Katlyn Duncan - Wrapped Up for Christmas

Brett had said she would get a severance check. She hadn’t bothered to review her bank account; she had simply assumed the money would be there. He couldn’t have lied about that too. It was a silent deal they had made. She didn’t want to make a big deal of their breakup, and she got what she needed to get out of there.

With two bagels in her hands and Reese waiting for her, Angie would have to wait to find out what was going on with her finances. She located Reese outside of Bloomfield’s department store. Somehow, her friend appeared even more tired than when she had seen her last. As she neared, the bags around Reese’s eyes darkened.

‘Finally,’ Reese said. ‘I’m starving.’

‘Sorry. Did you eat breakfast?’ Angie asked, sitting next to her on the bench.

Reese cut a look at her. ‘If I say yes, don’t judge me.’

‘I won’t,’ Angie said, grinning.

They were the type of friends who could pick up where they left off every time they met. Reese dug into the bag and pulled out a bagel.

‘I’ve been dreaming about this,’ Reese said, admiring the food from all angles.

‘Really?’

‘It’s my favorite place to eat down here. I needed some fuel this morning. I hate coming to the mall after Thanksgiving, though.’ Reese narrowed her eyes at the people walking past them. ‘Especially this year. I’ve realized how many shoppers don’t care about mowing down a pregnant woman as long as it means they get their cheap television.’

‘Turning a little green there,’ Angie said.

Reese tilted her bagel toward Angie. ‘Don’t you dare call me the Grinch.’

Angie laughed. ‘You said it!’

‘What’s on your list?’

‘I can’t get anything today,’ Angie said.

‘Why not? Don’t tell me you’re Scrooging it.’

‘I couldn’t even pay for the bagels this morning.’

Reese stopped chewing and stared at her bagel. ‘You didn’t get these out of the trash, did you?’

Angie groaned. ‘No, some guy paid for them.’ She drifted into her thoughts, thinking of him. She started to regret her reaction of fleeing the scene.

‘What happened?’

Angie told her every agonizing detail of the story. Reese’s expression went from pity to confusion.

‘What?’

Reese grabbed her arm, smearing cream cheese on Angie’s coat. ‘Sorry.’ She licked the remaining cream cheese from her fingers before continuing. ‘Why are you smiling like that? Was the guy hot?’

She almost wished her best friend didn’t know her that well. Angie knew where Reese would go with the information and besides that, she didn’t want to be interested in any guy. ‘He was attractive, I guess.’

‘No way, Ang. You need to back up.’

‘I know! I’m horrible. He swooped in like some prince charming and I fell for it! He reminded me so much of Brett and the way he used to flaunt his cash.’

‘Well, as long as you’re aware of it. Don’t you want a little time to be single and recalibrate your life?’

‘Yes.’ Angie shoved her hair away from her face, stuffing a piece of bagel into her mouth. She needed a minute to think. This was typical behavior for her. Angie had only been single for a few days before she met Brett. And before that with Jonathon. There wasn’t much of a break between men in her past, and she needed to change her pattern, give herself the time and space to heal.

Reese eyed her friend but gestured for her to continue. ‘So, let’s get back to why you don’t have money. Did Brett do something else to screw you?’

Angie put her food down and grabbed her phone. ‘I was supposed to get the severance already. Do you mind if I check my account?’

Reese waved a hand at her to go ahead, while she started on the second half of her bagel.

Angie plugged her mobile banking data into the app. In the few seconds it took for the website to load, her stomach clenched. Then it plummeted when she saw the overdraft notice.

‘I’m assuming it didn’t go through?’ Reese asked.

Angie shook her head, willing away the sting in her eyes as she moved money over from her savings to account for the overdraft. She tried not to dip into that account often, but in this instance she had no choice. Her job had been enough to keep her afloat while she saved as much as she could. Angie never counted on Brett dumping her, in a way forcing her to leave her job. ‘I don’t want to call them. It’s so mortifying.’

‘You did nothing wrong. He made you uproot your life. I’ll call them if you want.’

‘No,’ Angie said, protecting her phone. Reese had always been like a big, scary older sister to anyone who messed with her. Angie had to do this on her own.

‘Do you need a loan?’ Reese asked.

‘No.’ Angie had created this mess, and she was going to fix it.

‘Well, the offer stands. Whenever you need it.’

Angie nodded and drafted an email to Melissa from the hotel. She handled all the employee paychecks and would be discreet in Angie’s hour of need. She wanted to avoid contacting Brett if she could help it. It would only prove that he had made a better choice with whatever woman he thought was worthier than Angie of his grandmother’s diamond ring. Though she had some choice words she wished she could give him.

She had only just put her phone in her bag when her email pinged.

‘That was fast,’ Reese said.

‘They owe me,’ Angie said, checking the message. It was from Melissa, but her hopes disappeared as she read the out of office reply.

‘She’s not in the office today,’ Angie said, reading the email three times, hoping it would change into a message more in her favor.

‘Is there anyone else you can talk to?’ Reese asked.

‘No,’ she said, even though it wasn’t true. Today wasn’t about her old life. She had enough savings to get her through as long as she kept to a tight budget.

Angie couldn’t help the sinking feeling that her pride was getting in the way of reaching out to Brett about her paycheck, despite it being what she was owed. Her heart was heavy in her chest, and she was considering that it might be better to go without than confronting Brett again. Her cheeks burned with anger and frustration. Shaking Brett from her mind she glanced up at her friend.

‘So, what are you looking for?’ Angie needed to change the subject. ‘I’m your bag carrier for the entire day.’

Reese ticked names off her fingers. ‘Jeremy, his parents, our niece and nephew, his coworkers too. Are you sure you’re not going to do any shopping?’

Angie knew Reese was fishing to find out about her gift. She was awful at accepting surprises. When they were kids, Reese used to come over even more than usual around her birthday and Christmas to try and find presents in Angie’s house. Little did she know Angie’s hiding spot was behind her dad’s toolbox in his basement workshop.

Reese pushed off the bench. ‘Well, let’s get going then. I might fall asleep here if we stay any longer.’

***

As they walked through the department store, Angie continued eating her breakfast. Her stomach was a jumble of nerves, but she tried to savor each bite. There was no way she was eating lunch out. She was looking forward to her mother’s home-cooked meals, and there was no way her bank account would allow too many frivolous purchases until she was sure of the extra money. Sneaking small pieces of bagel out of the bag at a time, Angie remembered how food wasn’t allowed in the store. It didn’t stop her keeping candy in her pocket when she worked there all those years ago, and it certainly wouldn’t stop her now.

‘Bringing back memories for you?’ Reese asked.

‘It’s like stepping into another time,’ Angie said. The harsh lighting was still the same, and the warmth inside the store was unmistakable. It was a simpler time and place in her mind, yet it had a substantial impact on her life. Starting work young had helped her understand the importance of responsibility. It helped that Dad was proud of her for accepting the important responsibility of work. Paychecks funded her trips to the movies and new clothes for school.