What If ... Your Past Came Back to Haunt You (20 page)

LET IT SNOW

When life hands you snow, make snow angels.

H
aley woke up to a foot of snow. Downstairs in the kitchen her father was stirring a pot of oatmeal, and Mitchell spoke the magic words: “School's closed today.”

“Awesome!” Haley said.

“What are you two going to do?” her mother asked.

Haley knew that some of her friends were planning on getting together at various houses for snow-day parties if school was indeed canceled, but she didn't feel like driving around town on slippery roads—and she knew her parents wouldn't be keen on the idea either. “I don't know,” she said. “Want to build a snowman, Mitchell?”

“I want to build a snowman
army.
”

They finished their breakfast, bundled up and went outside to play. Haley showed Mitchell how to make a giant snowball by rolling it around on the lawn. Soon they finished their first of many snow creatures. Mitchell put an old, loud tie of Perry's around its neck and declared it to be Merv Griffin.

“Is this a private party or can anyone play?” Reese hobbled over from next door dressed in ski clothes, with a black plastic garbage bag taped over his cast to keep it dry.

“We're making an army,” Mitchell said.

“An army of seventies talk-show hosts,” Haley added. “It's good to see you out and about.”

“No cast is going to keep me from enjoying a snow day,” Reese said. He patted a snowball together and tossed it at Haley. “But no fair playing rough.”

Haley dodged the snowball and laughed. “Watch it, Highland. You can't get far with that cast on. If you're not careful you'll be buried up to your neck in snow.”

“Yeah,” Mitchell said. “And your head can be the snowman's head!”

“Oh no you don't,” Reese said. “Besides, you need my mad snowman-building skills to finish your army.”

A group of elementary school boys trudged down the snowy sidewalk towing sleds. “Hey, Josh!” Reese called. “Get over here! We need your help!”

Josh and the other boys dropped their sleds and ran over. “They look about your age, Mitchell,” Haley said. Mitchell hadn't made many friends in the neighborhood yet. He hung back shyly at first, but Haley knew he was excited to meet the other boys.

Haley showed them all how to make snow angels, and together she and Reese helped them pack up a supply of snowballs for a good long battle. Then they let the kids go at it.

“Looks like Mitchell has made some new friends,” Reese said.

Haley nodded, thinking how sweet it was of Reese to be so nice to her little brother. “Thanks for your help. So, what are your plans for the holiday?”

“Not sure,” Reese said. “Sasha's party sounds like fun, but my parents are going out on Christmas Eve, so it might be nice to stay home that night—if I had the right company, of course.”

Reese can be a real doll when he wants to. Taking time off from sports seems to have brought out the best in him—and Haley is thrilled. The way he's taken Mitchell under his wing is so sweet! As boyfriend material he's pretty hard to beat—or is he? If you think Haley's sure she wants to spend the rest of the holiday alone with her adorable next door neighbor, go to,
HIGH HOLIDAY.

On the other hand, she's not married to the guy. If you think Haley would like to mix it up a bit and have a GIFT SWAP with Alex Martin instead, turn to
GIFT SWAP.
Finally, if you think Haley would rather spend the holiday with her friends at Sasha's mother's festive Christmas Eve party, complete with crepes and a jazz trio, go
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

GIFT SWAP

Great minds think alike.

“M
erry Christmas, Haley!” Annie Armstrong greeted Haley at the door of her house with a hug and a cup of homemade eggnog. She'd invited some friends over for Christmas Eve while her parents were out at a party. “Come in, come in,” Annie said. “I've got to take the sugar cookies out of the oven.”

Haley found Alex and Dave in the kitchen, munching on Annie's first batch of cookies. “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas,” Alex said, kissing Haley on the cheek.

“I wish it were actually Christmas Day,” Annie said. “My parents don't believe in opening presents on Christmas Eve like some families do, but I'm dying to know what they're giving me. I've got a feeling it's something special. Mom told me not to look in the garage while they're gone, so I know my present's out there. I'm dying to go and take a peek—”

“Annie, just let it be a surprise,” Haley said. “Don't spoil your parents' fun.”

Dave shook his head. “She's so impatient. She can't wait twelve little hours. . . .”

“It's true! I can't stop myself.” Annie walked slowly toward the door that led from the kitchen to the garage. “Just a tiny peek.” She opened the door a crack and peered into the dark garage. Then she slammed the door shut, screaming, “Oh my God! Oh my God! I don't believe it! It's too amazing to be true!”

