Free Waiting for Midnight by Samantha Chase Page A

comfortable, Maddie tried to go back to sleep.  Glancing at her clock, she saw it was a little after four.  It was definitely too early to get up but just knowing that someone had been in her apartment – even if it was Kiera – made it difficult for her to relax.  Plus – you know – presents!
    “This is ridiculous,” she murmured and kicked her blankets off.  With a huff, Maddie climbed from the bed and went back out to the living room and turned on the light.  Sitting down on the couch, she looked at the tree and all of the presents.  In all of her life she’d never seen so many presents under a tree – especially ones for her!
    With a bit of hesitation, she reached out and picked one up.  There was a tag on it and all it said was “Maddie”.  It was a standard gift box and yet Maddie had no idea what to expect.  No one was there to witness her opening the presents but she felt guilty – as if she was supposed to be waiting for something or someone.
    “Okay, now I’m just being silly.  If Kiera or…Santa brought these for me, they’re expecting me to open them!” 
    So she began to open the first gift.  Tearing the paper off, she tossed it to the floor and took the lid off the box.  A smile crossed her face as she lifted the book from the box.  “101 Craft Ideas for Kids,” she said out loud.  Leave it to Kiera to remember how much time she was always spending looking for craft ideas for when she volunteered at the community center.
    Placing the book on the sofa beside her, Maddie stood and went to the kitchen to get a trash bag for the wrapping paper.  Once there she decided to take a few minutes and make herself a cup of coffee – since she wasn’t going back to sleep, she might as well start her day.
    A few minutes later, mug in hand, she walked back to the living room and nearly jumped when she heard a loud sound right outside her door.  It was locked and while normally she felt safe, right now – at this hour – she wasn’t quite so confident.  Quickly running to her room, she picked up her bat and went back toward the door and looked out the peep hole.
    All of the twinkly lights she and Noah had put up were on and there was some kind of light coming from the entire porch area.  “This is getting too weird,” she said and slowly unlocked the door. 
    And there on the front porch stood Noah.
    Maddie froze and stared in confusion as Noah finished positioning a family of light-up snowmen on the porch.  “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “It’s Christmas,” he said simply.  “But no one would know it by the look of our porch.”
    “Clearly I’m still asleep,” she mumbled and went to go back inside and close the door.
    “What are you doing up so early?” he asked.
    Did she dare even try to explain her morning to him?  “Just…couldn’t sleep.”
    He straightened and smiled at her.  “Is that coffee I smell?” 
    Why couldn’t the ground open up and swallow her right now?  “Um…yeah.  I just made myself a cup.”
    “Mind if I join you?  It’s kind of cold out here.”
    Yeah.  Maddie had noticed that being she was in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a cami.  “Noah, I don’t think…”
    “Come on,” he said softly, stepping in close.  “It’s Christmas morning.  One cup.”
    Somewhere in the back of her mind, Maddie knew this wasn’t a good idea, but she had missed him so much, and he smelled so good that she simply took a step back and motioned for him to come inside.
    “Wow,” he said, walking across the room.  “You must have been a very good girl this year.”  Looking over his shoulder, he winked at her.  “Mind if I pour myself a cup?”
    She shook her head.  “That’s fine.  Help yourself.”  Rather than following him, she sat down on the sofa and picked up her cup of coffee.  “This is like a scene out of a Dickens movie.  None of this is really happening.”
    Before she knew it, Noah was sitting beside her.