THREAD OF EVIDENCE CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3



         The material arrived on Friday.  Jim was in camera when he got the message from the mailroom.  Claudia had not been to the sewing department before.  She entered a large room with ten rows of sewing machines, which went the entire length of the room.  On the far side of the room was a rack that held designs that they currently worked on.

         A woman came from the back of the room at their entrance, a smile on her face, which Jim ignored.  “Mr. Frasier, a pleasure.  The material just arrived.  Would you like to see it?”

         “Yes.  I want to make sure it’s what we ordered.  Though I’ve never had a reason to fault Mr. Benson before, but mix-ups do occur.”

         “I heard something about that.  Have you found out how it happened?”

         “Not yet,” Jim said.

         Claudia followed Jim to her office where the material had been delivered.

         “You will.  You must be Claudia Peterson, I’m Maxine Henderson, head of this department.”

         “Yes, that’s right.”

         They found six large boxes of material, which Jim began to check against the material swaths he had been given when he had ordered the material.

         “Start opening the other boxes.  If any of this is wrong it’ll have to go back immediately.”  Jim didn’t look up at her to see that she did as he asked as he concentrated on the box in front of him.

         An hour later he was satisfied with the shipment.  He handed the material swaths to her that were pinned to the designs.  “Looks good.  You can get started making these up.”

         “I was glad to see that the styles have some flare to them along with the simple lines of last year.”

         “Mr. Vincenzi is tired of the flashy lines of the past several years.  He wanted to go back to a more flattering simple design that would show off the person, as well as the fashion, and look affordable at the same time as it looked elegant.  It was Mrs. Vincenzi that added the touch of flare to the hem lines.”

         “He accomplished his goal.  We can get started on these right away.  I’ve already got the patterns made up.”  Mrs. Henderson looked at Claudia.  “I hope we’ll see more of you around here.  I’ve been with Vincenzi Clothiers since it opened its doors, some twenty years or more ago.  I’ve seen every fashion, from simple elegance, to the risqué‚ and bizarre.”

         Before she could answer Jim responded.  “She helped to choose the fabric for the designs.”

         Another compliment?  “I just thought about the design and what I would want for the material.”

         “From what I can see of the material and the designs, you’ve done a good job.  If you ever want a job in this department, just say the word.”

         “Thank you.  I’m just getting used to the one I have,” Claudia said.

         “If he gets out of line, you just come to me.”

         Claudia blushed, completely surprised by her candidness in front of her employer.  “Thank you ma’am.”

         “I don’t need you to mother my secretary.  I need her to work for me,” Jim said.

         “Someone has to watch out for your secretaries.  They don’t last long enough for anyone to get to know them.”

         “I have the needs of the company in mind.  That goes for the person who works for me.”

         “Remember if he starts to bite, you just come to me.  He can’t fire me.  I’ve been around longer than he has.”

         Claudia was overwhelmed by the conversation.  She saw him in yet another light.  “I’m fine.  Thank you.”

         “We had best get back to work and let Mrs. Henderson do her job.  She’s the best there is in her business,” Jim said.

         “I earned that title,” Mrs. Henderson said.

         “Yes you did.”  With the designs in capable hands, they left the sewing department, and headed back to their office.  Jim headed into his office and started to close the door.  “Get me some coffee.”

         Claudia called the cafeteria, and had them send up a decanter of coffee.  Then typed up the notes she had taken in Camera and Sewing.  She had just finished up when the coffee arrived.

         “Is that coffee here yet!”  Jim opened the door to find the delivery person in front of Claudia’s desk with the decanter in his hands.  “Good.”  He took it from him, and went back into his office and closed the door behind him.

         The delivery boy looked between the closed door and Claudia, before he retreated uncertainly.  “I’m glad it’s you, not me.”

         Claudia thought it would be a good time to get a bite to eat in the cafeteria.  She stood to her feet, and walked to the closed door and tentatively knocked on it.

         “Yes!”

         She opened the door nervously.  “Would it be all right for me to go to the cafeteria for a bite to eat?  It is lunch time.”

         “I know very well what time it is.”  He scowled at her.  He had been going over some papers on his desk, which didn’t please him at the moment.  He looked up at her and returned to his work.  “No.”

         “What would you like me to do, then?”

         “Be available!”

