Page 11 of Through the Snow Globe
When the paper was peeled away, she pulled in a breath before lifting the box’s lid, peering down, and gasping. “A snow globe!”
Diana lifted it from the box and looked through the glass. Inside was a tiny replica of the downtown area of their small town of Snow Haven. Diana unexpectedly caught herself smiling as she admired the gift. She tipped the snow globe upside down and upright again, watching the glittery silver-and-blue snow flutter around the tiny buildings and trees. There was even a little Santa standing on the sidewalk, which just so happened to be true on her street as well. Their apartment building bordered the downtown area and the sidewalk Santa here never seemed to give his bell a rest.
“I love it,” she whispered out loud, wondering if Linus could hear her. Then she rolled her eyes at herself.He isn’t a ghost, Diana. He’s still alive.
The doorbell rang at the front of the apartment and Diana startled, nearly dropping the snow globe. That would have been a tragedy. Not quite as big as the one where her fiancé was hit by a delivery truck, but tragic all the same. Hugging the snow globe to her side, she carried it out of the room and placed it on the table before going to answer the door. She was half expecting to see Linus’s mother standing there. Instead, she found her lovable, slightly eccentric neighbor smiling back at her. Henrietta Guzman was pleasant, never stayed for long, and often brought her own snacks when she stopped by.
“Hello, Mrs. Guzman. How are you?”
“I’m well. I hope you are too,” the older woman said. Mrs. Guzman had long silver-blond hair and striking green eyes that stood out against a backdrop of aged skin. She was barely five feet tall and always wore long dresses that made it look like she didn’t have any feet. The prints were usually colorful in nature just like Mrs. Guzman’s vivid personality.
“I’m fine,” Diana lied.F-word alert.“Come in. It’s freezing out there.”
“Brrr.Yes, thank you, love.” Mrs. Guzman stepped inside, her long dress sweeping the floor as she walked. “I just came over to bring you a Christmas gift.” She held up a bottle of red wine.
Diana felt the heat of embarrassment climbing through her chest and neck. “Oh, you shouldn’t have. I didn’t do any shopping yet this year.”
Mrs. Guzman waved a dismissive hand, showing off rings on every finger and at least a dozen gold bangles encircling her wrists. “Of course not, dear. You’ve had your hands full. A gift never needs to be reciprocated, though. That defeats the whole point.”
Diana smiled and took the gift. “Well, thank you. That’s very kind.”How did Mrs. Guzman know she’d needed wine?“Let me just put this away.” She carried the bottle into the kitchen and slid it into the empty rack on her countertop. This would come in handy later.
“You should pour yourself a glass tonight,” Mrs. Guzman suggested as if reading her mind. “Unless you have something stronger, hmm?”
“Oh, I don’t keep liquor,” Diana said, turning back to her.
“That’s not what I was talking about, dear.” Mrs. Guzman winked.
What does that mean?Diana had heard the whisperings that the old lady read tea leaves and concocted potions of some sort. Hearsay was that she’d prepared Mr. Zitnik in apartment twelve a love potion a few weeks ago. Diana wondered how that was fairing for the middle-aged accountant.
Diana headed back toward Mrs. Guzman, who was now standing at the dining room table and marveling at the snow globe. “Oh, this is just gorgeous! Who gave this to you?” The older woman leaned forward, nearly pressing her nose into the glass globe.
“Linus, actually. Or he was going to give it to me. I found it in his closet. I guess he was hiding it until the big day.”
“It’s just lovely,” Mrs. Guzman gushed. “You know about the magic of a snow globe, yes?”
Diana furrowed her brow. “Magic?”
“Mm. There’s a whole world in there.”
“Or a model of our town, at least,” Diana said with a nervous laugh.
“Yes, that too.” Mrs. Guzman placed her hand over the top of the glass globe and closed her eyes, showing off her sparkly purple eyeshadow.
“Um, are you okay, Mrs. Guzman?” Diana was starting to become concerned about her neighbor’s mental state. Or maybe the older woman was about to pass out. Diana didn’t want her to drop the last gift Linus had ever gotten her. She was about to take the snow globe from Mrs. Guzman’s hands when the old woman began to whisper softly.
“One more day to love the lost. One more day to live. As the snow comes down, all around, make a wish. Love knows no bounds.” Her eyes popped back open with such force that Diana took a step back. Then Mrs. Guzman shoved the snow globe into Diana’s hands as quickly as she would a hot potato.
Diana hugged the globe against her midsection. “What was that?”
“An enchantment.” Mrs. Guzman smiled back proudly.
Obviously, Diana’s neighbor had already delved into her own supply ofsomething strongertonight. “You cast a spell on my snow globe?”
“I don’t do spells, dear. I do enchantments. There’s a difference. And when you’re ready, shake the snow globe, think of the one you’ve loved and lost, and enjoy one last day together. That is my real gift to you.”
Diana tempered her reaction. She’d known Mrs. Guzman was a little odd, but she hadn’t realized the woman was unstable. Maybe Diana should call someone for her. Was she safe to be alone in her apartment? “I see.”
“No, you don’t. But you will.” Mrs. Guzman’s eyes were almost twinkling. The woman lifted a finger, her nails painted in a festive red. “But be warned, whatever happens on the day that you relive with your loved one, it doesn’t change the future. It doesn’t make a difference in the end.”
