One Sunday morning, after being snuggled under her heavy blankets all night, Jess was surprised by how cold it was when she pulled them off.  Trying to retain the lingering warmth from her bed, she slid her feet into her slippers and quickly pulled on a robe over her flannel nightgown.  While she looked through her wardrobe, she felt it might finally be cold enough she'd be willing to wear the long underwear Annie had insisted on buying for her.

Once dressed in several layers of cotton, denim, and wool, she opened the door to the back stairs and smiled as the smell of pancakes and bacon rose up with the warm air.  Hopping down the steps, she went to the stove for a hug from Annie.

"Good morning, pumpkin!  Hungry?" Annie asked cheerily.

"Yes, ma'am," Jess replied with a smile.  Turning to go to the table, she stopped mid-step by the view outside the window.  "What's that?" she exclaimed with shock, although it was obvious what she was seeing.  A large horse wearing a harness was standing placidly outside the garage, puffs of steam coming from its nostrils.

"It's Mr. Lindstrom's horse from the farm up the road.  Every year we hire him to bring his draft horse to help James get a Christmas tree from the woods."  Jess's heart suddenly stopped in her chest.

"That's nice," she said faintly as she went to the table. 

What if they went to the cabin?  Marty was bound to be there since he didn't work on Sundays.  Even if he managed to hide, once James went inside, there would be no way he wouldn't figure out someone had been using it. 

"While they're out getting the tree, I'll need you and Doug to help bring down the decorations from the attic," Annie said, setting a plate of pancakes in front of her.  "Then once it's set up, we'll have a decorating party!  Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jess said, attempting a smile, but Annie immediately saw through it.

"What's wrong?" she asked with concern, placing her hand on top of Jess's head.  Looking into her caring hazel eyes, Jess tried to figure out how best to approach it.

"The blankets," she said almost in a whisper.  "They're still at the – you know."  Annie's expression changed as her hand dropped.

"They won't go there," she said soberly.  "I told you, Jess.  No one is allowed."

"Okay," she replied, but she wasn't convinced.  If Annie was willing to let her go as long as it was kept a secret, what was to stop James from doing the exact same thing?

"I need to wake up Doug," Annie said, smiling again.  "He looks forward to decorating the tree every year," she added before leaving through the butler's pantry. 

Jess ate her pancakes while she watched the horse even though her stomach was tied in nervous knots.  The image of James entering the cabin and then rushing out to alert her uncle filled her mind.  Making a mental inventory of everything Marty had left at the cabin, she knew it would be impossible for her to convince her uncle she'd been the only one visiting it.  And what would happen to Annie?

When Doug came in several minutes later, he looked liked he'd just rolled out of bed.  His hair was still messy from being slept on and he had dark circles under his eyes. 

"Good morning, Doug," she said quietly.  He grunted a response, refusing to meet her eyes, and she went back to her pancakes, suppressing a sigh.  He was still being distant. 

Ever since the night of his birthday party, he'd been acting differently around Jess, barely saying more than a word or two when she'd tried to talk to him during their drives to and from school.  And when he was home, he'd been staying mostly in his room, only coming out for meals.  She couldn't help being hurt by his sudden rejection of her, especially after learning how her uncle felt about her, but after thinking about why he might have changed, she understood.  It had to be embarrassing for him to know she'd witnessed his father being drunk and out of control that night.  Maybe he was even ashamed of the things his father had said about her.  Eventually he'd get over it and go back to treating her the way he had before, Jess decided.  In the meantime, she tried to not let it bother her. 

Once they finished breakfast, Annie ushered them through the butler's pantry so they could start bringing down the Christmas tree decorations.  As Jess passed the diamond paned bay window in the dining room, she saw James and an old man who must have been Mr. Lindstrom coming out of the garage wearing heavy coats and hats, James carrying an enormous saw.  Walking up the stairs behind Annie and Doug, her heart sped up, wondering if they were about to head down the path to the cabin.  What should she do?

