December 23
At Hobson and Rowe, it was the last day of work before the holiday break. The employees did only those tasks that were considered urgent, putting off everything else until after the holidays.
Although the company had held its formal Christmas party a week earlier, the employees had their own informal celebration at the office. The women brought in hot, cooked dishes including meatballs, baked ziti and stuffed shells as well as an assortment of side dishes and salads. And it wouldn't be Christmas if there weren't trays of cookies, doughnuts and Italian pastries. The office manager contributed a large punchbowl filled with homemade eggnog.
By one o'clock, all work had stopped, and everyone was eating, drinking and making merry. Gifts were exchanged, many of which were humorous in nature. Shortly after three, the party started to wind down. The leftover food was put into plastic containers, and people packed up and got ready to leave. All that remained was to wish everyone a merry Christmas.
As she stood in her empty office putting on her coat, Rosalind wondered what it would be like when she returned on December 28. She took a moment to daydream about walking into the office with a two-karat engagement ring from Tiffany's on her finger and announcing that she was engaged to marry Brett McCord.
Having filled up on the homemade fare at the office party, she had no appetite for dinner. She went directly to the fireplace and opened drawer Number 23. Inside was a man's wedding band. She recognized it immediately when she saw the Celtic knots that encircled it. Brett had sent her his wedding ring.
He is divorced! Rosalind thought and broke down in tears of joy.
