Gloria stares at the computer screen on her kitchen table and reads. Dear Mary, I am not a murderer. I’ve never even had a parking ticket. I would never hurt you or anyone. I have never had a normal Christmas and I would like one very much. I have never had a normal family and I would like one very much. You don’t have to lecture me on how no family is normal because I know that. I have been in lots of foster homes so I know what homes and families are like. But what you may see as frustrations—dirty dishes, laundry, trips to the grocery store, cooking dinner, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning house, going to baseball games and soccer matches, walking the dog, cleaning out the car, and sweeping the garage—all sound pretty good and normal to me. If you want to meet somewhere that’s great, but don’t worry if this whole thing sounds weird to you. I’ve never done anything like this before and it sounds pretty weird to me right now, too. Kelly
Gloria’s heart beats inside her ears. She wonders if she should tell Marshall about this and knows beyond certainty that she cannot tell Miriam. She wonders if Kelly feels as frightened and unsure as she does. She thinks for a moment before replying. Dear Kelly, I would love to meet you! I cannot imagine life without my family or life without Christmas with my family. No one should be alone at Christmas because Christmas is for the lonely. I would love to meet you, and after that, if you think that you would like to join my husband and me and our families for Christmas (we are a big, blended bunch with a nosy neighbor thrown in as well), then I would be honored to set a plate for you at our table. We live in Grandon. Just set the date and time and I can meet you at Betty’s Bakery.
Gloria looks at the e-mail and contemplates signing her real name this time but decides against it. I look forward to hearing from you. Your friend, Mary Richards
She clicks send as Miriam walks through her front door. “Any word on the risers yet?”
“It wouldn’t kill you to say good morning, you know!” Gloria says, closing the computer. “Have you had your coffee yet?”
“No, I haven’t,” Miriam says, pulling out a chair at the table.
“That might explain the rudeness this morning. Now we just need an explanation for all the other hours of the day.” Gloria pours Miriam a cup of coffee and sets it in front of her. “As a matter of fact, I have found some risers that will work. The church has a small riser that will work just great.” She sits down and folds her arms, looking satisfied.
“No need to look smug, Gloria. There is still so much work to be done.” Miriam scowls, pushing a crumb off the red place mat in front of her. “What is this that you and Marshall ate for breakfast?”
“It was a spinach and cheese quiche. Would you like some?”
“It would help the coffee go down.”
Gloria sighs, standing back up. “Why don’t you just say you’ve got a gnawing in your stomach and need something to eat?”
“Because no one would say that, Gloria!”
Gloria cuts a piece of quiche and warms it for a few seconds in the microwave before setting it in front of Miriam. They make small talk about the weather and sales at Wilson’s before Gloria says, “I’m headed out in a few minutes to find more items that we can auction off.”
“Where are you going? The travel agency? Restaurants? Jewelry stores?”
Gloria pours herself another cup of coffee. “To the church rummage sale.”
Miriam stares at her. “To the rummage sale?”
“Yes! All the money goes to that orphanage in Haiti.”
“Gloria! We need high-ticket items for the auction, not dog bowls and knickknacks.”
Gloria waves the words away. “I found a whole set of relief glass there last year. Remember? That alone sold for two hundred dollars. Don’t pooh-pooh my rummage sales.”
“I’m not pooh-poohing anything. I’m not entirely sure what that even means. I’m just saying—”
Gloria won’t let her finish. “I promise to wow and astonish you when I get done shopping there. I will find the most valuable gift of all.” She raises her finger in the air and Miriam leaves it at that.
“What did you do about that Craigslist woman you mentioned?” Miriam asks.
Gloria is surprised and hopes Miriam doesn’t catch her eyes bugging out. “You told me not to do anything!”
Miriam finishes the quiche and picks up her coffee. “I know what I told you but what I tell you to do rarely coincides with what you actually do.”
Grabbing her napkin, Gloria twists it around one finger and then does it again. “You are absolutely right. That woman could have been a murderer.” She stands and picks up her coffee cup, taking it to the dishwasher. “I want to be first in line at the rummage sale so I better go.”
Miriam walks to the dishwasher and places her dishes inside. “Sometimes you surprise me, Gloria! I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“Apology accepted.” She walks Miriam to the door and can feel the wintery air as she opens it. “I’m off to buy something truly great now!” Miriam opens her mouth to say something else but Gloria closes the door, breathing a sigh of relief.
* * *
Gloria cringes as she walks by a table in the Grandon Community Church lobby with not one but three ceramic dog bowls on it. She finds it so annoying when Miriam is right. The bric-a-brac is mostly broken and there’s not a sign of relief glass anywhere. A painting of a barn by Grandon’s former mayor holds promise for the silent auction but it’s not in a frame. Buying a frame for it would cost more than the painting is worth. In the end, she walks away from the rummage sale with a stack of classic literature books dating as early as 1923. She looks at her purchases as she loads them into her car and realizes there is nothing that will “wow and astonish” anyone. Why did she have to use such highfalutin words with Miriam?
