Angel Sight: Christmas Gifts

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor claim to own The Pretender or any characters mentioned herein the plot is all I can claim, no infringement is intended, and no money will be made.

Timeline: This takes place shortly after Carthis, December 2001

Dickens, Vermont

Ms. Parker, Sydney, and Broots got out of their car which had stopped in a fantasy or more appropriately phrased by Sydney, 'Winter Wonderland'.

The quaint little Vermont town was alive with not just Christmas décor and lights but everyone in town was dressed and acted as though they were part of a Dickens novel.

"Man, this is just like the life size version a Christmas village you set up on your dining room table."

"Only thing that's missing is Scrooge." Miss Parker commented bitterly.

Sydney smiled in spite of himself. "Well, I do believe you are an apt substitute Miss Parker."

Miss Parker's cocked her head. "Keep it up, Freud. I won't be renewing your subscription to Abnormal Psychology Today for Christmas. C'mon, let's find this accounting firm. I'm sure Boy Genius has left a doozy of a present there.

Soon the three of them were standing outside of Scrooge & Marley CPA, PA.

"You have got to be kidding! Even I wouldn't let these guys do my taxes!" Broots exclaimed.

"Let's get it over with!" Miss Parker sighed.

Jake Marley was very helpful to the three. He told them that Jarod had been up to his old tricks helping to expose a fake Christmas charity and redirected the money so that it did indeed go to needy children.

"That's our boy!" Miss Parker said quietly as she flipped through Jarod's red notebook.

Sydney got close and whispered in her ear so no one else could hear. "You sound as if you're almost proud of him."

Miss Parker only closed the notebook and handed it Sydney.

"Anyway Jarod said that a Miss Parker would be picking up some papers. So I left them in the conference room. You can take a look at them in there."

Miss Parker started to follow Marley and noticed that Sydney and Broots weren't behind her.

"You're not coming?"

"He only said, 'Miss Parker'" Broots claimed uncomfortably.

Sydney bolstered Broots' assertion, "I've learned over the years that when Jarod only indicates one of us to browse something he means it to be a personal thing."

Miss Parker was suddenly nervous but just nodded and entered the conference room.

It was the typical mahogany wood conference room with huge library shelves climbing the walls. On the table, sat a small box marked, "Ghost of Christmas Past." She sat down in front of the box and also saw a file folder marked, "Ghost of Christmas Present"

"Well who am I to skip the proper order."

She opened the small box and immediately gasped when she saw a small red book with gold lettering.

Catherine Parker's Diary.

An immediate ball of pain rose in her gut that Jarod would keep this from her. She pulled it from the box like a child grabbing at its favorite toy at Christmas. She was unable to stem the tear rolling down her cheek.

"Damn you!"

Then she saw the card with Jarod's distinctive handwriting. She picked it up.

Miss Parker,

I must admit it was never my intention to keep your mother's diary from you as long as I have. But after everything we experienced recently… I felt a need to put this right between us. Please read this diary and know that your Mother's thoughts and feelings only confirm what we both know- her desire for you to get away from the Centre.

Jarod

Miss Parker swallowed hard knowing he was right. But avoiding that subject for now she turned her attention to the "Ghost of Christmas Present" She opened the file folder and found only an airline ticket to Montreal under the name Katerina Patrovna. The ticket was one way for Jan 3rd, her birthday. Another note card was attached.

Miss Parker,

Maybe you'll forgive an old friend for being presumptuous? Perhaps it's time for a New Year's Resolution? A turning point?

Yours truly,

Someone to turn to

Parker was breathless. "You don't mess around, do you? But something is missing here Jarod. Where's the Ghost of Christmas Future?"

She didn't answer her own question. Perhaps Jarod was hoping the future was with him. She closed her eyes and focused on the voice in her head.

Trust Jarod trust Jarod

"Easy for you to say, Mom." Miss Parker said as she twisted the diamond ring on finger. After gathering herself together and her new gifts, she left the room and found Sydney and Broots. "I don't think there's anything else here. Ready to go back to Blue Cove?"

"I know I am. Debbie and I haven't had chance to put up the tree yet." Broots complained and went to get the car.

Miss Parker and Sydney laughed.

Noticing a softer Parker, "Are you alright, Miss Parker?"

"I'm fine, Syd." She thanked him with touch to his arm and escorted him out.

Knight, Healy, Lytle & Ross

Blue Cove, Delaware

Jarod had slid very comfortably into the clothes of an attorney and gone to see Mr. Parker's former attorneys.

"Mr. Healy, please understand that as Miss Parker's personal representative we believe we have waited long enough for her father's will to be read. She said that I should make it perfectly clear that now weeks after his death any further stalling would not be tolerated and would be met with legal action."

Well I suppose it would be possible to let you browse the will. But copies will not be allowed. His son, Mr. Lyle hasn't even seen the will yet.

Jarod rolled his eyes discreetly, knowing Lyle had orchestrated cutting his sister out of the loop. "Of course."

He was led to the man's office. When Mr. Parker's will was put before him, Jarod got the small digital camera ready in his pocket. He'd been ready for just this circumstance. And like any true special effects man he had a special mixture of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and Milk of Magnesia ready to go.

The look on Healy's face was priceless as Jarod ran after 'pretending' to upchuck the mixture on the man's office floor. Jarod ran for the attorney's private bathroom and asked the attorney to get him a glass of water and an alka seltzer.

While he was gone, Jarod browsed the contents of the will and quickly took pictures of each page. To Mr. Healy's knowledge he left that day without even seeing the will.

Jarod easily entered Miss Parker's Summer House as he had on many occasions. "Breaking in more likely," he mused to himself, "She really should just leave me a key."

Instead of just leaving his gift, Jarod decided to look around. Unpacked Christmas ornaments scattered all around a bare tree caught his attention. They had little tags with the date and creator's signature, 'MP' attached, obviously made for her mother and father in her childhood.

Unfortunately there were also empty bottles around discarded recently. Jarod picked up one of the bottles.

"Scotch. I see your taste hasn't changed." He sighed heavily.

It was then he noticed the small white fur on the table and red glitter on the table. "Never pegged you for an arts and crafts kind of girl, Miss Parker."

A small rabbit ornament lay on its side. It seemed to be drying. On the belly of the rabbit, Miss Parker had written with a red glitter pen, 'J, Christmas 1996'

That made Jarod grin ear to ear. He guessed that Miss Parker bought this new ornament knowing she could no longer safely keep the rabbit he gave her with her traveling schedule. But she had memorialized his gift and cherished it. Jarod fingered the soft fur of the ornament as though it were the real rabbit. Reminded of the lonely children who shared each other's company that day.

Then Jarod was ready to deliver his last gift. He took the copies of Mr. Parker's will in a file marked "Ghost of Christmas Future" from his jacket and set it on her coffee table. So that she wouldn't miss it, he set "Jarod Bunny" ornament on top.

"Merry Christmas, Miss Parker." He said and let himself out the way he'd come.