         He was in a temper again.  She quietly closed the door behind her, and went back to her desk.  The mail had been taken care of; they had been to camera, and the sewing department.  He had his coffee.  The notes from the morning were stored in her computer, ready to be printed up at the end of the day.  She was at a loss.  She liked to be kept busy.  She wanted to look busy, but what was there to do?

         She looked about her and decided that the plant she had bought on her first day could use some water.  When that was done and the pictures were dusted and straight, she sat behind her desk again with nothing to do.

         “Miss Peterson.”  His voice barked at her through the speakerphone, which made her jump by his sudden declaration.

         “Yes?”  Her voice quavered just a small amount.

         “I need you to take a letter.”

         She picked up notepad and pen, and went into his office to find him at the windows, which looked out at the well-manicured lawns that lay beyond.

         “Dear Mr. Robinson; as to your request, dated this date, we no longer have in our employ one, Miss Angela Dickson.  She left our employ a month ago.  I cannot give you a reference of any kind as to her work here.  She will have to do that herself, should you decide to hire her.  She was in my employ as my secretary for a period of one week.  Respectfully, Mr. Michael J. Frasier, Executive Manager, Vincenzi Clothiers.  Get that in the mail right away.  Here’s his address.”  He handed her an envelope with the address on it.

         She recognized it as one that had come in that day.  “I’ll get it sent out immediately.”

         “When you have that done, I need to see Mr. Vincenzi about the progress of the new designs.”

         “Yes, sir.”

         She had the letter written up, and in an envelope, when he appeared behind her.  “Let's go."

         She grabbed her notepad and pen, and followed him up to Mr. Vincenzi’s office.

         Rosa looked up at them as they came through the door, happy to see them.  “He’s waiting for you.”

         They went into the office, and Mr. Vincenzi was the first to speak.  “The mailroom informed me that the material arrived for the new designs.”

         “Yes.  I’ve already gone through what was sent, and everything is good.  Mrs. Henderson is getting the design team to work even as we speak.”

         “Good.”  Mr. Vincenzi looked across at Claudia.  “Did you enjoy the trip to the warehouse, Miss Peterson?”

         “Yes, of course.”

         “I understand you had a hand in selecting the material for our designs this year.”

         “I just pictured what colors I would make them up in and looked for it.”

         “Do you do any sewing of your own?”  Mr. Vincenzi asked.

         “Some.  Not much.  My mother does though.  I’ve been with her a number of times to the fabric shops.  So I know how to pick material.”

         “Mrs. Henderson has already called me and told me that you have a natural eye for the material and designs.  Let me tell you, my dear, there is no better compliment than that one in this industry.  It looks like I did a lot better than I had figured on when I hired you.”

         She blushed profusely as she looked between Jim and Mr. Vincenzi.  “Thank you sir.”

         “Say Jim, I’m going to be gone two weeks after Christmas.  There’s a meeting in New York City for clothing owners.  I’ll need you and Miss Peterson to step into our shoes while we’re gone.  I know Mama and I can count on you.”

         “No problem Mr. Vincenzi.  When will you be gone?”

         “Tebeth twenty-first to the twenty-seventh.  Well I know you have work to do.  Keep me informed about the progress of the new designs.”

         “I will.”  He stood to his feet and followed Claudia out of the office.

         “Mama come in here.”  Mr. Vincenzi called to his wife when Jim and Claudia had gone.

         She came into the office and sat beside the desk.  “Yes dear?”

         “Tell me, what do you think about our new secretary?”

         “She’s having an effect on Jim.”

         He looked at his wife with love and tenderness.  “Do you think so?”

         “It’s the little things.  Like following her out of the office just now.  I’ve heard it’s only happened one time before.  The other day when you asked Claudia to stay behind.  I heard tell he was most civil to her.”

         “Yes, I heard that too.  Maybe there’s hope for him yet.”

         “It’ll take time.”

         “It always does.  Well back to work.  This day isn’t done yet,” Leo said.

         “Let’s have the children over for supper.”

         “Good idea.”  Leo agreed and Rosa went back to her desk.

         When Jim and Claudia were about to turn down the hall to their office, Jim looked at his watch.  “Let’s get a bite to eat, in the cafeteria.  I’m tired of eating at my desk too.”

