Charlie stared, conflicted, and then jerked his arm away. “You two are messing with me.”
Patti shook her head. “No, Charlie. Dina is dead serious, aren’t you, Dina?”
“Yeah…You know. Serious,” Dina said,
Charlie pouted. “Oh, yeah. Well, I don’t believe it. Who is this guy, anyway?”
Dina swallowed, whipping her head toward the front door, wanting to dash away. “I said it’s a secret, Charlie,” Dina said, her smile fading. “Got to go now, so I can get that call.”
Charlie’s face fell. “Okay then. Well, fine then. Maybe some other time, Dina?”
“Yeah, why not, Charlie? Going now. Goodnight,” Dina called back over her shoulder. She was out the door, down the stairs and in the parking lot before Patti left the restaurant.
“Hey, wait up!” Patti called.
Patti was behind the wheel of her dinged-up Ford Focus, and Dina was faced away, staring out her window, lost in thought.
“So, what are you thinking about?” Patti asked as they drove through the small town of Pine Village.
“My parents.”
They turned onto Main Street. It was twinkling with strings of holiday lights, glowing Christmas wreaths in shop windows, and a 23-foot Christmas tree on the village green, the backdrop for a well-lit manger scene.
“How long have they been gone now?” Patti asked.
“It’ll be two years on December 20th. Dad loved Christmas so much. When I was a little girl, he used to take Mom and me to see the parade and the Christmas lights in town. We’d get our tree, and then he’d buy us sweet rolls and egg nog in this little shop that had been there since the 1950s. We had such fun putting up our Christmas tree and singing carols and opening gifts.”
“You are coming over on Christmas Day, right?” Patti asked.
Dina turned to her. “Yes, if you want me.”
“Oh, shut up. Of course, we want you. My mother loves you and so does Jagger. And I taught him some new tricks. He can shake, roll over and, are you ready for this? He can High Five. You’ll be impressed. The only down side to the whole day is that you’ll have to suffer through the usual Christmas carols with Mom at the piano, hitting wrong notes and singing in several keys at the same time.”
Dina laughed. “It will be fun. I had such a good time last year. What should I bring?”
“Bring some wine and dessert. We’ll have the rest.”
Just then, Dina spotted Christmas trees for sale at a sidewalk stand. “Stop, Patti!”
Patti stomped the brakes, and the girls lurched forward.
“What?”
“Pull over. Over there, next to the Christmas tree stand.”
“You’re going to buy a tree now? It’s only December seventh. It’ll get all dried out.”
“Pull over, Patti.”
“It’s after midnight, Dina. Nobody’s around.”
“Please, Patti, please. Just pull over.”
Patti heaved out a sigh and swerved right, parking on the right side of Main Street. High on girlish enthusiasm, Dina pushed the door open and bounded out before Patti shut off the engine. Dina hurried across the street, with Patti on her heels.
Dina approached the trees, sniffing the clean, crisp pine that permeated the air, and she paused to admire the majestic Christmas trees standing utterly still, a temporary pine forest on Main Street.
A family drifted by, and two young boys giggled as they weaved in and out of the trees, wreaths and Christmas tree stands.
Dina pushed her hands into her coat pockets and took in the enormous, inflatable Frosty the Snowman, tethered to a pick-up truck, shuddering in the busy wind, waving and smiling.
“Isn’t Christmas wonderful?” Dina said, a broad, happy grin spreading across her face, her blue eyes gleaming in the lights.
Patti appeared, glancing about. “This is one helluva time to buy a Christmas tree, Dina. It’s the middle of the night.”
“I know, but it feels right. I’m in the mood.”
A tall, burly man with a full beard came up, bundled in a parka, gloves and red ski cap. “Hey, ladies.”
“Hi there,” Patti said, brightly, looking him over with appreciation and pleasure. She flashed Dina a coy look of approval. “And what is your name, sir?”
“Well, I’m called Big Henry.”
“And where are you from, Big Henry?”
“I’m from Logan County.”
“I like it,” Patti said, heartily. “Big Henry from Logan County. Sounds like a 1960s TV show, doesn’t it? I picture a big man who befriends a big bear and they go off on wild adventures together. What do you think, Big Henry? Sound about right?”
