“Hi!” Her cheeks erupted into a monster blush for absolutely no reason.
“Hey,” he said. “How are you?”
“Good,” she said. “Great! I’m so excited about the dance.”
“Me too,” he said. “I . . .” He stopped speaking, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “I missed you last night, after you’d left.”
A delighted laugh escaped Merry’s mouth before she could stop it, and she clapped a hand over her lips before the customers noticed.
“Really?” she said.
“Really.” He smiled at her, his deep, brown eyes big enough to lose herself in for days. “Sorry, that’s a really weird thing to say.”
“It’s not,” she said. “I mean, I missed you too. My bed was freezing!”
Christian laughed, and he looked like he was going to say something else when somebody cleared their throat behind Merry. She spun around to see Mrs Cradley there, the Dragon Lady tapping her foot impatiently. But there was a twinkle in her eye — even she couldn’t be entirely miserable on the day of the dance.
“I’m going!” Christian said, running off with his trolley. “I know, I know, those soap dispensers won’t fill themselves!”
Merry laughed, directing the next customer to the restaurant as Mrs Cradley stalked away. The store was busier than ever, which at least made the time fly by. At 2.50 p.m. the Christmas music stopped and an announcement went out to say that the store was closing early. Half an hour later, the last few recalcitrant customers were herded out of the building. Merry took off her hat and scratched her head, only to hear what sounded like an excited dolphin racing towards her.
“Squeeeee!”
She spun around in time to see Alice flying across the lobby. Her friend jumped up and down in delight.
“The ball! The ball!”
Merry laughed, taking Alice’s outstretched hands and letting her spin them both around.
“Aren’t you excited, Merry?” Alice asked. “It’s going to be so much fun. I can taste the champagne already!”
“That’s because she’s already cracked open a case or two,” said Trudy, walking up.
“I have not,” said Alice. “But I did sneak a canapé earlier when the caterers came in. They’re delicious. Are you going to get changed?”
“It’s a little early, isn’t it?” said Merry. “It doesn’t start until seven, right?”
“That doesn’t stop three glamorous ladies from hitting the bar first,” said Trudy. “Anyone up for it?”
There was only one person in the entire city that Merry wanted to see right now, but she knew that Christian would be on duty getting the store ready for the ball. She didn’t really fancy drinks, but four hours was a long time to hang around by herself.
“Sure,” she said. “I’m game.”
They rode to the top floor in the customer elevators, and Merry grabbed her bag and her jacket, leaving everything else in her locker. She had to resist the temptation to pull the dress out and caress it.
They made their way down Fifth Avenue to the same place where she and Christian had shared their hot chocolate. It felt like something that had happened years ago, Merry thought as they stepped out of the worsening weather into the warmth of the bar. It felt like the kind of memory she should be sharing with her children, or even her grandchildren. It was such a strange sensation — that she’d somehow lived a whole lifetime in these short few days. Nothing that had happened before that night felt real anymore.
“Earth to Merry,” said Trudy, shaking her out of her daydream.
“She’s got it bad,” said Alice, smiling.
“Oh yeah,” said Trudy. “She’s got itseriouslybad.”
“I don’t!” squeaked Merry. “I’m just . . . tired.”
“Tired of being alone,” said Trudy with a laugh.
“Tired of not having a man to kiss,” added Alice, wrapping her arms around herself and smooching the air. Merry slapped her gently on the shoulder and they took a seat by the window, all of them giggling. Christmas songs were playing, and outside, the sleet was slowing into snow — huge, fat flakes drifting down from the darkening sky. The lights were buzzing to life, breathing Christmas spirit into every building. The waitress — Diane’s cousin — took their orders, winking at Merry, and Merry found herself grinning so hard her cheeks hurt.
