Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans

about.”
    â€œWhat was it like—Scrooge?”
    â€œNo, actually, Irene bought a lot of gifts. Even for me. But gifts are easy. I just remember lining up with the other kids to say thank you and kiss her, and she would never let me. It was her way of reminding me I was different.”
    I frowned at this. “So what’s the other thing you were thinking about telling me but thought was too weird?”
    â€œI don’t think I should tell you. You might think I’m… spooky. Or crazy.”
    â€œSpooky or crazy? Now you have to tell me.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œYou can’t set me up like that and then hold out.”
    â€œOf course I can. It’s what girls do best.”
    I grinned. “Please.”
    â€œOkay. But don’t think I’m weird. Promise me.”
    â€œI don’t know what I’m promising, but I promise.”
    â€œLife Scout honor?”
    â€œI’d go Eagle if I could.”
    â€œOkay then.” She paused as if she were standing on the edge of a high dive unsure whether to jump or not. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “I have dreams that come true.”
    I nodded as if I knew what she meant. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI dream about things and then they happen.”
    â€œWhat sort of things?”
    â€œAll sorts of things.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œWell, for one, I dreamt you. The night before you came to the Hut, I had this dream that I was about to lock up the coffee shop when a snowman came to the door.”
    â€œA snowman?”
    â€œYou were covered in snow when I first saw you.”
    â€œOkay, it’s a stretch, but I’ll go with it. So what did this snowman want?”
    â€œThere’s more. He wanted to use the phone because his sled was broken.”
    I raised one brow. “Okay, not bad.”
    â€œThen I gave him a ride home. So he wouldn’t melt.”
    â€œAlright, that’s eerie.”
    â€œI know. It happens a lot.”
    â€œHow often?”
    â€œEvery few months. It usually happens before there’s some big change, or before… before I meet someone who is going to be important in my life. I dreamt of Jo just before Imet her. At the time I was living in a homeless shelter. I dreamt that this crying angel came and took me to her home.”
    â€œI think that’s amazing.”
    â€œI don’t know what to think of it. Not all my dreams are special. Most of them are just like everyone else’s, but I can tell when a dream is more than just a dream. It feels different.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œIt’s hard to explain. It feels more like a memory. Sometimes I’ll have the same dream more than once.”
    â€œHave you had any more dreams about me?”
    â€œNo. But I did have one last night that bothered me.”
    â€œWhat was it?”
    â€œI was looking for Noel, and for some reason I had to go back to the Hummels’ to find her. Noel was hiding in Mrs. Hummel’s bedroom, and I had to beg her to let her out.”
    â€œDid she?”
    â€œYes. But I still didn’t see her. I don’t remember why.”
    â€œWhat do you think it means?”
    She gestured with both hands. “That’s the thing. I don’t know. I never know. That’s what I hate about it. What good is a dream when you can’t understand it until after it comes true?” She shivered.
    â€œIt’s getting really cold. Do you want to go back?”
    â€œNot really. But maybe we could get closer. You know, to warm up?”
    â€œI’ve just the thing.” I took my guitar back to the car and brought back a thick wool blanket. I sat down next to her and threw the blanket over both of us.
    â€œYou had this all planned out,” she said.
    â€œOf course I did. This is the perfect place to bring a date. It’s romantic, secluded and very cold.”
    â€œSo this whole thing, the