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  “Sarah, your friend is here.” By the tone, more than her lack of friends in the city, she knew it must be Zoe.

  “I’ll be out front in a minute.”

  Sarah was thinking it strange Zoe would just show up like this. She saw Zoe pacing in the reception area up ahead as she briskly walked up the long hallway.

  “Sarah!”

  “Hey Zoe, what’s up?”

  “I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by. I have a woman I buy from that lives over this way, but she’s older and can’t get out very easily so I pick up the jewelry she makes every week.”

  Sarah looked over towards Kerry who was rolling her eyes as she stared at the computer screen.

  “Is that the jewelry?” Sarah pointed at the plain brown shopping bag Zoe was holding.

  “This” Zoe announced, holding up the bag and jutting her arm out towards Sarah, letting the bag dangle off her black cherry manicured fingers, “is for you. Merry Christmas, a little early.”

  Sarah took the bag hesitantly, looking bewildered with Zoe’s generous, but unexpected, gesture.

  “Zoe, I, um, I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts.”

  “No worries, really, I just knew you would enjoy this.”

  “Well thank you, Zoe. Merry Christmas.” Sarah looked in the bag and saw a wrapped box tied up with a bright red bow.

  “Put it under your tree, or bring it back to Connecticut and open on Christmas. When do you leave?”

  “I’m hoping to head out by mid-day Saturday. I’m taking the train and then my dad will get me at the station. I just finished up my shopping but I need to start wrapping tonight.”

  “How long are you staying? Through New Years?”

  “No, I have work to do here. I need to get out to the national archives in Waltham to check census records so I am thinking of coming back early Thursday morning. What are your plans?”

  “Oh, we’ll do the traditional feast of the seven fishes Christmas eve, then dinner up on the north shore Monday for Christmas.”

  “Sounds nice. You’ve never mentioned family around here.”

  “Oh yes, some aunts and cousins. We’re scattered though. Well enjoy the holiday. We’ll catch up when you get back. My shop needs to open so I need to scoot!”

  Without thinking, Sarah gave Zoe a big hug. Zoe stiffened with the contact, arms straight down by her side and when Sarah released her she stepped back giving Sarah and odd look.

  “Thanks again, Zoe.”

  “Merry Christmas, Sarah” She looked at Kerry who was pretending to be busy on the computer and nodded at her “Bye Sarah’s co-worker.”

  Kerry and Sarah watched Zoe exit through the glass door and step onto the waiting elevator before Kerry spoke up.

  “She acknowledged me! It’s a Christmas miracle!”

  “She knows your name . . .”

  “Are you going to open it?”

  “Not now, I’ll save it.”

  Kerry looked skeptical. “I don’t know, Sarah, I’d want to make sure it wasn’t ticking.”

  “Well, if she gave you a present, I wouldn’t blame you for checking,” Sarah winked and laughed as she walked away with her bag.

  Kerry called after her. “Very funny!”

  She reached her desk and sat down heavily, realizing how tired she was. Almost feeling mentally exhausted. Looking at the list on her desk of items she still needed to ferret out for Stanley and Izzy, she realized why.

  The next morning Sarah’s throat was starting to burn and she wasn’t feeling herself. Kerry had stopped by to invite her to lunch but instead scolded her and told her to go home. Admitting Kerry was right, with only Friday left before the holiday break and wanting medicine and her bed more than she could bear, she agreed and packed up her work.

  Sliding the journals and the photocopied letters and pictures into her laptop bag, Sarah took all she needed to continue her project from home. Making her way around the office, she wished everyone happy holidays and was out on Boylston Street within minutes looking for a cab.

  By the time she reached her brownstone she worried that she was really getting sick. Trudging up the stairs feeling feverish she was hoping she had medicine in the apartment. Unlocking the large mahogany door, she stepped in and immediately looked up to the brick wall and the snowy scene in the painting that always made her feel better, but in her current state even that didn’t lift her mood.

