The doorbell rang. Kaitlin rose, saying, "I'll get it." She went to the
door and opened it. A tall, scruffy guy was standing there, holding a
package. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah." He glanced at the piece of paper in his hand. "I'm looking for Kaitlin. No last name."
"I'm Kaitlin," she answered cautiously.
He held out the package. "Here."
She took it warily. "Who's it from?"
"Well, I'm not supposed to say, but." He leaned forward confidentially. "Guy at work, his name's Alec. Know him?"
Her heart gave a leap. She had to fight to keep her voice steady. "Yeah, I know him." Then, casually, "Where do you work?"
"Jam Pony. Messenger service," he added by way of explanation.
"Do I need to sign anything?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nope, thanks."
"Thank you," she replied absently, wondering what was in the package.
He nodded and walked away.
Inside the package lay a teddy bear, a facsimile of what Kaitlin had gotten for Sola. A note lay on it that read:
"For Sola --
Merry Christmas.
-- Santa Claus"
"Yeah." He glanced at the piece of paper in his hand. "I'm looking for Kaitlin. No last name."
"I'm Kaitlin," she answered cautiously.
He held out the package. "Here."
She took it warily. "Who's it from?"
"Well, I'm not supposed to say, but." He leaned forward confidentially. "Guy at work, his name's Alec. Know him?"
Her heart gave a leap. She had to fight to keep her voice steady. "Yeah, I know him." Then, casually, "Where do you work?"
"Jam Pony. Messenger service," he added by way of explanation.
"Do I need to sign anything?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nope, thanks."
"Thank you," she replied absently, wondering what was in the package.
He nodded and walked away.
Inside the package lay a teddy bear, a facsimile of what Kaitlin had gotten for Sola. A note lay on it that read:
"For Sola --
Merry Christmas.
-- Santa Claus"
