I'm late! I'm late! I'm late for a very important date!
I am so so so sorry friends! I missed our party. *cries* Please forgive me! This is late I know, but it's better than never!
Here is my first belated gift to the Cooplee Christmas Party
Secret Santa
The rain misted that Tuesday morning and Coop groaned. It was a day until Christmas Eve and he knew this Christmas was going to royally suck. He and Beth had broken off their affair three weeks prior. She had been too afraid of Alan’s reaction if he ever found out. He felt bad to say that he was relieved to be rid of her. The physical aspect was fun, it was a lot of fun, but it didn’t cover up his problems. Nothing could cover up his loneliness.
While he spent most of his time now at Company with his father he usually ended up on Main Street watching the pedestrians. Everyone looked so happy in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. He just felt and probably looked like a scrooge. There was nothing to be happy about this Christmas.
Ashlee had started frequenting Company a lot more wanting to take up his offer to be friends again. Now all he wished to do was take back that statement. Having her back in his life hurt more than he thought it would. Whenever she laughed he had to stop himself from brushing a hand on her arm or pulling her to him. He ached to pull her to him and kiss her senseless; to tell her he still loved her. But he couldn’t because he wasn’t what she wanted. Not anymore.
Coop sighed, picking himself up off of the bench and headed towards Company. He at least could work on his writing. That was about the only thing he had going for him and sometimes he even doubted that. Being depressed made it hard for him to come up with material to write.
Entering Company he instantly spotted his dad behind the counter, wiping it down. Next to him, was a small red box with a big silver bow on top. He walked over and smiled when his dad sat a hot cup of coffee down. His dad knew him too well.
“Hey, who’s gift?” Buzz smirked and pushed it across the counter to Coop. Coop frowned and took it questioningly.
“It’s for you. A messenger dropped it off about twenty minutes ago.” Coop opened the small card and frowned. The handwriting was not familiar to him.
Coop,
You’re going through a hard time and I just wanted you to know there is someone who cares about you. This small gift represents what an amazing writer you are and how amazing you are to me. As a writer you spend your time writing your character’s feelings, but don’t lose sight of your own. Use this journal to vent. I know you tend to bottle up your problems until they erupt like molten lava so maybe this other gift will let you get them off your chest.
Sincerely,
Your Secret Santa
Coop met his father’s gaze, trying to read any hint that his father might know something about this. Buzz wasn’t very good at keeping secrets. But Buzz just stared at the gift dumbfounded.
“Who’s it from?” Buzz asked. Coop handed the card over and Buzz read it. A smile spread across Buzz’s face and reached over knocking Coop in the shoulder.
“You’ve got a secret Santa! Who do you think it is?” Coop shrugged and Buzz knocked on the small box.
“Well open it!” Coop laughed at his dad’s enthusiasm and tore the paper off, realizing he was excited too.
Pulling the lid off of the small box he grinned. Nestled inside was a small, black typewriter ornament. He lifted it up preciously and smiled, laying it in his open palm. Underneath the ornament was a black, leather journal.
“I love it.” Coop murmured. He stared at his gifts and racked his brain thinking about who it could be from. Of course the first name to come to mind was Ashlee. Hope flared in his chest at the thought that Ashlee could be his secret Santa. What did that mean? Was she making an effort get back together?
“Ooh, that’s pretty! Who gave you that?” Coop frowned and turned around, his hope plummeting at the sight of Ashlee. She stood there smiling, staring at the ornament in his hand. He set it back in the box and shrugged.
“I’m not sure. It’s from my secret Santa.” Ashlee frowned and sat down next to him. Coop tensed at her nearness. She was dressed in a pretty red dress and her hair was curled. She had never looked more beautiful.
“You have a secret Santa?” Ashlee asked frowning. He nodded and gave her the note that Buzz had left. He felt pleasure in the frown on her face as she read it. He couldn’t help but want her to be jealous.
Setting the note down she smiled.
“That’s so fun. I wish I had a secret Santa.” She said picking up the ornament and inspecting it.
Crestfallen he nodded.
“Yeah, I just don’t know who it is.” He said.
