Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. Burke (best value ebook reader .txt) 📕

closed her eyes and tried to remember her last family Christmas. She focused on the taste of peppermint, sweet and tingly, coating her tongue. Her mother bustling about their tiny kitchen … the scent of cinnamon and sage … then a fresh, green smell. Pine boughs? Fir?

Her eyes shot open. “We need a Christmas tree!”

“A Christmas tree?” Mrs. H’s brow furrowed, and she turned back to the stove. “I’ve heard of those, but they’re more a continental tradition. For one thing, since the sugar plantations cleared the island, there aren’t a lot of trees left. Just the palms on the beachfront, and they don’t let you cut those down. We generally would just have a creche and some candles and garland.”

Nyssa’s heart sank. Ellis had mentioned a ten-foot-tall, illuminated tree. She doubted it had been a palm.

“I actually have a creche if you’d like to make that part of the décor,” Mrs. H said. “If you really want a tree, you might check the shops that cater to those from the continent, like you and Master Ellis. There might be some in the tourist district.”

“Thanks, I’ll check there.”

Mrs. H looked back over her shoulder. “I bet Master Ellis will get you something extra nice for Christmas. Maybe some jewelry.” She winked. “Maybe a ring.”

Nyssa flushed. Something chewed at the edges of her brain. “What do I get Ellis, though? He doesn’t need anything. If he wants it, he can either afford to buy it or knows how to make it. Plus he deserves something big and grand.”

“Oh, gifts aren’t about what people can get themselves or how big it is.” Mrs. H lit a burner and filled a pot with water from the hand pump. “The best gifts are handmade. Maybe you could knit him a scarf or some socks.”

“I never learned to knit.”

“What about embroidery? You could purchase some plain handkerchiefs and sew his initials on them.” She measured out a cup of rice. “Men always need handkerchiefs, especially a man like Master Ellis. I have to throw out half the ones he sends through the laundry because of grease stains.”

“I know how to sew on buttons and do basic mending.” Nyssa crossed her arms. “That’s about my homemaking skills. I mean, I can make things, but Ellis doesn’t need another pocket watch or videophone.”

“You’ll come up with something. You’re a clever girl.” Mrs. H tossed some salt over her shoulder. “We’re less than a week ʽtil Christmas. You should probably get your shopping done now, if you want to have any sort of selection. The shelves tend to be pretty bare near the big day. What about little Theo? Are you going to buy him some toys?”

“Ellis said he’d make him something special,” Nyssa said. And Ellis is brilliant.

“I’m sure Theo will love whatever it is.”

Nyssa picked up her peacoat and satchel, then strode into the workshop to tell Ellis she would be out until dinner. Sitting with his back to her, Ellis pulled a cloth over his workbench when she approached. He turned and a smile crept across his face. “Oh, it’s you. I thought you might be Theo.”

“Getting started on his present?” She smiled.

“Yeah, I have a few ideas I’m playing with. You going someplace?” He nodded towards her satchel.

“Yes, Mrs. H warned me things might sell out if I didn’t start soon.”

“She’s probably right. Almost everything has to be imported from the factories on the continent, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.” He picked up the cloth, revealing a notepad covered in sketches of trains, wind-up dogs, and what might have been a castle along with several random pieces of clockwork. “Where’s my penknife?” He pushed away from the desk then navigated to the counter. After a moment scanning the surface, he rolled behind the counter and flipped a switch on the arm of his chair. It adjusted, the pieces forming braces around his legs and lower body, pushing him into a standing position. “Ah-ha!” He reached onto a top shelf and pulled out a small knife. “I wonder how it got there.”

“Theo, probably. He’s always messing around in here.”

Ellis rolled away from the shelves, his braces still keeping him standing. Nyssa bit her bottom lip, remembering the wistful look on his face when he spoke of his parents dancing. I wonder if we could dance like that.An ache like hunger swelled within her as she imagined wrapping her arms about him and swaying in time to gentle music.

She cleared her throat. “I better get going.” Coming to him, she raised her face for a kiss.

He pressed his lips against hers, then twined his fingers into her wiry brown hair. “Hurry back.”

“I will.”

Chapter Three

Nyssa gritted her teeth as an elbow poked her in the side. The trolley jolted beneath her, and the crowd around her swayed. She clutched the strap. Was everyone headed towards the tourist district shops?

I’m going to get elaborate decorations, a stunning Christmas tree, and the perfect gift for Ellis if it kills me. Sparks and shocks, though, why do they have to put so many people on these trolleys?

She leapt from the car when it came to a stop, and hurried into an equally crowded shop to browse. Eager shop girls extolled the virtues of watches and cufflinks and a thousand other things that weren’t good enough for Ellis.

He needs something special. Something that he’ll use every day and love using and that says “thank you” for being there for me through everything life has put me through lately.

She paused and thought of all that had happened in the last six months: the murder of her employer/mentor Mr. Calloway; being framed for said murder; finding Ellis imprisoned in his insane father’s death trap of a house; fleeing New Taured; almost dying on a crashing zeppelin; fighting for custody of Theo from her awful uncle … yes, without Ellis she would’ve gone mad. Her throat tightened.

There’s no way any gift would be enough. If only he didn’t want