Dina rolled her eyes.
Big Henry shifted his weight and scratched his head. “I guess so. Never thought about it. Never hung out with a big bear.”
Patti continued. “I bet it’s cold up north in Logan County,” Patti continued, flashing a girlish grin.
“Yep, it does get real cold in Logan. Are you ladies looking for a tree?”
“Yes,” Patti said, full of interest, taking charge. “My friend and I are looking for the perfect tree. It’s got to be the right one, the perfect one, Big Henry. Sometimes it takes us an hour or more to find the right one, so we are not in a hurry. Can you hook us up?”
Big Henry nodded, cordially. “Well I’ve got all kinds of trees here: Frasier Firs, Balsams, Scotch Pine and Douglas Fir. Let’s take a look.”
They moved to a rack of trees, all sizes and shapes and varietals, some trees anchored in stands, others bound up by twine.
“I think the Fraser Fir is the best way to go,” Big Henry said. “It’s got 30 or so branches and a good scent, and it should last well into January. Take this one, here,” he said, indicating. “It’s over six feet and it’s well-proportioned. Now, you may ask, how do you check to see if your tree is fresh or not?”
Patti nodded, drawing closer to Big Henry. “Yes, Big Henry, how do I know if the tree is fresh?”
“Well, what you do is you take a branch like this.” Big Henry took a branch. “And then you run your hand across it to make sure a lot of needles don’t come off.”
“Hmmm…I see,” Patti said, staring at Big Henry with a new, flirtatious pleasure. She was startled when she heard Dina’s voice off to her right.
“I’ll take that one,” Dina exclaimed, impetuously.
Patti stared, incredulous. “That one? So fast, Dina? How can you make up your mind so fast?”
“Yeah. I like this one.”
Patti and Big Henry strolled over. Patti’s smile had vanished. “That one? Dina, it’s crooked.”
Dina planted the base, standing the tree up, gazing at it approvingly. “Yes, this one. I love it.”
Big Henry scratched his nose. “That one’s a scruffy, scrappy, mongrel of a tree. I put it over here because I didn’t think anyone would want it. Are you sure you want that one? I have much better ones, you know.”
“No. I like this one. How much?”
Big Henry thought for a moment. “I’ll give it to you for 25 bucks.”
“Great! Can you deliver it tomorrow morning, about eleven?”
“Yeah, sure. No problem. Whenever.”
As Dina paid the man and wrote down her address, she heard the clear ringing of a bell. She followed the sound around the trees to a sidewalk Santa Claus clanging a bell, standing next to a hanging red kettle on a tripod. The sign above it said: PLEASE GIVE TO THE NEEDY AND THE POOR.
“He’s out a little late, isn’t he?” Dina said.
Patti glanced back at Big Henry in disappointment, and waved. He waved back with a shake of his head, still perplexed by Dina’s choice of tree.
“I need to get home, Dina,” Patti said.
As Dina and Patti turned to cross the street, Dina stopped. “Just a minute, Patti. I’ll be right back.”
Dina started back for the sidewalk Santa. Suppressing irritation, Patti followed her.
“What now, Dina
?”
As she advanced toward Santa, Dina opened her purse and took out her wallet.
He smiled warmly at her. “Merry Christmas,” he said.
Dina smiled back, thinking the man looked genuinely authentic. His suit was richly designed, with shiny gold buttons, a broad leather black belt with gold buckle, and shiny black leather boots. His beard was remarkably white and curly, like a cloud of cotton candy.
Dina dropped twenty dollars into the red kettle. “I really like your suit. I haven’t seen one like it since I was a little girl.”
“Thank you,” Santa said. “I’m happy you like it. And thank you for your generous contribution.”
“You’re out late,” Dina said.
“It’s my busy time of year.”
Dina laughed. “Yes, so it is. Merry Christmas, Santa.”
Patti drew up.
“Merry Christmas,” Santa said, his bell clanging loudly.
