"Hoffman-HomeForChristmas" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hoffman Abbie)

"So do we have anything in common?"

"No. I got no cash, -- 'cept what you gave me -- no credit, no car, no
relationships, and I don't build anything." She studied the menu. She wondered
if he liked young boys. This could be a pickup, she supposed, if he was the sort
of man who took advantage of chance opportunities.

The waitress came by and Matt ordered a big breakfast, two of everything, eggs,
bacon, sausages, pancakes, ham slices, and biscuits in gravy. Christmas Eve
dinner. What the hell. She glanced at Plainfield, saw him grimacing. She
grinned, and ordered a large orange juice. Plainfield ordered a side of dry
wheat toast.

"What do you want with me, anyway?" Matt asked.

He blinked. "I . . . I thought you must be an amazing person, returning a wallet
like mine intact, and I wanted to find out more about you." "Why?"

"You are a kid, aren't you?"

She stared at him, keeping her face blank.

"Sorry," he said. He looked out the window at the night street for a moment,
then turned back. "My wife has my daughter this Christmas, and I . . ." He
frowned. "You know how when you lose a tooth, your tongue keeps feeling the
hollow space?"

"You really don't know anything about me."

"Except that you're down on your luck but still honest. That says a lot to me."

"I'm not your daughter."

He lowered his eyes to stare at his coffee mug. "I know. I know. It's just that
Christmas used to be such a big deal. Corey and I, when we first got together,
we decided we'd give each other the Christmases we never had as kids, and we
built it all up, tree, stockings, turkey, music, cookies, toasting the year
behind and the year ahead and each other. Then when we had Linda it was even
better; we could plan and buy and wrap and have secrets just for her, and she
loved it. Now the apartment's empty and I don't want to go home."

Matt had spent last Christmas in a shelter. She had enjoyed it. Toy drives had
supplied presents for all the kids, and food drives had given everybody real
food. They had been without so much for so long that they could taste how good
everything was. Dreams came true, even if only for one day.

This year. . . . She sat for a moment and remembered one of the dreams she'd
seen a couple of years ago. A ten-year-old girl thinking about the loving she'd
give a baby doll, just the perfect baby doll, if she found it under the tree
tomorrow. Matt could almost feel the hugs. Mm. Still as strong a dream as when