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"Nothing about Angel is little. She's a horse. A big, hairy horse.”
"She's a big dog, yes, but don't forget she's carrying extra weight."
"I don't see how, considering that she tosses her cookies every time she eats. Oh, Mary. I'm going to worry about your road-warrioring in a seen-better-days Ford uphill through the blizzard with only a big, ugly, sick dog for company."
Mary gave her friend a chastising look. "Number one, my car might have a lot of miles, but it runs like a champ. Number two, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear the U-word. Number three, I've checked the travel conditions between Dallas and Eternity Springs, and nobody is predicting a blizzard to hit in the next two days. It's two to four inches of snow at the most once I reach the mountains, and I'll most likely be home before it starts. Number four, Angel isn't sick. The pregnancy has given her a sensitive digestive system. And finally, number five, I forbid you to spend one minute thinking about me, much less worrying. I expect you to devote all your time and attention to wringing every bit of comfort and joy from your romantic Christmas vacation with Dr. Hottie. And, to assist in that endeavor, I have a little something for you."
Mary opened one of her desk drawers and removed the small, wrapped package she'd placed there earlier.
"Mary!" Eliza exclaimed. "We already exchanged gifts. I love, love, love, love the organizer you gave me."
"I'm glad. This is a little something extra. It's my heart gift."
Eliza's eyes widened. Her voice held a note of wonder as she accepted the box, saying, "But…you didn't have time this year. You’ve only just finished your dad's gift. You're giving your siblings IOU's. You didn't even have time for the big fat family tradition event that's so important to you, your 'Gift of Giving to a Stranger.' But you took the time to make something for me?"
Mary could have pointed out how Eliza never failed to be there for her during the breakup with Travis. She could have talked about their excellent working relationship or the way Eliza always made her laugh when Mary really needed a laugh. But instead, she simply said, "You're my best friend, Eliza."
Her best friend burst out in uncharacteristic tears and tore into her present. "Booties! You knitted booties for me!"
"For the plane ride."
"Because I always kick my shoes off, and my feet always freeze. They're so soft. They're like a turquoise cloud. They're perfect. Thank you, Mary. I love them." Eliza threw her arms around her friend and gave her a hard hug. "There's only one problem. No way I won't think about you when I'm wearing them."
"Fair enough. You have permission to think about me only while you're sitting in First Class, wearing my booties, and sipping a Mai Tai."
"It's a deal. I'll drink a toast to you and Angel and tap my turquoise heels three times and wish you safely home over the river and through the woods without encountering a tornado or a blizzard or a cat named Toto."
"No cats. Angel doesn't care for cats."
Both women turned at the sound of the loading dock's buzzer. The cleanup crew had arrived. Eliza took one last sip of her champagne and set down the flute. "I've got the afterparty. Consider it my heart gift to you. Stay here and wrap your presents, then go home and get a good night's sleep so that you and Angel can get an early start in the morning."
Mary accepted the gift in the spirit it was offered, and she gave her friend one more hug. "Thank you. Merry Christmas, Eliza."
"Merry Christmas, Mary." Booties in hand and whistling "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," she left the office. A minute later, she ducked back inside and tossed something toward Mary, saying, "Since you're so big on Christmas traditions, I think you should stick this in your purse."
Jingle bells jangled as Mary caught the red ribbon holding the sprig of mistletoe that had been part of their decoration.
Eliza said, "You want to be the Girl Scout Elf when you're out walking Angel and run into Santa Hunk. Always prepared, you know."
"Santa Hunk?
"I know you are spending Christmas in a small, isolated town with a shortage of single guys, but hey, it's the season of miracles, right? Put it in your purse, Mary."
Mary laughed, did as she was told, then returned to her gift wrapping. She finished up quickly. After checking with her partner, who assured her that everything was under control, she headed home to bed.
Mary dreamed vividly that night. Snow swirled in peppermint scented air, but there were no clouds in the inky blue sky, only a full moon and a million stars. She was flying. She was flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeer—with Angel in Rudolf's lead position. Angel's nose glowed red, and around her neck hung a St. Bernard's cask of brandy. Bing Crosby crooned about a white Christmas from the sleigh's sound system speakers.
Mary wore her green Christmas party dress, a red felt hat with jingle bells and pointed tip, and sparkling Judy Garland ruby slippers with curled, pointy toes. Was the curl because they were elf shoes, or because mistletoe hung above the sleigh, and Santa Hunk had kissed her all across the Pacific?
When the sleigh sailed past an airliner headed toward Hawaii, she came up for air long enough to give Eliza a beauty queen wave. Eliza lifted her Mai Tai in a toast.
Mary awoke with a smile on her face.
As a rule, she wasn't one to put any stock in the notion that dreams foretold the future. Still, right before she backed her loaded-up eight-year-old Ford Explorer out of the driveway, she added a new song to her playlist for the trip.
Mary Landry headed home to Eternity Springs, Colorado, for Christmas, singing along to "Santa Baby.”
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