On her way home she notices a MOVING SALE sign at the corner of Jefferson Street. She turns onto the street and drives to the end to a modest ranch house where the contents of the home spill out onto the driveway. She recognizes the homeowner and waves. “Maria! Are you moving soon?”
Maria is handing change to a couple who is hauling away a twin bed headboard, frame, and mattress. “In January. I have to get through the Christmas parade first!”
Gloria walks over to her, wrapping her arms around her. “Any job for Craig yet?”
“Nothing beyond his part-time work at Wilson’s. But at least we won’t have a mortgage on our backs. We can get by in a two-bedroom apartment until something full-time comes along for him.”
Cassondra peeks through the window of the garage door and opens it, yelling, “Miss Glory! I have something for you!”
“I know! A piece of my heart, right?”
Cassondra smiles and slams the door, running through the house. Maria shrugs. “I have no idea what she has for you. I’m almost nervous to see what it could be.”
The garage door opens and Cassondra is clutching a wooden box to her chest. “I thought you could sell this at the auction for Glory’s Place.” She hands the box, made of dark mahogany wood, to Gloria, and Maria steps close.
Gloria takes the box and reads the engraving on top. The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’ Psalm 32:8.
“This is absolutely beautiful!”
“I thought you loved that box, Cassondra,” Maria says. “You pretend that it holds dreams.”
The little girl swings her arms and rocks back and forth on her heels. “I think there are a lot of people that Miss Glory knows who need dreams.”
Gloria kneels down and smiles at Cassondra. “Are you sure about this?”
Cassondra nods. “My doctor gave it to me and now it’s time for somebody else to use it.”
“But what about all of your dreams?” Gloria asks.
Cassondra leans in to whisper. “Dreams don’t really go in a box, Miss Glory. I thought you knew that.”
Gloria laughs and hugs Cassondra, kissing her on the forehead. “You know what? Miriam said that I wouldn’t be able to find anything at sales like this and I believe that you have just given me something that is absolutely priceless.”
* * *
Miriam closes the door to the office and sits down at the computer at Glory’s Place. With a few clicks she has logged on to Craigslist and has found the listing for the young girl looking for a family at Christmas. Miriam clicks to send her an e-mail and types.
Needing more information. My greatest concern is that this is a fraudulent listing and that you are a morally corrupt soul trying to take advantage of people’s good intentions. If you are indeed looking for someone to spend Christmas with then I think that you would find me and the town in which I live to be most friendly. However, before we get down to sharing ham and scalloped potatoes I must know some things about you:
Are you a criminal?
Are you currently incarcerated?
Have you ever pulled a gun on someone or caused anyone bodily harm?
These questions may seem a bit odd but surely you understand my need to take precautions.
Thank you for taking time to answer them.
She pauses, thinking it best not to use her real name. She mentally lists some of her favorite TV characters and types in a name.
Laura Petrie
She realizes the last name isn’t necessary and deletes it, ending the e-mail simply with “Laura.”
A knock on the door startles Miriam and she clicks send before closing out of Craigslist.
“Excuse me. Miriam?” Lauren is peeking around the door and Miriam rises.
“I’m all done. Did you need the computer?”
“I just wanted to let you know that I spoke with Travis from parks and rec about the use of the gazebo but I still don’t have an answer.”
Miriam claps her hands together. “Thank you so much for talking with him.”
Lauren steps into the hallway with Miriam and watches as children enter through the main doors. “I actually thought he was a really nice guy. I can’t imagine what he could have done that would have made you not want to talk to him.”
Miriam holds up her hand. “He knows. Trust me. He knows.”
Miriam takes her place behind the desk and helps sign the children in for the afternoon. Lauren spots Cassondra coming through the doors. The little girl catches her eye and Lauren waves. Her mother signs her in and then kisses the top of her head as she leaves.
Lauren walks to her and kneels down beside her, pulling something from her bag. “Gummy bears,” she says. Cassondra reaches for them and Lauren pulls the bag away from her grasp. “Uh, uh, uh. Remember our deal? I would bring you gummy bears and you would sing?” Cassondra’s eyes are big and brown and Lauren doesn’t know if she’ll have the strength to keep the candy away from her. “Will you sing today?” Cassondra looks up at the ceiling and shrugs. She sticks out her hand and Cassondra holds on to it. “Was that your mom?” Cassondra nods. “Was she headed to work?”
“Yep!”
“Where does she work?”
“At the chamber of congress.”
Lauren stops at the game tables and looks at her. “The chamber of commerce? What’s your mom’s name?”
“Maria.”
Lauren sighs as she watches Maria pull out of the parking lot.
Cassondra pulls Guess Who from the shelves. She opens the box and pushes a yellow tray filled with row after row of illustrated faces in front of Lauren. “Am I playing this with you?” Cassondra smiles and Lauren can’t resist. “I don’t think I’ve played this game before so you go first and you can teach me.”
