Page 10 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
Molly had a big heart and a big smile, and Arianna often marveled that she was able to keep that smile in place when dealing with a cranky postal patron.
“I hope at least your Christmas was good,” she said.
“The parts I didn’t sleep through. Honestly, this job drains me sometimes. Why can’t people be nice?”
“I don’t know. I think some people are put here just to mess up our lives.” Gee, who was she thinking of when she said that?
“Uh-oh,” Molly said. “What’s Wyatt done this time?”
“Actually, he’s been a good dad for once, so I guess I can’t complain.”
“Sure you can,” Molly assured her.
Arianna smiled at that. Molly always knew what to say.
“I should be glad he actually came and took her for the day yesterday, especially after being so hit-and-miss. Every time he gets a new girlfriend, he slacks off.”
“Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You don’t want Sophie witnessing a parade of ho-bags.”
“True,” Arianna laughed. “But it’s so hard to let her go. I’m sure the only reason he took her yesterday was so his parents could see her.”
“And I’m sure they appreciated that. Grandparents shouldn’t be deprived of seeing their grandkids.”
“You’re right,” Arianna said. “I need a book of stamps, by the way.”
“I still have some angels left.”
“Angels will be perfect,” Arianna said.
“Was the day good before that?” Molly asked.
“Oh, yeah. But it was all downhill after she left. I tried to smoke us out,” Arianna said, and shared her fireplace mishap.
Molly chuckled. “At least you didn’t burn the house down. Things can always be worse.”
“They were already bad enough. Worst of all, I let Wyatt get to me and ruin my day and turn me into a walking lump of coal. I wish I could have a do-over.”
“Oh, no. No do-overs. That would mean I’d have to suffer through another preholiday season of crankiness. I’m glad Christmas only comes once a year. I don’t think I could take it if it was more.”
“I love Christmas,” Arianna said. “At least I used to. This year I just smeared ugly over the good parts. I was too angry.”
“I was too tired.”
Arianna took the stamps and put away her wallet. “It’s supposed to be a time for love and good cheer and kindness.” She sure blew that. She’d been unloving and grumpy and rude.
“Better luck next year,” Molly said.
“Yeah, right,” Arianna said cynically. Who knew what the next year held? She was afraid to look.
She thought about her conversation as she stepped outside of the post office. More snow was predicted for later that night—not a lot but enough to coat the world white again. She loved the way the air smelled when it snowed—so fresh and pure. Snow buried all the dirty roads and messy lawns. It said,There, now. The past is gone. I’ve put it to sleep. Soon it will be spring, and you can replant and begin again.
Beginning again sounded wonderful. She’d have liked nothing better than to begin again, starting with Christmas. It was too bad she’d have to wait a whole year to do that.
3
“Grammy and me are making gingerbread people,” Sophie informed Arianna when she came home. “We made snowballs, too.”
“In case you wanted to follow through on your resolution and take some cookies next door,” Mia added. “These won’t smell of smoke.”
