The Christmas List: A Novel

That night Kier had a dream. He was in a spacious hallway with dark-varnished floors and lined with tall, arched windows covered in silk drapes tied back with elegant golden ropes. There were potted orchids and African violets by each window. The ceilings were high, hung with brass and crystal chandeliers, and the walls were covered with an ivory silk. Soft harp music filled the room but he could not see where it was coming from.

The hall was vacant. As he looked around he saw that at the far end of the room was an ornate closed casket made from burled walnut and fastened with copper corner pieces and handles.

He wondered who was inside. He crossed the room but when he reached the casket he was suddenly afraid to look. He lifted the heavy lid. Inside was a woman he knew that he had seen before but didn’t recognize until she opened her eyes.

“My son,” she said.

“Mom?” She smiled lovingly and a calm feeling came over him.

“My dear, sweet boy. I miss you. We all miss you.”

Kier didn’t understand. “All?”

“Look and see.”

He turned from her to look around the hall, but there was still no one there. He turned back. “I don’t . . .” His mother was gone and inside the velvet-lined casket lay Sara. Her skin was a waxlike pallor yet she was still beautiful. Almost involuntarily he spoke her name, “Sara.”

At the sound of his voice her eyes opened, looking through him. She spoke and her voice had a sweet, faraway resonance. “Jim, why did you leave me when I needed you the most?”

“I, I . . .” He had no answer. “I’m sorry.” His eyes filled with tears. “I really am sorry.”

“Me too,” she said softly. She looked at him without anger or malice, just sadness.

“Where is everyone?” Kier asked.

She didn’t answer but closed her eyes again.

“Sara, come back.” He crouched next to the casket. “Sara, where is everyone? Where is Jimmy?” He looked around the room, hoping to see him.

Suddenly an old man entered the parlor. The man stopped near the room’s entrance to write in the guestbook. Then, leaning on his walker, he hobbled across the room. As he neared, Kier thought he recognized the man but couldn’t remember from where. It took the man several minutes to reach the casket. Without acknowledging Kier, he stood by his side, staring intently at the corpse.

“Thank you for coming,” Kier said.

The man turned to look at him. To Kier’s surprise there was a gleeful smile on his face. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Then, turning back to the corpse, his smile changed to a scowl and he spit into the casket. “Rot in hell,” he said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

Kier turned red with anger and raised his fist. “How dare you. She was a good woman.”

“Woman?” the man said.

Kier looked back. His own body was now lying inside the coffin.

“Second best day of my life,” the old man mumbled as he hobbled off. “Second best day of my life.”