The Memory of You

One

"Well, that’s everyone on my list taken care of...except you. Heidi slid her phone into her coat pocket and eyed her twin sister before spinning Melody around and giving her a gentle shove in the opposite direction. So get. Take a hike. Make yourself scarce. Don’t you have another power tool to pick up for your darling husband? You know that’s what he wants."

His Christmas gifts are already wrapped and hidden, thank you very much, Melody informed her without much resistance. But, as luck would have it, I haven’t shopped for you yet either, so...

Don’t go overboard, Heidi ordered her sternly.

Save your breath, honey. Mel checked her phone, her lips pursed. Hm. What do you say we meet back here in an hour?

That works. Text if you need more time, or you get done sooner. Whichever. I’ll probably be waiting in line to sit on Santa’s lap.

Mel laughed with glee. I demand a picture! Wait, better yet, I’ll join you and we can both warm a knee.

Yes! Heidi loved the suggestion. Like old times.

Minus the matching outfits. Mel shuddered. You know, we should probably get a picture for mom and dad. Put it in a nice frame.

Now you’re talking. Heidi agreed. Okay. Meet here. One hour.

Let the countdown begin! Melody spun away. Waving a hand over her head, she disappeared into the bustle of holiday shoppers as Let It Snow played over the mall’s sound system.

Free for the time being, an amused Heidi turned in the opposite direction. In no hurry, she drifted leisurely around clusters of holiday shoppers and smoothly avoided a near collision with two hyperactive children and their frazzled parents in desperate pursuit.

Silver bells tied with festive bows and glittering snowflakes hung in an alternating pattern from the light fixtures up and down the mall corridors. Colorful garlands were strung overhead. Every store had embraced the holiday spirit, with blinking lights and displays in their windows.

Some people might consider the decorations nothing more than tacky commercialism, but the atmosphere filled Heidi with happy memories. She could admit it, she enjoyed this time of year. Breathing deeply as she entered the west shopping lane, she savored the wonderful aromas of cinnamon and chocolate, caramel corn, and roasted nuts.

Somewhere in the