“So,” I said after I devoured half of delicious fluffy pancakes.“Is your fiancé ready for all this snow?Snow and a bunch of people playing outside.You know what’s going to happen, right?”
Toby may have warned me to dress appropriately because once everyone arrived, there was going to be a massive snowball fight.No one was going to be safe.
Janice snorted.“Think I should warn him?”
I pretended to think about it.“No.It’s better he isn’t given time to prepare.”
Conversation was light and simple as we finished off the food and then we exchanged presents, just between us.We both managed to use Christmas giftbags so all we had to do was trade.
I quickly dug through mine and laughed as I pulled out a pair of thick fuzzy socks.They were light grey, decorated with music notes and the words ‘When words fail, music speaks.’
“So true,” I mumbled.
“Your house is too darn cold, so I figured you’d need something to keep your feet warm.My fiancé is always complaining about my cold feet.I didn’t want any of your guys to suffer for it.”
My cheeks heated at what she was suggesting.I cleared my throat and grabbed the other present.She used the tissue paper to wrap around what felt like a book.When I unwrapped it, I smiled big.It was a leather-bound journal with my initials on it and the inside was full of sheet music.
“This is perfect,” I said.
“I thought so.”Janice sounded so proud.“Keep that on you and write your songs in them.”
“Thank you,” I said.“I definitely will.”
“Now me.”Janice practically tore into her gift bag.
Nervousness hit me as I waited for the verdict.Buying presents was always nerve wracking.I wanted what I picked to be liked.
She pulled out the box and slowly unwrapped it.It looked like a jewelry storage box.It was, but also a little bit more.She opened it and a soft melody danced around us.
She gasped.“Is this...”
“Yes,” I said.
“How did you manage this?You didn’t even know I was coming.”
I shrugged.“It’s amazing what you can get done through the internet.”
She sniffled as she closed her eyes and listened to the song.I closed mine too, letting the soft melody warm me.I had written one song specifically for Janice.It had been more like a lullaby from all the nights we spent sleeping outside.I used to sing it to her on the rougher nights and I’d wanted to help her relax.
Even as the melody played, the words easily came to mind:
Silver threads across the sky,
Stars that hum a lullaby,
Moonlight dances, soft and slow,
Guiding hearts where dreams will go.
I softly sang the verse to go with the music and then before I could go into the next verse, Janice wrapped me into a tight hug, burying her head in my shoulder.Her body shook lightly as she squeezed tightly.
“I fricken love you so hard right now,” she said.
I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her.
“You have no idea what this song did for me when I left.And I sing it to Rowan at night when he’s fussy.He loves it too.He calms right down with this song.I tried other songs, but they never had the same effect like this one did.This is so fucking perfect.I don’t even...I can’t...I love you.”She squeezed me harder as she rambled.
“It helped me too,” I said, trying so hard not to break down.
