Chapter Twenty-Three

Kaleb

T he living room was glowing with the colorful lights of the Christmas tree, which stood tall in the corner. The tree was decorated with twinkling lights, shimmering ornaments, and a glistening star at the top. Beneath the tree, a colorful array of presents was neatly arranged, each wrapped in festive paper and topped with bright bows.

Kaleb stood by the tree with a playful grin. “Alright, everyone, it’s time for one nightly present!” Kaleb announced.

He then handed gifts beautifully wrapped in gold with bows on them to Mr. Wells, Adam, Adam’s boyfriend Emery, Miss Nadia, and her two nieces. All of them received the same matching red Christmas sweater. They had white snowflakes, Santa Claus, and a Christmas tree all woven into the fabric. The neckline, cuffs, and hem were ribbed. They individually thanked Kaleb, who had worn his Santa hat, which was their tradition. He noticed Jasha giving Emery a thumbs-up. They probably knew each other from the university.

Kaleb moved on to his cousin Arlo and handed him his gift. Arlo eagerly tore open the wrapping paper, revealing another cozy red Christmas sweater. He laughed, holding it up for everyone to see. “A Christmas sweater! This is outstanding, Santa. We all match. Thanks!”

Next, Kaleb handed a gift to Frankie. Frankie unwrapped it with a smile, revealing the same red sweater. “No way, we match! This is great,” Frankie said to Arlo, slipping the sweater on over his head. “Thanks, Santa.”

Kaleb then turned to Jasha, handing him a present with a wink. Jasha carefully unwrapped it, his eyes lighting up as he saw the same red Christmas sweater. “This is perfect, Santa. Thank you,” he said.

Finally, Kaleb picked up the last gift and unwrapped it for himself, revealing his own matching sweater. “Looks like we’re all set for a very coordinated Christmas on our surprise outing tonight!” he said, pulling the sweater on and striking a playful pose.

The room was filled with laughter as they admired their matching sweaters. “We should take a group photo,” Arlo suggested, pulling out his phone. “This is too good to miss.”

“Agreed,” Kaleb said, gathering everyone together in front of the tree. “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas! I’ve never had this much fun around Christmas time,” Jasha said.

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Kaleb said.

As Kaleb looked around the room, everyone wore their red Christmas red sweaters, a family tradition which had begun with his parents.

“It’s time to leave.”

Kaleb took Jasha’s hand, and they made their way to the foyer to put on their jackets and shoes. Off they went in the limo. This time, Emery was in the front seat with Adam.

“Hey, Jasha, do you know Emery?” Frankie asked.

“Yeah, he also studies law at NYU. We take the same classes,” Jasha said.

As soon as Adam parked at the entrance to the Polar Express station and opened the door, they tumbled out. Jasha moved over to Emery and started talking to him, as Kaleb handed everyone a ticket to ride the train to the North Pole.

Kaleb watched as the train chugged along, its headlight piercing the darkness. Snowflakes and tiny Christmas lights decorated the train’s windows, casting a warm, inviting glow on the passengers. As soon as it came to a halt, they hurriedly boarded. Arlo sat beside Frankie, his eyes wide with wonder, while Jasha and he were nestled in their seats, their faces lit up with excitement. Adam and Emery sat together, their shoulders touching as they shared a comfortable silence. Kira and Helina found a spot near Kaleb. He admired his group wearing identical Christmas sweaters.

Kaleb gazed out the window, his breath fogging the glass. The train wound its way through the snow-dusted mountains. Outside, a blanket of white stretched as far as the eye could see, punctuated by the twinkling lights of cabins and lodges.

Inside, the train was a festive wonderland. Christmas decorations hung from the ceiling, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon. Elves, dressed in bright red and green uniforms, danced and sang Christmas carols, their voices echoing through the train. Jasha joined in the singing with the others, his face lit up with joy.

The aroma of hot chocolate and cookies suddenly wafted through the train as they passed out drinks and cookies. Kaleb couldn’t help but smile as he sipped his hot chocolate, the warmth spreading through his body.

“What do you think of this train on its way to the North Pole?” Kaleb asked.

“I’ve never been on a Christmas train like this before. And I’ve never been to the North Pole. You really know how to celebrate Christmas.” Jasha’s smile was infectious, his eyes glimmering with warmth and happiness. This was the first time he had seen pure joy filling his being. Some of his sadness had disappeared. Finding his father became his top priority, as he needed to fly him here for Jasha. He felt a strong sense of responsibility to rectify his wrongdoing and set things straight. Making peace with Jasha’s father was the way to win his heart forever.

Kaleb leaned over to Jasha and asked, “Do you remember celebrating Christmas when you were little in Russia?”

Jasha shook his head. “Not a lot. I do remember when my mother was around, we used to go ice skating. We used to have a tree and my mother baked all kinds of cookies. But when we moved to New York, we did little.”

Kaleb had always taken Christmas for granted. But seeing how happy Jasha was now, experiencing the magic of the Polar Express, he realized how important these traditions were and hoped Jasha would experience many more with him. It must have been difficult for him when he moved without his mother. He probably never got over losing her. That could be why his father gambled.

The train slowed and the announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “We have arrived at the North Pole!”

When the train came to a halt, Jasha’s eyes widened in disbelief. They had arrived at the North Pole! Stepping off the train, their eyes were met by a breathtaking sight of Christmas lights twinkling and illuminating the night. Snow-covered trees were decorated with twinkling ornaments, and the air was filled with the sound of laughter. Kaleb was overwhelmed by the sight before him as if it were his first time. The North Pole was a fairy-tale place, with towering snowmen, gingerbread houses, and a giant Christmas tree so tall it could almost touch the sky. Santa Claus, dressed in his traditional red suit, greeted them with a warm smile.

“It’s enchanting,” Jasha whispered, his voice filled with awe.

“I know,” Kaleb replied, smiling. “We come here every year, and it always feels so mystical.”

After a tour of the workshop, where elves were busy making toys, the train began its journey back. As they sat in their seats, watching the snow-covered landscape pass by, Kaleb couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace and contentment to see so much joy on Jasha’s face. He knew that this would be a Christmas they both would never forget especially when Santa distributed toys on the train and each of the boys received a miniature toy train.