“I guess it’s time you found out.” Heathcliff leaned over and produced a faded rucksack from behind the chair. He unzipped it and pulled out a gift-wrapped box. “I got this for you.”
I held it in my arms, awed by the existence of it. It was the gift I’d seen him trying to hide in the TV cabinet. The gift tag bore my name. Heathcliff, who had sworn an oath that he wouldn’t participate in Christmas, had gotten me a gift.
“This is the box you were trying to hide from me,” I breathed.
He nodded. “I was going to surprise you with it on Christmas day. I was trying to find a way to tell you that I was letting go of the old Heathcliff, the one who hated Christmas because of my ex-girlfriend. I wanted you to see that I was trying to see Christmas the way you do. It was in my room when DS Wilson asked to search it. You were standing right there. I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. So I was going to move it to the TV cabinet and let you look in my room, but then you saw me.”
And I’d thrown his efforts back in his face. Shame squirmed inside me. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Enough of that.” Heathcliff tapped the box. “Open it.”
I tore off the expensive wrapping paper. Inside was a plain cardboard box, dented on one side, probably from Heathcliff trying to shut the cabinet door on it. I slid my finger under the tape and pried the lid off.
Inside was an amazing pink-and-black leopard-print faux-fur blanket. When I drew it out into the light, beams of color leapt off dazzling sequins and a sparkling ribbon border. It was the most punk rock blanket I’d ever seen.
“Wow.” I held it to my cheek, relishing the softness.
“I won it in the Christmas pub quiz. You’ve been complaining about the cold in the shop, so I thought you could use something to help keep warm,” Heathcliff muttered. “Turns out I could have just plugged the hole Grimalkin made in the cellar door and it would’ve caused less trouble.”
“Heathcliff, it’s perfect.” I threw my arms around him again. “I love it. And I loveyou. Merry Christmas.”
He grunted in reply. I guessed some things never change.
An idea occurred to me. I turned to the others. “We can’t do anything more for Buster tonight. What do you guys say we go over to the Rose & Wimple and hit up Richard’s famous Christmas roast?”
“Sounds good, but is it a good idea to go out in public?” Quoth asked. “What if people haven’t heard we have all the presents back?”
“Then we’ll just have to tell them the true story. Besides,” I grinned. “I have a brilliant idea for how Heathcliff can win back the affections of the town.”
Heathcliff stiffened, his dark eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Why do I have the feeling I’m not going to like this?”
Chapter Seventeen
Buster the puppy needed to spend the day and night under observation at the vet clinic, but finally, he was given a clean bill of health. I woke up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning to go with Jonie to pick him up. Quoth decided to come along.
As I passed through the shop on the way out the door, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness. When I hadn’t been helping customers find last-minute gifts at the shop, I’d spent every spare moment over the last day with Jonie at the clinic. I hadn’t had time to shop for food or even source a new tree. All the presents for the animal shelter were stacked in a towering heap in the corner. Grimalkin had torn down most of the decorations on her catnip high. The place didn’t feel very festive. My dreams of a perfect Nevermore Christmas were just that – dreams.
At least it’s snowing outside,Quoth reminded me.You love snow. Maybe we’ll have that snowball fight later.
He was right, of course. Snowflakes tickled my nose as I made my way across the street to Mrs. Ellis’ flat. The whole of Argleton looked like the front of a Christmas card. The bakery piped Christmas carols into the street through a tinny speaker, and delicious smells wafted in the air from all directions.
“Merry Christmas, Quoth!” Jonie cried as she skipped out of the flat with a handful of berries for Quoth. “Merry Christmas, Mina!”
Mrs. Ellis called a rideshare and we made it to the vet, who had opened the clinic just for us. When she emerged carrying the bright-eyed pup in her arms, we all clapped. The smile on Jonie’s face could have lit a black hole.
“You won’t believe it!” Jonie cried. “Mum called me this morning from Paris. She said that I could keep Buster as long as I agreed to be responsible for walking and feeding and training him. It’s the best Christmas present ever!”
Over Jonie’s shoulder, Mrs. Ellis winked at me. I suspect she’d had something to do with her daughter’s change of heart.
I hugged Jonie. “That’s wonderful news. I know you’re going to be an amazing friend to Buster.”
“Croak,” Quoth agreed.
The rideshare dropped us at the top of Butcher Street and we said a brief goodbye to Jonie and Mrs. Ellis at their front door. They were going to pick up a lead and some treats for Buster, then meet us at the shop. Even though we didn’t have a tree and I hadn’t purchased any Christmas food, we were all going to celebrate together.
I walked in the door, and was immediately knocked about the head with an amazing smell.
Mmmmm… hot toddies… and Christmas mince pies fresh from the oven, and pigs in blankets, and is that the sound of a Champagne cork popping?
