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1151 Words
He answered after a few rings. "Hey, sexy, what's up?"
Normally I'd berate him for calling me that, but I was just happy that he was alive. "Where are you? I went to your room and you weren't there. You almost made me freak out."
He laughed. "I know I'm always on your mind, but don't worry, I'm fine. Just out."
"Okay." That was a vague answer. "I need your help. I was thinking about getting James..."
"Head."
Ugh. "No." Well, maybe. "I want to get him a copy of The Night Before Christmas like your dad read to you when you were little. Do you remember what edition it was? Or who illustrated it?"
"Um. I don't know. That was forever ago."
That was helpful. "You can't remember anything about it?"
"I didn't say that. It was a pop-up book. And it was blue."
I could work with that. "Okay, thanks, Rob. I was going to go out and look for a copy, do you want to come?"
"Can't sweets, I'm busy. But I'll see you tonight for anti-Christmas."
"What's anti-Christmas?"
But there was no response. He had already hung up. Weird. I wasn't surprised though. Most of my conversations with Rob were strange.
I pulled a knit hat low on my head and tucked my red hair beneath my coat as I pulled it on. The best part about the freezing cold winter was that I could at least go a little incognito. Hopefully the paparazzi would leave me alone.
***
After going to two Barnes and Nobles and finally talking to someone helpful, I found out that whatever edition I was looking for was probably out of print. Which I probably should have realized. If James' father read it to him as a kid, it was probably published before I was even born.
I stepped into the used bookstore and smiled at the little bell that jingled above my head. The whole store was decorated for Christmas. I breathed in slowly. There was nothing better than the smell of books. Especially ones that had already been loved. And mixed with the smell of cinnamon in the air, I felt like I was in a Christmas dream of mine.
"Merry Christmas!" said a cheery older woman with long gray hair almost to her waist. She bustled over to me. "Would you like a cup of tea or coffee while you browse?"
"I would love a cup of tea." I pulled off my hat. The little store's heat was blasting.
Her eyes grew big for a moment, but the look of surprise quickly vanished. "Very well. I'll be right back." She hurried off in the direction she had come.
I smiled. She had clearly recognized me. But she didn't ask me questions. Or make me feel belittled. I was pretty sure this was my new favorite store. I looked at the shelves covered with books along the wall first. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the way they were organized. It looked like they were alphabetical by author's last name but then it would switch to being alphabetical by book title.
"Here you are," the woman said and handed me a mug.
"Thank you so much."
"Is there anything I can help you find?" she asked.
"Yes, actually. I'm looking for an edition of The Night Before Christmas from the late 80's. Well, I think it's probably from the late 80's. I'm not really sure. It's a blue pop-up book, but I can't remember the illustrator."
She snapped her fingers. "I think you're in luck."
I followed her through one of the aisles to a cart in the back of the store.
"This just came in today," she said and lifted a large hardback book off the cart.
There was a ribbon in the center of it, tying the two sides together. It was blue. I set my tea down and lifted the book out of her hands.
"It's illustrated by Tom Patrick. It was a Hallmark edition that came out in 1988."
I untied the ribbon and opened up the book. The first page had a bed pop-up with children sleeping. You could even turn the sugarplum pictures above their head. It was the most adorable interactive pop-up book I had ever seen. Really, it put every other children's book to shame. It was so intricate.
"Do you think that's the one?" the woman asked.
"I think it must be." A few pages looked worn, like it had been loved before. But it was still in great condition. James was going to love it. "I'll take it," I said.
The woman smiled. "Anything else I can help you find?"
"No, this was exactly what I needed. I can't believe this just came in today."
"The magic of Christmas," she said with a smile. "Do you want it gift wrapped?"
"That would be fantastic." I handed her the book and followed her to the front of the store as I sipped my tea. Even the tea was amazing. It was probably where the smell of cinnamon swirling around the shop was coming from.
"I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite store," I said as I watched her elegantly wrap the book with a bow and everything.
"I'm glad to hear it." She cut the ends of the bow and got change for the cash I handed her. She gave me the bag and then my change. "Merry Christmas, dear."
I smiled. "Merry Christmas. And thank you for this. I was searching everywhere for it. This is going to mean the world to my fiancé."
"I think your story is beautiful," the woman said right before I pushed through the exit. I stopped and turned back toward her.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to speak out of place. I just...I see the tabloids. And I know it's probably hard. But don't let the people who don't understand the first thing about love get you down." She gave me a kind smile. "Be grateful every day that God pushed you two together. Especially during the holidays. What a joyous time to be thankful."
"Thank you," I said. She had made my eyes tear up. How did she know I was struggling? How did she know how badly I needed to hear that? I had the eeriest feeling that if I came back in a week the store would be gone. That I had just imagined it into existence. The most perfect little store. With the kindest old woman. It almost felt like she was me from the future. Giving myself advice.
"Merry Christmas, dear."
"Merry Christmas." I gave her one last smile and the bell jingled above my head as I walked back outside. Not everyone in New York was so bad. Maybe I was the Grinch. And maybe my heart had just grown two sizes today.
***
- Writer
