An Aurora Skies Christmas Romance Tale

Chapter 7
(Part 1)

December 22nd

"Ice skates?" Jaron asked Miriam inquisitively as he opened up his newest gift from her that morning.
"Yes!" she replied excitedly. "I wasn't sure if you had any so I totally saved the receipt in case you do OR if you don't like ice skating you can return them." She winked. "I just thought it would be fun if we went out and ice skated at the park! The pond is frozen SOLID this year!"
"How would you know my shoe size?" he asked, studying the box.
"Well," she began, rocking on her heels. "I sorta asked the guy at the shoe store, you know, the one that's worked there forever, if he happened to know your shoe size from a previous purchase and...he did."
"Size 12," he read on the box. "Yup, you guys got it right."
Miriam grinned.
"You're sneaky..."
"I know!"

****

The temperature was colder than usual compared to the past few days, which Jaron didn't particularly care for. Nor did he feel like freezing his bu'tt off being outside for a good portion of the day, ice skating of all things, but...he just couldn't say no to Miriam's cheery face upon gifting him the skates. No he didn't own any, but he had skated before...years ago. He hoped he wouldn't fall and embarrass himself in front of her.

"Alrighty!" Miriam began as they "stepped" out onto the ice. "You ready? It's been a long time for the both of us so...if we help each other along at first we should get the hang of it."



"I guess so," Jaron sighed, staring off into the distance.
Miriam's face fell upon hearing his reaction. "Oh...uh...did I put you in a position where you felt like you couldn't say No?"
Well... He cracked a smile to help her feel better. "Maybe a little," he admitted, "but it's ok. Really. It was a very generous gift and honestly, I don't ever remember the pond being frozen enough to skate on so, this is kind of cool."
Miriam cracked a smile in return. "Ok, now take my hand," she said, outstretching them, "and together we can figure this out again."
Yeah...together.

In no time at all the two got the hang of ice skating again and before Jaron knew it, Miriam was cheering with joy again at her success. He was really beginning to love that sound.

He certainly didn't mind the view as he trailed behind her a bit to make sure he'd be there to catch her if she fell.



Then he let her go off on her own.

A couple of minutes later... "Woah, woah, WOAH!" Miriam cried, barely keeping her balance.
"Careful!" Jaron cried. Whew...



Before they knew it they'd been skating in circles, creating hundreds of skate marks in the ice, conversing for about two hours. The cold didn't even seem to phase them. However as the sun began to set, they were really starting to feel it.



As they stopped to catch their breaths on the ice for a bit, Jaron said, "This was really fun Miriam. Once again I regret ever regretting doing something fun with you." He winked.
She blushed. "Why Mr. Hodge I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," she winked back.
"Please...call me Jaron," he said. "You make me feel like an old man when you call me Mister."
"It was an honest slip of the tongue," she said, skating closer to him. "You know how old habits die hard."
"Yeeeahh..."
"You're doing great," she assured, reading his thoughts. "I'm honestly very surprised at the way you just flipped the switch and have gone back to the," she paused, "kind man you used to be."
He took her hands into his and looked down at them. "Well...it's still a struggle, but," he hesitated a bit, "with you coming around every day...it sure makes it easier to be a better person."

Miriam's eyes glistened a bit as she smiled at him. "That's really sweet of you to say," she said, looking down at their hands too. "But really I'm just...being me. You make it sound like I have some inner magic or something."
"Well I think you do," he expressed. "Anyone who is willing to spread care and kindness toward someone who's heart was as cold and stone- hearted as mine, well...that's a gift Miriam."
She gazed into his eyes with a blushing smile.
"Everyone was afraid to do what you did and honestly...I can't say I blame them." He lowered his head again. "I just never expected the hate and pain to consume me the way it did..."
At that, Miriam gently lifted his chin with her finger. "Don't think about that ok?" she encouraged. "We've all made mistakes. Big ones that we aren't proud of, but...we learn from them and we move on. Don't allow yourself to wallow away in your regrets from the past. I've done that before and I felt it destroying me. Just always try to focus on the gift of each new day, that's why they call it the present," she chuckled. "And never look back."

In that moment Jaron desperately wanted to pull her in close to him and...

...but then they heard a violin begin playing. They both glanced over at the fountain to see one of the homeless men in town, playing his violin at the park like he so often did. Miriam's heart always broke for him, which is why she never hesitated to tip him when she happened to be around his playing.

"Dance with me?" Jaron asked her in a whisper.
"On the ice!?"
"Don't worry...I won't let you fall."
Miriam blushed as they carefully took each other's hands and danced, the best one could on ice, to the sweet tune of the violin. Jaron even twirled her a couple of times, which made her heart flutter.

Spinning among the faint light of the Christmas lights, it all felt so...romantic. Both of them loved every second of it.



Once the cold had really started to become unbearable, the two went over and tipped the homeless man. Then they offered to buy him some dinner and hot chocolate from the Diner, to which he gladly accepted.

