Page 22 of Through the Snow Globe
“Because Linus is in a coma. Or he was in a coma. Now he’s riding his bike to the toy store as if his accident never happened. But it did—it does—today. He might die, or at least that’s what the doctors said. Then you whispered these words over my snow globe and told me to shake it.”
Mrs. Guzman pressed her hands together at her midline. “Well, if that’s true, then today is a gift, my dear. What are you doing standing in my living room with me? Make the most of this time.”
“How?” Diana asked, throwing out her arms. She needed answers and she needed them now.
“That’s not for me to decide. What would you tell Linus if you knew you’d never get to talk to him again? What would you do for him? With him? We don’t often get a second chance in life,” Mrs. Guzman said, her face beaming. “And if we did, we’d usually find a way to mess it up. It’s human nature.”
Diana thought for a moment. “I would use this day to keep him from getting into that accident.”
Mrs. Guzman held up a finger. “No. I might not remember what you’re talking about, but I do know that the past can’t be altered, no matter what kind of enchantment I performed on that snow globe of yours. Don’t waste your time trying.”
“But how do you know it can’t be changed?” Diana asked. “Have you done this before?”
Mrs. Guzman shook her head slightly. “Well, no, not exactly, but . . .”
“Then maybe it’s possible. This whole day was one big fumble. With Linus and my boss. And even Rochelle.” Diana was talking quickly as the events of this day ran through her mind. “If this is the day that I returned to, it has to be for a reason, right? I get a do-over. I can fix everything.”
“Oh, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Mrs. Guzman shook her head. “Things happen for a reason, dear. Always. When you change one thing, it alters everything else. Just spend the day with the one you love.” Mrs. Guzman bent to pick up Leonardo as he whined at her feet.
“Linus is working. It’s his busiest time of year, and I have patients to see,” Diana said, talking more to herself than the old woman. “And I have a meeting with my boss this afternoon. It’s for a promotion I’m up for.” If she could change the outcome of that meeting with Mr. Powell, she could keep from being stuck with William as a supervisor. This whole day could go differently, and her life could be put back in order—the way it was supposed to be.
Mrs. Guzman smiled at her. “I trust you’ll figure it all out, dear. And then I guess we’ll wake up tomorrow and it’ll be Christmas. In which case, I better put up my tree. What did I gift you for the holiday?” Mrs. Guzman asked.
“A bottle of wine,” Diana told her.
“Hmm. Always a good choice.” She walked Diana to the door and opened it. “Good luck. Every moment is like a fragile snowflake. None are exactly the same, but once they hit the ground, they become what they were always meant to be. Part of the larger picture.”
Diana didn’t speak her neighbor’s quirky language. It didn’t make a lick of sense, and she was no wiser for stopping here. She needed to leave. There was no time in this day to waste. “Thank you, Mrs. Guzman. I have to go.”
“Yes, you do. Good luck.”
Diana was going to need it. She headed out of the apartment building and passed the jingling Santa on the sidewalk. She pulled a five-dollar bill from her purse to stuff inside his pail. “Merry Christmas!” she called in a merrier mood than she’d been all month.
“And to you!” He jingled his bell a little more forcefully.
Diana hurried through the parking lot and got inside her car. She cranked the engine, taking a moment to let the motor warm. It was freezing outside. And inside as well. Her breaths came out in white clouds in front of her. Then something caught her eye. At first, she thought it was rain hitting her windshield, but it made a certain sound. It was heavier than rain.Sleet?It was sleeting? It hadn’t sleeted yet this year. She was sure of it.
Another drop of sleet hit her windshield. And another. That was new, and maybe, at the risk of sounding too wishful, it was a sign that even if the day was repeating, the events of the day didn’t have to. Maybe she could change history after all. She had to try.
Chapter 7
At five minutes after nine, Diana dipped inside her car. Her cell phone buzzed from inside her purse. Without thinking, she pulled it out and checked the screen. It was Maria Harris, her first patient of the day. And according to the time, Diana was already five minutes late.
Diana quickly tapped the screen to answer. “Hello, Ms. Harris.”
“Diana? Are you okay?” the older woman asked. “You’re late. I was starting to worry.”
“No need to worry. I apologize. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.” Diana suddenly remembered what had happened on the first December 4th. “Oh, wait. Ms. Harris?”
“Yes?”
“Please don’t try to get your Christmas decorations down before I get there.”
Maria chuckled. “How did you know I was about to do that?”
“Lucky guess. You shouldn’t do that on your own. You could break something, like oh, I don’t know, your ankle.”
Diana put the car in DRIVE as she talked. She would prefer to drive to the toy store and see Linus right now. He had an important meeting, though, and she had responsibilities too. Her patients were depending on her, and Diana wasn’t one to shirk her duties, especially since she was up for a promotion. She’d lost it last time, but that wouldn’t be the case today. There was no room for error, which meant she needed to see Maria and keep her from breaking her ankle.
