The Perfect Gift

Chapter 24

They arrived back home in time for brunch. It was cold out, so they all appreciated stepping into a warm home. Mary's father hadn't been willing to say something at the memorial, but everyone understood that it was too hard for him. Maybe next time, Mary thought. Mary had been giving the whole situation some thought, and ended up wondering why it was so bad that the memorial happened to be on the exact date her Ma had died... I mean, don't most people purposely go to their loved ones' memorial on the date of their deaths? She eventually shrugged it off, and figured that no matter what day they did it, it would be hard. Maybe that was the truth, but her Pa was just covering it up. After the whole scene, she felt even more pressure to make this a good Christmas. The memorial had only reminded everyone how much they needed their Ma. With only four days left until Christmas, she still had to figure out gifts for everyone. She was so caught up talking to the guy she had met, Brian, instead of achieving what she had set out to do and she wasn't so sure she still wanted to buy candy for her family. It didn't seem special enough, but what else could she buy? She wished she could afford to buy something fancier. This year has been tough, especially these last few days. Mary started to think of all the things that had happened; meeting Brian, meeting Samuel, Miles punching John, finding Rex a home, Samuel leaving for the orphanage, her grandmothers strength decreasing, slow business at the mercantile and the thought of leaving, as well as the photo of her Ma that Mary found in her parent's room. It was a lot to think about and not all of it was bad, but a lot was. She felt alone. No one else understood what her family was going through, what she was going through.

Everyone had dispersed after brunch was eaten and cleaned up. They all had needed space to think and just reflect for a few moments, which was how Mary ended up thinking through what had happened lately and ended up in tears as she held the photo of her mother in her hands; the one that showed how weak her Ma had really been...

-------------------------------------

"Mary, did you see those posters about Miles when we were walking back from the memorial?" John asked.

"No, I was too busy."

"Too busy looking down at your torn shoes?"

"Well, yeah. After this morning...I mean wasn't everyone? I don't think anyone would be carrying on like nothing even happened after that."

"Whatever. Listen, I saw posters. Like, a lot of posters that had an old picture of Miles on it. Apparently he's been missing for days. The mayor and his wife must've put them up, just like they would if there were criminals on the loose. I can see it now, in big letters...WANTED! Miles will get a kick out of that. He's practically famous now."

"No he's not and he would've been pretty prideful. He wouldn't have needed any more pride."

"Oh shut up, Mary!" He paused. "Wait, what do you mean he would've? Do you know something?"

"Of course not, John. I would've told you if he, you know, hurt himself or something and I knew. Trust me!" she said defensively.

"So, what do you mean then? Would've?"

"I guess all I'm trying to say is that he's been missing for a few days now, and it's a small town. Where would he possibly hide? It's not like there's any decent hiding places or I would've found them already."

"Oh, right. Mary, let me remind you that you are terrible at hide and seek. Don't you remember that time where it had already been an hour of you looking for me and Miles and we were getting tired of hiding that we decided to quit?"

"I was only, like, six, John!"

"Some things never change..."

"You know what, you may just be right! I thought you were honestly becoming more kindhearted towards me, but I think I was so wrong!"