Page 4 of Mistletoe Missus

Holly exclaimed, “That two-faced bitch!”

“He’s a liar.”

I ripped off a piece of tape.

“A no-good scumbag.”

Folded the final flap of the wrapper.

“And a manipulative dickhead.”

I plopped the bow on top.

I deserved love, to find my missing piece and to feel respected. I wasn’t an unwanted present with no thought put into it and a shitty wrapping job. Kind of like the gift I had just wrapped and threw a bow on top.

I stared at the customer with remorse. “I’m sorry. I’m going to fix this straight away.”

Before I could take the gift and fix it, a wrinkled hand stopped me. She had beautiful rings on each finger and her wise skin spoke of years of experience. I felt even worse for my behavior and pulled on the gift. But damn, was she ever strong!

“No need,” she said as she pulled the gift from my hand and gave me a cheerful smile. “My granddaughter won’t care about the gift wrapping, but more about what is inside.”

She gave a small laugh, but I still held regret. “Please, I feel awful.”

“Sounds to me like you need a Christmas miracle, dear.”

“I need more than that, considering my behavior.”

“Oh, nonsense, dear,” she said as she swatted at the air and reached into her pocket. “Here. Take this.”

She passed me an ornament resembling an angel and placed it into the palm of my hand. She closed my hand, and her bluish gray eyes filled with wonder, peering straight into mine. I swore I felt her in the essence of my soul, and she was ready to spill all of her life’s secrets to finding true happiness.

“What is it?” I asked, lost in the awe of her.

“It’s the angel of miracles,” she answered as she pointed toward the Christmas tree in the park and her frail hand shook. “I hang one every year on the Christmas tree and make a wish.”

I took my hand back with the angel inside and asked, “Does it work?”

She gave me one simple answer. “Only if you believe.”

I shook my head, “Well, I can’t accept—”

“No. You need this more than I do.”

I looked down at the ornament.

“I don’t even know what I’d wish for? This is yours and I...” my words left me because the sweet old lady had vanished.

I looked at my best friend, flabbergasted. “Holly? Where did the lady I was just talking to go?”

“What lady?”

“Older woman about the same height as me with short, wavy white hair. She had blue-gray eyes. I wrapped a gift for her,” I explained with confusion and searched around me.

Holly shrugged in true valley girl fashion. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? She was just right here!” I exclaimed and pointed to the exact spot where she had vanished into thin air. I heaved a frustrated huff. “Never mind.”

Maybe I was going insane?