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back into their romance.
    What she needed to do was work out how to put the fun back into their relationship so the three of them actually enjoyed the holiday season, instead of just sleeping through it.
    It was up to her if she wanted to save their relationship, and the time to do it was now.
    Well, fuck! How am I going to do that?
     
    ***
     
    Jewel had raced into the store during her lunch break to grab a few items for supper, and found herself humming along with the old song White Christmas . On and off during the afternoon, whenever she had a spare moment, she found herself thinking about the song. She had an idea the Bing Crosby version was one of the best-selling singles of all time, thanks to its mix of melancholy with comforting images. Could she use that as a sort of game plan to get her relationship back on track? To re-inspire the men with passion and energy? Or should she just give up and look for a new man or men?
    No, dammit! She did love them both. She’d never stopped loving them and was pretty sure they still loved her and each other. It was just that they were all tired and worn out. What they needed was a good kick in the ass, and a time to refresh and refocus the way they interacted with each other.
    So, hmm, how to do it? Yeah, well, that was going to be the hard bit. Something about white and Christmas. Something with nostalgia and comfort, yet reinvigorating vitality.
    On Christmas Eve, most businesses would stop work at midday for a party and some drinks. Afterward, some workers would go out to a bar for more drinks, while others would be hurrying home to prepare for the holiday. Since the holiday party they were going to on Christmas Day was at a restaurant, they didn’t need to come home and bake cookies or prepare food to bring. And since it was a huge event for the extended family and connections, and general present-giving would be horrendously expensive, or chaotic, or both, each person had been assigned one other person to buy a gift for, the gift to be valued at twenty-five dollars. All the gifts would be labeled and placed under the tree. Santa Claus would hand each person their gift.
    Jewel was sure neither Donovan nor Oscar would have bought their gifts yet. So something nostalgic might be shopping for their gifts together, after work on the twenty-fourth. Building up some of the excitement for the season. Now all she needed to do was add something sexy to that. An adult store? No, family-friendly gifts would be better. Children would be at the event too. But afterward, afterward... She needed to think of something evocative for them to do together on the night of Christmas Day and again on the twenty-sixth. Or something they could continue doing together as an ongoing activity.
    Well, hell. This is going to be harder than I thought.
     
    ***
     
    “Remind me again. Why I am being dragged through a million stores looking for holiday gifts instead of still sitting at work, enjoying the free beer?” asked Oscar in a mournful tone of voice, but with a twinkle in his eyes.
    “Because you love me,” replied Jewel, batting her eyelashes at him dramatically.
    “Because you don’t want to look like an idiot tomorrow. The only person there with no gift, more likely,” said Donovan.
    “Yeah, that too,” said Jewel, leading the men at a brisk pace through the crowded store.
    “Do you have to walk so fast?”
    “Yes. I have more things planned for after the shopping. Things you’ll both like.”
    “You do? Oh, well, in that case...” Oscar hurried after the other two.
    The entire floor of the store Jewel had brought them to was devoted to the holiday. A child-size train ran on tracks around the floor space. Small children rode on it, laughing and waving at their families.
    Father Christmas himself sat in splendor on his big, red chair. A line of families waited to see him, and a trail of happy children left after their visit, contentedly sucking lollipops.
    Jewel maneuvered Donovan and