“Well it seems like whoever it is really likes you. I mean, to go to all this trouble for you is a big deal.” She said and he nodded.
Coop sighed and took a sip of his coffee.
“So what are you doing for Christmas? Have anything planned?” He asked. She shook her head.
“Not really, just eating lunch with Doris that day. What about you?” She asked.
“Not much either; we’re having a big dinner that night with the family.” He replied.
“At least that will be fun. I think mom is going to work that day. I’ll probably end up watching the Christmas Story marathon all day.” She said, chuckling. He wanted to invite her, but the words wouldn’t come.
“I love that movie.” He said and she grinned. Her smile lit up his inside. After a few moments of content silence she turned to him with a frown.
“Are you okay Coop?” She asked. He jerked his head and stared at her wide eyed.
“Why do you ask?” He said shakily. Ashlee pointed to the card.
“Your secret Santa seems to think something’s wrong and I do too. Just tell me you’re happy.” She said, worry in her eyes. Coop stared at her openmouthed. He shook his head.
“I can’t do that.” He muttered before turning a cold shoulder on her and sipping his coffee. Ashlee seemed to get the message.
“Well, I guess I better go…” She said softly and he nodded, staring after her as she left. If he was any kind of man he would run after her and beg her back. He would tell her how big of an idiot he was and that he was dying without her. But he wasn’t any kind of man and he didn’t run after her.
The next day Coop walked towards Company wishing to see Ashlee. He needed to apologize for their last conversation. After all, it was he who wanted to be friends again and she was just checking on him as a true friend would do.
He frowned when he noticed the emptiness of the streets and sighed. It was Christmas Eve. Most people would be at home with their families, preparing for church that night or doing last minute shopping. All this told him that he probably wouldn’t see Ashlee until after Christmas and that felt like a sledge hammer knocking him off of his feet. The need to see her was increasing daily.
Seeing the front door to Company, Coop thought about his gift the previous day and wondered who his secret Santa could be. It was a nice thought that someone would take the time to do it. Maybe it had been his cousin Daisy. Revulsion filled him at the distant thought that it could be Beth. But he dismissed that idea. He was only a young body to her.
Pulling open the door Coop walked into the empty restaurant and froze. Sitting once again on top of the counter was a big blue bag and a snowman painted on it. He walked over and rolled his eyes at his father. Buzz stood there bouncing on his heels, a smile on his face.
“Coop! Finally, this has been sitting here for two hours. I’ve been waiting on you!” He said, motioning for Coop to open. Coop laughed and sat down, pulling the big bag over to him.
“Dad, you do know this is for me right?” He said playfully. A card was taped to the bag and he pulled that off first. Opening it up he saw the same handwriting from the day before.
Coop,
These two gifts were supposed to make you laugh. I hope they do because I love your laugh. The first is to remind you that you are a great man. You are willing to do anything for others. And it reminded me of you. The second is for you to play with. You haven’t been very playful lately and I miss it.
Sincerely,
Your SS
Excitement rushed through him and he felt like a kid again as he pulled the tissue paper out. Laughing he pulled out a football and then a coffee mug. On the mug in big red letters was “World’s Best Teacher”. He grinned fully and showed his dad. Buzz smiled warmly at his son.
“I have to know who this person is.” Coop vowed. He hadn’t felt so warm inside in a long time. The buzzing of his phone caught his attention and he answered.
“Hello?” He asked.
“Coop! It’s Daisy. Do you want to come skating with me today?” Coop, still in his euphoric mood after opening his gift agreed, something he wouldn’t have done a day ago.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll meet you there.” He replied.
“Really? Cool. I’ll be there in about an hour.” Coop could hear the surprise in her voice and he frowned. He had been a jerk lately and he was just now realizing how much. Daisy had been asking him to go for about a month and it wasn’t until now that he had accepted.
“Great, I’ll be their Dais.” He said before hanging up.
An hour later he was walking inside the rink. Searching the crowd for his niece he froze. She stood there with Grady on one side and Ashlee on the other. Ashlee spotted him and smiled. Her smiled unglued him. Daisy waved brightly and walked towards him, dragging the other two behind her.
