oh, us Stanworths are one hundred percent committed to Christmas.”
“Yes, I gathered that from your apartment.”
“Be nice!” Summer pushes her shoulder into mine, knocking me off balance as I walk.
“How did your Christmas obsession start?”
