With a frown, she tilted the shoe slightly so she could better read what someone had written on the bottom of the shoe in felt-tip marker: The Gardener-Sparks Christmas shoe—the gift with sole.
Danielle stared at the shoe. “Sparks? This couldn’t be Elizabeth Sparks’s family’s Christmas shoe…could it?”
“It is,” Colin told her. “The shoe ended up in a thrift shop, where Eloise found it. It never occurred to her the shoe had been the one her art teacher had told her about. She always called Elizabeth, Elizabeth the Artist; the surname Sparks never meant anything to her.”
“How do you know all this?” Danielle asked.
“It’s very complicated,” Colin said.
She looked back to the shoe and murmured, “I wonder who Gardener is?”
“It’s Elizabeth’s older brother’s last name. Elizabeth’s mother’s first husband died when she was pregnant with her first child—a boy. She remarried a few years later and had Elizabeth. The older brother always went by his real father’s surname, although his mother’s second husband was every bit a father to him,” Colin explained.
“Gardener…that’s Owen’s last name,” Danielle murmured.
“That’s because Owen is Elizabeth’s older brother,” Colin explained.
Danielle shook her head. “No. Elizabeth told me her brother’s name was Mark.”
“His real name is Owen Mark Gardener. Before he was married, he went by his middle name,” Colin explained.
“His middle name is Mark!” Marie said. “I saw it on his driver’s license.”
“Owen is Elizabeth’s older brother?” Danielle asked.
“Yes, the same one who carelessly threw out the Christmas shoe—and his family,” Colin explained.
“That’s why he was looking at the shoe like that,” Marie said.
“Yes. He knew you had the shoe. He told me all about it when I took him for dinner the other night. Of course, I already knew,” Colin explained.
“How?” Danielle asked.
“That’s not important right now. What is important, you need to make sure Owen gets that shoe tonight during the gift exchange. It’s the nudge he needs to do what he desperately wants to do, but hasn’t yet found the courage.”
“Reunite with his family?” Danielle asked.
“Yes. He carelessly threw away his family when he left Frederickport—just as he carelessly tossed out the Christmas shoe. When most people look at that shoe, they see nothing more than a tacky collection of fake gems and artificial flowers glued onto an absurd canvas. But for some, it represents something precious and priceless—family with its unique traditions, shared stories, and private jokes, which can only really be appreciated by the family members.”
“Can’t I just give this to him?” Danielle asked. “Do we really need to make it part of the white elephant game?”
“Yes, you can just give it to him. And now that I think about it, it really would be out of place in a white elephant gift exchange, considering its value is priceless,” Colin said.
Marie reached over and picked up the gold key and asked Danielle. “Are you going to open the hidden compartment?”
Danielle looked over to Colin and asked, “Why did Eloise hide the key on the shoe? If she wanted someone to find the treasure in the frame after she died, wouldn’t she have taped the key on the back of the frame? She couldn’t have imagined the shoe and frame would end up at the same place. I know they did, but she certainly didn’t know that.”
“No.” Colin shook his head. “She only hid the key there in case she wanted to open the frame’s hidden compartment. And she would never have taped it on the back of the frame for fear someone would find it before she died. Eloise never imagined that the eventual owner of the frame would also have the key. She just assumed someone would realize it had a hidden compartment and pry it open.”
“That might never have happened,” Danielle said. “I certainly would never have guessed that frame had a hidden compartment.”
“I’m just explaining what Eloise thought,” Colin said.
“And Eloise told you all that?” Marie asked.
“Some of it. Some of it I figured out on my own,” Colin explained. “But now that Danielle has the key, it won’t be necessary to break the frame to free the prize.”
Danielle studied the key for a moment while she considered Eloise’s wishes for the ring.
“What are you thinking, Danielle?” Marie asked after a prolonged silence.
“I was just thinking how Eloise put the ring in the frame because she liked the idea of someone finding the hidden compartment—and she imagined their excitement at getting it open and discovering something was hidden inside—something valuable beyond their wildest dreams. She liked thinking of how excited that person might be,” Danielle explained.
“Very true,” Colin agreed.
“But if I open the frame now, none of that will happen,” Danielle said.
“What do you mean?” Marie asked.
Danielle looked to Marie. “For one thing, I already know what is in the hidden compartment. Sort of like knowing what is in a wrapped Christmas gift before opening it. That element of surprise—which is part of the fun—is gone. And for another thing, I am really the last person I know who would be remotely excited to find a valuable piece of jewelry. Do I really want something else to lock up in my safety deposit box? And if I sell it, that is really no different than the estate selling it, which, according to Colin, Eloise wanted to avoid.”
“But if someone else finds the ring, chances are they would sell it too,” Marie argued.
“Yes, but they will experience the excitement of finding it—and then the excitement of selling it so they can buy something they really want. I won’t experience any of that.”
Thirty-Six
Danielle’s cellphone rang again. She peeked at it and cringed. The next moment she answered the call. “I promise I will be there in ten minutes. I have to rewrap a couple of gifts. But I promise I will be there in a few minutes.”
“What is going on over there?” Walt asked.
“I’ll explain later. But everything is fine.”
