Chapter Eight
Angie
She was making progress. A few more days, and everything would right itself. She had figured it out. While she would have preferred to have a clearer decision regarding Christina and Caron, it was a good first step.
Neva would hopefully relax now that she knew Angie’s unusual behavior—unusual to Neva, at least—didn’t have any physical reasons.
Neva. Angie marveled at the fact that she, and the girls, were the same familiar people she loved most in the world, even if that world had changed without warning. She would hold on to that, as long as she still had to maneuver this strange reality.
Marina, her boss, had to deal with unusual Angie as well, and she was more understanding than Angie had hoped.
“My doctor tells me I should do more to avoid stress. I’m afraid she’s right.
I’ve been doing the job of several people for the past few weeks, and I can’t continue like this.
I’m going to need a few days off. My preference would be two days before Christmas, and two days after, but I can be a little flexible. ”
She realized she was running out of breath and stopped before she would make herself lightheaded.
Marina regarded her with what Angie could only describe as a neutral expression.
“Angie, of course. I was wondering if you’d ever ask. Marley will be back tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“It’s no problem. I don’t want any of you to burn yourself out, especially before Christmas.”
“Okay, then…Thank you.”
“Is there anything else?” Marina asked when she hesitated.
“No. Again. Thank you. I appreciate this very much.”
She returned to her desk both triumphant and a little perplexed. Who would have known it was this easy?
If the lesson she had to learn was to make more time for her family, she had succeeded.
Whether she had been living a strange dream or a hallucination, or actual, unbelievable, magic—whatever it was, it would be reversed now that she had figured out the reason for it.
And even though she had talked about a quiet Christmas, having everyone over for dinner would make it even better. They’d have a great time.
As the end of her shift neared, she couldn’t help getting excited.
She would come home to a reality she knew, with all of her children home, and everyone telling stories about their day at dinner.
With a few days off, she’d be better equipped to do last minute preparations, and this strange time, and the time lost…
They never had to talk about it again. She had fixed it. After all, that’s what Angie did.
***
There were no lights on the tree outside. Maybe the string was beyond repair, and Neva had removed it. Angie parked her car and all but ran to the front door, eager to see the fruits of her problem-solving labor.
The house was dark, but she found a note by the door.
Called Mom and Dad, they said yes! Brought Fiona and Elsa to their tutor, and I’ll wait with them. Billie took Brad for a walk. Love, N.
Tutor? Since when…
Angie went around the house, turning on lights, her heart sinking with disappointment and disbelief when she realized nothing had changed.
The living room still looked the same, shiny, expensive-looking decorations, not a throw pillow out of place, no books or toys lying around.
Upstairs, Christina’s bed was immaculately made.
They still had a sitting room instead of Neva’s workshop.
Why hadn’t her actions changed anything?
Angie had no idea who that tutor was, or how long Neva and the twins would be out, but she couldn’t wait. She hurried back to her car and drove all the way to the shopping center, not stopping until she had reached Nadine’s store.
Nadine was behind the counter, working on a piece of gold jewelry.
Angie halted. Had she really seen her work as a server at the restaurant last Saturday night? Had she imagined that entire conversation? No.
Nadine looked up with a smile when she heard the bell over the door.
“Angie, good evening. What can I do for you?”
“You know—” She stopped herself short of using a swear word. “Why is this still going on? I did ask for a few days off to spend more time with my family. I get it. I got so caught up in work and getting everything done perfectly and in time…You need to help me!”
Nadine studied her, her gaze open and patient.
Angie didn’t have the same patience.
“Please!”
“I told you, I’m sorry, but it’s not up to me.”
“You must know something! Don’t you have, I don’t know, a general idea about how to undo a curse?”
“It’s not a curse, Angie,” Nadine said softly. “I do understand that it’s something people feel sometimes when their wish comes true.”
“Everyone is so distant and polite, like we’re not even a family.
I…” She shook her head, laughing at the absurdity though she felt more like crying.
“I still don’t know what happened to our pets.
Neva loved painting in her studio, and now it’s a sitting room with a dog bed.
And what’s that about us going over to my parents’ for lunch? We have a whole house.”
“If you feel like the solution is there, maybe you should give it a try.” Nadine went back to her meticulous work.
“Does that mean this is it? I was obsessing too much over the parents’ visit? I told Neva to call hers, and that we would get the guest rooms ready. Do I have to work harder to convince Neva to have Christina change schools?”
Nadine straightened and met her gaze once more.
“Like I said, none of it is up to me, but I sense that your wish is interacting with those of others.”
“What does that even mean?”
“They might have their own opinions.”
“Yeah.” Angie sighed, frustrated with the lack of answers. Did Nadine really not have them? Was she lying? Days before Christmas? Who did that? “What do I do now?”
“You keep trying,” Nadine encouraged her. “Not all is lost. You still have time.”
“I guess you’re right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Angie walked out of the store, none the wiser. It was getting late, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the shopping center yet.
A line of kids was still waiting to meet Santa. A little girl chatting excitedly to her mother caught her eye.
She looked a lot like Christina at that age.
Angie recalled the incredible joy, all the plans and promises when they brought her home.
Was it possible that Neva was right, and she loved being at Caron?
Why couldn’t she remember anything about it?
Had she been at work most of the time while Neva was left to make those decisions? Why hadn’t she said anything?
How on earth are we making enough money to send her to Caron?
The questions didn’t end. Angie walked past Santa’s workshop and into a candy store. She felt the need to treat her loved ones, and herself.
Maybe some sugar would do the trick and help her get to the bottom of this.