That small act of service made Jaron realize just how selfish he'd been in wallowing away in his own pain and sorrow for the past decade. He could've been out doing good...forgetting his pain, and healing it in the process. The cure was there all along, he'd just forgotten where to look for it.

****

December 23rd

On this day before Christmas Eve, Miriam and Jaron spent the whole day together.

After Miriam arrived with her gift, and Jaron gifting her with something too, they headed off to the movie theater to watch a classic Christmas film. Then they had a picnic lunch in the park...well...it was more like "a grill something in the warmth of the coals and eat it standing" kind of lunch. Snow was everywhere!

Then Miriam took Jaron to her home, to show off her humble abode and introduce him properly to her friends. Ciro was at work by then and Miriam figured that was probably for the best. Angelica was of course quite taken by this new Mr. Hodge, you could hear it in her giggles, and he and Pedro even talked about sports and shared some laughs. It warmed Miriam's heart how well they all got along and she hoped that Jaron just made a couple of new friends today.

As the afternoon came to an end, Miriam took Jaron home. He asked her if she'd like to stay a bit longer and join him for dinner as he was going to cook up his famous wild caught fish. She agreed and couldn't wait to try it! She didn't particularly like fish, but when she took a bite of one, coated in Jaron's secret spices, she was in awe over how delicious it tasted! I sure could get used to this kind of cooking...

After dinner they thought it would be fun to lay out in the snow and watch the stars. But quickly they realized what an awful idea that was!

"Should we just call this making snow angels instead?" Miriam asked while shivering. "I guess...they'll be 'Siamese twin' angels?" She chuckled.
Jaron laughed too. "Sounds good to me!"



The two hurried back inside for some warm cocoa and then Jaron expressed how he wanted to go back out and look at the stars with her. There was an old Christmas story he heard regarding a star that he wanted to find and tell her about.
"Umm...the star of Bethlehem?" she asked, looking at him in a funny way.
"Not that star," he said, "a different one."
Feeling warmed up enough they headed back out into the still, cold night.

For a time they sat huddled together, gazing up at the stars and taking in the beauty of the wintry scene surrounding them.



Sharing a few whispers and giggles as they made small talk.



Then Jaron finally found the star and pointed it out to her.



"...and it was that star," he concluded the story with, "that shone down and encouraged the cold and weary Christmas carolers to the home of old Marjorie Pay, making her very last Christmas a special one. Answering her prayer that she wouldn't take her last breath that night alone."
"Aww," Miriam expressed. "That's a beautiful story, but kind of sad at the same time."
Jaron didn't respond to that, but simply turned his head toward her and said, "I was so sure I didn't care if I spent Christmas alone for the rest of my life, but now," he paused, Miriam meeting his gaze, "I'm beginning to feel the same as Marjorie; I never want to spend it alone again."
Smiling brightly at him, Miriam gazed back up at the stars. He didn't have to say anything else, nor did she, they knew what the other was feeling.

When it came time to go their separate ways, they struggled to say goodbye.

Jaron held her in close, and longer, when she gave him a parting hug. "I'm going to miss seeing you every day after Christmas," he finally admitted to her. "I can't believe the day is almost here."



"Yeah," Miriam sighed, her heart sinking at the thought. "But we'll still see each other and get together," she said looking into his eyes. "I promise. I could never stop seeing you now."
That made Jaron very happy and filled his soul with relief.

"Before I go," Miriam said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Tomorrow is the Christmas Eve Ball, at the Ballroom next to City Hall. I wanted to," she paused, her heart fluttering, "invite you to it."
Jaron smiled. "I appreciate the invite," he said, "but...I'm not so sure." He scratched the back of his head. "I haven't attended anything like that in years and honestly--"
She knew he felt nervous and why. "Just think about it ok," she asked, gently touching his arm. "It was wonderful last year and there's always delicious food and...I'll be there so...I'd really love it if you could be there too." For a moment she held her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels and Jaron couldn't help thinking how adorable she looked.

"I'll think about it," he assured, lightly stroking her cheek. "Until tomorrow then."
"Yes."
"Goodnight...Miriam."
"Goodnight."

****

December 24th

That morning when Miriam arrived with Jaron's gift she found a note posted on his door. Curiously, she set the present down, ripped it off, and began reading:

My dearest Miriam,
Sorry to miss you this morning. I am out doing some soul searching. I need this time to sort a few things out and...I hope you'll understand. Please, do leave your gift by the door and I'm still not sure about attending the Ball, but no matter what...I'll find a way to see you.
Sincerely,
Jaron

Holding her hand to her heart, Miriam turned the note around, hoping there was more, but wondering what this could mean. What were these things exactly that he needed to sort out? Getting out in public more? Learning to ignore people's gossip? Figuring out what to do next in his life? It's gotta be that, she thought, but really it could be anything.

She left the gift right where she set it down and slowly walked away, hoping with all her heart that he'd come to see her at the Ball that night.

****


Part two coming as soon as I can get it written perfectly! 😁

Thank you so much for your patience. 💜