“What is it?” Haley asked.

“Look for yourself,” Annie said.

Haley opened the door. Parked next to Mr. Armstrong's sedan was an electric two-seater car with a giant red bow on top.

“Wow!” Haley cried. “They bought you an electric car!”

“I know! I know! I know! Can you believe it? I'm freaking out, I'm so excited!”

“Calm down, Annie,” Haley said. “You're going to have to hide your excitement when your parents come home.”

“And it's not like you can drive it yet,” Alex said. “You haven't passed the driving test.”

Annie gave Alex a dirty look. “I know, I know, but now I'll have to practice really really hard and retake the test right away! Wow! A new car for Christmas!”

Dave stared at the car, then reached for a carrot stick. “That's really neat, Annie. Now you can drive me around.”

“I can do whatever I want,” Annie said. “I have a car!”

“Can I ask your advice about something?” Dave said, quickly losing interest in Annie's good fortune. “Do you think I should call my dad tonight and wish him a Merry Christmas?”

Haley exchanged a glance with Alex. They both had seen what had happened when Dave tried to visit his father: he'd chickened out. He couldn't even get up the nerve to introduce himself. Haley had no idea what Dave should do next, or even he was ready for a relationship with his paterfamilias. But, as usual, know-it-all Annie did.

“You absolutely should call him, Dave,” Annie said. “Reach out to him. That's what Christmas is all about—family, and healing old wounds, and getting fabulous, fabulous cars!”

“I agree,” Alex said. “Except for the part about the cars. Why not call him? What's the worst he can do?”

“Yell at me,” Dave said. “Hang up on me. Tell me he's glad we're not a part of each other's lives.”

“Well, would that really be so terrible?” Haley said, warming to the subject. “Then at least you'd know. Isn't it worth the risk of being hung up on? Besides, you might get a happy greeting from him instead.”

“You can use my mom's study for privacy,” Annie said. “I'm going to go sit behind the wheel of my new car. Just for a second.”

Dave took his cell phone into the study and shut the door, while Annie ran into the garage to ogle her car some more. Which is how Alex and Haley suddenly found themselves alone in the kitchen. Haley ate a sugar cookie.

“Would you mind coming outside to my car with me?” Alex asked. “I've got a surprise for you.”

“Sure.” Haley grabbed her bag and went out to Alex's car. She had a surprise for him too.

Alex turned on the seat heaters and they sat quietly for a few minutes, listening to carols on the radio.

“I got you a little something,” Alex said. He reached into the backseat and pulled out a copy of a magazine tied with a bow. “Merry Christmas.”

Haley took the magazine. “
The National Review.
Wow. Thank you!” The headline on the cover said
A BOLD NEW YEAR FOR THE RIGHT WING
. She started laughing.

“What's so funny?” Alex said. “I got you a subscription.
The National Review
is a good conservative magazine, and I thought it would be nice if you could understand my perspective on the issues better. It could lead to some good, productive debates. . . .”

Haley opened her bag and pulled out her gift for him: a copy of
The Nation
tied with a bow, along with a full year's subscription.

Alex grinned. “
The Nation
! The liberal bible! That is funny. We're so in tune. I mean, about everyting except politics.”

“I think you'll find some very interesting articles in there about global warming,” Haley said. “And other favorite topics of mine.”

“I'll be sure to read every issue,” Alex said. “I want to understand your point of view.”

Haley felt as if she'd just seen a new side of Alex—a less rigid side. Someone who really cared about the world and about her. “For two people who think so differently, we sure think alike.”

Alex leaned toward her. “How about right now? Are you thinking what I'm thinking at this very moment?”

Haley moved closer, slowly. “Yes,” she whispered. “I think so.”

He inched toward her until their lips touched in a sweet Christmas kiss. Alex was her opposite in many ways, but Haley thought maybe she'd finally met her match.

THE END

PRESENT TENSE

Don't get on the highway of love unless you're ready to heed the warning signs.

H
aley's bag was heavy as she walked into Jack's Vintage Clothing on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. She'd spent the whole morning shopping for a gift for Devon, something really meaningful, and finally, in a used bookstore, she thought she'd found the perfect thing. It was an out-of-print collector's edition of a book by one of Devon's favorite photographers, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Haley bought it with the last of her babysitting money and had it gift-wrapped in metallic paper with a silver bow. Manly yet festive, she thought.

