Trading Christmas: When Christmas Comes / The Forgetful Bride

“What?”

Faith was almost beside herself with glee. “I’m going to surprise Emily and visit her for Christmas.”

“I thought you were spending the holidays with your sister.”

“I was, but Penny will understand.” The truth, Faith realized, was that Penny might even be grateful.

“It’s pretty hard to book a flight at this late date,” Sharon said, frowning.

“I know… . I haven’t figured that out yet.” Booking a flight could be a problem, but Faith was convinced she’d find a way, even if it meant flying in the dead of night. There had to be a flight into the Seattle-Tacoma airport at some point between Friday night and Christmas Day.

“My sister-in-law works for a travel agent. Would you like her number?”

“Thanks, Sharon.”

They walked to the faculty lounge together and got their purses out of their lockers. Sharon pulled out her cell phone, then scrolled down until she found the number. Faith quickly made a note of it.

“If there’s a flight to be had, Carrie will find it,” Sharon assured her.

“Thanks again.”

“Are you going to call Emily and let her know your plans?” Sharon asked as they left the school building, walking toward the parking lot.

“Not yet. I don’t want to get her hopes up if this turns out to be impossible.”

“If worse comes to worst, I suppose you could always drive.”

“I don’t think so.” Faith had done it often enough to realize she didn’t want to take the Interstate in the middle of winter. The pass over the Siskiyous could be hellish this time of year. It wasn’t a trip she wanted to make on her own, either.

“Don’t worry—Carrie will get you a flight,” Sharon said confidently.

As soon as she was in her car, Faith pulled out her own cell phone and dialed the travel agency. Carrie was extremely helpful and promised to get back to her as soon as she could.

Now that she had a plan, Faith was starting to feel excited. She called her sister soon after she arrived home, and the instant Penny picked up the phone, Faith could hear her three nephews fighting in the background. It sounded as if they were close to killing one another by the time the conversation ended.

Penny had made a token display of disappointment, but Faith didn’t think her sister was too distressed. And Faith had to admit she was looking forward to a different kind of holiday herself. One without bickering kids—much as she loved them—and the same old routines. Still, her family was important to her, and she’d promised to visit right after New Year’s.

Because she had someplace to go and family to be with, Faith hadn’t really listened to what Emily had tried to tell her, hadn’t really understood. Emily adored her daughter, of course, but Heather’s absence was only part of the problem. What bothered her just as much was the prospect of spending perhaps the most significant holiday of the year by herself. In retrospect, Faith was astonished she hadn’t recognized that earlier. She was a better friend than this and she was about to prove it.

After Faith had finished talking to her sister, she immediately sat down at her computer and logged into her email. To her surprise Emily hadn’t left her a message. Undeterred, she sent another one off.

From: “Faith”<fkerriganinca@network.com>

To: “Emily”<springere@aal.com>

Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004

Subject: Gift to arrive

Dear Emily,

I haven’t heard from you all week. Forgive me for not being more of a friend.

Look for a present to arrive shortly.

Get back to me soon.

Love,

Faith

Half an hour later, the travel agent phoned. “I’ve got good news and bad news.”

“Did you get me a flight?”

“Yes, that worked out fine. I got you into Seattle, but all the flights into Wenatchee are full. That’s the bad news.” Leavenworth was a few hours outside Seattle, but Faith could manage that easily enough with a rental car.

“I’ll book a car,” she said.

“I thought of that, too,” Carrie went on to explain, “but this is a busy time of year for car rental agencies. The only vehicle available in all of Seattle is a seven-person van.”

“Oh.” Faith bit her lower lip.

“I reserved it because it was the last car left, but I can cancel the reservation if you don’t want it.”

Faith didn’t take more than a few seconds to decide. “No, I’ll take it.”

On December twenty-fifth, she intended to be with Emily in Leavenworth. Not only that, she intended to bring Christmas with her—lock, stock and decorations.

Have Yule, will travel.

Four

In Emily’s opinion, everything had worked out perfectly—other than the fact that she hadn’t been able to reach Heather to let her know she was arriving. Not that it mattered. Heather would be as thrilled as she was. When Christmas came, the two of them would be together.

Early Sunday morning, Emily caught the short commuter flight out of Wenatchee and landed thirty minutes later at Sea-Tac Airport. Within an hour, Emily was on a nonstop flight from Seattle to Boston.

A mere seven days following her conversation with Heather, Emily was on her way across the entire United States to spend Christmas with her daughter. At the same time Charles Brewster, who sounded like a stereotypical absentminded history professor, was on his way to Leavenworth. Apparently their paths would cross somewhere over the middle of the country, her plane headed east and his headed west.

Emily would spend two glorious weeks with Heather, and Charles would have two weeks to explore Washington State—or do whatever he wanted. They were due to trade back on January first.

Two glorious weeks in Boston. Emily realized Heather had to work on papers and study, but she didn’t mind. At least they’d be able to enjoy Christmas Day together and that was what mattered most.

The one negative was that Emily didn’t know her daughter’s schedule. Emily had repeatedly attempted to contact her, but Heather hadn’t returned her messages. Tracy, Heather’s roommate, hadn’t said anything outright, but Emily had the feeling Heather didn’t spend much time in her dorm room. She was obviously working longer hours than she’d let on. Actually, surprising her would be a good thing, Emily thought as she called Heather from Charles Brewster’s condo. It would force her to take some time off and—

Surprise her she did.

“Mother,” Heather cried into the receiver loudly enough to hurt Emily’s eardrum. “You can’t be in Boston.”