Wine And Good Cheer

The living room smelled like cinnamon, pine, and freshly baked sugar. 

Melody stepped back slowly, tilting her head as she examined the Christmas tree standing proudly in the corner of the room. It was tall, almost brushing the ceiling and drenched in warm fairy lights that glowed softly against the walls. Red and gold ornaments hung from every branch, some glittering, some matte, some shaped like tiny bells and snowflakes. Candy canes peeked out from between the needles, and a silver star crowned the very top.

She smiled, hands on her hips, admiring the job they've just done.

“This is so beautiful,” Melody said softly.

Tara, who was kneeling on the rug with a box of ornaments beside her, scoffed lightly as she reached for another bauble. 

“I know, right? But honestly, I feel like it’s a little bit too much. There’s just… a lot going on.”

Melody laughed, the sound light and musical, and dropped down beside her on the floor. “Girl, it’s Christmas. Nothing is too much this time of the year. Please.”

Tara rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Miss Festive Spirit.”

Melody nudged her shoulder. “I know you secretly love it this way.”

“I do not secretly love it,” Tara protested, though her lips twitched. “I openly tolerate it.”

Melody laughed again, then suddenly pushed herself up to her feet. “Hey, I’ll be right back. Let me go check those cupcakes.” 

Tara glanced over her shoulder. “If you burned another batch of cupcakes, I’m pretending I don’t know you.”

Melody gasped dramatically. “First of all, rude. Second of all, have some faith.”

Few days ago, she was watching her favorite cooking maniac show and completely forgot about the cakes in the oven. She padded barefoot into the kitchen, where the warm scent intensified. 

She took out the cakes from the oven. On the counter sat the tray of freshly baked chocolate and red velvet cupcakes, their tops perfectly domed and glossy. She leaned over them, satisfied, then carefully transferred the tray to the cooling rack.

Opening the cabinet above the fridge, she reached for one of the wine bottles Logan had given her after house hunting, deep red, elegant label, the kind of wine that looked expensive. She was kind of getting the hang of these expensive wines. Now cheap wines taste like vinegar to her.

She grabbed two glasses, tucked the bottle under her arm, and headed back into the living room.

Tara was now sitting cross legged on the floor, staring at the tree with her head tilted, as if reconsidering her earlier criticism.

Melody plopped down beside her, handing her a glass. “Peace be unto you.” She joked.

Tara accepted it immediately. “Now this… this I will never complain about.”

Melody poured the wine slowly, the deep red liquid catching the glow of the fairy lights. She poured for herself as well, then lifted her glass.

“To Christmas chaos,” Melody said.

“To Christmas chaos,” Tara replied.

They clinked glasses and laughed before taking a sip.

Tara hummed appreciatively. “Oh wow. This is good.”

“Logan has expensive taste,” Melody said casually, then took another sip.

Tara raised an eyebrow. “He has the money, so of course he has expensive taste.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the lights twinkling, the soft hum of the city filtering in through the window.

“So,” Tara said eventually, turning to her. “How was the house hunting?”

Melody exhaled slowly, leaning back on her hands. “God, Tara… the house was beautiful. Like, beautiful beautiful. I fell in love with it almost immediately.”

Tara smiled knowingly. “I can hear it in your voice.”

“It was so big,” Melody continued. “Too big, honestly. I’m really not a fan of very big houses, especially if I’m going to be there by myself most of the time.”

Tara nodded. “Yeah. I get that. You’ve always been around people. Silence hits differently for people like you.”

“Exactly,” Melody said. “I don’t want to feel like I’m echoing in my own house.”

“So do you think you’re going to get it?”

Melody hesitated, then shrugged. “I love it. I really do. I told Logan I wanted it. But he said it might be better to keep our options open, and check out more places.”

Tara nodded approvingly. “That actually makes sense. You don’t want to jump on the first beautiful thing and then realize there’s something even better.”

Melody smiled faintly. “Yeah. That’s what he said too.”

Tara took another sip of wine, then leaned closer, eyes gleaming. “Okay. Enough about houses. How was your drink? I passed out the second I got home last night, so I need the tea. All of it.”

Melody laughed. “The place itself? A ten.”

“Ooooh…the aesthetics were insane,” Melody continued. “African inspired decor, warm lighting, really intimate vibe. It was beautiful.”

“And the host?” Tara prompted.

Melody grimaced. “A solid three.”

Tara nearly choked on her wine. “Three?! That’s low, low. Was he that bad?”

“He couldn’t stop talking, Tara. I swear, if he said one more word, I might’ve actually screamed.”

Tara burst out laughing. “Oh no.”

“He kept talking and talking and talking,” Melody said, waving her hand. “And then somehow turned it into a whole lecture about how terrible Logan is. How Logan isn’t someone you commit to. Like I care.”

Tara scoffed. “Classic. He’s projecting his own nonsense.”

“Exactly,” Melody said. “I’m not stupid.”

“Good, it's so distasteful for a man to be talking like that.”

“And guess what?” Melody leaned in.

“What?”

“He dropped me off at the house we were touring. And then he stepped out to say hello to Logan.”

Tara’s eyes widened. “No.”

“Yes. And he pecked me in front of Logan.”

Tara groaned. “Girl. That is too much drama for one day.”

“I know!”

“All this in twenty-four hours?” Tara shook her head. “Meanwhile, I’m wasting away in the hospital while people are out here living soap operas.”

Melody laughed so hard her stomach hurt. “Stop it. It was embarrassing.”

“But Logan wasn’t mad?” Tara asked 

carefully.

“No,” Melody said. “He said it was fine and that Blake was always attracted to other people's women.”

Tara nodded, relieved. “Good, but that's weird.”

They sat quietly again, then Melody tilted her head. “So… how was work today?”

“It was okay, same old.” Tara said, then smirked.

Melody flashed her, her mischievous smile. “But more importantly how’s your doctor crush?”

Tara stiffened immediately. “Don’t say that. He’s not my crush.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And he doesn’t have a crush on me either,” Tara added quickly. “He’s just… a guy.”

“A guy who wants to get under your skirt?” Melody teased.

Tara groaned. “Melody shut up!”

“I’m just saying,” Melody said gently. 

“Some people are intentional. Maybe Dr. Harvey is one of those.”

Tara shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t care.”

“Liar,” Melody said affectionately.

Tara changed the subject quickly. “So what are you wearing for the carol tonight?”

Melody brightened. “I was thinking maybe a white dress.”

Tara smiled. “Perfect. Christmas colors.”

“And you?” Melody asked.

Tara grinned. “The new red sweatshirt you got me.”

“And the new pants,” Melody added.

“Exactly.”

They laughed together, the room warm with friendship, light, and laughter, two women wrapped in the magic of the season.