“Yeah, Merry Christmas,” Patti said, flatly, glancing away, slightly embarrassed. “Let’s go, Dina. My mother has already texted me three times asking me why I’m still not home.”
Santa lowered the bell, looking Dina over carefully. “Do you have a Christmas wish, young lady?”
“A Christmas wish?” Dina asked.
“Yes…You must have at least one Christmas wish.”
Patti turned away, with an impatient shake of her head.
“Any wish at all?” Santa asked.
Dina twisted up her lips in thought. “Well, actually, I do, Santa. This year, I would like some kind of Christmas adventure.”
Patti pivoted. “A Christmas adventure?”
Dina nodded. “Sure, why not? Any little or big Christmas adventure. Something different. Yes, a Christmas adventure. Can you arrange that for me, Santa?” Dina asked, with a playful wink.
Santa gave her a firm nod. “Alright, young lady, consider it done.”
Patti glanced at her phone. “Dina, let’s go. I’ve got to get home.”
“You go ahead, Patti,” Dina said. “I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
Snow flurries suddenly appeared, drifting and dancing in the chilly breeze.
“It’s snowing, Dina. And it’s cold. Your apartment is over a mile from here.”
Dina held out her hand, watching in childlike wonder as the flakes drifted and scattered. “Yes, it’s snowing. Look, Patti, isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it magical?”
“Yeah, nice, Dina. We’re supposed to get four inches. I need to go.”
“It’s okay, Patti. Really. You go ahead. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
Patti shrugged and heaved out a puff of white vapor. “Whatever. See you later.”
Santa stopped Patti with his question, fixing his warm eyes on Patti. “And do you have a Christmas wish, young lady?”
Patti managed a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, I’d love a new pair of ice skates, not that I ice skate or ever have, but why not have a pair, just in case. You never know.”
Santa laughed, a deep belly laugh. “Good! Good. You shall have them.”
Patti lifted her shoulders and dropped them. “Well, thank you, Santa, and good night.”
Dina watched Patti drive away, her car’s red taillights melting into the snowy haze. And then, as she started for home, Dina suddenly felt lonely and sad, thinking about her parents and the disappointing state of her life. She followed a narrow, two-lane road off Main Street, past bare black trees and the distant silhouette of homes, their windows lit up and blinking like tiny fires.
She stuck out her tongue, catching the cool flakes, just as she’d done as a kid, when she and her father went walking in the snow. It was a happy memory. A good memory and a gloomy one.
Dina rambled, humming Christmas carols, scratching across the sidewalk, enjoying the snowfall, and the deep silence of the night. A sudden burst of wind chilled her, scattering dry leaves and slinging snow into her face. She twisted about as another gust struck, and frenzied snow played around her.
She shouldered on, surprised by the sudden wildness of the night; by the howling wind and the rattle of bare tree limbs above. She lowered her woolen cap over her ears and quickened her pace. As she approached a street lamp, something caught her eye—it was a white envelope, lying on the sidewalk, illuminated by a cone of light. At the next burst of wind, it was whipped and sent bouncing and sliding off into the street. Instinctively, Dina started after it, stooping and snatching it up before it blew away.
Curious, she edged toward the light of the lamp to read the address, written on the face in a beautiful calligraphy. To her astonishment, it said:
To You
She moved under the full amber glow of the lamp, staring in probing wonder. The envelope wasn’t sealed. She lifted the loose flap, reached in and drew out an old-fashioned yellow cardboard gift certificate.
Dina nosed forward, reading each word with care.
Christmas Gift Certificate
One Session with Mrs. Terry,
Psychic Astrologer
235 Oak Street, Pine Village, CO
Must be redeemed by Saturday
December 10th or invalid
Dina made a puzzled face. December 10th was Saturday. This coming Saturday. What a silly thing to find. What a strange thing to find. What a ridiculous thing to find. She almost tossed it away, but something stopped her. Curiosity? She’d never been to a psychic astrologer. It might be fun. It would give her something to talk about with Patti and some of her regular customers at the restaurant.
She replaced the cardboard certificate in the envelope, stuffed it in her purse, and started off into the snowy night.
CHAPTER 2
“What’s your name?”