  Turning the TV on, she slogged down the hall to her room to put on sweats. Her bedroom was like an icebox and she went over to check the windows in the front under the dormers and at the side of the room. Looking out to the small fire escape, she could see Midnight the cat had been back and as she wondered how the cats owners could let it out on these sub-zero cold nights.

  Checking the bathroom medicine cabinet the only thing she had found was some aspirin. Never being one to get sick, she didn’t stock up on medicine but the aspirin should help her sore throat and fever. Returning to the living room she took out her work and set it on the coffee table for later. She wanted a nap for now. Crawling under the afghan, she was asleep within minutes.

  

  The knocking brought her out of her sleep and at first she seemed disorientated. The apartment was dark, save from the light from the TV, and judging by the evening news it must be dinnertime. The knock came again and she yelled out that she was coming and she could feel the scratchiness in her throat as well as hear it in her own voice. She pulled back the blanket, shuffling as quickly as she could across the chilly room to open the door. Greg and Melanie were standing there.

  “See. I told you she was home.” Melanie said, straining to look up at her tall husband.

  “Yes, you did.” Greg took in Sarah’s disheveled look. “Is everything ok?”

  Sarah ran her hand over her hair realizing it was a mess and flipped on the light switch by the door, squinting involuntarily at the brightness, while clearing her throat and backing up to let them in.

  “I think I picked up a little bug. My throat is sore, so I came home from work and was taking a nap.”

  Melanie and Greg stepped inside but it was obvious they didn’t want to get too close.

  “I heard you come home earlier and we thought you might be heading out for the holiday. We wanted to bring you a little gift.”

  Greg handed Sarah a bottle of wine in an artfully decorated wine bag.

  “You didn’t need to do that . . .” Sarah was feeling bad that she had not thought of getting them anything.

  “Don’t worry, dear, we give a bottle to each of the neighbors every year. We just caught the good doctor on his way out of the building for the holidays and thought we should come catch you before you leave.”

  “I’m heading home tomorrow. Taking the train to Connecticut in the afternoon.”

  “We’re leaving tonight to go to our son’s house in New Jersey for the holidays. He has three children and I can’t wait to see them. It will be so much fun to be there and see their faces when Santa comes!” Greg looked down and smiled at his wife and her obvious excitement. “The building will be empty.” As an afterthought she added, “Oh! Except for Mr. Brown.”

  “I never even thought about that. Does he have family?”

  Greg spoke up, “Not that I know of, but then again, you are the only one who has had a conversation with him. I believe he just stays here in the building alone.”

  Greg looked at his watch and continued, “We were just about to head out, I want to avoid the snow coming our way. Do you need anything before we go?”

  Sarah thought about it for a moment. “I don’t want to impose, but I don’t have much in the way of medicine.”

  Melanie sent Greg down to their apartment for medicine and told him to also bring back some tea.

  “Now let’s take a look at you.” Melanie put her wrist against Sarah’s forehead and frowned. “You have a temperature, go get back on the couch under the blanket.” Sarah happily complied, as she had chil
ls.

  “I hadn’t heard about more snow coming?” Sarah said looking at the game show that had replaced the news and pulling the blanket up to her neck. Maybe she could find a weather station after they left.

  “That’s what they say.” Melanie set the kettle of water on the stove for tea. “But you never know with the weather. It could be nothing but they were saying six inches were expected. Just a medium sized storm for us Bostonians.” Melanie smiled, including Sarah as a Bostonian.

  Waiting for Greg and the water to boil, Melanie looked around the apartment’s living area commenting on how lovely it was decorated and the surprisingly tall windows for the top floor apartment. Then she noticed the painting. “What a lovely painting. Is it this street?” She peered up at the painting in the dim light.

  “It looks like it, but just a little different with the street lanterns and some of the details like the shutters on every window along the street.”

