1985
10 Days before Christmas
"Why are we stopping here?" Dempsey asked as Makepeace parked on double yellow lines outside Dickens and Jones.
"I need to pick up a Christmas present",
"Hey you needn't"
"I won't be long, and don't worry I haven't"
"What do I do if one of those traffic wardens comes along?"
"Show them your charm and your SI10 card"
Makepeace came back out, Dempsey is writing in his note book
She looked a little surprised "You and paper work! – what are you writing"
"My Christmas card list"
"Am I on it?"
"Am I on yours yet?"
"No"
"So why would I put you on mine? Oh but Happy Christmas" He passed an envelope to her
"What's this?"
"It's a Christmas gift"
Makepeace took it and examined it "It's a parking ticket!
"Yeh the meter maid said to wish you happy Christmas"
"I told you to show her your SI10 card"
"I did"
"And?"
"And she was gutsy, she asked if we were on police business"
"And?"
"And I said maybe, so she said that maybe you could pay the fine if you weren't"
"What happened to your usual allure?"
"Some people are resistant!"
3 Days before Christmas
"Dempsey?" Makepeace questioned "What are you planning to do at Christmas?"
"Me? Oh nothin really, I did think I'd watch your Queen on TV doing her Christmas speech thing – that's a British Institution isn't it? Why – what are you doing?"
"Me, oh I'm going to my father's place, he's got a house full of guests".
"Oh yeh, I hope he's vetted them all this time"
"As a matter of fact he's asked me to invite you".
"Your old man's inviting me to your ancestral palace?"
"I think he was rather taken with you and our finding the missing jade."
"Yeh, I was taken by him, good bar as well."
"So"
"So what?"
"So shall I tell him you're coming?"
"Do you want me to come?"
"It's got nothing to do with me"
"The only reason I'm invited is to do with your father?"
"Well it's his invitation, oh and you'll miss the Queen; the party will be eating then."
"I dunno, I was rather looking forward to your Queen's speech. I thought you were related to the Queen"
"Not that closely"
Christmas Eve
Dempsey carried in two bottles, wrapped in Christmas paper.
"You needn't of you know"
"Oh don't worry these are for your father"
"He wouldn't expect anything"
"I know, but I like him and I know he'll appreciate fine bourbon and Christmas is supposed to be about giving isn't it?"
"Have you brought anything else with you?"
"Just my clothes"
Christmas Day
Makepeace picked up the small parcel on her pillow undid the bow and unwrapped the present. She opened it to find earrings and necklace; she smiled and took them over to her dressing table and, sitting down, tried them on. She smiled again, exquisite; she knew exactly which dress would show them off. She dressed for Christmas dinner.
Dempsey looked at the shirt he hadn't hung in his room; he felt it – first-rate, very nice; as his hands ran down the sleeve he suddenly noticed the cuff links in place. He took one off and studied it, and then he turned and noticed the empty box on his pillow along with an unsigned Christmas card. He smiled. He dressed for Christmas dinner
Dempsey made his way over to Harry; he observed "I like those earrings"
"Actually so do I" She continued "I couldn't help noticing those cuff links – very suave"
"Thank you - I like them"
"Jim, over here" one of many female voices competed for his attention, he turned to make his way over, but before he left he winked at Harry "Christmas is a time for giving after all"