“What’s this?”Annie asked.
“A little something for you,” Clara said, settling in next to her.
“I thought we said no presents,” Annie said.
“It’s notreallya present.”Clara lifted the smaller of the two presents and placed it in Annie’s hand.“The other one is from Margie and Sheila.Santa dropped it off.”
Annie smiled at her.“Santa’s working for Margie now, eh?”
She tore off the wrapping paper and revealed a dark violet, velvet box.Inside was a gold ring with a glittering sapphire surrounded by a dusting of little diamonds.
She looked up at her mom, her mouth hanging open.“Grandma’s ring?I can’t take this.”
“Of course you can,” she said, beaming.“It deserves to see the light of day again.”
“It’s too fancy for me to wear,” Annie said, slipping it onto her ring finger.It fit perfectly, throwing flashes of colored light from the Christmas tree.
“You can wear it to the fundraiser,” Clara said.
“Oh.Yeah.”Annie looked up at her.“Thank you, Mom.”
Clara beamed.“Open the big one!”
Annie eyed the package before picking it up.“I wish they hadn’t gotten me anything.”
“Oh hush,” Clara said.“There’s a card.Read that first.”
Annie unfolded it and read aloud.“Annie, we wanted to get you something to thank you for not just the idea for the fundraiser, but for all the incredible work you’ve put into it.You deserve to shine.Love, Margie and Sheila.”
She pressed her lips into a line, willing the tears to go away.It was going to be a weepy day.
“I can’t wait to see,” Clara said.
Annie cleared her throat and set the card down.She had a feeling she knew what it was.
She pulled on the silk ribbon and it came undone easily.Setting the box on the ground, she lifted the lid.A gasp escaped her.
It was a dress, nestled in a bed of tissue paper.It wasthedress she’d tried on, at their insistence, the one that was laughably expensive.
She lifted the gown from the box, the sequined pink flowers shining in the morning sun.The rest of the dress was champagne gold, the perfect tone to warm her complexion.It had long sleeves, and a V-neckline that was probably too much for a mom of two, and a delicate pink embroidered waist.
It felt substantial in her hands, like the dress of someone far more important.
Clara sighed, clutching her hands to her chest.“Oh Annie, it’s beautiful.Put it on!”
“I can’t put it on!I’m a mess!”Annie pointed to the bun on the top of her head.
“You’re right, you need to take a shower.Freshen up.Go on!”
Annie cast her mom a look, but she didn’t protest.Without prompting, she’d wallow in flannel all day.
This dress deserved more than that.She carefully placed it back in the box, texted a hasty thank you to Margie and Sheila, then took her mom’s advice.
Not ten minutes after showering and drying her hair, there was a knock at the front door.Annie rushed to open it, her heart pounding against her chest on the off chance that maybe, just maybe, Roy had decided to have a truce for the day and bring the twins around.
No such luck.She pulled the door open with too much force, cold wind blasting in.On the doorstep stood Miles and Bella, grinning.
“Hit it, Dad!”
