Ultimate Nyssa Glass, H. Burke [cat reading book .TXT] 📗

a Greek goddess, for him to hang in his office. It’s going to be spectacular.” Amara stuck her chin in the air, for a moment looking every bit like an imperious Aphrodite.

“That really isn’t my—or Ellis’s—style.” I should know him well enough to know what he wants. Am I really that clueless?

“Well, Ellis is so easygoing, I can’t imagine he’ll dislike whatever it is you get him.” Amara shrugged. “Is there anything he’s mentioned wanting but thought it was too much? A lot of times men are afraid to buy ‘frivolous’ things even though they really want them.”

“Ellis lives for frivolous things. Last month he made a clockwork mouse that got loose around the workshop and startled customers by skittering across the floor until the springs finally wound down.” Nyssa laughed. “He thought that was hilarious. Still, I don’t want to get him a gag gift. I want something that says … that says ‘I love you.’”

“A poem?”

“I … could try. Do they have to rhyme?”

“No, scratch that. There’s no way you’re sentimental enough to write a poem.” Amara shook her head.

Nyssa grimaced.

“Ellis is sentimental, though.” Amara stepped up to a display case of music boxes. She flipped one over and turned the key. “Is there something from his childhood? A memory you can recreate? Christmas is all about memories.”

Tinkling music rose from the box, a gentle lullaby. The gears in Nyssa’s head lurched to life.

“Well, he did look a little sad when he talked about his parents dancing.” She opened another music box. A couple in old fashioned dress circled each other. “I did wonder if I could work with his chair. It has the braces setting he can stand with. With a little alteration, we might be able to dance. I mean, it’s just kind of walking in circles, right?”

Amara raised a pristine eyebrow. “Just walking in circles? Nyssa, have you ever danced?”

“No, but … I mean, I’m not looking to put on a show. I just want to give Ellis a nice Christmas.”

“If you’re going to do something, do it right. Dancing is two people moving in concert.” Amara closed her eyes and swayed slightly. “It’s a metaphor for love. You know what I mean by love, right?” She opened her eyes and winked.

Nyssa flushed. I’ll take her word for it.

“Well, I can try to learn. Is there an instruction book or something?”

“Oh, Nyssa, Nyssa, it’s like someone forgot to tell you you’re a girl sometimes.”

Nyssa bit down hard on her tongue. I’m not going to snap at Amara. I need her help. I’ll just mock her in my head later. “So, as a girl, how do you suggest I go about it?”

Amara reached into her purse and brought out a calling card and a stubby pencil. She wrote something on the back. “I happen to know the most in demand dance instructor on the island. He’s a continental expatriate, like you and me, but from Parrie, not New Taured.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “Don’t you just love the Parrisan accent?”

“It’s fine, I suppose. We only have four days left. Do you think he’ll be able to help me work with Ellis’s situation?” Nyssa took the card and stared at the address Amara had written. “There’s no point in learning to dance if I can’t dance with Ellis.”

“So sweet.” Amara tucked the pencil back in her purse. “I’m sure he’ll be willing. After all, you know how romantic Parrisans are. Once he hears your tale of true love, he’ll bend over backwards to accommodate you.”

Nyssa clutched the tiny card. If I can give Ellis this one thing, maybe it will be the perfect Christmas.

Chapter Four

The graphite pencil skimmed over the surface of the notebook as Ellis sketched out his latest idea. Practical but elegant … just like her.

Theo bounced up and down on his toes, trying to look over Ellis’s shoulder. “At least give me a hint?”

Ellis laughed. “I told you, this isn’t yours. Do you really think I’m stupid enough to work on your Christmas present right in front of you?” He handed Theo the notepad. “Does this look like something you’d want?”

Theo twisted the notepad this way and that. “I guess not. What is it?”

Ellis laughed. “It’s a tool box with rotating drawers so that you can always have the tools you want at the top. You’ve seen how Nyss fusses over her tools, lining them up in ever so perfect lines. With this she’ll be able to sort things to her heart’s content.”

Theo’s mouth twisted. “So this is her Christmas present?”

“Yep.” Ellis took the notepad back. Maybe I could add in some magnetic components, keep things in place even if it gets jostled …

“It isn’t very pretty.”

“Huh?” Ellis looked up.

Theo moved around the workbench to stand in front of him. “I mean, don’t girls want pretty stuff? A toolbox doesn’t seem very much like a present for a girl.”

“Well, Nyssa’s sensible. She likes useful things.” But even as Ellis said it, doubt crept into his brain. He stared at the diagram which moments before had seemed like a brilliant idea. “You don’t see her wearing fancy jewelry, laces, and bows much, do you?”

“I guess.” Theo shuffled his feet.

Ellis frowned. “Out with it. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“It’s just …When I was at the orphanage, I got socks every Christmas. They were practical, but they didn’t feel Christmasy.” The boy pulled up a stool. “I know Nyssa likes useful things, but maybe she likes pretty things, too. Maybe she doesn’t have pretty things because no one buys them for her, not because she doesn’t want them.”

Ellis huffed out a long breath. He’s right. Besides, a toolbox is what you get your best mate or your dad, not the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with. He squinted at Theo. “How old are you, again?”

“Almost nine.”

“So how do you know more about girls than I do?” He laughed, ripped the diagram from the notebook, and shoved it onto