Cassondra hands her a card but doesn’t look at it. She takes one for herself and places it on the tray in front of her. “Does your person have yellow hair?”
Lauren looks at the card in front of her. “My person does not have yellow hair.” She watches as Cassondra flips down tiles on her tray. “Okay. Does your person have dark hair like us?”
Cassondra shakes her head as Lauren flips down all the tiles with people with dark hair. “You remind me of my mommy.”
“That’s funny because I thought you reminded me of myself when I was your age. Except I was never as pretty as you.”
Cassondra can’t hide her smile. “Is your person a woman?”
“She is a woman!” Tiles are flipped down with great flourish and Cassondra beams. “Somehow I think I’m about to get beat! Okay, does your person wear glasses?” Cassondra shakes her head and Lauren flips down three tiles. She looks at her tray, which is mostly filled with upraised tiles and then to Cassondra’s, where four tiles remain up.
“Does your woman’s name start with M?”
“If you mean Megan, then yes!” The little girl crosses her arms and smiles. “I hope you’re as good at singing as you are at this game!” Cassondra laughs and Lauren finds herself joining her.
“I called and left a message.” Lauren looks over her shoulder to see Travis, holding some papers. “I brought paperwork for use of the gazebo. I didn’t hear back from you so I thought I’d swing the paperwork by just in case you decided to move ahead.”
Lauren stands, feeling awkward and sorry for running away yesterday. “Yes! I mean, no, I haven’t heard back yet.”
They each stand in the clumsy silence before Travis hands the papers to her. “Well, here they are just in case you get the answer to go ahead.”
“I didn’t mean to run away yesterday,” she says, taking the papers.
“No! No problem! You aren’t the first girl who’s run away from me.” She laughs out loud and thinks that despite what Miriam thinks of him, Travis is a good guy. “I hope I didn’t say anything wrong. That’s why I came today, because I wanted to apologize.” He slips his hands into his coat pockets and shifts from one foot to the other.
She can feel Cassondra’s eyes on them and turns to her, squinching up her face to make Cassondra smile. “You don’t need to apologize. I was a jerk. I can’t believe I did that.”
“No. I’ve run from lots of things. Just last week a raccoon chased me and Barry through one of the parks.” She laughs out loud again and knows that all is forgiven.
“Thanks for stopping by. You don’t have to make another special trip. You can call and talk with me or Miriam.”
“Who?”
“Miriam Davies. You know, you’ve talked to her before.”
He looks down at the floor, trying to picture Miriam’s face. “I don’t remember her. Maybe I made her run away, too.” Lauren smiles and he shifts his weight once more, clearing his throat. “Do you work here every day?”
Lauren tucks some hair behind an ear. “I don’t work here at all. I’m just helping with the fund-raiser at the gazebo.”
“Then I guess I’ll see you around since the gazebo is kind of my thing.”
Lauren wonders if that is something like his version of wanting to get to know her better and isn’t sure how to respond. “Okay. And I promise not to run away again.” She wishes she hadn’t said that but he laughs, smiling. He waves and she watches as he walks through the front doors and back to his truck.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Cassondra’s hands are over her mouth as if she is about to pop.
Lauren grabs her bag from the table. “No, he’s not my boyfriend!”
“He should be.”
Lauren looks shocked. “So this is why I came to Grandon? To take advice from a five-year-old?” She shakes her head, laughing, and reaches for her phone while she walks to the lockers. She checks her e-mails and notices a new one from Craigslist. She reads through the list of questions from a woman named Laura and sighs.
“Everything okay?” Stacy asks, putting her purse into a locker.
Lauren slips her phone into her back pocket and closes the locker. “It’s great. Just weird people on the Internet.”
“Is everyone fighting with each other on Facebook?” Stacy closes a locker and reaches for the door.
“No.”
Stacy hands her the sheets with the lyrics and begins to set the chairs in a circle. “I didn’t see you leave yesterday.”
Lauren is quiet, placing the lyrics on each chair. “I didn’t mean to run off.”
“I didn’t know you ran off. I just didn’t see you leave.” She looks at her. “Did you run off because of something I did?”
“No!” Lauren stops what she’s doing. “I’m just stupid sometimes.”
Stacy reaches for the music stand and pulls it up, into position. “I’m stupid, too, sometimes.”
Several children take their places, and Lauren feels Cassondra holding on to her leg. Lauren has never believed much in the miracles or magic of Christmas, but when these voices rise and fall to “O Holy Night” she finds herself believing. Maybe the home that she keeps looking back on is really in the manger from so long ago. Maybe her loneliness is swept away into those starry skies in which the angels appeared. Maybe the greatest gifts have never been received because she hasn’t opened her hands. Maybe the greatest miracles of Christmas are here in this room or just around the corner. She realizes that a small voice, as clear and sharp as a bell, is rising above the others and she leans down to hear. Cassondra looks like a baby bird opening and closing her mouth and Lauren pulls her to her. She never realized that one of the miracles of Christmas was wrapped in the voice of a child.