The solution to the 'hot tub' design wasn't all that complicated in the end. It just involved scavenging some parts from Cassie's distillery and locating a second small water pump from a fish tank that had once belonged to an independent insurance agency in the next town over. Eric had simply dug a rectangular pit with the tractor, finished shaping it with a shovel, applied some insulating material around the inside, lined it with another piece of the same holding pond liner material that they'd used to make the lagoon and rigged up a propane burner and holding tank. It wasn't very pretty, but by adjusting the valve on the propane burner with the constant flow rate of the small pump into the holding tank, Eric was able to get the temperature of the water up to 102 degrees and hold it there fairly steady by monitoring it with a digital grilling thermometer which featured a temperature alarm that he could set at the desired temp to warm him if it was getting too hot.
It took Eric most of the day Christmas Eve to finish it, but he thought it would make a nice present for the girls. Using a 4x8 piece of plywood that he had cushioned with insulation and covered with a layer of the pond liner material, before installing a soft rubber stripping along the edges, he fitted the lid into place to create a seal over the 'hot tub' and hoped that it would help to conserve enough of the heat so that it wouldn't take as long to bring the water temperature back up again each time they used it.
Eric kissed each of the girls when he came down to dinner, grateful for the hot shower after working most of the day out in the cold. He had shaved and put on a collar shirt as they held a video call with their parents during dinner to celebrate Christmas Eve. They cleaned up together once they'd finished eating and despite how much work it took to warm up the flue and get the chimney drawing, Eric built a fire in the fireplace in the den so they could enjoy the warmth and light of a fire while they shared a drink and a smoke after dinner. They reminisced about Christmases they had shared growing up and recalled the best, and worst, gifts they could remember.
Cassie remembered a bag of marshmallows she'd seen in the cupboard and they attempted to roast them in the fireplace using a variety of utensils they found in the kitchen. The marshmallows had seemed a little hard and stale when they took them out of the bag, and none of the attempts managed to avoid bursting into flames at some point, but they all agreed that the end result tasted just fine. Ellie suggested that the fact that they were all 'high as fuck' might have impaired their judgment as taste testers, but it only made them laugh and didn't diminish their desire for eating another one each.
They agreed to wait until morning to open the presents their parents had sent them, along with the gifts that they had for one another. They had agreed in advance, that any gift between them must be home-made, using only things that they found on the property. But Cassie had surprised them by producing three small packages as they sat around the fire.
"These don't really count," she explained. "Because they weren't home-made and are really only more like 'stocking stuffers'". Cassie broke out laughing as she tried to finish the sentence, but given the drinks and the weed, Ellie and Eric assumed it was just because she was wasted.
Ellie and Eric tore off the wrapping paper and each found a single condom inside. Cassie unwrapped hers a little more slowly and held it up to match theirs.
"I had totally forgotten that they put three of these in every welcome back kit we get from Student Services each semester." Cassie explained. "I usually end up giving mine away at some point when someone ends up asking everyone in the dorms in desperation late some night," She smiled. "Nobody came and asked this semester with the lockdown and I just tossed the whole welcome home kit in my duffel when I packed up to come home." She shrugged. "I was going through my school stuff today and was tossing stuff when I checked the bag to see if there was anything worth keeping. I figured it was meant to be and so I wrapped them." She took a drink.
"Are you suggesting that we use them, Cass," Ellie seemed a little shocked.
"Actually, I'm suggesting that when you're ready, that the two of you might want to use them," She looked back and forth between her brother and sister. "I figured this was a lot less awkward than either of you going to one of the drugstores in town." She rolled her eyes. "Kind of hard to explain during a lockdown when you're not supposed to be leaving your property." They both nodded.
"What are you going to do with yours?" Ellie asked.
"I think I'll hold onto it for a while," Cassie smiled. "But I promise I'll ask you before I use it," she looked sincerely at Ellie.
"Why would you need to ask me?" Ellie made a face.
"Because you're in love with Eric," Cassie shrugged and couldn't help smile. "And I'm pretty sure he is just as in love with you."
Ellie looked over at Eric and blushed deeply, "I didn't...I never said..."
"You didn't have to El," Cassie said softly. "I don't think Eric had figured it out yet, but guys are pretty clueless." She laughed a little and Ellie smiled bashfully. Cassie turned to Eric. "I love what we do together Eric, but admit it, it wasn't me you were thinking about when you told Lisa you were involved in something 'complicated'." She raised her eyebrows at him, daring him to disagree with her.
"Were you...?" Ellie asked softly.
Eric turned to look at her and felt a lump form in his throat when he saw the look in her eyes. He thought of a million things he could say, but in the end he just nodded and knew it was true the whole time. Ellie crawled over to him and he was pushed back over onto the rug as she climbed onto him and her mouth found his. Eric felt something wet on his face and when Ellie finally pulled back her mouth away to catch her breath, he saw the tears that were still spilling from her eyes and running down her cheeks.
Eric glanced over at Cassie, more than a little freaked out, as this was the first time he could ever remember seeing Ellie cry, about anything. Cassie simply smiled and nodded, as a way to tell him that it was all going to be okay. That it was a good thing. For her part, Ellie was hugging Eric, her face resting on his chest as he rubbed her back comfortingly.
"So that's why I thought I'd need your permission, if I ever wanted Eric to use this with me," Cassie said softly. "Because I was pretty sure that you two would be together at that point if I did."
