It's early Christmas morning. Tiffany, dressed in green, is running around her apartment and trying to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything. She looks in the mirror.
"I could really use a necklace," she said. She goes over to her jewelry case, looks at the box that she received the previous day and opens it. The emeralds sparkled at her. "Well it certainly matches, but I don't think it would send the right message. She takes out a chunky gold necklace and quickly fastens that. Her phone rings.
"Don't have time! Don't have time!" she said, making time anyway to go pick it up. "Yellow," she said, her accent slipping out.
"Morning, Merry Christmas," came the chipper voice at the other end.
"Doug, hi! Merry Christmas. I really have to run though, can I call you after I get back to the studio?"
"You're going to General Hospital now?" he asked.
"Yeah, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Steve Hardy's story," she said.
"Great, do me a favor and make it a point to see Santa Claus."
"Well, of course, I'll see Santa Claus, can't have a report on this day of all days without him."
"OK, good," he said. "I wish I could be there. I miss you."
"I miss you too," she said. "Gotta run, bye."
She hung up, grabbed her keys and purse and ran out of the apartment.
Tiffany gave orders to her crew and then stood back and let them do the work. Steve Hardy told the story of the birth of the baby Jesus with the children seated all around him and even the nurses, doctors and parents at the hospital were enthralled. Tiff got a lump in her throat herself, not just at the story, but at the sight of all of them there in the room.
Robin led the Christmas parade with everyone singing and being joyful into the boardroom, where Santa Claus arrived and doled out presents to all the children. Tiffany leaned back against the wall and soaked it all in. When the last gift was given out, she gestured to her cub reporter to interview Santa Claus. The young reporter seemed nervous, but got through it without having to cut.
"How'd I do, Ms. Hill?" she asked when she bounced off.
"You did very well, Stacey. Why don't you take it back to the station and see what you can put together?"
"Me?"
"Of course. I think you can handle it. Rob will help you. Just remember..."
"I know - don't play it too sappy and don't play it too straight."
"You've come a long way in a short time, you're very good."
Stacey beamed even wider and bounced out of the room.
"Nice work, Dan ... I mean Santa," Tiffany said when Dan Rooney came up to her.
"I could say the same to you. I don't think there's a person happier about their Christmas gift in this room," he said.
"She'll be pushing me off the news desk before I know it," Tiff sighed.
"I have something that might take your mind off that, at least for today," Dan said, pulling a present from out of the inner lining of his costume.
"For me?"
"A certain young doctor who couldn't be here today wanted to make sure you had a happy holiday," Dan said.
"Thank you very much," she said, kissing Dan on the cheek and giving him a playful tickle under the chin.
"And now that I've had my Christmas wish fulfilled, I must be getting back to the North Pole, or at least out of this costume. Merry Christmas," he said.
"Merry Christmas, Santa," Tiffany said.
She looked down at the box as he left the room and thought about how strange it was that she was looking at the same size box two days in a row. She tugged at the bow and pulled back the wrapping. Another velvety jewelry box. She cautiously opened it, and saw a beautiful strand of pearls. She caught her breath for the second time in two days. This box had a note, though. "You don't know how much I wish I could be there and I know I should be waiting to say this in person, but I love you."
Tiffany read the last part over and over again and her eyes filled with tears. She wasn't quite sure why. She tucked the box into her purse, holding on to the note and left the boardroom.
A few hours later she was in her office, with an open bottle of champagne. The necklace box was open on her desk and Doug's note, now crumpled, still in her hand. She couldn't get over it. Her phone rang.
"Tiffany something-or-other," she said in a slightly tipsy but definitely distracted voice.
"Sounds like your Christmas has gone well," Doug said at the other end of the line.
"Doug, you incredible romantic fool, how could you do that to me?"
"Which 'that' are we talking about specifically?"
"The pearls ... the words in your note ... they're beautiful."
"Which is beautiful?" Doug said, having trouble discerning which she meant.
"Both ... all of them. I can't believe you did that."
"I can't believe I did either. I should have told you before I left. I probably should have told you the day I met you because I'm pretty sure I've been in love with you since I laid eyes on you."
Tiffany slumped back in her chair, overwhelmed. "I am sure I don't deserve you."
"You're wrong. You do. So you liked them?"
"Which?"
"Either ... or both."
"Yes. I loved the pearls. But your words, I'm not sure I even have one to describe what that means to me."
"Well, maybe you can show me on New Year's."
"You'll be back New Year's Eve?" she asked.
"There's no way I'm ringing in 1988 without you in my arms."
"Sounds wonderful. You know General Hospital is having a blind date auction to raise money for the pediatrics wing that night. Steve Hardy roped me in right after telling the Christmas story. The man certainly knows how to play his cards all right."
"There's definitely a reason why he's been chief of staff for so long," Doug said. "All right, I'll be back in time to bid on your affections, my love."
Tiffany smiled at the words. "Give your family my best."
"I already did, they absolutely loved the sweet potato pie," he said.
"I'm glad."
"I love you," he said.
"I love you," she repeated back, then hung up the phone and thought about what she just said. She took another swig of champagne.
