A heart-stoppingly handsome man strode in. The shoulders of his black wool coat were coated with snow. “I wonder if you could help me. I’m looking for, um, well, what’s your most expensive present?”

“For what age group?”

The man spotted a large box of Legos high on the top shelf. “I’ll take that.”

Christina picked up her folding step stool.

“Please don’t trouble yourself. I can reach it. I’ll take it down, if that’s okay,” the man said.

“Of course,” Christina answered. “Thank you.”

“This is a marvelous shop,” the man said.

“Thank you,” Christina repeated. “I quite like it myself.” Her Inner Christina perked up: You quite like it? What, all of a sudden you’re British?

As the man paid for the Legos and left, more customers entered the shop. Christina bagged small items, rang up the sales, reminded people how to use the chip on the credit card machine, replaced toys, and got so hot she took off her wool sweater and Christmas cap.

It was after five when the rush died down. She kept the store open after six, putting the shelves back in order, hoping a few more parents and kids would rush in. But dark had fallen, and the wind had risen. She gathered her things, locked the shop, and trudged to her Jeep.

Chapter 17

Christina drove home, thinking the town had never looked more beautiful, all the buildings blanketed with snow, lights twinkling against the darkness like hope against despair. She held back her tears until the moment she walked into her house.

Mittens was there, meowing for her dinner. Christina picked up her beautiful friend and held her, burying her cold nose in the warmth of the cat’s fur.

“Oh, Mittens, I’ve had such an awful day!” she cried.

Mittens wasn’t interested in her drama. She slid out of her arms and raced toward the kitchen. Christina followed. She opened a can of food, set it in a bowl for the cat, and freshened her water bowl. Then she stood in the middle of her kitchen, still wearing her coat and hat and gloves, and tried to decide whether she wanted a drink of coffee or red wine.

She was too overwhelmed to decide. Why had she made such a stupid bet? She should have known that Oscar would have stayed in her shop for an hour if he’d had to cling to the shelves with his teeth. He was a tyrant. He didn’t need the pitiful ten percent raise in rent, the raise that would make it impossible for the Shedders to keep their shops.