The Christmas Letters

by Jenny Proctor

“Whoa.” “I said no judging.” “That was a totally benign, strictly observational whoa,” I argue. She laughs. “Mmm, I don’t know. It sounded judgy.”

Lol

Tess is gorgeous.

Gorgeous by TS

It’s been just over a year since I left Preston mere hours before I was supposed to walk down the aisle and say I do.

Another runaway bride.

Ha. Now it all makes sense. Francie serves up her famous chicken salad with a splash of matchmaking on the side.

She's my new favorite character.

“Please don’t leave on my account,” Preston adds.

He's actually really sweet awww

“You just have to trust me,” I say to Ben. “She’s not the woman for me.”

WRONG SHE TOTALLY IS

“Don’t be spilling on my rug now,” Grandma Pearl warns.

SHE'S AN ICON

“A beautiful woman,” Grandma Pearl repeats. “You keep forgetting that part.”

HAHAHAH

“This isn’t a Hallmark movie.” Love just doesn’t happen like it does in the movies. No matter how much I wish it did.

“You talk like Francie is a personal friend and not a complete stranger,” I say. “She’s not a stranger. She’s been feeding me for years.

HAHAHAH

“I’m being ridiculous,” I say out loud as I walk back to my condo. My neighbor’s dog barks in confirmation.

HAHAHAHAHAA

“Is there a street address? I bet we could use the google to find her name.” I press my lips together over my grandmother’s use of the google. “When did you become such an internet detective?” “Get with the times, Drew. You can learn anything on the google.”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

“You think she really likes me?” I motion to Roxie, calling her toward me, rubbing her face as she gives me another slobbery kiss. “I guess you didn’t learn it from Drew,” I say in my best doggie voice. “Did you, Roxie? No you didn’t!”

THE PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVENESS-

“I don’t suppose you have any interest in just being friends?” Drew asks, his expression sheepish. Friends might actually kill me, but I smile anyway.

She's so real for thatttt

Maybe I did misjudge her.

Yes, you did.

“You’ve Got Mail,” she answers. “And I’m already halfway through, so we should be able to finish it before you leave.” She hands me the popcorn bowl and stands up. “In the meantime, I’ll pretend I need to use the bathroom so you can read your letter in private.” She pats me on the head as she passes behind me.

She's ACTUALLY the best thooooo

I reread the part about cornhole, smiling the whole time.

THAT WAS LITERALLY ME

For a brief moment, I indulge in the possibility of my pen pal being Tess, but that doesn’t make enough sense to give it more than a passing thought. It would solve my problem of thinking about both women at the same time, but there’s just no way a coincidence that strong could ever be real.

hehe..

What else? I hate olives. I don’t understand how anyone can NOT hate olives. I’ll eat just about anything. But not olives.

REAL and the olive theory...

We were together, and I believe we cared about each other, but that’s different than caring for each other.

A few more questions for you: Favorite childhood game? Favorite food? Favorite beverage? Last book you read that you couldn’t put down? Or in your case, last book you listened to?

Stawp 'cause why does this remind of my goodreads message friendsss!! Shoutout to all yall and i love yall smmmmm!

Or sweet tea with raspberry puree and a twist of lime.

Ooh yummmm

The Other Side of Thinking, by Jenna Rafferty.

Not this book giving me all KINDS of recommendations!!

I’m not interested in Tess. I am interested in my Christmas pen pal.

THE FACT THAT THEY'RE THE SAME PERSON AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

But it’s too late for those kinds of thoughts now.

No it's not.....

So why is my body reacting like he’s the sun and I’m a freaking sunflower?

I know why....

Turns out, Ben can’t come, so Drew agrees to drive him back to the EMS station, then meet us at Scoop, an ice cream place Chloe and I have loved since we were kids.

I feel like Ben can come but won't..

“I wouldn’t say I have a type,” he says, lifting an eyebrow toward Daisy. “You don’t seem anything like Tess to me.”

Oooooooooooooooo

Across the table, Chloe snorts and Deacon turns a laugh into a cough.

AHAHAHAHAHA

Man, I hate mean girls.

FRRRRRRR

It’s the second time I’ve been this close to him tonight, and it’s getting harder and harder to remember why I shouldn’t be with Drew.

Well she's gonna find out soonnnnn!!

“It really is like You’ve Got Mail.” She reaches over and pats my arm. “You make a marvelous Tom Hanks.”

STAWP 'CAUSE I CAN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I LOVE HERRRRR

If you make judgments against people who have money, you’re no better than the ones who judge people who don’t have any. Be better than that.”

Gran lifts an eyebrow. “Not fine enough for her to choose you over a mystery man she’s never met before.” Oof. Points to Grandma Pearl for hitting me where it hurts.

SEE?!?!?!!!?!? SHE'S A BADDIE TOO!!!

“The stakes are high, Drew,” she argues. “Throw caution to the wind!”

SHE'S SUCH AN ICON

My eyes drop to his hands, where he’s holding a stack of letters. I gasp. My letters. I slowly lift my gaze to his. “You’re…?” “Andrew Maxwell McKay,” he says slowly.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH