Christmas Therapy

She pressed her fingers against her temples. Tonight would be fun. She would celebrate the upcoming season with fellow townspeople. Tonight she would forget, as she did most days.

Zipping the back of her dress, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She pirouetted, tucking the stray tendrils behind her ears. She looked over at Tinsel who jumped to the floor from her bed, and wagged his tail.

“What do you think?” she asked.

He barked.

She squatted and scratched behind his ears. “You be good for the Coleman’s. They’ll be over soon.”

Her phone dinged with a text. It had to be Sonia wondering where she was. Grabbing her coat, gloves, and purse, and strolled out the door. What would the night bring?

***

Sonia bounced in her seat as Heather steered down the street to the Sawyer mansion. Heather grinned at her sister’s dance moves in the passenger seat. Stopping at a traffic light, she changed the radio station.

“What’s that for?” Sonia asked.

“We need Christmas music.” She glanced at the touch screen once more and selected her favorite station. Hearing Donnie Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” Heather swayed in her seat. “There we go.”

“Okay this is good,” Sonia said.

The sisters sang along to the music. Turning into the gated community, she passed homes with expensive vehicles. The town had grown as real estate moguls built a few resorts outside of Maple Meadow, drawing in more tourists. One of those real estate moguls was Richard Sawyer, Morgan’s father.

Heather passed large front lawns and manicured hedges and shrubs. Fresh snow covered them like a blanket. Long driveways that widened out to the front entryway lined most of the houses. Approaching the Sawyer home, Heather pulled into the driveway past the heavy metal gates. Cars already lined the sidewalk, so the townspeople were pouring in to celebrate the season.

“I hope we don’t get stuck,” Sonia said.

“We may have to park on the street.” Heather shifted gears to back up, only to hear the blaring of a horn. She slammed the brakes, her car jerking.

“What in the world?” Sonia turned in her seat. “Did you see that truck behind you?”

Heather checked her side mirrors. “I guess not.” She waited for the driver to back up. The only problem, another car pulled up behind the truck. Heather rolled her eyes.

“Just great.” She backed up some, but the truck didn’t move an inch.

“Does he not see me trying to get out?”

Sonia looked behind her. “I think the car’s moving.”

Heather let down her window, the crisp metallic smell in the air. When she stuck her head out the window, a familiar face driving the truck caught her eye. Heather unconsciously took her foot off the brake as she stared at the man from the grocery store and restaurant. Allen.

She licked her lips. He was here, and she was glad to see him. She blinked to regain her composure.

Sonia yelled. “Heather! You’re going to hit him!”

Heather slammed her foot on the brake again, grateful she didn’t damage Allen’s truck. She looked behind her once more as the car behind him finally cleared the driveway. Allen’s truck backed up, giving room for Heather.

“That could have been a disaster,” Sonia said.

Heather backed onto the street, noticing Allen following her lead. He parked his truck, got out, and headed to the front door. Allen waved to them, but he soon disappeared inside the Sawyer home. Heather parallel parked herself on the street and cut the engine.

“You know him?” Sonia asked.

“Not really.” She wouldn’t give her sister any ammunition tonight.

Sonia checked her makeup in the mirror. “Ready to have some fun?”

Heather checked her lipstick. “I guess so.”