Heart-Shaped Hack(48)
There was a family of three who’d moved to Minneapolis from California for jobs that later fell through. When the mother had come into the food pantry—desperate, cold, hungry—the only thing she’d begged for had been formula for her nine-month-old daughter. Kate had soothed her, given her the formula, and filled a box with food. She’d been coming back ever since, often with her husband and baby in tow.
Rose, a sixty-year-old woman who looked a decade older, came through the line with her daughter and three young grandchildren. Her son-in-law had died two years ago, and Rose had been trying to help her daughter pick up the pieces ever since. Some months were better than others.
None of them had been able to resist giving Kate a hug or her hand a quick squeeze. She was their savior, and at that moment Kate didn’t care that she herself had needed Ian’s help in order to assist them. All that mattered was that they were warm and fed and wearing hopeful smiles despite their circumstances.
Kate had confirmed that Samantha would be attending the dinner, and when Kate spotted her in line with the girls and Georgie, she waved at them. When they reached her, Kate leaned across the table and said, “Santa gave me your present for safekeeping, Georgie. I’ll deliver it as soon as I’m done, okay?”
He nodded excitedly as Samantha ushered them along.
Helena’s husband Bert had dressed up as Santa, and when the children finished eating, they climbed onto his lap and told him what they’d wished for. Then Helena handed a present to them, and none of the children seemed to mind if the gift wasn’t exactly what they’d told Santa they wanted. Kate got choked up on more than one occasion as she observed their smiling faces.
Two volunteers took over for Kate and Ian twenty minutes later. Kate retrieved Georgie’s gift and found him playing alongside the other children a few feet from Bert and Helena. She sat cross-legged on the floor next to him, the gift in her hands. He smiled when he saw Kate and climbed into her lap. She pulled the Hershey’s Kiss from her pocket and watched as he unwrapped it and crammed it into his mouth. Next she handed him the Curious George stuffed animal she’d picked out at Target. Grinning widely, he examined it and then hugged it close.
Kate squeezed him tight. “Do you like it?”
Georgie nodded. “Mine.”
“Yes. It belongs to you. Merry Christmas, sweetie.” She kissed his temple. “Go play.”
Ian had been standing nearby, watching. Kate wiped her eyes as she walked up to him.
“You made that child’s night,” she said. “You made everyone’s night.”
He put his arm around her. “So did you.”
When they got home, Kate kicked off her shoes and Ian built a fire. He reached under the tree and pulled out the present he’d brought, setting it between them on the couch.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Open it.”
Kate untied the gold ribbon, removed the wrapping paper, and lifted the lid. Nestled within the layers of tissue were the most gorgeous items she’d ever seen. There was a black ribbed bustier, its lace bodice shot through with glittering metallic threads and covered with tulle. It zipped up the side but also laced up the back with black ribbons. The matching black thong had bands of wide lace on the sides.
“It’s La Perla,” Kate said, her eyes growing wide when she noticed the tag. The Italian lingerie was a ridiculously indulgent gift, and she didn’t want to know how much it had cost.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. But I’m perfectly happy with Victoria’s Secret.”
“I know you are.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful when removing it from my body.”
“I promise to try.” He pointed at the box. “There’s more.”
The second item was a diaphanous ecru Chantilly lace babydoll nightie. The full skirt had chiffon inserts and a tea rose design. Kate didn’t think she’d ever had a need for the word diaphanous before, but it described the lingerie perfectly. Accompanying the nightie was a tiny pair of lacy high-cut briefs.
“It’s so delicate. And beautiful.” She looked at Ian. “You seem quite partial to babydoll nighties.”
“With good reason. There’s a lot to like.”
Using great care, Kate gently folded the lingerie and placed it back in the box. “Everything is gorgeous. Thank you.” She kissed him, then took a present from under the tree and handed it to him.
“You weren’t supposed to get me anything either.”
“It’s not from me. Santa must have dropped it off.”
Ian unwrapped it, pulled out a bottle of Four Roses single barrel bourbon, and grinned. “Lingerie and liquor. The jolly fat guy sure knows how to party.”
“There are glasses too,” Kate said.
He pulled out one of the rocks glasses and then leaned over to kiss her. “Thank you. This is the perfect gift, and I think Santa would want me to start enjoying it right now.”
He went into the kitchen and returned with the bourbon and a glass of wine for Kate. After throwing another log on the fire, he sat down next to her. Drinks in hand, they snuggled together on the couch.
“What are your mom and dad doing tonight?” Ian asked. Kate’s parents had arrived that afternoon and were staying at a hotel downtown. Kate and Ian were going to join them for dinner on Christmas Day. Their relationship was still fairly new, and Kate didn’t want Ian to feel pressured in any way. But when she’d extended the invitation, he’d said yes immediately and told her he was looking forward to meeting them.