A very unique human being, and if your Greg can’t see that, then it’s his loss.” She stood up again, looking at her suitcase thoughtfully. “Now, do you think I have everything?”
“Yes, apart from some sleeping tablets for your father. That would make the holidays perfect, put him to sleep for the duration.”
“I’ll pass your regards onto him,” Robin said sarcastically.
“Yes. Please do.” Robin said, resting her chin on her hands and wondering how she was ever going to get through the holidays without her best friend. But she refused to let Max see how sad she was, so she stood up and said, “Well, you’re not driving, so I am going to make us some mulled wine, you can have a toast with me before you disappear into the countryside.”
She went out to the kitchen, finding the lack of festive food depressing. Sighing, she warmed the ingredients for the wine, and lost herself in thought, trying to find a positive in all this. She could watch movies, cry her eyes out, and eat chocolate until she was sick. But it wouldn’t be the same without Max.
“That smells wonderful.” Max said, coming into the kitchen.
Robin put on a bright smile. Get two glasses, let’s toast.”
“OK,” said Max, reaching up for two big wine glasses. “What do we toast to?”
“Surviving Christmas. I’ll be surprised if there isn’t a murder where you're going.”
“Stop it. Well I’m going to toast to Christmas Magic, and may all your wishes come true.” She held out a gift, neatly wrapped. “Here. Merry Christmas Robin.”
“I’ll save it for Christmas day.”
“No, this one is for now.”
“Max, you shouldn’t have. What is it?” Robin asked, shaking the small box.
“Open it, before Dan gets here. I want to see your face.”
“OK, now I’m definitely worried the socks I bought you are going to pale in comparison to whatever's in here.”
“You bought me socks again?” Max laughed.
Robin’s hands trembled slightly as she undid the small red bow. It was immaculately wrapped, and she hated to tear the paper, so it took her a few minutes to take the wrapping off, during which time Max fidgeted anxiously, while blowing on her wine to cool it down.
After the wrapping had been discarded, she was left with a pretty box, still no hint of what was inside. Carefully she opened the lid. Inside lay a silver charm bracelet.
“Wow. This is beautiful,” Robin said, holding it up. The charms were uniquely chosen to reflect Robin’s life, only Max could have put this together. Tears formed in her eyes, and she went to Max and hugged her. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, Robin,” Max replied, placing her wine down on the counter top. “Look, I’ve left this side for you to fill with new things. Maybe one day you might put a lucky horse shoe on it. When you get married.”
“Maybe. Or a cat. I’ve always fancied having a cat as company.”
“Robin. I’m serious.”
“So am I,” she said brightly, and then her face sobered. “Some alone time might be just what I need to put things into perspective, and think about my future.”
“That is a great idea. But no wallowing in self pity. Max said, holding the tiny silver charm in her fingers. “Do you like the Buddha? I bought it so you would never forget that episode with my father.”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. “That has to be my favourite. Along with the friends forever charm. We will always be friends, Max. Promise me.”
“Of course, Robin,” Max said, wiping tears away. “I’m only going for a few days.”
“But then it’ll all change. New Year, new life.”
“It’s a beginning Robin, not an end.”
“I know. It’s scary, that’s all.”
“You’ve grown soft you know. Five years ago nothing would stop you. I think I’ve been a bad influence on you.” Max picked up her glass, smiling at Robin.
“I am not soft.”
“Really. Because the old Robin would have held onto Greg and turned his world
“Yes, apart from some sleeping tablets for your father. That would make the holidays perfect, put him to sleep for the duration.”
“I’ll pass your regards onto him,” Robin said sarcastically.
“Yes. Please do.” Robin said, resting her chin on her hands and wondering how she was ever going to get through the holidays without her best friend. But she refused to let Max see how sad she was, so she stood up and said, “Well, you’re not driving, so I am going to make us some mulled wine, you can have a toast with me before you disappear into the countryside.”
She went out to the kitchen, finding the lack of festive food depressing. Sighing, she warmed the ingredients for the wine, and lost herself in thought, trying to find a positive in all this. She could watch movies, cry her eyes out, and eat chocolate until she was sick. But it wouldn’t be the same without Max.
“That smells wonderful.” Max said, coming into the kitchen.
Robin put on a bright smile. Get two glasses, let’s toast.”
“OK,” said Max, reaching up for two big wine glasses. “What do we toast to?”
“Surviving Christmas. I’ll be surprised if there isn’t a murder where you're going.”
“Stop it. Well I’m going to toast to Christmas Magic, and may all your wishes come true.” She held out a gift, neatly wrapped. “Here. Merry Christmas Robin.”
“I’ll save it for Christmas day.”
“No, this one is for now.”
“Max, you shouldn’t have. What is it?” Robin asked, shaking the small box.
“Open it, before Dan gets here. I want to see your face.”
“OK, now I’m definitely worried the socks I bought you are going to pale in comparison to whatever's in here.”
“You bought me socks again?” Max laughed.
Robin’s hands trembled slightly as she undid the small red bow. It was immaculately wrapped, and she hated to tear the paper, so it took her a few minutes to take the wrapping off, during which time Max fidgeted anxiously, while blowing on her wine to cool it down.
After the wrapping had been discarded, she was left with a pretty box, still no hint of what was inside. Carefully she opened the lid. Inside lay a silver charm bracelet.
“Wow. This is beautiful,” Robin said, holding it up. The charms were uniquely chosen to reflect Robin’s life, only Max could have put this together. Tears formed in her eyes, and she went to Max and hugged her. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, Robin,” Max replied, placing her wine down on the counter top. “Look, I’ve left this side for you to fill with new things. Maybe one day you might put a lucky horse shoe on it. When you get married.”
“Maybe. Or a cat. I’ve always fancied having a cat as company.”
“Robin. I’m serious.”
“So am I,” she said brightly, and then her face sobered. “Some alone time might be just what I need to put things into perspective, and think about my future.”
“That is a great idea. But no wallowing in self pity. Max said, holding the tiny silver charm in her fingers. “Do you like the Buddha? I bought it so you would never forget that episode with my father.”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. “That has to be my favourite. Along with the friends forever charm. We will always be friends, Max. Promise me.”
“Of course, Robin,” Max said, wiping tears away. “I’m only going for a few days.”
“But then it’ll all change. New Year, new life.”
“It’s a beginning Robin, not an end.”
“I know. It’s scary, that’s all.”
“You’ve grown soft you know. Five years ago nothing would stop you. I think I’ve been a bad influence on you.” Max picked up her glass, smiling at Robin.
“I am not soft.”
“Really. Because the old Robin would have held onto Greg and turned his world
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