the Santa wrapping paper and lifting the lid of the small box to reveal an assortment of Christmas jewelry. A pin in the shape of a red-nosed reindeer, dangling Christmas-tree earrings, and a thin red-and-green beaded hair-clip. Festive holiday costume jewelry of the sort that Lorraine always wore and Jess never did. They weren’t dazzling and they certainly weren’t sensible. They were simply fun.
The present from her mother and father had arrived in the mail two weeks ago. Knowing pretty much what to expect, Jess hadn’t been tempted even once in those two weeks to open the gift early. But now she slid the box slowly across the table and very neatly opened her mother’s carefully wrapped package.
It was, of course, a box from her mother’s favorite department store. Every year Jess received clothing from her parents, apparel that was too bright and too young and usually the wrong size. Too big one year, too small the next. There was a drawer full of those outfits in her dresser, outfits she didn’t dare dispose of. Sure as she did, her mother would arrive for a surprise visit and demand to see whatever Jess had just given or thrown away.
She lifted the lid, curious as to what she might find, and folded back the tissue paper to reveal a green sweater flecked with gold. Not exactly like the one she’d dreamed about, but so close it gave her a chill. She lifted the sweater carefully, revealing the short matching skirt.
“Weird,” she whispered.
She held the sweater close to her chest. Coincidence, that was all.
Maybe it was just coincidence, but as she held the sweater against her flannel pj’s and remembered the dream, the idea of spending Christmas day alone was dreadfully unappealing. Depressing, even.
She was showered and dressed in half an hour. For once, the bright clothing her mother had chosen actually fit. Another omen? Jess smiled at that thought as she fastened the reindeer pin to her chest and slipped on the Christmas-tree earrings and secured one section of her unruly hair with the beaded clip.
She was just doing Jimmy a favor, that was all. Pretending to be his girlfriend for a couple of hours to keep his overbearing mother off his back was the least she could do for a friend. Jess grabbed her coat and left the too small, too quiet apartment.
It was another cold day, but the sun was shining and the skies were clear and bright. Jess was heading for her car when she heard raised voices from around the corner.
“I can’t believe you have the nerve to show up with a puppy!” The high-pitched voice stopped Jess in her tracks. “We live in an apartment, and Scott is only two years old. A dog would just be something else for me to take care of, and you know it!”
“Scott will love—” a deep male voice began.
“No!”
“But what am I supposed to do with—”
“Get rid of it!”
Jess stepped to the edge of the building and peeked around the corner. She recognized the couple from the fourth floor, Tom and Sharon Hall. They were both very nice, usually, and they had the cutest little boy. They had recently separated, she thought.
In his arms Tom held a little ball of black fur that cuddled against him for warmth. And maybe for protection from Sharon. There was a red bow around the dog’s neck that was almost as large as it was. The puppy saw Jess first, and he lifted his head, fastening black eyes on her.
Tom and Sharon noticed her at the same time.
“Merry Christmas,” Jess said with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t help—”
“See what you’ve done?” Sharon snapped at Tom. “Making a scene in front of the neighbors.”
Tom turned a haggard face to Jess, and she could see so much in his distressed expression. He missed his kid; he missed his wife. The three of them belonged together, especially today.
“Cute dog,” Jess said with a grin.
“You want it?” Sharon Hall snapped. “I am not—”
“Yes,” Jess interrupted. “Actually,
The present from her mother and father had arrived in the mail two weeks ago. Knowing pretty much what to expect, Jess hadn’t been tempted even once in those two weeks to open the gift early. But now she slid the box slowly across the table and very neatly opened her mother’s carefully wrapped package.
It was, of course, a box from her mother’s favorite department store. Every year Jess received clothing from her parents, apparel that was too bright and too young and usually the wrong size. Too big one year, too small the next. There was a drawer full of those outfits in her dresser, outfits she didn’t dare dispose of. Sure as she did, her mother would arrive for a surprise visit and demand to see whatever Jess had just given or thrown away.
She lifted the lid, curious as to what she might find, and folded back the tissue paper to reveal a green sweater flecked with gold. Not exactly like the one she’d dreamed about, but so close it gave her a chill. She lifted the sweater carefully, revealing the short matching skirt.
“Weird,” she whispered.
She held the sweater close to her chest. Coincidence, that was all.
Maybe it was just coincidence, but as she held the sweater against her flannel pj’s and remembered the dream, the idea of spending Christmas day alone was dreadfully unappealing. Depressing, even.
She was showered and dressed in half an hour. For once, the bright clothing her mother had chosen actually fit. Another omen? Jess smiled at that thought as she fastened the reindeer pin to her chest and slipped on the Christmas-tree earrings and secured one section of her unruly hair with the beaded clip.
She was just doing Jimmy a favor, that was all. Pretending to be his girlfriend for a couple of hours to keep his overbearing mother off his back was the least she could do for a friend. Jess grabbed her coat and left the too small, too quiet apartment.
It was another cold day, but the sun was shining and the skies were clear and bright. Jess was heading for her car when she heard raised voices from around the corner.
“I can’t believe you have the nerve to show up with a puppy!” The high-pitched voice stopped Jess in her tracks. “We live in an apartment, and Scott is only two years old. A dog would just be something else for me to take care of, and you know it!”
“Scott will love—” a deep male voice began.
“No!”
“But what am I supposed to do with—”
“Get rid of it!”
Jess stepped to the edge of the building and peeked around the corner. She recognized the couple from the fourth floor, Tom and Sharon Hall. They were both very nice, usually, and they had the cutest little boy. They had recently separated, she thought.
In his arms Tom held a little ball of black fur that cuddled against him for warmth. And maybe for protection from Sharon. There was a red bow around the dog’s neck that was almost as large as it was. The puppy saw Jess first, and he lifted his head, fastening black eyes on her.
Tom and Sharon noticed her at the same time.
“Merry Christmas,” Jess said with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t help—”
“See what you’ve done?” Sharon snapped at Tom. “Making a scene in front of the neighbors.”
Tom turned a haggard face to Jess, and she could see so much in his distressed expression. He missed his kid; he missed his wife. The three of them belonged together, especially today.
“Cute dog,” Jess said with a grin.
“You want it?” Sharon Hall snapped. “I am not—”
“Yes,” Jess interrupted. “Actually,
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