Page 17 of Christmas Charms
The charm looks exactly like Fruitcake.
Chapter Six
The following morning, I’m awakenedby the persistent ringing of my cell phone. At first, I try to ignore it. I didn’t get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning, thanks to my pathetic attempts to remove the strange bracelet.
I’d tried liquid soap and Vaseline, but neither would make the lever on the spring ring slide free. Then I’d done my best to fold my hand into a tiny enough contortion to slide the bracelet off my wrist, but after an hour or so of bodily origami, all I was left with was a cramp in my wrist and a vague sense of panic.
“Are you even real?” I’d asked Fruitcake as I stroked his warm head and tried my best to fall asleep.
It was a ridiculous question. Our house was just as real as it had been for decades, even though a small silver version of it dangled from the bracelet. Following that logic, Fruitcake should also be real.
He certainly seemed real at the moment—writhing around on his back on the bedroom floor and woofing with glee. He’s a morning person, because of course he is. It only makes sense that a magical dog would be an early riser.
He’snotmagical,I tell myself as I fumble around for my phone. My eyes open wider and I sit straight up when I see Maya’s name on the screen.
I tap the green button to accept the call. “Maya, thank goodness it’s you.”
“Good morning to you too,” she says. “What’s wrong? You sound odd.”
“Things here are just a little—” I pause, searching for the right word. There’s no way the charms on the bracelet are coming to life. That’s just not possible. “—weird. Actually, they’re a lot weird. It’s good to hear your voice.”
Fruitcake pops to his feet and lets out a bark. I’m guessing he needs to go outside.
“Did I just hear a bark? I didn’t know your parents had a dog,” Maya says. In the background, I hear honking horns and the wail of sirens and I wish I was back in New York.
“They don’t.”He’s imaginary!“Never mind. It’s a long story. What’s up? I thought you were scheduled to work this morning.”
“I am. I’m on my break, and I desperately need a gingerbread latte. I also needed to step outside so I could call you, because I have huge news.”
She’s talking a mile a minute, in true Maya form. I throw off the covers and shove my feet into slippers so I can sneak into the den and take Fruitcake outside while she gives me her news. I refrain from asking if it involves an engagement ring this time.
The house is quiet. Nobody stirs, not even a mouse. My parents are either still sleeping, or they’re out front shoveling snow.
“There’s a management position opening up,” Maya says, pausing for dramatic effect as I open the sliding glass door and step outside onto the backyard deck. “And it’s inyourdepartment.”
Fruitcake romps into the yard, clearly a fan of the brisk winter weather. As for me, I’m thinking I should have put on a coat because it’sfreezingout here. But I don’t mind because Maya was right. This news is indeed huge. “Are you serious? There hasn’t been an open management position in the charms department the entire time I’ve worked there.”
“Well, there is now. And rumor has it, they want to fill it by New Year’s Day.”
My elation takes a serious hit.
No!No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be happening while I’m miles away in Owl Lake. It’s the very first Christmas since I started at Windsor that I’ve been here instead of dutifully standing behind the charms counter. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.
“I need to get back to Manhattan,” I blurt.
Simultaneously, Maya says, “You need to get back to Manhattan.”
Finished with his business, Fruitcake spins joyful circles around me. Is this dog ever in a bad mood?
“I’m not sure I can go, though.” There’s no way I can tell my mom and dad that I’m already leaving from my first visit in years. I’ve been here less than twelve hours.
“Maybe you can just come up for the day, throw your hat into the ringin person, and then catch the train back to Owl Lake. Think about how much initiative that would show.”
She has a point. The upper-tier management at Windsor is all about initiative. And it would show a definite lack of initiative if I didn’t come in to apply since everyone in the building probably knows by now that I’m not in France. Note to self: don’t date people I work with anymore.
“Good idea.” I nod, and Fruitcake nods back at me, as if I’m talking to him and him alone. “That’s what I’ll do.”
Once we hang up, I feel infinitely better about the immediate future. I know I just got here, but getting out of Owl Lake for the day sounds wonderful, given all the odd things that have happened since I left the city. I try the bracelet’s clasp again and give it a little tug. No dice. Since two of the charms have already mysteriously come to life, I’m afraid to examine the others too closely.