"I have to go to the bathroom!" Jess blurted out when they reached the stairs to the attic.  The concerned look on Annie's face let her know she'd spoken too loudly.  Even Doug was gazing at her quizzically. "I won't be long.  I promise," she added in what she hoped was a more normal tone. 

"Well, okay," Annie said as Doug began climbing the stairs.  "I'll wait for you up there since you won't know where to find anything."    

"Yes, ma'am," Jess said, and turned towards her bedroom door with her heart in her throat.  She couldn't stop James from going to the cabin, but at least if she knew it was going to happen, she could warn Annie.

As soon as the door was closed, she raced to her bay window.  The two men began walking away from the garage with the horse following behind.  They disappeared as they went around the back of the house.  Running to the other side of her room, she waited until they came into view.  Watching them set off across the large yard, she slumped with relief.  They weren't going to the cabin. 

Sprinting to her door, she ran up the attic stairs, taking them two at a time but when she reached the top, she stopped.  It was her first time in the attic and she looked around with wonder.  It was enormous, the size of the main house, and filled with castoff furniture, steamer trunks, rolled carpets, and stacked boxes.  The ceiling was peaked to match the rectangular roof with small windows set under the eaves to let in light.  But the place that drew her attention was the center of the room where a small wooden spiral staircase went up to the cupola.

Starting towards Annie in a far corner, she couldn't help examining the staircase as she approached it.  Bathed in light from the cupola's windows, it seemed to be beckoning her.

"You want to go up there, don't you?" Annie said bemusedly, and Jess didn't hesitate to reply.

"Can I?"

"Go on," Annie said, motioning with her hands. 

After climbing the stairs, she stepped onto a small landing and peered through the windows that surrounded her at a spectacular view of the large yard ringed by a thick forest.  In the distance, Mr. Lindstrom's horse was disappearing into the trees.  Coming down the stairs, she grinned as she walked to Annie.

"It's swell up there!"

"I know, but we've got work to do.  Now be careful with these," Annie said more seriously, handing her a small stack of boxed Christmas ornaments.  "They're glass and they've been in your family for a long time." 

Understanding the meaning of Annie's words, Jess took the boxes with trepidation.  She walked to the stairs slowly with Annie following, and took her time going down, not wanting to take any chances.  She knew her uncle would be sure to punish her if there was so much as a crack discovered on one of them.  Once she'd delivered them safely to the grand parlor, she felt relieved, but then Annie urged her to go back up for more.

Even with the three of them, it took several trips before they brought down everything.  Surveying all the lights and decorations when they were finished, Jess wondered how they would all fit on one tree.  There had to be enough decorations for five trees.  Doug and Jess were given the job of plugging in strings of lights and replacing burned out bulbs.  Annie turned on the stereo and the sound of a harp plucking the first notes of 'Ave Marie' filled the room and she began moving around furniture to make a space for the tree at the big front window.

When Jess heard Frank Sinatra's voice join the harp, she dropped her head over the glowing lights in her lap so Doug wouldn't see the tears that came to her eyes.  Blinking them back, she pushed the memory of her mother singing along to his records out of her head.  Her mom had loved Frank Sinatra as much as Jess loved Elvis.  To keep from thinking about her mom, she concentrated on the problem that had been plaguing her over the last few days; what to get Marty for a Christmas present. 

Whatever it was, it had to be something small so she could easily hide until she could give it to him.  And it shouldn't be expensive.  Marty wouldn't want her to spend a lot of money on him.  But she wanted his gift to be meaningful, something that would let him know how much his friendship meant to her.  Thinking through all the possibilities, she rejected each one as not quite right.

"They're back!" Annie exclaimed happily, interrupting her thoughts.  "We'll go outside and help them bring it in," she explained to Jess as Doug set aside his strand of lights and stood.

Jess followed them to the front door, and by time they were bundled up and outside, the men were just unfastening the harness from the large pine tree.  Doug stepped forward to help them and Jess's eyes widened as they stood it up.  It was huge, far bigger than the tiny Christmas trees her dad would bring home, and so tall she wondered if it was going to touch the high ceiling in the grand parlor.  No wonder they'd brought down so many decorations, she thought.