When Danielle got off the phone, she went to the parlor and sorted through the items Chris had picked up from the Astoria thrift shop. She selected the puzzle box and then hastily wrapped it.
“What are you doing?” Marie asked. The ghost stood at the parlor doorway with Colin.
“I need to substitute something for the shoe. I’m going to use the puzzle box Chris picked up.” When she was finished wrapping the white elephant gift, she grabbed a Christmas gift bag and some tissue paper from a basket sitting under the desk.
“What’s that for?” Marie asked.
“It’s for the shoe.”
The sound of lively chatter and laughter blended with Christmas music hit Danielle the moment she opened the door to the Bartleys’ home. It didn’t appear anyone, save Walt, had particularly noticed her absence the last forty minutes, considering everyone seemed enthralled with whatever conversation he or she was currently engaged in.
Walt greeted her the moment she walked into the house, giving her a quick kiss and taking the large bag of gifts she carried. Marie flashed him a smile and walked to the living room, while Colin followed her.
“I was getting worried about you,” Walt whispered in her ear as they walked into the kitchen. “What were you doing?”
“Dani? Where have you been,” Lily demanded. She stood in the kitchen with Kelly, while holding Connor on one hip.
“I forgot my white elephant gifts,” Danielle told her. “And then I had to rewrap one.”
“Why?” Lily asked.
Danielle glanced from Lily to Kelly and then looked back to Lily. “Max got into the packages and ripped one,” she lied.
Lily frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Max.”
“Max is a cat, isn’t he?” Kelly asked. “Cats always do stuff like that.”
“Where s
hould I put these?” Walt asked, holding up the bag slightly.
“You can set it on the counter,” Lily told him.
After Walt set the bag on the counter, Danielle walked over to it and pulled out the gift bag holding the Christmas shoe.
“What’s that?” Lily asked.
“Something I have to give Owen,” Danielle explained.
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“It’s the shoe,” Danielle said with a smile.
Lily frowned. “I thought that was for the white elephant game?”
Danielle shook her head. “No. It’s too valuable for that.”
Danielle flashed Lily and Kelly a grin and then turned from the counter, holding the gift bag, while a confused Walt followed his wife from the kitchen.
“What is going on?” Walt asked.
“I can’t explain it all now. But I need to give this to Owen.”
“Did you know he is Elizabeth Sparks’s brother?” Walt asked when they stepped out of the kitchen.
Danielle paused for a moment and turned to Walt. “How did you know?”
“Adam told us. Apparently they have been estranged for years,” Walt explained.
“Where is Owen?” she asked.
“I saw him going down the hall right before you got here. I assume he was going to the bathroom,” Walt told her.
“I need to give this to him,” Danielle said. When she stepped into the hallway a few moments later, the door to the guest bathroom opened and out walked Owen.
“Owen,” Danielle called out, “I need to give you something.”
When she reached Owen, she handed him the gift bag. Confused, he looked down at the bag and reluctantly accepted it.
“I don’t understand. Lily said we were doing the gift game in an hour,” Owen asked.
“This isn’t a white elephant gift. It’s for you,” Danielle explained while Walt stood silently behind her. The three stood in the hallway outside the guest bathroom door while the sounds of the party drifted in.
He shook his head and started to hand the gift bag back. “No, you shouldn’t be getting me anything. I feel funny as it is that you wouldn’t let me get the gift for the game.”
“This belongs to you,” Danielle explained. “I’m simply returning it to its rightful owner—at least, to one of them.”
Confused, Owen reached into the bag and pulled out the white tissue paper and then looked inside. He let out a gasp.
“Merry Christmas,” Danielle said softly.
Reverently, Owen dipped his hand in the gift bag and pulled out the Christmas shoe. “How did you know?”
“Read the bottom. It has your name.”
Owen turned the shoe over and looked at the inscription. A smile curled his lips. “When I saw it at your house, the bottom was covered with Christmas paper. I was sure it was the same shoe. I mean seriously, how could there be two almost exactly the same?” He let out a laugh.
“Eloise Winterborne bought this at a thrift shop. While your sister had told her about your family’s Christmas shoe, Eloise didn’t remember Elizabeth’s last name, and she had no idea it was the same shoe. I doubt she even knew your sister no longer had it. Eloise is the one who covered the sole with gift wrap.”
“How did you know Elizabeth is my sister—or that Eloise was the one who added the Christmas wrap?” Owen asked.
“I would like to know that myself,” Walt said under his breath.
“I have my ways. Anyway, after I removed the Christmas paper from the bottom of the shoe, I saw the name Sparks. Elizabeth had told me about the Christmas shoe. I knew it had to be the same one. And your last name is Gardener. You told me you used to live in Frederickport, that you were estranged from your family—and Elizabeth implied she was estranged from her brother. Plus, I saw you downtown watching Elizabeth. At the time, I didn’t realize she was your sister.” It wasn’t exactly the truth, Danielle thought. But close enough.
Danielle took the now empty gift bag and tissue paper from Owen while he continued to hold the shoe—studying it.
