“You put catnip under the tree?”
“Yeah but it was in a plastic bag and wrapped in paper.”
Rose smirked and shook her head. “Ronnie, they can smell catnip a mile away. Tabitha. Tabitha?
Come here, honey.”
The cat moved three steps before falling into a lump on the carpet and cleaning herself.
“I don’t think she’s going anywhere, Rose.”She reached over and picked up a shirt box wrapped in silver paper. “Since I’m over here anyway, let’s start with your first present.” She returned to the couch and handed it over, trying hard to control her enthusiasm and excitement.
Small fingers ran over the fancy paper and red bow. “It’s almost too pretty to open.”
“It’s just wrapping paper. Open it,” she urged.A smile akin to a child’s grew on Ronnie’s face.
Rose looked around. “There’s no place to throw the paper away.”
“Toss it on the floor. I’ll pick it up later. Open it!” Ronnie scooted over until she was on the cushion next to the younger woman.
“I can’t toss it on the floor.” Her fingertip traced the bold writing on the gift tag.
“But…” Ronnie looked around, frowning when she did not find anything suitable in sight. “I’ll be right back.” She hopped off the couch and went into the kitchen. Rose listened to the sound of cupboards opening and shutting, followed by drawers. There was a muttered curse followed by
“There it is.” A few seconds later Ronnie returned, shaking the garbage bag open. She handed it to Rose and returned to the adjoining cushion, tucking her bare feet up underneath her thighs.
“Okay. Now open it.”
The young woman looked from the present to Ronnie. “Thank you.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”Rose slipped her fingernail under the tag and carefully separated it from the package, setting it on the side table. Another pass and one corner flap opened. “Just tear it,” Ronnie growled playfully. “Or we’ll be here until next Christmas.”
Rose looked at the beautiful package, her friend’s overly excited face, then at the present again. Small fingers curled beneath the open flap and with a quick tug tore a large strip of paper away. A few more rips and the box was opened to reveal a rust colored shirt. She picked it up by the shoulders and held it out to look at it. “Oh! That’s very nice.”
“Do you like it?”
“Oh yes, absolutely.” Rose looked at the length of the sleeves, noting they were a perfect match to her shorter arms. “I won’t have to fold over the cuffs.”
“Of course not. I made sure to get the right size.” Ronnie smiled proudly. “Do you like the color?”
“Very much.”
“It matches your eyebrows. I bet you’ll look great in it.”
Rose turned the shirt this way and that, nodding with agreement. It was, quite simply, terrific and she couldn’t wait to wear it. She folded it up and handed it to Ronnie, who set it on the empty cushion at the end of the couch. The trash was moved out of the way and another present retrieved from under the tree…
Rose forced the last piece of wrapping paper into the already overstuffed trash bag and wiped another happy tear from her cheek. “You really are amazing, you know that?”
“I’m glad you think so,” Ronnie responded with a warm smile. It had been a day full of tears and smiles from Rose and the executive could not have been happier. “Those are the only things I wasn’t sure about.” She gestured with her hand at the pair of blue and white sneakers on Rose’s lap. “I can take them back if they’re too big.”
“No, they’re perfect.”
“Great.” Ronnie reached over and picked them up, then looked around for an empty place to put them. The cushion was piled high with clothes and the coffee table was littered with software programs and various other items. She went to set them on the carpet but Tabitha came running over. “Oh no you don’t.” In the end the sneakers were placed on top of the pile of sweaters.
Rose gave a short sniff and blinked several times before moving her hand beneath the afghan. “I guess it’s time for your gift now. I’m sor…”
“No, wait.” Ronnie jumped off the couch. “There’s one more. Don’t go away, I’ll be right back.”
Fingering the thin bow on the gift in her lap, Rose let her gaze settle on the pile of clothes. A fresh tear rolled down her face, causing a frown to cross the blue-eyed woman’s face upon her return. “You know, it wasn’t my intention to make you cry.” She resumed her position on the couch only inches away from Rose.
That earned a chuckle. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed, I guess,” Rose replied, haphazardly wiping the salty drops off her cheeks. “I’ve never gotten so many things at Christmas ever.” She looked around, still amazed at the multitude of presents piled about. “I just can’t…” Rose looked down at her lap and shook her head. “Listen to me, I make it sound like my life was straight out of Oliver Twist.” She took the offered linen handkerchief.
“Of course you don’t,” Ronnie said softly. “Come on, let me give you your last present and then you can give me mine.” She set the jewelry box in Rose’s hands.
“Oh…oh my.” The young woman’s hand began shaking only to be steadied by a much larger one wrapping around hers.
“Open it,” came the whisper near her ear. “It’s okay, it won’t bite.” After a few seconds, long fingers pried the box open to reveal its contents.
Rose stared in amazement at the pendant attached to a thin rope chain. Only an inch and a half long, the white gold had been carefully molded into an exquisite representation of a rose. Tiny emerald and ruby chips made up the petals and leaves while a diamond solitaire rested at the base of the stem. Her lower lip quivered as she touched the pendant reverently with one fingertip.
“Oh Ronnie…it’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“A rose for a rose,” Ronnie said, repeating the slogan that had drawn her to the jewelry in the first place. She took the necklace out of the box and opened the catch. Rose stayed very still as the cool metal touched her skin and Ronnie fastened the chain. “Looks perfect on you.”
“It-it’s too much, Ronnie. I can’t…” She was stopped by a pair of fingers pressing against her lips.
“Rose…” She wiped another tear with her thumb. “I guess Santa should have brought you some handkerchiefs too, hmm?” She dabbed another tear away from Rose’s face. “Listen to me. I wanted you to have this.”
“But…” Rose looked around. “All these clothes, the programs, the shoes and sneakers and…” Ronnie’s fingers silenced her again.
“You deserve nice clothes. You deserve things that fit and look good on you.” She took the young woman’s chin in her hand and forced her to meet her gaze. “And you deserve to wear something pretty. Now…give me a hug, tell me how much you like it, and give me my present.” She said the last part with a playful smile, forcing Rose to smile along with her.