that it wouldn’t make much noise, then unwrapping the paper until I reached the box.
After setting the paper off to the side, I lifted the cover and pulled out the sweater, holding
it up to show her. It was brown, like the ones she usually wore. But I figured she could use
a new one.
Compared with the joy I’d seen earlier, I didn’t expect much of a reaction.
“See, that’s all. I told you it wasn’t much,” I said. I hoped she wasn’t disappointed in
it.
“It’s beautiful, Landon,” she said earnestly. “I’ll wear it the next time I see you.
Thank you.”
We sat quietly for a moment, and once again I began to look at the lights.
“I brought you something, too,” Jamie finally whispered. She looked toward the tree,
and my eyes followed her gaze. Her gift was still beneath the tree, partially hidden by the
stand, and I reached for it. It was rectangular, flexible, and a little heavy. I brought it to my
lap and held it there without even trying to open it.
“Open it,” she said, looking right at me.
“You can’t give this to me,” I said breathlessly. I already knew what was inside, and I
couldn’t believe what she had done. My hands began to tremble.
“Please,” she said to me with the kindest voice I’d ever heard, “open it. I want you to
have it.”
Reluctantly I slowly unwrapped the package. When it was finally free of the paper, I
held it gently, afraid to damage it. I stared at it, mesmerized, and slowly ran my hand over
the top, brushing my fingers over the well-worn leather as tears filled my eyes. Jamie
reached out and rested her hand on mine. It was warm and soft.
I glanced at her, not knowing what to say.
Jamie had given me her Bible.
“Thank you for doing what you did,” she whispered to me. “It was the best Christmas
I’ve ever had.”
I turned away without responding and reached off to the side where I’d set my glass
of punch. The chorus of “Silent Night” was still playing, and the music filled the room. I
took a sip of the punch, trying to soothe the sudden dryness in my throat. As I drank, all
the times I’d spent with Jamie came flooding into my mind. I thought about the
homecoming dance and what she’d done for me that night. I thought about the play and
how angelic she’d looked. I thought about the times I’d walked her home and how I’d
helped collect jars and cans filled with pennies for the orphans.
As these images were going through my head, my breathing suddenly went still. I
looked at Jamie, then up to the ceiling and around the room, doing my best to keep my
composure, then back to Jamie again. She smiled at me and I smiled at her and all I could
do was wonder how I’d ever fallen in love with a girl like Jamie Sullivan.