I’m relieved the presents I ordered online came in time since they each got me at least one present. I had to borrow Craig’s credit card to make the purchases, and he’s refused my repeated attempts to pay him back with the cash I have from my savings.

Paula rips open the present with the look of, well, a kid on Christmas morning. She holds up the Packers T-shirt. “Oh, what fun!”

I honestly had no idea what to get the people I didn’t know existed a month ago. So I went with Packers paraphernalia. I figure since they know I’m going to be watching games here, they might want to start coming “to the dark side,” as Craig once jokingly described it.

“You’re next!” Paula says to me with a little clap.

I pick up a small silver-and-red-wrapped box from the top of my pile and run my finger along the seam. When I open it up, I find an assortment of earrings in all colors, shapes, and sizes.

“I thought you’d like some more jewelry to go with your new clothes,” Paula says with a smile. She comes over to me and picks up the silver hoops on the top. “These are my favorite. You should put them on now!”

She reaches out the earrings to me, a hopeful smile on her face.

I take them from her. “Oh, thanks. They’re gorgeous. It’s just, um, I don’t …”

Her face falls as she looks at my ears, which have never been pierced. “I didn’t know …”

Why would she?

“It’s okay!” I reply with a pat on her hand. I know Paula’s repeated attempts to help me be more of a girly girl is her version of bonding. I appreciate it, but it’s just not me. I’ll let her dress me up and accessorize me, but there’s no way I’m letting a needle go through my ears. Nope. Not happening.

“I’m sure Paula won’t mind having to make a trip to the mall to exchange them for whatever you want,” Craig says with a wink.

“Yeah!” I reply brightly, willing that sad look on Paula’s face to vanish. “That sounds like fun.”

She brushes my face with her hand. “Okay, sweetheart.”

“Me next!” Sarah calls out as she picks up a large bag.

We go around one by one to open presents. Craig particularly likes the Cheesehead I got him, which he proudly puts on. My other gifts from Paula include sparkly shirts and short skirts I would never wear.