Page 11 of Little Dark Deeds

“There you go again, shifting the conversation back to murder.”

“I can’t help it.”

I glanced across the room at a series of framed photos on the dresser, homing in on one in particular.Two girls, arm in arm, posing in caps and gowns, beaming with pride as they held up their high school diplomas.

So young, so innocent.

So much life ahead of them.

But one of those had just been cut short.

“I’m not ready to accept what’s happened,” I said.“I’m going to wake up in the morning and give you a call, and you’re going to answer.You’re going to tell me you didn’t make it to the wedding because your flight got canceled, or delayed, or you missed it because you got held up in traffic.Anything, as long as it’s not ...”

The truth.

Tiffany hopped up, moving a hand to her hip.“Do you want to see your wedding gift?”

“Sure.”

“Stay here.I’ll be right back.”

She left the room, returning with a wrapped gift.

Setting it down in front of me, she said, “Go on, open it.”

I stared at it for a time, my emotions cresting as reality set in.

The tears came, and I let them.

Attempting to lighten the mood, she said, “Has anyone ever told you that you have a horrible cry face?I mean, one of the worst I’ve ever seen.You look like a depressed basset hound.”

“A depressed basset hound?Even if their faces are sad at times, they’re still cute, right?”

“They are.Not you, though.”

I wiped my eyes, even though the tears showed no signs of stopping.

“I know just what you need to cheer you up,” Tiffany said.“I’ll be right back.”

This time, she returned with a bag of chips, the same kind she’d stolen from me in grade school.

She tossed the bag at me, erupting with laughter.“It was my wedding gag gift.I couldn’t help myself.Brings back memories, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, memories of you nicking them from my lunch bag.”

“Who knew you’d get so irate over a stupid bag of chips.”

“You learned what happens when you come between a girl and her favorite snack.”

Even though I felt lousy, I managed to crack a smile.

“That’s better,” she said.“Open your present, and don’t be all dainty and stuff with the paper.I don’t have all day.Or do I?Who knows?I’m new at this ‘entering your dreams’ stuff.”

I grabbed the wrapped gift, tearing the side open as I removed the bubble wrapped contents inside.Getting past the ridiculous amount of tape she’d used took some time, but it was worth it.The gift was a large, round piece of wood.Etched in the center was a tree with the initials G & G inside a heart.

“I love it,” I said.

“I knew you would.I remembered your love story ...and you saying the first time Giovanni saw you was when you were sitting under a tree on the college campus.And he proposed to you in the exact same spot.Figured you could find a place for it in your house.”