         The cafeteria was almost empty.  The noon lunch hour was over, and only a couple employees lingered over coffee, before they headed back to work.  They looked up in surprise to see Jim and Claudia enter the cafeteria.

         “What’s on the agenda for this afternoon?”

         “We have to meet with Ken in the showing room.  David’s from Anbyeth is coming to see our line of clothes.  He wants to add our line to his chain of stores across the island.”

         He absently selected food from the hot food bar.  “What time?”

         “Two o’clock.”

         He looked at his watch, and saw that they had a bare fifteen minutes to eat and get to the showroom.

         “No time to eat.  We’ll have to get up there right away in order to meet him before the showing.”  Jim put his tray down and headed out of the cafeteria, followed closely by Claudia.

         They met Ken outside the showing room.  "Is David Hallister here yet?"

         "I was told he arrived a few minutes ago.  I was beginning to think you had forgotten," Ken said.

         "I had.  It's been a busy day.  The material arrived today from the warehouse, and the work is proceeding in that direction.  We just came from Mr. Vincenzi's office.  He was happy to hear that we could proceed with the designs in the sewing department.  Miss Peterson reminded me about the showing as we were about to get a bite to eat."

         "Let's go meet our new client.  Katie and Jeffrey are all ready," Ken said.

         David Hallister was waiting in the lobby.  The room was decorated in light gray carpeting with sheer light gray drapes at the tall windows, gray and silver wing back chairs and couches lined the room.  Side tables and coffee tables made of highly polished cherry wood, stood on either side of the chairs, or in front of the couch, and gave the room an elegant look, which carried through to the designs they were famous for.

         Claudia had never been in that part of the building before, and was awed by the quiet elegance of the room.  A receptionist sat behind a desk counter, also made of highly polished cherry wood, near the entrance to the room.

         Mr. Hallister rose to his feet as they entered.  Jim approached with his hand extended.  "Welcome to Vincenzi Clothiers.  I’m sorry to keep you waiting.  We'll go into the viewing room."

         Ken opened the door that led to the viewing room.  The double doors were also of highly polished cherry wood.  Inside the theme of the lobby was carried through.  Chairs were positioned in front of a curtained area, with a short runway, which lead from it.

         "Can I offer you any refreshment?”  Jim asked.

         "Yes, of course," Mr. Hallister said.

         Jim pushed a button on the end of one of the chairs, and the receptionist appeared with a tray of Champaign.

         Mr. Hallister took the Champaign from the tray, and looked around him at the simple elegance he'd heard about from other merchants who carried the Vincenzi line.

         Jim also took a glass, and raised his eyebrows at Claudia's decline of the beverage.  Ken also accepted a glass, and the receptionist returned to her desk.

         "I'll tell Katie and Jeffrey we're ready.”  Ken set his glass on the table beside his chair.

         "Very good.”  Jim sat in one of the chairs, and directed Claudia to sit to his left and Mr. Hallister to his immediate right.  Ken sat on Mr. Hallister’s right, as Katie came from behind the curtain wearing a casual pants outfit, great for leisure of any type.  Jeffrey followed with a sports set for men along the same vein.  They viewed the entire line of summer wear: day, evening, casual, formal, swimwear, playtime, and nightwear.  The showing took two hours, and was very productive.

         Mr. Hallister was very interested in what he saw, and signed a contract for the designs to be shipped to all his stores on the island.

         "You will let me know when your fall/winter line is ready for viewing?”  Mr. Hallister asked.

         "Yes, of course.  We'll send you a special viewing card in the mail.”  Jim shook hands with him, and walked him out, then turned and looked at his watch, and noted it was past time to go home.  "Another long day.  I'll see you Monday morning, Miss Peterson."

         "What about the contract for David's?”  She was surprised that he would leave before it was properly logged.

         "It can wait until Monday.  Go home."

         "Excuse me sir, but if we become lax now, whoever had caused the mix-up on my first day here, will know about it, and be looking for an opportunity to cause more havoc."

         He studied her a moment, surprised by her comment.  She very rarely said anything to him.  "You're right, of course.  Let's get it logged, then go home."

         Back in the office, Claudia quickly logged the contract in the computer, and handed it to Jim, who put it in the safe, before he turned out the lights and went home.