  “Well it’s very pretty.” Melanie was staring at the painting until she heard Greg.

  Greg came back through the door that was left ajar. “Here we go Sarah.” He set the green bottle of nighttime medicine down on her granite counter along with a box of tea and a bottle of orange juice. “I figured you could use the vitamin C and we won’t be back until next weekend.”

  “Thank you, Greg, I appreciate it. I will take the medicine tonight and shake this by tomorrow.” She sounded cheerful but realized she was feeling worse than she had earlier and had doubts she would be better in the morning.

  The whistle sounded on the kettle and Melanie made a cup of tea to bring over to Sarah while Greg talked about the drive to New Jersey. “We could take you with us now and drop you on our way through Connecticut.”

  “Thank you for the offer but I don’t want to leave this couch. Plus, I have to pack and finish up some things first. I really don’t want to delay you.”

  “Well, feel better.”

  Melanie set the tea down on the coffee table. “Merry Christmas, dear. Hope you are feeling better by tomorrow.” The two left the apartment and Sarah sipped at her tea deciding an early night with the green liquid on the counter would be just the thing. She would leave the packing for the morning when she was stronger.

  Chapter 13

  Sarah awoke late Saturday morning and lay in bed for while feeling sleepy still with the after effects of the medicine. She had got quite a bit of sleep and she could tell from the lack of burning in her eyes that her temperature had receded. Stretching, she finally rolled over and was startled to see just how late it was.

  Sitting up and letting her sock covered feet hit the hardwood floor and went straight for the bathroom. Looking out the small window she could see the snow was already coming down in a small, fine flakes but it was heavy and fast. The makings of a bad storm. She had thought big fat flakes would be pretty to see with Christmas around the corner, but this heavy wet snow would be just miserable to travel in.

  Sarah drank some of the Baldwins' orange juice and put the television on, crawling back under the blanket where she had left it the night before. The news was on all the major networks with their catchy headings blazing across the top of the screen – Storm Center, Blizzard of the Year, Winter Whiteout. After a few minutes, it began to sink in just how bad this storm already was.

  Forecasters overnight had increased their projections for snowfall amounts. Most were calling for 12-18 inches in a wide swath through the middle of Connecticut and across Massachusetts. Snow was still falling in Connecticut and there was widespread power outages reported there. They were calling for people to stay off the roads and plows were having difficulty keeping up with the heavy hitting storm.

  Sarah got up to make toast, listening to the on location reports coming from the highways as she pulled out her wheat bread and dropped the bread into the toaster. Comments about the reduced traffic were mostly in regards to retailers feeling the effects of the storm impact their big last minute shopping weekend. They interviewed a few brave people entering the Burlington Mall. Taking a bite of her toast her throat reacted and she filled the tea kettle with water.

  Reporters at Logan interviewed families whose holiday plans were being delayed by the canceled flights out of Boston. The reporter said most major airports in New England had shut down and then, dramatically listening to their ear piece with the wind and snow whipping at them on camera, they announced recent reports of JFK finally joining the list of closures and train service between Boston and New York had been shut down.

  The whistle sounded but Sarah stared at the television in disbelief. What does that mean? She picked up the phone and called her mother.

  Barbara picked up the phone with a cheerful hello but as soon as she heard Sarah’s voice she panicked. “Sarah, you sound awful! What’s wrong?”

  “I caught a bug. My throat is scratchy and I had a temperature but I think that’s gone. I just feel drained.”

  “Oh goodness, did you take anything?” She could picture the concern on her mother’s face and immediately wished she was already home.

  “I did, I got some medicine from my neighbors last night. Knocked me out for the night but unfortunately not the cold.”

  “Is it snowing there?” Her mother asked and Sarah could hear her mother's hope that the combination head cold and blizzard wouldn’t delay her only child’s homecoming. Sarah felt incredibly guilty for not jumping into action the night before and taking Greg up on his offer for a ride.

