“I’m sure you’ll find something.” My pulse sped up. Maybe something on this coast even, not that I’d ask. Elaine was a California girl through and through, and Brandon would follow her to whichever fancy college she ended up at.
“Yeah, and I have a plan about making sure she’s stuck with me no matter where she finds a professorship too. That’s part of why I’m calling, actually.”
“Oh?”
“I’m coming for Christmas.” He sounded all giddy, and there was a crunching sound like he was bouncing on his heels, exactly how he’d done as a kid. “Well, we both are. Elaine’s coming too.”
“But you and Elaine always go to her folks.” I pushed my half-eaten dinner away. Last several years, I’d become used to the pattern of Brandon saying he missed me and Philly but heading to Elaine’s family for every major holiday anyway. I’d be thrilled to see him, no question, but I’d stopped holding my breath a long time ago.
“They’re going to be in Melbourne for an extended work trip, and Elaine doesn’t want to travel that many hours for what’s likely to be a short vacation with so much for us to do at school.” There was always a ton for Brandon to do at his university, courses to teach, research to check on, committees to be on. I made a sympathetic noise as he continued, “Besides, did you know she’s never actually had a white Christmas? They’ve been to Aspen and Jackson Hole for skiing, of course, but never for Christmas.”
“Of course.” Elaine’s parents were the sort of wealthy I had trouble wrapping my head around, her mom a top executive at some tech company and her dad a big Hollywood lawyer type.
“So, since her folks are going away, I asked her to come home with me. I can’t guarantee her a white Christmas, but I can show her your neighborhood all lit up, the Evergreen downtown shops, and go into the city, show her all the holiday sights.”
“You always did like that.” I tried not to dwell on those memories of taking him to see the lights he’d loved so much, but I could see where he’d want to take Elaine to Franklin Square and other spots he remembered fondly. We’d both grown up in Philadelphia, and further, unlike Elaine and her West Coast ties, we’d come from decidedly working-class neighborhoods. I had no idea what someone who’d grown up in a literal mansion would make of my place, but I supposed we’d muddle through.
“Exactly. And then, Christmas morning, right in front of the tree, I’m going to propose. With any luck, there will be snow outside, and it will be perfect.”
“You’re sure you want to propose?” I stood up from the table, earning a look from Jim as I paced across the kitchen. Tree. I didn’t have any such thing. Didn’t even have a guest room set up, and now, Brandon wanted perfection.
“Well, I’ve been dreaming about this for the last year, saving up for the ring and trying to pick the right place to pop the question. I was thinking flash mob—”
“Don’t do that.” Public displays always made me queasy, right along with the people who popped the question on the jumbotron at halftime at a big game.
“Yeah, yeah, bad idea.” He had our mom’s laugh, high and tinkly. “I kept thinking of these glitzy ideas because, you know, her parents…”
“I know.” They sure did set the bar high. Brandon seemed to like them fine, but I got where he’d feel some pressure.
“But that’s not really Elaine. Or me. Then, yesterday, her parents announced their plans, and I dreamed last night about your place. A big tree. Remember me telling you that corner of your new living room would be perfect for one?”
A knot formed right in the center of my chest, making it hard to speak. “I remember.”
“A real Christmas. Like we used to do, not the catered stuff her parents do these days. Everything all decorated will make great photos—”
“That’s important?” God, Brandon might be a bona fide genius, but I had no idea what past he was remembering or what personality transplant he assumed I’d had. Decorated? I did sanded, leveled, varnished, tiled, and more, but holiday decorations? Ones worthy of a proposal backdrop? No way.
“Oh yeah. Elaine’s huge on social media. Mainly particle physics memes, but she’s going to want to share pictures of the big moment. Assuming she says yes.”
“She’ll say yes.” If nothing else, I could say that. Elaine seemed head-over-heels for my brother, beaming in every selfie they took and delighting in their shared research. She did little things, like remind Brandon to eat, and they’d been living together for a couple of years now, so I figured a yes was a pretty safe bet.
“Hope you’re right. I picked out the ring online at an exclusive place in downtown Philly that specializes in rare alloys. It won’t be ready until the twenty-third, but that should work out. I hope. And see, that’s why this plan is so good. You always calm me down.”
“I try.” And I did, but I had to find a way to tell him that my place was hardly Christmas ready. No tree. And he wanted to see a lit-up neighborhood. Fuck. They were both going to notice my lack of lights. I better fess up right now though. “My house—”
“Brandon! We’re about to watch a movie in the theater room.” Elaine’s voice sounded off in the distance.
“Oops. Gotta go.” Brandon’s voice took on the same sort of lovesick tone he got whenever Elaine was nearby. “I’ll text you the flight details when I have them.”
“Okay.” I was still more than a little dazed by this turn of events. “But I should warn you, the place…”
“Paul. You’re such a perfectionist.” Brandon laughed, then laughed again, higher-pitched like Elaine had tickled him or something. Their easy intimacy made my jaw tighten.
“It’s not that—”
“Whatever renovation you’re in the middle of, it’ll be fine. And you’re the neatest guy I know. Don’t worry about the mess.”
Oh, this was a mess all right, just not the kind he was assuming. “Mess isn’t the—”
“Brandon, come on.” Elaine interrupted again.
“We’ll talk soon,” Brandon hurriedly assured me. “It’ll all be fine. You’re going to love Elaine.”
I didn’t doubt that. Whether she loved visiting Philadelphia, now that was the real question. And she better damn well say yes. Brandon deserved a yes. Hell, I’d all but guaranteed him one. But how was he supposed to pull off the perfect Christmas proposal here?
Chapter Five
Emergency! Our air compressor bought the farm. Anyone have one we can borrow for all these Christmas inflatables? ~Jeff Reed posted to the What’s Up Neighbor app
Paul
Returning to my kitchen table, I sat for a long time, trying to make sense of the conversation with Brandon. I couldn’t tell him not to come. But fuck it all, I was unprepared for this, and if there was one thing I hated even more than pity, it was being unprepared.
I needed a damn drink, but there was nothing stronger than beer in the house. And naturally, the universe chose that moment to make my doorbell sound. Jim at my heels, I padded to the front door. And somehow, I knew exactly who it was even before I looked through the curved window on the top of the door.