         Claudia wasn't sure, but Jim seemed to be preoccupied with something.  He had only barked at her once that day.  He must be slipping.  A smile curved her mouth as she made her way out to the parking lot and home for the night.

         She was glad that it was Friday.  She looked forward to spending Saturday on the lake with her brother.  They usually went out together on the weekends.  It was her way to relax.  She had sailed since she had been born and had learned to sail when she was about ten years old, after she had pled her case with her father for a long time.  They used to go out as a family, but more and more it had been just the two of them.  However, they always went out as a family for Christmas.  She was a good sailor, and often took the wheel.  She found it very peaceful, and a good way to take her mind off troubling thoughts, and she had a lot of those at the moment.

         She was also glad for another reason.  The following Friday was Christmas.  The house looked and smelled like Christmas.  A tree stood in the corner of the living room.  Decorations filled each corner not only of the living room, but the kitchen as well.

         She entered the house with a smile on her face and gave her mother a peck on the cheek.  Her mother had been baking again.  The smell of gingerbread cookies filled the air.  "Hi mum."

         "You worked late tonight.  Did you eat?”  Her mother looked up as she put the last of the supper dishes away.

         "Yes, I stopped on my way home.”  She lied.  She didn't want her mother to worry about her.

         "That's good.  How's work going?"

         "All right.  I sat in on a viewing today.  It was the first since I've been there.  Quite interesting."

         Brian came into the kitchen with an offer.  "How about a movie."

         "Sounds good.  I'll give Brenda a call, see if she can go along.”  Claudia headed for the phone on the wall.  "I could use something to take my mind off work for a while."

         "Hectic?" her mother asked.

         "Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzi are going to be gone for a full week, two weeks after Christmas.  There’s a meeting in New York City for clothing owners.  Mr. Frasier and I will be overseeing the running of the plant in their absence."

         Her father joined them in the kitchen.  "That's a pretty big responsibility for someone new to the plant."

         "I am Mr. Frasier's secretary.  And since he's stepping into Mr. Vincenzi's shoes, it's up to me to step into Mrs. Vincenzi's as well."

         "You'll do a good job.  After all they wouldn't entrust you with it if they felt you weren't qualified," her father said.

         Claudia gave him a peck on the cheek.  "Thanks dad.”  She dialed Brenda's number, and soon had a friend to go to the movies with.  Besides Brian liked her a lot, and was working his nerve up to ask her out.  She just helped him out.

         The movie was a comedy western, which had them laughing through the whole movie.  They wiped the tears out of their eyes when it was over, as they made their way out to the parking lot.

         "How would you like to come with Claudia and me tomorrow when we go out on the boat.  We could bring a picnic lunch.  What do you say?”  Brian turned to Brenda when they were ready to go their separate ways.

         "I'd like that.  I've always enjoyed sailing.  What time?”  Brenda asked.

         "Say, ten o'clock?”  Brian asked.

         "No last minute Christmas shopping?”  Brenda asked.

         “It’s all done.  Anything else I need to get I can go shopping for after we’re done sailing for the day,” Brian said.

         “Will your hours be shorter next week, with Christmas on Friday?”  Brenda asked.

         “My hours will be pretty much the same, I would suspect.  Vincenzi’s is very busy.  There’s an owner’s conference the last week of the month, and I have a lot to learn in the meantime,” Claudia said.

         “Then you like working for the number one tyrant on Ibania?”  Brenda asked.

         “I’m getting used to his ways.  As long as he has his coffee first thing in the morning he’s tolerable.”

         “Well since all the Christmas shopping is done, I’ll see you then.”  Brenda waved and smiled, and backed out of the parking lot.

         Brian opened the car door for her.  "How about you.  Did you have fun tonight?"

         "Sure.  It was great."

         He looked at her, when he had gotten behind the wheel.  "But?"

         "Nothing.  It's late.  If we're going sailing tomorrow, I should get home to bed.”  She rested her head against the headrest, and closed her eyes.

         "You do look tired.  It's all that work you do.  Do you like it?"

         She opened her eyes and looked at him.  "As a matter-of-fact, yes.  Now can we get home?"

         “I was thinking about stopping for a bite to eat before we head home.  What about it?”

         She turned her attention to him.  She was hungry.  She hadn’t eaten since breakfast.  “You know don’t you?”

         “That you’re not eating?  Yes.”

