Part 7 (1/2)
”Stocking,” she corrected. ”And of course you'll be included. You'll be added to our gift exchange too!”
”Yes,” he confirmed. ”Your mother already invited me to partic.i.p.ate. I am interested to see how the lots shall be cast.”
With such a large family, the Pomeroys didn't even attempt to have everyone choose gifts for everyone else at Christmastime. Instead, the siblings enjoyed an annual game of Secret Santa. Prissie shook her head in amus.e.m.e.nt. ”We pull names out of a hat.”
”Why do you require an ornament?” Koji asked.
”It's a tradition,” Prissie proudly replied. ”Grandma Nell started it with Aunt Ida when she was a girl, and they included me when I came along. Every year, she buys us one special ornament. We'll choose one for Auntie too, even though her collection is in the attic right now.”
”I see.”
”This way,” she said, pointing confidently at the small forest of artificial trees just ahead. ”Sometimes, Auntie sends me ornaments too. She knows just the kind that I like best, so they're always really beautiful. Oooh, pretty!”
Prissie let go of Koji's hand as they reached the store's impressive display of seasonal ornaments. She drifted between trees of different heights, eagerly inspecting the offerings. He trailed after her, but soon became distracted by the incredible variety. She nearly ran into him when they both circled the same tree in opposite directions.
”There is much to see, but I do not understand the purpose of many of these adornments.” Koji pointed uncertainly to a tree decorated entirely with birds. ”I do not see how this connects with the Savior's birth. Is this a celebration of the fifth day of creation?”
She laughed softly. ”It doesn't really have anything to do with anything,” she explained. ”Some people collect ornaments according to a theme.”
”Like you?” he asked.
”Well, sort of,” she conceded. ”I've always chosen ornaments that I really liked, and they're all different shapes and sizes. But most of them are colored gla.s.s ... like this.” Prissie pointed helpfully to a gla.s.s sphere with swirls of pink and gold covering its surface.
”Will you be searching for an ornament based on appearances again?”
She could tell there was a challenge lurking in his tone, and she impulsively took him up on it. ”I think this year, I want an ornament that reminds me of you.”
He blinked. ”It is not the season of my birth.”
Prissie gently touched a pink-frosted icicle before glancing his way. ”Do you have a birthday?”
Koji hesitated. ”I am not aware of the true date of my beginning, but I do know what day Abner chose for the papers I needed when becoming a Graft.”
”What day?”
”The day I met you,” he replied quietly.
Prissie's eyes widened. ”Summer, then? It was the end of July.”
”Indeed.”
”I don't remember what the exact date was,” she admitted.
”The twenty-fifth day of July,” he supplied.
”I'll remember that!” she cheerfully promised.
”Why?”
She rolled her eyes. ”Because we'll need to celebrate the day together ... obviously!”
Koji's expression softened. ”That would bring me great joy.”
Back in the food court with Prissie's grandmothers, she and Koji decided on pizza. They carried their tray of food back to the table where Grandma Nell and Grammie Esme were sitting with plates of Chinese takeout. As usual, the young Observer managed to fade into the background, letting the ladies visit while he contentedly chewed.
At first, the main topic of conversation was shoes. Grammie Esme wanted to buy Prissie a new pair to go with the Christmas dress that Grandma Nell had been working on since after Halloween. While her grandmothers debated the pros and cons of suede versus patent leather, Prissie glanced over to see if Koji was enjoying his food. As usual, he ate with concentration, and a smile snuck onto her face.
That's when Grammie chuckled. ”Speaking of pairs ... you two are just so darn cute together! Aren't they adorable, Nell?”
”Are they?”
”Look at them!” Esme gushed.
Grandma Nell nodded but kept her tone even. ”I can see them fine, beings as they're sitting right in front of us.”
”Oh, you know what I mean!” scoffed the other woman, whose eyes were twinkling. ”They look like they're special to one another!”
Prissie couldn't believe her own grandmother would do this to her. Then again, Grammie Esme did love to stir the pot. Still, the teasing made her uncomfortable. Grandma Nell never stood for nonsense, and to Prissie's relief, she came to her granddaughter's defense. ”Is it so strange that these children have become friends? Honestly, Esme!”
”But she's at that age,” Grammie countered, waggling her brows.
Prissie thought she might be on fire, her cheeks were burning so brightly.
”Excuse me,” Koji spoke up, and all eyes swung his way. ”Prissie is my friend, and I am pleased that you can tell so easily. That is as it should be.”
Esme straightened her gla.s.ses. ”You don't say?”
”I do say,” the young angel calmly replied. ”I will gladly confirm it, for it is the truth.”
Grammie clapped her hands and laughed. ”Well said! Doesn't he sound just like a prince, Nell? So chivalrous, coming to her defense like that!”
”He does have manners,” Grandma Nell blandly agreed. ”Now about those shoes. Don't you think heels are too impractical this time of year? There's snow to contend with.”
The conversation drifted back where it belonged, and Prissie breathed a sigh of relief. Koji reached for his drink, and she followed suit since her mouth felt too dry. Then he slid his foot over until it b.u.mped hers. Her grandmothers were deeply entrenched once more, so they paid no mind when she sent Koji a cautious glance. With a small smile, he whispered, ”Fear not.”
Somehow, that was all Prissie needed to hear. She smiled back.
7.