Christmas in Savannah by Elisa Preston

Author:Elisa Preston [Preston, Elisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independently published
Published: 2023-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

I woke with sun spilling through the slat blinds and onto my face from the east-facing window. I must have forgotten to close them last night, distracted as I was. The four of us had sat outside talking for another two hours. By that time, the moment with Joel had long since passed and leaning in for a kiss in front of Scott and Carrie would have been more than awkward. Still, I was not complaining about this smile on my face. I lingered in bed to let it settle deep into my bones. The same way Joel seemed to be doing.

How unexpected. How lovely. To learn that the anticipation of being here was far worse than the being here. To learn that I could tell my backstory and still stand on my two feet. To be unfocused on tennis and still enjoy life.

That last one had never been a big hiccup for me, but in all my prep work for coming to Savannah I had assumed that staying hyper focused on tennis would be what saved me. Turns out God answered that prayer in a very different, much more handsome way.

It was my third day here. Two more days until Jack arrived, five more until the tournament started. I could finally go to the stadium and start hitting with whoever needed a hitting partner. I enjoyed a protein packed breakfast from the food I had ordered and from Mrs. Tucker’s stash. The anticipation bubbling up inside me this morning was different than it was just four days ago. Then, it was fear and anxiety mixing together into a threatening elixir of near paralysis. Today, it was joy and an eagerness to see what the day held.

Oscar carried me to the stadium near downtown. Again, I was surprised by what I remembered and what I had forgotten. I needed the GPS to get there, but with each leg of the journey it was all familiar and I felt like I could’ve gotten there without the digital map. The live oaks draped over each side of the road gave the drive such an ethereal feel. Growing up they were alternatively sad and majestic, depending on what mood my parents’ mood put me in. Today they were majestic. Gorgeous. Everything was still so green. How had I forgotten that about this city?

Deep in my spirit, I remembered all those Christmases I couldn’t wait to not be here. With the exception of my time with the Tuckers, Christmas was tied with summer for the worst time of the year for my daddy’s drinking. That first Christmas Eve I spent at the Tuckers was the first time I remember thinking it could ever be different. Dare I dream? I remember thinking.

But you know what else I forgot about Savannah? How much this city loved Christmas. The twinkle-light garland wrapped around every lamppost pole from Forsyth Park down to River Street. The Christmas carols playing in Ellis Square, the reindeer display in Wright Square.

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