They shook snow off the branches, then carried it inside.  With Annie standing back to make sure the tree was straight, Jess and Doug helped hold it steady while the two men laid on the floor under the wide branches, attaching it securely to an iron tree stand.  After giving Mr. Lindstrom a plate of Christmas cookies to take home, Annie put a stack of Christmas records on the stereo, and the three of them began decorating the tree.  While they worked together, Doug seemed to relax, joking with Annie and even singing along with the Christmas carols, his deep voice sounding surprisingly good.  They were having such a good time, Jess was grateful her uncle wasn't there to ruin the fun.  When they had hung the last of the tinsel, they stood back to admire it.

"It looks really pretty this year," Annie said wistfully.  Seeing the ornaments and tinsel glittering in the afternoon sunlight, immediately brought to mind decorating Christmas trees with her parents, and the familiar ache in her chest came back.   "Thanks to my helpers," Annie added happily, putting her arms around both of them.  When she looked at Jess, her smile disappeared.  "You okay?" she asked quietly with concern. 

"Yes," Jess said quickly.  She didn't want to start talking about how she was feeling in front of Doug.  There was no way she could do it without getting emotional and it would be mortifying for Doug to see it.

"I better get started on dinner.  You guys are done here!" Annie said cheerily, her eyes letting Jess know she understood.  Jess gave her a hug before going up to her room, trying not to think about how much she missed her parents.

Later that evening at the dinner table when Annie came backing through the pantry door with a soup tureen filled with steaming beef stew, Uncle Jonathon pulled a folded piece of paper out of his jacket pocket.

"I've had my girl put together the guest list for the office Christmas party," he said, handing it to her after she'd set the tureen in front of him.

"Alright," she said, opening it.  "I'll send the invitations out to–."   She stopped suddenly, a look of concern on her face.

"What is it?" Uncle Jonathon asked testily.

"The date of the party – is the 22nd," she said, and Jess felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"So?"

"That's Jess's birthday," Annie explained, and Uncle Jonathon immediately turned to glare at Jess as if it was her fault her birthday was the same day as his party. 

"I suppose you're expecting a big affair," he said bitterly.

"No," she replied, trying her best to hide the anger and pain from her voice.  She hadn't expected her uncle to remember her birthday, but it still hurt that he'd implied there was something wrong with her wanting to have a party.  Especially since he'd been happy to give Doug one just a few weeks ago. 

Knowing her birthday was coming, she'd given some thought to what she wanted to do, but a party was out of the question.  She knew she'd only be allowed to invite the girls she didn't like, but more importantly, she wouldn't be able to invite Louise.  She would never hurt her friend's feelings like that.  

"I was hoping we could have a family dinner," she said.

"On the 22nd?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't mind if it's a different day – but I want Annie to eat with us," Jess added firmly.  Her uncle's eyes flashed at the demand, but she continued to meet his steady gaze.  This was the thing she wouldn't back down on.  While the muscles in his cheek twitched, Jess waited, wondering how hard she was going to have to fight for it.

"Very well," he said grudgingly, and Doug and Annie shifted as the tension in the room broke.  "Make the arrangements with Annie later."

"Yes, sir."

"And Annie!" he said angrily, turning his attention to her.  "Make sure she has an appropriate dress for the party.  I don't want a repeat of what happened last time!"

"I will," Annie agreed quickly.  "We'll go dress shopping tomorrow.  Alright, Jess?" she said, sounding excited at the prospect. 

"Yeah, that'll be swell," Jess said, forcing a smile, but inside her heart ached that Annie hadn't seemed to notice how badly her uncle treated her again. 

Uncle Jonathon began serving the stew while he told Doug about the latest problem he'd encountered at the mine that day.  To push away her sadness, Jess turned her thoughts back to figuring out what she should give Marty for a Christmas present.

After school, Annie was waiting by the big black car when Jess came out.  Waving goodbye to Louise, she ran over to her.  Annie looked beautiful as she always did when they were going into town, wearing a stylish wool coat with a soft fur collar that Jess rubbed her face on when she gave her a hug. 

