the bag and pulled out an embroidery hoop. The fabric it held had been embroidered with a pattern of cross-stitch roses surrounding the words SMASH THE PATRIARCHY.
“I love it,” Mia said, blinking back unexpected tears.
“Well goodness, it’s not that nice.” Birdie tilted her head as her eyes narrowed. “Are you okay, honey?”
Mia assumed Birdie didn’t know about her breakup with Josh, or else she wouldn’t be here right now giving her gifts and calling her “honey.” Until Birdie came into her life, no one had called Mia “honey” since her grandmother had died, and it was one of the things she was going to miss most.
“I’m fine.” Mia tried to offer a convincing smile, but her lip betrayed her by trembling a little.
Birdie tutted and opened her arms, gathering Mia up in a hug. “I’m sorry you and Josh are having troubles.”
“You know about that?” Mia sniffled as she clutched Birdie’s waist. She hadn’t realized how badly she’d needed a hug after the last week. And the fact that Birdie still wanted to hug her after she’d broken her nephew’s heart only made Mia even more wibbly.
Birdie patted her shoulder. “All I know is that he stormed out of here the other night looking like someone had run over one of his dogs and hasn’t been back since.”
“We broke up,” Mia mumbled.
“Oh that’s a shame. It’s none of my business, but I thought you two were good for each other.”
Mia let go of Birdie and wiped her eyes. “It’s for the best, since I’ll be leaving in a few months anyway.”
Birdie regarded her for a long moment before saying, “I’m sure you’re right. You’d know better than me.” Birdie’s arched brow, on the other hand, seemed to be saying, I know you’re full of shit, but I’m too polite to say it out loud. “Anyway, I’ve got twelve dozen cookies to bake for Christmas on Main Street tomorrow.” She started for the door, then stopped halfway there and rounded on Mia. “You’re coming to the Christmas fair, aren’t you?”
“I don’t think so.” Mia waved her hand at the stacks of exams next to the couch. “I’ve got a lot of grading to do.”
“But you have to come to the fair!” Birdie looked aghast. “It’s not Christmas until you’ve had some of my snickerdoodles with hot mulled wine.”
“I’ll try.” It was becoming Mia’s go-to lie, just as it had been her parents’ frequent refrain.
The difference was that Mia really was trying. She was exhausted with trying so hard to do the right thing—for herself, for Josh, for her students.
Ever since her paper had been accepted to the Annals, she’d felt nothing but an increasing sense of anxiety. She hadn’t expected it to feel this bad to get everything she wanted.
When did she get to start being happy?
On Saturday afternoon Mia looked at the stacks of grading, dirty dishes, and empty takeout containers that had built up around her, realized her apartment had acquired a funk that matched her mood, and decided she needed a break.
The first thing she did was take out the trash. The second was shower. Once she emerged from the bathroom, feeling fresher and slightly more energetic, she found herself with an unexpected urge to get out of the house and into the world.
And so, even though she hadn’t intended to, Mia went to Christmas on Main Street.
The fair took up all of the grassy town square. The surrounding streets had been closed for the occasion and were lined with booths selling food, drinks, and other assorted items. Rides and other activities for the kids surrounded the big Christmas tree that had been erected in the middle of the green, with a stage off to one side where live music played. Mia recognized Wyatt’s voice belting out a rock version of “Holly Jolly Christmas” and immediately headed in the opposite direction.
Antonio had been right about the costumes. Almost everyone around her was dressed up, some sweating in festive Christmas sweaters despite the seventy-degree weather, a few in full Victorian attire looking like they’d stepped out of a Dickens novel, and most of the rest in a variety of random costumes ranging from elaborate cosplay to drugstore Halloween costumes. All around her strolled superheroes, fairies, witches, a variety of animals, and the odd vampire.
Mia found Birdie’s booth first and purchased some snickerdoodles to help pay for renovations to the community center. Birdie had dressed up like a Greek goddess in a flowy white caftan paired with a gold laurel