Work Text:
Clyde sighed, gazing fondly at the Christmas tree standing majestically in the corner of the bar. He shook his head before he started removing the brightly colored ornaments.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Ophelia, or Phee, as she preferred, asked gently.
“I dunno,” Clyde said, looking over at her. “It’s just a shame to make such a big deal out of putting up the tree when you don’t even keep it up for long.”
“Then why don’t you?” Phee said, as if that were the most obvious thing in the world. “Keep it up, I mean? Why not take it down after Epiphany?”
“Epiphany? What’s that?” Clyde asked, puzzled.
“Not to get all religious on you, but it’s the day commemorating the visit of the Magi and the birth of Jesus. It’s on January 6,” Phee explained, “and it is a real holiday, just not a very well-known one.”
“Are you sure people won’t mind?” Clyde pressed. “About the whole religious part of it?”
“Why would they?” Phee encouraged him. “Besides, what are they going to do? Protest a Christmas tree? They’ll be too busy looking at all the decorations.”
“I guess,” Clyde beamed brightly. “And if Jimmy or Mellie have a problem with it, too bad.”
“Want some help putting the ornaments back up?” Phee asked, changing the subject. “Although I’d love to hear all about the history behind each one.”
“There’s not much history behind these,” Clyde admitted. “Just that these ornaments survived all these years, between several moves and several heated discussions between my siblings and me.”
Phee laughed, and Clyde loved the sound of it.
“Speaking of your siblings, where are they? Why aren’t they here, helping you tonight?” Phee wondered.
“Jimmy’s got a cold, and Mellie’s nursing him back to health,” Clyde explained. “So it’s just me tonight. And you, of course.”
“Then I’d better help you clean up,” Phee offered, sliding off her seat.
“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Clyde began. But Phee shook her head.
“Really, I don’t mind,” Phee insisted. “The faster we get everything cleaned up and put away, the sooner we can get out of here and see your siblings. After I whip up a pot of my gran’s famous chicken soup, of course. It can cure any cold in no time at all.”
“Did anyone ever tell you you’re an angel?” Clyde beamed at her.
Phee blushed. “What can I do first?”
“You can put these ornaments back up,” Clyde decided. “Then help me with the star?”
“Sure,” Phee agreed.
They worked silently but quickly, and soon everything had been cleaned and put back in place.
“Thanks for everything,” Clyde said, scarcely believing how generous Phee had been.
“You’re welcome,” Phee beamed.
The two of them blushed as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
“Happy Ephiphany, Phee,” Clyde said softly.
“Happy Epiphany, Clyde,” Phee replied.
They beamed at each other, just before Phee gathered her courage and shocked them both by kissing him on the cheek.