“Hey Coop! I’m glad you came. Ashlee was complaining about being the third wheel.” Daisy said. Ashlee’s eyes widened and her face grew red.
“No problem, I haven’t done this in a long time.” He said.
“Me neither. I’ll probably fall on my face the entire time.” Ashlee said nervously. Daisy rolled her eyes and tugged on Ashlee’s sleeve. Grady just ignored them.
“You’ll be fine! Now let’s go!”
They all got their skates and before he knew it Daisy and Grady had left them. He and Ashlee stood at the entrance nervously. He had only done this a few times and judging by Ashlee’s green face she was no pro-skater either.
Ashlee turned to him with a determined glint in her eye.
“You ready?” She asked. He smiled and nodded.
“Ladies first.” She giggled at that and hesitantly placed her left foot on before kicking off. Watching her tentatively take her first few steps put Coop in a trance. She didn’t seem to be having a problem at all. She glided across the ice gracefully. He on the other hand; that was an entirely different story.
Coop took one step onto the ice and froze. Ashlee laughed and beckoned him to her with her hands. He shook his head.
“Coop! Come on! Just push off.” She said, laughing. The red in her cheeks and the laugh in her voice warmed his heart. He loved her when she was like this.
“I can’t right now Ash. I’m stuck!” He said back, playfully. She came to him and pulled him along with her. He let her pull him a few feet before moving his own skates.
“There you go! Not too bad!” She said brightly, her hand holding his. He didn’t let go and neither did she.
They skated for a while in companionable silence before she turned to him.
“Did you get any more presents?” She asked.
“I did actually. A football and a coffee mug that says World’s Best Teacher.” Ashlee laughed.
“Aww, that’s so cute!” She said. He nodded, about to respond before his skate did something funny and he toppled down. Their hands broke apart.
Ashlee stared down at him laughing and he glared.
“Not funny.” He said moaning, holding his back. She helped him up.
“It’s kinda funny!” She declared, holding back another round of giggles. They slowly started skating again and Coop turned to her.
“Ashlee, are you my secret Santa?” She turned to him in shock.
“What? Why would you think that?” Any last hope he had flew out of the window at her response and the mortification in her eyes. He shook his head, trying to compel any tears from flowing.
“Well, whoever it is seems to know me really well and you’re the only person I could think of besides my family.” He said.
“It’s not me Coop.” She said softly.
“Okay.” He replied, disappointment lacing his voice. Ashlee seemed to sense this and the rest of the time on the rink was spent in silence.
As he left the rink two things ran through his mind.
Who the hell was his Secret Santa and why couldn’t it be Ashlee?
Coop woke up on Christmas to snow falling outside. He smiled as he walked down the white streets of Springfield. His father had a nice, big breakfast waiting for him there and he couldn’t wait. He would also find out who his secret Santa was. Hopefully. That was how it worked he thought. Hopefully the person would let him know quickly. Whoever it was would be a shock to him. The only person he wanted it to be was adamant that it was not her.
Sure enough, resting on top of his father’s counter was a small box, wrapped delicately. The restaurant was empty, but Coop could hear his father in the back. The rest of the Cooper’s would be there soon.
Opening the note quickly, Coop scanned it.
Coop,
All of the gifts I’ve given have reminded me you and the man you are to me. I hope this will remind you of me. I’ve made lots of mistakes and the greatest one I’ve made is you. I’ve always been there with a red pen, fixing your mistakes. Can you fix mine? Merry Christmas. I love you.
Sincerely,
Ashlee
Coop ripped open the box and pulled out a beautiful, red pen. It was engraved with his initials. He clutched it and the card tightly.
He ran out of the front door and stopped short. Ashlee stood there, anxiously staring at him.
“Merry Christmas Coop Cooper.” She said. Those words were the sweetest he had ever heard. In three strides he pulled her to him and crashed his lips to hers.
They broke apart and he wiped the tears out of her eyes.
“I’m so sorry Coop!” He shook his head and hugged her.
“Hush Ashlee, As long as I have you everything is okay.”
Let me know what you guys thought!
I love you guys!