Baby It’s Cold Outside
ROMANTIC SHORT STORY BY LIN SILVER
Faced with the prospect of spending the season alone, Clara had a plan to bring a special guest to her door…
“Happy Christmas, see you in January!”
The party was over and everyone was making their way out of the school. It had been fun, but now Clara found herself feeling miserable.
It would be two weeks until she saw her colleague, Tom, again.
Clara’s attraction to him had escalated into something far more.
Had she been fooling herself when she thought he’d cast a special smile her way? Probably. He was so good-looking that he could have his pick. Clara tried to stop feeling sorry for herself, but it was difficult. Her only hope was that her plan to see him over Christmas would work.
Clara let herself into her empty house. Selena and Sofia had gone to spend Christmas with her ex in Southampton. It had been decided at the time of their separation that they’d take turns to have the girls over alternate festive seasons. As for her parents, they were off on one of their Christmas cruises.
Clara had insisted they shouldn’t stay around on her account. She’d fibbed and said she had plenty of friends she’d be seeing over Christmas, not wanting her mum and dad to feel guilty about leaving her.
But in reality, she didn’t have plenty of friends she’d be seeing. Her pals were all booked up with their own families.
She knew she’d been daft to imagine something romantic would happen when she and Tom met beneath the stringy mistletoe that had been hung up around the school sports hall where the party took place. That hadn’t happened.
There was a limit to how many times Clara could reread her Christmas cards and try to guess what would be in the presents Selena and Sofia had left for her. She’d put the decorations up weeks ago, but now they looked pointless with only her there to see them. Nevertheless, she did have enough determination to keep going with the solo festivities.
There was no need to deprive herself of turkey with all the trimmings, just because she was on her own. She thought of her “mantrap”. Suddenly it seemed pathetically desperate. Would it really bring Tom to her door?
The next day, Christmas Eve, she felt more optimistic. Surely he would phone, if nothing else? They worked in the maths department, and Clara was certain her glasses, with their decorative lilac frames, were distinctive enough for him to recognise.
But perhaps he hadn’t noticed how they’d been left – accidentally-on-purpose – on top of his jacket where he always put it on the table.
Clara felt her optimism begin to fade as time ticked on.
Then, just as it was getting dark, a knock at the door. She flew to the window. Tom’s red car was pulled up outside. She opened the door.
“Hi, Clara. You must’ve been wondering where your glasses had gone!” He smiled.
Outside the school’s walls he looked more handsome than ever. Before she had a chance to speak, he continued,
So, that’s why I’ve popped round. I found them on my jacket after the party. I hope you don’t mind.
Mind? Mind?
That was like asking whether she’d mind if she won the lottery!
“Oh, no. Thank you so much,” she replied, her smile wide.
She thought she’d better refrain from making up more fibs about how she’d been searching for her glasses all day.
“Um – would you like to come in for a Christmas drink?”
His face fell. Clara’s heart fell a hundred times deeper.
He didn’t want to. He’d just done his duty by bringing her specs.
“Er – no,” he gestured behind him. “Sadly, no tipples – I’m driving. Cup of tea would be fantastic, though!”
Now her heart rocketed into orbit.
“Great, come in, come in!” she said, almost skipping up the hall.
“Decorations are lovely!” Tom said admiringly, looking around. “I haven’t bothered myself – being on my own.”
Oh, well, you’re very welcome to come here and share mine.
Clara could hardly believe what she was saying. “I’ll just put the kettle on…”
Tom looked around and smiled.
He’d liked Clara so much for so long, but had never said anything because he knew he couldn’t have coped with the embarrassment if the feeling hadn’t been mutual.
Then, at the party, he’d just happened to notice when she quite obviously, deliberately, rested her glasses on top of his jacket, and knew at once that it was.
This would be a Christmas to remember!