“I remember when we made this,” Owen said, his voice barely a whisper. “I think I was my grandpa’s favorite—oh, not that he didn’t adore Elizabeth. But I was the firstborn, and those first few years of my life, before Mom remarried, Grandpa was always around. I was his boy. He never had a son.” Owen paused a moment and took a deep breath, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
“Elizabeth mentioned something about your grandfather being sick when you made this,” Danielle said.
“He died a few months before the next Christmas. His last Christmas, he was pretty sick, and we were over there a lot, helping Grandma. I just remember how he really loved the idea of us making the Christmas shoe.” Owen glanced up and asked, “Did Elizabeth tell you about the bridal shoes?”
Danielle nodded. “She did.”
“I think Grandpa was a little annoyed when my uncle got rid of the bridal shoes. I heard him say once that my uncle didn’t have much of a sense of humor. Anyway, Grandpa didn’t glue anything on the Christmas shoe, but he kept giving us suggestions, telling us we needed to add more stuff. And then when my aunt and uncle opened it up on Christmas morning—well, Grandpa laughed like hell. It was good to hear him laugh; he was sick so much of the time.”
“And then the shoe was passed around?” Danielle asked.
“I know it probably seems silly, but it really was fun each Christmas, as every family member wondered if they would be the one to get it that year. Even my uncle thought it was pretty funny. Once my cousin wrapped the shoe in an enormous box filled with a couple of bricks and gave it to his brother, who was completely fooled.” Owen smiled at the memory.
“So why did you get rid of it?” Danielle asked.
Owen let out a deep breath. “We hadn’t been married long. My wife knew about the Christmas shoe, but she didn’t get it. Thought it was stupid. Of course, at the time she didn’t tell my family that. And then Mom gave it to her on our first Christmas as a married couple. In retrospect, I understand it was Mom’s way of welcoming her into the family—in spite of the fact we all knew my parents had adored my old girlfriend.”
“And your wife didn’t appreciate the gesture?” Danielle asked.
Owen laughed dryly. “That is an understatement. She took it as an insult. Like they were mocking her. Making fun of her. She was pretty upset, because she had heard how Mom had given my old girlfriend a pair of expensive earrings during our last Christmas together. And the shoe was the only thing Mom gave her that year. Oh, Mom and Dad gave us a Christmas gift, something for the both of us—but nothing just for her. Nothing but the shoe.”
“But why did you have to get rid of it?” Danielle asked.
Owen shrugged. “If I hadn’t, it would have looked to her like I sided against her. Like I said, she just didn’t understand the whole Christmas shoe thing—thought it was stupid. I suppose that should have been a red flag. I imagine if Grandpa had still been alive, he would have doubted more than her lack of humor.”
Danielle handed the bag and tissue paper back to Owen. He accepted it and then returned the shoe to the bag.
“So, are you going to take this to your family?” Danielle asked.
“I want to see them…but…I don’t know if it’s too late.”
“Come on, Owen, if being reunited with your family’s Christmas shoe isn’t a clear sign you need to go to them, then I doubt even Santa arriving in his sleigh to escort you there will convince you.”
It was almost midnight. Connor had been asleep for hours in his nursery. Lily and Ian had said goodbye to most of their guests. The only ones remaining were Walt, Danielle, Heather, Chris and Noah. Colin and Owen had returned to Marlow House, with Marie going with them. Before following the pair back to Marlow House, Marie expressed her concern to Danielle. “He already admitted he is not who he said he was. I need to keep an eye on him.”
When those remaining at the Bartleys’ drifted back to the living
room, Danielle told Lily, “Your party was a success. Everyone seemed to have a great time.”
“Now will you explain what happened after you left earlier?” Walt asked.
“Let’s see…first Colin and I were held at gunpoint by two people wearing ski masks,” Danielle said calmly.
Chris rolled his eyes, and Walt said, “I am serious, Danielle.”
“So am I,” she said calmly. The room went silent and everyone stared at her. She smiled at her friends and then proceeded to explain what had happened when she had returned to Marlow House to retrieve the white elephant gifts.
When Danielle finished recounting the events from earlier that evening, everyone remained silent. Finally, Walt asked, “Why do you think Colin is a medium?”
“It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” Danielle asked. “He could see and hear Marie.”
“You told us he didn’t flinch when he took the gun from that woman. Even if he was confident she would not intentionally shoot him, that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have panicked and pulled the trigger.”
“You are suggesting he was a little too calm for a living man?” Chris asked.
Walt looked to Chris and said, “Yes, if he did indeed react the way Danielle said.”
“He did,” Danielle insisted.
“You think he is a ghost? But we could all see him?” Ian asked.
“It wouldn’t be the first time more than just the mediums saw a ghost—especially at Christmastime,” Walt reminded them.
Thirty-Seven
Danielle woke on Christmas Eve morning to the sound of rain falling on the rooftop. Joanne would not be coming in to help with this morning’s breakfast. But Danielle was not concerned because she knew Walt and Chris would help her. She rolled over in bed to Walt’s side and found it empty. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and glanced around the room. There was no sign of Walt, and she didn’t hear any sounds coming from the adjoining bathroom.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Walt greeted her when he walked into the bedroom a moment later, carrying two cups of coffee. He was already dressed for the day.
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