'My, you do think of everything. Please.' I pulled off the top cap that served as a cup, as well as the lid underneath. 'Crowsbend? This is a hugely wealthy area.'
'Yes it is.' The driver urged the horses on, and we began to move. Haley looked like she’d burst when we started going, the little sled-like bottom on the carriage making a soothing swishing sound on the packed snow. I looked behind us to see the tracks they made. Turning back, I saw that Haley’s eyes were everywhere. All the houses were lit up with Christmas lights and scenes in the massive front yards.
'Wow. Look at that. There must be a million little lights in that display. Hey, look!' She pointed to a house we were passing. 'Santa is sticking out of one of their five chimneys.'
'Yeah.' I smiled. 'He’s waving at us.' I reached my arm up. 'Hey, Santa!' I called. Haley giggled, waving, too.
'My god! How many bedrooms do you think that place has?' she asked, pointing to one coming up at the end of the block.
'Jeez, seven? Eight, maybe.'
'Wow. I bet my entire condo is the size of just their foyer.'
'I hear you. When I was looking to buy a house, I actually looked at a place over here. I could have done it if I never wanted to go out again,'
'Or buy boots.'
'Hey, you have to have priorities.' She laughed, scooting in closer to me, sharing our body heat as we sipped the hot cocoa.
It was an extraordinary night, being taken throughout the neighborhood, seeing incredible setups in houses and Christmas lights. There was even an obviously Jewish family, as the entire house was lit up with decorations of the Jewish faith. A huge Star of David on the roof, and an outline of a menorah on the lawn, complete with yellow lights to represent the flames. There was even a Santa who was losing his pants as he tried to climb out of a chimney.
We laughed and talked, and pointed, and giggled. I felt like I was ten years old again, yet very much a woman as I felt Haley link her arm with mine, tugging on me to point something out, or leaning her head on my shoulder as we stared at a beautiful house.
'This is magical,' she whispered against my neck. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to memorize every aspect of this for my mental photo album that I could flip through later. I wanted to be able to recall the smell of Haley’s shampoo, the smell of all the fireplaces that were lit in the houses around us, the smoke pouring out into the night, mingling to tickle my nose. I wanted to be able to recall the way the snow looked, the street lights making it look like an orange wonderland as we passed under them. The magnificent beasts that pulled us along, and the driver that talked to them ever so gently, prodding them along to obey his commands.
I leaned my head against Haley’s head, remembering what she had said.
'Yeah.' I agreed. 'Magical.'
Eventually the ride came to an end, and it was time to leave the fairytale, and head back into reality. I gave the driver an extra large tip, which he acknowledged with a smile, and the tip of his hat. Haley and I got back into the Jeep, me turning the heat on full blast, rubbing my gloved hands together. After being out in that for thirty minutes, I was pretty much an Andisicle.
I turned to my passenger to see that peaceful smile from earlier still on her lips.
'Did you enjoy yourself?' She leaned her head back against the head rest, and looked over at me, nodding.
'Definitely. This is truly the best birthday I’ve ever had, Andi. Thank you.' I was thrilled.
'You’re very welcome, Haley. And, you, too are worth it.' I smiled, she smiled back.
I smiled when I saw Kendall run out of the house, her purse in her hand. She’d be eleven soon. Where does the time go?
'You know, Andi, I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.' Haley said from the passenger seat next to me.
'See what?' I asked her, not taking my eyes off the girl.
'That she’s your daughter. You two have the exact same eyes.' I smiled.
'Yeah. I was always so glad she got something of mine.'
'Oh, it’s more than just that. She got your mouth, too.' She stopped herself short as the door was thrown open, and a little bundle of energy was whisked into the backseat.
'Hi!' she exclaimed, hugging me from behind, wrapping her arms around the head rest to my neck. I squeezed her forearm.
'Hey, you.' Then to my surprise, she did the same to Haley. I smiled over at her as Haley was grins from ear to ear. She grabbed my daughter’s arms in return.
'How’s my favorite ten year old?' Haley asked.
'Good.' I got the Jeep in gear, and we were on our way to the Mall of America.
'Are you ready for a full day of shopping, kiddo?'
'Yeah! Christmas!' Haley and I both grinned.
'That’s right.' Haley turned as far as her seatbelt would allow, and looked back at the girl.
'Honey, is your seatbelt on?' I asked, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
'Yep.' Came the enthusiastic reply as she snapped the belt that went over her narrow chest. Soon that chest would be developing. God, where did the time go?
'So, how’s school, Kendall?' Haley asked.
'Ick. I don’t wanna talk about that.' I watched the conversation through the mirror, my brows narrowing.
'Why? What’s wrong with school?'
'Stupid boys.' She pouted. That’s my girl. I chuckled to myself.
'Oh, yeah? Want to talk about it?' Haley asked, putting her hand on Kendall’s leg. The girl shook her head. 'Okay. We don’t have to.'
'Andi?'
'Yeah, hon?'
'Can we play a CD?' I glanced over at Haley to see she was already looking at me.
'Uh, sure. Give it to Haley.'
She unzipped the small bag she had with her, and handed over a jewel case. Haley took it, sitting in her seat, facing the front.
'Tempo Toys,' she read, and glanced at me again. I rolled my eyes. God, I hate boy bands. I glanced over at the cover to see five young guys standing in various poses on the front.
'They’re the coolest!' Kendall gushed, a huge grin on her face.
'Yeah? Which one is your favorite?' Haley showed the case to the girl, and without hesitation, Kendall grinned, showing the hole where one of her front teeth was supposed to be.
'Adam,' she said shyly.
'Which one is that?' Kendall pointed to the boy standing in the middle, his feet spread wide apart in a tough-guy stance, one arm outstretched as he pointed a finger at the onlooker.
'He looks like he barely shaves,' I muttered. Haley smacked me on the thigh then slid the CD into the player. Immediately I regretted my decision to let this rubbish be played in my car. But, such is the way it goes when you have a ten year old.
'Do you think those sideburns are real?' Haley asked quietly as Kendall began to really jam with the music, singing along. To my amazement, she actually had a great voice for a little turkey. Thank god she didn’t get mine.
I glanced over at the boy Haley indicated, sideburns down to his jawbone.
'No, I think they’re painted on, personally.' She grinned.
'Do you remember those god-awful boy bands from when we were young?' she asked quietly. I chuckled.
