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“That’s a bad word, Mom,” Eli said from his chair at the kitchen counter.
“You’re right, it is a bad word. Sorry. I just burned my thumb on the lasagna pan. How’s the salad coming?”
“Why do we have to eat salad?”
“It’s good luck for the new year.”
Eli rolled his eyes, clearly not believing my standard New Year’s Eve line anymore.
“When is Dad getting here?”
There went my heart again with that ‘dad’ word.
“Um, he should be here any minute, I think.”
And just like that, the doorbell rang and Eli launched himself off the stool to go let Jack inside. I followed closely behind and nearly stumbled over nothing when I saw him. I hadn’tseenhim in a week, and his appearance hit me like a ton of bricks.
The sun had set and snow had started to lightly fall. He was framed perfectly in the doorway and lit up like a spotlight from the porch light. The snowflakes dusted his dark jacket–wool this time, not his usual parka–and his dark hair.
“Happy New Year!” Eli screamed.
“Whoa, buddy, let’s take it down a notch. Save some excitement for later,” I said, rubbing his head. “And let Jack come in from the cold.”
Eli bounced into the living room as Jack stepped inside.
“I can take your jacket,” I offered, getting drunk off his woodsy scent. God, I hadn’t been close enough to smell him in ages.
I flushed slightly, thinking about the last time I had been close enough to him. Right here in this room.
“Thank you,” Jack said quietly. “I brought this for you.”
He handed me a very expensive-looking bottle of red wine. I knew I’d need it to get through the night.
“And for Eli, I brought this.”
Eli practically gushed at the sparkling apple cider.
“For everyone, I brought a cheesecake. There’s this amazing bakery down the street from me that makes the best cheesecakes. I know it doesn’t seem fancy. But really, it’s delicious. I thought it’d be a good way to finish the year and start the new."
He offered the bag, and I couldn’t help but swoon inside at his sheepish smile. There were so many times that Jack just seemed like the man I used to know. Despite all the money and success he had now, he was still…Jack.
“Yay! Yay! Yay!” Eli was bouncing off the walls. New Year’s was also one of his favorite holidays.
“Thank you, Jack. That was all very thoughtful. Let's see, the lasagna is cooling down, Eli is finishing the salad, and I was about to pop the garlic bread in the oven.” I led everyone to the kitchen where Eli hopped back on his stool and Jack washed his hands.
“That sounds great. Put me to work.”
“You can set the table,” I said, gesturing to the cabinet with the dishes.
After putting the bread in the oven, I looked at the scene in my kitchen and had to take a deep breath. Jack was effortlessly setting dishes on our small table while Eli talked a mile a minute as he carefully cut a cucumber.
It was all too much, and I turned back to the sink and the window with the blackness beyond.
Jack
“Happy New Year,” Eli said with suspicious sleepiness in his voice, a lopsided smile on his face. True to Maya’s word, it was only ten o’clock and Eli seemed happy as a clam to celebrate two hours early with the rest of the east coast.
I chuckled.
