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“All right, then. Let’s pay for all this and keep looking for the Sunshine Sparkle Alpaca.”
They paid for the gifts and loaded them into the car outside.
“Is this your car?” Max asked as he set a bulging bag on the back seat.
“No, it’s the official Sweetest Surprise car. I borrow it occasionally for personal use, but mostly I take public transit. Are you ready for the next store?” Billie put in the last bag and closed the trunk.
“You know it.”
“Actually, let’s drop these gifts at the outreach center first. It isn’t far.”
Back at the center, Max and Billie unloaded armfuls of gifts and stored them in Billie’s office. By the time they were finished, it looked like Santa’s workshop had been transferred to Denver. Stacks of toy boxes took up most of the floor space and a parade of dolls and plush animals lined Billie’s bookshelves.
“Are you ready for another store, or have you changed your mind after carrying one thousand bags?” Billie asked.
“I’m ready,” Max said. “Let’s find this Sunshine Sparkle Alpaca. At this point, I’m very curious about what it looks like.”
“Me too, actually. Let’s go.”
They piled back into the car, where Billie tuned the radio to a station playing Christmas songs and turned the volume up. Shesang along to “White Christmas” and “Santa Baby”,then looked over at Max. He wasn’t singing.
“Sorry.” Billie turned the radio down. “I forgot that you’re not a fan of Christmas.”
“I’m not, but I don’t mind you singing.” Max turned the volume back up. “Just pretend I’m not here.”
Halfway through “Here We Come A-Wassailing”,they arrived at the next department store. Billie turned to Max with a serious expression.
“Remember, we’re here for one thing, and one thing only.” She locked eyes with him. “The Sunshine Sparkle Alpaca.”
“Yes ma’am!” Max saluted. “Let’s roll out.”
They headed into the store, but there were no Sunshine Sparkle Alpacas here, either. The next store was sold out, too. Finally, in the fourth store, Billie spotted a final box on the shelf and hurriedly grabbed it.
“Victory!” She held it up and hurried back to Max, who’d been looking in another aisle.
“Nice work. Okay, let’s see what’s so special about this toy.”
Billie turned the box so they could both read it. The alpaca inside, visible through a sheet of clear plastic, was white and sparkly with a picture of the sun on her flank. Her mane was rainbow-colored, and she wore a friendly smile.
“Well, we know that she can say sixteen unique phrases,” Max read off the box. “A talking alpaca. That makes sense.”
“She can walk, prance, lie down, and eat,” Billie added. “What do you think she eats?”
“Sunshine, of course. And she has a unique backstory in the included booklet.”
“Just like your Mrs. Cowper idea.” Billie and Max exchanged a smile. “Well, I’m very glad we found her. Little Josefina is going to be overjoyed.” She paused. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“It was my pleasure.” Max glanced at his watch again. “But I should be going now. I do have a few things to do this evening.”
“Of course. Wait!” Billie held up a hand. “What about your selfies?”
“Right. Do you mind taking one now?”
“Sure.”
Max got out his phone and held it up. Billie squeezed into the frame, her shoulder brushing Max’s, and, at the last moment, held up the alpaca. Max snapped the photo.
“Thanks, Billie.”