         “Mom and dad don’t suspect do they?  I don’t want them to worry.  I get home so late.  I don’t want mom to worry about me and make another meal just for me.”

         “I know mom’s worried.  You’re not your usual bright self, and you go to bed almost as soon as you get home.”

         “I don’t want them to worry.”

         “You can’t make people who love you, not worry about you.  In fact it was mom who suggested a movie before you got home tonight.”

         He pulled into Robin’s Deli and ordered two sandwiches along with fries and drinks.  He was gratified to see her eat it all.  “You were hungry.  When was the last time you ate?”

         “This morning.  I was going to get a bite at lunch, but the showing for David’s put a stop to that.”

         “So you can tell me.  Do you really like your job?”

         “I really do.  It’s a lot more hectic than I ever thought a secretary’s job would be.  Now can we go home.  I’m very tired.”

         "Sure.”  He gave her a big smile, turned the ignition and headed home.  “So what did you get me for Christmas?”

         “If I told you it would spoil the surprise.”

         The weekend was a big success.  Brian spent most of his time with Brenda.  They took the boat out on Saturday and Sunday, and had swum also.  It almost took her mind off her work and Jim.

         It had been a bewildering week.  She couldn't decide whether Jim was angry with her and her work, or happy with her, or both.  He was very confusing.  First he took her out to a fancy expensive restaurant, then wanted to eat lunch with her in the cafeteria, and in the meantime ignored her when he didn’t need her services as his secretary.

         Monday was much the same as Friday had been, with the exception of the showing.  Besides their own work Mr. Vincenzi went over instructions with Jim before the owner’s conference the last week of Tebeth, while Mrs. Vincenzi went over her work with Claudia.  She was tutored in the normal procedures of the office, and was amazed at the amount of work involved.  By the end of the day she was very happy to get home.

         Thursday morning she was in the office with a hot cup of coffee on Jim's desk when he came in. "I see you're ready for a busy day."

         "At least I’ll have a day away tomorrow for Christmas, before.”  She closed her mouth and started up her computer ready for whatever he would throw her way that day.  She had no doubt it would be doubly hectic with all the work that wouldn’t be done the following day.

         “Precisely why we need to get as much done as possible today.  It’s going to be a long day today.  I don’t expect to be done here before eight tonight.”

         She looked up at him at that announcement.  “I have Christmas Eve service tonight at six.”

         He went into his office and slammed the door on her.  She had told him the first day that her God came first and foremost in her life.  He looked at his appointment calendar.  He had a lot to do that day starting with camera.

         She stared at the closed door.  She had seen the hardness of his expression as she mentioned church that night.  Regardless of his schedule, that day she would leave in time for service.  She called the cafeteria.  “Please bring a decanter of black coffee.  Thank you.”

         He opened the door as she replaced the receiver.  “I didn’t hear the phone.  Who was that?”

         “I called the cafeteria to have a decanter of black coffee brought down for you.”

         “Let’s go.  I want to see how those designs are coming along.  With the fact that we won’t be working tomorrow, I can only hope that they are on schedule.”

         “You doubt their ability to produce?”  She clamped her mouth shut again as he turned stormy eyes on her.

         “You are not paid to make comments about my work or anybody else’s.  My job is to see that it gets done, and that this plant runs smoothly.  That’s what I get paid for.  Now let’s go.”

         He left in such a rush that she was very glad that she had a contract, or she would be out the door at that moment.  His expression had left no doubt that she had overstepped her bounds.

         Again his mind focused on women.  If there hadn’t been a contract, and he could fire her, she would be gone.  No one questioned what he did, or how he did it.  Women!  Why on earth were they created?  He didn’t look back to see if she followed, but he could hear her as her shoes clacked on the linoleum surface of the floor.

         He opened the door to the design and camera department.  Claudia caught the door before it shut in her face.  She had to remember to keep her opinions to herself.

         Ken came forward as they entered.  He could see the storm cloud on Jim’s face and looked between the two of them.  “Jim I was expecting you.  The designs are coming along very nicely.  We should be done on time.”

         “Good.  Let’s see what progress has been made.”

         “What plans do you have tomorrow?”  Ken asked.

         “I’m having dinner with my father, and I’m planning on taking the boat out with Jake.  What about you?”

