“Your favorite?”
She nodded and reached for the remote as the credits rolled by. As she scrolled through the channels she explained. “I lovethe moral and when I watch it, it reminds me I don’t have to have the model celebration. I never had that as a kid. My dad usually disappeared after breakfast and presents and didn’t come home until I was in bed. So, this movie reminds me I’m okay with cocoa and popcorn for dinner.” She smiled at him, her face serene and he realized she meant exactly what she said. “I have good company this year too.”
“Can I ask you a question?” he knew he was probably spoiling the mood, but he couldn’t resist.
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you want to watch the movie with the guy on the roof?”
She sighed. “My dad insisted on getting on the roof and stringing lights every year. And once, he fell off because he was so drunk. My mom went into hysterics; we ended up spending the evening in the emergency room and my dad complained about his back and not having the lights strung the entire holiday.” She shrugged. “I just prefer not seeing that movie, since the dad falls off the roof.”
She visibly shook herself and gestured toward the opening credits of the grinch movie. “I prefer movies like this. Ones that may be a little silly but have a great message.” She smiled again, her mood visibly lightened.
He returned her smile then settled in to try to appreciate the movie, which seemed a little over the top to him. In the end, both agreed they liked the original cartoon version of the book better.
As Sophie stood and took the popcorn bowl to the sink and started wash water, Ephraim went to the large mirror and the small tree sitting in front of it. He noticed the small nativity scene hadn’t been illuminated and he flipped the on switch to the candle. When he stood, Sophie was beside him. She looked at the small family depicted in the scene. “They didn’t have a great time of it, that first Christmas, either.”
He tilted his head and looked at the expressions on the plastic figurines. “If the artist is anything to go by, it wasn’t about their surroundings. Like you said.”
She nodded and then plucked a small box from under the tree and held it to him. “Merry Christmas.”
He looked at the object blankly. “You got me a present?”
She shook her head, “I made you a present. Our last couple of days hasn’t exactly offered time to shop.”
He couldn’t stop looking at the small square. When he didn’t move, Sophie wriggled a little, impatient for his reaction to the gift. “Open it,” she insisted.
He pulled the small jute twine bow and then flipped the box over and pulled at the tape. The wrapping paper fell away with the released tape and a little white box, slightly discolored from age emerged. “I didn’t have a new box, so I used this one.” Sophie felt her skin redden in embarrassment, but Ephraim didn’t seem to notice the water stains on the box’s lid. He pulled the lid off and stared inside.
The inch long piece of purple sea glass looked dull against the folded napkin until he picked it up. Against the lights from the small Christmas tree, light shone through the glass on the keyring attached to the nugget. Sophie rushed to explain. “I collect sea glass. This is a color that’s hard to find. I don’t have a lot of skill?—”
“It’s perfect,” he said, his voice rough. “What’s sea glass?”
Sophie touched the small chunk of glass with the tip of her finger, making it sway in the soft light. “Glass from shipwrecks, trash, accidental or even purposeful disposal in the sea goes through a process of being refined by sand, water, and the surf into something more. This is a shard of something people consider disposable becoming something treasured.”
Ephraim’s eyes moved from the smooth stone in his hand to meet her gaze. “Something treasured,” he repeated and Sophie caught her breath at his expression.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to step away from him and kneel to pick up the discarded paper and ribbon. “I hope you like it. I’m not very good at doing things with the glass I collect.”
She expected a pat thank you, but he didn’t say anything and she turned away to dispose of the trash. As she did so, she wondered at his expression. It had had more in it than just a thank you, she was sure.
The rest of the evening she spent almost dancing around him in her anxiety. She’d learned from Frank to second guess herself and now she regretted giving Ephraim the keyring. Right before she went to her bedroom, she turned off the tree lights and the small nativity candle. As she turned to go to bed, she noticed him sitting on the sofa, his pillow and quilt stacked beside him. In his hand he was turning over the small glass gadget, his eyes studying it. Sophie headed to her bedroom and, as she opened her door, she smiled.
CHAPTER 10
Ephraim aroseat first light and reconnoitered the property, planning the sites for the security lights and alarms he’d ordered. Whether Sophie liked it or not, she’d be protected during and after he left.
The small property was surrounded by brush or small trees, then the forest took over. A mixture of trees like magnolia and pine interspersed with palm and other spiky bushes and plants that would make an intruder think twice about wandering around in the dark. Still, Ephraim knew from experience that even the most uncomfortable surroundings could be tolerated during an important mission. If his experience with the men and women he’d worked for was any proof, and it should be, the person or persons putting Sophie at risk and hunting him were as good, maybe even better, at hunting than he was. He only hoped his association with the Brotherhood Protectors would give him the advantage he needed to keep Sophie safe.
He entered the house to hear her talking. He’d not seen anyone drive up, so had someone gotten by him on foot? When he entered the living area, he saw her talking on her cell phone. She laughed, “I’m glad. I wasn’t sure if it’d get stale before they had a chance to open it.”
A pause followed by another chuckle drew Ephraim closer to listen to her end of the conversation. “I’ll be sure to make them some for their birthdays. Did he? Oh, good.”
She saw him and waved then turned to the sink where she started washing up the dishes from the night before. “I do too. I had some unexpected company arrive and time got away from us when we were visiting.” He watched her cheeks pinken then she said, “Oh, no, just an old friend from up north. He came a few days ago.”
She dried her hands from the few dishes she’d finished then went to the refrigerator where she pulled out a coffee can. “I’m not sure, maybe after the first of the year? Ok, great. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Ephraim side stepped around her as she started the coffee and grabbed cups from the cabinet. “Sorry I screwed up your holiday plans.”
