“The idea of John-the-baker would not surprise me one bit,” Pam said. “He has a sweet tooth like none other.”
Denise left to fix the drinks while John and Pam moved to a table. They dove into the snack. A long evening spread out before them. This was a night to make the homeless feel valued, and point them to the reason for the season – God’s gift of love in the form of a baby boy. Santa would make an appearance with gifts donated from the benevolent fund at a local church. That was always a hit. The center served up a well-rounded program of fun, food, and fellowship – a popular recipe mix for all.
The center had its most significant turn out of the year, new volunteers snatched from the highways and the byways of Cedar Springs to help with the event. The recipients were polite and showed gratitude for the efforts to make them part of this Christmas in July event. When Santa arrived with his merry, ho-ho-ho, dragging a red bag stuffed with gifts, Pam witnessed the down-and-out of society wipe their tears of betrayal away. It was difficult for them to show emotion. As a finale, the Baptist church presented of the story of Jesus, and many stayed behind to talk to the actors.
Denise and Pam, elbow deep in soapy dishwater, booed John as he brought in more dirty dishes. He ignored the women and began to pile the washed table servings onto trays to go through the sanitizing and rinsing machine. Soft strands of holiday music filled the air. None of the workers felt the need to talk, all overflowing with emotion and physically on the brink of exhaustion.
It was nine o’clock when Pam walked out the door of the center with Denise and Tom. John was on the inside and locked the door behind them. He waved, and Pam saw a peace on his face that had been absent since they’d met. Tomorrow she’d come by and see if the day had sparked any memories for him. She hoped so, for his sake.
“I know I said I wanted to come to your place and be nosy, but I’m exhausted. Can I pop in tomorrow morning before I open the store?” Denise asked.
“I’ll have the coffee ready for 8:30, although I was planning to sleep in tomorrow.” A smile teased at the corners of her mouth. She was lousy at deception.
“You never sleep in, Pamela Legend.”
“True. Guess you’re not buying my long overdue time-off-work excuse. It should make you feel guilty.”
“Not in the case of the mystery gift. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.” Denise gave her best friend a quick hug when they reached her car. “See you in the morning.”
At home, Pam filled the coffeepot with fresh grounds and turned the timer to turn on in the morning automatically – freshly perked when Denise showed up for the unveiling. Pam was not curious enough to even take a sneak-peek at the package, not if it meant staying awake any longer than necessary. It had been a long day. She headed for the bathroom and eagerly slipped under the shower to wash away the sweat of the day. She toweled dry and pulled her favorite pajamas from the bottom drawer. She snuggled into the soft flannelette then curled up under the covers with a love story. Pam’s eyelids drooped already. She knew she wouldn’t last long. But the couple in the romance novel was about to discover true love, and she hoped it would instill sweet dreams into her lonely existence.
Pam awoke the next morning, with the book on the floor under a mountain of covers. She shivered. The air conditioner was humming, and she leaned over to retrieve a blanket. So much for blissful sleep – the disenchanted, fictional couple had left her with a sense of hopelessness instead of pleasant dreams. She glanced at the clock and groaned. Denise would be here in forty-five minutes. The woman was punctual. Forgoing the desire to crawl back under, Pam headed toward the washroom and began her morning wake-up routine.
As a finale, she slipped into a turquoise summer dress. She shifted to see the results of her efforts in the full-length mirror. A small portion of hair held secure with a clip, twisted and gathered on the crown of her head, while two loose ringlets fell past her ears nestling in close to her temples. The rest of the long curly locks spilled down her back, stopping two inches short of her waist. Makeup included sparse touches on her eyes and lips. She preferred the natural look. From the closet, she chose a pair of sandals, classy but with a comfortable heal, and a designer handbag to match. The doctor was stepping out today. No scrubs for this girl.
Pam heard the doorbell ring and sniffed the coffee perking at the same time. Perfect timing. When she opened the door, Denise scanned her friend from head to toe “Stunning! Out to impress?”
“You never know what can happen in a day. Isn’t that what you always say?”
“I do. Mainly because I don’t live in a box like you. Now push aside. I am dying for a cup of coffee and a peek at that parcel.” Denise sidled in past Pam, picking up her bubbling enthusiasm where she’d left off last night. The woman saw the world through stained-glass windows. Her outfit that screamed with vibrant, colorful patterns matched her outgoing personality.
Denise marched into the kitchen then jerked to a stop. “You never even opened it! Do you not have one ounce of curiosity inside that tiny shell of a body?”
“I suppose I’m lacking in the curiosity department,” said Pam. “And jealousy will get you nowhere.”
“Huh! Look at me.” Denise posed in
