Page 75 of Through the Snow Globe
“Don’t apologize. I got choked up when I first read it too. You’re a good therapist, Diana. Perhaps you’d make a great supervisor as well.”
Diana blinked away her tears.Wait, what?
“You could still carry a small caseload if you want. It wouldn’t be a complete desk job. Think about it.”
“I will. Thank you for considering me, Todd.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch later in the week,” he said.
Diana shook his hand, careful not to break his crystal frame, and left his office. She walked past the receptionist’s desk and out into the wintry air. It was feeling more and more like snow. The clouds hung heavily, threatening to sprinkle white flakes at any moment.
When she got into her car, she sat there behind her steering wheel for a long moment. That had actually gone well. Fifth time was a charm? Maybe she’d get that promotion after all.Ifshe wanted it. No matter what, Linus wouldn’t be there to celebrate with her.
She swallowed thickly and checked the time. There were still a few hours before Linus closed the shop. If she hurried, she could find the snow globe and head off to see him before shaking it upside down like Mrs. Guzman had instructed.
Diana’s eye caught on the scarf that she’d bought Addy. If today was going to be the one that stuck, like the first snowflake of a white Christmas, she wanted to make things right for Addy too.
Chapter 20
Diana pulled into the Pierces’ driveway, grabbed the scarf, and got out. She practically ran to the front door and pressed the bell, jogging in place to stay warm. She hadn’t taken the time to put on her coat because she was in too much of a hurry. The rest of the afternoon needed to go like a well-oiled machine.
“Diana? I thought you weren’t coming by today?” Mrs. Pierce said when she finally answered the door. She was wearing a food-splattered apron and her hair was pinned in a messy bun. She welcomed Diana inside out of the cold and looked at the scarf in Diana’s hand. “What’s that?”
“I have a gift for Addy. I didn’t have time to wrap it.” Diana grimaced. “Do you mind if I go back and give it to her?”
“Sure. She’s having a rough day. I think it’s a boy problem, but she won’t talk to me.” Mrs. Pierce’s expression looked strained. “I’m making her favorite meal to cheer her up. She barely eats these days, but I’m hoping maybe she’ll eat a little more if it’s her favorite.”
“That’s a good thought,” Diana agreed, already heading down the hallway toward Addy’s room. “I’ll just be a minute. I’m in a hurry.” Diana was halfway down the hall, but she turned back. “Did you by chance get a phone call from anyone yet?”
Mrs. Pierce shook her head. “No. Who is it that I’m expecting a call from?”
Diana shook her head. Maybe Maria wasn’t going to take Diana’s advice after all. “It doesn’t matter.” She continued forward and knocked on Addy’s door, but didn’t wait for Addy to answer before turning the knob and stepping in.
Addy stirred from an apparent nap, blinking sleepily at Diana. “Diana? What are you doing here?”
Diana held out the scarf. “Merry Christmas.”
Addy slowly sat up and looked at the scarf, a slight smile lining her thin, pale lips. “But it’s December fourth.”
“Believe me, I know.” Diana sat on the edge of Addy’s bed. “I wanted to give this to you early, though. I saw it at a boutique, and I thought it’d look really pretty on you.”
Addy took the scarf and ran her fingers along the silky fabric. “It’s beautiful. These are my favorite colors.”
“I took a wild guess.” She gestured at Addy’s walls and décor. “You can knot it around your head. I think the colors will bring out your eyes.”
Addy gave her a full smile now. “I can’t believe you bought this for me. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I can’t stay long,” Diana said. “I have something I need to take care of.”
“What is it?” Addy asked.
Diana remembered how much it had meant to Addy when she’d shared a little bit about herself the other day. “There’s an important conversation I need to have with my fiancé. I’ve been putting it off, but if I put it off any longer, we’ll never get to have it.”
“That sounds serious,” Addy said. “Probably adult stuff that a kid like me would never understand.”
“You get maturity points for being so kick-ass these last couple of months,” Diana told her.
Addy’s eyes rounded and Diana laughed.
