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Chapter Five
After a few rings, she said, “Marjorie? Can I speak to Michael, please? Yes, I know this is the busy season, but it’s an emergency. Yes, I’ll hold.” Through the handset, Helen could hear a Muzak version of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” and thought it most appropriate.
It took a long time for Michael to pick up. When he did, he sounded angry. “Yes, sir, I know,” Stella said. “It was an accident. No, I know this is your busy time of year. No, I’m not trying to mess everything up. Yes, sir. I know. I realize you have no Fixers available. Yes, I know this one is one that really needs fixing. What if... what if Helen goes?”
She was quiet for a moment, and Helen couldn’t hear Michael either until he distinctly asked, “Who’s that? I don’t have a Fixer named Helen.”
“No, sir, you don’t. She’s... she’s the wo
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Memory walked out of the corner coffee shop, sipping her latte, her grandmother’s journal tucked under her arm. The snow beneath her feet crunched, which was better than the slush it would become once the sun was overhead. Her phone dinged, so rather than heading straight for the shop a few doors down, she took a seat on a bench and pulled the device out of her pocket, hopeful it was confirmation that the store she’d been talking to in Indianapolis had decided to place that order for the candy cane ornaments they’d been chatting about for the last few weeks.The bench was snow free, so she set the book down next to her and pulled her glove off with her teeth, shoving it into her pocket so she could open the email. Scanning over it quickly, she saw that it was good news. “Thank goodness,” she muttered, looking up at the heavens. Normally, she’d say something to Grandma Helen in this situation, promising her she wasn&rsq
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The bell at the front of the store announced she had a customer. “I’ll be right there!” she shouted, hoping her voice sounded pleasant and not irritated at being interrupted. Slipping the red apron she always wore over her festive red and green sweater and jeans, she pulled her blonde hair out from the neck strap and checked the mirror to make sure it wasn’t sticking up. Satisfied that she looked all right, she tied the apron around her waist and headed out of the stock room, making sure the door clicked locked behind her, and then on through the swinging door to the shop.“Can’t a guy get any service around here?” her dad, Bryce, joked, standing at the front counter.“Dad... what are you doing here? I just left home twenty minutes ago. Did you miss me already?” Memory teased, stopping in front of him.“No, you forgot your lunch.” He handed her the purpl
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Appearing out of thin air was a sensation that was going to take a little getting used to. Luckily for Helen, no one was around when she suddenly came to find herself standing around the corner from the town square. She looked down at the bright red coat she was wearing, along with black slacks and very practical, yet stylish, black boots with faux fur trim around the top and thought Stella had done a nice job. With a large, but not gaudy, gold and black handbag slung over her arm, Helen took a deep breath and headed for the shop.She’d only gone a few steps when she caught her own reflection in the window of the empty store next to her destination. “Oh, my!” she gasped, looking herself over. She certainly looked different! Her hair was short and curly—and a fiery red! She ran her hand along the bottom of each side, giving it a little poof. Several inches taller than she was used to being, even without the boots, Helen dared to sa
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“Hello, dear,” Helen said, addressing her granddaughter for the first time in a long time. “How are you today?”“I’m good,” Memory applied, turning to the only remaining customer and giving her a bright smile. “How are you?”Helen almost said the same thing she would’ve said when she was alive but caught herself. “I’m fair,” she said—not fair to middlin’—don’t say that. “This is a lovely shop you have here.”“Oh, thank you. Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”“No, no. I just love the holidays. I’m in town for a few weeks, until Christmas, and thought I’d stop by and see what sort of décor I might add to my room at the inn, that’s all.” It sounded rehearsed because she’d been practicing it while she waite
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