“It’s fine,” Amber said. “The dresses are all so beautiful, I can’t decide.”
Bella frowned and whispered to her mother, “What’s she doing here?”
“Sorry,” Daphne said to Amber and then took Bella’s hand. “We’re finding a dress for Amber to borrow for the fund-raiser. Why don’t you and Tallulah help her? Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“All right,” Tallulah said with a smile, but Bella looked at Amber with undisguised hostility, turned on her heel, and stalked out of the room.
“Don’t let her upset you. She just doesn’t know you well enough yet. It takes Bella a while to warm up.”
Amber nodded. She better get used to me, she thought. I’m going to be around a long, long time.
Amber was pissed. It was December 24, and Rollins was staying open until two o’clock. What kind of idiots looked at houses on Christmas Eve? Why weren’t they at home, wrapping their big-ticket presents and decorating their twelve-foot trees? But they probably didn’t do all those things themselves, she reflected. That’s what people like Amber were for.
Around noon Jenna stood in the doorway of Amber’s office. “Hey, Amber, can I come in?”
“What is it?” Just what I need now, she thought peevishly.
Jenna walked in with a large wrapped package in her hand and placed it on Amber’s desk. “Merry Christmas.”
Amber glanced at the gift and then at Jenna. She hadn’t even thought to buy a present for Jenna, and was discomfited by her gesture.
“Open it!” Jenna said.
Amber picked it up and tore off the paper, then took the lid off the box. Inside was a glorious assortment of Christmas cookies, each one more delicate and delicious-looking than the last. “Did you make these?”
Jenna clapped her hands together. “Yes, me and my mom do it every year. She’s a spectacular baker. Do you like them?”
“I do. Thank you so much, Jenna. It was really nice of you.” Amber paused a moment. “I’m so sorry, but I didn’t get you anything.”
“It’s okay, Amber. I didn’t make them so you’d get me a gift. It’s just something my mom and I love doing. I give them to everyone in the office. I hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too.”
Amber slept late on Christmas morning. When she awoke, the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and only an inch of snow had fallen. She took a long, hot shower and, after wrapping her terry-cloth robe around her, made a strong pot of coffee. She took her mug back into the bathroom and began to blow-dry her wet hair into soft waves—plain but classic. She applied a little blush, a dab of very discreet eye shadow, and some mascara. She stepped back from the mirror to examine the finished product. She looked youthful and fresh but without a trace of sexiness.
Daphne had asked her to come over around two o’clock, so after she finished a cup of yogurt, she sat down to read The Odyssey, which she’d borrowed from the library last week. Before she knew it, it was time to dress and gather everything up. Hanging on the closet door was the outfit she’d chosen—gray wool slacks and a white-and-gray turtleneck sweater. Small pearl studs in her ears—not real, of course, but who cared—a simple gold-colored bangle on her left wrist, and only her sapphire ring on her finger. She wanted to look pure and virginal. She took one last look in the full-length mirror, nodded approval at her image, and swept the presents into a large shopping bag.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the open gates and parked her car in the circular driveway. Grabbing the bag of presents, she strode to the door and rang the bell. She saw Daphne coming down the hall, Bella right behind her.
“Welcome! Merry Christmas. I’m so glad you could come,” Daphne said, flinging open the door and embracing her.
“Merry Christmas to you. Thank you so much for letting me share this day with you and your family,” Amber said.
“Oh, it’s our pleasure,” Daphne said as she shut the door.
Bella was dancing around next to Daphne like a jumping bean.
“Hi, Bella. Merry Christmas.” Amber gave her a big fake smile.
“Do you have a present for me?” Bella asked.
“Oh, Bella, you didn’t even say hello. That was very rude,” Daphne scolded.
“Of course I brought you a present. How could I not give one of my favorite girls a present?”
“Goody. Can I have it now?”
“Bella! Amber hasn’t even taken her coat off.” She gave her daughter a little shove. “Let me have your coat, Amber, and let’s all go into the living room.”
Bella looked as if she was going to protest but did as she was told.
Jackson and Tallulah looked up from the dollhouse they were furnishing as Amber, Daphne, and Bella entered the room. “Merry Christmas, Amber. Welcome,” Jackson said with a warmth that indeed made her feel welcome.
“Thank you for inviting me. My whole family is back in Nebraska, and I would have been alone today. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“No one should be alone on Christmas. We’re glad you’re here.”
Amber thanked him again and then turned to Tallulah. “Hi, Tallulah. Merry Christmas. What a cool dollhouse.”
“Would you like to come see it?” she asked.
These kids were like night and day. She didn’t like children, but at least Tallulah had manners, not like the little animal who thought the sun and the moon revolved around her. Amber went and sat down next to Tallulah in front of the dollhouse. She had never seen anything like it, even in photographs. What she and her sisters would have given for a toy like this, with all the fabulous furnishings and dolls to go with it! It was enormous, with three stories, real wood floors, tile bathrooms, electric chandeliers that actually worked, and beautiful paintings on the walls. As she looked closer, she realized it was a replica of the actual house they lived in. It had to have been custom-made. What must that have cost?
“How about a glass of eggnog, Amber?” Daphne asked.
“I’d love one, thank you.” She continued to watch as Tallulah carefully placed sofas, tables, and chairs in the house. Bella was on the other side of the room, busy with her iPad.
As she sat there, Amber took in all of the presents sitting open under the tree. They were piled high upon one another, tissue and ribbon mingled in the mix and spilled far into the room. She thought back to the miserly Christmases of her youth and felt keenly sad. She and her sisters had always gotten presents that were utilitarian, like underwear or socks, never a gift that was a luxury or even just a fun toy to play with. Even their stockings had been filled with useful or edible things, like the huge orange at the bottom to take up room, pencils and erasers for school, and sometimes a little puzzle that would become tiresome after one day.
The display in the Parrishes’ living room left her speechless. She saw what looked like silk lingerie peeking out from one of the boxes and several smaller boxes that must have contained more jewelry for Daphne. Tallulah’s presents were stacked in a neat pile. Bella’s, on the other hand, were haphazardly spread out over a large part of the room, and once she put down the iPad, she went from one to another in quick order.
The one thing missing from this scene, Amber thought to herself, was