Lena insisted she couldn’t escape the chores she had at home, Tori said she was busy buying a dress for her Christmas Eve party, and Rey assured us she’d be right over after a family thing. But they all promised to pitch in and help us wrap presents later.

For now, it was just Harper and me, brainstorming ways to make Christmas happen for her friend Melissa’s family.

We sat on stools at my kitchen counter. Harper had a pencil and notepad, ready to jot down ideas. “I’d love it if we could make this a surprise, you know?” she asked. “Show up on their doorstep on Christmas Eve with some gifts.”

“Maybe some groceries too,” I said. “If her dad lost his job, I bet they’re struggling to pay the bills too.”

She smiled. “That’s a great idea! But how are we going to pay for all this? I have some babysitting money, but it wouldn’t be nearly enough.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I could pitch in too, but it wouldn’t be much. Not enough to buy presents for all three kids and groceries.” I thought for a minute, and Harper did the same, bringing the tip of her pencil to her chin. “What if we asked our parents for donations? I’m sure my aunt would be happy to contribute.”

Her eyes lit up. “My mom could ask her friends at work.” Then she deflated like a balloon. “Wait, they’re probably broke like everyone else since it’s two days before Christmas…”

Even the guy dressed up as Santa outside the mall hardly got a second glance these days.

I shrugged. “Every dollar counts, though.” I wracked my brain for more ideas.

She nodded, and it looked like there were wheels turning inside her head. “I could use my baby-sitting money to bake some more holiday cookies and sell those to raise money.”

She began writing all of our ideas down, but I wondered if it would be enough. Especially since we only had a day to figure this all out.

Harper’s pencil’s eraser was back at her chin.

“Think of it this way,” I said. “Anything we can do to help will mean a lot for that family.”

She nodded, but her usual happy smile was missing. “You’re right, you’re right. I just wish there was a way we could do more.”

I gave her a sideways hug. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

My phone buzzed on the counter, and I picked it up.

“Jesse?” Harper asked with a wink.

I nodded. “Yeah,” I replied. Then I frowned upon reading his text.

Jesse: Hey. There’s a big snowstorm heading this way. Not sure if flights will get canceled or delayed :/

“Is everything okay?” Harper asked.

I sighed. “I’m not sure. Jesse’s supposed to be getting back from visiting family in New York, but he’s saying he might not make it. And with me and my aunt leaving on Christmas Day for Puerto Rico, I may not see him until I get back.”

“Bummer,” she said. “Hopefully, he’ll make it back okay.” She patted my shoulder and stood up. “I’m wishing for snow over here, and they’re getting buried in it over there, huh?”

I gave her a small smile. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

But my mind was still on Jesse.

He and his family had left the first day of winter break a week ago, and we’d hardly been able to say goodbye. We’d been looking forward to spending Christmas Eve together at Tori’s party before he spent Christmas with his family. Now there was a good chance I wouldn’t see him until after the New Year.

Talk about putting a total damper on the holidays. I was already starting to feel a lot more like the Scrooge that was Lena lately.

What was Christmas without the one person I really wanted to be with? The one who still made my stomach erupt with butterflies? Who made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world for having a boyfriend who was so incredibly handsome and sweet?

It had already been torture not seeing him over winter break.

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without him.