“Oh, Edie, I couldn’t…”
She waved her hand. “Nonsense. These little things… They keep us warm inside, don’t they?”
She placed one of the ornaments in my hand. I smiled, feeling unexpectedly touched.
“Thank you, Edie.”
Arthur’s calls buzzed again, breaking the moment.
“We’d better hurry,” I told Edie, gently nudging her toward the counter. “I, uh, have to get to work soon.”
“Of course, dear,” Edie said, giving me a knowing smile.
She moved to the register, still holding her ornament carefully as if it were more than just glass and paint. As we walked out, I felt a strange warmth from that tiny piece of glass.
We finally arrived at the house Edie had pointed out, her hand shaking as she clutched the small gift bag. A part of me felt happy for her, hoping that this reunion would be as heartwarming as she imagined.
“Here we are,” I said, giving her an encouraging smile. “Ready?”
Edie nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Oh, yes, dear. Melody’s going to be so surprised.”
We made our way up the steps, and I rang the doorbell.
The door opened, revealing a young woman. She looked at us, her brow furrowing. “Uh, can I help you?”
Edie stepped forward, her voice trembling with excitement. “Melody, dear! It’s a mom! I’ve come to surprise you for Thanksgiving.”
The young woman shook her head. “I’m sorry, but… my mom’s already here. I think you have the wrong house.”
My heart sank as I watched Edie’s face fall. She looked from me to the young woman, her confusion quickly replaced by something like guilt.
“Oh… I must’ve been mistaken,” Edie mumbled, stepping back.
The young woman gave us a sympathetic look and gently closed the door. I turned to Edie, the realization hitting me hard.
“Edie,” I said quietly, “you… you don’t have a daughter named Melody waiting for you here, do you?”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, her face clouded with embarrassment. Just then, my phone rang, Arthur’s name flashing across the screen once more. That time, I picked up.
“Fiona, I need you back in the office now,” Arthur’s voice snapped. “If you don’t return immediately, consider this your last day.”
I felt anger bubbling up. It was a frustration at Arthur’s relentless demands and disappointment at Edie’s deceit. The fear of losing my job loomed over me. I glanced at Edie, then back at the street. I sighed.
“Let’s go, Edie,” I said, hurrying her back to the car. “I have to get to work.”
Her face was unreadable as we drove in silence. She’d lied to me and played on my sympathy. I felt foolish.
When we reached the office, Arthur was waiting, his face red with irritation.
“Finally decided to show up?” he sneered. “You think this job is a joke, Fiona? Ignoring my calls, running around town?”
“I was helping someone,” I said, trying to stay calm. “I thought it was important.”
Arthur scoffed. “Helping? This isn’t a charity, Fiona. You’re dismissed. Clear out your things.”
A wave of shock hit me. I had expected a scolding, but that was harsher than I’d imagined. As I gathered my things, a strange calm settled over me. I wouldn’t let him control me anymore.
Suddenly, I noticed Edie wandering into Arthur’s office, glancing around at the decorations on his desk. Frustration boiled over, and I walked up to her.
“Edie, enough. I tried to help you, and you lied to me. This whole day was… was just a trick, wasn’t it?”
Her face softened, and she reached out to touch my arm, but I pulled away. I could see the sadness in her eyes, but right then, it didn’t matter.
“I’m calling you a taxi,” I muttered, stepping back.
In 10 minutes, Edie climbed into the car, looking back at me once, but I turned away, feeling the weight of disappointment settle in.
***
When I finally got home, the silence seemed to press down on me. Thanksgiving, a day meant for warmth and togetherness, felt emptier than ever. I hadn’t cooked anything, hadn’t even set the table. And now, without a job, the future felt shaky.
I dropped my things by the door, thinking back to Edie. She hadn’t been some manipulator. She was just… lonely. Just like me. She had only wanted company, a shared moment on a holiday that magnifies loneliness like a spotlight.
Why hadn’t I seen her need sooner? Why had I sent her away just because I was frustrated?
A sudden knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I opened it, and to my shock, there stood Arthur, holding the small glass bauble Edie had given me in the shop.
“Arthur? What are you doing here?”
He held up the bauble, turning it slightly so the painted snowy forest caught the light.
“I found this on my desk. I didn’t realize something so small could make me… feel something.” He paused, a little awkward. “I just wanted to say thank you. And… I’m sorry for the way I acted.”
I was stunned, barely managing a nod. Arthur looked down, shuffling his feet.
“I, uh… didn’t have any plans tonight. And I guess it hit me that Thanksgiving alone isn’t what anyone should go through.”
It took me a moment to understand what he was asking.
“Would you… like to join me for dinner?”
A tentative smile crossed his face. “Only if you don’t mind. I know I haven’t exactly been… easy to work with.”
I smiled back, a small, genuine smile that felt like the first in a while. “I was planning to go see Edie, the lonely lady I’ve met today. I think… I think she might be alone tonight, too.”
“Then let’s go together.”
When we arrived at Edie’s house, the warmth that greeted us was almost magical. Her home smelled of freshly cooked turkey, spices, and the unmistakable scent of pies baking.
The walls were lined with old photos — her late husband, a young girl I assumed was her daughter, a life built from love and memories. Edie smiled when she saw us, her eyes a little wet.
“I didn’t expect company tonight,” she admitted. “It would have been my daughter’s favorite holiday.”
Arthur placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Then let’s make it special. For her.”
As we sat around her table, Edie turned to me and pointed at my tiny glass ornament.
“I chose these for you and the one who kept calling. Sometimes, people need a little reminder that they’re not alone.”
I glanced at Arthur, who met my gaze with a softness I hadn’t seen before. Suddenly, that evening felt different, as if the three of us had found what we’d been missing.
That night, laughter filled Edie’s cozy home, and together, we shared a Thanksgiving none of us would ever forget.
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