Glancing around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, she grabbed her purse and keys, and, locking the door behind her, she stepped out into the brisk afternoon air. In her car, she shivered as she waited for the engine to warm up so she could switch the heat on. Maybe it was time for a new car. It took this old Honda forever to warm up, even after Jimmy’s tune-up. “Maybe later,” she said, shifting into reverse and heading to Threads, a locally owned clothing shop she liked to frequent. The prices were fair and the styles up to date. Lauren found an empty parking spot in front of the store and reached for her purse, checking inside to make sure she had her debit card. Last time she’d been to Threads, she’d had to ask Claire Conroy, the owner, to hold her purchase as she’d hoofed it back to the shop, where she had carelessly tossed her card on her desk. Inside, she was greeted by Bing Crosby’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”

“Be right there,” Claire called from the back of the store, her Irish accent music to Lauren’s ears.

“It’s just me,” Lauren called out as she eyed a rack of puffer jackets.

She heard a tinkle of laughter. “Have a look about, lass.”

Lauren grinned. Claire called everyone “lass” or “lad,” no matter their age. Cracked her up, as Claire was around her age and had lived in Fallen Springs since she was a teenager.

“Will do,” Lauren called out as she perused the jackets. She wasn’t sure of Charlotte’s size, so she’d have to wing it, which should be easy enough since they were similar in build. She removed a charcoal-gray jacket from its hanger. Hanging her purse on the end of the rack, she took off her heavy sweater, then slipped the puffer jacket on. It fit her perfectly, loose enough to allow for layers, if needed, yet warm enough to wear with a T-shirt, and according to the label, the jacket would sustain one in temperatures twenty degrees below freezing.

This would be perfect for Charlotte, though she thought the color pretty bland. Then she saw another of the same size in a deep purple. She remembered that Charlotte wore a purple sweater that first day they’d visited the store. Didn’t all teenage girls like purple? If not, she’d make sure Claire was okay with an exchange, just in case. Lauren figured she might as well purchase a set of gloves, along with a matching hat and scarf, because Charlotte would certainly need those, too. Choosing the same purple shade as the jacket but with a mixture of pink and lavender swirls, she thought Charlotte would like them.

Claire appeared from the back of the store. “Looks like you found my newest shipment of outerwear.”

“Yep. Is this something a fifteen-year-old would wear?” she asked as she placed the items on the counter.

“Absolutely. Those puffer jackets never go out of style. Purple is all the rage this season.”