A few days had passed since reuniting Delilah and Grace. Officially, I was scrubbed from any reports, which stalled my check despite closing the case. I hadn’t expected smooth sailing, but fortunately, the paper trail led to a particular desk in the city council—a congressman I’d run into a few times. A man with oversized ears and more eyes on these streets than anyone could imagine. He’d benefited greatly from the incident being handled quietly. For him, signing off was a no-brainer.

I wasn’t about to pry into his affairs as it’s not my business to care what kind of company he keeps or what activities fill his calendar. His secrets were his, as mine were mine. We both acknowledged that the last time we spoke one-on-one. It makes things easy knowing we both stayed out of each other’s hair, only ever crossing when the other party needed something done. It also made seeing a fat check sitting pretty in my account a happy girl. 

All that was left now, was to spend it. Some had to be set aside for work of course, but right now holiday shopping was on the top of my mind.

Even with my newly purchased watch gleaming on my wrist, time still managed to slip through my fingers. With Christmas just a week away, I was cutting it dangerously close to finding gifts for everyone on my list.

Thank goodness for short winter days, with the sun ducking below the horizon around quarter past four. It left me plenty of time to prowl the shops before they shuttered for the night. My hunting grounds of choice were the East Village, Soho, and Old London Town.

The gift list wasn’t particularly long. My grandmother, the Lieutenant, with even Delilah and Grace added as late additions. They had plans to move down south and start anew. All my life, I’d known nothing but this city and its boroughs, so the thought of leaving intrigued me, but I had my own loves and scars here. Ones that still gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, refusing to let go.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“Grimes…?”

A bright voice called my name before I could fall into my inner thoughts. Turning to the cheery voice, I met Macie’s beaming smile.

“I kneeeeeww I recognize you. Nice hat!”

“Thank you.”

“What are you doing out here so early? I mean, it’s not that early, but sort of, for you, I mean.”

“Last minute shopping, you can say.”

“Ohhhhhhhh, really? Same! Shall we shop together, then!”

While I appreciate her enthusiasm, I prefer to look solo. It’s already nerve-wracking cutting it this close to the wire. Who knows what treasures are still waiting on shelves and what gems have already been claimed? The perfect gift might have been snatched up hours ago, leaving me none the wiser. Beyond just the hunt, there’s the wrapping to consider—not that it’s a burden. Rather, it’s become something of an art form for me. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to the presentation. Crisp bows, elegant ribbon, pristine creases with nary a visible seam in sight. I’m particular about these details; they add mystery and allure to what’s concealed within. It’s all part of the seasonal magic, unlike someone I once knew who couldn’t be bothered with such finesse.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

“No, I think I will head this way and—”

“Stop being so shy! We are going the same way anyway. Old London Town, yes?”

“Ughhhh…”

“YES? YES?”

Her bright green eyes grew several times as she drew her face close enough for our cheeks to hug. 

“Tsk…sure, whatever.”

“Marvelous. I never in my wildest dreams would imagine a day where I get to shop with you.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“But it is… don’t you know. I…I really look up to you. You’re a badass! Cool and mysterious, all while kicking literal ass. Not to mention so brilliantly smart. Thanks to you, so many of those children are back home for the holidays. A Christmas miracle for those who don’t know, but I do.”

“It wasn’t me…” I scoffed, brushing her comment aside to hide from her embarrassing words. “It was the police department and their hard-working officers.”

“You can be humble all you want. I read the reports.”

“You what? There is no way I would be in them. The Lieutenant would have—”

“Mwa Hah-hah. Gotcha!”

“…” For a moment, I stood there in silence. The realization of what sort of trick she had just played sank in. “Tsk!”

“You may be smart, but I am quite intelligent, too, you know.”

“Yes, yes, you are. You might very well be the greatest detective never to be. How was taking the entrance exam?”

“Ugh… That’s, that’s no faaaaaaiir! Grimes, you’re such a meanie!”

My teasing may have gone too far, but Macie had it in her to be a phenomenal criminal investigator. Yet she harbored doubts—something blatantly clear to me, given that she failed the same exams with identical scores every time.

“You know, you don’t have to join law enforcement if you don’t want to. There are plenty of things out there for you.”

“I know, I know. Like, I want to join the department, but ugh, the freedom you have as a P.I. Then again, you’re like a specialist, so I suppose that is unfair. HGCPD looks fun, especially now more than ever. Did you see the news about the Lieutenant?”

“Oh, don’t get me started with him.”

“Quite handsome for someone his age. And that rough lumberjack exterior. The beard—oh, the beard of his, something about it…”

“Macie!”

“What? Oh, uh, sorry—just that photo of him with that child in his arms. His large arms. He just looked so heroic. Those headlines, too.”

