Merry Christmas! The holiday is just days away, and I hope you are as excited as I am to celebrate with family and friends. While the holidays are fun, gift shopping can be a challenge, can’t it? Sometimes it can be nearly impossible to find something for even those we know best. I thought it would be fun to dream up a little Christmas-themed short, short story as a thank-you gift for you, my reader friends. I adore a good meet-cute, so I hope this one warms you like a cozy fire on a blustery winter’s day.
The Merry Giftmas Exchange
Violet rummaged through the bin, humming with “Last Christmas” as it blasted from the department store speakers. Surely a nice pair of gloves would fit the bill. Frustration welled up. Gloves are boring and impersonal. Growling, she flung the pair she held back toward the bin.
Thwack! “Oof.”
Her eyes flew to the source of the sound to meet an attractive man’s amused face across the table. “Did I hit you with those? I’m sorry.” She offered a conciliatory smile to the Ryan Reynolds lookalike.
“No harm done.” His brown eyes crinkled at the corners as his smirk bloomed to a grin. “I take it those won’t work?”
“No. Why is gift-giving so hard? You think you know someone until it’s time to find them the perfect Christmas gift. Is it just me?” She tilted her head back and huffed a sigh toward the heavens.
“It’s not just you. I’m having trouble myself. What are you looking for?”
“Something a practical guy would appreciate. He’s also fun, but hardworking and…he’s one of those people who already has everything, ya know? What about you?”
“I’m shopping for a gal who sounds like the opposite of your guy. She’s goofy, dramatic, and somewhat unpredictable.”
“Oh, you’re definitely in the wrong place. Gloves, really?” Violet considered the man who had the good sense to look sheepish. “I have an idea. What if I help you find your gift and you help with mine?”
His brows rose and the side of his mouth tipped up. “Seriously? Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. I’m Remy.”
“Violet.” She shook his proffered hand. “Nice to meet you. Where should we start?”
He pulled out his phone and tapped. “I have a wish list from Heather, but it’s a bit on the ridiculous side: puppy, trip to the Louvre, world peace.” He glanced at Violet. “You see my dilemma?”
She bit back a laugh and bobbed her head. “Yep. Well, what does she do for work?”
“She’s an art teacher.”
Violet reached out and grabbed Remy’s forearm. Tingles zinged up her fingers. Whoa. “The mall is hosting a pop-up indie craft shop this weekend. It’s like an in-person Etsy store.” Her brow furrowed. “Wait, do you know what Etsy is?”
“I’ve heard of it. You think they’ll have something good?” His dark eyes danced with hope.
“Only one way to find out, come on.”
As they exited the department store into the mall, Remy said, “Tell me more about your gift recipient.”
Violent inhaled and caught the faint but delicious scent of wood and spice wafting off Remy. Oh my. “Well, Devin’s a partner in a big accounting firm –”
“Hence the having everything already.”
“Exactly. Hmmmm, he plays golf. A lot. Oh, look.” She stopped short and looked up into deep brown eyes. Momentarily speechless, she forced out a laugh. “There’s the pop-up shop.” She motioned toward a large atrium filled with a maze of vendor booths. “This will be fun, come on.”
“Hold up.” Remy pulled her back to his side and peered into her eyes under the bright sunlight pouring through the mall skylights. “Are you wearing contacts? Your eyes – they’re…are they purple?” He moved even closer, their noses barely six inches apart.
She cleared her throat. “No contacts. My eyes are a purple-ish blue, yes. Weird, right?”
His gaze intensified, as did her heartrate. “Remarkable. And your name is Violet, which if I’m not mistaken is a shade of purple, right?”
Her cheeks burned at his questioning and nearness. Goodness, what would Heather think? “Yeah, that’s why my parents gave me the name. Even though the doctor told them my eye color would most likely change, they liked the name enough to use it anyway. But my eyes never changed from the strange violet-blue they’ve been since birth. It has to do with pigment, melanin, all that science-y stuff. So, uh, the gifts, Heather?” She waved a hand toward the shop.
His eyes roved her face a moment longer, then he nodded and pulled back. “Yeah, let’s go.” He followed her toward the booths. They meandered around the mini-shops considering gift options.
“Look at this. What medium is Heather’s favorite? Does she paint much?” Violet held up a lovely resin artist palette embedded with pressed flowers.
Remy’s eyes lit up, and he reached for the paint palette. “Yes, she loves to paint. I think this is our winner!” He smiled at her, and pleasure flooded her body. She turned her attention to the surrounding booths while he handed the pallet to the proprietor to ring up.
“Look, I also grabbed this color wheel keychain.” He held up the colorful, interactive gift. “Now, let’s tackle your Devin’s gift. Golf, you said? There’s that golf megastore annex on the other side of the courtyard. By the food court?”
She nodded with enthusiasm. “Of course, I should have remembered that.” They strolled toward the food court, talking amiably and rating Christmas decorations along the way. Inside the golf store, they roamed between displays until she found golf-club styled grill tools. “This grilling set is perfect. Devin loves to cook out, but he’d never buy this for himself.”
As she checked out, she felt Remy’s eyes on her, and heat filled her face again. She wondered if he also felt the electricity between them, but it wouldn’t matter if he had a girlfriend.
They walked through the courtyard back into the food court. Remy slowed as they approached the coffee shop. “Violet, I really appreciate your help. I wouldn’t have found this great gift without you. May I buy you coffee? That is, if Devin wouldn’t mind?”
She blinked as understanding dawned and laughed. “Devin is my cousin. I drew his name in our family’s gift exchange. Ummm, and Heather?”
He grinned and leaned in. “Heather is my flighty, quirky little sister. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Neither am I.” She returned his smile and looped her arm through his. “I’d love to have coffee with you.”