  “It is and it’s coming down at a pretty good clip. I just heard on the news about the power outages in Connecticut already and the snowfall amounts in Hartford.”

  “We go hit even harder here than Hartford, and it’s still snowing. We have between a foot and a foot and a half already but luckily we still have power.”

  “Well, mom, I am not sure if you heard yet but they shut down Amtrak service in the northeast corridor. I think I am going to wait it out and take the train tomorrow instead. Hopefully I will feel better by then.”

  “Oh, no! Your father can come pick you up.”

  Sarah laughed but stopped quickly as it hurt so badly. “Mom, seriously, they are telling people to stay off the roads. On a good day it’s a four hour round trip, today would probably be twice that.”

  Her mom was quiet and Sarah knew she realized that would be a nightmare drive, and treacherous too. “Well, get some rest, take the medicine, do you have tea?”

  “I do and I will. I am sure I can get home tomorrow and be there for Christmas. Don’t worry.”

  The snow kept coming, delivering a white blanket over everything and a soft peacefulness to the city. The snow induced quiet accentuated the empty building, and Sarah was starting to feel uncomfortable in the nearly vacant brownstone. Dozing on the couch off and on all day, the day passed by slowly. Sarah spent it watching blizzard updates and reading through the research she had brought home.

  Late in the afternoon as darkness started to set in, she heard a noise outside her apartment door and quickly turned the television’s volume down. Listening intently, there was nothing but silence again and she anxiously wondered if she had locked the door last night after Greg and Melanie. With the cold and the medicine she wasn’t as certain as she would have liked. Thoughts of holiday intruders targeting empty buildings crossed her mind but then again it could just be her landlord. But what would he be doing up here in the daytime?

  The knock startled her, making her jump and sending some of the papers on her lap onto the floor. “Who is it?”

  “It’s Mason Brown.”

  Sarah sat up, pulling at her sweatshirt to untwist as she stood and slowly walked across the living room to the door and found she had locked it. Turning the latch she opened the door to Mason who hung back in the dim hallway.

  Dressed in jeans with a dark blue thermal shirt he had an open plaid flannel over it and snow boots and she was sure he had been out shoveling. The military cap he normally wore was pulled down low on his forehead and althou
gh he easily stood six inches taller, he kept his head tilted down so the brim covered his eyes.

  “Sorry to bother you. The Baldwins stopped by on their way out last night and mentioned you were sick. They asked that I check in on you. With the snow, I figured you didn’t leave today as they said you planned to do.”

  “That was nice of them. No, I am not feeling well and they shut down train service so I can’t get home.”

  “Do you need anything? Can I get you something from the market?”

  “I’m ok.” She wondered if he was really willing to go to the market since he seemed to shun being seen by, and interacting with, people.

  Sarah started coughing and motioned for him to come in. She retreated quickly to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, her throat feeling as if it had been ripped open. She drank the cool water until she felt she could speak again.

  “That doesn’t sound good. Do you have enough medicine?” She was touched with the concern she heard in his voice and again wondered what had happened to him.

  “I’m ok. I have medicine and was thinking of ordering take-out but maybe they aren’t even delivering in this storm?”

  Mason was still near the front door where the light was off. He looked out the three tall windows although there was not much to be seen at this level, and said, “No, I don’t imagine that you would get anything quickly.”

  Sarah squatted while he was talking to pick up the mess of papers that had fallen. The papers had scattered as they fluttered to the floor and were now out of order. Mason hobbled towards the papers to help, painfully bending over, picking up and placing the manuscript papers on the table. Seeing this Sarah tried to stop him, “Oh, I can get those. I just knocked them over by mistake.”

  Holding a few papers in hand he stood up glancing down at the paper in his hand before he set it down with the others. A strange look crossed his face and Sarah, who had been trying to not glance at him as she had been instructed by the realtor, caught the look while looking up under her veil of hair.