"Ready?" Annie asked, smiling down at her.

"Yes!" she replied with a grin.  She'd asked Annie that morning if she could shop for Christmas presents as well since she'd finally figured out what she wanted to get Marty. 

Their first stop was the department store where she and Annie discovered she'd finally grown enough she could fit into the dresses in the Junior Miss department.  Excited she could wear a dress made for older girls, she and Annie decided on a beautiful velvet forest green dress with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline.  Looking at herself in the mirror, Jess thought she finally looked her true age.

Then they went to the men's department.  Picking out a tie for her uncle, she made sure it was the most expensive one they had before moving on to the sweaters.  After how badly Doug's birthday present was received, she wanted to be sure to get him something nicer than aftershave lotion for Christmas.  Examining all of the sweaters, she chose one that was extra soft in a shade of blue that would match his eyes.  She was sure Donna would approve.

While they waited in line to buy it, Jess said, "There's one more store I need to go to."

"Oh?" Annie asked.

"I need to go to Dwyer's Drugs."  Annie's face immediately darkened.  "I mean I want to go alone," Jess added quickly.  "That's where I'm going to get your present."

"I don't know, Jess," she hedged.  "You don't need to get me a present."

"No!  I want to get you something," Jess insisted.  

Before Annie could reply, it was their turn at the cash register.  While she paid for the clothes, she still look troubled and Jess worried she was going to refuse.  Feeling the one chance she had to get both her and Marty a gift slipping away, as soon as Annie had taken their purchases from the saleswoman, Jess spoke up.

"Please let me go," she begged, and Annie's shoulders drooped.

"Alright," she said, giving in with a sigh. 

Once they'd stepped outside, James got out of the car to take their bags.  "We're going to Dwyer's," Annie said quietly, handing them over, and Jess got in the back seat.  When Annie sat beside her, she still looked troubled, but didn't say anything.  James parked in front of the drug store and when Jess climbed out of the car with money in her hand, she felt elated.  Her plan had worked, and she might even get to see Marty. 

When she stepped inside the store, she immediately looked around, but he was nowhere in sight.  Some of her classmates were at the soda fountain, and she gave them a wave.  Walking over to the perfume section, she quickly found the one she wanted to give Annie, Shalimar.  She knew Annie would like the sweet, slightly vanilla smell.

Then she began looking through all the displays, searching for Marty's gift.  She was having a hard time locating it, but when she saw a red leather diary with a lock and small gold key, she immediately thought of Louise.  It would be perfect for her.  She continued walking up and down the aisles, feeling increasingly nervous about whether she was going to be able to find it. 

"Can I help you?" a man's deep voice said behind her. 

When she turned around, she immediately took a step back as Mr. Dwyer's piercing blue eyes captured hers.  He appeared startled when he recognized her, and then his face became neutral, his eyes, unreadable. 

"Were you looking for something?" he asked again. 

With her heart racing, she tried to decide what to do.  She didn't want to talk to him, worried he'd be as hostile with her as he'd been with Annie, but she needed to get Marty's gift.  And she'd already been taking a long time.  The last thing she wanted was for Annie to come in the store looking for her.

"Y-yes," she stammered, her heart still racing, as he looked past her.  "I was – I was looking for –."

"Marty!" he called out, and Jess couldn't help turning to find her friend. 

Marty had just stepped out of the back room wearing his cloth coat, his cheeks red from being outside.  As he approached them, he recognized her and his eyes widened before he dropped his head and shoved his hands in his coat pockets.  Jess turned back to face Mr. Dwyer, working hard to keep her happiness at seeing him from showing on her face. 

"You know those screws I was using to shore up the shelves?" Mr. Dwyer asked Marty, reaching in his pants pocket.  Jess was struck by the change in his tone.  It was softer but still firm. 

"Yeah," Marty muttered with his head down.  He was standing next to her and she peeked at him through her lashes.  Under his red cheeks, his face was flushing.

