Miss Julia Stands Her Ground by Ann B. Ross

Author:Ann B. Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Two days later I tapped on the open door of Hazel Marie’s room, the downstairs one that used to be a guest room no one ever used, and peeked around the jamb. “Hazel Marie?”

“Oh, wait!” she said, and I heard a great rustling of paper. “Just a minute, Miss Julia. Don’t come in yet, or yes, come on in but close your eyes.” She giggled, while I waited with some impatience. “Okay, you can look.”

I stepped into a room that might’ve been hit by a cyclone. Wrapping paper, ribbon, boxes, shopping bags, and bits of Scotch tape were all over the bed and the floor.

“I’m wrapping presents,” she said.

“So I see,” I said, surveying the damage. “I expect you’ve found that the wrappings can cost as much as the gifts, and sometimes more.”

“They sure can, but I’m being careful. I got all my wrapping supplies at Eckerd’s, so I didn’t spend all that much.” She quickly took an armload of boxes off the easy chair, and said, “Sit here, Miss Julia. Would you like me to wrap something for you? I can do all of yours, if you want me to.”

I sank into the chair and said, “No, I don’t have anything to wrap yet. And it won’t be much when I do. I declare, Hazel Marie, from the looks of this room, I’d say you’ve about bought out the town.”

“Oh,” she said, looking around as I had done. “I didn’t think I had, but I guess it looks like it. I tried to exercise some discretion, just like you told me, but, Miss Julia, I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had, getting things for the people I love and not having to worry about paying for them.”

I almost rolled my eyes, disappointed but not at all surprised. That money was burning a hole in her pocket, just as I’d thought it would.

“Be that as it may,” I said, “I just came in to tell you that, as much as I hate doing it, I’ll be going out for lunch, so you and Little Lloyd and Lillian will have to manage alone for a couple of hours. I may do a little shopping while I’m out, too.”

“Oh, that’ll be so much fun. I’m glad you’re going out, and to tell you the truth, I’ve been worried that you haven’t had time to do any shopping. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and the last shopping day before Christmas.”

“Yes,” I sighed, “I know. It’ll probably be wall-to-wall shoppers today, too. I’ve never waited this long before, but I’ve had a lot on my mind this year.”

“Can I help you? I’ll be glad to do some of it for you.”

Lord, I thought, no way in this world would I give her an excuse to hit another department store, but I said, “No, thank you, I’ll manage.”

Her eyes sparkled as she said, “It has to be a secret, doesn’t it? It’s no fun if people know what they’re getting. Oh, Miss Julia, Christmas is the most fun in the world, and this one is the best ever.

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