Total pages in book: 9
Estimated words: 8110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 41(@200wpm)___ 32(@250wpm)___ 27(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 8110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 41(@200wpm)___ 32(@250wpm)___ 27(@300wpm)
That lady was the only customer I’ve had all day, and I still have a couple of hours to kill. It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m bored out of my mind, so what Walter doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
I go around the glass counter and take a seat on the stool before I open the box. Dust comes flying out when I lift the lid, and I wave it away as I cough. On top is a photo album, but I guess the lady didn’t want it. It would have been the first thing she saw when she looked in here, so it’s not like she could have missed it.
When I turn the first page of the album, I see a photo of a young girl with the caption Elodie age ten under it. As the pages go on, the girl gets older, and I realize this must be the great aunt. Every page is a new year, and as time progresses, she travels the world. Toward the back of the book, there's a photo with a date and a caption that says Christmas in Black Forest. Elodie has snow-white hair at this point, but she looks so happy. She appears to be in a shop surrounded by nutcrackers while holding on to one. The next photo is of her standing beside a Christmas tree with the same nutcracker. The caption on this photo says First Christmas with Hans.
There are more pages of her travels after this one, but every year, there’s a Christmas photo with Hans. The nutcracker must have been very special to her for it to have such a place of pride in her photo album. There are no other pictures of anyone or any other names mentioned except his. Maybe it was a memorable trip for her. I’ve never traveled anywhere, but clearly this vacation left an impression on her.
The last photo in the album was taken a year ago. Elodie is holding a cane and standing in front of a fireplace. On the mantle next to her is, of course, Hans. I can’t believe she was over a hundred years old because she still somehow looks youthful, in spite of the white hair and cane.
After I close the photo album, I look in the box and see what else is inside. Under the album is a piece of tissue paper covering up about a dozen crocheted snowflakes. I pick up one and see that it has a hook on it like it’s supposed to be an ornament. I think about my own mostly-bare Christmas tree back home and imagine how pretty these would look on there.
I take out the snowflakes and discover a beautiful glass star. It’s obviously a Christmas tree topper, and I can only imagine how gorgeous it would be lit up. There’s gold around the edges, and it looks handmade. This star might be worth some real money, and as soon as I have the thought, disappointment hits me. There’s no way Walter is going to let me keep this. And even with my ten percent employee discount, there’s no way I’d be able to afford it. I place it back in the box along with the snowflakes and photo album without looking any further in the box. What’s the point when I can’t pay for any of it?
This isn’t how I saw my life turning out. I went to school and got a degree in art history. Sure, it wasn’t practical, but it was what I loved. I thought I would be working for a museum or art gallery. Or maybe I’d be like Elodie and travel the world to see the art for myself instead of reading about it in books.
Yet here I am, stuck in this dead-end job with no future and no money. I pick up the box to take it to the back when I hear the bell over the door again. Annoyed that my sulking party has been interrupted, I place the box on the floor and nudge it under the counter with my foot. As quickly as I can, I put on my customer service smile in time to see… Walter.
“Oh. I didn’t think you’d be in today,” I say as Walter shakes off the rain like a wet dog.
“I’m not,” he grumbles and pulls off his gloves. “I forgot to get a gift for my mother-in-law.” He rolls his eyes dramatically as he glances around the place. “Have we gotten anything new?”
I think about the glass star in the box at my feet and how that would be an incredible gift. I know I’d be thrilled to receive something so delicate and beautiful. I’m about to open my mouth when Walter’s eyes land on me.
“What I wouldn’t give to stick you under my tree.” His gaze lingers on my cleavage. I forgot that I wore a low-cut top today.