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Jessica Melrose ran forward with the rest of the dancers and they took a bow, before the curtains closed. She headed to the back room, where friends and family were waiting with flowers and praises.

Jessi took her jeans from where they were hanging on a chair in the back of the room, and put them on. It was the night before Christmas, and they had just finished their final performance of The Nutcracker.

But unlike all her other friends, she didn't have anyone coming to pick her up. Her husband Paul was on an urgent business trip to Ohio, and because of all the people wanting to visit their relatives over Christmas, the planes and trains were fully booked. There was no way he would make it back on time.

Jessi reached for a T-shirt and pulled it on over her leotard, then shrugged on her denim jacket. It was snowing and the night air was chilly. Walking alone on the icy pavements would be a nightmare.

"Merry Christmas!" a familiar voice boomed out. Jessi spun around, a relieved smile pushing at the edges of her mouth. "You're here!" She threw her arms around Paul's waist.

"Missed me?" he teased with a grin, ruffling her hair. Handing her a bouquet of a dozen red roses, he slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"How on earth did you manage to get here?" Jessi asked, incredulous, as they made their way out of the theater into the cold, snowy night.

"My last meeting there ended early, so I hung around the airport praying. At last someone who had booked a ticket to Stamford cancelled because her mom had a heart attack. From Stamford I hitched a ride to Stoneybrook, then squeezed into a train to get here," Paul explained.

Stoneybrook. For a split second, Jessi's heart sank as she remembered the town where she'd practically lived all her life. After high school, Mr. Brailsford from Dance New York had contacted her again, and this time she'd jumped at the chance. The next few years were just dances, performances and the big move to New York, where she'd met and married Paul. Her family was still back in Stoneybrook, but she hadn't talked to them in a while.

"You okay?" Paul asked when Jessi didn't say anything.

"Yeah," Jessi answered. "I was just thinking about the last time I talked to my family. It was probably in February, during Mama and Dad's wedding anniversary. Maybe I should call later. I mean, it is Christmas Eve."

Paul replied, "I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. Especially your younger brother. He's, what, eighteen?"

"Yeah, just got out of high school. I can't wait to hear his voice again," Jessi said wistfully. They turned onto their street and strolled down to their apartment building.

In the elevator, Jessi observed a family living a few floors up just back from Christmas dinner at their grandmother's home. They had three kids, two girls and a boy. Jessi had always wanted lots of children, but that would spoil her figure and ruin her career.

Unlocking the front door, Paul and Jessi were greeted by a seven-year-old girl. She flung her arms around Jessi and hugged her tightly. "Can I open my presents now?"

Jessi laughed and shook her head. "You know we always keep them till Christmas morning. It keeps the suspense growing."

The girl's name was Marissa. Her birth mother was Jessi's cousin Keisha, who had given birth when she was only nineteen. Still single and not wanting to keep the baby, Keisha had begged and pleaded until Jessi had agreed to adopt her. Since Jessi couldn't have any kids, this way she would satisfy herself and do Keisha a big favor.

Jessi shooed Marissa off to bed with a big kiss on the forehead. The little girl looked exactly like her, with cocoa-colored skin, big chocolate eyes, dark hair and love for dancing.

Jessi and Paul got ready for bed. When they were both sitting up, Paul turned on the television and channel-surfed until he found a golf tournament. Jessi picked up the phone and dialed home.

"Hello, Merry Christmas!" someone chirped.

"Becca?" Jessi said tentatively. "Jessi?" Becca exclaimed, surprised.

"Yeah. Um, listen, how are you guys? How's everyone?"

"We're fine. We're opening our presents now." Jessi could hear tearing of gift-wrap and opening of boxes in the background.

"Can you put Mama on?" Jessi asked. "Sure." There was a clunk as Becca dropped the phone, then her mother answered in her warm, kind voice. "Jessi?"

"Hi, Mama."

"How are you? We've barely spoken since, what, February? I can't believe how famous you are now! I tried to get tickets to your Christmas ballet but they were all sold out." Mrs Ramsey stopped for breath.

"Oh, Mama, I miss you guys so much. Tell me everything that's happening."

"Well…" Mrs Ramsey paused, then let out a loud squeal. Jessi heard barking, and lots of excited noises.

"Oh, my! Jessi, your Aunt Cecelia just opened a box with a cocker spaniel inside! Becca gave it to her!" Mrs Ramsey was practically yelling.

"Wow, cool. Erm, so, what's up with Squirt?"

"John Phillip Ramsey, Jr.?" Mrs Ramsey joked. "He grew out of that nickname years ago, sweetie. He says it's childish and embarrassing. He now likes to be called Jon. J-O-N," she spelled out. "He's off to UCLA in three months. The application was approved, and the letter arrived two days ago."

"Give him a kiss for me," Jessi told her mother, feeling a pang of jealousy and sadness that she wasn't there to celebrate Christmas with them.

"Sure. And your dad and your aunt Cecelia too?"

"You bet. And Mama…I promise I'll visit soon. When I have time."

"Okay. Jessi, sweetheart, I have to go now. I love you."

"I love you too, Mama. Bye!" Jessi listened to her mother say goodbye, then hung up the phone. She sniffled.

"Is everything okay?" Paul asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," Jessi lied, wiping away a tear. "It's just allergies."

"Okay." Paul turned back to his program.

A minute later, the phone rang again. Jessi answered in a second. She listened for a moment, just murmuring "Okay" and "Yeah" over and over again. Finally she hung up, and the sparkle was back in her eyes.

"Who was that?" Paul asked, glancing at her.

"My old friend, Mallory. We're going to have a reunion!"