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She dug into her purse and pulled out a small airplane bottle of whiskey She held it toward hi cheerful smile “Go on,” she said “It’s Christmas”

“Sure,” he said and took the bottle, staring wide-eyed at her beauty like she’d just been dropped here from heaven

I wanted to tell him to look someplace else Anyplace else

Fro—vicious andat me

“Is that a teacup poodle?” the preteen boy asked, perking up frorate

“Yes, sort of There’s a little Shih Tzu in there, too Maybe some Chihuahua?” Lexie answered “Her nae favor?” She started to pull the dog out of her purse and hand it to the teenager “Could you take her out for a tinkle?”

“Oh, I’m not sure—” The mom, silent at bully dad’s elbow, suddenly piped up

“Sure!” the kid said real quick

“It’ll be real quick Baby Girl is not a fan of this cold”

“I’ll go with you,” the little girl said, and the two of them took off with Cujo

“Now,” she said, addressing the crowd in front of the desk She wasn’t even flustered by the face paint

And they were all looking at her like she was the boss of theet here, for whatever reasons, Lexie was my Christmas Miracle

“If you have a reservation That’s wonderful He’ll help you right over there” She pointed at me and the computer “The rest of y’all, come on over here and I’ll write down all your questions, your naet some answers for you”

The lines divided and within ten one except for one of limpse of the Mountain The two kids came back and offered to walk Baby Girl whenever she needed it Lexie hugged both kids when they left

She’d charmed the mob

I turned to face her and that smile she’d had for everyone else, even the rude dad and the super fan in the corner, absolutely fell off her face And her hazel eyes were ice picks right into my chest

Uh-oh, I thought And for the first ti time I wasn’t sure what to say

“I bet you never expected to seeher hands on her hips

“Well, I’d hoped—”

“I’m sure you did,” she snapped before I could finish my sentence

My dad came out of the back office with his crutches, but her back was to hih without my father in the audience

“Do you think we could go someplace private?” I asked