"This is the prettiest coat I've ever seen, Miss Farrell! Is it really mine?"

"Of course it is, dear."

Grace hadn't stopped smiling since leaving Miss Hannigan's office. Watching Annie's excitement riding in an automobile for the first time and taking in the sights of New York gave her a new appreciation for the luxuries in her life. Here was a child who'd been deprived of something as simple as a coat when just this morning she'd been looking through her closet feeling tired of the same old tailored business suits day after day. Seeing Annie so gleeful over her one un-tattered garment put things into perspective.

"I'll enjoy it until I go back to the orphanage," Annie said as they walked out of the shop.

"You don't have to give it back. It's yours to keep."

"If I keep it..." she stopped, keeping her focus out the window once she slid into the backseat of the car.

Climbing in next to her, tipping her head to the chauffeur as he shut the door, Grace asked, "Are you afraid Miss Hannigan will take it away?"

Annie nodded.

Failing to come up with a response, Grace sighed and leaned against the car seat. What a menace, that woman. She was curious to know what altercation she'd interrupted upon her entrance. She saved Annie from some punishment, that's all she'd been able to gather. As much as she wanted to know what happened, she decided it was best to let Annie tell her in her own time.

"We're not far from Mr. Warbucks' house, '' she opted to say instead. "While you're here we'll have some new dresses made for you."

Annie's eyes went wide. "Really? All for me?"

"All for you!"

"Gee, Miss Farrell. I dunno what to say." She ran her hand over the bright red fabric of her new coat. "I can't imagine anything prettier than this."

"You don't have to say anything, dear." She reached over and squeezed Annie's hand and winked. "Mr. Warbucks is helping Santa this year."

"Miss Hannigan says that us kids don't deserve to get new things and that we should be grateful for the meat scraps we get for Christmas dinner."

"How terrible…"

Annie shrugged. "It's okay. I feel bad for the other kids who came to the orphanage when they were older. I never had Santa come so it's just another story to me. But Molly… she's my friend, she's still so little, but she remembers presents and Christmas trees."

"That's terrible…"

"You think maybe when I go back to the orphanage, if Santa does want to give me anything, I could bring a couple of presents for my friends? We've gotten real good at hiding those kinds of things."

"Absolutely," Grace said. "Anything at all."

Annie smiled her thanks before returning her attention to the window. When she did, they were pulling up to a gate. Behind it, the grandest building she'd ever seen.

"Leapin' lizards…"