Twist of the Magi Page 4

  “What about Candace?”

  Penny could feel Mary stiffen.

  “Does it really matter?”

  “No,” Penny admitted, hugging her knees to her chest. “It’s just that I made such an ass of myself.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  Whatever Penny had expected Mary to say, that wasn’t it. She looked over sharply. Mary’s eyes weren’t laughing at her. They were kind, sympathetic.

  “Candace did what Candace does. She forgot about you the second you were out the door,” Mary said, not unkindly.

  But you’re here. Penny couldn’t bring herself to ask why. She turned back to the tree, its little lights twinkling in the darkness.

  Mary sat silently beside her, neither of them speaking for long minutes. “I found the present you left in my jacket,” Mary murmured at last.

  Penny’s hands clenched around her knees.

  “You didn’t write it for me, did you?”

  Will the humiliation of this day never end? Penny shook her head.

  “Why did you give it to me?”

  “I’m not sure,” Penny admitted. “I brought it days ago to give to Candace, but I couldn’t. And then today, it just felt like the right thing to do, to slip it into your jacket.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Mary said.

  Penny turned, not quite meeting her eyes. “You liked it?”

  “Yes.” Mary took off her glasses and reached up to the couch where she pulled the scroll from her jacket pocket. She held the pages close to her face in the dim light from the tree. “I especially liked the character of Nelly.”

  Penny’s mouth twitched. “I think she reminded me of you.”

  “I guess that’s why I liked her.” Mary shifted to face Penny. “And I like you.”

  Penny froze. Mary’s hand reached up to her cheek. Penny closed her eyes, pressing her cheek into the warmth of Mary’s palm. It had been so long since anyone had touched her, but nothing had ever felt like this. Softly, Mary caressed Penny’s cheek, tracing her thumb over Penny’s brow and down over her jaw. She gently pulled Penny’s chin toward her.

  “Open your eyes,” Mary whispered.

  Penny’s eyes fluttered open.

  “I need to know that it’s not Candace you want.”

  Penny looked into Mary’s dark eyes, the first time she’d seen them without the barrier of her glasses. They were large and soft and, looking into them, Penny felt… safe.

  “Not anymore,” Penny whispered.

  Mary came closer until Penny’s eyes slid out of focus. She could feel the warmth of Mary’s breath against her mouth and then the incredible softness of her lips. Penny tilted her face to return the kiss, her lips parting a little as she felt the tip of Mary’s tongue. Penny increased the pressure of her kiss, reaching with her own tongue as Mary’s hand slid into her hair.

  Penny had no idea how long that kiss went on as she got lost in the sensations of Mary’s mouth and the softness of Mary’s breath against her cheek and the feel of Mary’s hand on her face. When at last they pulled apart, Penny pressed her forehead to Mary’s.

  “When? Why?”

  She could feel Mary smile. “For a while. I just had to wait for you to figure some things out.”

  Penny pulled away. “Like what?” she asked warily, the memories of earlier in the day rushing back over her.

  Mary looked at her. “Like what’s real and what isn’t.”

  Penny thought about that, about the illusion of Candace’s beauty. “You saw through her from the beginning, didn’t you?”

  Mary shrugged. “Candace is nice enough as long as you don’t ask her to think of anyone else. She’s just not capable of it.”

  Penny frowned, remembering how many times Mary had seen her making a fool of herself over something so superficial.

  “Don’t.”

  She looked up at Mary again.

  “You figured it out eventually,” Mary said.

  Penny scoffed. “Yes, it only took me practically being arrested for shoplifting to figure it out.”

  “I didn’t say you were quick,” Mary said wryly.

  Penny laughed, in spite of herself.

  “Are you coming to work tomorrow?” Mary asked.

  Penny sobered up at once and felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I don’t think –”

  “The store is short-staffed without you there,” Mary reminded her. “Mrs. Reinholtz could use your help and… it would be good for you to face Candace again.”

  She placed a hand under Penny’s chin, raising her face until Penny met her eyes. Looking into them, Penny saw again that gentleness that made her feel safe.

  “You need to face her again,” Mary murmured.

  Penny gave a resigned nod.

  “And remember, my parents are expecting you for dinner tomorrow evening,” Mary said, getting to her feet and reaching for her jacket. “We can go straight over after the store closes.”

  Penny walked her to the door where Mary turned to her. Penny stepped close and they kissed again. It took all of Penny’s self-control not to pull Mary toward the bedroom.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she whispered.

  Mary smiled. “Tomorrow.”

  It seemed to Penny later that she had never spent a longer day than that 24th of December. When she arrived at the store, only Mrs. Reinholtz was there. Penny entered the back room and tied on her apron while Mrs. Reinholtz swept the floor. All of the things Penny had rehearsed saying flew out of her head.

  “I can do that,” Penny offered.

  Mrs. Reinholtz regarded her for a moment and then handed her the broom. “Thank you, Penny.”