         “My fiancée and I are having dinner with her parents, then we’re repeating the process with mine for supper.”

         “Fiancée eh?  Congratulations.  When did that come about?”  Jim asked.

         “Unlike you, I do have a social life away from here.  I met a really fine woman about six months ago.  Her name is Lameka Richardson.  I met her at a design show.”

         “So she’s a designer then?”

         “A contractor.  She works for a catalog outlet.”

         “I’m happy for you.  That must be her picture on your desk.  I hope everything works out for you.”

         “Yes, thanks.  I don’t suppose there are any prospects for you?”  Ken asked.

         “Hardly.  I enjoy the bachelor life, and my freedom.  I don’t need a woman around my neck to curse my life.”

         “Someday you’re going to find out that there is a woman out there for you that is worth having around.”

         “That is highly unlikely.  Let’s see what you have done so far.  There’s a lot to do today.”

         “Getting ready for the week when you’ll be in charge while Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzi are in New York City for the clothing owner’s conference?”

         “Yes.  We’ll be spending the afternoon with them.  There is more for Miss Peterson to learn than for me.  I’ve been in charge before, but even so there are always new ways to do things, and that is what this conference is about.  New innovations in industry.”

         Ken looked at Claudia.  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.  What I’ve seen of Miss Peterson is very positive.  If it wasn’t, Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzi wouldn’t allow her to work with you in two weeks.”

         A scowl marked his face as he took in his secretary who stood quietly beside him.  “That’s to be seen.  That’s why we are spending as much time with them before they leave.”

         Ken looked at Claudia.  “Did he have his coffee yet this morning?”

         Claudia looked up at Jim before she decided to answer that question.  “Yes.  And I ordered a full decanter before we left the office just now.”

         “See.  A woman who anticipates your needs.  Now take the scowl off your face and take a look at what we’ve got done.”

         Jim was satisfied with what he found in design.  The new designs were coming along well.  He would have something to show Mr. Vincenzi when they got back from the conference.

         At five o’clock she turned off her computer and put the notes on Jim’s desk.  “I’m going now.  I’ll see you on Monday.”

         He looked up from the work on his desk a scowl on his face.  “First thing Monday.”

         “With your coffee.  Yes I know.  Good night Mr. Scrooge.  Don’t work too late, and have a good Christmas.”  A smile etched her face as she walked out of the office and made her way home so she could hurry and get changed for church.

         The church was dark with only a candle in each window lit.  Each person was given a single candle that would be lit later.  Claudia felt the expectation and excitement in the air as she greeted everyone.  It was the same expectation that ran through her.

         Elsewhere in the world it was December 24.  On Ibania it was Tebeth eleventh.  It didn’t matter what day it was.  The following day was Christmas around the world.  People would be opening presents, going to church, and eating far too much as children everywhere squealed their delight at the gifts they were given.

         She sang the traditional Christmas carols and listened as someone came forward with something special that they were most thankful for that Christmas.  There was also a large stack of Christmas presents under the tree, and each person that gave a presentation took a gift from under the tree and read out a name, so that everyone in the congregation had both a gift and a testimony of what God had done in their lives that year.

         Her name was called out, and Claudia moved forward to the podium.  She took her gift and looked out at everyone.  “I’m thankful this year for the gift of a job at Vincenzi Clothiers.  The people are very nice to work with, and as long as I have my boss’s coffee on his desk before he comes in in the morning, he’s tolerable as well.  It’s very fast paced and I’ve learned a lot about the clothing industry that I never knew before.  I’ve been given some pretty fantastic opportunities; one of them is that I’ll be filling Mrs. Vincenzi’s shoes while they go to the United States in two weeks for a conference.  God just keeps on being good to me.”  She stepped over to the tree and selected a gift and read out the name.  “Peter Kaufman.”

         As she walked out of church she thought about Jim.  He had said that he would be with his father and Jake on Christmas.  On impulse she headed over to the shopping center that was still open for those last minute shoppers.

         The store hours proclaimed that she had only one hour left to make her final purchases.  She headed to the back of the store where she could find little porcelain statues of different replicas of just about everything in the imagination.