Devon worked part-time at Jack's, and she knew he had a shift that afternoon. Haley hoped it was the perfect time to give him the book and let him know how well she understood him and how much she liked him. If he had a present for her, too, that would seal the deal.
But
she wasn't expecting a gift in return. Mostly, she was hoping to move their odd, ambiguous friendship-with-romantic-vibes to the next level, in spite of Devon's recent especially standoffish behavior.

She took a deep breath and walked up to the counter. Devon was talking to a customer, a skinny guy in skinny jeans and high-tops with flipped-back seventies hair. Devon's eyes flicked toward Haley and registered her presence, but he didn't interrupt his speech to the customer.

“A skinny guy like you, if you really want the super tight jeans look, you've got to buy women's jeans,” Devon was saying. “Just rip the label off and no one will know.”

“Yeah, but I'll know,” the guy said.

“You want the look, or you don't?” Devon said. “Joey Ramone wore chick jeans. You think he gave it a second thought? No. He didn't care what the label said, man. He cared about the look.”

“Okay, okay, I'll try them on.”

“Down that aisle all the way to the right,” Devon said. The customer went off in search of the women's jeans of his dreams. Haley stepped forward and presented Devon with her silver-wrapped gift.

“Hey,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”

“Hey,” Devon said. “What's this?”

“Just a little Christmas present. Nothing big.”

Instead of looking pleased, Devon looked annoyed. “I didn't have time to get you anything,” he said defensively. “I've been real busy with work and everything.”

“That's okay,” Haley said. “I wasn't expecting anything. I just . . . saw this and thought of you.”

Devon stared at the wrapped rectangle in front of him as if it might contain his mother's severed hand. “Open it,” Haley said.

Reluctantly, Devon tore off the paper. He nodded with approval when he saw the book. “Cartier-Bresson. I really dig him.” He flipped through the book and set it aside. Haley waited for him to say thank you, but he said nothing.

Now she didn't know what to do. Why oh why did she have to get him that present? How could she be so stupid? She felt totally awkward now. She didn't know what to say or do to make it better.

The door opened and Darcy pranced in. “Christmas-time is here!” she sang. “Hi, Haley. Hi, Frosty.” She playfully poked Devon in the stomach. “Did you burn that CD for me yet?”

“I've got it right here.” Devon reached under the counter, dug through his backpack and came up with a CD in a custom-made case covered with Devon's distinctive artful doodles. “I added a few songs I thought you'd appreciate.”

“Cool. Thanks, dude.” Darcy took the CD and dropped it into her own backpack. “See you back at the homestead, right? Later. Merry Xmas!”

Haley was speechless. Devon had no time to get anything for her, apparently because he was too busy burning a CD of songs chosen especially for Darcy. And drawing the cover himself. Something snapped inside her. Devon had sent her all the signals but she'd ignored them. Haley knew she'd been both a patsy and a fool. But she wouldn't be anymore.

“You know what, Devon? I get it now. I finally get it. Things aren't happening between us the way I'd like them to and now I understand why.” The words blasted out of her like steam that had been building up pressure in a radiator. “You don't want it. Whatever it is we've had between us, a flirtation or romantic friendship or whatever, you don't want it to go any further. And guess what? I'm fine with that. I'm totally fine with it. I just wish I'd known how you felt a little sooner. Like, oh, last year when we met.”

He stared at her in surprise and didn't say a word. She turned and stormed out of the shop, letting the door slam behind her.

Walking home, she was surprised at how light she felt. Almost as if she was flying. It was like she'd been carrying a boulder on her back all this time and she'd finally let it go.

Hours later, cozy at home by the fireplace, Haley wrapped presents for her family. Telling Devon how she felt was the best thing she'd done in ages. She hadn't realized before how much energy she'd been wasting trying to figure out what he was thinking, what was going on with him, whether he liked her or not. She wouldn't need to focus on him anymore. Now that he was no longer cluttering up her thoughts, she could move on to the next adventure.

She looked around at her warm and happy home, festively decorated for Christmas, and smiled, putting the wrapped presents under the tree. She couldn't wait to give them to Mitchell and her parents in the morning.
Boys may come and boys may go,
she thought,
but I'm so lucky to have friends, and a cool family. That's the most important thing.

She'd be just fine without Devon McKnight.

THE END