He rummaged at the bottom of the bucket and found a small, wrapped box. After tearing off the paper, he opened the lid. It was a small snow globe with a picture inside of him and Katie.
It had been taken on the nineteenth of January in 2002. It was shortly before his dad passed away, and Josh and Katie had worked their asses off getting tickets to the last game the Patriots would ever play in Foxboro Stadium. It was the only game they’d ever seen in person. It had been cold and snowing, but it was a historic night and the Patriots beat the Raiders by three points. Katie had gotten a fellow fan a few rows up to take a picture of the two of them with the snow-covered field as the backdrop, and the excitement and happiness of the night lit them both up.
When he shook it, the snow fell in front of them, almost as if it was turning the photograph into a living memory.
“That was one of the best days of my life,” he said softly, shaking it again.
“Mine, too.”
“You have to open mine now,” he told her. Then he smiled at Rosie. “Things are gonna get weird.”
Katie gave him a questioning look, but he only shrugged and gestured for her to open it. Inside the box was a huge sponge, specially made in a jumbo size for washing trucks, according to the label. She laughed and threw it at him.
The second item in the box was wrapped, just as the snow globe had been. She tore the paper off and he wasn’t surprised when her mouth fell open in surprise.
“You can’t be serious,” she said.
“What is it?” Rosie asked impatiently.
She took a plaque out of the box and held it up for her mom to see. It had been designed to commemorate the final game at Foxboro Stadium, with a photo of the snowy field and a smaller plaque with the games details. The bottom half had a photo of the field at the shiny new Gillette Stadium, as well as the pertinent details of that September 2002 game. Also a win for the Patriots, and over the Steelers, which was even better. The plaque was made complete with trading cards for Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi mounted under plastic protectors.
“You’re right,” Rosie said. “This is a little weird.”
“I was remembering that day and how amazing it was while I was shopping, and when I saw that plaque, it seemed like the perfect gift.”
“It is,” Katie whispered. “The absolutely perfect gift.”
Their eyes met and he could see that she wanted to throw her arms around him and thank him, but she was holding herself back. He winked and gave her a smile, because they could thank each other later, when they had more privacy.
“What’s with the car wash stuff?” Rosie wanted to know.
“Why was it so funny that Mitch gave Josh a splitting maul?” Katie countered, and the women were at a standoff.
Josh was tempted to explain the splitting maul, but Rosie might find it odd he’d so freely share the story of working off his sexual frustration by splitting wood with the woman at the root of that sexual frustration. He’d have to tell her later—once again, when they had some privacy.
“I’m going to bring the muffins in here so we can pick at them.”
Rose went into the kitchen and, as soon as she was out of sight, Josh and Katie met in the middle of the living room. He kissed her for as long as he thought he could get away with it, and then rested his forehead against hers.
“Thank you for the snow globe.”
“Thank you for the plaque,” she said in a soft voice. “I guess we both treasure the memory of that day.”
“Always.”
When Rosie came back into the living room, carrying a basket of warm muffins, they were both back in their seats. Josh smiled and took a sip of his coffee.
Best Christmas ever.
*
“Amazing.” Katie licked powered sugar off her fingers and reached back into the box.
“The sex or the doughnuts?” Hailey asked.
They were sitting on Hailey’s couch with their feet on her brand-new coffee table and an open box of powered doughnuts between them. It was something of a Boxing Day tradition. They weren’t sure how it was done in England, but they always had a box of something delicious the day after Christmas.
“The sex,” Katie clarified. “But the doughnuts are pretty amazing, too.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t call me immediately.”
“I wanted to, but since it was about one o’clock on Christmas morning, I thought I should wait. Plus I fell asleep.”
Hailey sighed and gave the doughnut in her hand a mournful look. “I don’t think these are amazing. They’re not bad, but I think you have that really annoying happy afterglow that great sex gives you. Everything’s amazing after an orgasm or two.”
“That explains the coffee. Mine isn’t usually as good as what mom makes, but it was really good this morning.”
“I kind of hate you a little right now.”
“Have another bite of your doughnut.”
She did, and then washed it down with half her mudslide. “So what now?”
“No more doughnuts. I’m done.”
“With Josh. Where did you sleep last night?”