The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts Page B

this,” Suzanne protested. And not just because of the woo-woo factor. “You paid a small fortune for it.”
    â€œYes, but what I got from it was priceless. I think I’m supposed to pass it on.”
    â€œBut I don’t need anything,” said Suzanne.
    Bryn held out her hands. “I want to see it.”
    Suzanne moved her daughter’s dish out of the way. “Okay, hold it very carefully,” she said, and hovered.
    â€œIt’s so pretty,” whispered Bryn in awe.
    â€œShake it,” said Guy. He leaned over and helped her.
    Suzanne held her breath, fearing her daughter would drop the snow globe. Or, worse, Kiley would start seeing things.
    The snow settled, revealing the same little village and the angel. Good. Safe.
    Bryn gave a gasp of delight. “A puppy!”
    A what?

Eleven
    â€œLook, Daddy!” cried Bryn.
    Guy grinned. “Well, whaddya know.”
    Suzanne looked, too. There was nothing in the snow globe but an angel window-shopping outside a toyshop.
    â€œIt looks just like Happy,” Bryn said, exercising her imagination to the max.
    â€œOh, look. He’s found a home in Virginia,” said Suzanne.
    â€œNo, he hasn’t, Mommy,” insisted Bryn. “That’s our house.”
    â€œIt sure is,” agreed Guy, smiling. “There’s our red front door and the Christmas wreath Mommy just got.”
    Okay, enough encouraging false hope, Suzanne thought irritably. “What do you know! A house in Virginia that’s just like ours,” she said, giving her husband a look that warned retribution if he didn’t cease his naughty behavior.
    Meanwhile, Kiley the Typhoid Mary of Christmas was beaming cluelessly.
    Bryn shook the thing again, watching it in delight.
    â€œWhat else do you see? I think I see a new doll,” said Suzanne.
    Bryn was focused on the snow globe. “I just see Happy,” she said matter-of-factly.
    â€œWell,” said Suzanne briskly, “I bet the puppy in there is tired.” She took the snow globe from Bryn’s reluctant hands. “We’ll put him on the mantel so he can go to sleep, okay?”
    â€œCan’t he sleep with me?” begged Bryn.
    â€œNo, baby,” said Suzanne. “This is very old. It might break. We’ll put it on the mantel where it will be safe.”
    â€œCan I see Happy in it again tomorrow?” asked Bryn.
    I hope not . “Maybe,” said Suzanne. “Or you might see something else. You never know.”
    Kiley stood, saying, “I’d better get going.”
    Yeah, fine. Run now that the damage is done .
    â€œIt looks like you guys are getting Bryn a dog for Christmas after all,” Kiley as she took her coat from the hall closet.
    â€œUh, no.”
    Kiley’s brows knit. “But Bryn saw—”
    â€œWhat she wanted to see,” finished Suzanne. “The dog thing is not happening.”
    â€œOh.” Kiley looked nonplussed for a moment. “But Guy saw it.”
    â€œGuy was playing along. He wants a dog almost as much as Bryn. Sorry to burst your bubble.”
    â€œI can tell,” said Kiley with a scowl.
    Now she’d offended Kiles. The part of Suzanne that felt bad was quickly devoured by its sensible twin, which said, The sooner Kiles learns that grown-ups do not live in la-la land the better .
    Still, she only wanted to be the voice of reason, not the Grinch. “I’m sorry I can’t make fudge with you guys. Save me some?”
    â€œSure.” Kiley’s voice was frosty.
    Suzanne laid a hand on her arm and added, “I do love the snow globe. It’s beautiful and it will look lovely on my fireplace mantel.”
    â€œIt’s not just a decoration, Suz,” Kiley said, looking at her earnestly. “I hope you give it a chance to do something for you.”
    â€œI don’t know what it’s going to do,” said Suzanne. “There’s nothing I