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“You’re telling me,” I say.
Lucas Dahlenberg was the smartest kid in school and two years my senior. Class president and valedictorian, he was a tutor to practically everyone. I remember him being quiet, and a little awkward. He’s grown into his tall, lean frame. No one would dare call him lanky anymore. Somewhere along the way he traded in his black-rimmed glasses for some contacts. His hair, which he always wore short, is now a little shaggy and curls beneath the rim of his hat.
“Didn’t he move away and go to some ivy league school?”
Jamie nods. “Cambridge, Massachusetts. I heard he graduated from Harvard at the top of his class.”
“What degree?”
She shrugs and takes another sip of her hot chocolate. “Something with computers.”
“Why on Earth did he come back here?”
“My guess is to nurse his broken heart.”
“Maybe.”
“What are we staring at?” Jamie’s sister, Maryanne, says, taking a seat beside her.
“Lucas.”
“Ooooh, good choice. He’s easy on the eyes, nice body, messy hair, and he wears boots. You can’t go wrong with a guy in boots.”
Jamie looks over her shoulder at her sister. “What are you doing here?”
“Having a drink.”
“You don’t drink,” Jamie notes.
“I do now. Nice outfit, Naughty,” Maryanne says, looking around her sister.
“Thank you. The jeans are taking a little getting used to, but they’re comfy. What are you drinking?”
“Probably just a beer.”
We all spin our stools to face the bar. I flag down Ben for a refill, and he gets Maryanne a beer.
“I feel like I’m in The Twilight Zone,” Jamie says. “First Naughty takes off of work and changes her wardrobe, and now my baby sister is in a bar having a beer.”
“She’s right. It is a little weird to see you in here. What gives?”
Maryanne has always been a bit of a goody two-shoes.
“Today was the worst day in the history of all the days.” She picks up her mug, takes a giant chug, and then sputters while making a face. “Oh my gosh, that is disgusting. How do you drink this stuff?”
Jamie holds up her hot cocoa. “I don’t.”
“Don’t let her fool you,” I say. “She normally has a martini in her hand. Why was today the worst day ever?”
Maryanne pushes her glasses up her nose and lets out a breath. “You know how I’m part of the town Christmas committee?”
Jamie nods, and I nod along with her, so I don’t look stupid. I didn’t even know there was a town Christmas committee.
“Well, as president of the committee, it’s my job to plan the town Christmas festivities. I’m swamped at work, so I asked the vice president to take over for me.”
“And?”
“And she went into labor three weeks early,” she wails.
