Page 72 of Through the Snow Globe
“Shake the snow globe upside down?” Diana repeated. “That’s it?”
Ms. Guzman smiled back at her. “Well, you could say something over it if it makes you feel better. It’s more fun when the words rhyme, but it’s not necessary,” the older woman said, matter-of-factly.
Diana tilted her head. “So, when you said all those things over my snow globe, they weren’t necessary?”
Mrs. Guzman chuckled. “It’s not about the words, Diana. It’s always about what’s in the heart.” She reached up and tapped her fingers against Diana’s breastbone.
Diana shook her head, trying to make sense of this conversation. “What you’re saying is, if I find the snow globe and shake it upside down, I can break the time loop and get back to real time?”
“Well, of course you can.” Ms. Guzman shivered and used one hand to hug her coat more tightly around her. “I have to go home and make some hot tea. Would you like some, dear?”
“Maybe another time.” Diana had a tiny ember of hope warming her belly. “I have to go find a snow globe.”
“Good luck to you. What day would real time be, anyway?” Mrs. Guzman called to Diana’s back.
Diana glanced over her shoulder. “It should be Christmas.”
Her neighbor’s eyes widened. “Oh, my. I better do my holiday shopping, then. Do you like wine?”
Diana wasn’t sure she’d ever accept another gift from Mrs. Guzman again. She certainly wouldn’t accept another enchantment. “No need to get me anything. Just stop by on Christmas and join us for dinner.” Not that there would be anus. Linus wasn’t getting out of his coma. Diana had to accept that, and she needed to say goodbye.
Mrs. Guzman allowed Leonardo to tug her toward her own apartment. “Christmas dinner sounds lovely. Count me in.”
Diana hurried back inside her apartment and ran to Linus’s closet. All she needed to do to stop Linus’s suffering was turn the snow globe upside down and unshake it. She reached past the curtain of ties, expecting her fingers to bump against the box that held the snow globe. But it wasn’t there.What?In a panic, she threw the ties down to see with her own eyes that the gift-wrapped box was gone. Where was it?
A thought occurred to her. Maybe Linus hadn’t purchased it yet. He could have gotten it anytime between now and his accident, and then returned home to hide it. Of course, that would mean leaving the store and Jean had been out with vertigo. There’s no way he could have left.
Diana frantically searched the area surrounding the ties. What was she going to do if it wasn’t here? She needed that globe in order to get out of this dreadful day. Otherwise, she and Linus would be stuck here on December 4th, and Linus would continue to get hurt, day after awful repeating day.
Swallowing back her tears, she tried to think of where Linus would go to purchase such a charming novelty item. If she could figure that out, she could purchase the snow globe herself. Yes!Think, Diana, think.Snow Haven was a small town. Eloise’s Trinkets and Gifts was the only local place that would have something like that. That had to be where he had gotten it from.
In a mad rush, she hurried out of her apartment and past the sidewalk Santa on the way to the parking lot. She stuffed some cash in his bucket and heard him call “Merry Christmas” behind her. Then she got into her car, cranked it, and waited impatiently for the motor to warm as she dialed Maria’s number. As soon as her patient answered, Diana said, “I’m calling out today, Maria. I’m not feeling quite myself. Whatever you do, please, do not pull your Christmas decorations down from the attic. I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll get those boxes for you. I promise.” Because tomorrow would return to real time.
“How did you know I was planning to go into my attic today?” Maria asked.
At this point, Diana could practically say every word out of Maria’s mouth before she said it. “Hunch. No boxes, okay?”
Maria chuckled. “You are a good therapist, Diana. Looking out for me in ways that aren’t even necessary.”
“That’s because your well-being is important.Youare important. Maybe you should, I don’t know, give your daughter a call today.”
“How’d you—”
“You told me. I think she’d love to hear from you, Maria. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?” Diana couldn’t seem to help herself. She wanted this time loop to end better for someone, at least.
Maria hesitated. “Maybe so.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow, and we’ll put up your tree together, okay?”
“Wow. Yes. That’s worth waiting for, indeed,” the older woman said on a small chuckle.
Diana disconnected the call and then pulled up Mrs. Pierce’s contact, called, and canceled Addy’s session.
“Please tell Addy I’m sorry to miss her session today,” Diana said.
“She does look forward to seeing you. She doesn’t talk to anyone from school anymore. You’re her closest friend these days,” Mrs. Pierce joked quietly. “I know you’re not friends exactly.”
“Yes, we are. I can be her physical therapist and her friend. In fact, I’d like that.” Diana’s voice cracked a little.
