Betty sat in the back seat of the car they’d rented for a few days, her eyes tracing the path of oak leaves as they swirled in the air and gently landed on the road. Susan’s hands were steady on the wheel, guiding them down the oak-lined lane leading to the Rachel Carson Preserve. It was dusk, that magical time when the world seemed to pause, holding its breath in anticipation of the night.
Carol and Margie filled the car with laughter and stories from their trip, the camaraderie warming the air. “This has been such a fantastic getaway,” Carol said, looking back at Betty through the rearview mirror. “I couldn’t have asked for better company.”
“Absolutely,” Margie agreed, her eyes scanning the large field that bordered the road. “The shopping, the food, and now the nature—this trip has had it all.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Susan added, adjusting the rearview mirror slightly. “I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.”
Betty nodded, her smile genuine but tinged with an inner weight. “It’s been amazing, truly.”
Betty felt a tug of mixed emotions. She had enjoyed every bit of this trip—the laughter, the bonding, the new memories—butunderneath it all, the memory of her sister lurked. Whenever she visited places of natural beauty like this, the thought of her sister was never far away. Their family had come here many times, and Betty still remembered sitting in the back seat with her sister. At least now those memories brought a smile to her face.
Suddenly, Margie let out a soft gasp, her finger pointing toward the edge of the field. “Look, there they are!”
A small group of deer had emerged from the woods, their silhouettes framed by the dimming light. For a moment, the car fell silent, all four women captivated by the peaceful creatures grazing at the field’s edge.
In that silent space, Betty’s heart held a quiet wish—a longing, really—that one of the deer would venture closer, right up to their car. It was a silly thought, one born from the depths of her hope and imagination. She had always envisioned such an event as a sign, a small cosmic signal from her sister that she was still with her in spirit.
But the deer stayed where they were, peacefully nibbling at the grass, as if understanding the sacred boundary between humans and nature.
Finally, Susan broke the silence. “This moment—it’s like the perfect bow on top of our trip.”
“Agreed,” Carol murmured, her eyes still fixed on the deer.
Margie snapped a few pictures, her face glowing with awe. “I can’t wait to share these.”
Betty smiled, appreciating the beauty of the moment even if it hadn’t fulfilled her quiet, private hope. “It’s perfect,” she said softly, wrapping up her complex swirl of emotions in those two simple words. The trip had been wonderful, and the sight of the deer felt like a fitting end, even if the secret yearning of her heart remained unmet. As they drove away, she took one last look at the field, committing the serene scene to memory.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Bunny nibbled at the last of her carrot muffin, her eyes scanning the crossword grid in front of her. She had just filled in the last box, completing the puzzle. A sense of accomplishment washed over her, because it wasn’t just the crossword she had conquered today. Maxi’s art lesson had been a success, and she may have solved a problem for two people.
“Now, if only I could solve this gift mystery,” she mused.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the jingling melody of her phone. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Sam.
“Hey, Sam, what’s up?” she greeted him, the excitement already building in her voice.
“Bunny, you won’t believe what I found!” His voice crackled with enthusiasm. “I was at the library, going through some old church bulletins, and guess what? I think I’ve found a clue about our Christmas gift mystery.”
“Do tell!” she urged.
Sam read out a line from one of the bulletins, dated back to one of the years they had suspected the present could be from. “Listen to this: ‘To the family who has put the holidays on hold, may you find your Christmas spirit again.’”
Bunny’s heart skipped a beat. “That could explain the undelivered gift! A family that didn’t celebrate Christmas that year for some reason might have forgotten about a hidden present.”
“Exactly,” Sam concurred. “I think we should dive deeper into these church bulletins. Maybe we can figure out why they didn’t celebrate Christmas that year. We could even talk to Father Frank.”
“Sounds like a plan. Meet you downtown?”
“Sure, in about thirty minutes?”
“Perfect. Oh, and by the way, I finished the crossword. I win our little challenge,” Bunny gloated, unable to suppress a chuckle.
Laughing, Sam replied, “You always do, don’t you? See you soon.”
After hanging up, Bunny grabbed her keys, slipped on her coat, and headed out to her car. The engine roared to life, and she took the familiar route downtown, her thoughts racing ahead of her. As she pulled into a parking spot, she glanced around. The area was buzzing with activity; it was dusk, and the twinkling streetlights cast a magical glow. The small village was loaded with tourists, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the magic of Lobster Bay Prelude.
She peeked down the street where Maxi’s art gallery was located. Through the paper-covered windows, she could see shadows moving about and lights flickering on.Good, she thought.Looks like things are coming together for the big reveal.
