You Sleigh Me: A Christmas Mystery - The Last Episode
“You were magnificent,” I said.
It was the end of a long and exhausting day. Carole and I were standing outside the store, buttoning our coats and adjusting our scarves against the chill. Occasionally we nodded to departing members of staff. They wished us a Merry Christmas.
“Thanks,” said Carole. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”
“So how about a drink? I think we deserve one.”
She reached out, fingered the lapel of my coat. “Sam – I’ve got two kids. My ex-husband is coming over tonight, to spend some time with us. It’s sort of a tradition. You know.”
“Of course,” I said, trying to sound casual – although it came out as a rasp. “I understand. I should have thought. I didn’t…I mean, we never…”
“Shh.” She moved her fingers to my lips. “Things can’t always end the way they do in the movies, Sam. Anyway, don’t you have somewhere to go tonight?”
I shrugged.
She leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. “Sure you do.”
“Merry Christmas.”
“Goodbye Sam. See you next year.”
She hurried off towards the subway.
I turned, pulled up the collar of my overcoat, and began walking in the opposite direction. Did I have anywhere to go?
I thought of my old man, probably pouring the umpteenth Wild Turkey of the festive season. Or maybe not. Last time I spoke to him, he told me he’d cleaned up his act. Maybe I’d take a trip over to New Jersey, find out.
It was dark now. As I walked, I felt something brush my cheek, chill and damp. Then another, landing on my upper lip. It took me a second to work out what it was. I tilted my head back, gazing up through the shining canyon of skyscrapers. The narrow slot of black sky was filled with tumbling white flakes, thousands of them, floating down toward me.
It had started to snow.
At long last, Christmas was happening.
For Gustave, December 24, 2011
