The Christmas Contract

Christmas Dinner

Holly wiped her face with the back of her hand, the tears still fresh on her cheeks, but her sobs had slowed to quiet sniffles. She took a steadying breath, trying to pull herself together as she glanced up. Ethan, the tall, broad-shouldered stranger, was still there, crouched down beside the broken bottle. He was carefully picking up the shards of glass, his large hands moving with precision and care.

“You don’t have to do that,” Holly mumbled, still sniffling. “I’ll clean it up later.”

Ethan looked up at her, his dark eyes meeting hers with calm reassurance. “It’s no trouble,” he said, his deep voice a balm to her frayed nerves. “You don’t need to be bending down in your state.” He gestured to her tear-streaked face with a small smile that held no judgment, only understanding.

Holly hesitated but ultimately didn’t protest. Instead, she wiped her face again, It was strange, this unexpected kindness from a complete stranger.

As she turned to leave, she glanced back at him. The sight of him still crouched on her driveway, picking up the glass, felt surreal. She didn’t know him—hell, she didn’t even know why she was paying him this much attention—but something about the way he carried himself, so calm and composed, intrigued her.

She watched him for a moment longer, unable to look away, until her gaze locked with his. His smile was soft and genuine, and something about the way his eyes lingered on without asking questions made her heart beat just a little faster.

“You should get some sleep,” Ethan said, his voice low and warm. “It looks like you’ve had a bad day.”

Holly blinked, surprised by the simple observation. “I… yeah,” she mumbled, still feeling the weight of everything that had happened. It wasn’t a question she wanted to answer, but there was something comforting in his words.

She nodded, her lips forming a weak smile before she turned and headed toward her front door, her mind still whirling. She tried to convince herself that this man wasn’t someone she should be thinking too much about. After all, he was a stranger—kind, considerate, but a stranger all the same.

“By the way,” Ethan’s voice stopped her just before she reached the door. “I’m Ethan, the new neighbor across the street.” He stood up, brushing the dirt from his jeans, and moving closer to offer his hand to her.

Holly paused- his name was Ethan, and apparently, he was her neighbor who had recently moved into the estate. She forced a smile, shaking his hand, taking a good look at his face. She couldn’t help but notice how ridiculously handsome he was. His dark hair was tousled in that effortless way that most men would envy, and his sharp jawline and full lips made him look like he belonged in a magazine. He had to be in his thirties, but there was something about his body, made of hard muscle, that made him seem even more formidable.

Holly felt a strange, fleeting thought pass through her mind: Maybe I could cheat with him, get back at Ryan. The thought almost made her laugh bitterly as soon as it appeared, and she quickly shook it off. She wasn’t the type to do something so reckless, especially not with someone she just met. She wasn’t sure why her mind even went there. She was just… exhausted.

“I… I should get inside,” Holly said, her voice a little too shaky as she pulled her hand away from his.

Ethan smiled, clearly sensing her discomfort. “Of course. You’ve had a tough day,” he said softly. “I’ll finish up here. Get some rest.”

Holly nodded quickly and turned for the door, the weight of everything still bearing down on her chest. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, glancing back one last time. To her surprise, Ethan was still crouched in the driveway, carefully picking up the broken glass.

Holly stared at him for a moment. There was something about the way he moved, so effortlessly focused on cleaning up the mess she had made, that made her feel like she was witnessing a rare act of genuine kindness. A man who didn’t have to do this, but did it anyway.

She shook herself out of her thoughts, embarrassed that she was staring at him like that. But just as she snapped back to reality, their eyes met again. He looked up and smiled at her, his expression warm and unforced.

“You really should get some rest,” he repeated, his tone casual but sincere. “It looks like you’ve had a rough day.”

Holly blinked, taken aback by how he seemed to read her so easily. The way he said it made her feel… lighter. It was strange, but in that moment, she felt like maybe she wasn’t completely lost.

“Yeah, I will,” she muttered, her lips pulling into a tight smile before she turned and stepped inside.

She headed straight for her room, shutting the door behind her and jumping onto her bed. She was trying to quiet her racing thoughts when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Without even looking, she assumed it was Ryan. She had been ignoring his calls all night, but the constant notifications made it clear he wasn’t done trying to reach her.

Holly grabbed the phone with a sigh, about to switch it off, when she saw the caller ID: Mom.

A sinking feeling hit her stomach. She didn’t want to talk to her mother. Not now. Not when she was barely holding it together. But there was no avoiding it. With a shaky breath, she answered.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, trying to sound normal, even though her voice sounded much hoarse than normal.

“Holly, are you still coming home for Christmas dinner next week?” Her mother’s voice was strict and businesslike as usual. In their wealthy circle, her mother had always had a reputation to uphold, one she insisted her only daughter uphold just as firmly.

"Why do you sound so strange?" she asked, her tone more annoyed than concerned. How will you deal with clients with such a weird tone?"

“I… yeah,” Holly hesitated, her voice strained. “ I’ve just had a bit of a cold. That’s why I sound like this. I'll come so you don't hve to--”

Her mother didn’t sound convinced. “You’d better be there, Holly. And don’t forget to bring Ryan with you,” she added, the demand clear in her tone. “You know your father's wish about you getting married before he dies. He doesn't have much time left!"

The knot in Holly’s stomach tightened. Her mother’s expectations had always weighed heavily on her, and now, the pressure felt suffocating. It didn't help that her father cancer diagnosis and his own wishes only seemed to place a heavier burden on her head.

“I… okay, Mom,” Holly said, her voice quiet. “I’ll bring him. I'll bring my fiance!"

Her mother’s voice became sterner. “No excuses, Holly. You’re bringing him to dinner. I won’t hear anything else.”

"You should already be married with at least two children! Can you imagine the excuses I give to my friends about you? Do better Holly!" she continued, admonishing Holly a bit more before she finally hung up.

The conversation draining the last bit of her energy. When the call ended, Holly slumped into the pillows, fighting the urge to break down again. How was she supposed to explain to her mother and especially her father that she had broken up with Ryan? That he had been cheating on her for who knows how long? She couldn’t do it.!Her phone buzzed again, snapping her from her thoughts and this time she was prepared to toss the damn phone out the window until she realizes who it was. It was Sarah, a friend who lived nearby. Holly hesitated but picked up the phone anyway.

“Sarah!” she sobbed the moment the line connected. “Ryan is cheating on me!”

The floodgates opened, and Holly wept uncontrollably, the shame of it all overwhelming her. She had spent years bragging about Ryan, boasting about how perfect their relationship was, only to find out he had been the worst kind of liar. How could she have been so blind?

Sarah’s voice was soft but firm. “Wha-what? How could---You know what! I'm coming over!"

Holly already tearing up afresh from the thought of trying to figure out what she would do about a Christmas dinner she had to got to and a fiance she no longer had.