A Promise to Remember

"Okay," I replied.

"Don't fight it," Alice pressed on. "I know you like that Wiley boy, but... wait, what?"

My eyelashes drooped. "I said okay. Introduce us."

After dinner, my old app rang with a call from Ted. I'd switched to a new number, sharing it with only a couple of close friends, but I still logged into the old one occasionally to tie up loose ends before deleting it.

He sounded casual, as if nothing had happened. "Why is your phone not connecting?"

Before I could answer, he continued, "Anyway, I've got the holiday prep all sorted. Anything else you want? I'll have my assistant grab it."

His words triggered a memory: the year Mamie died. I'd gone home, but on Christmas Eve, I video-called him to wish him happy holidays.

It took ages for him to answer; the screen was dark at first, showing only a fading ember from his cigarette.

"Yeah?" he rasped.

As the screen adjusted to the light, I saw he was alone on the balcony, surrounded by scattered bottles and cigarette butts. Outside, the world was alive with lights and fireworks, but that joy seemed worlds away from him.

He sat there in the shadows, smoking in isolation, and my heart broke for him.

I smiled through it. "Merry Christmas early! Got a gift for me?"

He chuckled, and a transfer notification pinged on my phone. He had just sent me 100 thousand dollars, which blew my mind.

After a long pause, he murmured, "Nora, come back soon. I'm really..."

The wind scattered his words; I couldn't make out if it was "lonely" or "missing you".

Worried about him, I faked a work emergency and booked the next flight back to Eldonfield.

At 3 a.m., the city still pulsed with life, but Ted's place was pitch black. I banged on the door, breathless. "Ted, open up!"

I thought he was asleep, but he answered quickly, staring at me in stunned silence. "Y-You're back?"

I beamed. "I'm here to keep you company for the holidays."

He gaped, and as the awkwardness built, he suddenly pulled me into a crushing hug, as if trying to fuse us.

From then on, I'd always spend the holidays with him before heading home. It became our unspoken ritual. Yet this year, with Audrey by his side, I hadn't expected him to reach out.

I glanced out the window. "I'm already home."

Ted paused, caught off guard. After a moment, he hummed, trying to sound natural, "Oh, makes sense. It's been years since you spent the holidays with your family."

"Yep." I clutched my phone.

Silence stretched across the line, broken faintly by Audrey's voice in the background. "Ted, a little help here. The hot water is acting up."

"Coming," Ted replied.

"Gotta go," I said, my lips tightening.

"Yeah," he said flatly.