Macie was referring to the morning news that had swept the city. Lieutenant Woods of the Hallow Grove City Police Department had been credited with leading the investigation that put a stop to the recent series of missing children cases, as well as solving many that had gone unsolved for years. They made him look really good. Too good, in fact, and it would undoubtedly go to his head.

“I don’t know why you don’t like him, but the few times I have spoken with him, he sounded like a very down-to-earth, rugged…sweep you off your feet…”

“Macie!”

“Huh, what? Wait, where are you going? Don’t leave me. Grimes WAAAAAAAIIIT!”

After stopping by several stores, I managed to find something—well, one thing, really—and that was for Delilah. It was a lovely doll, well put together, and nothing of the sort from the feline department. As for her mother, I got her a nice coat.

For the big, gruff man himself, I picked a few things here and there, only for Macie to speak far too loud above room-appropriate levels about how I have a man I have been keeping a secret from her. 

The embarrassment drew far too many eyes, leaving me to tuck my head down, only to make for a quick exit without picking anything up at all.

She apologized profusely, only to do it again and again. Looking for something for him would be troublesome with her in tow, so I left it for tomorrow’s problem. As for the one who remained on my list, the sweetest person I knew—my grandmother.

Picking out a gift for her can be challenging, as she can be pretty picky about the color, the material, or the way something looks. 

“Macie, can I ask your opinion on something? What do you think of this…”

“Very nice. Very nice indeed…”

“What are you doing?”

“Huh, nothing!”

“Did you even hear me?”

“Something about picking the perfect look. Wouldn’t this be what you are looking for?”

“I don’t believe that can fit her…”

“Who? Oh—your grandmother. That’s right! That’s who we were tackling next on the list. She can wait, surely, right?”

Drawing close, Macie held up a dress for me to see.

“Yes… I believe it would look perfect on you.”

“Me?!”

“Yes, you! Don’t be shy. Come on, it’s just us girls!”

“No. I don’t know what sort of misguided intentions you have, but this is absurd.”

“At least try it on! It couldn’t hurt, right? I mean, you are buying all these gifts for others, so why not get something for yourself while you are at it? Something fun, unlike that puzzle I saw in your office the last time I came by.”

How I let Macie’s words goad me into the dressing room to try it on is baffling, to say the least. The next thing I knew, I was standing there thinking about all my life decisions.

“Got you heels too—”

“What?” 

“OH. MY. GOODNESSS!!! You look ravishing—Ah~and your boobs! Girl, I would eat you up as a snack.”

“Yeah, I’m getting out of this now.”

“Whyyyyy?”

“It’s not me.”

“You look amazing, though. And your butt—wow. If you didn’t cover the mirror, you could see for yourself.”

“Don’t touch it,” I snapped. My words shot out with more of a bite to them than I had anticipated, making Macie step back.

“…” Her silence was deafening as she stared at me. “S-sorry, I forget sometimes.”

The cold truth is that they say vampires have no reflection. Honestly, I never took the chance to see for myself. I usually avoid anything and everything, staring away to avoid catching a glimpse of what fear lies in that revelation that will cement the idea of what I am.

“This was a bad idea… Excuse me while I change.”

“Grimes…”

Pulling the curtain, I immediately put on the clothes that felt comfortable for me. After neatly tucking and folding the dress to lay it down, I grabbed my belongings and waited outside.

“The employees were a bit confused that you went through so much trouble of taking another changing room curtain to cover the standing mirror, but they—never mind. Sorry again, Grimes.”

“There is nothing to apologize about,” I replied. If anything, it was me who should have apologized for snapping at her. “At least one of us left the store with something.”

“Huh, oh, this? Yeah, I suppose you can say that. Shall we take a look around? I still have things I want to pick up. My uncle and auntie are baseball fans. I know a place where I can get a jersey for cheap.”

We took to one store after another after another. Nothing stood out to me, but Macie, on the other hand, was barely holding on to the various bags she now carried. 

Everything that caught her eye was immediately whisked away and picked up for her credit card to swipe. Maybe it was my grandmother in me—being picky and leaving me with just the two bags after all this time. An individual who waits and assesses everything, being far too critical of its purpose or use. Some could call it overthinking, but you know when you see it, right—the perfect gift. 

It was then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small French shop. 

My grandmother swears she was born in France, in a small town called Colmar. Yet when I ask her about it—beg her to teach me some of the language—she conveniently can’t speak a word. She’s quite the character, isn’t she? While I still doubt her claims of French origins, one thing remains undisputed. Her baking never missed its mark.

The ingredients she procures and swears by tend to be homegrown or picked up from very niche shops. Funny enough, sitting in front of the glass was a brand of chocolate she loved so dearly.

“Heh,” I chuckled to myself.

“Grimes? What’s holding you up?”

“I am making a stop in here,” I said, taking a step in. The idea sat there as I knew the perfect gift to get her.