“And I suspect the firewood at crotchety Mr. Cohen’s house was you as well?” she continues.
“He needed it after his hip surgery.”
“Hmm.” Mina looks at me with squinted eyes. “And the new easel engraved with your signature clock etching that I found outside my door after our phone call?”
Since we were kids, Mina has loved to paint. The easel is an early Christmas gift that I stayed up several nights to make. “You needed a new one.”
Mina sets her tea on the coffee table between us and squeezes my arm while her head falls to my shoulder. “Thank you.” She studies me in the dim light. “You know, for all the good you do for others, you can also extend that kindness to yourself.”
My head shakes from the discomfort her words bring up. She’s always telling me to care for myself too.
“You’re loyal. You care for others. And I’m just so happy something good is happening for you now.” She grabs my cheek and pinches it like only a sister could. “You’re a softy, my big brother.”
I laugh and move out of her grasp. “Your opinion of me is far too high.” I take a sip of tea, the pressure from her now-absent fingers still pulsing on my face.
“Please. You may be the quieter sort, but the day you become crochety or withdrawn from the world is the day I’ll know something died in you.” Her teasing smile hitches up on one side.
I set my chin on the top of her head, and she leans in for just a moment before she pops up. “I truly can’t wait to paint with my new easel!” Her swift movement nearly causes my mug of tea to spill. “Yikes, sorry.” She winces and laughs. “Okay, okay. Tell me again. You ran into her, or she ran into you?”
Because we share nearly everything with each other, I tell Mina every detail of meeting Ivy. As I share, the smell of the cookies that lasted five seconds before we devoured them wafts into my memory. I know I’ll never forget the way Ivy opened up to me over that tiny table like no woman ever has.
“She said it had something to do with us being strangers. But it was more than that.”
“Jay, this is amazing.” Mina’s eyes are filled with unshed tears, and I have to hold back my own. “It sounds like she really is interested in you. And not how much you can bench press.” She makes a slight gagging gesture.
“Tell me how you really feel about my muscles,” I laugh.
“No, it’s true. I’m tired of women who just throw themselves at you for your good looks without bothering to discover that you’d rather drink tea than energy drinks, and your favorite thing in the world is to look at the stars.”
The tea is now lukewarm. I take another sip and put it on the coffee table, the clink of the ceramic on the tile coaster like a bell ringing through the night.
“What was the most surprising thing about her?” Mina’s eyes are shining.
I can’t deny that it feels good to talk to someone about this experience. Edgar and Angie will be supportive, and I can’t wait for them to meet Ivy too, but having my favorite little sister to share this moment with makes it that much better.
The answer comes easily. “She trusted me enough to tell me what she wants to be known for.”
“You asked her that question?” Mina almost gasps with shock.
“Yes, I did. Because I think it’s important. You know Mom and Dad have always told us to be clear with who you are and what you want. I was curious.”
“Gutsy to try that with a stranger.”
“Yeah, but it didn’t feel like the two of us had just met. There’s something different about her, Mina. I can’t describe it yet.”
Her hand comes to rest on my arm, her expression thoughtful. “Jay, you’ve always been so strong for all of us. You’ve been my protector more than once. You make everyone who gets the honor of knowing you feel like they’re important.” She claps softly, her final words coming in a rush. “And you love Christmas more than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life, which has to be one of your most endearing qualities.”
I laugh, picking up the mug of tea—both to drain the last of it and to do something to distract myself from the uncomfortable attention. Talking about Ivy is one thing. But talking about who I am is harder for me, especially because I’ve so often been misunderstood by anyone other than Mina. Although now, it seems that Ivy might be interested in getting to know the real me as well.
“What’s not to love about Christmas?” I say toward the windows. The chill from the frigid air is starting to creep in despite the space heater that looks like a fireplace on blast in front of us. A chill runs down my spine, but I shake it off.
“Did you get her number? When are you going to see her again?” Mina reads my mind and throws me a blanket from the basket beside our seats.
“Tomorrow.” Preemptively, I wince. “But I didn’t get her number.”
“What?” my sister’s voice rings loudly throughout the space.
My eyes widen, and I crouch down as her hands fly to her mouth. We are frozen for twenty whole seconds before we realize that no one has woken inside the house. We’ve escaped getting caught out of our beds like when we were kids.
