It Happened One Christmas by Kaitlin O'Riley

spirits had lifted a little and her pace had slowed.
    As she walked by the shop windows of the popular resort town, she glanced idly at the pretty things arranged within. As she passed a charming toy shop, she decided to begin buying a few Christmas gifts. Inside, she found the most adorable toy train for Phillip, carved out of wood with wheels that spun and a bright red caboose. He would love it!
    Feeling a bit more cheerful after her impulsive purchase for her nephew, she next entered an interesting curio shop. The interior was overly crowded with every object imaginable, from old furniture to ornate vases to jewelry and feathered hats. There was an endless supply of books, dishes, toys, and even an ancient suit of armor in the corner.
    The elderly shopkeeper gave her a lopsided grin, his left eye covered by a patch. “Good day, miss. How can I help you?”
    â€œMay I please look around the shop for a bit?” she asked. The craggy-faced man had to be eighty if he were a day.
    â€œLook to your heart’s content, my dear.” He waved his gnarled hand in a gesture of welcome. “If you need any help, just whistle.”
    She smiled at his odd suggestion and said, “Thank you.”
    As Lisette wandered her way through the maze of merchandise, she realized the store was much larger than she’d first thought. She must have spent a good half hour gazing at the shelves and tables crammed with all kinds of objects, old and new. A lovely writing set caught her eye. Made from mahogany with brass fixtures, the lid opened to reveal a writing slope and black felt-lined compartments to hold papers and ink and writing implements. It would be perfect for Paulette. Her sister loved anything to do with writing. She next saw a pretty jewelry box delicately carved out of wood. Looking inside, she was surprised to see a silver locket. Not one usually drawn to jewelry, she could not help picking it up.
    There was an elaborate L inscribed on the front of the oval-shaped locket. Funny that it should have her first initial on it. It was a bit tarnished, but a little polishing would brighten it right up. Carefully she popped the locket open and to her delight found it was not a typical locket. This one was designed in such a way as to unfold four distinct sections to hold miniature portraits. She immediately thought of buying it for herself to keep images of her four sisters close to her heart. Lisette never bought herself anything frivolous but this piece pulled at her heartstrings. It seemed made just for her, and even engraved with an L . She held it in her hand and carefully opened and closed the four minipanels, which were so cleverly designed. She loved it!
    â€œHave you found something special you like, Miss Hamilton?”
    Startled, Lisette spun around at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. “Mr. Roxbury!”
    â€œI did not mean to catch you unaware,” he apologized. “I was merely browsing and here you are!”
    She smiled in spite of herself. He was so handsome and looked pleased to see her. After last night she had not expected to meet him again. “This is a surprise.”
    â€œWe do have a tendency to run into each other unexpectedly, do we not?”
    â€œYes, we do.” Lisette laughed in spite of herself, thinking this was the third time they’d met by chance in the last four days. It was quite extraordinary really.
    He gestured to her package that contained the toy train for Phillip. “I see you’ve been doing some shopping.”
    â€œYes. I just bought a Christmas gift for my nephew.”
    â€œAnd this?” He indicated the locket she held in her hand. “Who is this for?”
    â€œI think it is for me,” she explained as she showed him how it worked, relieved to have something safe to talk about. “I can put miniatures of my four sisters inside. It is even inscribed with an L .”
    He grinned and nodded in agreement.