Noah and Angel were childhood sweethearts and teenage lovers. With youth comes unrealistic ideas sometimes, and also bad choices. But just about the time they reach manhood, Noah’s demons pull them apart.<br><br>Seven years later, he gets a second chance when Angel returns to town. Hoping everything can be different, Noah sets out to remind him how wonderful their past was by secretly sending him thirteen gifts commemorating their happiest times, one on each day beginning December 11.<br><br>By Christmas Eve, Noah hasn’t heard a word back, and wonders if Angel even recognized the meaning of the offerings. When Angel does get in touch, he only remembers the bad things that drove them apart. Can Noah remind him how good they had it, too?

The Presents and the Past

Reading Miss Mahon’s comments brought the kindergarten playground to mind. “I wonder if we have any driveway sand,” I said. “I could stop and get some on my lunchbreak tomorrow.” I dug through the tote some more. “Except I’m too stoked.” Up I popped. “Off to the basement. Come on, cat. I need your assistance in case I have to fight a mouse for it.”


“Brr. Next time remind me to put on a shirt.”


“Eureka!” The interjection came from me, not the cat, based on my excitement at discovering what I’d gone downstairs to find. The bag was nearly empty, but there was plenty left for my purposes. “I’ll have to get some more before the ice storms cometh.”


Pocket was a piss poor audience, not even a pity laugh.


Back upstairs, I tried to choose between a hinged, velvet ring box and a pull-string foil bag with a reindeer on it. I chose the latter, spilling sand all over the carpet when I tried to fill it.


Chapter 8