“How did you get that shot?”
“I set up a tripod on the beach and used a special cable release because the exposure time had to be super long,” he answered. “Obviously, my mom coached me a lot when it came to developing the print.”
Because I was curious, Robert showed me the ultralight he was building with his dad. Staring at it, I knew I wouldn’t ride in the thing for a million dollars, even if it did fly. In turn, Richard showed me the video game he was creating, which was set in a world complete with dragons and knights in armor packing every weapon imaginable. The graphics weren’t great—even he conceded that—but the game itself seemed interesting, which was saying something, since I’d never seen the appeal of parking myself in front of a computer for hours on end.
But hey, what did I know? Especially when compared to a kid—or a family—like that?
*
“Have you figured out what you want to get Bryce?” Aunt Linda asked. It was Friday evening, and Christmas was three days away. I was washing dishes at the sink and she was drying, even though she didn’t have to.
“Not yet. I thought about getting him something for his camera, but I wouldn’t know where to start. Do you think we could run by a store after church on Sunday? I know it’ll be Christmas Eve, but it’ll be my last chance. Maybe I can figure something out.”
“Of course we can go,” she said. “We’ll have more than enough time. It’ll be a long day.”
“Sundays are always long.”
She smiled. “Extra-long, then, because Christmas is on Monday. We have regular Sunday mass in the morning like always, and then midnight mass for the Christmas celebration. And a couple of other things in between, too. We’ll stay overnight in Morehead City and catch the ferry back in the morning.”
“Oh.” If she heard the unhappiness in my tone, she ignored it. I washed and rinsed a plate and handed it to her, knowing it would be pointless to try to talk her out of it. “What did you get for Gwen?”
“A pair of sweaters and an antique music box. She collects those.”
“Should I buy something for Gwen, too?”
“No,” she said. “I added your name on the music box. It’ll be from both of us.”
“Thanks,” I said. “What do you think I should get Bryce?”
“You know him better than I do. Have you asked his mom what he might want?”
“I forgot,” I said. “I guess I could go over tomorrow and ask. I just hope it won’t be too expensive. I have to get his family something, too, and I was thinking I’d get them a nice picture frame.”
She put a plate into the cupboard. “Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy Bryce anything. Sometimes the best gifts are free.”
“Like what?”
“An experience, or maybe you can make something, or teach him something.”
“I don’t think there’s anything I can teach him. Unless he’s interested in makeup or painting his nails.”
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the mirth in them. “I have faith you’ll figure something out.”
I thought about it while we finished up in the kitchen, but it wasn’t until we moved to the living room that inspiration finally struck. The only problem was that I was going to need my aunt’s help in more ways than one. She beamed as soon as I explained.
“I can do that,” she said. “And I’m sure he’s going to love it.”
*
An hour later, the phone rang. I guessed it was probably my parents and was surprised when Aunt Linda handed me the phone, telling me that Bryce was on the other end. Which was, to my knowledge, the first time he’d called the house.
“Hi, Bryce,” I said. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if it would be possible for me to stop by on Christmas Eve. I want to give you your gift.”
“I’m not going to be here,” I said. I explained about the double mass on Sunday. “I won’t be back until Christmas Day.”
“Oh,” he said. “Okay. Well, my mom also wanted me to ask if you’d like to come by for our Christmas meal. It’ll be around two.”
His mom wanted me to come? Or did he want me to come?
Covering the receiver, I asked my aunt and she agreed, but only if he would join us later for our Christmas dinner.
“Perfect,” he said. “I’ve got something for your aunt Linda and Gwen, too, so we can do the gift thing then.”