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Show 103. God, how he was going to miss her! He wondered if he'd make it through the next two weeks! They drove around awhile, then parked in front of Gayle's. She'd turned down pizza and Harper's Lookout. "My folks are in bed," she whispered, as if her dad could hear her out in the car. "Come in and I'll fix some hot chocolate." He felt in the pocket of his coat to make sure the gift box was there, then went around to open the car door for Gayle. He held her close for a minute as he helped her out, but she pulled away. "It's cold. Let's go in," she said. As soon as they'd laid their coats over the back of a sofa, he took her hand and put the narrow box in it. JD wasn't sure about his timing. He just knew he was excited about the silver and turquoise necklace and wanted her to see it. "It's your Christmas present and I thought you should open it tonight . . . since you won't be here." "Oh, JD!" her face looked funny. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to do this?" "Christmas is for surprises, right?" "Oh, you! What is it?" she led him into the kitchen where she snapped on the recessed lights. She smiled happily, like a little girl with a birthday, he thought as she carefully took off the ribbon and the paper. But then she didn't open it. She laid it to one side. "Go ahead," he urged. "Then it'll all be over," she explained. "Let me enjoy the suspense for awhile, okay? She reached in the cupboard for the chocolate mix. He shrugged. "How could you buy me a present? Owing so much on your car?" "I juggled the December payment. But I'll make it up. I work nearly every day during vacation." "But won't you be in trouble at the bank?" "Nah. It's okay. My credit's good." A few minutes later, she was stirring the good smelling chocolate at the stove and he was sitting at the kitchen bar watching her, enjoying the soft curves of her arm and the arch of her neck. He was glad |