The Tidings - [Ghost Huntress 0.5 - A Christmas Novella] Read Free Page A

dating my ex, Jason Tillson, but because she’s so ridonkulously in love and it shows. “That’s great,” I force out. “What’d he get you?”
    She pushes up the sleeve of her black sweater to reveal a pretty substantial piece of arm jewelry. “It’s the Pandora World Travelers bracelet.”
    I nearly gag on my intake of breath. “Holy crap, Celia! That’s like an eight hundred dollar bracelet!”
    Her eyes widen and she nods. “I know. I totally freaked when I opened the box. But Jason told me his mother got it from Delta’s lost and found. She discovered it on the floor in first class after one of her flights from New York to Atlanta. She did the whole turn into the proper authorities and such and waited like three months. When no one claimed it, she got to keep it. Jason thought it would be the perfect gift for me since it’s got a London bus, the Eiffel Tower, an airplane, and the Roman Colosseum—all things that are memories of our European trip together.”
    I finger the charms – one with a camera, a peace sign, and Big Ben – remembering our summer journey. A trip that turned Celia and Jason into a couple. The same voyage that helped me finally discover my grandparents.
    “If you weren’t already the richest girl in Radisson, Celia, you would be with this piece of silver,” I say, and force a smile.
    “Don’t be mad,” she says. “It was dumb luck, honestly. I’m sure Patrick has something incredible for you.”
    I wave her away with my hand and keep sewing. “I can’t think about that,” I tell her. “He’s got other things on agenda. He left already on his trip to Belize with his dad.” Anger and frustration bubble under my skin. “Things have been so tight for him and his dad,” I say. “I can’t believe they’re spending so much money going on a diving trip. He should have his head examined.”
    Celia’s glee fades into a frown. “He didn’t give you a present before he left?”
    I shake my head.
    She reaches out and pats my sewing hand. “I’m sure he’ll bring you something wicked cool from Belize. It’s known for its, umm, you know… Belize stuff.”
    I can’t help but laugh at her attempt to cheer me up.
    “So, my parents are having this big blow out dinner on Boxing Day,” Celia tells me. “You know, instead of tossing out the leftovers and such, they’re pulling out the full, traditional, English stops and opening the house up to everyone in town to come over for a big after Christmas party.”
    “That sounds like fun,” I say, knowing I don’t want any part of it. By the twenty-sixth, I’ll have fulfilled my sisterly duties to Kaitlin and her starring pageantry. My daughterly obligation helping out on Christmas day, and my maid of honor role to Loreen as she stand at the altar with Father Mass will be finished, as well. I don’t care about after Christmas sales, bowl games, or parades. I plan on cowering under the covers with my ereader and music, barricading the outside world away from me.
    Celia continues. “Dad’s also inviting the folks from the shelter to come. You know, so they have more than just a soup-kitchen type holiday.” Her face falls. “There are so many more homeless people in Radisson than before. I thought with the new distribution center opening soon and jobs coming available, people would be doing better. So, we’re just trying to help out.”
    “That’s nice of you.” And it is. But I just can’t feel charitable right now when my own heart feels hollow and abandoned. “You have to be careful, though, about who you just let wander around your house, Cel. You guys have, like, tons of art and silverware that someone could just walk away with.”
    She giggles at me. “It’s Christmas, Kendall. My dad has more than he could ever want or need. He wants to share.”
    I stab the needle in and out of the hem, nearly finished. Kaitlin better appreciate this, but she probably won’t… as usual.
    “Come on, Kendall, say you’ll