  Penny was still sweeping when Candace came in. She stopped when she saw Penny, but Penny continued sweeping, giving no sign she had even noticed her. Candace hung up her coat, and hesitated.

  “I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said after a moment.

  Penny forced herself to look up and was startled. Candace was as beautiful as ever, but it was like looking at someone who was wearing a mask. How did I never see that before?

  “I’m sorry, too,” Penny heard herself say. “Stupid misunderstanding.”

  Candace nodded and reached for her apron.

  And that is that, Penny realized as Candace headed out to the floor. The back door opened and Mary came in. Penny felt her heart leap at the sight of her, still looking like an owl with her thick down jacket and knit cap.

  “Hi,” she said, suddenly shy after the kisses they’d shared the previous night. Would Mary still feel the same?

  Her answer came in the smile that lit up Mary’s face. “Hi.”

  They stood, staring at one another until they heard Mrs. Reinholtz call, “Girls!”

  The day seemed to go on forever as customers shopped for last-minute gifts, keeping them busy right up until Mrs. Reinholtz was trying to lock the doors at five o’clock.

  “Merry Christmas,” she said to the last customer as she bolted the door and quickly flipped the Closed sign around. “Ach, what a day!”

  Penny counted the cash drawer while Mary and Candace straightened up the stockroom. Mrs. Reinholtz was busy in her office for several minutes. She emerged with three envelopes.

  “A Christmas bonus for each of you,” she said, handing them out. “Thank you for all of your hard work and Merry Christmas. I’ll see you back here at nine o’clock on the twenty-sixth.”

  “Merry Christmas,” Mary said to Candace as they headed out into the cold and dark, leaving Mrs. Reinholtz to lock up.

  “Oh, yes. Merry Christmas,” Candace said with a last glance in Penny’s direction.

  “Everything okay?” Mary asked Penny as they walked to where she’d parked her car.

  Penny nodded. “Okay. Thanks for pushing me to come back today.”

  The streets of German Village were picture-perfect. Christmas carols played from speakers on the streetlights, and strands of Christmas lights and evergreen garlands hung from light to light. Most of the
businesses were closed and dark, everyone gone somewhere for Christmas Eve. Only a few people walked the sidewalks.

  Mary slipped an arm through Penny’s as they walked. “Ready to meet my family?”

  Penny gave a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure. You think they’ll like me?”

  Mary smiled. “I know they’ll like you.” She pulled Penny to a stop. “But before we go, I have something for you.”

  She unzipped her backpack and pulled out an unwrapped shirt box, handing it to Penny.

  “Please tell me you didn’t get me that damned pen,” Penny said, holding the box away from her as if it might explode.

  “No. Thought about it, though.” Mary stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Open it.”

  Penny pried the top up and saw a folded newspaper lying inside. “Just what I’ve always wanted.”

  “I think it is, actually,” Mary said cryptically. “It’s an advance copy of tomorrow’s paper. Didn’t I tell you? My dad is an editor at the Dispatch. Open it.”

  Penny lifted the paper out and handed the box back to Mary. She moved under a streetlight and shook the paper open.

  “Page three.”

  Intrigued, Penny turned to page three and gasped. “My story!”

  Mary beamed. “The first one. I showed them to my father and he liked them enough to run them as a serial for the next few weeks.” Her smile faltered. “I have a confession, though. I forged your signature on the contract. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to surprise you.” She reached into her backpack again. “Here’s the check I was supposed to give you.”

  Penny’s mouth hung open as she accepted the check. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “It’s kind of like O. Henry’s start as a writer,” Mary said. “You even almost did the jail thing.”

  Penny laughed. “Almost.” She looked at Mary and shook her head. “I can’t believe you would do this for me.”

  Mary stepped closer. “It’s not quite Gift of the Magi, but you said this was your dream.”

  “No.” Penny pulled Mary into the shadows between two buildings and kissed her, long and slow, savoring Mary’s softness, her warmth. She drew away and caressed Mary’s face. “This is my dream.”

  THE END

  Author Bio

  Caren was raised in Ohio, the oldest of four children. Much of her childhood was spent reading every book she could get her hands on and crafting her own stories. She completed a degree in foreign languages and later another degree in physical therapy. For many years, her only writing was research-based, including a therapeutic exercise textbook. She has lived in Virginia for over twenty years, where she practices physical therapy, teaches anatomy, and lives with her partner and their canine fur-children. She began writing creatively again several years ago. Her first novel, Looking Through Windows, won a Debut Author award from the Golden Crown Literary Society in 2009. In 2013, Miserere, In This Small Spot and Neither Present Time all won or placed in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. In This Small Spot won Best Dramatic Fiction in the 2014 Golden Crown Literary Awards. Her next novel, Turning for Home, will be released by Ylva Publishing in May 2015.

  www.cjwerlinger.wordpress.com

  cjwerlingerbooks@yahoo.com