"I need you to go down to the hardware store and get more of them," Mr. Dwyer said, peeling off a few bills from a roll.  "Might as well get a whole box.  When you get back, there's a couple packages ready for you in the back."

"Okay," Marty said without lifting his head.  As soon as he had the money in his hand, he walked to the front door and Jess watched him, feeling disappointed. 

"Now what did you say you were looking for?" Mr. Dwyer asked, and she reluctantly turned her attention back to him.

"I need fish hooks."

"Oh, I see.  I don't carry those.  You'll need to go to the hardware store."  Oh no, Jess thought as a wave of despair washed over her.  How was she going to get Marty's present now?   "Is there a problem?" Mr. Dwyer asked.

"It's a gift," she said forlornly, looking at the door Marty had just walked through.  "It won't be a surprise if he sees –."  She stopped suddenly realizing she'd almost given herself away.  "What I mean is, if they see me go to the hardware store, they'll guess what it is," she said, looking up into his piercing blue eyes.  

His brow furrowed and then he turned his head in the direction she'd just been looking.  She hoped it was the big black car he was gazing at through the window, rather than guessing she'd been talking about Marty, and then his expression changed. 

"I understand now," he said, nodding as he faced her.  He knows, she thought desperately when she saw the realization in his eyes.  "I think I might be able to help you."

"You – you can?" she asked, startled by his sudden offer.

"I'll be right back," he said, and strode off to the back room before she could ask him what he meant.  Why would he want to help her, she wondered.  Was it because he knew it was for Marty?

When he came out, he had a small clear plastic box in his hand.  When he handed it to her, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.  There were four compartments, two had fish hooks in two different sizes, one had plastic bobbers, and one had small lead weights.

"I bought this last summer but I never used it.  I can sell it to you for what I paid for it.  The price tag is on the bottom."

"Thank you, Mr. Dwyer," she said, smiling up at him.  "It's perfect."  He smiled back at her, and then a look of pain came into his eyes before he managed to hide it.

"Let's get you rung up," he said turning to the cash register, his voice suddenly rougher.

He carefully wrapped the gifts in two sheets of paper and tied them tight with string.  Jess was grateful.  There was no way Annie would be able to see what was inside it now.

"You know, you look a lot like your dad," he said quietly, when he handed her the change. 

"Thank you.  Did you know him?" Jess prodded gently, hoping he might be willing to say more than Annie had.

"Well," he said, his eyes drifting off, his expression somber.  "He came to the soda fountain a lot."

"Oh."  She watched him as he looked at the soda fountain, hoping he'd say more, but he seemed to be somewhere else.

"I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Jess" he said, finally turning his attention back to her.  "You and the fisherman," he added with a sad smile, and then turned abruptly, walking towards the back room before she could reply.

When Jess joined Annie in the car, her eyes got wide seeing Jess's package.

"I hope that's not all for me?"

"No.  I, uh, got something for some girls at school.  I hope that's okay."

"Of course it's okay, pumpkin," Annie said kindly, patting her hand. 

As James pulled out of the parking spot, Jess spotted Marty heading back to the drug store, a small paper bag in his hand.  When their eyes met, she had an overwhelming desire to wave at him, but she knew it was out of the question with Annie sitting next to her.  Instead, she put her hand on the glass and Marty gave her a small nod, the corners of his mouth twitching as he put his hand on the door handle of the drug store.

James drove off and Jess faced forwards, hugging her package while she smiled.  Marty was going to love his present.

****

I really hope you liked this chapter.  Jess had a close call, when James went to get the tree.  Why do you think Doug is acting differently around Jess?  I hope you enjoyed seeing some more of Mr. Dwyer.  What do you make of him being willing to help Jess, especially when he's so hostile towards Annie?  I'm dying to hear your theories!

If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with your vote.  The video is The Secret of Christmas sung by Bing Crosby.  The picture in the multimedia is what a Christmas tree looks like, all decked out in tinsel and Christmas lights with giant bulbs.  It's exactly how I remember them looking when I was a kid, not so many years after this story takes place.