His thoughts were interrupted by Brenda’s question. Startled, he glanced over at her.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, “I missed that.”
She laughed. “Actually, I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said all evening. I was asking if something’s wrong. After that phone call from Eddie, you’ve been—”
“It’s nothing. You know how Eddie is, he makes a big to-do over nothing. He was carrying on about Christine dragging him to one of her mom’s charity events.”
Bobby left it at that and moved on to asking what Brenda had planned for Christmas.
That night they made love, and it was good. It was always good. Satisfying, without any lingering grief or recriminations. Afterward Brenda had turned on her side and fallen asleep, but for Bobby sleep wasn’t so easy to come by. He was still thinking about Suzanna Duff.
Suzanna
The Locket
THE NIGHT SUZANNA AND GREGG set up the tree, it was after midnight when they hung the last bit of tinsel and well into the wee hours of morning when they went to bed. She had barely closed her eyes when Annie came running into her room bubbling over with excitement.
“Mama, Mama, wake up! It happened! It really happened!”
With sleep still clinging to her eyelids, Suzanna tried to focus. “Wha…”
“The tree elves came last night!”
Suzanna rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes and sat up. “Who came?”
“The tree elves!” She took hold of Suzanna’s arm and urged her from the bed. “You’ve gotta come and see, Mama. It’s so beautiful.”
Once she was fully awake, Suzanna understood what Annie was talking about and played along. “Tree elves, you say? And what exactly did they do?”
“They brought a giant Christmas tree! It’s up to the ceiling!”
As Annie headed back down the stairs, Suzanna followed along. “I’ve never before heard of tree elves. Who told you about them?”
“Grandma. She said they only come to houses where there are kids, and they leave a tree with bright lights so that Santa will know where to leave toys.”
“Oh, so Grandma told you that, huh?
Annie nodded. “And she knows because when she was a kid the tree elves came every year; then when she got old, they didn’t come no more.”
As they descended the stairs, the tree came into view. Suzanna stopped and gave a sigh. It looked even more beautiful than it did last night. The look of wonder on Ida’s face was proof that Gregg’s suggestion had been spot on.
That Sunday was cold and blustery, so no one left the house. Gregg lit a fire in the fireplace, and with the Christmas tree aglow they all gathered in the living room and watched Miracle on 34th Street on television. Annie sat mesmerized by the story, and when it was over she announced to everyone that she was just like 8-year-old Susan in the movie.
“What makes you think you’re like Susan?” Gregg asked.
“Because I wished for a grandma and a house and got it,” Annie said proudly. She glanced over at Suzanna then looked back to Gregg and grinned. “But there’s one more thing Grandma and me are wishing for…”
“That’s enough, Annie,” Suzanna jumped in, sensing what her daughter was about to say. “Keep the rest of those wishes to yourself.”
On Christmas Eve, supper was earlier than usual and twice as festive. Even though it was only the four of them and they ate in the kitchen, Suzanna lit the red candles and set the table with the good china. As she listened to Annie chatter on about Santa, the tree elves, and the baby Jesus coming tonight, her heart swelled with happiness. This was the Christmas she’d wished for as a child. Years ago she’d not gotten her wish, but now experiencing it through the eyes of her child seemed even sweeter.
Afterward they walked to church, Annie out in front urging Ida to hurry along, behind them Suzanna and Gregg, strolling arm in arm. It was as perfect an evening as Suzanna could have possibly wished for. The weather, ideal for December, was crisp, cool, and fragrant with the scent of fresh-cut pine. The spirit of Christmas was everywhere: in the smiles of passersby who greeted them, in the bright red poinsettias lining the walkways, and the houses festooned with wreaths and ribbons of garland. But for Suzanna the most joyous thing of all was the wide smile on Annie’s face. Every time they passed a house with a brightly-lit tree, she squealed with the delight of knowing that Santa would be stopping there.
Suzanna looked at Gregg and smiled. “She’s so excited, I’m never going to be able to get her to go to bed early tonight.”
Gregg laughed. “Probably not. Hopefully we can outlast her, because I’d like to spend some private time with you.”
Suzanna leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’d like that also.”
When they rounded the corner of Birch Street, the church came into view. The doors were open, the lights shone from within, and the sound of music wafted through the air.
Phil and Ginger had driven over from Barston and were waiting in front of the walkway, Phil with his arm wrapped protectively around Ginger, her with baby Lizzie held close to her chest, and Edna, the proud grandma, looking on. As Ginger folded back the blanket to give everyone a peek at the sleeping baby, the sadness she had shown earlier seemed all but gone. She excitedly spoke of how Lizzie was now cooing, smiling, and sleeping for six hours straight;
