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The city always looked different at night, especially during the holidays. A small respite from the day-to-day chaos, and tonight was no exception. Bright pools of light blurred through the windshield as Morgan flipped through radio stations with determined resolve.
“Nope,” she declared, her bangle bracelets clanking.
“No.”
A loud burst of EDM blares through the speakers.
“Absolutely not.”
Adam sighed loudly as his grip on the steering wheel tightened – but he didn’t say a word - he knew better by now.
Then Morgan lets out a squeal of contentment as the sounds of Bobby Helms’ classic Jingle Bell Rock fill the car.
“Finally!” She beamed. “This is exactly the vibe I was looking for!”
Karadec’s resolve crumbled.
“No. No, no, no,” he said, leaning over to flip stations himself. “I did not put up with you flipping channels for twenty minutes just to end up on Jingle Bell Rock.”
“What?” She shot back with mock offence. “What’s wrong with Jingle Bell Rock? It’s a holiday standard!” She turned dramatically toward the window with a huff. “Well, there better be a holiday song at the end of your little search there, detective! It’s December – though you definitely strike me as a ‘no holiday joy before December fifteenth’ kind of man.”
“Really?” he smiled as he landed on Stevie Wonder’s What Christmas Means to Me. Morgan smiled despite herself.
“I’m a complicated man,” he continued, eyes back on the road. “I’m happy to usher in some holiday cheer – but can we please do it with a little class?”
Morgan’s eyes went wide as she stared at him as if he’d just confessed to secretly loving reality television and having a soft spot for Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
“This is deeply unsettling,” she declared.
Karadec laughed, clearly pleased with himself. It was always a good day when he left Morgan Gillory befuddled.
They drove in comfortable quiet until the car rolled beneath a canopy of palm trees arching over the road, each wrapped in sparkling red and green lights. Morgan pressed her forehead to the glass, taking it all in.
“Christmas in L.A. is so special,” she grinned. “The palms look surreal decorated like that. It’s like they’re trying really, really hard to convince us that it’s winter.”
Adam glanced at her, amused. “I like them too. But…” he paused. “Sometimes I miss real Christmas trees. You know - evergreens with branches weighted down with snow – no need for lights to tell us the season is here.”
Morgan turned to him—really taking him in. “And where did you see trees like that, mister? On TV? Because from what I understand, you grew up right here in L.A., and that’s not exactly our landscape.”
“I did grow up in L.A.,” he smirked.
“OK, so what - you once starred in a Hallmark movie as the big city guy who scares the woman back into the arms of her ruggedly hot lumberjack ex?”
“Amusing,” he deadpanned. “If you must know, my grandparents lived in Washington state – just south of the Canadian border. I spent most Christmases there until I was fifteen.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened. “So you experienced actual winters? Like you could have been the lumberjack in Snowed In With Love?”
“Yes, actual winters,” Karadec laughed. “With real snow and lakes that froze so thick that we used to walk right across them.”
She leaned back in her seat, quietly intrigued with the bit of personal information he just revealed. “You never told me that before.”
“You never asked,” he shrugged. “It was magical - it felt like stepping into a Burl Ives song. A real winter wonderland.”
Morgan’s face lit up. Before either of them could say another word, a new song began to play—Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.
Adam slowed, turning his head toward her. They both burst out laughing.
“OK,” she said breathlessly. “That’s spooky. You literally summoned him.”
He let out a snort. “You’re impossible.”
Morgan nudged his shoulder playfully. “I am not. I’m just festive,” she grinned, as they drove through another stretch of illuminated palms.
“Yeah... those were the days,” he murmured. “My grandma used to make these cinnamon rolls from scratch every Christmas morning. The whole place smelled like sugar and warmth. Most kids woke up early looking for gifts from Santa – but we got up early just to watch her bake.”
Morgan’s expression softened. “That sounds really beautiful.”
“It was.” He hesitated. “Still is, I guess. It’s special – even just remembering it now.”
She turned fully in her seat, studying the way the dashboard light softened the sharp lines of his face. “This is nice,” she smiled. “It’s not every day I get to hear about little Adam’s life.”
His gaze stayed on the road, but his voice turned gentle. “Yeah… it doesn’t come up that often.”
“Well, it could,” she said, tilting her head. “I like hearing about it.”
They rode in thoughtful silence after that, neither paying much attention to the songs changing on the radio. When they pulled up in front of Morgan’s home, she reached for the door handle.
“Hey, Morgan,” he said, just before she stepped out. “Maybe someday,” he added, careful but sincere, “we could take a drive up there together. So you can see it for yourself.”
Sarcastic words formed on her tongue—but for once, she let them fall away. She met his eyes.
“I’d like that,” she said softly. “I’d like that a lot.”
Karadec nodded, feeling something unfamiliar settle in his chest.
“Good night, consultant,” he nodded.
“Good night, detective,” she grinned, turning on her snakeskin-covered heel as she headed to her front door.
Adam watched until she slipped her key in the lock and gave him an almost bashful wave. He nodded back, then pulled away.
He was only making sure she got inside safely, he told himself. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. He’d do it for anyone—partner or not. Even if it weren’t… her.
He took a deep breath as he waited at a red light, then, just before it turned green, he laughed as Jingle Bell Rock began to play.
The moment had come full circle – but this time, Karadec didn’t dare change the station – he smiled gently as Bobby Helms’ song continued to play.