         There it was, a statue of a sea captain with his face to the wind, a pipe held to his mouth, a thoughtful look on his face as his other hand held the ship’s wheel.  Behind him with one hand on his shoulder and the other pointed into the distance was Jesus.  It was a reminder; at least to her that Jesus was there in every situation to bring her through.  She hoped it would tell him the same thing.  That Jesus would bring him through.  She knew he was troubled about something.  The fact that he had a great dispassion for women was evidence of that fact.

         She carried her find to the counter as the last announcement was made before the store closed until after Christmas.

         With a smile on her face she headed home and found smiles and hot chocolate waiting for her.

         Her father looked up as she came through the door.  “Where did you go?  You disappeared after church.”

         “I decided to do some last minute shopping.  Mom do we have any gift wrap left?”

         “I knew it.  You forgot to buy my present after all,” Brian said.

         “Hardly.  Yours is safely under the tree, and you won’t nose around it until tomorrow.”

         “There’s a little left.  How much do you need?” her mother asked.

         “Just enough for this box.  I decided to get Mr. Frasier a gift.”

         “Why?  You know he won’t get you anything,” Brian said.

         She accepted a cup of hot chocolate from her mother before she left the room for the gift-wrap.  “That’s not why we give gifts.  Let’s just say, I wanted to.”

         “So do you have any special plans for tomorrow, besides here with us?” her father asked.

         “Just the traditional Christmas boat ride out into the bay.  What do you say?  Will you join me yet again this year?  Or do you have plans with Brenda?”

         “Not yet, but if you like I’ll ask her.  She did have fun this past weekend,” Brian said.

         Claudia saw the look in his eyes.  “Mom I think you had better start thinking about the first wedding in the family.”

         Brian looked unabashed as he looked at her.  “I never could hide anything from you.  As a matter of fact I think it would be the perfect place to propose.”

         “Then you don’t want your kid sister around when you do,” Claudia said.

         “We need a witness, especially since we won’t be back until well after dark,” Brian said.

         “In that case I think we should make it a full traditional sailing tomorrow,” her father said.

         “I agree.  It’s been a long time since we all went sailing on Christmas.  We’ve let them alone at the wheel for five years now, and look what happened?  They’ve grown up and are talking about engagements, and weddings,” her mother said.

         “You know very well it will be a full year before we can be married,” Brian said.

         “I take it you’ve asked her father?” their father asked.

         “Not yet.  I wanted to make sure she was agreeable first.  Then I was going to ask you to go and make the contract with her father,” Brian said.

         “I would be most happy to see to the contract,” their father said.

         Claudia finished wrapping the gift she had gotten for Jim, and placed it on the table ready to take it to work with her on Monday morning.  “I think I’m going to go up to bed.  It’s been a long day.  The service was wonderful, but tomorrow’s Christmas, and if I don’t go to bed, it will never get here, and I won’t be able to find out what you got me.”

         “I can’t wait until I see what you got me,” Brian said.

         “I think you’ll like it.  In fact I’m quite sure you will.”  She gave her parents a kiss goodnight and gave Brian a peck on the cheek as she turned towards the stairs.

         “At least you won’t be getting up before dawn tomorrow to go out jogging before you go to work,” Brian said.

         Claudia looked at him with some surprise.  “How do you know what time I get up?”

         “How can I not know?  I hear your alarm.  Not five minutes later you’re out the door with your roller blades.”

         “I have to keep limber.  Mr. Frasier would be hard to keep up with if I didn’t work out every morning before I went to work.”

         “Have a good night.  We’ll gather around the tree for the traditional Christmas story right after dawn.  Then breakfast before we open gifts,” her mother said.

         “Some things never change,” Claudia said.

         “They shouldn’t,” her father said.  “Ever since we saw the two of you trying to find your presents, we felt it would be a good idea to set some restrictions.”

         “Goodnight.”  Claudia headed up to her room.  She was glad she didn’t have to set her alarm, as she made sure it wasn’t set for the following day, and then thought better of it.  She set it instead to 5:30.  The sun would be just peaking over the mountains to the east.

         She felt a special sense of pleasure at the gift she had gotten for Jim.  She only hoped he would like it.  Then she told herself it didn’t matter whether he did or not.  It was the thought that counted.  Somehow, she didn’t think he would be getting anything for Christmas.  A meal and a boat ride might be nice, but there was a lot more to Christmas than that.  It meant family, friends, and feeling that someone genuinely cared about you.