Small Change (32 page)

Fawn Island, Pacific Northwest

Kiley smiled at the shop owner after he'd finished his story. “I take it she was the angel Otto saw in the snow globe.”

He grinned. “So the story goes. Two Christmases later Otto had both a new wife and a new baby.” He motioned to the lovely antique sitting on the counter. “That was passed down through Otto's family from generation to generation, always bringing hope when someone most needed it. At least that's what Mrs. Ackerman says.”

“The woman you bought it from,” guessed Kiley and he nodded. “But why would she let it go?” asked Kiley.

“She's Otto's last descendant, and she has no children. She felt it was time for it to pass on to fresh hands.” He gave a little shrug. “So she sent it off with a hope and a prayer that the snow globe will work a holiday miracle for someone new.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Would you say you qualify?”

No boyfriend, no job? “I'd say I'm overqualified.” Kiley looked at the little globe sitting on its ornate metal base. It was a pricey impulse purchase. But it symbolized hope, and how did you put a price tag on hope? She chewed her lip, trying to decide.

He smiled. “Tell you what. I'll take forty percent off.”

Forty percent off—it was a sign. How could she refuse? She had just handed over her charge card when the bell over the shop door jingled. “We came to save you from yourself,” said a familiar voice. Suz.

She turned to see her friends Allison Wright and Suzanne Stone entering the shop. Suzanne was small, Allison was taller and a couple sizes bigger. Both were blond. A gust of wind whipped in with them, bringing the smell of Northwest rain into the stuffy, little shop.

Suzanne looked around at the assortment of china, knick-knacks, and mysterious kitchen tools from another era, and wrinkled her perfect nose, hunching inside her North Face jacket like a turtle pulling into its shell. She didn't like the smell of anything old. Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel were more her style.

But Allison looked eagerly around like a kid on a treasure
hunt. She joined Kiley at the counter, holding out a disposable cup and making the smell of coffee dance around Kiley's nose. “For energy.”

“I didn't need a latte, really,” insisted Kiley, feeling guilty that her friends were picking up the tab for all her treats.

“Sure you did,” said Suzanne. She started a fast stroll down an aisle, a petite vision in Northwest Casual, her jeans showing off perfect thighs, her blond ponytail swinging.

Allison pointed to the bubble-wrapped snow globe the shop owner was slipping into a bag. “Did you get something cool?”

Kiley could feel a blush race across her face. She'd almost backed out of this weekend with her two best friends, claiming to be too broke, and now here she was splurging on a snow globe. “He gave me a deal,” she explained.

Allison smiled at her. “It's okay, Kiles. After all you've been through you deserve a treat.”

“It's more than a treat,” insisted Kiley.

Suzanne had finished her quick tour of the store and now she joined them at the counter. “I'm hungry. Anybody ready for lunch?”

Allison nodded and followed Suzanne to the door and Kiley thanked the shop owner and hurried after.

Once they were all outside Suzanne said, “I can't believe you found something in that musty old place.”

“Wait till you see it,” said Kiley as they started for their favorite restaurant in town.

Once they were seated inside Kate's Kitchen and had ordered the soup of the day and some of Kate's famous herbed bread, Kiley pulled out her purchase and told them its legend.

Allison picked it up and gave it a shake, then watched while the snow swirled around the toyshop. “It is lovely.”

“But what a bunch of bull,” Suzanne said. Her cell phone rang and she reached into her purse.

Allison scowled. “I thought you turned that thing off.”

“I had to make a call,” Suzanne said defensively. Suzanne always had to make a call. If not to check in on her five-year-old daughter, Bryn, then to see how things were going with her latest real estate deal.

Like Kiley, Suzanne had come close to canceling on their weekend. Money wasn't a problem for her, but her busy schedule was a sworn enemy of girlfriend time. It happened a lot lately and Allison had finally put her foot down, insisting they all go so they could recharge and reconnect.

Allison's scowl grew deeper when she realized Suzanne was talking to the agent she partnered with at Dreamscape Realty.

Getting the message, Suzanne finished her business quickly. “There. Done,” she announced.

“Prove it and turn off your cell,” Allison commanded.

Suzanne practically paled. “I can't. What if there's an emergency?”

“At home? Guy can handle it,” Allison said. “He's a teacher. He's used to kid emergencies.”

“I know. I meant at work.”

“That's why you have Julie,” Kiley reminded her.

Suz turned off her phone with a frown.

Allison smiled, happy to have won the battle. “We need this and it's not a getaway if you're not getting away.”

“Fine,” said Suzanne, “but tonight I'm checking my messages.” She picked up Kiley's snow globe and examined it. “This
is
kind of cool,” she admitted.

“And who knows?” added Allison. “Maybe it will bring something great into your life this holiday season.”