“Sure, I’ll call her now. Mom hasn’t been feeling like celebrating Christmas this year, but I think this news might just change her mind. I really, really appreciate this.” Charlotte paused. “I could help out at your store, you know, to, like, repay you. Sort of.”

Her heart lurched. “Oh, sweetie, that’s so kind of you.” She was going to add she didn’t need extra help, but wondered if Maggie would appreciate an extra hand? “I might have to leave town for a few days, a business trip. I’m having a family friend working at the store. She might need a hand. Is it all right if I give her your phone number? Just in case. Her name is Maggie, and she’s a close friend of my family.” This was all contingent on the weather. Lauren could very well be working at the store herself if her flight was canceled.

“Yes, please tell her we all can help. We’re kinda like our own version of the three musketeers.”

Lauren couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll tell Maggie. I’ll let you go now so you can call your mom, share the news, and maybe convince her this is what you want, too.”

“Okay, I will. And Lauren, thanks so much. No one has really helped mom this past year, at least not like this.”

“It’s fine, Charlotte. This is what the season is all about, helping others. Now go ahead and call your mom. Wait!” She almost forgot about the jacket. “Listen, I stopped at Threads and saw a really cute jacket. On a whim, I thought you might like it. Would it be okay if I dropped this off on my way home?”

“Cool! Sure, I don’t think Beth would mind,” Charlotte answered, excitement lifting her voice a few octaves. “You know the blue house on the corner of Westbury and Skyline?”

Lauren laughed. “Of course I do. I’ll see you shortly,” she said, then disconnected.

She had not wanted to embarrass the girl with her offer and was very glad that Charlotte hadn’t seemed the least bit offended when she mentioned the jacket. A good kid, she thought as she inched her way through the shrinking line.

When it was her turn at the checkout, a tall, blue-eyed, blond-haired young girl, probably no more than eighteen, scanned and totaled her items quickly. An elderly man, whom she’d seen at church but whose name escaped her, quickly filled the bags she provided. “Tell your dad that Neil said it’s time to get his flu shot.”

“Okay,” she said, having no clue why he would know that.

“He comes in every year with your mom. They get their shots here at the store. I haven’t seen him this year.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to tell him. Thanks.”

“Most welcome, ma’am,” he said, placing the last of her bags in the cart.