Catching a glimpse of a legendary all-white reindeer is supposed to bring good luck.
Not for Georgia Greene.
As Georgia makes her way home for Christmas, a white reindeer dashes across the road in front of her, causing her to crash her car into a...
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Georgia
"Do you really have to leave?" Lena asked as Georgia loaded up her car for the long drive back. "It's Christmas day and we just got home." Though they had to spend Christmas eve at the hospital, Lena had been discharged to go home with baby Gigi early Christmas morning. They had just been settling in and opening their presents when Georgia realized that she had to head out if she was going to make it home in time for work tomorrow.
"I may have quit," Georgia said with a sigh, "but there's still things I need to do to finalize my resignation. Like returning my computer, for starters." She didn't trust Hugo not to make a big stink about all the last little details. He hated being refused even more than sloppiness, or excuses, or even mistakes.
"Well, at least you told Hugo to screw off," Lena said, holding her arms around herself to keep her warm as she watched her sister from the front step of their house. "Have I told you that I'm so proud of you for that?"
"Only a hundred million times," she said with a laugh. "But that means I also I need to start hunting for a job soon, so I can at least make rent. But I promise, I will look for something more flexible. I want to see more of Gigi, after all."
"Really?" Lena said, her eyes going wide. "You want to come back here more often? I thought you hated this place."
Georgia shrugged. "Things change. It's not so bad."
"Oh really," Lena said, studying her sister closely. "And would this newfound Christmas appreciation have anything to do with that farm where you were cooped up at?"
"It might," Georgia said with another shrug, adjusting the sweater that Sue had given her as a gift. It was the same pale blue sweater that Sue had loaned to her to wear while she was in the shop. While the sweater was warm and lovely, the thought of Nissen farm still made her heart ache, just a little.
"Okay, now I'm certain you picked up some kind of Christmas brain worm out at that place," Lena said with a roll of her eyes. "Or maybe they made some kind of Christmas clone. Who are you and what did you do with my sister?"
Georgia closed the hatchback, her gifts from her sister and brother-in-law—and even a few shipped in from her parents—secure inside. "You know, you're going to have to start learning to love Christmas a little more now that you've got a kid."
"Bah-humbug," Lena said with a scowl. "Joe can have all the Christmas spirit."
Just as they spoke of him, Joe stepped out of the house. Gigi was sleeping soundly in his arms, wrapped tightly in a thick fuzzy blanket to keep out the cold. "Okay, Gigi is ready to say goodbye to Auntie Georgia," Joe said.
"Bye-bye, Gigi," Georgia said, darting up the steps. She pushed her face into the little bundle and rubbed her nose against the tiny little nose inside. The little baby squirmed for a moment. "Merry Christmas, little girl."