Dina hesitated. “Dina Lee.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 28.”
The old woman didn’t blink, and Dina kept waiting for her to blink. “Is this your first time seeing me?”
“Yes...”
“How did you hear about me?”
Dina fished into the side pocket of her brown blazer and drew out the letter-size envelope. She tugged out the gift certificate she’d found on the street and presented it.
“Actually, I found this.”
The woman finally blinked. The lady sitting opposite her was Mrs. Terry. When Dina had entered the imposing Victorian house at the far end of Pine Village and met Mrs. Terry, she thought the woman looked like the quintessential grandmother, right out of an old Hollywood movie. She was thin, calm and slow. Her snow-white hair was twisted up in a bun, she wore wire-rimmed granny-style spectacles, and she was dressed in a blue floral, cotton day dress with ruffled sleeves. She was all hand patting and head nods.
Mrs. Terry reached for the gift certificate, held it up to her soft, gray-blue eyes and studied it. “What is this? I never give out gift certificates. I wouldn’t know how. All my clients hear about me by word of mouth.”
Dina shifted uncomfortably. She retrieved the certificate from Mrs. Terry and held it up. “But it says ‘One Session with Mrs. Terry. Must be redeemed before December 10th or invalid.’ Today is Saturday, December 10th.”
Mrs. Terry’s forehead lifted. “Really? It says that?”
“Yes,” Dina said, pointing at the text with her index finger. “See. Right there.”
Mrs. Terry inclined forward, scrunching up her face to read it. “My word. It does say that, doesn’t it? Where did you get this gift certificate?”
“Well, actually, I found it… on the sidewalk, two days ago. The night we got the four inches of snow.”
Mrs. Terry shook her head, making a little tsk-tsk sound. “Well, what do you know about that? Well, I’ll say it again, I never give out gift certificates.”
Dina looked at her doubtfully, thinking, What kind of a psychic are you? Instead, she said, “Should I leave?”
Mrs. Terry’s eyes widened. “Of course not, my dear. That certificate has my name on it, and so I must honor it, no matter where it came from.”
And then, just like that, Mrs. Terry fell into silence. Dina waited as the woman sat perfectly still, her eyes fixed ahead on some distant memory or thought.
Finally, she said, “You know, I’m going to be 93 years old next month.”
“That’s amazing,” Dina said. “Congratulations.”
Mrs. Terry pointed to her head. “I can still see things, my dear, just not as fast and as clear as I once did.”
Again, Mrs. Terry fell into silence. Dina glanced about the room, trying to appear casual. They were seated at a baroque walnut table in Mrs. Terry’s drawing room. The carpets were faded, the furniture was heavy and imposing, and the walls held over-sized gilded mirrors and ornate framed oil paintings, featuring pastoral landscapes and seascapes.
There was a fireplace with a decorative fireplace screen, and a cord of wood stacked in a neat pile on the green, enameled hearth. Dina noticed that Christmas cards and a little manger scene occupied the white, marble-topped mantel, and there was the unexpected 4-foot blinking Christmas tree standing near the fireplace, decorated with vintage Victorian ceramic ornaments and topped by a lovely Victorian angel, whose steady, dull eyes were half open, and staring directly at Dina.
Morning light streamed in from tall windows. A light snow was falling, soft flakes settling on the window sills and the thick limbed branches of an oak tree, visible beyond the house.
Dina finally cleared her throat. “Mrs. Terry, do you need me to do or say anything?”
Mrs. Terry blinked, and her focus returned. “Oh, I’m so sorry, my dear, I was lost in thought. I was remembering the first time I met my late husband, Charles. He was a pilot in World War II, and he was so handsome in his uniform and pencil mustache. Well, I just fell head-over-heels in love. We were married for almost 60 years.”
“You were lucky,” Dina said. “Most people never find that kind of love. A love that lasts. A real soulmate.”
“Oh, you are so right, my dear. We were lucky. I still think I hear him calling me. Sometimes when I’m giving a session, I hear him call my name like he used to. He says ‘Edna, are you going to bake that apple pie you promised to make me last week?’”
The Date Before Christmas: A Novel Page 2